Are there any countries (other than NZ) that have sheep?

there is no jutification for (any member of the general public) having a gun for their own private use

Vocabulary

* devastate : [verb] destroy or ruin (something)
* devastation
* massacre: [noun] an indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of people
* atrocity : [noun] an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving physical violence or injury
* perspective : [noun] a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view
* reference : [noun] the action of mentioning or alluding to something
* criticism : [noun] the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes
* sarcasm : [noun] the use of irony to mock or convey contempt
* thick-skinned : [adjective] insensitive

[Describe a mistake you have made in your life that you regret.]

You should:

• say what the mistake was
• say when you made the mistake

and discuss why you regret making it.

Expressions

problem -> problematic

If she had (she’d) [come|-ed] last year, she would (she’d) have (she’d've) [found|-ed] a job.

Writing

[THE ADVANTAGES OF LEARNING ANOTHER LANUAGES]

(Introduction)

There are numerous advantages in learning another language.
It should not be surprising that English, Spanish and Mandarin are becoming increasingly popular, given that they are so useful.
The advantages of leaning another language can be divided into three broad areas: a personal satisfaction, as a support for business an as a way of promotiong international tolerance.

(Body 1)

It is thought that learning another language helps to develop personal satisfaction because as people studay as a second language they get exposed to a wide variety of experiences at the same time. When you make a friend from another country, it is essential that you can communicate in the same language. Additionaly by mastering other languages people become more confident because of their achievement; it is intrinsically pleasing.

(Body 2)

International business has increased very significantly in recent years.
English is the main means of communication, so more and more business people have begun leaning it.
In addition the vast majority of emails are in English.
However, English is not the only medium; Mandorin and Spanish are also two of the most important languages.
If business people study one of them, it will contribute to improve communication with foreigner companies.
Therefore, learning different languages can promote global trade.

(Body 3)

Learning a language can also be a way promoting international torelance. It provides greater opportunities for direct communication with foreigners. It leads to people getting closer to each other as a consequence began to appreciate culture diffecences. In addition, language learning helps to breakdown national stereotypes, given that when people communicate well they would understand better each other and racial backgrounds.

(Conclusion)

It has been shown in this essay that there are considerable advantages in learning another language.
These advantages are not restricted to personal reasons; they are also important from an international perspective.
Without English international business would not be so efficient.
However, given the number of international crises, parhaps the most important role of learning an additional languages is in the promotion of international understanding.

Vocabulary

• problematic : [adjective] constituting or presenting a problem or difficulty

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

[Discuss a gift you have received that you value.]

You should say:

• what this gift is

• who gave you this gift

and explain why you value it so much.

Writing

[THE ADVANTAGES OF LEARNING ANOTHER LANGUAGES]

(Introduction)

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

(Body 1)

(Body 2)

International business has increased very significantly in recent years. English is the main means of communication so more and more business people have begun leaning it. In addition the vast majority of emails are in English. However, English is not the only medium; Mandarin and Spanish are also two of the most important languages. If business people study one of them, it will contribute to communication with foreign companies. Therefore, learning different languages can promote global trade.

(Body 3)

(Conclusion)

Vocabulary

• to have a bad attitude towards …
• * satisfactory : [adjective] fulfilling expectations or needs; acceptable, though not outstanding or perfect
• * satisfied : [adjective] contented; pleased
• * extinct : [adjective] (of a species, family, or other larger group) having no living members
• turning a blind eye
• * exhaust : [verb] drain (someone) of their physical or mental resources; tire out
• * promote : [verb] advance or raise (someone) to a higher position or rank

[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 …

[Working Style]

Expressions

• have a fixed schedule
• outsourcing
• low cost labor
• being made redundant

Do you live to work or work to live?

[Unfair working condition]

• doing unpaid overtime
• unhealthy working environment
• no sick leave
• no maternity leave
• no paternity leave
• inadequate break or rest time
• overloaded with work
• having long working hours

Results

• children do not receive enough emotional support and guidance
• work voluntarily
• low-level work place

there is strong demand for a product

• take industrial action against a company
• go to a [union|trade union]

[STRATEGY FOR SUMMARY]

1. Read the summery carefully, sentence by sentence. Understand it. (Try to predict the answer.)
2. Look at the gaps. Identify the word form (noun, singular, plural, verb, adjective, adverb). (Try to predict the answer.)
3. Circle / square around the scanning words (Numbers, Names, Capital letters, Rare nouns, Rare words).
4. Look at in front of and after the gap. Think of synonyms.
5. Paraphrasing: saying the same thing in a different way (active / passive, comparatives / superlatives).
6. Scan for a start point and finish point.

Young people can upskill quickly.
Young people are very visual literate.

Vocabulary

• get work
• find work
• do the kind of work
• do for a living
• make a living
• offered a job
• take on that
• fire from a job
• go on strike
• make redundant : (not as string as it but) fire
• * redundant : [adjective] no longer needed or useful; superfluous
• working conditions
• independent conductor
• economic recession
• * recession : [noun] a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters
• * recede : [verb] go or move back or further away from a previous position
• a receding hairline
• current economic climate
• gain employment
• be fired from
• unskilled workers
• blue colour workers
• white colour workers
• a highly-educated society
• * director : [noun] a person who is in charge of an activity, department, or organization
• * supervise : [verb] observe and direct the execution of (a task, project, or activity)
• * supervisor : [noun]
• personnel officer
• public relations officer
• * spin doctors : [noun] a spokesperson employed to give a favorable interpretation of events to the media, esp. on behalf of a political party
• * surgeon : [noun] a medical practitioner qualified to practice surgery
• * cater : [verb] provide (food and drink), typically at social events and in a professional capacity
• * catering
• * trade (->physical worker) : a skilled job, typically one requiring manual skills and special training
• refuse collector (=garbage collector)
• * refuse : [noun] matter thrown away or rejected as worthless; trash
• to what extent (=how much)
• multi-tasking
• * spontaneous (positive) : [adjective] performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus
• * impulsive (negative) : [adjective] acting or done without forethought
• * sensible (=not crazy) : [adjective] (of a person) possessing or displaying prudence
• visual literacy
• * literacy : [noun] the ability to read and write
• * overestimate : [verb] estimate (something) to be better, larger, or more important than it really is
• * exaggerate (=make something bigger than real) : [verb] represent (something) as being larger, greater, better, or worse than it really is
• * duration : [noun] the time during which something continues

• * labourer : [noun] a person doing unskilled manual work for wages
• * receptionist : [noun] a person employed in an office or other establishment to answer the telephone, deal with clients, and greet visitors
• public relations officer
• safety officer
• security officer
• union official
• personnel officer
• * physiotherapist
• * physiotherapy : [noun] British term for physical therapy
• civil servant : [noun] a member of the civil service
• * tailor : [noun] a person whose occupation is making fitted clothes such as suits, pants, and jackets to fit individual customers
• * shift-work : [noun] work comprising recurring periods in which different groups of workers do the same jobs in rotation
• job-sharing : share full time job with other person
• * exploit : [verb] make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource)

[Thesis statement]

• The last 2 statements of the introduction.
• Main idea of the essay.

[Method for Introduction Structure]

Introduction
= General Idea
-> Example
-> Thesis statements

Examples of Introductions

[THE ADVANTAGES OF LEANING ANOTHER LANGUAGE]

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: …

Vocabulary

• * hinder : [verb] create difficulties for (someone or something), resulting in delay or obstruction

[Work]

1. What is the most enjoyable job you have [ had | done ]?
2. What is the most [ physically | mentally ] demanding job you’ve done?
3. What is the most boring job you’ve done?

had & done

the job you [ have | do ]

• had -> Long term
• done -> Short term (housework etc.)

Answering Expressions

• Begin a doctor was very interesting for me.
• I wouldn’t say that I love my work but the one at the top of my list was …
• … at the end of the day I was totally exhausted
• I was very lucky my mother did anything so I didn’t have to lift a finger.
• I’ve always been [ interested in food | into cooking ]
• I don’t want to tell you this but …
• I hate to admit it but …
• I wish I was better with housework but …
• I wish I could say that I’m a tidy person but the truth is, [I'm the opposite | I ...]
• I wish I could say that I always do my housework but the truth is, I sometimes forget.
• I was responsible for …
• I had responsibility for …
• I have experience in Ving …
• I worked for …
• I have skills in (Ving) …
• I have gained skill in (Ving) …
• I specialized in (Ving) …

… [proposition] -> V+ing

… in Ving
… for Ving

Working Conditions Expressions

• working long hours
• having bad relationship with colleagues
• doing repetitive, monotonous work
• I’m always under a lot of stress.
• … causes stress
• … leads to stress

Vocabulary

• spend time
• hang out : spend time relaxing or enjoying oneself
• physically demanding
• mentally demanding
• be responsible for
• apply for a job
• experience in a job
• an attitude to work
• work for a company
• skill in
• specialize in
• prerequisites for a job
• * prerequisites : [noun] a thing that is required as a prior condition for something else to happen or exist
• * colleague : [noun] a person with whom one works, esp. in a profession or business
• * repetitive : [adjective] containing or characterized by repetition, esp. when unnecessary or tiresome
• * monotonous : [adjective] dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest
• * tertiary : [adjective] third in order or level : relating to or denoting education at a level beyond that provided by schools, esp. that provided by a college or university
• * enthusiastic : [adjective] having or showing intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval

[Discuss a memorable meal you have once had.]

You should say:

• when you had the meal
• what you had

and explain why it was memorable.

Expressions

• No one liked it except …
• It was the first time I had eaten it.
• It was the first time my eating it.

Writing

[The Method for writing an essay]

1. Read the Topic
2. Brainstorming
3. Apply the structure (Introduction -> Body (1, 2, 3) -> conclusion)

[CAN TOURISM CONTRIBUTE TO INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING?]

(Introduction)

Tourism has a significant role to play in the promotion of international understanding. When people travel they get expose to a wide variety of experiences. It is these experiences that contribute to the breakdown of racism and the international stereotypes. The purpose of this essay is to examine weather tourism can contribute to international understanding.

(Body 1)

(Body 2)

(Body 3)

(Conclusion)

Vocabulary

• authentic : [adjective] of undisputed origin; genuine
• curious : [adjective] eager to know or learn something
• credibility : [noun] the quality of being trusted and believed in