Friday 14th June

Introduction:

Review of recent topics

• Present Simple
• Past Simple
• Present Continuous 

Fill in the blanks using the present simple, the present continuous or the past simple:

Dear Mary How are you. I (1)  (receive) your letter last week. Thank you for the recipe for the cake I (2)  (ask) for. I made it last week and it (3)  (be) very nice. I now (4) (have) a new job in a supermarket in the city centre.I go there every day at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and (5)  (work) there till 10 o'clock in the evening. I am very happy because my sister (6)  (work) there too so we travel to and from work together. I (7)  (get) my first wages last week and I went shopping immediately! I (8)  (buy) a new stereo for my bedroom. It is gold and black and (9)  (look) very nice. My brother (10)  (come) to stay with me for a few days next week. He (11)  (arrive) on Saturday so I am going to collect him from the station. After I collect him, we are going to that Mexican restaurant near the park. (12) (you/want?) to come with us? You can (13)  (call) me to tell me if you want to come or not. John told me that you (14)  (pass) your Spanish exam last month. Congratulations. (15)  (be?) difficult? You know that I (16)  (be) terrible at languages but you are better. (17)  (you/go?) to visit Spain for your next holiday so you can practice it? Please write to me soon with all your news, Mary. All the best Sara.

Describing a picture in English: TIPS

When you describe a picture, remember a good way to start is: This is a picture of ….

Then you can say: how many people are in the picture, what clothes they are wearing and how they are feeling, for example: do they seem happy, sad, angry? What are the people doing? And where are they? You can use words like BEHIND, NEXT TO, IN FRONT OF to describe where people and things are in the picture.

1) Introduction

The photo/picture shows ...

It was taken by/in ...

It's a black-and-white/coloured photo.

2) What is where?

In the foreground/background you can see ...

In the foreground/background there is ...

In the middle/centre there are ...

At the top/At the bottom there is ...

On the left/right there are ...

Behind/In front of ... you can see ...

Between ... there is ...

3) Who is doing what?

Here you decribe the persons in the picture or you say what is happening just now. Use the Present Continuous

4) What I think about the picture

It seems as if ...

The lady seems to ...

Maybe ...

I think ...

... might be a symbol of ...

The atmosphere is peaceful/depressing ...

I (don't) like the picture because ...

It makes me think of ...

Try this exercise to help you describe pictures!

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Writing Emails in English: TIPS

Start your letter by using the word Dear followed by the first name of the person you're writing to, for example:

Dear Mark,
Dear Jane,

Here are some things you might say:

Thanks for your ...
letter
postcard
present
invitation
Sorry it's taken me so long to write.
I hope you're well.
Good to see you again last week.
Look forward to seeing you soon!

Here are some typical ways to finish an informal letter:

Best wishes,
Kind regards,

If writing to a family member, partner, or close friend, you can finish with the following:

Love,

Finish by signing your first name.

TASK - write your own email !

• Ask your friend how they are. 

• Ask about their recent holiday. 

Idea: say you’d like to see the photos. 

• Ask what they have been doing since they got back. 

• Give your friend your own news. 

• Invite your friend to come and stay with you. 

Idea: suggest a time and some things you could do. 

• Say you are looking forward to hearing from them. 

When you finish, work with a partner. Check each other’s grammar, spelling, punctuation and 

style. Is everything clear, well-structured and easy to understand?