Information about English course (up to date)
July 28, 2009 at 10:50 (English materials, News)
1 Votes
WRITING ACADEMIC
On Wednesday, July 29, we continued with Ms Binh
on writing lesson, exercise 6 (p.63):
Ex:
1. The rules were introduced
2. The rules decreased traffic congestion immediately
==>
– After the rules were introduced, they decreased traffic congestion immediately
– The rules which decreased traffic congestion immediately were introduced
– Immediately traffic congestion decreased when the rules were introduced
– The rules were introduced and decreased traffic congestion immediately
– After introduced, the rules decreased traffic congestion immediately
– The rules were introduced to/in order to decrease traffic congestion immediately
– The rules were introduced, decreasing traffic congestion immediately
Exercise:
1. The government plans to help poorer countries by canceling all third world debt.
2. as the example
3. While constantly denying charges of corruption, government officials have secretly been accepting
bribes from businessmen and lobbyists alike.
or While government officials have constantly been denying charges of corruption, they have secretly been
accepting bribes from businessmen and lobbyists alike.
4. The plans which boost renewable energy generation will be announced today by Geoff Healy in his first
policy since becoming environment minister.
5. Being a crime against humanity, the destruction of historic buildings for whatever reasons is repellent
to many people.
6. Charges of entering city centres will be introduced shortly, raising the cost of motoring.
7. The local authority wants to improve the area by knocking down old tower blocks.
8. The project, opposed by both big companies and government departments, arms to regenerate all slum
areas in the next decade.
9. The decision marks the beginning of real competition in the electricity market which was a monopoly
for more than a hundred years until new rules took effect in January, allowing ElectCom to license
competition.
10. Following a damning report from EU Competition Commission, all car companies are now expected to
face stiff competition,
11. The fares have risen substantially over recent years, putting people off public transport.
12. Playing on their strengths, companies need to put more effort into successful areas while reducing
investment in failing ventures.
13. The government could force through the construction of cheap houses for essential workers by the
purchase of the brown-field sites in major cities.
On Thursday, July 30, we continued with Ms Binh
Exercise 8: (p.66)
on writing lesson too:
1. The underlying cause needs to be addressed rather than tackling the result.
=> Instead of tackling the result, the underlying cause needs to be address.
2. The proposal to legalise cannabis was rushed through and consequently the number of social problems
increased.
=> The proposal to legalise cannabis was rushed through, resulting in increasing the number of social
problems.
3. The venture was not thought through carefully enough and so it failed.
=> Not having been thought through carefully enough, the venture failed.
4. The system will fall apart soon, because more people are using it.
=> With more people using the system, it will fall apart soon.
5. If the government does not recruit more police officers to patrol the streets, the crime rate will increase.
=> The government recruits more police officers to patrol the streets; otherwise, the crime rate will
increase.
6. I have a number of objections to the introduction of higher taxes on petrol, but, on balance, I support
the policy.
=> Despite having a number of objections to the introduction of higher taxes on petrol, I support the
policy.
7. In spite of having some objections to the introduction of higher taxes on petrol, but, on balance, I
support the policy.
=> Much as I have some objections to the introduction of higher taxes on petrol, I support the policy.
8. The law has been relaxed, and so we can focus resources on more serious matters.
=> The law having been relaxed, we can ocus resources on more serious matters.
9. This is an idea, which has a number of bad points and a number of good points.
=> This is an idea with both bad points and good points.
10. The idea may cause some inconvenience to the public, but it will be implemented.
=> The idea causing some inconvenience to the public will be implemented.
PARAPHRASE: hand-out is here
This chapter, I just cut and paste from the exercise of Ms Binh, so I have no responsibility for its content
“Artificial Languages”
Notes: Artificial Languages
From 17th century – unsuccessful attempts to create artificial languages – end of 19th century – Esperanto
created by Dr. Zamenhof, Poland – Esperanto easy to learn, speak – created from English, Romance
languages, German
Interlingua: international scientific language – composed of Latin, Romance languages, English –
Interlingua not as popular as Esperanto.
From ….Until the end of 19th century, Esperanto, which is easy to learn and speak, was created by Dr.
Zamenhof, a Poland scientist. It was made/constructed from English, German, and the Romance
languages.
Recently, an international scientific language named/called/, Interlingua, was composed of Latin, English,
and Romance languages. However, it is not as popular as Esperanto.
Paraphrase:
From the 17th century, many attempts were made to construct international artificial languages. Then in
later 19th century, Dr. Zemanof of Poland created Esperanto, using vocabulary from English, German, and
the Romance languages. Esperanto is easy to learn and speak. Interlingua, on the other hand, is an
international, scientific language constructed from Latin, the Romance languages, and English. It is
presently not spoken as much as Esperanto around the world.
“Artificial Language – Objections”
Notes: Main objections: unclear expressions of thoughts – lack shades of meaning found in natural
language – vocabulary from European and American nations – ignore Slavic, Asiatic, African vocabulary
and thought patterns
Paraphrase: Artificial languages such as Esperanto or Interlingua are not perfect because they do not
clearly express one’s thoughts and shades of meanings as accurately as natural languages do. Besides, the
artificial languages used today are constructed from the vocabulary of European and American nations.
They ignore not only the vocabulary but also the thoughts patterns of Slavic, Asiatic, and African
languages.
“Americans”
Notes: American culture – unique – based on ethnic diversity, cultures – Americans distinguishing features
worldwide – open minded, friendly, informal, optimistic, creative, loud, lively.
Paraphrase: The United States is a country of ethnic diversity; therefore, American culture is a unique
blend of the many cultures represented by its multi-racial populations. Americans can easily be identified
anywhere in the world because of the way they behave. They are known for their openness, friendliness,
informality, optimism, creativity, loudness, and vitalityWriting Academic EnglishParaphrasing Successfully
On Monday, August 3rd, we continued with Ms Giao Chi on very cool lesson:-), it’s about PRESENTATION
SKILLS:
Here is the handout:
PRESENTATION SKILLS