es1.naoki.sato.name

Note: 10/07/09 Morning

Speaking

Expressions

• I’m not exactly certain but …
• I’m not sure …
• I wouldn’t say I’m an expert on [politics, the economy, ...]

• as far as I know …
• I would say that …

• …can be divided into …

• The majority of most countries increased slightly.

• except for …
• apart from …
• with the exception …

• …, which decreased.

Vocabulary

• * self-sufficient : [adjective] needing no outside help in satisfying one’s basic needs, esp. with regard to the production of food
• total immersion in English
• * immersion : [noun] the action of immersing someone or something in a liquid : deep mental involvement
• * rebel : [noun] a person who rises in opposition or armed resistance against an established government or ruler
• in contemporary society
• * contemporary : [adjective] living or occurring at the same time

Note: 09/07/09 Morning

Speaking

[Conditional Expressions]

1st conditional : Good chance

• If he [comes|is] late today, the teacher will get angry.

2nd conditional : Very small chance or no chance

• If I met MJ, I would tell him “thank you.”

3rd conditional : Past

• If I hadn’t …

Answering expressions for conditional questions

If that happen(s), …
If that happen(ed), …

I’m going to …
I’ll definitly …
I’ll probably …

If it [were|was] up to me,

I’d …
I might …

That’s a [pessimistic|cynical] view of love.
That’s an idealistic view of love.

Listening

• work long hard hours under high time pressure
• leads to overload and (mental) burnout
• set high standards which are extremely difficult to maintain
• take work home
• misunderstand by superiors
• compete with themselves
• feel frustrated by their work situation

Vocabulary

• harden up!
• * worsen : [verb] make or become worse
• * overcome : [verb] succeed in dealing with (a problem or difficulty)
• * obstacle : [noun] a thing that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress
• have the edge on
• * consequence (=effect) : [noun] a result or effect of an action or condition
• * implication : [noun] the conclusion that can be drawn from something, although it is not explicitly stated
• * wane (=weaken) : [verb] (of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it
• appears to decrease in size
• take on a role
• * assume (=take on) : [verb] suppose to be the case, without proof
• slacking off : decrease in quantity or intensity
• * cohort : [noun]  a group of people banded together or treated as a group
• * aspect (=feature) : [noun] a particular part or feature of something
• mental burnout
• * burnout : [noun] physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress
• * spurious : [adjective] not being what it purports to be; false or fake
• set high standards
• * gross : [adjective] unattractively large or bloated
• * bloat : [verb] cause to swell with fluid or gas
• take a broader view of things
• look at the wider picture
• to have a bad attitude towards …

Note: 08/07/09 Afternoon

Speaking

[Discuss an important or useful skill you have developed.]

You should say:

• what this skill is

• how you learned it

and explain why it is so important or useful.

Writing

[THE ADVANTAGES OF LEANING ANOTHER LANGUAGE]

(Introduction)

There are numerous advantages in learning another language. It should not be surprising that Spanish, Mandarin, and English are becoming increasingly popular as second languages, given that they are so useful. The advantages of learning another languages can be [divided|categorised] into three broad areas: personal satisfaction, as a support for business, and as a way of promoting international tolerances.