Here’s this week’s assignment for my “English On The Road” students. The assignments, as you can see here, are free. The service I offer is not to provide the assignments, it’s to be that person’s “personal trainer.” Find out more about the service here.
Listening comprehension:
Please listen to this podcast and answer the questions…
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/worldservice/globalnews/globalnews_20130517-0110b.mp3
Listening comprehension questions:
- What was the third topic of the podcast? Turkey, a homophobia conference in Europe, and then…?
- According to the newscast, does US President Obama want a war in Syria?
- Is the cyclone reporter reporting from Bangladesh, Burma, or Thailand?
- Who is retiring from football? What does it mean to “hang up (one’s) boots?” (the American version: “hang up (one’s) cleats”)
- What is the name of Donald Rumsfeld’s new book?
Reading comprehension:
Please read the following passage and answer the questions…
- Do pipelines carry 15% of Canada’s crude oil, or 15% of Canada’s total exports?
- What does Al Monaco mean when he says, “Pipelines are very similar to railroads”?
- What was the result of finishing Canada’s transnational railroad in 1885?
- Why will new pipelines cost more than old ones?
Vocabulary building:
Please write down 10 vocabulary words that are new to you. Look them up in a dictionary, write down the definitions, and write two sentences for each word.
Writing:
Beginning students: Please write 200 words telling me what you did yesterday, and what you will do tomorrow.
Intermediate students: Please write 300 words telling me about a problem you solved this week. What was the problem, why was it a problem, and how did you solve it?
Speaking:
Let’s talk on the phone for about 15 minutes sometime this week. I have some questions for you about the assignments.