28 October 2011 / by Radmila Gurkova

Friday Meeting 28/10/2011

This weeks meeting focused solely on students. How to evaluate students? How many levels exist in English? and teaching students who don't want to learn.

We often find that when level testing students they are placed in the wrong groups/levels. This is not a mistake from the examiner but a lack of confidence from the students when doing the test. I believe that rather than focusing on grammar and structures we should also take a look at pronunciation and confidence, then we will be able to grade them on those criteria.

In our method of teaching there are 5 levels: Absolute Beginners (S1), beginners (P2), pre-intermediate (p3), intermediate (p4) and advanced (p5). When level testing students in a company it is often difficult to separate groups and we find students with different levels in one class. This happens because some students are afraid or lack confidence when expressing themselves in English and therefore changes might occur.

The toughest part of teaching is teaching those who do not want to learn. How can we as teachers get ourselves in the right mindset to teach?

24

February 2012
Both either neither
by Radmila Gurkova
We use Both/Either/neither for two things: Both Films are good Neither film is bad I don't mind seeing either film Listen carefully to the video - Both of the earths Poles.... Both of ......is always followed by the/those/th...

24

February 2012
all or the whole......?
by Radmila Gurkova
All/the whole..........? The whole We usually use the whole...

24

February 2012
I am able to understand English
by Radmila Gurkova
Be able to is not a modal auxiliary verb. We include it here for convenience, because it is often used like "can" and "could", which are modal auxiliary verbs. Structure subject + be + able + infinitive Be able to can be used with all tenses: I am able to drive.....

24

February 2012
Friday Fun: The History of English #8
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbvumrknAKs&feature=relmfu The series about the history of the English language continues with more examples of how English has changed over time. This video includes details about American English. It may be something that people are a lot more common with, especially with the impact of American 'movies' ...

20

February 2012
Words are made of letters
by Radmila Gurkova
Made is the past tense of MAKE Make in this case means - produced or shaped as specified It is made of gold ...

20

February 2012
Did you win?
by Radmila Gurkova
TO WIN Definition To be first in a contest, a race or something similar To gain victory ...

20

February 2012
I actually think that Pigs are cute
by Radmila Gurkova
first 30 seconds of the video For Spanish speakers actually is a false friend. It does not mean right now, nowadays it means in reality. Adverb: Really. This time he actually applied for the job. It is also used when something someone has said is surprising ...

20

February 2012
A lot and Allot - Confusing words
by Radmila Gurkova
Confusing words? A lot & Allot A lot Usage: As a noun and an adverb - A large number, very, many For example: A lot of people think that the economy is getting worse. I have a lot of CDs. A lot of planning went into it. ...

17

February 2012
Willy Wonker and a boat made of chocolate
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5U_jW-OQS0 A man in France made a boat 3.5m long boat out of chocolate and sailed it in a port in Northern France. The boat turned around two or three times and then broke apart. It carried three passengers or sailors! The boat weighed 1.2 tons and reached a speed of 15km/h. It took a team 1.5 ...

17

February 2012
185 things to do with a Pig
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRETz2F-heQ Christien Meindertsma, author of "Pig 05049" decided to take a look at the afterlife of this pig and find out how many parts of this animal were used and for what. It resulted in at least 185 non-pork products, from bullets to artificial hearts. In Denmark there are 16 million people ...