Wednesday 17 march 2010
3
17
/03
/2010
14:06
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Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today we did a long warm up about this advertisement against smoking. You can watch it below:
Here is what we said about it:
The ad is particularly shocking. It's about cigarettes. It couldn't be a French ad
because I believe French people are too sensitive.
It's not efficient enough according to me. Only the price of cigarettes will make me
want to stop. I believe it's a bad campaign because it's exaggerated. Things like that can't happen in the street. Well, that's what smokers say: they think
nothing will happen to them until their bodies are affected and they get a disease / until it's too late.
Then we corrected the homework you had to prepare for today about the teenager who had stashed a gun under his bed. Here is what we said we could tell him:
"For Christ's sake!"*** or "For Jesus' sake"* or "For Pete's sake"*,
"God damn it!"*** or "damn it"** or "damn!"*
"What were you thinking?"
"You are grounded"
"Stop arguing with me!"
Finally we worked a little bit on the text again and we reviewed some basic grammar about figures and statistics. Here is what we said about it:
"to be written by Selma"
HW: don't forget that you'll have two tests next week on both Tuesday (comprehension) and Wednesday (expression).
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Tuesday 16 march 2010
2
16
/03
/2010
12:24
-
Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today you first had to quote the 2nd amendment to the US constitution.
Règle de phonétique:
Doublement d'une consonne = impossibilité de voyelle diphtonguée.
Ex: Write [ai] --> written, trigger, thriller [i]
We then continued working on our text entitled "Gun Culture". Here is what we said about it:
- Questions (l. 20 to 25):
The questions reveal that the narrator is in shock. He doesn't understand why parents would give their six-year-old a gun for Christmas. He is both surprised and confused. He is bewildered. He is very critical with his fellow compatriots. He tries to understand the situation but he doesn't.
a fellow (US) / a bloke (UK) = un type, un pote
- Tone of the end of the text:
The tone of the text is critical and accusing. Even
though it looks like a newspaper article, it isn't. The author gives his point of view about gun violence in the US and tries to find the culprit.
Even though he uses facts and figures/statistics, his demonstration is biaised/not
neutral/not unbiaised. He blames the media and video games for the violence in the US.
He also blames the lack of gun control.
Vocabulary:
bewildered = confused and surprised
fellow compatriots = compatriotes (terme positif)
accusing = accusateur
even though = même si
culprit = coupable
figures = chiffres, statistiques
biaised = partial
(to) blame ... for = reprocher quelque chose
lack of gun control = manque de contrôle sur les armes (à feu).
HW: I finally told you that next week on Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th, you'll have tests (comprehension and expression). Get prepared and know your structure and rich vocabulary.
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Wednesday 10 march 2010
3
10
/03
/2010
13:48
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Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today we first started the lesson with a fun warm up about a surreal pizza machine. You can watch the report here again:
Here is what we said about it:
The document is a news report from MSNBC.com, an American news channel. It
deals with the “let’s pizza” vending-machine. This machine kneads the dough, puts tomato sauce and toppings / ingredients on the pie. Then it bakes it in less than 3
minutes.
I personally find it surreal/unbelievable. What’s more / Moreover, it’s worrying because it| may destroy jobs / increase
unemployment.
However, I’m sure it isn’t tasty/yummy/delicious/scrumptious. I prefer hand-made food / home-made food. It costs $7 = seven dollars = seven bucks.
Vocabulary explanation:
- (to) knead the dough = pétrir la pâte
- (to) bake = cuire au four
- a pie = toute forme ronde faite à partir de pâte à cuire au four
Then we moved on with the analysis of the text again and we commented on the causes of gun violence according to the author and according to you. Here is what we said:
In the text, the author puts forward the role of the American gun culture. He also highlights the role of video games and
violent movies. He believes that a child can be more influenced than a grown-up/an
adult. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t totally agree. For sure, it may be one reason but not the main. For me, education and the social environment have a primary role. I also believe that it is a vicious circle: violence triggers
violence.
Vocabulary explanation:
- (to) put forward / highlight = mettre en valeur / insister sur ...
- as far as I'm concerned / for me / to my mind, ...
- (to) trigger = entraîner / déclencher
HW: For next time, you need to learn the lesson of course and remember the 2nd Amendment to the US constitution by heart.
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Tuesday 9 march 2010
2
09
/03
/2010
15:45
-
Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today we first warmed up with this sentence on the board:
"Boys = Guns // Girls = barbie dolls" and you had to react. Here is what we said:
Group 2 - When I was a little boy/girl, I used to play dolls with my sister/brother. I know that Claire's brother
used to have lot of barbie dolls. We are more shocked when a boy plays with a doll than when a girl plays with a gun. Society fears that he might be gay:
another prejudice as tough being gay were the most horrible thing on earth...
Group 1 - When I was a little boy / girl / younger, I used to play with both with a barbie doll and soldiers with guns.
I liked undressing the couples and “making love”. I used to watch TV a lot and I
wanted to reproduce what I saw on it.
Vocabulary help:
Bigger brother + younger sister = sibling : frères et soeurs
Chop ! Chop ! "Allez, on se dépêche!" => plutôt utilisé dans les dialogues
Attention GRAMMAIRE -> Verbes de goût / sentiment tjs + V-ING
Then we continued speaking about gun culture in the US. We reminded the 2nd Amendment to the US constitution. You need to learn it by heart for tomorrow.
Finally we resumed the study of our text again and here is what we said about it:
Group 2- The text is about two children who shot their classmates and teachers in the US. It deals with a killing spree / shooting spree.
They had received their guns for Christmas.
In France, some similar event may happen even if they would seem surreal. A few months ago, a teenager went to his highschool with the intention of killing
everyone. He had taken the gun from his father who was a
hunter. Luckily, when he arrived at school, he was arrested. His father had called/warned the police.
Group 1- The text deals with a killing/shooting spree in the US. The children got the guns from their parents. It was a
gift for Christmas. I believe the parents are crazier than the children. If it happened in France, I would think it wasn’t real.
In France, a few month ago, a kid arrived* at school with a gun. He had stolen* it from his father who was a policeman. Luckily, he was
arrested* on time. His father had warned* the police.
*arrived: prétérit
* had stolen: plus-que-parfait, had+p.passé, action antérieure à “ arrived” => rupture chronologique de la narration
* was arrested : preterit (passif)
* had warned : plus-que-parfait
Vocabulary help:
- a shooting spree: une folie meurtrière, une fusillade
- Santa (Claus) = Father Christmas
- (to) warn: alerter, prévenir.
HW: for tomorrow, learn by heart the second amendment to the constitution + Make sure you can justify the titles of each paragraph in the text + answer this question:
"What do the questions on line 20 to 25 reveal about the narrator's state of mind?
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Wednesday 10 february 2010
3
10
/02
/2010
13:45
-
Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today we first warmed up with "the snow" that was falling in the playground. Here is what we said about it:
When I was a child, I used to make snowmen when it was snowing.
The perfect snowman:
The props:
- a broom or skis instead of the broom
- a scarf
- a hat
- a carrot for the nose
- chesnut for the eyes
- a tie to make it smart
Now, I love having snowball fights.
Then we continued our lesson with a recap of what we had said about Lord of War (the credits) and we moved on with an analysis of the double page (pp. 98-99) in your books and answered the
question: why is there a gun culture today in the US. Here is what we wrote:
A long "love story" with guns:
Americans have always had guns. Since the time when the first settlers arrived, they have had a right and even a duty to
bear arms. It used to be necessary to fight back and conquer new land. When the settlers went West, they had to kill buffaloes to eat and they also killed native Americans / Indians to
conquer their land. Weapons are at the core of the making of the country. Now, there is a powerful lobby (the NRA). It defends the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. The
second Amendment to the "Bill of Rights" states that weapons are necessary for
protection.
Finally we began speaking about the text p. 100-101 and the photos. Here is what we said:
Text and Pictures (p100-101):
The cover of Time magazine depicts a 5-year-old who is bearing a gun. He seems
unaware of what he has in his hands. He is bearing the gun as though it were a
toy.
HW: no homework during the vacation but the lessons. You will need a rest after the mock exams. But I do want you to remember Maxime's remark about the child in the text and
in the magazine cover. I also want you to ponder on Claire's thoughts about gun toys. If she had a child, she would allow her son to play with
a gun toy whereas she would forbid her daughter... food for thought...
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Tuesday 9 february 2010
2
09
/02
/2010
11:27
-
Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today we first warmed up with the study of the credits from Lord of War and here is what we said about them:
The man:
There is a discrepancy (a gap) between the way the man is dressed (he is wearing a suit and a tie) and the damage around him (houses are on fire). Normally, there should be soldiers and not a businessman. He's certainly an arms
trader.
He looks self-confident and powerful. For him, selling weapons is as if he were
selling food, jewels or clothes.
He sells weapons as if he were in a meeting in the US.
He sells weapons as if it were normal to do that.
He sells weapons as if they were toys.
He sells weapons as if could solve problems in Africa.
The bullet:
We follow the life of a bullet [i], from the beginning (its creation in the US) to its target (the head of a child in Africa). We see the scene as though we were the bullet.
The target(/aim/purpose) of the movie is certainly to denounce the arms trade cynically. We are considered as though we
were the killers, as though we had our share of responsability in the arms
trade.
Remember the use of "AS IF... / AS THOUGH..."
Then we continued studying a double page of documents in your textbooks. Each group had to work on a special set and will have to report to the class about what connection they have made between
the documents and why guns are said to be popular in the US.
You can watch the credit titles again here:
HW: prepare your report to the class.
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Wednesday 3 february 2010
3
03
/02
/2010
13:41
-
Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today we first finished correcting your type bac exercise and I gave you some tips about how to deal with a dialogue (cf. worksheet) and a translation.
Here is the correction for the questions from your mock exam:
5) Some of her colleagues thought she felt full of her own importance "very keen on her position she was".
6)
1-RIGHT: "Dagliesh thought that his witness was far from being a fool" (l.40)
2-RIGHT: "He suspected that Amy Shorthouse craved more excitement than her life customarily..." (l.12-13).
3 - WRONG: "The little grey eyes were shrewd and amused" (l.11)
4- RIGHT: "She screwed up her face in a simulated agony of effort" (l.41)
7) "the chap" (l.51); "the other voice" (l.53), "he"
8) Even if she is an extravagant woman, she gives out critical information* for the investigation. She remembers a lot of details.
9) Traduction:
Pas la peine de préciser que je ne peux pas dire qui l'a commis parce que je ne le peux pas. Non pas que je n'aie pas ma petite idée. Mais il y a une chose que je peux vous dire. Je suis la
dernière personne à lui avoir parlé. Aucun doute là-dessus. Non, effacez ça! Je suis la dernière personne à lui avoir parlé, face à face. Mis à part le meurtrier, bien sûr.
Then we watched the credits from the movie "Lord Of War". Click on the picture below to watch the extract again:
HW: I'm expecting your prepared reactions as a warm up about this document.
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Tuesday 2 february 2010
2
02
/02
/2010
13:35
-
Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today I first gave you a list of vocabulary that is of utmost importance to deal with a question about your likes and dislikes (in a book, a movie, ...).
Here it is:
Correction de l'expression: Nowadays, most people love suspense in books and films. What about you ?
- Vocabulaire:
a thriller - to thrill - it gives me the thrills / creeps - thrilling / suspenseful - a captivating book - a breath-taking scene - it makes me want to carry on +V.ing - a weirdo / a creep
Then I did a quick recap of grammar and particularly on "verbes de sentiments", the use of "very" and "quite" and uncountable nouns. Here is what we said:
- Grammaire:
*noms non-comptables : news*/evidence*/furniture*
a piece of/ two pieces of..
Verbes sentiments + V.ing.
Examples : like, prefer, hate, be keen on, be crazy about, be fond of.
Finally we started reading an correcting the comprehension part of your exercise dealing with the extravagant witness and the detective. Here is the correction for some of the answers:
1) a. The text is taken from a detective story.
b. "Excepting the murderer, of course" (l.22-23)
" [...]while waiting to be interviewed" (l.2)
2) a. Present: Dalgiesh and Amy Shorthouse
Mentioned: Mr Lauder, Peter Nagle, the chap, Miss Bolam.
b. The conversation takes place in Miss Bolam's office.
" [...]it was in this room" (l.27) + "her office"
c. The detective questions the witness in order to find information* and evidence* about the murder. Her testimony could be important.
3) a.Number 3: "a modish pair of high-heeled court shoes" (l.4-5), "the latest idiocy in hats" (l.5), "the shortness of her skirt" (l.5-6), "fur coat".
b. She's an extravagant woman. She pays attention to her looks. She wants to please.
4) a. 4-3-1-5-2
b.She is having fun. "The little grey eyes were shrewd and amused" (l.11), " [...] was enjoying herself" ( l.13-14).
HW: tomorrow, we'll continue correcting both your tests and hopefully, we'll have time to move on back to the lesson on guns.
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Wednesday 27 january 2010
3
27
/01
/2010
14:49
-
Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today we first warmed up with a teleshopping presentation of Guillaume, Martin, and Robin about an extraodinary pencil... You did a great job, guys! Thumbs up! =)
I wish I had had a real camera to record your performance...
Be careful to the pronunciation of the following words:
- pencil [ə]
- quality [kwa]
- ouch! [au]
- discount [au] / bargain
- type [ai]
Then we summed up everything that was important to notice in a teleshopping environment, both the setting and the attitude of the presenters. Here is what we said:
The setting:
The scene takes place in an office with bright / flashy colours and modern furniture. There is music in the background.
The pencil is in the spotlight. The rest of the room is filled with dim soft light.
The attitude / behaviour:
The presenters take up a smile at all times. They speak in a high-pitched enthusiastic
tone. They keep showing the pencil. They use technical words and superlatives. They sometimes take up a quizzical tone.
Then we continued analysing the spoof ad in more details and here is what we concluded about it:
According to Claire, this ad is not efficient and even stupid. She can't see the point / the interest.
However, the aim of the ad is to raise awareness / to make people aware of the problem of the arms trade.
As for Selma, the ad is too funny to make people react. It should be more serious.
They should show the damage of a war and images of child soldiers. It should shock people more.
Finally, we did a quick recap of vocabulary concerning the selling process:
- a rebate /
a discount / a bargain / it's on sale
- a purchase
- a (shopping) cart
HW: just learn your lesson and get ready for a new document!
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Tuesday 26 january 2010
2
26
/01
/2010
11:10
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Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today we first warmed up with your reactions concerning the picture of the man with a gun in his hand and a baby... Here is what you said:
The situation shocks me. The attitude of the father would seem cruel / cowardly towards the baby since it can't defend itself. However as the man doesn't have
his finger on the trigger, it's just a symbol of protection.
He is the father of the child. But what a protective father he is!
Personally, I think the man will have a bad influence on the child. The infant may
become violent.
There is a contrast between the pistol and the innocence of the baby.
The man is maybe a soldier?
Other traumatic situations:
- fight between parents
- addictions: drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, ...
Then we continued with a "special task". You had to try and sell me a pen / pencil as if you were a teleshopping presenter... Here is some advice so as how to speak:
Attitude of the 2 characters:
- the speaker: enthusiastic, happy, joyful, speaks in a high-pitched tone, in a quizzical tone, asks a lot of questions, winks at the camera, takes up a smile, ...
- the expert: passionate, serious, carries out a demo, uses technical words, knows
everything about his/her product, ...
Finally, we watched a spoof ad by Amnesty International against the arms trade which is out of control. We'll study it more tomorrow but you can watch it again below:
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Wednesday 20 january 2010
3
20
/01
/2010
13:37
-
Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today we first highlit the expressions of behaviour in your test about the Jamaican teacher.
Then we continued the class with a little "warm up situation" about "safety at school" and here is what we said:
I don't really feel safe at school. I was attacked last Monday by another student on the bus. He was bullying me about my ipod / was nagging me about my ipod.
Luckily, these events don't happen every day. However, I believe that they are getting more
and more frequent.
Finally we started a fun activity with Martin who had to describe a picture to you so that you could draw it. You will find this picture again p. 103 in
your books.
HW: for next time, you need to prepare an oral presentation about the reactions you had when you first discovered the description and the picture itself.
Don't forget that you need to turn in a dialogue on Wednesday (cf. test. Expression: 1- a- 200 words).
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Tuesday 19 january 2010
2
19
/01
/2010
13:23
-
Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today we first warmed up about the tragedy in Haiti and here is what we said:
Last week, there was a terrible / huge earthquake that was 7 on the Richter's
scale in Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti. The death toll is not
precise yet but there were a lot of people who died.
As the buildings were weak, they all collapsed and people became prisoner of the debris. All communication went out and the
international aid couldn't come easily. People are now fighting for food and water and against diseases.The catastrophe was so important because it was unpredictable and it happened in a poor country.
Then we began correcting your tests on immigration and here the vocabulary I reminded you was necessary to understand this text.
School:
headmaster / headmistress
the A levels (UK) / the SAT (US)
#F=>A #0=>100pts
1) middleschool 2) highschool 3) college/university
a freshman (1ère année)
I'm a freshman in highschool
a sophomore
a junior (avt dernière année)
a senior (dernière année)
Work:
to work (verbe) /a job (noun)
to toil
employer / employee
CEO= Chief Executive Officer
an applicant - to apply for a job= position= post
vacancies
a CV (UK) / a resume (US)
letter of application= cover letter
skilled/unskilled
competent
hard-working
HW: for tomorrow, don't forget that you have a type bac exercise to complete and we will finish correcting your tests. For this, please highlight in your document the attitudes and ways in
which the characters speak. It will allow you to understand the text better.
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Saturday 16 january 2010
6
16
/01
/2010
17:36
-
Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
thanks to Benjamin I got to know that not only was the text badly xeroxed but there were also some missing words in the questions.
Here are the missing questions for you to be able to complete your tests correctly:
2-b) Where does the conversation take place? Justify your answer by quoting from the text.
6- Focus on Dagliesh's opinion about Amy and his attitude to her. Say whether...
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Take care,
M. Hattais.
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Wednesday 13 january 2010
3
13
/01
/2010
10:19
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Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey, today you had to complete a test dealing with a problem of immigration as a written comprehension exercise.
Hope you didn't find it too hard.
You can download the text and questions here again:
You only had to answer questions 1 to 9. As homework for Wed. Jan. 27th, I expect you to complete the written expression part. Subject 1) a- in 200 words.
Take care and see you next week.
M. Hattais.
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Tuesday 12 january 2010
2
12
/01
/2010
11:32
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Posted in: Tale S2 S3 L1 (Seniors)
Hey,
today we first corrected the short text you had to fill in as well as the translation exercises. Here they read:
Prepositional verbs:
Ana was born of Mexican parents. As she was fed up with poverty she decided to leave her
native country. She was aware of the dangers but very eager for money. She arrived in NYC, where she was determined to work
hard because she knew that her parents and children relied on her and depended on her for money. She was successful in her business dealings and is now able to provide her family for everything they
need. She now feels very different from her own people in Mexico but is quite pleased with her new life.
Translations:
She crawled into the United States : Elle s'est rendu aux États Unis en rampant.
She trudged across the Arizona desert : Elle a traversé difficilement le désert de l'Arizona.
She climbed through the ranks of the service economy : Elle a gravit les échelons de l'économie de service.
She introduced her to friends : Elle l'a présentée à ses amis.
The house is filled with sofas : Il y a des canapés partout dans la maison.
Finally I gave you some pieces of advice about your essays and you began correcting them:
Some vocabulary:
Be fed up with : en avoir marre de...
be angry with : être furieux contre...
Native country / home land / father land
Native language / mother tongue
Le verbe en position nominale:
Being open-minded and curious are qualities.
Being uprooted from our native country can be hard.
Speaking several languages is a personnal pride.
Working abroad allows to learn new things.
Being a stranger can be difficult sometimes because there may be a gap between
different nations.
Gap / discrepancy
HW: you need to finish correcting these essays for tomorrow. Don't forget that you'll also have a test about immigration.
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