English Courses at U.Stranieri

2009-2010 CLASSES WITH PATRICIA ROBISON

pattirobison — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:14:03 +0000

Hi Everyone

This year I am teaching C1. Classes begin Monday October 6th.

I plan to use the University website from CENTRO FAST — you’ll find

* class calendar

* class notes

* frequently-asked questions (FAQs)

* forums

The site is under construction but please check it out! Look for LETTORATO LINGUA INGLESE — right now it says B2/C2 but this will change to C1.

http://fast.unistrasi.it … go to ELENCO CORSI and look for LETTORATO LINGUA INGLESE.

Exam answer keys- make-up lesson 3 June

pattirobison — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:09:04 +0000

Following is the key to the practice test given last week and to two OTHER tests which are in the library for you to copy if you wish. On the 27th we talked about modal verbs – you can do those practice exercises on line at this website or new practice exercises following these links modal verbs, phrasal verbs – explanation, practice quizzes .

Next week (Wed June 3rd), I will hold lessons at 13.30 and 15.30 which are “recuperi” – I will concentrate on responding to student questions from VINCE (so bring it) and on speaking. The B2 exam will not have a “speaking” portion as the B1 exam did with Prof. Noto. The speaking portion will almost exclusively be about the films, but I will give you the opportunity to practice talking about the films so that you feel comfortable talking about them, and I will be happy to answer questions about pronunciation and vocabulary regarding the film portion of the course, or explain any notes that you find difficult in English.

Test May 27th

The Secret of Happiness

1. F (have you ever dreamed), 2. C, 3. I, (all grown on the island)4. B, (some useful items are washed up) 5. G, 6. E, 7. H, 8. D (twin pillars)

Business calls the shots

1. E (increased overall income), 2. C (players-gains, administrators-cashed in, etc.)3.F, 4. D, 5. A (doesn’t talk about tv), 6. G

Vacation advice

9. planning, 10. stressful (better than stressing), 11. carefully, 12. decisionS, 13. energetic, 14. dangerous, 15. performances, 16. exhibitions, exhibits (don’t forget the plural), 17. European (E not e), 18. really, 19. guilty, 20. impossible

21. B, 22. C, 23. B, 24. B, 25. C, 26. B, 27. C, 28. B, 29. D, 30. B, 31. A, 32. D (it’s permanent- a bonus is a one-time thing. In the UK they do say “pay rise” but I think you have to have “pay” before “rise.”)

33. great, 34. ok, 35. the, 36. such, 37. they (two subjects), 38. one, 39. out, 40. becuase, 41. ok, 42. are, 43. OK, 44. them, 45 OK

Tiger claw

1. become, 2. ever, 3. but, 4. there, 5. type, source, kind, 6. course, 7. also, 8. others, 9. see/know, 10. where/when, 11. lighter, butt, 12. should, 13. paying, 14. that, 15. save

1. taken aback by, taken by surprise by, 2. an unforgettable, 3. is shorter than, 4. Never before, 5. I had studied more, 6. your dreams will come, you want will come, 7. accuses F of stealing, 8. whose the dog , whose dog it, who the dog’s owner 9. wedding is planned for, 10. last time I ATE (past simple, because the time is specific– the last time)

Early European dolls

1. A, 2. C, 3. B, 4. A, 5. C, 6. C, 7. B, 8. D, 9. A, 10. C, 11. D, 12. B, 13. B, 14. C, 15. D

Extra tests available for photocopying in the library –

“test 1″

Filming the mysteries of the deep

1. G, 2. A, 3. B, 4. D, 5. E, 6. C

Work

7. T, 8. F, 9. F, 10. T, 11. F (according to the text, which is what matters), 12. T, 13. T, 14. T, 15. T (but this question is out of order and a bit vague), 16. F

Believe the eyes

17. B, 18. D, 19. C, 20. D, 21. A (goes with “of”), 22. C (you tell lies), 23. A, 24. B, 25. A, 26., D, 27. C, 28. B, 29. C (goes with “on”), 30. A, 31. B

Poems by mobile

32. annoying, 33. unnecessary, 34. patience, 35. badly, 36. pleasure, 37. reflection, 38. amusing, 39. easily, 40. ambitious, 41. variety

Leisure time

41. ok, 42. so, 43. as, 44. if, 45. it (2 subjects), 46. ok, 47. an, 48. end, 49. OK ,50 with, 51. ok, 52. so, 53. ok, 54. so, 55. about

56. be long before John has

57. whose nose was broken

58. have difficulty believing

59. to get used to driving (to get used to +ing, to be used to +ing)

60. I wonder if you could (indirect, polite question)

61. what he did was

62. with my own

63. any hope of us / hope of our/hope of us

64. brushing her hair is called

65. will already be playing

“test 2″

David Wiley (man in photo)

1. F, 2. C, 3. A, 4. E, 5. D

Supermarket secrets

6. F, 7. B, 8. D, 9. A, 10. G, 11. C

The best of friends

12. D (unexpected), 13. C , 14. C, 15. A, 16. B, 17. D, 18. C

What makes someone intelligent?

19. B, 20, D, 21. C, 22. C, 23. B, 24. A, 25. D, 26. B, 27. A, 28. B, 29. D, 30. A, 31. A, 32. C, 33. D

34. myself, 35. and, 36. was, 37. OK, 38. been, 39. have, 40. OK, 41. they, 42. these, 43. seem, 44. kind, 45. in, 46. any, 47. so, 48. the

B2 second practice exam- key

pattirobison — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:44:15 +0000

Answers for the practice exam given May 6, 2009 (copies still available)

Reading 1 (Zoo)

1. A, 2. H, 3. C, 4. D, 5. B, 6. F, 7. E

Reading 2 (Greenhouse)

1. T, 2. T, 3. F , 4. F, 5. T, 6. T, 7. T, 8. T, 9. F, 10. F

Multiple choice (Light pollution)

Always look carefully at the words BEFORE and AFTER your choices on this part. The multiple choice sections test phrasal verbs, collocations, and the use of verbs + prepositions.

1. B, 2. D, 3. B, 4. C, 5. A, 6. D, 7. C, 8. A, 9. B, 10. A, 11. D, 12. A, 13. B, 14. C, 15. D

Gap fill(Ice Skating)

1. the, 2. few, 3. up, 4. a, 5. have, 6. up, 7. that, 8. well, 9. lot, 10. or, 11. because, 12. nothing, 13. course, 14. but, though, 15. of

Sentence transformation (not numbered)

for – …………for me to be like

sense- ……….makes no sense ——OR——–doesn’t make sense

let-……..didn’t let us eat/have—–OR—-wouldn’t let us eat/have

unless-……..unless you book (it) in advance

how ……….how many plants and animals

keep……….keep (on) trying

24. wish- ………….wish I weren’t (wasn’t) so short. ….wish I were taller.

25. is said to be

Multiple choice (Love of travelling)

26. A, 27. A, 28. B, 29. C, 30. B, 31. A, 32. A, 33. D, 34. D, 35. A, 36. B, 37.C, 38. C

Word Formation

39. quickly, 40. childhood, 41. alarmingly, 42. publisher, 43. narrators, 44. freedom, 45. unreasonable, 46. confrontation, 47. tricky

How to Study for the B2 exam

pattirobison — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:29:08 +0000

This post is a repeat from last year!
The next B2 exam (Lingua e Trad. II) is on the following dates:
(Just to be sure, please double check these with the University website!)

Written 23 June,2009 9.30
I oral 29 June,2009 9.30       II oral 13 July,2009 10.00

The B2 exam is modeled after the Cambridge FCE (First Certificate).

The exam lasts 4 hrs. The first 1.5 hrs will be spent doing a Listening test (2 tasks) and 1 hr of grammar exercises (multiple choice vocabulary, error-correction in the style of FCE, word-formation in the style of FCE, multiple choice verb tense questions, etc.).

The second half of the exam will include a one-hour reading test (2 articles with questions), plus 1 hr 30 minutes of writing: there will be 2 essays to write, one of which will be a choice of a letter or other type of essay (for the letter, be sure to study letter format) and the other essay will have to do with English in Film (the course taught by Serenella Zannotti).

If you pass the written portion of the exam, we will notify you to come to the Oral exam. At the oral exam you will speak both to me and to Prof. Zannotti, regarding the typical topics covered in our class, as well as the specific films covered in hers. Students who were in Erasmus or for another excused reason did not attend Prof. Zannotti’s course will not have to write OR discuss those specific films.

HOW TO STUDY

-Come to the exam reviews noted on our class calendar (Wednesdays at 13.30 and 15.30)

- Do your homework in Michael Vince’s book. This FCE Language Practice (the purple book with key). Correct your work with the key. Come to me with questions about why your answers were not correct.

-Use your Move CD to do additional listening practice (and see the websites listed below)

- Get additional practice on-line by visiting these and other websites:

FIRST CERTIFICATE EXAM PRACTICE ON LINE

Here is a link with the format for formal letters in different countries. It still seems to me that the British format for dates is 12 May 2008 (as opposed to 12th May 2008 as students have indicated) ……..but there is NO reason to stress out over this particular detail, because 1) surely even the British would not really care, and 2) it does not matter for the exam!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/ is a site with several FCE-style practice exercises.

http://www.english-online.org.uk/exam.htm
http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/about/index.htm
http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/Use_of_English.htm (obviously, the general site is www.examenglish.com – tests for several levels of Cambridge and IELTS are covered)

http://www.englishjet.com/english_courses_files/test_cambridge_first_certificate.asp

www.examenglish.com/FCE/fcelistening.htm

http://www.selfaccess.com (this one costs money)
http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-exams-fce-listening-intro.htm
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/download/quizzes/word_building_1_quiz.pdf

New links added 12 May 2008

http://fceblog.blogspot.com/ (explains each section of the FCE in detail AND gives links to where you can practice each section on line (for example, listening portions from the British council)

http://corpus.wikispaces.com/ , click on “corpus” for a huge collection of sample letters, essays, etc. written by FCE students

http://del.icio.us/Neric82 a website full of links for self-study for FCE

GENERAL ENGLISH PRACTICE ON LINE (NOT AIMED AT FCE)

http://www.ego4u.com/

http://www.stuff.co.uk/wicked.htm (general language practice)

http://www.testyourenglish.net/

http://www.eslcafe.com/search/Quizzes/

And, of course,

www.www.cambridgeesol.org/ (look for FCE) You can also do a Google search for these key words: FCE practice, listening practice ESL, listening practice English, etc.

NB- this is NOT a Cambridge Exam! You will NOT receive a Cambridge certificate .

Good Luck- In bocca al lupo!!

Patti

B2 Practice Exams

pattirobison — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:20:06 +0000

Hello B2,

These exam sessions are 2 hours long minimum. You can stay for 4 hours and do two exams or have me correct your exam and discuss it.

Please note, it does not seem to be possible to email copies of the exams – the files are too big, so please arrange for a friend to pick one up if you cannot come.

These are the specific dates in which I intend to reserve one of the larger rooms to give you a practice exam: Remember, there will be NO lessons on the Mondays of the weeks listed.

Week 21- Wednesday, May 6th, 13.30 – 15.30 and 15.30-17.30 room TBA (to be announced)

Week 22- Wednesday, May 13th, 13.30 – 15.30 and 15.30-17.30 room TBA

Week 23- Wednesday, May 20, 10.30- 15.30 and 15.30-17.30 room TBA

Week 24- Wednesday, May 27 May, There is a change of schedule because of the seminar with Christina Nord. You may go to the seminar and I will be there with the register. In addition, I will also hold two 2 hour lessons Wednesday, but NOT at the times of the seminar. The lessons will be at 13.30 and at 17.30. During those lessons I will discuss issues from the Vince book (PLEASE bring it) and I will review MODAL VERBS and PHRASAL VERBS. Students who wish to do so can take home any practice exams they have missed.

C2 students- The Accidental Tourist

pattirobison — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:48:02 +0000

Hi C2 people,

We have made lots of progress lately with The Accidental Tourist. I hope you are enjoying it! You should be reading chapter 8 by now. I’ve done some searching on amazon.uk and ebay, and if you want to find cheap copies of the book, check out these links.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Accidental-Tourist-Anne-Tyler/dp/0099480018/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239608721&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/0099480018/ref=sr_1_olp_2?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1239608721&sr=8-2

If you want to order something from Amazon, tell me and you can pay me back- I get free shipping on most new books.

http://cgi.ebay.it/The-Accidental-Tourist-By-Anne-Tyler-1986-PB_W0QQitemZ380038513062QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Nonfiction_Book?hash=item380038513062&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1385|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.it/The-Accidental-Tourist-by-Anne-Tyler-Romance-Book_W0QQitemZ150272777609QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Fiction_Books?hash=item150272777609&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1385|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

B1 level students

pattirobison — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:38:00 +0000

This post is for students who are not really “B2″ level. (You know who you are)

I am currently teaching a PET preparation course in Grosseto. There is a blog for that course which includes lots of links to practice for the PET (B1) exam– this may be helpful for you as you try to “catch up” (metterti in pari)!

www.robisongrosseto.wordpress.com

UPDATE – B2 practice exam 8 April

pattirobison — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:03:48 +0000

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE – SEE YOU WED THE 15TH AT THE CLASSES STARTING AT 10,30.

If you missed the practice exam session, email me for a copy of the exam.

This was the 2 hr portion of the exam dealing with READING and GRAMMAR.

Here is the key-

Part I Reading

o. too expensive – D- he says the license is PRICEY — look for words which mean the same thing (expensive = pricey)

has to conform..C..”to meet modern safety laws”
used to be associated with…A..”generally imagine suntanned 20-yr olds”
produces different results..B..”you end up with sth different depending on the methods used”
fits in well with other commitments (impegni) — D–”I have time to combine it with my real passion”
has become easier thanks to recent improvements — A–”In the early days…but improved technology has changed all that”
involves learning by watching experts –B–”observe Andy and his team of highly-qualified chefs”
is associated with a certain type of clothing –C–1920s outfits, helmet, overalls are all clothing
sometimes provokes negative reaction–D–”people sometimes complain”
has not always interested him/her –C– “I used to spend hours, bored stiff”
has advantages over another similar hobby – A- “With (a boat) you always need people to help you, you’re not allowed to take it on some lakes..”
requires the clever combination of materials –B– “the herbs, spice, etc. are combined by experts”
also provides some of his income –D– “which give us a bit of extra pocket money”
requires participants to have formal qualifications –C–”I had to pass written and oral tests”
grew out of a family tradition –B–”a tradition in our household, I make curry every Monday”
is a thrilling experience– A– “the feeling of excitement you get” READING PART II– multiple choice
D (she wanted t ostimulate her mind, she didn’t need to relax
B (she took art history, then asked the teacher what to do next)
A (make up your mind = decide)
C (they are “enthusiasts”)
B (she’s a nurse)
A (she can’t just drop everything on a nice day)
C (it’s working well, she feels alive……….she’s NOT worried about the garden, “that’s the least of her worries”) LEXICAL CLOSE A FAMOUS TRAVELLER
B -share- share your love for sth
D – only Interested works with IN (enthus.about, fascinated by, etc)
A (only bring works with up)
C
A – you gather info. You search FOR info.
C – come across = meet unexpectedly
D – best with nomadic people
B – you accompany sn ON a trip, you go ON a trip
A – vast works with absolutely
C gave
A while travelling (throughout his travels, not travelling)
C – we say corners of the earth
B – ON foot (by camel, by bike)
C- caught – it’s true sth can strike you, but to grab you and hold you is “catch”
B appreciate- the only one that can have an object. COMPUTER BLUNDERS – REMEMBER, ONLY MAX 5 WILL BE OK.
OWN
OK
HIMSELF
THE
BY
BEEN
OK
IT
ONE
OK
FOR
OK
HIM
EITHER
TO STEVIE WONDER
artistic
singer
impressive
extraordinary
recording
extremely
diasappointing
uninterrupted(ly)
freedom
politics KEY WORD FORMATION
apart from
a better swimmer than
turned it down (turn down = refuse)
less popular than
is more difficult to study
always borrowing my things without
been good at
hasn’t seen Jane for
little more slowly (just a little more slowly)
c – must be (strong modal)
b – did you say- (not tell – tell me)
a – gerund after keep
a – DO a favor
c- in all my life, I’ve never heard of him
b (rain isn’t countable)
c – followed by noun phrase.

Second Semester English B2 and C2

pattirobison — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:22:42 +0000

Hello, everyone. I am sorry not to have updated this site in a while!!

Classes for the second semester are well underway at this point.

Please note that I am ONLY in Siena Mondays and Wednesdays, through June. I can be found if needed Monday at lunchtime around room 113, or you can email me if you need to.

MONDAY

8.30, B2. 5, lesson A, Aula 6
13.30, C2, lesson A, Aula 5
15.30, B2.3 lesson A, Aula 5
17.30, B2.4 lesson A, Aula 5

WEDNESDAY

8.30, C2, lesson B, Aula 7
10.30, B2.5, Lesson B, Aula 7
13.30, B2.3, Lesson B, Aula 7
15.30, B2.4, Lesson B, Aula 7

B2 Students: Here is the class calendar. So far, we are keeping up with it.

syllabusb2feb20081

Your writing notebooks are always in the hallway outside room 113.

C2 Students: The Accidental Tourist is in the library, and we are currently reading chapter 6. In addition, I have asked everyone to finish chapters 17 and 18 of Destination.

summary-calendar-2009-c2

WANTED- COMMENTS ON SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND

pattirobison — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:14:22 +0000

Hello everyone- I’m hoping to gather comments on schools that you have attended in England, so as to advise the many students who ask me about programs there. If you have studied in England for any length of time, please send in your comments, naming the school, “grading” it from 1(terrible) to 5(great) and adding whatever else you have to say. Thanks!!