English learning log

English learning log

Tips for Angol érettségi, emelt, íráskészség

2022. június 02. - polly graph

Let's start with a previous blogpost, which I wrote to help you with the spoken exam. Both exams - spoken and written - are used to measure your English skills, so (naturally) you can use the advice given in that post:

https://englishexam.blog.hu/2022/01/14/balint_language_cer

Let's go through them briefly:

- use the words that you already know and choose more interesting phrases:

Instead of boring: I like food markets.   SAY/WRITE: I'm fond of food markets.

- prepare your favourite phrases that you can use in different writing task types:

Just thought I’d drop you a line. I’ve been really busy recently. By the way, have you heard about … 

Anyway, the reason I’m writing …      Anyway, I was wondering …

- don't be afraid to use 'advanced' grammar:

If I had more time, I would visit all of them.

I wish I had more time!

Although the Victoria & Albert Museum is worth visiting, I would rather go to Borough Market.

- learn a couple of fancy words, like galore: (meaning: in great amounts or numbers, bőség in Hungarian)

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/galore

I'm sure the market has fruit and vegatables galore.

- be interesting and up-to-date

As far as I know there are several bike racks within the Market, as well as cycle hire docks on both Southwark Street and Park Street.

 (harder to do without google, but the info does not have to be valid)

- warm up before the exam. Read, write something in English instead of chatting with someone in Hungarian and make each other even more nervous)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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https://dload-oktatas.educatio.hu/erettsegi/feladatok_2021osz_emelt/e_angol_21okt_fl.pdf

HOW TO WRITE THE TASK?

1. Read the instructions very carefully to see what exactly you have to write:

- email to a friend, Colin (informal) who sent you information about 3 programmes

your email (120-150 words) should have 3 parts and include the following:

o tell him which programme you would like to choose

o why?

suggest one more activity

Here's a video that helps you write informal emails:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llqPvcciKEM

Here are some phrases to start an informal email with:

 

GREETING  Dear / Hello / Hi …(,)

INTRODUCTION  It’s great to hear from you. / Many thanks for your e-mail / letter.  Sorry it's taken me so long to write back. / I haven't written for ages but …  I’ve been really busy recently. / You’ve to know that I’ve been working really hard.  How are you? / How are things (with you)? / How's it going? / How’s life?  I hope you’re fine. / I hope you and your family are well. / I do hope this e-mail / letter will find you in good health and spirits.  Just thought I’d drop you a line.

REFERRING TO GOOD / BAD NEWS  Glad / sorry to hear / read about …  I'm really glad / very happy to hear / read about …  I'm extremely sorry / very sad to hear / read about …

This is how you can continue and move on to the main topic:

By the way, have you heard about … / Did you hear about … / Tell me about …  Oh, another thing I wanted to mention … / So you want my advice about …  Anyway, the reason I’m writing … / Anyway, I was wondering …  I thought I’d write to tell / ask you … 

This is how you end your email:

Well, time to go / to close! / Got to go now! / I've got to leave off now! / That’s all for now.  Looking forward to hearing from you. / Hope to hear from you soon. / Write back soon!  Make sure you write soon! / Keep in touch! / Drop me a line if you have time!  Take care of yourself! / Look after yourself!  Let me know if you need anything. / Just give me a call if you have any questions left.

And this is how you sign off

Yours(,) / Your friend(,) /  Best wishes(,) / All the best(,)  Hugs(,) / Hugs and kisses(,)  Love(,) / Lots of love(,) / All my love(,)  Take care(,) / Bye for now(,)

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Now, let's see this particular task. Write a letter to Colin about the daytrip to London:

General phrases are BOLD, the parts that I copied from the description of the task are in italics.

 

 

Hi Colin,

 

How are you? Many thanks for your email and the descriptions of the programmes. I've been really busy recently so I really appreciate your help. 

I thought I'd write you to tell you which programme I chose. As you know, I'm fond of gastronomy, especially vegetarian cooking. According to your email, Borough Market is one of London's largest and oldest food markets and it offers gastronomic delights. I'm also interested in history and as far as I know the history of this market goes back to the thirteenth century. How exciting! 

Another thing I wanted to mention is that I really wanted to visit Buckingham Palace. As far as I remember, they have tours and sell last-minute tickets.  Do you think we can visit Borough Market and then see Buckingham Palace?

Well, time to go! I'm looking forward to seeing you in London. 

Take care,

X

As you see you can write a short email using the phrases that I recommended and the parts that you borrowed from the task description.

..................................................................................................................................................

TASK 2 : you are supposed to write a comment = give your opinion+ share your experience + give advice. 

Here's a great post (video and quiz included) that shows you how to express your opinion.

https://www.engvid.com/ielts-toefl-opinion/

Here are my favourites to give my opinion plus agree and disagree:

If you ask me ...

In my opinion ...

I strongly believe that ...

Some people may disagree with me, but ...

I tend to think that ...

As far as I'm concerned

I'm of the opinion that

I agree with you 100 percent!

You are absolutely right!

I'm afraid I disagree.

That's not the way I see it.

I totally disagree.

I'd say the exact opposite.

Here are some topics that help you practise:

http://www.goodlucktoefl.com/toefl-writing-topics-agree-or-disagree.html

How can we give advice?

 

https://www.engvid.com/how-to-give-advice-in-english/

My favourite phrases:

If I were you I would (talk to her)

I think you should ...(talk to her)

I don't think you should ...(talk to her)

Why don't you ...(talk to her)?

My advice would be to ...(talk to her)

One think you could do is ...(talk to her)

It's generally a good idea to ...(talk to her)

You had better (talk to her)

I suggest you (talk to your mom)

How to write the comment (of 200-250 words)?

o do parents have the right to control their children's screen time?

o have a say in what apps their children use

o personal experience (teenagers privacy issue)

o what you think she should do

Claire,

First of all, let me start by saying that your mother loves you and wants to do what she thinks is the best for you. 

If you ask me, parents have the right to control their children's screen time, in fact it's an important part of your upbringing. Your parents have to teach you many things and sometimes they have to set limits. Can you eat as much chocolate as you want? Can you stay out as late as you wish? Can you wear shorts in the middle of winter? Of course not! Parents have to teach their children the rules of the family and the world. They have to teach them what is expected of them and how far they can go. 

I'm of the opinion that parents should have a say in what apps their children use. I tend to think that the internet has a dark side and parents have to talk to their children about these dangers.

I agree with you on the privacy issue. I don't think your mom should read your messages. It must have been a very humiliating experience! In my family we respect privacy and never read messages that were adressed to other people.

If I were you, I would talk to her and explain why you have to use your phone in the evening. I'm sure she will understand. I strongly believe that communication between family members can solve many problems. Good luck!

(243 words)

6 Steps for Defusing Screen Time Arguments with Teenagers

 

 

 

Whiteboard May 26

toilet, restroom (US), lavatory (GB)

Where is the restroom?

Where's the loo?

to rest (relax)

the rest of the book

Rest In Peace (RIP)

waste, trash, garbage, rubbish, litter

WC water closet

Did you like the new James Bond film? 

Yes and no. I liked the action but I didn't like the ending. The star died.

the main character

a mosquito bit me

a mosquito bite

a floor

a skirt

safety shoes

Can you drive a car?  Yes, I can. No, I can't.

can ----) could   : I could play the piano when I was 10 years old.

 

What kind of music did you listen to?

What music    Milyen fajta

Which music   Melyik 

annoy ----) annoying, annoyed

would  

I would like a tea

would - feltételes

I would buy a fast car.

Practice makes perfect.

a fridge

I'm gonna 

I'm going to wake up = fel fogok ébredni

to keep = tart

WHITEBOARD, MAY 25

twenty-fifth (twenty-five) 25th

Máté was born on the 15 th of April

Tina was born on the 9th of January

I think BOTH cities/towns are beautiful. NEITHER town is beautiful.

interesting

hard-working

to appear

to disappear

My neighbour disappearED last week.

in the early sixties

in the mid sixties

in the late sixties

I'm early. I'm late.  Sorry, I'm late.

think, thought

throw, threw (dob)

food

groceries

ID card

I'm going to Cyprus on Saturday. - folyamatos jelen jövő jelentésben

fly, flew

to cook 

a cook is a person who cooks

a cookie

a white lie

Can we take a break?

Can we take a short break? Can we take a 5-minute break?

Whiteboard May 16

to heal - gyógyít     

health

healthy

to grow - nő, növeszt , termel

 

I'm growing my moustache and beard.

screen

this is my colleague/co-worker, Máté Fogl

that

----

this pen, that pen

these pens,  those pens

I know THAT Máté is at work

This watch is AS cheap AS those

I am AS  tall AS my father

I am AS hard-working/diligent AS Máté

I am AS tired AS Tina

I am MORE TIRED than Máté. This watch is CHEAPER than that watch. Béla is healthier than Géza.

meals: breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea, dinner/supper

diner 

to practise

I'm practising (ige) English.

grammar practice (Főnév)

nickname

meat

meal

to brake

to lie = 1. not tell the truth 2. in bed in horizontal position

midnight 12am

noon 12pm

do some exercise=workout

late, later

Sorry, I'm late.

I'm very busy.

busy ---) business

Amphenol Sincere Industrial Product

to produce ---) product ----) productive  productively

Yours sincerely,

to skate (skating)

to ski (skiing)

interesting (-------) boring

WHITEBOARD (May 11)

To cut the mustard = to be good or effective

effect

to fire sy 

I have a fever, high temperature

first, second, third

technician, mechanic, engineer

half sister, step sister

careful driver

I drive carefully

slow, quick, beautiful

slowly, quickly, beautifully

I am a slow driver.

I drive slowly.

fast

fast car

I drive fast.

suitcase

Suit= jacket+trousers (pants)

lettuce

I am teaching. Am I teaching? Yes, I am. No, I'm not.  What am I teaching? 

You are learning. 

Máté is sitting.

 

Tina is reading.

We are learning online.

You are laughing.

They are relaxing.

I PREFER coffee TO tea.

I always drink coffee in the morning.

I usually go to work by car. ride a bicycle

I often cook lunch.

I sometimes go swimming.

I rarely go to the cinema.

I never smoke.

 

HOW OFTEN DO you go to the shop? 

Once a week/month/year

Twice a week/month

Three times a week

44 times a week

How often do you walk with your boyfriend?

How often do you walk your dog?

What do you usually do  ....?

She isn't studying 

Day: Wednesday

Date: 11th of May

23   49   124 one hundred AND twenty-four      98    198     234      2342    9877     

 1 978 887

19 88       I was born in 1988

19 98 

2001    

1907      

ou

06703301437

123,344    3.14       point    

gmail.com        dot

Máté is good at numbers.      full stop/period

MZW  550      m as in Matt

 

LESSON 3-4 (May 9th, Whiteboard)

familiarize

I'm familiarizing myself with teams. We are familiarizing ourselves with the book.

title 

subtitles

This book is MINE.  (my book)

                    YOURS (your book)

                     HERS /HIS          (her book) (his book)

                     OURS   (our book)

                    YOURS (your book)

                     THEIRS (their book)

How to write a report

http://www.blairenglish.com/exercises/emails/exercises/how-to-write-business-reports/how-to-write-business-reports.html

Report o. Participation at a Hungarian or International Trade Fair

 

This report l....  into the question of whether our company should take p... in a trade fair in Hungary or abroad. The costs of participating in fairs i..... the costs of travelling to the fair, transporting our promotional material, accommodation and food. All these costs are considerably higher if we take part in a f..... trade fair. It is also more complicated to transport a large amount of promotional material to a trade fair h... abroad. Participating in a trade fair in Hungary would allow us t. s..... more money on promotion.

The language s.... of those representing our company will not be a c........ All our staff were able to demonstrate that their foreign language s..... are adequate. International fairs are better known and would offer us the opportunity to see the stands of our foreign competitors. We could see what the international trends and latest novelties are in the sweets industry. H......, all of our customers are local and it is unlikely that they would travel a...... to see us. At a trade fair abroad we might not be able to a...... new customers. F........, not being present at Budapest Sweets Fair might be risky, as all our customers visit the event. P........., I recommend participating in the Budapest Sweets Fair and if this is successful, we could plan to go abroad next year.

Andrea Fehér Assistant to the CEO

1 Jan 2017

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