National Tests and "Lord of the Flies"

Today we push on with the National Test in speaking.

The test is about "Thoughts and feelings" where you get to discuss your thoughts and ideas about different subjects.

Today's candidates are:

Eskil / Oskar

Filippa /  Ida

I am happy to see that most of you have made a start with the reading and questions for 

"Lord of the Flies"

Here is a map of the island to help you a bit:

It will give you an idea about the places named in the book.

By the end of week 48 you MUST read and answer the questions for chapter 1 "The sound of the shell". The audio clips for this chapter are on Wednesday's blog.

By Christmas we need to have read chapter 2 and answer the questions on the worksheet as well. I will give you an oral (muntligt) test in class on this before the Christmas break.

On this one you can follow the text on the screen. But she speaks a bit faster than Mister Perry.

There are extra copies of the worksheet on the teacher's desk

I will try to get back at the end of the lesson. 
If not, have a great week-end.

Let's get speaking!

Today we start the national test part A- speaking.
Those doing the test today will be:

Viktor / Liam

Amanda / Elsa

On Friday it will be:

Eskil / Oskar

Filippa /  Ida

The test will be carried out in room C3 behind the Home Economics room. You need to go outside of the gate to get there.

The rest of the time these two weeks will be spent reading the first chapter of "Lord of the Flies".

When we have completed the novel in the spring we will see the film which is based on the book from 1990.

However, the book was made into a film in 1963.

This black and white version is closer to the book.

Here is the link to it:

So, today you can start reading the book where we meet, from the beginning, Ralph and Piggy who are two of the main characters in the book. There are audio versions of the book available

AS you read you should  answer the questions on the worksheet... Good luck!

going through your speaking- timetable and projct

Today we are going to go through your speaking exercises which you did last Friday.

We need to do a timetable for the speaking examination. We have the eleven of you and
three students from year 8 (two boys and a girl)
and two students from year 7 (two girls)

Week 48
Wednesday 21st November
2 pairs of students


Friday 23 November
2 pairs of students

Wednesday 28 November

2 pairs of students

Friday 30 November

2 pairs of students

When this is going on we will be starting a project about "Lord of the Flies"

If we have time today we will look at the following resource about William Golding- the author of the book.

You will start by reading chapter 1 "The sound of the shell" and answering the questions  on the handout. 

These should be done by Friday 30th November.

Take also 25 words which you translate into Swedish and LEARN by then from the glossary

Speaking- analysis and suggestions

Goals for today's lesson

• To analyse the speaking task "plan a class party"
• To express opinions and feelings. To agree and disagree. To link.
• To see other examples of speaking

On Friday I want to go through your speaking exercise in the groups who did it.

Today we will listen to some students who did the exercise.

Listen and then discuss what they could have done to improve their conversations.

We have already spoken about the importance of expressing opinions and feelings.  Give examples of suitable phrases.

In general it is very important to link your conversation. HERE are some words and expressions to think about.

We will finish off with 2 youtube clips.

The first one is from a beauty contest in the USA.

Please help the young lady to say something sensible! 

The last clip is of 2 girls doing the Cambridge first exam (about the same level as 9th grade speaking)



What do you think is good or less good about their speaking? We will concentrate on the later tasks. You can even read the examiner's comments.

Good luck next week!

What did one mouse say to the other?

Today we continue with our preparations for the Speaking examination.

Today we go live!

Before we do that there is one question we need to deal with

The ninth grade novel!

There are three choices and I want you to decide which one we will choose:

1.

2.  

3. 

Most votes wins!

Ok. So now it's speaking time. 

• Find someone to speak with
• Prepare your conversation
• Record it
• Share it with me

Good luck!

Remember the tips I gave you last time. 


Expressing opinions:
I think..
As I see it..
In my view..
from my perspective..

Questions
What's your view?
What do you think?
How do you see it?

Simple link phrases:
How about you?
Are we agreed?
I don't agree. 
For me.......

Surprise(disagreement)
What!
Come on!
You must be joking!
Why do you think that!

Agreement
Sure!
That's fine by me!
Why not!

Weighing it up
On the one hand...
On the other hand..

Let's get serious- Say something

Today we are going to look at the first part of the national test- speaking!

It is, in one way, the simplest part of the test, but in another way it requires practice and strategies.

We are going to look at some training material for this exercise.

1. Information sheet
You will receive an information sheet with some instructions JUST BEFORE you do the test.

Use your time WISELY with your partner to decide how you will tackle the topic (ämne)

Today we have the easiest topic available (In the exam it will be more difficult)

Think of good linking phrases and words

Here is a very simple clip from Engvids to get you
 started


Obviously you will need to ask each other questions.
How do you make the simplest of questions
(do/did)?
What are the most common question words?
What? Why? How? Where? When? Who? How often? How much? 

We will try to do this task 2 x 2
and then hear some students who have been examined and recorded.

What was good or less good about their conversations?

On Friday we will deal with another topic more like in the way it will be done on the exam.

Good luck!