Breathtaking images accompanied by useful vocabulary

ECPE Challenge, Unit 1: Adolescence and parenthood

1) Do you agree with the view expressed in this quotation? 

“The few joys of childhood is the best that life has to offer.”

2) How does it feel to be the parent of an adolescent? How would you treat your child if you were a parent? What particular qualities should you possess?

3) Study these words of unit 1 on Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/_3vh048 

Figures of speech: An activity

An extract from a post on justpublishingadvice.com:

A common figure of speech often uses an inanimate object to give a figurative instead of a literal meaning.

Very often we use similes and metaphors to express an idea or concept. Idioms are another type of figurative speech.

Figure of speech examples

We often use an object to create emphasis. For example, “It’s raining cats and dogs” and “I’ll give you a hand.”

If you are a writer, you are using words and expressions both literally and figuratively all the time. You might be trying to create verbal irony, express human qualities or add colour to your text.

Some forms use word order or repetition, such as, “In the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Others can use a chiasmus, where the second part of the expression is balanced against the first. For example, “you should work to live, not live to work.”

Exaggeration, or hyperbole in literary terms, can quickly turn literal language into figurative. “I have a million things to do at the office today”, or, “it cost me an arm and a leg.”

The opposite, of course, is understatement. “It’s only a scratch” when referring to a deep or nasty wound. Or, “It’s a little fresh today” when the temperature is well below zero. Or, “Tiger Woods was a half-decent golf player in his prime.”

Other figure of speech examples include euphemisms.They are a very common form of saying something in a way that is not as blunt or direct. He passed away instead of he died. I’m going to let you go to replace you’re fired. Or, it fell off the back of a truck, when in fact, it was stolen.

Some expressions use alliteration, where a consonant sound is repeated. Examples include, “I’m as busy as a bee” and “It’s as dead as a doornail.”

Cartoon by Ella Baron in the Times Literary Supplement on Twitter.

Did you know? Figures of speech in the picture above:

1. Put all eggs in one basket = Having all of your resources in one place; putting your money or hopes or future into one thing

2. Wear one's heart on one's sleeve = display one’s emotions openly

3. An ace up one's sleeve = a surprise or secret advantage, especially something tricky that is kept hidden until needed.

4. The joker in the pack= If you describe someone or something as the joker in the pack, you mean that they are different from the other people or things in their group, and can be unpredictable.

5. Don’t trust one's own shadow= not believe or trust people easily

6. Coming out of one's ears= (figurative) very numerous or abundant. (As if people or things were coming in great numbers from many sources including unlikely ones.)

7. Spill the beans= reveal the secret

8. Red herring= A red herring is something that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important question. It may be either a logical fallacy or a literary device that leads readers or audiences toward a false conclusion. 

 9. Big cheese= the most important person

10. Time flies= time passes quickly

11. Piece of cake =very easy to be done

12. Can't make an omelet without breaking an egg= If you say you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, you mean that it is impossible to achieve something important without there being some bad effects. Note: `Omelette' is usually spelled `omelet' in American English.

13. Like a cat chasing its tail= chase (one's) tail To take action that is ineffectual and does not lead to progress. Refers to how a dog or a cat can exhaust itself by chasing its own tail.

14. Tie the knot= to get married

15. To be born with a silver spoon in your mouth or born with a silver spoon in your mouth= If you think that someone has a lot of advantages because they have a rich or influential family, you can say that they have been born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

16 Bird’s eye view= a view from a high angle as if seen by a bird in flight or an overall or cursory look at something

17 A stitch in time saves nine= if you sort out a problem immediately, it may save extra work later 

18 Tough nut to crack (plural tough nuts to crack) = A problem that is challenging to solve. (idiomatic, by extension) A situation, person, group, etc. which is difficult to deal with. (idiomatic) A place, opportunity, etc. to which it is difficult to gain entry. An amount that is difficult to finance.

19 Ride one’s coattails= To benefit from someone else's success; to use someone else's success as a means to achieve one’s own.

20 Get cold feet= hesitate or have second thoughts about sth

21 Sth is full of holes= Unsound or flawed; having many faults that do not stand up to scrutiny or criticism. Alludes to a leaky, porous vessel—hence the related expression, "doesn't hold water."

22 The cherry on the cake= A desirable feature perceived as the finishing touch to something that is already inviting or worth having. Related Idioms : a bite at the cherry. an attempt or chance to do something.

Taken from here.

23 Kick the bucket = to die, pass away

24 Hit the nail on the head= do or say something that is precisely right

25 Cat got one's tongue= Used when someone has nothing to say.

26 An earworm= (informal) a song that you keep hearing in your head

27 Pull your socks up = If someone tells you to pull your socks up, they want you to improve your behaviour or work.


Now visit these websites to find out about the surprising origin of most of these idioms. Then, use this information to write as many example sentences as possible in the comments below.

The Idioms - Largest Idioms Dictionary

PHRASES.ORG.UK

Idioms and phrases - The Free Dictionary

How to succeed in the ECPE Writing, Listening & GCVR Sections

Or click here: https://youtu.be/vOr-4b3YIw8 

Fun word revision with Quizlet

ECPE CHALLENGE

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Unit 4

Unit 5

Unit 6

Unit 7

Unit 8

Unit 9

Amazing reading and vocabulary practice!

CNN articles on current affairs with a number of words explained for you!
https://en.news/lesson-browser/lesson-store

You can learn the ropes by clicking here first:
https://en.news/lessonPlayer/19275-zxx-en/learn/1/1/1?disableResume=false

Vocabulary: Negative prefixes and body parts

ECPE CHALLENGE, Unit 4 Workbook, Vocabulary activities 7, 8 and 9

Activity 7 

Parts of the body: chin, heel, jaw, spine thigh, vein

Problems: ailment, choking, fracture, rash, stiff, neck, tumor

Solutions: heal, immune system, plaster, recuperation, remedy, vaccination

Activity 8 NEGATIVE PREFIXES

1. Show = display (δείχνω)
2. Disorder= chaos (χάος, έλλειψη τάξης)
3. Mislead= give the wrong impression (παραπλανώ)
4. Misconception= a mistaken idea (λανθασμένη αντίληψη, ιδέα)
5. Malnourished= underfed (υποσιτισμένος)
6. Disembark= get off (αποβιβάζομαι)
7. Mislay= lose or forget where you put sth (τοποθετώ σε άλλη θέση, ξεχνώ πού το έβαλα)
8. Discount= a reduced price (έκπτωση)
9. Mispronounce = say sth wrongly (προφέρω ή λέω κάτι λάθος)
10. Mishandle= deal with sth badly (διαχειρίζομαι κάτι λάθος) 

Remember: mis= indicates a mistake / mal= indicates sth bad / dis= the opposite of sth else

Activity 9 METAPHORICAL USES OF THE BODY PARTS

1. Get out of hand = get out of control (Common expression: The situation got out of hand)
2. Head in the right direction = walk towards somewhere
3. Put your feet up= relax and enjoy
4. Have my hands full OR have my plate full= be very busy, have lots to do
5. Keep my head= keep cool, never lose temper or control, always be calm and ready to act
6. Have the cheek (συνήθως: μάγουλο, αλλά εδώ: θράσος) = have the nerve to say sth rude (mischievous= naughty, boisterous)
7. Hand sth down to the next generation= pass it on, give it to your descendants
8. The foot of the mountain = lower parts of the mountain (πρόποδες)
9. Foot the bill= pay the bill (πληρώνω τον λογαριασμό)
10. I’ve got to hand it to you= hats off to you= I give you the credit of doing good work

Amazing Christmas videos and ideas for New Year’s Resolutions

• New Year’s Resolutions for English Language Learners: https://youtu.be/XZUb69IocuA 
• Funny scene of Friends: https://youtu.be/UV7fZd7gjJ8 
• Phrases expressing resolutions: https://youtu.be/SVJRq2ezhFQ 

• Christmas Karaoke https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF22689E438E0C08A

• Crazy Christmas traditions around the world https://youtu.be/wFXkazFvFI8

• The Gingerbread Man story https://youtu.be/pckuS--UlV4

• A Christmas Carol - short version https://youtu.be/HqMfGq3okZY

• Mr Bean’s Christmas https://youtu.be/HKUY_gOxLas

• Nightmare Before Christmas- when Jack discovers Christmastown https://youtu.be/yXo-mqmiGew

ECPE Challenge, Unit 2: Education

Quizlet test Unit 2

Our students' essays on education 

Video: Do schools kill creativity?

Revising vocabulary: Find as many words as possible for each category

C2 level word revision from Maria Markaki Language School

Listening activities

 

Μάθημα 36: Cigarette Lawsuit

Κατεβάστε το πλήρες κείμενο του: Μάθημα 36: Cigarette Lawsuit (.pdf, 80 KB)

Ακούστε το: Μάθημα 36: Cigarette Lawsuit

Μάθημα 37: Anorexia

Κατεβάστε το πλήρες κείμενο του: Μάθημα 37: Anorexia (.pdf, 91 KB)

Ακούστε το: Μάθημα 37: Anorexia (.mp3, 7.73 MB)

Μάθημα 38: Videogames

Κατεβάστε το πλήρες κείμενο του: Μάθημα 38: Videogames (.pdf, 101 KB)

Ακούστε το: Μάθημα 38: Videogames (.mp3, 7.89 MB)

Mάθημα 39: Restaurant Βusiness

Κατεβάστε το πλήρες κείμενο του: Μάθημα 39: Restaurant Business (.pdf, 123 KB)

Ακούστε το: Μάθημα 39: Restaurant Business (.mp3, 7.93 MB)

Μάθημα 40: Ιmperfect Escapes

Κατεβάστε το πλήρες κείμενο του: Μάθημα 40: Imperfect Escapes (.pdf, 134 KB)

Ακούστε το: Μάθημα 40: Imperfect Escapes (.mp3, 9.55 MB)

Taken from: http://www.hau.gr/?i=learning.el.podcasts-in-english

Useful idioms since the day is around the corner!

Education

Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?

https://youtu.be/iG9CE55wbtY

WORD ROOTS

C2-level group update: Studying word roots and beautifully visualizing them. 

More details on Latin and Greek roots and their meanings: www.learnthat.org/pages/view/roots.html 

Tolerance notes

 

 

WATCHING THE 'FREEDOM WRITERS' ON NATIONAL TOLERANCE DAY

Watching, discussing and reflecting on "Freedom Writers" with my teenage students: The ideal way to celebrate the International Day of Tolerance (16th November), especially in the light of the recent inhumane terrorist attacks.

An outstanding film on the value of tolerance and the difficulty, but also glory, of learning how to co-exist. Proof of the brilliance of proper educators and the extent of difference they can make, one person at a time, one class at a time, in an ever-changing multifarious world.

Related information:

School's slides on tolerance:

http://www.slideshare.net/cm24/national-tolerance-day-a-cpe-lesson

The film on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463998/

The trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3634888985/

Quotes as a discussion springboard:

Erin Gruwell: Maybe we should talk about art. Tito's got real talent, don't you think? You know something? I saw a picture just like this once, in a museum. Only it wasn't a black man, it was a jewish man. And instead of the big lips he had a really big nose, like a rat's nose. But he wasn't just one particular jewish man. This was a drawing of all jews. And these drawings were put in the newspapers by the most famous gang in history. You think you know all about gangs? You're amateurs. This gang will put you all to shame. And they started out poor and angry and everybody looked down on them. Until one man decided to give them some pride, an identity... and somebody to blame. You take over neighborhoods? That's nothing compared to them. They took over countries. You want to know how? They just wiped out everybody else. Yeah, they wiped out everybody they didn't like and everybody they blamed for their life being hard. And one of the ways they did it was by doing this: see, they print pictures like this in the newspapers, jewish people with big, long noses... blacks with big, fat lips. They'd also published scientific evidence that proved that jews and blacks were the lowest form of human species. Jews and blacks were more like animals. And because they were just like animals it didn't matter if they lived or died. In fact, life would be a whole lot better if they were all dead. That's how a holocaust happens. And that's what you all think of each other.

-----------

Eva: White people wanting respect like they deserve it for free.
Erin Gruwell: I'm a teacher, it doesn't matter what color I am.
Eva: It's all about color, it's about people deciding what you deserve, about people wanting what they don't deserve. About whites thinking they own this world no matter what, you see, I hate white people.
Erin Gruwell: You hate me? You don't even know me.
Eva: I know what you can do. I saw white cops shoot my friend in the back for reaching into his pocket, his pocket! I saw white cops come into my house and take my father away for no REASON except they feel like it! Except because they can! And they can, because they're white. So I HATE white people on sight

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Marcus: I've never had a hero before. But you are my hero.
Miep Gies: Oh, no. No, no, no, young man, no. I am not a hero. No. I did what I had to do, because it was the right thing to do. That is all.

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Marcus: Lady, stop acting like you tryin' to understand our situation, and just do your little babysitting up there.
Erin Gruwell: That's what you think this is?
Marcus: It ain't nothing else. When I look out in the world I don't see nobody that looks like me with their pockets full unless they're rapping a lyrics or dribbling a ball, so what else you got in here for me?
Erin Gruwell: And what if you can't rap a lyric or dribble a ball?
Andre: It ain't this.
Marcus: I know that's right.
Erin Gruwell: And you all think you're gonna make it to graduation like this?
Andre: I made it to HIGH school ain't nobody stop me.
Marcus: Lady I'm lucky if I make it to 18, we in a war! We graduating every day we live because we ain't afraid to die, protecting our own. At least when you die for your own, you die with respect, you die a warrior.

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Erin Gruwell: So when you're dead, you'll get respect, that what you think?
[murmurs of 'yeah' from the class]
Erin Gruwell: You know what's gonna happen when you die? You're gonna rot in the ground, and people are going to go on living, and they're going to forget all about you. And when you ROT, do you think it's gonna matter whether you were an original gangsta? You're dead, and nobody, NOBODY, is gonna want to remember you, because all you left in the world is this.
[holds up Tito's drawing]

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Miep Gies: You are the heroes. You are heroes every day.

---------

Margaret Campbell: You can't make someone want education.

Growing pains discussion

VISUALISING IDIOMS WITH C2 LEVEL LEARNERS

More vocabulary websites on the school wiki:

http://eflinks.wikispaces.com/Vocabulary

 

Vocabulary notes and games!

 

 

 

 

Notes on television and globalisation; taken from your amazing phrasebooks!