CA4 - Written Task - General Comments + Error Correction

Hello, class!

Now that we’ve completed Activity 4, I would like to give you some general feedback. Below you will find general feedback on the first task of Activity 4 (the written task in the forum). Remember that soon you will receive individual feedback for Task 2 (the Tandem conversation).

GOOD EXPRESSIONS

Here are some excellent expressions you used when applying for jobs. I suggest you have a look at all the examples, because I’m sure you’ll find something new! (Some of these sentences contained very small mistakes, which I corrected in bold.)

1.    I'm writing in response to your advertisement for lifeguard, which I saw advertised on http://www.idealist.org/view/job/hFDkMpw9C3H4/. 

2.    I consider myself a responsable, tidy, methodical and hard-working person, accustomed to work on rotating turns, driving some different trucks (I have all of types of truck driver licenses), and I believe I will be a valuable asset to your great team in Kent

3.    I am writing you to apply for the position of Cirque du Soleil Performer which I saw advertised on your website. As you can see from my attached CV, I have been working as a String Gymnast during 5 years in a Fantasy Circus. I have my own performance with fire

4.    As you can see from my attached CV, I have a lot experience in graphic design in different enterprises and as a freelance I have all the latest versions of PowerPoint and other specific design programmes in my MacProBook.

5.    I consider myself a dynamic and responsible person with initiative and organizational skills. I think these skills might fit in the position that you are offering. I appreciate your attention and I hope to be a valuable contribution to your company.

6.    As you can see from my attached CV, my qualifications include a degree in Multimedia Studies from UOC (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya) and some specialized courses of the most important design programs such as Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and Flash.

7.    I think I am a good candidate for this job because I am a hard worker, I love my job, I investigate and improve the current education through new techniques; I try to learn a lot of things every day... I hope you will consider me for this job. I look forward to your reply.

ERROR CORRECTION EXERCISE

And now we have reached your second error correction exercise! The routine is the same: have a good look at the nine sentences below and try to correct them. I have marked the mistakes in red. Write the corrected sentence below and also try to give a short explanation about why the original sentence was incorrect. Send me your corrections to the Exercises forum.

1.    In addition, as you can see from my attached CV, I have been working as pastry chef, and I have worked in different restaurants in Spain and foreign countries, where I prepared desserts.

CORRECTION:

REASON:

2.    I am interested in you advertisement.

CORRECTION:

REASON:

3.    I have worked at several beauty saloons since I was 22 years old.

CORRECTION:

REASON:

4.    I have large experience how lifeguard in differents swimingpools and some experience how beach lifeguard.

CORRECTION:

REASON:

5.    With reference to your advertisement published on Tuesday May 6 in the Forum, I am writting to apply for the position of Reack Truck Driver. 

CORRECTION:

REASON:

6.    I hope you consider me for this freelance job. If you need some references of my lasts jobs I'll keep in touch with these companies.

CORRECTION:

REASON:

7.    Dear Sir, // I saw her job offer as a teacher through the internet and I found very interesting.

CORRECTION:

REASON:

8.    I have experience in all levels of education; I worked in kindergarten and private school as a teacher. I think they are a good candidate for this job.

CORRECTION:

REASON:

9.    I'm a authentic beer fan, I have knowledges of the elaboration process of different beers and ingredients.

CORRECTION:

REASON:

Unit 5 - Moviegoers - Extra Links

Here you will find some extra links for Unit 5 - Moviegoers.

Vocabulary

English and Movies - This site gives you ideas of what to say in a movie review.

Film and Cinema - This site is great! You'll find a lot of activities, such as picture quizzes and word searches, to practice your movie vocabulary.

Cinema Vocabulary - Complete the sentences with the correct word.


Adjectives

Gradable and non-gradable adjectives - Extensive grammar information. Don't forget to do the quiz at the bottom!

Gradable and ungradable adjectives exercise


Possessives

Possessive pronouns and adjectives - A quick review.

Possessive pronouns exercise


Listening

Movie conversation - Listen and read the conversation. You also have a glossary with the vocabulary.

CA3 - General Comments

EXCELLENT EXPRESSIONS

Here are some excellent expressions you used in your trip journals! Please have a look because I’m sure you’ll all learn something new!

·         Josep, me and a guide prepared to explore the Amazonian forest. Suddenly we turned around and we did not see Josep.

·         They obtained energy by sea currents

·         Our incredible trip began 2 years ago, when my friend Laura and I were thinking about an amazing journey to another planet, the famous Night Planet.

·         We stayed in a nice green house with a comfortable porch where we drank refreshing fruit juices at night.

·         We are in debt with this tribe and very grateful for all the things that they taught us. 

·         I remember that when I opened my eyes I was wearing a suit similar to astronauts and I I was breathing through a tube that came out of my back.

·         2101 was the year when the human race decided to colonize another planet.

·         The Island of Dragons is a medium sized island which has a large volcano in the middle. On its slopes there is a forest with giant trees, at the top of the trees live the local people.

CORRECTIONS

Here you will find a selection of corrected sentences. You will see typical mistakes

1.    We was walking through the mountains when we found a cave.

CORRECTION: We were walking through the mountains when we found a cave.

REASON: The verb form is incorrect. With the pronoun “we” the past is “were.”

2.    It exists a waterfall in the valley that offers the possibility to jump from a height of 20 meters into the lake.

CORRECTION: There is a waterfall in the valley that offers the possibility to jump from a height of 20 meters into the lake.

REASON: The expression “it exists” + a noun is a very unnatural expression in English. To say that something exists, we use “there is” or “there are.” When we are referring to something in the past, we use “there was” or “there were.”

3.    We loved Brazil and his culture.

CORRECTION: We loved Brazil and its culture.

REASON: Brazil is a country, not a man. It is gender neutral, not masculine. For more information on possessive adjectives, check this website.

4.    Also we visited a cave inhabited animals and exotic plants.

CORRECTION: Also, we visited a cave inhabited by animals and exotic plants.

REASON: This is a sentence in the passive (“a cave inhabited” = a passive form). Because it is a passive, you are including the agent (“animals and exotic plants”). When you include the agent, you need to use “by.” Here’s a link with information on how to build passive constructions.

5.    The animals, plants and natural phenomena shine with differents colours like diamonds.

CORRECTION: The animals, plants and natural phenomena shine with different colours like diamonds.

REASON: In English, adjectives do not have a plural form. They are always singular.

6.    We never forget this city and their friendly residents.

CORRECTION: We will never forget this city and its friendly residents.

REASON: You are referring to a future action, so the verb should go in the future (in this case, future simple with “will”). The word “city” is in the singular, so the possessive should also be singular.

7.    In a few time we became friends and we participated in all of their cultural activities.

CORRECTION: In a short time we became friends and we participated in all of their cultural activities.

REASON: The concept of “time” is uncountable, so you can’t use “few” with it because “few” is used with countable nouns.

8.    When the machine was finished we proved this project.

CORRECTION: When the machine was finished we tried (out) this project.

REASON: The word “prove” here is acting as a false friend.

Prove = demostrar

In this sentence, you need the verb “try” or the phrasal verb with very similar meaning “try out.”

9.    Do you will return to the island for holidays someday?

CORRECTION: Will you return to the island for holidays someday?

REASON: This question is using a verb in the future tense. The auxiliary verb “do” is only used in the present tense, so it’s an extra word here. For more information on how to construct questions in the future, check this link.