How to succeed at university

Watch two teachers giving tips on how to succeed at university and answer the questions. (answers in "comments")




1. What's their intention?
2. The first teacher recommends not to spend money on electronic dictionaries, why?
-
-
3. What's her advice?
4. According to the second teacher why are students there?
5. What do they have to do?
6. What's the last strange tip?

Showing concern and giving advice

1. Learn some expressions to show concern.
2. Learn some ways to give advice.
3. Some more expressions to give advice.
4. A giving advice quiz.

Just for fun

Watch this video and see how important it is to speak English properly!

Striking Spain air traffic controllers return to work

Watch the news report and answer the following questions (answers in "comments").

Glossary:
- Stranded /’strændɪd/left somewhere with no way of going anywhere else
Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at the airport.
- Resumed /rɪ’zju:md/to be started again after being stopped temporarily
flights were resumed
- Grind to a halt / Ground to a halt /hɔ:lt/to slowly come to a stop
Traffic on the interstate almost ground to a halt today because it was so foggy.
- Reliant on /rɪ’laɪənt/depending on someone or something
A country heavily reliant on tourism.
- To drag on to continue for longer than you want or think is necessary
Not allowing the chaos to drag on

Questions:

1. When did the first flight take off from Madrid after hours of frustration and delay?
2. What does the Italian passenger in Barcelona say?
3. How long were Spain traffic control towers deserted?
4. Why did air traffic controllers go on strike?
5. How did the government react?
6. Why is this measure described as "a bitter pill to swallow"?
7. Why do just few Spaniards have sympathy for the controllers?
8. What's not quite over yet?

SLEEP

I. The Problem .
Watch the video a couple of times trying not to look at the subtitles and take notes. Then watch it again and check your notes.

II. Why sleep matters?
Watch the video and learn about the importance of sleeping. It has subtitles.

III. 12 sleeping tips.
Read 12 sleeping tips (the highlighted words are explained) and watch the videos (they have subtitles).

Organic food

Have a look at the comprehension exercise. Listen to the conversation twice and try to do the activity. Then listen again, read the script and check the answers.

Listening Handout December

I. SCHOOLS GIVE STUDENTS TOOLS TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST BULLIES
http://www.cdlponline.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=activity1&topicID=5&storyID=208
II. DIVERSITY By Vincent O'Brien (1’19’’) (North of England accent)http://www.bbc.co.uk/videonation/articles/c/cumbria_diversity.shtml
III. A TRAVEL AGENT TALKS ABOUT HIS JOB (3'18'')
http://podcasts.britishcouncil.org/podcasts/prof-travel-agent.mp3
IV. E-BOOKS ARE THE FUTURE (4’28’’)
http://www.manythings.org/b/e/3297
V. EXCHANGE STUDENTS (15’)
http://spotlightradio.net/listen/exchange-students/