VOCABULARY NO. 11: Animals

PREPARATION

In our session today we will review our vocabulary on animals.

The first thing we are going to do is to take a piece of paper and pencil and write down as many animals as we can remember. We are going to do this on different steps:

1. We can start by writing down the names of farm animals. How many can you remember?

2. How about names of insects?

3. Animals that live in the sea, water?

4. Animals that live in forests? rainforest, savannah?

A QUIZ

Now, take a look at the following pictures and see how many words you can remember:

Vocabulary animals

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PRACTICE

http://iteslj.org/v/ei/animals.html

http://www.eflnet.com/vocab/animal_vocabulary.php

http://www.manythings.org/lulu/

http://www.englishclub.com/esl-quizzes/vocabulary-1-animals.htm

WEEKLY SCHEDULE: 27 - 29 April

Weekly Schedule 27-29 Apr

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GRAMMAR NO. 10: Direct vs. Indirect Speech

Many times, we need to express, not our direct opinion, but someone else's opinion. That is, we are not really transmitting the message but rather acting as a "representive" for someone else. There are 2 ways in English to do this: Direct speech and Indirect or Reported Speech


DIRECT SPEECH

Direct speech involves repeating the exact words that were pronounced by the other person. For example:

a) She said, "Today Alfonso will give his presentation"
or
b) "Today Alfonso will give his presentation", she said

This style detaches us from what the other person has said.


INDIRECT (REPORTED) SPEECH

In indirect speech, we don't detach so much from what the other person said. It is true that we are using someone else's words, but it is also true that we incorporate this into our own discourse.

The most important reporting verb is to say, which can be followed or not by that. For example:

D: I am depressed
I: She said (that) she was depressed

Several questions must be taken into account when using reporting speech: changes in verb tenses and the use of the pragmatically appropriate reporting verb.

1) Changes in verb tenses

The most important grammatical aspect of Reported Speech is that several changes take place.

Present Simple -> Past Simple
She said, "It's cold" -> She said it was cold

Present Continuous -> Past Continuous
She said, "I'm teaching English" -> She said she was teaching English

Present Perfect Continuous -> Past Perfect Continuous
She said, "He has been eating noodles for almost an hour" -> She said he had been eating noodles for almost an hour

Past Simple -> Past Perfect
She said, "I was in Baltimore last week" -> She said she had been to Baltimore the previous week"

Past Continuous -> Past Perfect Continuous
She said, "I was taking a shower earlier" -> She said she had been taking a shower earlier

Past Perfect -> Past Perfect (NO CHANGE)
She said, "The class had already started" -> She said the class had already started

Past Perfect Continuous -> Past Perfect Continuous (NO CHANGE)
She said, "I'd already been running for 35 minutes" -> She said she had already been running for 35 minutes"

Modal verbs also change:

Will -> Would
She said, "I'll meet Carmen tomorrow" -> She said she would meet Carmen the following day"

Can -> Could
She said, "I can email you the images" -> She said she could email me the images

Must -> Had to
She said, "I must concentrate now" -> She said she had to concentrate then

Shall -> Should
She said, "Where shall we go today?" -> She asked where we should go that day

May -> Might
She said, "May I open a new browser?" -> She asked if she might open a new browser


2) Changes in adverbs of time and personal pronouns

When reporting speech, we need to accommodate intratextual references, that is: time and personal pronouns. We need to correctly indicate the person in pronouns. For example:
She said, "I can email you the images" -> She said she could email me the images
We must also accommodate for time, and always depending on the new relation established between the time when we report the speech and the time this speech was uttered. For example:
She said, "Where shall we go today?" -> She asked where we should go that day
is correct, but
She said, "Where shall we go today?" -> She asked where we should go today
can be equally correct if we are reporting speech on the same day that speech was first pronounced.


3) Reporting verbs

The most common verb to be used in Reported Speech is to say. But English uses many other verbs. Why? Well, because by using these verbs we "explain" what the speech was about. For example, if we report a question, we should use to ask, if we report a command, we should use to tell. English likes to be very detailed when it comes to meaning (no doubt there are so many different verbs to express the action of walking and similar, for example, walk, stroll, go, come, leap, hop, jog, jump, skip, run, etc. This semantic specification is characteristic of the language). An important thing to remember is that these reporting verbs connect the speech we are reporting in a different way. See:

A1: Would you like to go out with me?
A2: He asked me if I would like to go out with him

B1: When should I pick you up?
B2: He asked me when he should pick me up

C1: Don't be sad about that
C2: He told me not to be sad about that

Below you will find a list of these reporting verbs and how they establish the connection:

verb + object + infinitive
advise
encourage
invite
remind
warn
e.g. He advised me not to take the bus

verb + infinitive
agree
decide
offer
promise
refuse
threaten
e.g. He agreed to come with me

verb + (that)
admit
agree
decide
deny
explain
insist
promise
recommend
suggest
e.g. He admitted (that) he was wrong

verb + ing
deny
recommend
suggest
e.g. He denied having called me on Wednesday

verb + object + preposition + ing
accuse
blame
congratulate
e.g. He congratulated me for working so hard

verb + preposition + gerund
apologize
insist
e.g. He apologized for not calling me on Wednesday


FURTHER EXPLANATION AND PRACTICE
Take a quiz here: http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_reported1.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/reported-speech
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/reported.htm
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/cgi2/myexam/liaison.php?liaison=_direct_
http://www.eslpartyland.com/quiz-center/rptspeech1.htm

READING NO. 10: 6 Career-Killing Facebook Mistakes

With more than 400 million active visitors, Facebook is arguably the most popular social networking site out there. And while the site is known for the casual social aspect, many users also use it as a professional networking tool. With that kind of reach, Facebook can be a valuable tool for connecting to former and current colleagues, clients and potential employers. In fact, surveys suggest that approximately 30% of employers are using Facebook to screen potential employees – even more than those who check LinkedIn, a strictly professional social networking site. Don't make these Facebook faux-pas – they might cost you a great opportunity.

1. Inappropriate Pictures
   It may go without saying, but prospective employers or clients don't want to see pictures of you chugging a bottle of wine or dressed up for a night at the bar. Beyond the pictures you wouldn't want your grandparents to see, seemingly innocent pictures of your personal life will likely not help to support the persona you want to present in your professional life.
2. Complaining About Your Current Job
   You've no doubt done this at least once. It could be a full note about how much you hate your office, or how incompetent your boss is, or it could be as innocent as a status update about how your coworker always shows up late. While everyone complains about work sometimes, doing so in a public forum where it can be found by others is not the best career move. Though it may seem innocent, it's not the kind of impression that sits well with a potential boss.
3. Posting Conflicting Information to Your Resume
   If you say on your resume that your degree is from Harvard, but your Facebook profile says you went to UCLA, you're likely to be immediately cut from the interview list. Even if the conflict doesn't leave you looking better on your resume, disparities will make you look at worst like a liar, and at best careless. (Social networking can also be used as its own job. Learn more in Make Money With Social Networking Sites.)
4. Statuses You Wouldn't Want Your Boss to See
   Everyone should know to avoid statuses like "Tom plans to call in sick tomorrow so he can get drunk on a Wednesday. Who cares that my big work project isn't done?" But you should also be aware of less flamboyant statuses like "Sarah is watching the gold medal hockey game online at her desk". Statuses that imply you are unreliable, deceitful, and basically anything that doesn't make you look as professional as you'd like, can seriously undermine your chances at landing that new job.
5. Not Understanding Your Security Settings
   The security settings on Facebook have come a long way since the site started. It is now possible to customize lists of friends and decide what each list can and cannot see. However, many people do not fully understand these settings, or don't bother to check who has access to what. If you are going to use Facebook professionally, and even if you aren't, make sure you take the time to go through your privacy options. At the very least, your profile should be set so that people who are not your friend cannot see any of your pictures or information. (These rules apply to Twitter as well, and you can also use Twitter to find a new job. Find out more in Tweet Your Way To A Sweet Job.)
6. Losing By Association
   You can't control what your friends post to your profile (although you can remove it once you see it), nor what they post to their own profiles or to those of mutual friends. If a potential client or employer sees those Friday night pictures your friend has tagged you in where he is falling down drunk, it reflects poorly on you, even if the picture of you is completely innocent. It's unfortunate, but we do judge others by the company they keep, at least to some extent. Take a look at everything connected to your profile, and keep an eye out for anything you wouldn't want to show your mother.

Facebook Can Help You Get Hired … Or Fired
The best advice is to lock down your personal profile so that only friends you approve can see anything on that profile. Then, create a second, public profile on Facebook purely for professional use. This profile functions like an online resume, and should only contain information you'd be comfortable telling your potential employer face to face. Having a social networking profile is a good thing – it presents you as technologically and professionally savvy. Just make sure your profile is helping to present your best side – not the side that got drunk at your buddy's New Year's party.

After reading the book, how many of these mistakes you can remember?

SPEAKING NO. 10: At the doctor's

In English, we can many times use the Saxon Genitive to indicate "the place of". For example, at "O'Flaherty's" means "at O'Flaherty's pub". This use of the Saxon Genitive is very frequent with pubs, bars and restaurants. We can also use it with other places, most commonly with "the doctor's (office)" and "the dentist's (office)".

In our session today, we will practice some vocabulary related to health. First, let's review and understand all of the vocabulary in the following presentation.

Speaking At The Doctor's

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Now, we are going to do some roleplays. Choose your role: doctor/patient, and select one of the possible scenarios:

a) Your baby's butt is very red and he/she seems to be suffering from dyarrhea

b) You've got a bug bite that is getting swollen and infected

c) You've been having some backache, muscular pain, chills and a slight temperature

d) You've been suffering from some cramps lately and fear you could sprain your ankle in your next tennis game

e) Your little boy gets home with a black eye and a lump and claims to suffer from some headache

.... or look for other symptoms and make up your own story!

WEEKLY SCHEDULE: 13-15 April

Weekly Schedule13-15 Apr

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GRAMMAR NO. 9: "like" vs. "as"

A. Making comparisons: "like" and "as" has the same meaning

We use like and as to make comparisons. In this respect, they have exactly the same meaning. The difference is that like is a preposition and as is a conjunction. That is, like is used before a noun and as is used before a verb/clause. For example:

• He speaks like a native speaker
• He speaks as a native speaker would do

Sometimes, English speakers use like for both uses, but that is only possible in informal English.

• We play football like champions do

B. To express what the role/function of a person/thing is: "as"

Another use of as is to say what the role/function of a person/thing is.

• He started to work as a carpenter.
• She used the tapestry as a decoration in her living room.

*** VERY IMPORTANT
Functions A. and B. can be, sometimes, difficult to distinguish. Pay attention to the following examples:

• As your boss, I must warn you to be careful. (I am your boss.)
• Like your boss, I must warn you to be careful. (I am not your boss, but he/she and I have similar attitudes.)

C. "As if"

In English we also use as if to make comparisons. However it has a few distinct characteristics to its use:

1. The verb after AS IF is always in the past subjunctive, no matter what tense the sentence is.

2. If the verb BE directly follows AS IF, we use were for all personal pronouns.

• He looks as if he knew the answer.

(The verbs LOOKS indicates this sentence is in the present – but the verb after AS IF – knew - is in the past subjuntive).

• She walks as if she were a supermodel.

(The verb after AS IF – be – has been changed to were and not was).

• He boarded the airplane as if he were a seasoned traveller.
• He spends money as if he owned a bank.

D. Other uses of "like" and "as"

LIKE:

VARIANT MEANING	EXAMPLES
OF THE SAME FORM (adj.)	I haven't seen a like model. We collect trains, cars, buses and like models.
OF THE SAME FORM (noun)	I haven't seen its like. We collect model t trains, cars, buses and their like.
CHARACTERISTIC (prep.)	It would be like him to forget my birthday.
SIMILAR OR COMPARABLE (prep.)	There is nothing like a tall cold drink.
EXAMPLE (adv.)	You could take up a hobby, like fishing, hiking or cycling.
SIMILAR OR COMPARABLE (adv.)	He was a hippie-like guy with a tie-dye T-shirt.
INCLINED (idiom–prep.)	Do you feel like going to a movie?
PROMISE / INDICATIVE (idiom- prep.)	It (the sky) looks like rain today.
REQUEST-PREFER (idiom–verb)	I'd like you to come with us.
SUIT YOUR PREFERENCE (idiom–verb)	You can come or you can go as you like.

Informal - Like

ATTENTION GETTER (interjection)	Like, has anyone seen my cell phone lying around?
HESITATOR (uh.. or well...)	We were more... like... borrowing his car.
INTRODUCE REPORTED SPEECH	He's like, "You're totally wrong, " and I'm like, "No, way!"
AN EQUAL (idiom)	We haven't seen the likes of him before.
AS IF (conj.)	I felt like I could stay there forever. (informal for as if)

AS:

VARIANT MEANING	EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE (adv.)	Some flowers, as the rose, require a lot of care.
CONSIDERED TO BE (adv.)	We view the church and state as two separate entities.
IN THE MANNER (adv.)	He paid for the room and dinner as agreed. (as we had agreed.)
AT THE TIME (conj)	Please pay as you leave.
WITH THE PURPOSE (conj.)	The speaker spoke so convincingly as to rally everyone to unite.
SINCE / BECAUSE (conj.)	As you are up, will you please get me a glass of water.
THOUGH (conj.)	Smart as he may be, he forgot to consider his own weaknesses.
THAT (pronoun)	I have had the same problem as you have.
TO THE EXTENT (idiom.)	As far as I know, we still aren't done yet.
WHILE (idiom.)	As long as he is here, we'll never have peace!
IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION (idiom.)	I bought the car as is. (in a non-negotiable, no-guarantee condition)
ALSO (idiom.)	They are resourceful, intelligent as well as compassionate.
IN RESPECT TO (idiom.)	As for traveling to the war-zone, I wouldn't advise it.
BEGINNING (idiom.)	As of April 1st, we are no longer accepting credit cards

PRACTICE
1. An easy one: http://www.grammar.cl/Games/Like_vs_As.htm
2. Another short one: http://www.better-english.com/grammar/aslike.htm
2. Lots of exercises to choose from: http://www.tolearnenglish.com/cgi2/myexam/liaison.php?liaison=_as-like_

WEEKLY SCHEDULE: 6 - 8 April

Weekly Schedule 6-8 April

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