H4E - P2 - 7-1-2025 - 45m - Punctuation

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Lesson Goals

At the end of today's lesson you will..

.. know what is expected at next week's test

.. know about and have practised punctuation 

.. have practised your speaking/listening skills

What we will do today:

1. Speaking exercise (5 mins)

2. Writing class: Punctuation (20 mins)

(3. Listening exercise (5 mins))

4. Rounding off together (5 mins)

Speaking exercise

• ONLY ENGLISH, NO SILENCE
• In pairs, 3 minutes
• The first person chooses 1 topic and forms a question
• The second person chooses 1 topic and forms a question
• And so on, until the time is up

Holiday... ask each other & make sure you explain: 

why, where, what, with whom, how!

• The best day/moment
• Who/what made you laugh the most
• A moment you were bored, annoyed, or upset
• What you did on New Year's eve
• A special meal you had
• What you would have liked to do, but did not

Formal letter: test

Writing test: what to expect

Learning goals:

- I can write a formal letter on a topic in English at B1 level.

- I can use formal language in a grammatically correct way 

- (e.g. present, past and future tense, prepositions, adjectives and adverbs)

- I know the rules / layout of formal letter writing

90 minutes, school laptop, with spelling check, + use of dictionary

Writing test: tips

Study the information in the reader and make your own list:

Page 2-3: learn the rules

Page 5: learn the layout

Page 8: learn set phrases

Let's eat grandpa

Which punctuation mark is never used in a formal letter?

1. ;
2. :
3. !
4. ?

Punctuation

To write a good text, and in this case a letter,

you need to use proper punctuation.

.   ,  ;  :  ? 

Reader pages 12-13: let's have a look

Fix it: add punctuation & capitals

i have a couple of questions to ask firstly could you tell me if my travelling costs will be refunded secondly i was wondering what my working hours will be in addition could you let me know if i will receive pocket money finally i was wondering if I will also have spare time

The paragraph with punctuation & capitals:

I have a couple of questions to ask. Firstly, could you tell me if my travelling costs will be refunded? Secondly, I was wondering what my working hours will be. In addition, could you let me know if I will receive pocket money? Finally, I was wondering if I will also have spare time. 

Gebruik in je brief niet alleen maar korte zinnen!

Je kunt 2 korte zinnen samenvoegen door linking words te gebruiken: bijv. because, and, as, however, etc.

Let daarbij op de punctuation.

Writing reader: 

Do exercise 5, p.14:

Combine short sentences into 1 longer sentence.

You can leave out and/or use extra words.

We will check the answers together.

If you have extra time: study formal expressions on p.9

Answers:

1. Headaches and heart rate can be controlled by biofeedback.

2. Without medication, biofeedback: cures headaches, steadies heart rate, lowers blood pressure and (it) relaxes muscles.

3. Relaxation also works well, however, it is expensive.

4. Biofeedback is effective, but costly.

5. The vitamins are adequate, although the flavour is deficient.

Homework: 

schrijf een formele brief in de juiste lay-out

- Schrijf je eigen adres

- Adres geadresseerde hoeft nu niet, zet even een kruisje waar het zou moeten komen

- Schrijf de datum

- Open de brief (je weet de naam van de persoon niet)

- Stel jezelf voor en geef aan dat je schrijft in reactie op de advertentie voor de baan als medewerker aan de receptie (alinea 1)

- Schrijf de volgende vragen in beleefde vorm in één alinea: hoeveel uur per week moet ik werken? Welke dagen moet ik werken en heb ik het weekend vrij? Krijg ik eerst een training voordat ik begin? 

- Schrijf dat je hoopt op een snel antwoord en sluit af zoals het hoort.

Coming up: video

What makes New Year's resolutions successful?

(10 mins)

5:47 minutes

Optional: stop at 2:30 mins and let students discuss possible answers together

At the end, compare their answers to the ones in the video

How to make successful New Year's resolutions?
Answers from the video:

Answers mentioned in the video:

- know your strengths/weaknesses, set priorities

- be optimistic AND realistic

- share  resolutions with others ( support)

- focus on small goals and small wins (instead of will power, motivation)

- start with the easy things

- minimize temptations, prepare for good behaviour

Answers mentioned in the video:

To be successful, it's important to be a reflective learner (know your strengths/weaknesses, know your priorities, balance optimism/realism), but we're often too busy.

New Year is a (culturally defined) moment of reflection in a busy world. People can share their  resolutions with others, receive & give support.

We usually think we need will power, motivation, self-control, BUT wat you really need is:

- small goals and small wins 

- to facilitate your success (e.g. minimize temptations, prepare for good behaviour)

- to start with the easy things

What was said about Janus?

Video:

0:35 - 1:40 (or - 2:48)

Which resolution is, apparently, the most difficult to stick to?

Well done! You....

.. know about and have practised punctuation

.. have practised your speaking & listening skills

See you on Thursday!

Bring your writing reader, notebook, laptop, pen!

He spent the night with his old friend, a drunk and a felon
Change or add punctuation & change the meaning:

1. He spent the night with his old friend, a drunk and a felon.
2. He spent the night with his old friend: a drunk and a felon
3. He spent the night with his old friend, a drunk, and a felon
4. He spent the night, with his old friend, a drunk and a felon

I would never call you stupid

Change the meaning by adding a comma after...

1. I
2. never
3. call
4. you

Writing test = TW2

Learning goals:

- I can write a formal letter on a topic in English at B1 level.

Criteria:

- I can use the present, past and future tense and prepositions to express myself in formal writing.

- I can use adjectives and adverbs to give extra details to my writing.

- I know the rules of formal letter writing

- I have handed in practise writing for feedback.

Writing test: tips

Study the given information in the reader

Page 2-3: learn the rules

Page 5: learn the layout

Page 8: learn set phrases

Participate in class

1. He spent the night with his old friend, a drunk and a felon

2. I'm sorry I love you

3. You have a body like Adonis

4. I would never call you stupid

5. I like cooking my family and my dogs

6. He loves his parents, Lady Gaga and Usain Bolt

7. Help a thief

The sentences altered by punctuation:

1. He spent the night with his old friend, a drunk and a felon

2. I'm sorry I love you

3. You have a body like Adonis

4. I would never call you stupid

5. I like cooking my family and my dogs

6. He loves his parents, Lady Gaga and Usain Bolt

7. Help a thief

Fill in the correct form of the verb:
I …… (1.read) your advertisement for an au pair girl in today’s Times. I …… (2.like) to apply for this post. What …… (3.strike) me most in the advertisement, apart from the high salary you …… (4.offer), is your emphasis on good manners. I am one who strongly …… (5.believe) in …… (6.bring up) children in a traditional way.

Fill in the correct form of the verb:
I …… (7.have) some experience as an au pair girl in Germany and France, and now …… (8.look) forward to …… (9.spend) a few weeks in England. I …… (10.leave) school next month, and I am expected to get a good School Certificate.