English B2. Blended learning course/Mgr. Ritter Konárková SS 2024
Тематический план
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Introductions; Education vocabulary.
Assignment for Week 2: Do the moodle activities and quizzes. Get a copy of the textbook (electronic or real-life): Brook-Hart, G., Jakeman, V. Complete IELTS Bands 5-6.5 (Students' Book), CUP, 2012.
Textbook activity: Read the text on culture shock on pp. 10-11 and prepare your answers to questions 1-13 in exercises 5+6. Get ready for an in-class discussion of culture shock.
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Take this test to see whether you are ready to enrol in this course. If your grade is lower than 6 points, you should re-consider enrolment in this course or revise extensively from the following textbook: Brook-Hart, G., Jakeman, V. Complete IELTS Bands 4 -5 (Students' Book), CUP, 2012
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Practice the most frequent academic vocabulary through these interactive online exercises.
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Match the collocations 1-9 with their meaning (a-i)
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Read the following article and answer the related questions in the test below.
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Answer these statements based on the text on the differences between distance or face-to-face learning.
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View Post replies: 1 Make forum posts: 1
Answer the following questions. Write 220-250 words.
Q: How has teaching and learning transformed over the past couple of years? Describe your personal experience. Is there anything positive the forced lockdown and distance learning has brought to higher education? Do you do a significant amount of online learning? What does online learning mean to you?
Before you write your text, read the following article:
Deadline: Feb 26, 11 p.m.
React to one of your colleague's texts. Choose one that has not yet been taken.
Deadline: Feb 29, 11 p.m.
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Unit 1
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As was stated last week, the faculty B2 exam is based on the IELTS test. I recommend using this source for autonomous practice and useful tips.
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Do the vocabulary exercises on p. 12 in our textbooks. Then complete these questions with problem or trouble.
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Do the vocabulary exercises on p. 12 in our textbooks. Then complete these questions with affect or effect.
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Study the rules for making comparisons on p. 16 and p. 100. Prepare your answers for our next session (Week 3).
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Interactive quiz deadline: March 4, 11 p.m.
The assignment will expire after that, so don't miss this chance to practice your comparative and superlatives!
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Unit 1 - Listening: Look at exercises 1-5 on pp. 8-9 and complete your answers to the listening comprehension tasks. Check your answers with the key.
Track 1
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Track 2
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View Start discussions: 1 Post replies: 1 Make forum posts: 1
Read the article on pp. 18 and 19 and answer the questions in exercise 7 on p. 19. Do not write more than 250 words. Deadline: March 4, 11 p.m. After you publish your ideas, choose 1 of your colleagues' answers and react to it (again, no more than 250 words). 2nd deadline: March 8, 11 p.m.
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Textbook activity:
Please make sure you check the word formation rules on p.100. Do exercise 1+4 on p. 21 and check with the key. Do the Listening exercises on p. 20, ex.3. Make sure that you go over p. 24 before you write the essay and check with the key. Similarly, it is crucial that you check the writing instructions in the attached materials in moodle.
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Study the rules for word formation on pp. 100-101. Do exercise 4 on p.21 and then complete the sentences in this quiz using the correct form of the word in the brackets.
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Read through this material before you write your essay. It contains a summary of the most problematic points we have come across in essays written for our courses.
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This website offers brilliant tools for essay writing and generally Ielts preparation.
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Write an essay of 220-250 words. You can choose either the topic on p. 25, exercise 8 or the following topic:
Some people say that in the modern world it is very difficult for people to have a healthy lifestyle. Others, however, say that it is easy for people to be healthy and fit if they want to be.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge and experience.
Deadline: March 11, 11 p.m.
Name your uploaded file like this: essay1_Name
Don't forget to set your document language to English - to prevent spelling mistakes. Refer to all of the writing tips in moodle before you start writing.
Don't forget to organize your ideas in paragraphs (3-5). Indent the first line of each paragraph OR insert a space between the paragraphs.
Enjoy!
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Unit 2 - Listening on p. 20, ex. 3. Check your answers with the key.
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Prepare your answers to these 2 exercises. We will check them together in class.
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Like the previous one, this quiz expires on March 18, 11 p.m.
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Revision of Units 1+2.
Textbook activity: Unit 3
Listening (p. 28-29)
Reading: Read the article on pp. 30+31 and prepare your answers to questions 1-14. Check your answers with the key and get ready for an in-class discussion of the article.
Grammar: Study the rules of present perfect (vs past simple) on p. 34 (first see Language reference on p. 103) and through the inserted links.
Prepositions in time expressions and in phrases expressing trends (Language reference on p. 103). Exercises 8+9 on p. 36.
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Please take this test after you have completed the revision tasks on pp. 26-27.
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Look at the vocabulary section on p. 34. Study the dictionary definitions of these easily confused verbs and do the quiz. Don't forget to put the verb in the correct tense!
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Unit 3 - Listening, p. 29, ex. 2. Before you do the listening exercise, study the vocabulary in ex. 1 on p.28. Check your answers with the key.
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Unit 3 - Listening, p. 29, ex. 4-5
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This is a 6-minute grammar topic created for you by BBC Learning English.
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This quiz has been prolonged! It!s working again.
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Unit 4 - New Media.
Reading: Read the text on p. 38 and answer questions 1-13. Check with the key. Get ready for a brief in-class discussion of the topic.
Listening: Do the listening comprehension exercises on pp. 40-41 and answer questions 1-10.
Vocabulary: Cause, factor and reason. Study the words on p. 41 by completing exercises 1-3. Take the quiz in moodle.
Grammar: The main grammar topic of this unit is: articles. Please study the rules on p.104 and the attached presentation and other useful links. Practice on p.45 and check with the key. Do the Moodle article quiz and the other attached 'quizziz'.
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This really is a quick talk we watched in class.
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Study the vocabulary section on p. 41. Do the related exercises and check them with the key. Then take this short quiz.
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Listen to the recordings and fill in questions 1-10 on pp. 40-41. Check your answers with the key.
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These are optional exercises that you can take for more practice. The key is included in a separate file.
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TEXTBOOK: Unit 4: Writing: In the essay-writing exercise on p. 44, the following linking words are practised: However, On the other hand, even though and although. Their use is explained on p. 103-104. I also attach a Moodle quiz to practice the use of these words. Do the Vocabulary and Grammar revision on pp. 46-47 and check with the key. Take the Unit 3-4 revision test.
PRESENTATIONS: FIND A TEXT FOR YOUR ORAL PRESENTATION. SEARCH FOR AN ARTICLE RELATED TO YOUR FIELD OF STUDY. YOU CAN DO SO VIA GOOGLE SCHOLAR, THE SEARCH ENGINE UKAZ (MORE: https://cuni.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=420CKIS_INST:UKAZ&lang=cs) OR PEIZ: https://cuni.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=420CKIS_INST:DB&lang=cs
IF YOU ARE GETTING READY FOR THE FACULTY B2 EXAM, YOUR ARTICLE MUST HAVE ABOUT 20 STANDARD PAGES AND MUST BE ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN ENGLISH. YOU CAN ALSO USE 2 ARTICLES OF APP. 10 PAGES EACH. IF YOU ARE NOT PLANNING TO TAKE THE EXAM, YOUR SOURCE CAN BE SHORTER.
PREPARE A SHORT (5-10 MINUTE) PRESENTATION OF YOUR ARTICLE. PREPARE A VISUAL PRESENTATION AS WELL (POWERPOINT, PREZI ETC.). WATCH THE VIDEO I INCLUDED IN THIS UNIT TO AVOID OUR DEATH BY POWERPOINT:)
DON'T FORGET TO PROOFREAD YOUR SLIDES FOR POSSIBLE SPELLING MISTAKES (RUN THE TEXT THROUGH WORD OR SOME APP, E.G. GRAMMARLY, DEEP-L).
THE PRESENTATIONS WILL BE DELIVERED ON WEEK 8, 9 and 10.
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Do the vocabulary and grammar review on pp. 46-47 and check with the key. Then take this revision test.
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Unit 5 - The World in Our Hands
Reading: Read the text on pp. 50-51 and answer questions 1-13. Prepare for an in-class discussion of this topic on April 10.
Listening: Do the listening tasks in Unit 5.
Grammar: The passive - please check the passive voice rules English on p. 104 and do ex. 5 on p. 55. Practice your use of passive voice in the 2 quizzes.
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Unit 5 - Listening; Track 19
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Unit 5 - Listening; Track 20
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Listen to the podcast. You can open the transcript and follow it at the same time.
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Take this quiz to practice the passive voice. It is open until April 16.
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Unit 6
Reading: p. 57 - Do exercise 1 to practice some useful shopping vocabulary. Read the text on p. 58 and answer questions 1-13 on pp. 59-60. Check your answers with the key. Get ready for an in-class discussion of the text.
Listening: If you missed our class on April 10, do the listening exercises on p. 60-61 - Prepare for the listening exercise by studying the vocabulary definitions in ex.1 on p. 60 and then answer questions 1-10. Check your answers with the key.
Vocabulary: p. 105 - verbs+ infinitive; verbs+ -ing. Study the verb patterns and practice on p. 61, ex.2 and p. 62, ex.3. Check your answers with the key. More practice is attached below.
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Let's get ready to overcome the following:
The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public. ~ Unknown
Glossophobia, or a fear of public speaking, is a very common phobia and one that is believed to affect up to 75% of the population. Some individuals may feel a slight nervousness at the very thought of public speaking, while others experience full-on panic and fear.
Use the worksheet as a phrase bank for your presentations.
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Follow the instructions in the shared document and insert your summary in bullet points.
Deadline: 1st group April 16, 11 p.m., 2nd group: April 23, 11 p.m.
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In English, the verb "suggest" is never followed by the infinitive form. See the examples of the correct usage of this verb.
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Unit 6
Grammar: relative pronouns and relative clauses. Study the rules on p. 105 and do ex. 2-3 on p.65. Check with the key.
Check the PowerPoint presentation on Relative Clauses attached in this unit and do the related activities.
Prepare your answers to the attached exercise. We will check it together during our online session on April 24.
Writing: Study the writing tasks on pp. 64-65. Get ready for Essay 2.
Get ready for Unit 5-6 revision test by doing the Vocabulary and grammar review on pp. 66-67.
When you are ready, take the Unit 5+6 revision test.
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Answer the question in the rubric on p. 65, ex.7 in our textbook.
Deadline: April 23, 11 p.m.
Name your uploaded file like this: essayU6_Name
Don't forget to set your document language to English - to prevent spelling mistakes. You can also use this app to correct your mistakes: https://app.grammarly.com/.
Or: you can also try and simulate the Exam Situation if you are planning on taking the B2 exam this academic year. In this case - switch off your spell-check, do not use any dictionaries and try to limit your writing time to max. 40 minutes.
Don't forget to organize your ideas in paragraphs (3-5). Indent the first line of each paragraph OR insert a space between the paragraphs.
Write 220-250 words.
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NB: Grammar phenomena usually tested in the B2 exam
1st + 2nd conditional; the passive; modal verb in the past; the present perfect; although/unless clauses; superlative + comparative forms, indirect speech; indirect questions; relative pronouns
Unit 7
Home study for Week 10.
Listening: Answer questions 1-10 in ex. 2+4 on p.69. Check your answers with the key. Focus on listening. Explore the links to the sample listening tests. The B2 Exam Listening section is based on the IELTS listening tests section 3+4.
Reading: Read the text on p.71 and answer questions 1-13. Check your answers with the key. Get ready for an upcoming forum discussion.
Grammar: Conditionals: study the Key Grammar section on p. 76/106 and do exercises 1-4. Practice via the attached exercises in Moodle.
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Listen to the recording and answer questions 1-10 on p. 69. Check with the key.
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Use this British Council source to get familiar with 0,1, 2 conditionals.
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Do this interactive online exercise to practice conditionals. Excellent b2 exam practice!
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Do as many of the listed listening tests as possible. Focus on Section 3 and 4.
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Watch this video to complement the reading experience from Unit 7. Get ready for a forum discussion of the topic.
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Watch this video to complement the reading experience from Unit 7. Get ready for a forum discussion of the topic.
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View Post replies: 1 Make forum posts: 1
In this forum, I would like you to share your reading experience after reading the article on p. 71 as well as your views on its topic: LYING. Please respond to the questions below and post your answers in the forum for your colleagues to read. Deadline: May 3, 11 p.m.
Write about:
1 What was new or interesting to you in the article on p. 71?
2. What things do people generally lie about?
3. Why do people lie? What advantage do they gain from lying?
4. Are all lies equally wrong/ bad, or is lying sometimes justified?
When you publish your answer, pick a colleague's post and respond to it.
Deadline: May 7, 11 p.m. -
Take this interactive conditionals quiz. Deadline: May 7, 11 p.m.
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You can find countless academic reading practice tests here. Answers are provided for each of them. I recommend skipping all texts unrelated to humanities and diagram labelling - these do not occur in the faculty B2 exam versions. Good luck with your self-study!
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Take this interactive test to practice for the Use of English section of the exam.
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