B2- recipes!

Hello B2.. As you know, I’ve asked you to send me a favorite recipe.

I’ve also promised to give you a few.. and as I’m a bit lazy, rather than typing them all, I’ve decided to give you a whole American menu, with links to very good recipes.Try one!

Starters (Munchies):  buffalo wings with bleu (pronounced blue) cheese dip (they are good, I promise!) http://recipes.robbiehaf.com/H/76.htm

Main course:I think I’d just grill vegetables and hamburgers outside for the main dish. I’ll link you to my friend Christina’s fantastic marinade…(she calls it “brine”)  if you marinate turkey breast in this and then grill it, it’s fantastic:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/16/FDG71FNODJ1.DTL

Side dishes: wilted spinach with roasted garlic (I know, there’s a lot of garlic, but it’s great!!)http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Wilted-Spinach-with-Roasted-Garlic-240366

and a classic ..yum!

scalloped potatoes http://southernfood.about.com/od/scallopedpotatoes/r/bl60901b.htm

for dessert…. apple pie is a classic, but I prefer apple crisp (easy and delicious..serve with whipped cream and ONLY use Granny Smith apples)

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1613,139189-245196,00.html

and if you are truly sinful, new york cheesecake.. but that’s harder to make!

http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1641,146187-251203,00.html

C2 Monday Lesson and Holiday homework

Hi C2-ers,

I hope to see many of you Monday (tomorrow, 15 Dec), but for those who are not present, I hope you will read through this post  and my last post to catch up on what we are doing.  I really need you to work on the project listed below, and I hope we’ll have a schedule that is more convenient for everyone in 2009!!

C2 Dec 15

We’ll discuss www.thestoryofstuff.com … see my previous post on this.

We’ll do a translation of an environmental opinion piece– come see me or email me for a copy, if you’d like to give it a try.

We’ll pretend to be the jury for Shell-BBC-World Challenge, and decide on a winner among the entries for 2008 : if you can’t join us Monday, please find these at www.theworldchallenge.co.uk

and write me an essay with your motives for choosing a winner (and obviously, tell me who that winner is!)

Here is the homework I’ll ask everyone to begin working on,  over the break. We’ll start signing up for presentations in Jan.

C2 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Choose one of these environmental topics, do some research on the internet or in the library, and prepare to talk to the class for 5-10 minutes about it.

NOTES:

1. In order to be effective, such a short talk should be a brief overview (e.g. covering the 5-6 most common sources of alternative energy) or a more in-depth talk but quite specific (e.g. wind power only, advantages and disadvantages).

2. Please prepare a handout (photocopy) for your classmates, or a power-point presentation. If you choose to do a pp presentation, let me know so that I can reserve a multimedia room.

3. Everyone should prepare a short list of new vocabulary related to her topic to share with the class.

4. Please write a summary of the talk for me in your essay notebook.

Possible topics

Renewable energy (e.g. solar power)

Alternative fuels (e.g. biodiesel)

Biodiversity/ Conservation

Does Recycling Work?

Global Warming

Global Warming Doubters

Pollution and how to combat it

Carbon Footprints- Reduction and Calculation thereof

Green Design- Green living- Green building

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OTHER HOMEWORK

In Destination, you have done or should do the following units:

**indicates a unit I am assigning now or have very recently assigned

8- Movement and Transport

9- Modals and Semi-modals

10- Communication and the Media

12- Chance and Nature

**15- Adjectives and Adverbs

**16- Materials and the Built Environment

C2 – APOLOGIES AND HOMEWORK

Hi everybody.  First things first: it really stinks to get to school for an 8.30 class only to find it’s been cancelled, and I’m very sorry about that.  My husband got stuck in the snow and both my kids are sick, so I had absolutely no alternative.

Some of you have missed lots of classes lately so I would like to see you catch up to where the rest of us are, and then in Jan we’ll start some new projects.Here is a list in reverse chronological order of what I would like you to do!!

RIGHT NOW-(homework to be done by MONDAY 17 Dec..NB the last bit was not mentioned on Thursday last week!!)

1. Visit www.thestoryofstuff.com and watch the movie that appears at the top of the page. Ideally, watch it twice. It’s very interesting in my opinion.

2. Read through (skimming) the glossary which I have tried to link to this website but if not you can find it here: http://www.storyofstuff.com/pdfs/annie_leonard_glossary.pdf

3. Read through the discussion questions Annie lists. Choose ONE of them and write a solid 300 word or so answer in your notebooks, which you should be prepared to talk about with us on Monday. http://www.storyofstuff.com/pdfs/annie_leonard_group_activities.pdf

4. Choose ONE of the terms in the glossary (for example, “landfill”) and do an internet search on its Italian (or your native language) equivalent (for example, “discarica”). What can you tell us about the status of that term/object in your country? (for example, if you chose “landfill” you might discuss the trash problem in Naples).

I’ll post the older homework later today. I’m off to get these kids seen by the doctor!!!

C2 Missed lessons

Hi everybody! It’s been hard for many of you to attend lately (and impossible when I’ve had to cancel lessons, of course!) Here is an update regarding our recent activities.

This Thursday, 4 December- I’ve reserved the multimedia room and we’ll be discussing environmental issues and watching a short documentary. As we have done multiple exercises and readings about animals and nature, it seems appropriate to spend a little time on MOTHER nature and environmentalism. Please be sure you have completed and checked for questions regarding the exercises in Destination (chapters 8,9,10,12, and did I give you 16?) and Vince (photocopies, if you haven’t got the book- VOCABULARY chapters 2,3,5, and 6).

ESSAYS- the most recent essay I have requested is about the Bangladeshi swamp tiger.. I was hoping you’d take some information from the 2 articles and the film to give a summary of the ideas we have covered. You may also choose to write about any other endangered species or environmental issue: the key is that I’d like you to use MULTIPLE SOURCES and YOUR OWN WORDS.

Monday 1 December- You were to attend the Chaucer conference with me in lieu of the lesson at 10:30. I must say I didn’t see any of you there (guilt,guilt,guilt).  It’s a pity, as the conference, in particular at the end, was quite interesting. We may have a look at Prof. Ginsburg’s paper when we move on to the unit about “Thinking and Reasoning.” He writes beautifully.  

Thursday 27 November (Thanksgiving! How homesick I was feeling that day)- We discussed Emporer penguins, based on the encyclopedia information that I had given you earlier, and watched a piece of “March of the Penguins,” a documentary which I can loan you if you are interested. We also discussed a few points about modal verbs and did a short oral exercise, which you can take home.

Monday 24 November- I had to cancel this lesson due to my son’s illness.

B2 : Homework and Schedule updates

Hi everyone: It’s been a chaotic couple of weeks. I’ll try to keep this website updated to help those of you who have had to miss classes. Please check the site, or email me, or even text me, if you are confused. When students need information in order to work, I am always happy to help.

B2: The 8:30 a.m. classes have had bad luck lately. Here is what you have missed if you have not been able to come to other sections!! There are TWO Lessons in reverse chronological order (and I’m only referring to Lesson A both weeks).

Lesson A on 1 December, cancelled due to the December special exam session: we learned a song full of phrasal verbs like “slip out,” and “drop off” (Paul Simon’s “50 ways to leave your lover”). We did a review “quiz” on the conditional which you can pick up.  We practiced conditionals in the game “Scruples” and started working on food vocabulary.  I suggest that you do the extra practice pages in MOVE (pp 22-25) and all the Vince homework, and come to me with any questions during my office hrs Thursday (1:30 p.m., either in room 19 or 20).

Lesson A on 24 November, cancelled due to my son’s illness: we talked and read about writing CVs and cover letters.  You should pick up photocopied instructions. The work you missed and should do follows here:

 1) write a CV and email it to pattirobison@yahoo.com (the photocopied instructions will help you, You can also skim this blog– in an earlier entry there are websites to help you write an English-language CV).  

2) practice writing a cover letter to accompany your CV: it’s much better to send a CV with a cover letter!! Here are four practice ads. Choose one, and write a cover letter (refer to the photocopied example I gave out in class, or google “sample cover letter.”  Come to me or ask your colleagues about vocabulary questions.

AU PAIR- DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE – British family of Italian ancestry, 2 small children, seeks live-in babysitter willing to do light housekeeping. 25 hr workweek. Some evenings. Room, board, weekly stipend of 50 pounds. References essential.

WAITER/WAITRESS – Authentic Italian hotel/restaurant in heart of London’s financial districk seeks part-time waiter/waitress. Hours: primarily nights and weekends. Excellent earnings potential, great tips. No experience required.

NIGHT RECEPTIONIST- Authentic Italian hotel/restaurant in heart of London’s finanical district seeks part-time waiter/waitress. Hours: primarily nights and weekends. Excellent earnings potential, great tips. No experience required.

OFFICE ASSISTANT- Small tour agency specialized in package tours to Italy seeks part-time office help. Knowledge of English and Italian required- other languages a plus. Word processing (MS Office Suite) and other basic office tasks. 20 hrs/week, flexible hrs. References requested.

FAST website

I’ve just activated a website through Università per Stranieri. The link to register with FAST  is here:

http://fast.unistrasi.it/atutor/registration.php?register=Registra

Eventually, I’d like to use the many functions of the website, such as the glossary, the forums, etc.

I certainly think I can put the Frequently Asked Questions to good use…

We’ll see what happens!!

Nov 24 cancellation and make-up classes

Hi everyone!

I’m very sorry about not showing up this morning. I had tried to notify the office via email, but I think the secretary was out… and unfortunately, I had NO money on my mobile, not even enough for a text message, until 9 a.m.!! Anyway, my son is ill and I’ve got no babysitter today (Monday) but from tomorrow on I will, so this is the plan:

MONDAY’S B2 STUDENTS CAN COME TO THEIR CHOICE OF “LESSON A” AT THE FOLLOWING TIMES

TUESDAY 10,30 A.M. ………WEDNESDAY 8,30 A.M………..WEDNESDAY 10,30 AM (THIS ONE IS NORMALLY B2.5)

COME TO THE SECTION WHICH YOU ARE ABLE TO ATTEND.FOR TUES 10,30 AND WED 8,30 I’VE NOT YET BEEN TOLD THE ROOM NUMBER, BUT IT WILL BE ON THE UNIVERSITY WEBSITE.

C2 STUDENTS– GEEZ. WHAT BAD LUCK. I’LL SEE YOU ON THURSDAY. WE’LL DO AS MANY LESSONS AS WE CAN BEFORE XMAS AND PICK UP THE PACE AFTERWARDS, PERHAPS.

B1, B2, C2 timetable Robison

Hello everyone,

Here is my timetable. I cannot seem to post it as a table.

OFFICE HOURS (RICEVIMENTO) Thursdays room 113 at 13.30. I may soon change this to room 20, so that those I speak to can use the internet as needed to look up things in English.

B1: Thursdays 12:30-1:30 in room 6.

B2.3: Mondays 8:30-10:30 in room 4= Lesson A, Wednesdays 13:30-15:30, room 14 = Lesson B

B2.4: Mondays 15:30-17:30 in room 4= Lesson A, Wednesdays 15:30-17:30, room 14 = Lesson B

B2.5: Wednesdays 10:30-12:30 in room 14= Lesson A, Thursdays 10:30-12:30 in room 14 = Lesson B

C.2: Mondays 10:30-12:30 in room 14= Lesson A, Thursdays 8:30-10:30 in room 15 = Lesson B

See you at class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

b1 review session on Thursdays at lunchtime

Hi B1 students

This week (in preparation for Thursday 27 Nov.) we’re completing the A2 exercises in the orange book for FUTURE (going to, pres.simple, pres.continuous, will), the photocopies I gave out in class, and the B1 exercises for the future. I can give you the key via email if you need it.

Here are some websites dealing with the future tenses, some of which include exercises,  if you want more practice. See you at 12:30 in room 6! Patti

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs19.htm

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensefuture.htm

http://www.past-simple.com/Future-Simple.htm……..exercises at the end of the page

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/zeitformen.htm

C2 LESSON CHANGE

Hello, all.

C2 lessons are now going to be MONDAYS at 10:30 in room 14, and THURSDAYS at 8:30 in room 15.

I know not everyone can come both times- and poor E. can’t even come once, but I cannot do any better.

My office hours are Thursdays at 13:30 in room 113. I intend to change LOCATION asap, and ask for the multimedia room 20 for ricevimento.  (Boy will I be popular then ) I am also usually around Mondays at 13:30 (duh) as that’s now a “gap” in my schedule. PLEASE stop by and ask for any photocopies so that you can keep up.

This week and possibly next we’re still working on the natural world, the environment, and modals. This includes vocabulary chapters in Destination and in the Advanced Vince (copies available if you haven’t got last year’s book). Also, MODALS- so please do those.

We’re having a good time, I think. Join us.