Sara Ribotta's English Corner

5B CAT BBC Documentary about Renaissance in Britain (episode 1)

Art historian Dr James Fox makes the case for a singularly British renaissance, telling the stories of the artists and artisans who changed Britain forever.

5B CAT Lady Chapel and Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey, London

Click here to download the worksheet. Print and paste it into your English notebook (in the Skills section).

5B CAT REVISION / REMEDIAL WORK related to the history of architecture PART 1

Have your coursebook and notebook close at hand.
Download the worksheet and paste it into your notebook (in the Skills section).
Complete the worksheet by checking the info required in both your coursebook and notebook.
Hand it in on Tue. 6th November for feedback.

1A AFM H/W for Wed. 31st October

Download the images which represent everyday activities and the images which represent free-time activities.
Print the images in black and white.
On a blank sheet paper on your notebook in the Use of English section, write a heading for each group of words/phrases.
Cut the cards and paste them into your notebook in the Use of English section to create your own pictionary related to everyday activities and free-time activities.
Write under each card the word/phrase which best describes it. Use one of the words/phrases below:

get up - go to sleep - sleep - take a shower - take a bath - wash my face - brush my teeth - shave - put on make up - comb my hair - brush my hair - get dressed - get undressed - make the bed - clean the house - do the ironing - do the washing-up - do the laundry - walk the dog - feed the cat - feed the baby - go to work - go to school - take the bus to school - go to work - drive to work - go to the supermarket - leave work - get home - work - study - make breakfast - make lunch - make dinner - have breakfast - have lunch - have dinner

relax - swim - play basketball - read a book - listen to music - listen to the radio play cars - exercise - write a letter - use the computer - play the piano - play the guitar - play - plant flowers - raad the newspaper - watch TV

Assignment "Write a Short Story in 140-190 words"

Here the rubric which will be used to assess the short stories.

5B CAT ENGLISH TEST on Tue. 30th October

PAPER 1 : TEST on your skills in reading. A mark will be given out of 10. Click here to do some practice.

PAPER 2: MINI-TEST on your knowledge related to the history of architecture. A mark will be given out of 4.

Topics you have to study for the test:

Prehistoric architecture (cf pp 218, 219)

megalithic architecture
the most famous megalithic structure in England, i.e. Stonehenge
other prehistoric sites in Britain

Roman heritage in Britain (cf notes and pp 226, 227)

cities and towns
road system
buildings, i.e. Hadrian's Wall and forts

Architecture in Medieval Britain (cf notes, pp. 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236 extra worksheet on Lady Chapel and Poets' Corner)

English Gothic architecture
an example of Gothic cathedral in the UK, i.e. Westminster Abbey in London
Norman architecture
two examples of Norman castles, i.e. Dover Castle and Windsor Castle
half-timbering building technique
black and white half-timbered houses in Chester and York

1A AFM H/W for Fri. 28th September

Click here to download a worksheet related to prepositions of place. Then, print it.

Study the grammar rules, highlight the most important ones and stick them in your mind.
Do the exercises to check whether you have understood or not.

Assignment "A Museum of Me"

Create your own "Museum of Me":

collect some magazines, scissors and glue (+ traditional) or use a mosaic maker like this bighugelabs.com/mosaic.php

choose 5 pictures that mean something to you (e.g. your interests, past experiences, aspirations and dreams) and make them into a poster collage,

prepare a unique presentation and be ready to exchange info about you.

Here the rubric which will be used to assess the oral test for students attending 2C AFM & 3A CAT.
Here the rubric which will be used to assess the oral test for students attending 4A CAT, 4 SIA & 5BCAT.

Main Info English Classes 2018-2019

6 GOLDEN RULES

1) Stand up and say "good morning" when the teacher steps into the class (do not chew gum, do not put make-up on, do not wear caps).

2) Keep your desk tidy.

3) Bring materials to class & complete assignments.

4) Speak English in class.
5) Follow directions & raise your hand if you have a question or a comment to make - it is the only way to ensure that we ALL have an equal voice in the classroom.

6) Work hard & do your best in class and at home.

MATERIALS

coursebook,
ring binder (or notebook) with 2 sections 1) Use of English (grammar and vocabulary) and 2) Skills,
pens, pencils and coloured markers.

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT RUBRIC

Please download it here and read it carefully.

SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS

Summer assignments for 1D PS:

click here to download assignment directions.
click here to download directions for the remedial test in August 2018.
click here to download the English syllabus 2017-2018.

Summer assignments for 1D TT:

click here to download assignment directions.
click here to download directions for the remedial test in August 2018.
click here to download the English syllabus 2017-2018.

Summer assignments for 2D PS:

click here to download assignment directions.
click here to download directions for the remedial test in August 2018.
click here to download the English syllabus 2017-2018.

Summer assignments for 3D PS:

click here to download assignment directions.
click here to download directions for the remedial test in August 2018.
click here to download the English syllabus 2017-2018.

Summer assignments for 4D PS:

click here to download assignment directions.

Summer assignments for 4D TT:

click here to download assignment directions.

5D PS Syllabus

1. PATH: ENGLISH AS AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE

English as a Lingua Franca: the no. of people who speak English in the world and the fields in which it is used (cf worksheet “Who Speaks English?” taken from Aspects p.8)

Who speaks the best English in the world and why (cf worksheet “Learning English” taken from Aspects p.16)

The main varieties of English (British English and American English) and their areas of difference

What Globish is and its main characteristics (cf worksheet “If You Can’t Master English, Try Globish”)

2. PATH: SHAKESPEARE AS A LITERARY INSTITUTION

Main events in Shakespeare’s life

The reasons why we study Shakespeare

Shakespeare as a Sonnet Writer: his collection of poems (the no. of poems he wrote and when it was published)
Sonnet CXXX: reading and analysis (cf worksheet taken from Perfomer Heritage 1 pp.112-113)

Shakespeare as a Playwright: his collection of plays (the no. of plays he wrote and when it was published)
Romeo and Juliet’s Prologue: reading and paraphrasis (cf worksheet taken from Perfomer Heritage 1 p.120)
The reasons why Shakespeare set most of his plays abroad (cf worksheet “Why are many of Shakespeare’s plays set abroad?” taken from Perfomer Heritage 1 p.116)
What a Shakespearian theatre looks like (cf worksheet “A Shakespearian Theatre”)
Recent performances of Shakespeare’s plays in refugee camps

3. PATH: LEARNING DISABILITIES

What Learning Disabilities are (cf worksheet “What are Learning Disabilities?” taken from Growing into Old Age p.172)

What the main causes of Learning Disabilities are (cf worksheet “What causes them, and how do you know it is a Learning Disability?” taken from Growing into Old Age p.173)

Coping with Learning Disabilities (cf worksheet “Coping with a Learning Disability” taken from Growing into Old Age p.174)

Several types of Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia): their causes, their symptoms, their consequences and some helping strategies at school (cf worksheets “What is Dyslexia?”, “What is Dyscalculia?” and “What is Dysgraphia?” taken from Growing into Old Age pp.176-179 and see worksheet “Learning Handwriting for a Child with Dysgraphia”)

Famous people with Learning Disabilities

4. PATH: SEVERE DISABILITIES

The World Report on Disabilities: what it is and what it mainly states (cf video “Children with Disabilities” taken from Growing into Old Age)

Down Syndrome: the type of disability, the causes, how it can be diagnosed, the typical physical features of patients and their life expectancy (cf coursebook p.260)

Autism: the type of disability, the causes, how it can be diagnosed, the typical behaviour of patients and the cures (cf coursebook pp.264-265)

5. PATH: DEVIANT BEHAVIOURS

Gambling: what it is, its causes, people at higher risk, and its cures (cf video “Gambling Problems in the UK” taken from Growing into Old Age)

Compulsive Shopping: what it is, its causes and consequences, and its treatment (cf worksheet “Compulsive Shopping and Spending” taken from Growing into Old Age p.283)

Tobacco Addiction
Health Effects of Smoking: health consequences among teenagers, young people and adults, and laws and regulations on tobacco (cf worksheet “Health Effects of Smoking among Young People” taken from Growing into Old Age pp.278-279)
Strategies to reduce tobacco use among young people (cf worksheet “Reducing Youth Tobacco Use” taken from Growing into Old Age p.)

Drug Addiction: the no. of people who take drugs regularly, the reasons why people start taking drugs, the effects of heroin and ecstasy (cf worksheet “Focus on Drugs” taken from Growing into Old Age pp.266-267)
Anti-drugs programmes in British schools (cf worksheet “Drugs in Schools” taken from Growing into Old Age p.271)

Alcoholism: what it is, the causes and consequences of drinking alcohol, the regulations in the UK and USA, some support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (cf worksheet “Fighting Alcoholism” taken from Growing into Old Age p.272)
Drinking alcohol among young people (cf worksheet “Alcohol and Teens” taken from Growing into Old Age pp.273-274)

Click here to have a look at some useful questions for your revision for the final exam.

Cambridge English Preliminary Exam Booster

Cambridge English Preliminary - Writing Part 1

please download some tailored-made activities, taken from Activating Grammar Digital Edition by Gallagher and Galuzzi
please do some online practice here

Cambridge English Preliminary - Speaking Part 2

please watch the video for some essential tips

Cambridge English Preliminary - Speaking Part 3

please watch the video for some essential tips

please download my guidelines on how to describe a picture

2D PS Preparatory Activities for the Test on 7th May 2018

Activity Menu
Unit 9

STARTER

Prepare your own vocabulary list (places in town pp. 102 + notes & things in town p. 103 & problems in town p. 108 + notes). On your notebook, write down

the Italian word and
the English equivalent.

OR check that your vocabulary list is completed.

MAIN COURSE

Go to p. 226 and revise how to form "be + going to + verb", then do some exercises

here's an exercise to practise "be + going to + verb" for intentions for the future (1)
here's an exercise to practise "be + going to + verb" for intentions for the future (2)
here's an exercise to practise "be + going to + verb" for intentions for the future (3)

AND / OR go pp. 172, 226 and revise how to form the Present Continuous tense, then do some exercises

here's an exercise to practise the Present Continuous tense for future arrangements (1)
here's an exercise to practise the Present Continuous tense for future arrangements (2)
here's an exercise to practise the Present Continuous tense for future arrangements (3)
here's an exercise to practise the Present Continuous tense for future arrangements (4)

DESSERT
Do some exercises in the use of either "be + going to + verb" or Present Continuous to talk about the future

here's an exercise to practise the Present Continuous / "be + going to + verb" (1)
here's an exercise to practise the Present Continuous / "be + going to + verb" (2)

1D PS Practice in Past Simple tense

Activity Menu

STARTER

Exercise on regular and irregular verb forms of the Past Simple

MAIN COURSE

Exercise 1 and Exercise 2 on the Past Simple of the verb be
Exercise 1 , Exercise 2 and Exercise 3 on the Past Simple tense (affirmative form)
Exercise on the Past Simple tense (negative form)
Exercise 1 and Exercise 2 on the Past Simple tense (interrogative form)

Exercise 1 and Exercise 2 on making questions in the Past Simple tense

DESSERT

Test yourself with a quiz!

3D PS Practice in using some modal verbs

Activity Menu

STARTER

Exercise on expressing obligation with "have/has to + base form of the verb"
Exercise on expressing lack of obligation with "do/does not have to + base form of the verb"

MAIN COURSE

Exercise 1 and Exercise 2 on expressing obligation and lack of obligation
Exercise 1 , Exercise 2 and Exercise 3 on giving advice
Exercise 1 , Exercise 2 and Exercise 3 on expressing obligation and prohibition
Exercise on expressing lack of obligation and prohibition

Quiz 1 about the semi modal verb "have to"
Quiz 2 about the modal verb "should"

DESSERT

Test 1 , Test 2 , Test 3 , Test 4 on your abilities in using modal verbs accurately.

5D PS Dossier on Hot Issues

Topic: Hot Issues

Here the dossier which contains the worksheets for our next lessons on hot issues.

To download the materials, click here. Then, print them and bring them to your English class on Tuesday, 27th March 2018.

REMEDIAL ACTIVITIES @ Club Linguistico

You are allowed to attend 10-hour meetings @ Club Linguistico (first floor, language lab) to do remedial activities and improve your skills in English.

For 1D TT students:

create your glossary related to classroom objects and language (p. 301, 305 + notes): write the heading "classroom object and language" in a blank page of your notebook, list all the words, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.
create your glossary related to the body (p. 306): write the heading "body" in a blank page of your notebook, list all the words, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.
create your glossary related to the family (p. 307): write the heading "family members" in a blank page of your notebook, write the words in your notebook, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.

study and do exercises about subject personal pronouns and object personal pronouns.
study and do exercises about the Present Simple of the verb "be" and "have got".

For 1D PS students:

create your glossary related to classroom objects (p. 10 + notes): write the heading "classroom object" in a blank page of your notebook, list all the words, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.
create your glossary related to everyday objects (p. 14-15): write the heading "everyday objects" in a blank page of your notebook, list all the words, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.
create your glossary related to hobbies and free time activities (p. 24-25): write the heading "hobbies and free time activities" in a blank page of your notebook, write the words in your notebook, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.

study and do exercises about subject personal pronouns and object personal pronouns
study and do exercises about the Present Simple tense ("be", "have got", all verbs)
study and do exercises about the prepositions of time (at, in, on)

For 2D PS students:

create your glossary related to family members (p. 58 + notes): write the heading "family members" in a blank page of your notebook, list all the words, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.
create your glossary related to feelings and character (p. 59, 80, 81 + notes): write the heading "feelings and character" in a blank page of your notebook, list all the words, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.
create your glossary related to the parts of the house, furniture, the types of houses (p. 68-69 + notes): write the heading "house" in a blank page of your notebook, list all the words, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.

study and do exercises about the possessive case (whose?, saxon genitive, possessive adjectives, possessive pronouns)
study and do exercises about the Past Simple (verb "be", regular and irregular verbs)

For 3D PS students:

create your glossary related to animals (p. 90, 94): write the heading "animals" in a blank page of your notebook, list all the words, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.
create your glossary related to geographical features (p. 90, 91 + notes): write the heading "geographical features" in a blank page of your notebook, list all the words, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.
create your glossary related to weather conditions (p. 97): write the heading "weather conditions" in a blank page of your notebook, list all the words, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.
create your glossary related to places in town and things in town (p. 102, 103 + notes): write the heading "town" in a blank page of your notebook, list all the words, learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, the translation into Italian.

study and do exercises about the comparative structure
study and do exercises about the superlative structure
study and do exercises about future arrangements with the Present Continuous
study and do exercises about intentions for the future with "be going to"

For 4D PS students:

do reading comprehension activities on www.ngllife.com (choose an article, select "read more", look at the glossary and the key words, read and listen to the article, and answer the questions). You must read at least 10 articles.

For 4D TT students:

create your glossary related to the tourism industry: write the heading "the tourism industry", list all the words (p. 13, 15, 17, 20, 21), learn the exact spelling and, if necessary, translation into Italian.
do reading comprehension activities on www.ngllife.com (choose an article, select "read more", look at the glossary and the key words, read and listen to the article, and answer the questions). You must read at least 5 articles.

For 5D PS students:

study the topics "English as an International Language" and "Shakespeare as a literary institution"

2D PS Practice in making comparisons in English

STEP 1
On your coursebook Get Thinking 1, complete the mind map on p 220.

STEP 2
To do extra practice in making comparisons with the comparative & superlative structures, have a look at

an exercise about the comparative adjectives.
an exercise about the comparative and superlative adjectives.
an exercise (1) / exercise (2) about the comparative structure.
an exercise (1) / exercise (2) about the superlative structure.
an exercise about the form of the comparative and superlative structure.
an exercise about the use of the comparative and superlative structure.

You can choose the exercises that best fit your needs.

4D PS Dossier on Addictions

Topic: Addictions

Here the dossier which contains the worksheets for our next lessons on addictions.

To download the materials, click here. Then, print them and bring them to your English class on Tuesday, 16th January 2018.

5D PS Dossier on Learning Disabilities

Topic: Learning Disabilities

Here the dossier which contains the worksheets for our next lessons on learning disabilities.

To download the materials, click here. Then, print them and bring them to your English class on Tuesday, 9th January 2018.