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Comparisons
Model answer
Compare and contrast the overall play of Brazil’s national football team with that of the UAE. Say which of these teams you would rather watch and give reasons.
Most countries in the world have a football team, and Brazil and the UAE are no exceptions. I will describe the similarities and differences between the two teams, and say which one I would prefer to watch.
Like Brazil, the UAE is a member of FIFA which is an international body for regulating football. This means that both teams have eleven players, and substitutes are allowed. Both teams play to a system that has been agreed with the coaches beforehand. Brazil and the UAE defend when necessary but prefer to attack.
However, there are many differences in the style of play. Brazil plays at a higher level than the UAE and has won the World Cup. The former are fitter and faster than the latter and can adopt their style of play easily. This is because the Brazilian players have experience with teams all over the world while the UAE players usually play for local teams.
World rankings prove that Brazil is easily the better team. Despite this, I would prefer to watch the UAE. There are several reasons for this but the most important one is that the UAE has a huge potential. They are an emerging nation in football, and it is interesting to see new talent. Also, this country has many skilful players who will improve with experience.
220 words
I enjoy watching the UAE soccer team because I live and work in Abu Dhabi and many of my students are keen followers of the national team. In addition, it is good to see the emergence of skilled local players. However, Brazil are a world-class team and it is usually preferable to watch them competing against the very best teams in the world.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Reflection 3
When teaching process essays, I point out that very often the task, in the assignment or progress test, will specify the use of the passive. Basically, process essays involve the present passive, usually is/are with the past participle.
It's important to point out that with some verbs the simple past & past participle are the same, but with other verbs there are 2 separate forms, e.g. go, went & gone..
The essay structure is similar to procedure, i.e. intro (c. 25-30 words); main paragraph (c. 100 words); conclusion (c. 25-30 words). Total: 150-160 words.
The same linking words can be used: first, secondly, next, after that, finally.
In the model essays I post in my blog I usually colour code in order to show present passives, other passives and linking words.
It's important to point out that with some verbs the simple past & past participle are the same, but with other verbs there are 2 separate forms, e.g. go, went & gone..
The essay structure is similar to procedure, i.e. intro (c. 25-30 words); main paragraph (c. 100 words); conclusion (c. 25-30 words). Total: 150-160 words.
The same linking words can be used: first, secondly, next, after that, finally.
In the model essays I post in my blog I usually colour code in order to show present passives, other passives and linking words.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Process: orange juice
Producing Orange Juice
Orange juice is a very healthy drink,full of vitamin C. The process of producing orange juice for sale in supermarkets is quite long and complicated. Here is how it is done.
First, the fruit is unloaded from lorries. Then the oranges are graded, washed and sized. After that, the juice is extracted and the residual material is sent for use as animal feed. The next step is very important. The juice is evaporated at a high temperature over a short time, producing concentrate. The concentrate is then stored in refrigerated units. Then the juice is canned and shipped overseas to its destination. In the country where it will be sold, water is added to the concentrate. Finally, the orange juice is bottled and sent to supermarkets, where it is sold to the consumer.
As you can see, producing orange juice for sale in shops is a long and complicated process but the final product is worth it.
160 words.
Present passive
Future passive
Orange juice is a very healthy drink,full of vitamin C. The process of producing orange juice for sale in supermarkets is quite long and complicated. Here is how it is done.
First, the fruit is unloaded from lorries. Then the oranges are graded, washed and sized. After that, the juice is extracted and the residual material is sent for use as animal feed. The next step is very important. The juice is evaporated at a high temperature over a short time, producing concentrate. The concentrate is then stored in refrigerated units. Then the juice is canned and shipped overseas to its destination. In the country where it will be sold, water is added to the concentrate. Finally, the orange juice is bottled and sent to supermarkets, where it is sold to the consumer.
As you can see, producing orange juice for sale in shops is a long and complicated process but the final product is worth it.
160 words.
Present passive
Future passive
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Reflection 2
I told the students that there were 3 main tense forms used in narrative essays:
a) past continuous, often used when setting the scene, e.g. I was driving in the desert when I saw ...
b) simple past, the main form of the narrative, e.g. I saw, I ran, he was, they were.
c) past perfect, only rarely used. I pointed out that, when talking about 2 actions in the past, the past perfect is used for the first, or earlier, event:
When I got to the cinema, the film had already started.
The film had already started when I got to the cinema.
You can't simply say use the past perfect in the first or second part of the sentence, because the sentence can be swopped around, as above. You must think of the first, or earlier, action. This action, the start of the film in the above example, takes the past perfect.
a) past continuous, often used when setting the scene, e.g. I was driving in the desert when I saw ...
b) simple past, the main form of the narrative, e.g. I saw, I ran, he was, they were.
c) past perfect, only rarely used. I pointed out that, when talking about 2 actions in the past, the past perfect is used for the first, or earlier, event:
When I got to the cinema, the film had already started.
The film had already started when I got to the cinema.
You can't simply say use the past perfect in the first or second part of the sentence, because the sentence can be swopped around, as above. You must think of the first, or earlier, action. This action, the start of the film in the above example, takes the past perfect.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Reflection 1
In writing procedure essays the 2 essential things to remember are:
1) use the imperative form, i.e. do this, do that, don't do this, etc. Sometimes we were given flow charts with the -ing form and we had to remember to change this.
2) use linking words, e.g. first, secondly, then, next, after that, finally.
We always divided these essays into 3 paragraphs: introduction (c. 20-30 words), main paragraph (c. 90-100 words) and conclusion (c. 20-30 words); total: 150-160 words.
We did several practice procedures before the first writing assignment and first progress test.
1) use the imperative form, i.e. do this, do that, don't do this, etc. Sometimes we were given flow charts with the -ing form and we had to remember to change this.
2) use linking words, e.g. first, secondly, then, next, after that, finally.
We always divided these essays into 3 paragraphs: introduction (c. 20-30 words), main paragraph (c. 90-100 words) and conclusion (c. 20-30 words); total: 150-160 words.
We did several practice procedures before the first writing assignment and first progress test.
Liwa Adventure
A desert adventure
I was driving in the desert about 10 kms from Liwa when my car broke down. I was with my friend Ali and, of course, we both had mobile phones but unfortunately neither phone would work in such a remote location.
We were hoping another vehicle would spot us but after about an hour we hadn’t seen or been seen by anyone. Neither Ali nor I is a mechanic and we weren’t sure what was wrong with the car, apart from the fact that it wouldn’t start. The fuel gauge showed that we had plenty of petrol. It was very hot but we had plenty of water with us. But the water wouldn’t last for ever and neither of us wanted to spend the night in the desert. What were we to do?
We decided to set off in the direction of Liwa. We took a map and a bag containing water bottles and we started to walk. After about 5 kms we saw a Land Cruiser ahead of us. We waved and shouted like crazy and fortunately the driver spotted us and drove in our direction. We told him what had happened and he drove us into Liwa. We decided to stay in the hotel as it was getting dark.
Next day a local mechanic drove us back to our car. He discovered that the problem was a faulty fuel gauge: we had run out of petrol. How embarrassing! Still, the mechanic fixed it so it should never happen again.
251 words
I was driving in the desert about 10 kms from Liwa when my car broke down. I was with my friend Ali and, of course, we both had mobile phones but unfortunately neither phone would work in such a remote location.
We were hoping another vehicle would spot us but after about an hour we hadn’t seen or been seen by anyone. Neither Ali nor I is a mechanic and we weren’t sure what was wrong with the car, apart from the fact that it wouldn’t start. The fuel gauge showed that we had plenty of petrol. It was very hot but we had plenty of water with us. But the water wouldn’t last for ever and neither of us wanted to spend the night in the desert. What were we to do?
We decided to set off in the direction of Liwa. We took a map and a bag containing water bottles and we started to walk. After about 5 kms we saw a Land Cruiser ahead of us. We waved and shouted like crazy and fortunately the driver spotted us and drove in our direction. We told him what had happened and he drove us into Liwa. We decided to stay in the hotel as it was getting dark.
Next day a local mechanic drove us back to our car. He discovered that the problem was a faulty fuel gauge: we had run out of petrol. How embarrassing! Still, the mechanic fixed it so it should never happen again.
251 words
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Mary's birthday
My wife’s birthday.
Every year on my wife’s birthday I host a party at our Club in the Main Restaurant. This year was no exception.
First, I chose the Thursday closest to her birthday, February 7th. I chose a Thursday because on that evening the Club has a special bistro night when you can eat as much as you like for a fixed price. So I knew in advance what the cost of the party would be. A few weeks before the event, I e-mailed the guests to ascertain the numbers who would be free to turn up. I gave them the time and place and the dress code, which is always black tie, meaning tuxedo or dinner jacket for the gentlemen and evening gowns for the ladies. Then I booked the restaurant,giving them the number of guests so that they knew how many tables to prepare. I then, of course, had to buy a birthday present and arrange for flowers to be delivered to the school where my wife works.
The day of the party arrived. As usual we dressed up in the early evening and went to the Club to receive our guests. We enjoyed a very pleasant evening with our friends. They all brought flowers and presents for Mary, my wife, and she took lots of photos to preserve our memory of the occasion.
225 words.
Every year on my wife’s birthday I host a party at our Club in the Main Restaurant. This year was no exception.
First, I chose the Thursday closest to her birthday, February 7th. I chose a Thursday because on that evening the Club has a special bistro night when you can eat as much as you like for a fixed price. So I knew in advance what the cost of the party would be. A few weeks before the event, I e-mailed the guests to ascertain the numbers who would be free to turn up. I gave them the time and place and the dress code, which is always black tie, meaning tuxedo or dinner jacket for the gentlemen and evening gowns for the ladies. Then I booked the restaurant,giving them the number of guests so that they knew how many tables to prepare. I then, of course, had to buy a birthday present and arrange for flowers to be delivered to the school where my wife works.
The day of the party arrived. As usual we dressed up in the early evening and went to the Club to receive our guests. We enjoyed a very pleasant evening with our friends. They all brought flowers and presents for Mary, my wife, and she took lots of photos to preserve our memory of the occasion.
225 words.
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