My favourite free time activity - Florence

My favourite free time activity

I have started to dance streetdance two years ago. My friend told about this dancing company in Zurich. They offer different dancing classes. You can do courses for ballet steetdance, salsa, hip hop and many more. I was curious about it so one day I went to a training class for beginners. I really liked it and I signed up for an one year membership.

Usually I go there twice a week.

I love dancing. When I hear a good song, I cannot standing still. The great thing on a dancing class is that you can share your passion with other people. You learn a choreography together and everyone puts a lot of effort in it that we are able to dance the whole choregraphy almost perfect at the end of the course. When I am dancing I can forget everything and just enjoy the music. You can express your emotions. After the dancing class everyone looks like a tomato but we are really happy and satisfied.

Writing Part 2 / Melanie

Be a member of a carnivalgroup

I've been in a carnival group for six years. It is very common in Switzerland, besides we have got a lot of carnival groups in our canton. I've been enjoying carnival as long as I can think.
When I was about sixteen, I decided to become a member of a carnival group, so that I could share my pleasure with others. I had already known  which carnival group I wanted to play the trombone , because I had a lot of friends in one group. Meanwhile I still play in the same group and I enjoy it mostly. I play the trombone and I can say, that I am now one of the best players in my group.
Although you need a lot of time to play all the songs by heart, it is a lot of fun. The whole group likes carnival so much and it is also a good place to meet new people, like I did.
If you like the carnival as I do, please write me. We always need new members.

My favourite free time activity, Mark

American Football – I learned to love a new sport

First of all I was a soccer player, but as I wrote in the title I learned to love American Football. I watched always the Super Bowl on TV but I never used to play Football. In San Francisco I'm more and more fascinated by this sport. I bought a football, went to the park and I began to play American Football. After a while, I started playing much better. The people from San Francisco told me, that I’m very talented by it. I think it’s because of my fascination by this sport.

I enjoy American Football, because it’s an exciting sport with a lot of strategic plans and it’s full of action, but I know when you’re playing for a team against an other one it’s much harder than playing the ball to your friend and back. Maybe when I go back to Switzerland, I’ll check out if there are some American Football teams to play for there.

It would be a nice experience for me.

hyeryun free time

When I was 6 years old, my mom brought me to a music school.

In Korea, it’s common for many young people to learn how to play piano before  elementary school.

But one big difference between young people who learn to play the piano is how long they spend learning it. I have learned it for 10 years and during that time, I learned to read sheet music which is helpful for me to sing lots of songs and to learn another instrument.

When I participated in a piano concert, I couldn’t play it very well because of my fear of the stage. When I was young, I wanted to be a pianist. But I decided to enjoy it as just a hobby. When I felt blue or had to clear my mind, I would play the piano. When I played music I had never played before very well, I felt elated.

Sun writhing 2

When I was a middle school student, I went to the musical theater to watch “ The phantom of the opera” with my family. It was my first time to watch the musical. As soon as it started, I fell in love with all of thing like their acting, singing, music and musical stage. After that I started to interest in musicals.

I really like watching musicals because I can see their real acting and singing in real ______ not like TV, or movie. It is so lively and I can hear fantastic song in musicals. Those thrilled me. Also, I forget about everything and just focus to the musical. It is like _______ in another new world. Usually I buy the original sound tracks after I watched ____ musicals. It is helpful to remind it and I can recommend it to my friends.

I’d recommend as a hobby because for me. Those make me happy, adjust balance of my life and my life more richness.

Hello Florence!!!

Hello Florence,

It's been a few days now and I'm still waiting to see your Writing Part 1 task. Can you please make sure to post it ASAP?

Thanks!

Peter

Correction Guide

Hey Everyone,
after you post your writing to the blog, you will find soon thereafter that it will have changed colors! When you see this, go back and try to correct your text.

Typical writing problems and associated colors:

spelling: 'decission'

grammar structure: 'I have seen you yesterday'

wrong word, word form or no word needed: 'I'm not the organizator of the trip'

syntax (wrong word order) 'Where you are going?'

word needed '_____'

meaning not clear: 'I no line go there'

For all of your corrections, please use this color blue, so I can trace the updates.

Thanks! I look forward to seeing your writing tasks.

Peter

Summary of the various parts of the FCE exam from week one of class

Reading:
1. Long text with 8 sequential questions. Mult. choice (A-D)
2. Insert 7 sentences into a text to flair appropriate spot. One sentence is not used.
3. Match 15 statements with 5 different short texts. 2-4 statements per text

Writing:
1. Response to a letter or e-mail 120-150 words. Address 4 main points. You must write about the topic
      given.
2.   Answer 1 question from a choice of 4 questions.
      Letter, report, short story, review, article.
      120-180 Words, 40min

Use of English:
1. 12 answers, multiple choice in a short text. Words are not always complex, but they will test your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in English.
2. fill in the 12 gap with the correct 'grammer'words.e.g. articles, prepositions, auxverbs, pronounc etc, 12 blanks to fill in, words are not given.
3. You have ten gaps. You must write the correct form of the word given in capitals. (prefixes/ suffixes)
4. Rephrase 8 sentences with between 2-5 words. Keep the same meaning as the first phrase using the word given in bold. Don't change!


Listening:
1. 8 multiple choice questions (A-C) referring to 8 short monologues. You'll hear it twice.
2. Complete 10 sentences, need between 1-3 words. Use words you hear.
3. 5 speakers talk about a related topic. Match 1 statement to each speaker. An extra statement is given.
     You'll hear it twice.
4. 7 questions
long dialog
choose one answer from three possible options (Mult. Choice A-C)
answer in order
You will hear it twiceSpeaking:
1. You'll be asked questions about your work, life, family, hobbies, likes/dislikes, future. Individually 
      answered. About 3 minutes
2. student A has to compare two photographs and answer a question connected with both and speak on their own for a minute. student B answers a short question and A.B switch
3. give you a page with 6 pictures
discuss each of the pictures with your partner&reach a decision. 3min
4. A continuation of the previous speaking task. You will be asked further questions  based on the previous topic and will need to discuss it with your partner and the interlocutor.

Hello Anne(hyeryun)

Thank you for sending this e-mail to me.
I'm really good to hear you're coming to korea.
I think the best time in korea is spring since the weather of spring in korea is not too cold and not too hot
but very appropriate weather to look around.
If you make friends your age, I want to recommend spending time at college or going out.
The weather in spring in korea is the change of season, so you have to bring your light clothes and overcoat which you can put on in the evening.
If you decide to exact date you are coming, contact me again.

See ya~

Hyeryun

Nice writing to start out Hyeryun. One thing you need to work on is punctuation. Please go back and put periods at the end of all sentences. Also, the length of this is a bit short. Please do a word count and ensure that your writing falls into the range that is required (120-150 words for Writing Part 1 eg)

Homework writing part1 p15 Sun

Hi Anne
I'm really glad to hear that you're coming to Korea.
I suggest you that Autum is the best time to visit korea  because it'll not be so
I suggest to you that autumn is the best time to visit to Korea beacuse it'll not be too
hot or cold and you can see  maples (maple trees) everywhere! Red and yellow. It is so beautiful. Red and yellow colors. Those are so beautiful.

If you want to meet young people I recommend you to go (going) to high school festivals. Every autum there are high school festivals and many high school students enjoy that time while visit another high school fsetivals. If you go there, you can make many friends there. There are many concerts like music, dance and magic. Those are organized by themselves. It'll be fun :)

In the autum the weather is not so cold and hot so you just bring T-shirts with cardigans and jeans.
During the daytime it'll be cool and during the night it'll be a little cold.

Thanks for inviting korea and let me know when you're coming. If I can , I want to guid for you !
Best wishes,

Sun

The content and focus on answering the question are good. However, there are many various errors that I think can be avoided if you do a revision of your writing after you do an inital rough draft.

Homework Unit 1, Page 15, Ex. 6 Mark

Hi Anne

Thanks for your email. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. I advise you to go to San Francisco during the summertime. From august to october you can enjoy the hottest days in the year! But you have to take your jacket with you, because the weather can change immediately here in San Francisco! But I think that's not a big deal for you! But normally it's very warm in the afternoon.
The best opportunity to meet other people at your age is in school. If you want, I can arrange that you can go to my friend's school.
And thank you so much for your invitation! I really appreciate that. I can show you some nice places in the city, and there are a lot of them.
Let me know if you have any questions.

Yours sincerely,

Mark

Nice length and well answered in general Mark. Please pay attention to overuse of exclamation points and avoid emoticons at all times.
While it's okay to start a sentence with 'But' and 'And' occasionally, in general they should be used as conjunctions within a sentence.

Homework.6 page 15. ZAIRA.

Hi Anne!
I'm very happy to hear you and to know that you are coming to visit my country!
In my opinion the best time for knowing my country is the Autumn because there aren't a lot of  tourists
I think that a way you can make friends is in hostels. In hostels there are a lot of  young people who like meeting people.
In Autumn the weather is a little bit cold so I suggest bringing jackets and a coat. You won't be cold
Thank you very much for your invitation, I would love go with you, but I cannot. I have to work. Maybe I can  pick you up at the airport. Tell me when you arrive.
Anyway I hope that you have a good time in Spain.
Kisses!
Zaira.

Very nicely written overall Zaira. There are many spelling errors however, please use a spell checker and dictionary.

Homework Nr. 6 page 15 / Melanie

Hi Anne

First of all, thank you so much for your email. I am glad to hear from you and that you are coming to Switzerland. The best time to visit my country is the spring. Despite the fact that the weather is nice at this season, you should bring a jacket for the evening.
To meet people in your age you just have to go out in the evening. We don't have clubs, instead we have a lot of pubs. I am sure you will like it.
Thank you for your invitation to join your group. It would be a lot of fun and I can show you the local courts  in my town. Let me know what time you will arrive at the airport so I will pick you and your friends up.

Have a good journey

Regards,

Melanie

Very nicely written overall Melanie. There are a couple of various things to work on but mostly fine.

Melanie

Hey

My name is Melanie and I live in Switzerland in a very small village called Sachseln. I live there with my parents and two cats. My sister already moved out with her boyfriend about 3 years ago. I did two apprenticeship, one at a jewellery store called Bucherer and the second apprenticeship at a bank. I am a ski instructor too, but just when I have time.

This is my first week here in San Francisco and I like it here.  My host family here is fantastic. We talk a lot together and i have a good time with them. After the time in San Francisco, I will go to New York for a week. I will meet my mother there and we will make together Christmas shopping :-)

That's me and Hugo, my little monkey from Hawaii :-)

Mark

Hi Guys!!

My name`s Mark and I`m from Switzerland!! I live in a small town near Lucerne and I`m 21 years old. I have an older brother called Stephan! My parents names are Thomas and Maxi. I stay in San Francisco for 3 1/2 months and I really enjoy my time here `cause I love this city! I work in the office so it`s a good thing to take the First Exam!

Mark with Golden Gate Bridge behind :)

Thanks for reading my Blog! See you in school guys!

Mark

Hi~ I'm sun :)

Hello~ nice to meet you!!
I'm sun joo Kim from seoul, south korea.
I'm 22 years old and a senior in colleage.
My major is Indonesian language and bussiness :)
My dream is to be a TV broadcaster in "Arirang", it is international broadcast in korea.
There, I want to introduce Indonesia to korean and  live rest of my life while helping Indonesian people in korea :)  I hope my dream will come true.
The most hardest thing here for me is eye contact ... cuz in korea if  you look at someone directly it means aggressive. Many of my foriegn friends practiced to me but... still uncomfortable hahaha culture difference.
Anyway, I really nice to meet you :)
I hope everyone can pass the exam !

This photo is taken last semester , January in colleage.
I miss snow!

Welcome to our Blog!

Hello everyone and welcome. This is our space to post our writing tasks, thoughts, ideas, experiences and comments. I hope you enjoy creating a space that will inspire and motivate you to do your best to learn English and pass the FCE. 

Please introduce yourself to the rest of the class by writing a few words about who you are, where you are from and some things you like and dislike. Please attach one photo of yours that you would like to share with the group (note: it does not have to be a picture of you, though can be). Please post by 10:00pm September 23rd.

Peter