FOOD

Listen to the podcast and take notes. Then click on "read article online and do the language activity". Don't read the article, click on "task", have a look at the questions and see if you can answer any of them using your notes. Listen again (without looking at the script) and answer the questions. Finally, check your answers, listen and read the text.

Healthy food

Have a look at the demo video "Eat Better, Look Better". Why don't you register? It's free and you'll have access to lots of videos like this. You can also record your voice.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Some history

Listen to this short text about Thanksgiving and fill in the gaps (you can choose the answer from the drop-down menus if you don't know which word you need).

Vocabulary

Watch this video and learn some words and expressions related to Thanksgiving.






In this video a girl talks about how she loves Thanksgiving food, although it makes her put on weight.






Thanksgiving recipes:

How to cook a turkey- video with comprehension questions.

How to make pumpkin pie. Watch the video and learn useful vocabulary related to cooking and a delicious recipe (the video has subtitles and you can also read the script which is at the bottom of the page).

I hope you're better cooks than Bart!




And last but not least, the song we heard yesterday: Except for the Turkey!

Stress at work

Listen to the podcast and take notes. Then listen and read the script to check your notes.

JOBS

1. Listen to Tim and Jeff talking about cool jobs and do the quiz. Then click here to listen and read the script (you'll also learn some expressions).

2. Now listen to Tim and Jeff talking about jobs they wouldn't want to do. Don'tl look at the script and take notes. Then listen and read the script (have a look at some new expressions).

3. Listen to Jeff talking about job considerations such as pay, uniforms, and schedules and do the quiz. Then click here to listen and read the script.

Modal Verbs

Watch this video for a general introduction on modal verbs.




1. Read about the use of should, ought to and be supposed to.
2. Now read about can, be able to and be allowed to.
3. Do some exercises.

November handout mistake

I'm afraid I've repeated one of the activities from October in November's Listening Handout (My favourite food).
I'm sorry about that.
This is the one you have to listened to instead:

V. Workaholism (6’)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2009/05/090528_6min_workaholism_page.shtml
Listen to the programme and take notes. Then listen and check your notes looking at the script (you also have some vocabulary).
Write here any new words you’ve learned.

GUY FAWKES

1. Listen to the story of Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night and fill in the gaps (two to five words). Click on "comments" to check your answers.

Guy Fawkes Night _______________ celebration. It celebrates a failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament (that’s where Big Ben is) in London. This was probably _______________ examples of terrorism, only it didn’t work. It all happened on ________________. A group of Catholics who were _______________ Protestant rulers wanted to bring the government down. Their leader was a man called Guy Fawkes and_______________ the Gunpowder Plot. Fortunately, some passersby saw Guy Fawkes and _______________with the gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was arrested. _______________ bonfire and burned to death. In Britain and former British colonies, this day is also called Bonfire Night.

Bonfire Night is perhaps _______________ celebration in Britain. Unfortunately, it is in winter and takes _______________. You have to brave the cold, but it is a happy occasion. _________________puts on a fireworks display. There is usually _______________ in the middle of the town. People gather at it to watch the fireworks and _________________Guy Fawkes Night food. Baked potatoes and toffee apples are the most popular treats. There is a mock guy on the bonfire to represent the real one that died _________________. Many families have smaller celebrations and will _______________, private fireworks display in their garden. There are many warnings to be careful because every year, children are injured in _______________.


2. Read more about the story of Guy Fawkes, Britain's most notorious traitor.

Presidential Elections in the USA

How much do you know about the US Presidential Election system?
Watch this short video about US elections and answer some questions.

Electing a US President in Plain English from leelefever on Vimeo.

Questions:

1) How old do you have to be to vote in US Elections?

a) over sixteen
b) over eighteen
c) twenty-one

2) How often do people in the US vote to elect a new president?

a) every four years
b) every five years
c) every eighteen years

3) When is the next US presidential election due to be held?

a) 2011
b) 2012
c) 2013

4) How are US presidential elections decided?

a) The person with the most vote wins
b) The party with the most votes wins
c) by votes cast in individual states

5) What are the areas that states are divided into called?

a) congressional districts
b) electoral areas
c) voting divisions

6) How is the influence that a state has in the election measured?

a) By the number of people who vote
b) By how big the state is
c) By population size

7) What is a person standing for election known as?

a) a candidate
a) an elector
c) a stander

Click on the link to do an online quiz and check your answers

Thanks to Esol Courses: Free English Lessons Online

LISTENING HANDOUT NOVEMBER 2010

I. A MAN EATS 182 CHICKEN WINGS IN 30 MINUTES (48’’)
http://www.simpleenglishnews.com/archives/stories/a-man-eats-182-chicken-wings-in-30-minutes-5313083
II. MY FAVOURITE FOOD
http://www.elllo.org/english/Mixer/61-Food.html
III. A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION (2’40’’)
http://englishdesk.blogspot.com/2010/07/good-first-impression.html
IV. MYTHS ABOUT SLEEP
http://www.headsupenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=412&Itemid=62
IV. STRESSED OUT? (3’42’’)
http://www.podcastsinenglish.com/pages/level2.shtml nº 56

MORE HALLOWEEN!

AMBER

Listen to the story and answer the questions. (The answers are in "comments")

1. How many people gathered to play with the ouija?

2. What did they do at first?

3. What was the board like?

4. What happened at 1.30 in the morning?

5. What did the *planchette spell once and again?

6. Who was Amber?

7. What was wrong with her?

8. What did they do ?

9. What happened the second time they contacted Amber?

10. What did they find out the following day?

* planchette: a plastic pointer that is supposed to move across the board at the command of the spirits.