A CLOZE- LANGUAGE

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A new study shows that being bilingual may delay dementia (1) ____ five or more years. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland discovered that people who spoke two languages did not (2) ____ any signs of three types of dementia for more than four years longer than (3) ____ who were monolingual. A co-author of the report, Dr. Thomas Bak, said: "Bilingualism can be (4) ____ as a successful brain training, contributing to cognitive reserve, (5) ____ can help delay dementia." This means that speaking two languages keeps the brain in better health and helps to keep diseases like Alzheimer's at (6) ____ for longer than if someone spoke just one language.

Dr Bak's research found that bilingualism and the delaying of dementia had (7) ____ to do with social status, gender, occupation or educational background. Bak's team evaluated the (8) ____ records of 648 people from India who had been diagnosed with dementia. Of these patients, 391 were bilingual or trilingual and many were (9) ____. Dr Bak wrote: "The fact that bilingual advantage is not caused by any differences in education is (10) ____ by the fact that it was also found in illiterates, who have never attended any school." He suggested that learning a language (11) ____ in life could keep the brain healthier. He said language learning was "socially more enjoyable, and it (12) ____ your brain to train permanently".

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	at	(b)	as	(c)	from	(d)	by
2.	(a)	revive	(b)	gauge	(c)	make	(d)	show
3.	(a)	them	(b)	those	(c)	they	(d)	these
4.	(a)	looked	(b)	watched	(c)	seen	(d)	stared
5.	(a)	which	(b)	such	(c)	this	(d)	too
6.	(a)	bay	(b)	pay	(c)	by	(d)	par
7.	(a)	dearth	(b)	scarce	(c)	few	(d)	little
8.	(a)	medical	(b)	medicine	(c)	medicinal	(d)	medics
9.	(a)	alliterate	(b)	illiterate	(c)	iterate	(d)	reiterate
10.	(a)	conformed	(b)	confounded	(c)	confirmed	(d)	confined
11.	(a)	latest	(b)	lately	(c)	later	(d)	lateness
12.	(a)	fracas	(b)	forces	(c)	faces	(d)	faux pas

answers:A new study shows that being bilingual may delay dementia by five or more years. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland discovered that people who spoke two languages did not show any signs of three types of dementia for more than four years longer than those who were monolingual. A co-author of the report, Dr. Thomas Bak, said: "Bilingualism can be seen as a successful brain training, contributing to cognitive reserve, which can help delay dementia." This means that speaking two languages keeps the brain in better health and helps to keep diseases like Alzheimer's at bay for longer than if someone spoke just one language.

Dr Bak's research found that bilingualism and the delaying of dementia had little to do with social status, gender, occupation or educational background. Bak's team evaluated the medical records of 648 people from India who had been diagnosed with dementia. Of these patients, 391 were bilingual or trilingual and many were illiterate. Dr Bak wrote: "The fact that bilingual advantage is not caused by any differences in education is confirmed by the fact that it was also found in illiterates, who have never attended any school." He suggested that learning a language later in life could keep the brain healthier. He said language learning was "socially more enjoyable, and it forces your brain to train permanently".

Read more: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1311/131112-bilingualism.html#ixzz4QdyiJLL5


Read more: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1311/131112-bilingualism.html#ixzz4QdybPeth

Read more: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1311/131112-bilingualism.html#ixzz4Qdy7WJuO

EXAMPLES OF COVER LETTERS

Click here for same examples of cover letters. You'll be surprised to find out there are different styles!

IMPORTANT INFO

 HOJA DE INICIO 2020-2021

LEVEL C1

Welcome to the EOI. My name is Valentina Martín. I will be your teacher this course.

HOURS

Tuesdays and Thursdays.

- 16:15 to 18:35

- 18:45 to 21.05

Sessions on Tuesdays. Room 4

Online (zoom so far) on Thursdays. Same hours. You will receive a link to zoom every Thursday to join your class for a videoconference with me. You will need your book and a notebook near you.

MATERIALS REQUIRED


· Our textbook for this year is:

ENGLISH FILE 4TH EDITION ADVANCED C1.1 (Student's book and workbook with key pack)

Latham-Koenig, Oxenden & Lambert (Oxford University Press 2020)

ISBN: 9780194058186

- Aula virtual: In process

ATTENDANCE: 

Regular attendance and active participation in class are vital to achieve the course objectives. Besides, attaining the level requires a lot of self-study

· A notebook or folder is also necessary in your language class.

Dictionaries:

· A monolingual and/or bilingual dictionary (Oxford, Collins or Larousse). Try to get the latest edition.


PRESENTATIONS

You will be asked to give a presentation during the course. You will have to choose the topic from the ones that your teacher will provide you with and have appeared in previous exams.
Your teacher will give you feedback on your presentation and this will give you an idea about your strongest and weakest points. You may as well give your talk on one topic of your choice.
Remember: your teacher won´t make the end-of-the-course exam so she doesn´t know which topics you will be asked to talk about at the end of the year.  You will find the topics for your presentations in this blog.

PRESENTATIONS (Monologue  3-4 minutes)

These are the monologues that have appeared in the exam over the years. Write your name next to one of them to prepare and deliver in the class. The person who has prepared the topic will have to give his/her presentation after having submitted the text to the teacher for correction. Alternatively you may deliver your presentation on a topic of your choice, one related to your field of interest.

1^st: St prepares topic and outline. Time it and make sure you don´t exceed the time limit. Check pronunciation of new items

2nd: Give presentation and outline to the teacher. Teacher will correct it and give it back to student with feedback

3rd: Student practices at home. (make sure you know how to pronounce every Word)

4rd : delivery to the class (Ss gives presentation, using the outline)

4^th: Teacher emails monologue to all the class. Be prepared to answer your teacher's questions on your production. 

1.     Family: Changes in the last two decades. New type of family in the 21^st century. Having Children in the current social & economic situation. Parental authority. Ideal Parents: Qualities, Rights, Duties & Changing Relationship with Their Children. Leaving the nest vs living with your parents. Divorce in Spain: Social aspects. 

2.     Winners or Losers in life: Personality, Education, Luck. Becoming successful at a young age 

3.     Crowdfunding. Advantages & disadvantages. Other ways to get funds. The role of the Internet to get a job.

4.     Productivity and how to improve it in Spain. Unemployment: Causes & solutions. Youth unemployment. 

5.     Learning English: Type of learner; learning process through the years, English compared to Spanish. Learning Languages. Dealing with problems/difficulties involved in learning.

6.     Important People Who Have Influenced Your Life

7.     Your Other Half. Dating agencies, meeting online, social interaction on the internet. Other ways to meet people in our society. 

8.     Another kind of conflict: Bullying. Causes. Effects. Solutions.: Youngsters: Discipline vs. Freedom; role of the media; responsibility

9.  Spanish Legal System & Crime Rates In Spain. What could your government do to reduce crime? Street crime

10.  Ubiquity of music: Reasons for; right to silence; importance of music in your life.

11.  Big cities. Public transport in big cities; advantages and disadvantages; strengths and weaknesses (Madrid). Travelling by train. Self-driving cars

12.  Self-help books: Reason for their success.

13.  Royalties: Illegal copying/downloading, future of books, films & music. Why. Possible solutions. Intellectual property. Problems faced by artists. Protecting copyright.

14.  Having a good sense of humour. Importance of humour. Pursuit of Happiness, The. What makes us happy. Role of money in happiness.

15.  Shopping habits. Small vs. large shops; evolution of shopping; future of shopping.

16.  Charities, money handled, and their role in society. Aid or Business. Working for a charity and raising funds for charity in the current economic climate. What type of events are the most popular? Is fund-rising widespread in Spain? 

17.  Health & Beauty: Trends. The perfect body. Obsession. Cult of Body, The. Physical appearance. Role of the media. Plastic Surgery: Obsession with looking good.

18.  Mass Media: ICTs (Information & Communication Technologies). The future of the media. No more paper: Consulting information in the digital age.

19.  Social Networking: Friends or Audience? Facebook, Twitter, Tuenti and modern communication. Social relationships: Popularity of networking websites; advantages/disadvantages of online relationships; Meeting people & keeping in touch in the future. Computer Skills: Acquired by teenagers and young people. Internet dependence. Video games (positive and negative features)

20.  Neighbourhood Problems: Drugs, Filth, etc. Street crime. Street Drinking & Anti-social behavior associated with it. Solutions. CCTV: Security vs. privacy; threat of police state; Other forms of surveillance. Concern about security

21.  School Homework. Is it necessary? Importance of free time and creativity. Schools: State vs. private. Home schooling. Bilingual education in Spain. Drop-outs. Current Problems of our education system. Importance of having a university degree. Education & Exams. How to increase motivation. Poor school results. Measures to improve the present system. Free to choose: practical vs. vocational studies 

 22.  Graffitti. Urban art?

23.  Alternative medicine & commonly-held beliefs about health & medicine. Healthcare System & the economic recession in Spain. Maintaining the National Health System. Health in the 21^st century (lifestyles, anxiety disorders…) 

24.  the post-holiday syndrome. Bank holidays. Number of holidays in our country- too many or not enough?

25.  Tourism In Spain and abroad. Ecotourism (vs. Mass Tourism). Being Eco-friendly

27.  Animals and us. Services they provide to humans today. Animal Rights: Should bullfighting be banned? El Toro de la Vega, etc. 

28.  Taxation: Pros & cons of paying higher or lower taxes. How taxes should be spent. Taxing fattening food (a good idea?)

28.  Importance of manners. Generational differences. Worldwide. On The Dot: Punctuality & Arriving Late. Political Correctness: Necessary or not?

29.  Culture Shock: Comparison between different cultures. Shocking aspects.Immigration: Current Situation in Spain. Pros & Cons of Emigrating. Integration of Immigrants. Multiculturalism: Multicultural classrooms. Immigration trends. Future of multicultural societies. Working Abroad due to Spanish recession. Opportunity or Necessity. Living and working abroad. Reasons.

30.  Football celebrities: Overpaid jobs. Money is killing sport. Limiting sportspeople’s earnings. Celebrities & The Right To Privacy.

31. Gender issues. Gender equality: Toys & games; traditional jobs for men/women; reverse discrimination. The situation of women in Spain. 2016 

32. Global warming. Mankind’s effect on nature. Natural Resources. Protecting the environment: Saving energy, Consumerism. Alternative sources of energy.

33.  Reality shows & the reasons for their success. Influence of television on our daily life. Trash TV: Gossip programmes

34. Globalisation and its effect on developing countries.

35. Meritocracy. 

We will mark your presentation following these criteria:

-        Range of vocabulary and grammar

-        Accuracy

-        Organisation (Cohesiveness, signposting, …)

-        Register and appropriateness  (giving enough information, varied and relevant...)

Signposting

Section of presentation	Signpost language
Introducing the topic	The subject/topic of my talk is ... I'm going to talk about ... My topic today is… My talk is concerned with ...
Overview (outline of presentation)	I’m going to divide this talk into four parts. There are a number of points I'd like to make. Basically/ Briefly, I have three things to say. I'd like to begin/start by ... Let's begin/start by saying that/commenting on ..... First of all, I'll... … and then I’ll go on to … Then/ Next ... Finally/ Lastly ...
Finishing a section	That's all I have to say about... We've looked at...
Starting a new section	Moving on now to … Turning to... Let’s turn now to … The next issue/topic/area I’d like to focus on … I’d like to expand/elaborate on … Now we'll move on to... I'd like now to discuss... Let's look now at...
Analysing a point and giving recommendations	Where does that lead us? Let's consider this in more detail. Why is this important?
Giving examples	For example,... A good example of this is... To give you an example,... To illustrate this point...
Summarising and concluding	To sum up ... To summarise... Right, let's sum up, shall we? Let's summarise briefly what we've looked at... If I can just sum up the main points... Finally, let me remind you of some of the issues I've covered... To conclude... In conclusion ... In short ... So, to remind you of what I’ve covered in this talk, … Unfortunately, I seem to have run out of time, so I’ll conclude very briefly by saying that ….. I'd like now to recap...
Paraphrasing and clarifying	Simply put... In other words....... So what I’m saying is.... To put it more simply.... To put it another way....

READERS:

Reading is one of the best ways to learn English. You will have to read at least ONE BOOK before Easter. Once you have read the book you will have to hand in your book review after Easter.

The library and the class library are at your disposal to take out books. It is also important to sign in the lending library list in your class whenever you take out or return a book. You can have the book for 15 days and the DVDs for a week. When you return the book it will be in lockdown for 6 days before another student can take it

These are only some websites that can help you write a book review. Use the info!
REMEMBER: PLOTS ARE TOLD IN PRESENT TENSES.

https://www.esleschool.com/writing-section-jurassic-park-book-review/
http://www.cristinacabal.com/?p=7595

HOW TO CONTACT ME

If you need to contact me throughout the course you can do it at valentina.martinramos@educa.madrid.org

In January you will take an exam which will be identical to the June one. Your mark will ONLY give you feedback on your strongest and weakest points but will NOT be part of your end-of the course mark.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR

Check out this important info

- School year

School rules. 

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR DEBATES

PARTIALLY AGREEING
I know what you mean, but...
I hear what you're saying, but...
I see your point, but...
I agree to a certain extent, but...
That´s partly true, but...

CHALLENGING AN ARGUMENT
Yes, but don´t you think …?
Are your really saying that …?
I'm not so sure about that

SETTLING (ENDING) AN ARGUMENT
Maybe we'd better agree to disagree (on that)
It's a complex issue/It's not black and white
There are no easy answers

FORMAL LETTERS/EMAILS

REASONS FOR WRITING
I am writing with regard / reference to / in connection with / in response to ….
I am writing to express (my concern about/disappointment with /disapproval of/ apologies for )….
I would like to draw your attention to /point out ….

INTRODUCING POINTS
(I feel) I must also (dis) agree with ...
I should also like to point out that ….
Your (article) states that ….However, ...

STATING THE PROBLEM
A key challenge that we face is  …..
Not only is this ….. but it is also ….

INFORMING ABOUT SOLUTIONS
What we need to do is ...
What I suggest doing is ...
Only by (ing) ….. can we….

REQUEST FOR ACTION
I would appreciate it/be grateful if you would ...
I look forward to receiving / seeing ...
I trust/very much hope you will ...
I urge you to .....
I call on you to ....
I count on you to ...
I would be grateful if you could ....
This is our chance to ...
Together, we can ....

REMEMBER!!!!
Your formal letters/emails must start with Dear Mr / Ms (surname) and end Yours sincerely if you know the person´s name
Begin Dear Sir / Madam and end Yours faithfully if you don´t know the person's name
Use inversions and cleft sentences

HOW TO DESCRIBE A CARTOON

HOW TO DESCRIBE A CARTOON

The cartoonist may want to convey the idea that…

Its message might be that…

Perhaps the cartoonist’s intention is to show that…

The cartoon implies that…

At first glance one might think that… but a closer analysis shows that…

You could draw the conclusion that…

a speech bubble/ thought bubble

on the (visual) surface

X stands for/ symbolizes…

The aim of the cartoonist is to exaggerate certain character traits

This cartoon shows a satirical description (of)

to satirize sth.

to criticize the behaviour of ....

The cartoon is critical towards…

This cartoon is an outspoken critic (of)

to disapprove of sth.

The cartoonist’s intention is to make fun of/ to poke fun at sb./sth./ridicule sth/sb

to make a sarcastic comment (on)

Let's analyse a cartoon:

Step 2:
What is going on in the cartoon?

Use present continuous to describe

Step 3:
What is the message of the cartoon?

MEDIATION: HOW TO QUOTE

        

Lead-ins, also called signal phrases, introduce quotations.

l According to X, “. . .”

l In the words of X,  “. . .”

l As X puts it, “. . .”

Alternate signal phrase verbs:

Adds, admits, agrees, argues, asserts, believes, claims, comments, compares, confirms, contends, declares, denies, disputes, emphasizes, endorses, grants, illustrates, implies, insists, notes, observes, points out, reasons, refutes, rejects, reports, responds, suggests, thinks, writes.

l X points out that “. . .”

l X, (well-known scientist), argues that “. . .”

l X, (a professor at X University), admits that “. . .”

l X has concluded that “. . .”

l X reports that “. . .”

l X writes that “. . .”

l X stated in an interview that “. . .”

l “. . .,” remarks X, “. . .” .

l “. . .,” claims X

l X claims that “. . .”

1. To contend: assert something as a position in an argument. Spanish argüir, sostener

Example: She contends that the judge was wrong

2. Endorse: declare one’s public approval or support of. Spanish: aprobar, refrendar

Example: I fully endorse that opinion

3. Refute: refutar, rebatir. To deny or contradict ( a statement or accusation). Prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false; disprove

Example: these claims have not been convincingly refuted

4. Claim: asegurar, afirmar. State or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof

Example: The Prime Minister claimed that he was concerned about Third World debt

Assert: state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully. Afirmar

EXPRESSIONS FOR MEDIATION

REFERRING TO THE SOURCE TEXT

·    I’ve read/looked at/listened to ……the leaflet/article/ad…… as you asked me to, and ..

CHOOSING AND REPHRASING THE CONTENT RELEVANT TO THE SITUATION/RECEIVER. SHOWING THAT YOU'VE CONSIDERED THE TASK INFORMATION

Since
Seeing as
Given that you ...
As is indicated here...
As far as you're / your situation is concerned, ...

Since /seeing as you have a dog/are a single parent …….. I consider the following options are the ones that best fit your requirements

REPHRASING CONTENT
· That is to say, …..
· In other words,
   What this basically means is .....
   In a nutshell, ....

  

EXPLAINING /COMMENTING

·         That’s why….

·         For this reason….

EXAMPLES

·         For example, …

·         For instance, ….

BRIDGING INTERCULTURAL DIFFERENCES THROUGH COMPARISON

·         X is similar to /very like/not unlike ……

·         X is a kind of ……

      Cocido is a kind of stew

OFFERING AN OPINION

· In my view, …
· From my point of view, …
· In my humble opinion, ….

GIVING ADVICE AND EMPHASIS TO HIGHLIGHT KEY INFORMATION

· If I were you, I’d…
· I suggest you + present simple
· I suggest+ verb-ing
· I recommend+ verb-ING
· I recommend that +subject+verb

  What I think you really need to pay attention to are/is (the dates, the place....)

     

CONCLUSION
I hope this information is helpul/comes in handy
Let me know if I can do anything else
I hope to have been of service

LIST OF CONNECTORS, LINKS, TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES

Click here for a very useful list. These words will improve your mediations hugely 

SPECIFIC INFO FOR WRITTEN MEDIATION
- Avoid repetitions
- Try to express the same information in fewer words
- Highlight key information (using emphasis)
- Compare, contrast and draw conclusions . Emphasize the advantages expressed in the article, but should also make reference to the disadvantages and extract a final conclusion
- Adapt the message to the recipient by referring to cultural aspects
- Break down the information. Introduction, pros, cons and conclusion could be a good structure on some occasions
- Synthesize: by providing original ideas and opinions based on your previous knowledge and your interlocutor´s from different sources of information, including the text to mediate

-S   EXAMPLES OF MEDIATION:

  WRITTEN TEXTS
https://salondeidiomas.es/mediacion-linguistica-eoi /
https://englishadvancedc1.blogspot.com/2019/10/empower-p-61-summer-job-oral-mediation.html

SPOKEN TEXTS

MISTAKES TO AVOID

Books for free

https://english-e-reader.net/

MEDIATION, WHAT'S THAT?

What EXACTLY is mediation? 

Check out this presentation, which will cast light on what mediation is 

Further information on mediation:

Mediation is a technique used to express relevant aspects of a text in another language. In written exams you are most often asked to mediate a Spanish text into English. Do not translate literally!! You have to process the text. The task is given in a specific situation, e.g. you help a tourist to understand information in Spanish, you write an article for an American school’s year book using a Spanish source, etc. 

Step 1: Read the task carefully to find out what information your addressee needs. 

Step 2: Read the text given to get its meaning and intention. 

Step 3: Highlight or underline keywords. Don’t panic if the text is long and /or complex – Concentrate on the points relevant for the focus of the mediation / to the addressee and leave out the rest. 

Step 4: Take notes in English to process the relevant passages from the Spanish text. Use your own words. Sometimes it is useful to simplify or paraphrase important words or phrases. 

Step 5: Structure your notes according to the task – if necessary, rearrange the structure of the original text. 

Step 6: If there are passages in the text which need explanation to be clarified, add further information. Don’t forget to explain concepts that are typical of one culture but not of the other, e.g. “Abitur” (final exam taken at German schools for higher education). 

Step 7: Write your text summarising your notes. Adapt your language (style, register) to the task and addressee. In an article for a school year book, you use relatively formal language; in an email to a friend, you write more informally.

PAST PAPERS

As you know, there is only one 'liberado' past paper for this level. You can download a zip folder containing it at this link.  

Here is a sample of past papers that  belong to the old curriculum. 

http://www.comunidad.madrid/servicios/educacion/certificacion-nivel-idiomas

Other regions' past exams:


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ddTWJOCiuFjoQmVg8Xs5JtouXxz_Z19m/view