get familiar with the English speaking news/headlines available in magazines or on the net.
use specific vocabulary in connection with the world of the media
practise your oral expressions skills (pronunciation, fluency, accent)
use your grammar and vocabulary basics in context
Description:
during the next few weeks, you will be asked to keep in touch with the news and headlines of what is going on in Switzerland and in the world. The week(s) before your presentation,you will be asked to select among the issues that are covered in main English-speaking magazines/newspapers or on major TV channels, make a choice of the most relevant ones and present them to the class, as if on TV/online. Make it interactive and captivating.
Contents:
your presentation should include between 5-6 recent issues/pieces of news (facts) (1-2 min/each)
your presentation should include as many comments on the headlines as pieces of news provided.
the topics covered should lead to an interactive session between the two-three students in charge: these can be shaped into interviews, special reports, … a lively coverage of the news.
props in order to make the presentation as lively and natural as possible are encouraged (microphones, scenery, background picture or noises, ….)
your presentation should last about 10 minutes
one topic should lead to a short class debate (pros/cons) ~ 5 minutes.
2M English focuses on developing analytical reading and writing, improving your listening and speaking skills plus mastering grammar and vocabulary at an intermediate level.
Reading
Reading is challenging and will serve to develop your understanding of British or American literature and culture, as well as to strengthen your comprehension, analysis, and interpretation.
We will start with The Giver1by Lois Lowry. Imagine a society where nobody can see in colour - everything is monochromatic. Imagine a society where spouses are selected, children are assigned parents, names are predetermined, and jobs are selected for its citizens. In The Giver, these decisions are the responsibility of a committee of elders. You will not find hills or snow, either: hills make transportation difficult, and snow makes the growing season shorter. Everything is perfect. There is no hunger, poverty, or war. Lois Lowry portrays her idea of a utopian society.
The Giver is a fascinating, thought-provoking book about a fictional society. It will provide you with many opportunities to discuss major issues about the society portrayed in the Giver as well as our society, discussions that will be held in class, in small groups, will fuel ideas for essay writing. While reading a novel, I expect you to answer the questionsin the study guide provided with as homework. Take every opportunity to express your writing skills during quick assignments I give you in class, which I am always willing to correct. At the end of a period, I may also collect writings to assess them with a mark.
Our second novel, called Of Mice and Men2 by John Steinbeck is set in the California of the thirties, when people had to cope with the Great Depression .Through Lennie and George’s friendship your heart will beat at the same pace as those two “drifters” (wandering poor men). Getting familiar with the historical background of a novel is always an asset and enables you to gain a better insight on the author’s work and life. Thisresearch work will be followed by an oral presentation to your classmates.
Writing
Through a number of different writing assignments-from narratives, journal writings (on Of Mice and Men), or compare/contrast literary essays -you will practise your writing skills. You will be asked to express yourself about literature in many ways. You should expect to write once every two weeks or every month, whether in a quick feedback exercise or for a major class essay.
In order to increase your proficiency in English for daily written and oral language, vocabularies will be studied by theme-related chapters and will be practised through role plays, listening activities or little games . Be ready to learn about two new pages every week and have a final quiz (oral or written, sometimes a listening task) after every chapter or everytwo chapters if they are short.
Remember that you must get about 75 % of the points in a vocabulary test to reach the average.
Grammar
We shall go on introducing grammar topics in context - with material created by the team of English teachers at the Bugnon, task based activities , reading comprehension and role plays in class or short writing exercises. Yet most of the job is the one you do on your own (or in pairs) when you practise exercises in class or as homework. We shall try to use our time very efficiently during our grammar period so as not to overload you with tasks at home. Remember you can practise and review on the excellent padlet grammar website 4 or download summaries of every grammar topic on the website
If possible, we will practise vocabulary and grammar in a vivid and active way in our language laboratory.
Speaking
Knowing your vocabulary is a good thing, but being able tocome up with the exact word you need is better.
While reading a book, all activities which involve sharing information with your classmates or presenting a feedback on a chapter you have read, alone or in group, will give you opportunities to practise your oral expression. You will be given the opportunity to express your oral skills first with a presentation on bands and singers, as well as enacting news anchormen or women presenting the latest news.
Make a special effort to ask your questions in English!
Listening and understanding
During classes, I speak English only so your listening skills will be challenged almost every day.
Watching and listening to the latest news on the BBC (radio or TV) will be part of the curriculum, as other listening tasks I might ask you to do, in connection with vocabulary/grammar or with films.
Website/online access
Most of the material which I hand out to students can be found online on Moodle or on this website5 allowing students to access a document even if they have been absent or if it happens to be lost. In case of absence or illness, it is each student's responsibility to inquire about the material received or the assignments due.
Tests and marks
Vocabulary and grammar tests will be grouped in a pack and their average will give you a mark equivalent to any other mark you will get in the four skills (listening, reading comprehension, ... ). If you miss a vocabulary or a grammar test, you will have to do the test immediately when you come back to class.
In addition to minor tests, expect about two major tests in each skill (, reading comprehension, writing , speaking and listening).
Final Advice
Please be sure to come to class prepared (i.e. with exercises done, chapters read, questions in study guide answered), with your grammar vocabulary/reading books on specific days. Major assignments such as oral presentations or essays are given way ahead of time, so I will not tolerate students who cannot produce the required task on due date.
Should we have to rely on distance learning again, your curriculum could be slightly adapted, yet expectations would remain the same as all the material you need is and will be available on line for you.
I hope we will go on working in a stimulating and serious, yet pleasant atmosphere (hopefully face-to-face all year long) which will lead you to do your best in my English classes.
Martine Guignard
1. Lois Lowry : The Giver, HarperCollins, 2014
2. John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men, Penguin Classics; New Edition
[3]Claude Gosset: Petit vocabulaire actuel, edition OPHRYS, 2016
1 M English focuses on developing strong reading and writing skills as well as improving your oral English (listening and speaking) in addition to mastering grammar and vocabulary at a lower intermediate level.
Reading
Reading will serve to develop your understanding of British/Irish/American literature and culture, as well as to strengthen your comprehension, analysis, and interpretation.
We will start with Irish author John Boyne's amazing novel about Germans and the Holocaust from the point of view of a young boy:The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas1.The year is 1943. When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his family must move from their home to a new house far away, where there are no neighbours and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance. Bruno decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye, so sets out to explore...The excellent 2008 film directed by Mark Herman is very truthful to the book and you will certainly shed a few tears over Bruno's moving story.
We will go on with The Giver2 byLois Lowry. Imagine a society where nobody can see in colour - everything is monochromatic. Imagine a society where spouses are selected, children are assigned parents, names are predetermined, and jobs are selected for its citizens. In The Giver, these decisions are the responsibility of a committee of elders. You will not find hills or snow, either: hills make transportation difficult, and snow makes the growing season shorter. Everything is perfect. There is no hunger, poverty, or war. Lois Lowry portrays her idea of a utopian society. The Giver is a fascinating, thought-provoking book about a fictional society. It will provide you with many opportunities to discuss major issues about the society portrayed in the Giver as well as our society, discussions that will be held in class, in small groups, will fuel ideas for essay writing .
While reading the novel mentioned above , I expect you to do the assignmentin the study guide provided with. Take every opportunity to express your writing skills during quick assignments I give you in class, which I am always willing to correct. At the end of a class, I may also collect writings done in class to assess them with a mark.
Writing.
Through a number of different writing assignments – from writings based on grammar topics (a biography) to narratives and a descriptive essay in form of a “spy mission” you will practise your writing skills. You will also be writing about literature in many creative ways. You should expect to write once or twice a month , whether in quick exercises (summaries or notes taking ) or for a major class writing. Major essays may require outline and drafts at home but are assigned well in advance, so organize your work in order not to be overwhelmed with other homework.
Grammar Grammar topics will be introduced in context, then practised, exercised and mastered with exercises from various course books. You don't need to purchase a grammar book.You should expect to be assigned several grammar exercises as homework every week. Most of the grammar exercises are self-corrected, so be sure to come to class with questions on matters that are unclear to you. Highlight or underline any sentence which you haven't understood while doing your exercises, I shall answer your questions. Your first year of English in high school will cover basic tenses - (Present, Past, Present Perfect, Futures, simple and continuous forms, ) as well as Articles, Adjectives, Pronouns and Nouns.
Summaries of every grammar chapter can be downloaded on Moodle.
We will practice with interactive exercises on the excellent padlet website3 the language lab.
Vocabulary4
In order to increase your proficiency in English for daily written and oral language, vocabularies will be studied by theme-related chapters which may lead to situation role-playing, listening activities or quick writing. Be ready to learn about two pages every week and have a final test on every one or two chapters. Vocabulary tests might take the shape of listening tests as well. You must obtain 75% of the points to reach the average in vocabulary tests.
Use flashcards if you have trouble remembering difficult words. You will be able to review your vocabulary on the bus, during recess, ... or to group words according to the theme you are studying. Pay a special attention to the pronunciation of the words you learn, many tests may involve dictation/oral comprehension/expression. We will devote many periods practising vocabulary in the language laboratory with quizlet5 as well.
Speaking
Major oral presentations in front of the class (at least one each semester, on English-speaking countries in the world and on bands or singers of your choice), in pairs or groups, will challenge your speaking skills.
Remember you are not allowed to read, only notes and keywords will be accepted. You will also be expected to present summaries/activities in connection with the books we read. While reading, all activities which involve sharing information with your classmates or presenting feedback on a chapter you have read for homework, alone or in group, will give you opportunities to practise your oral expression. Always make the effort to ask and answer questions in English! It's rewarding.
Listening and understanding
During classes, I speak English only so your listening skills will be constantly challenged. We will watch films in connection with the novels we read in their original version. You can practice at home watching most series in English. Going to our language laboratory will also enable you to practice your interactive communication skills. Watching and listening to the latest news on the BBC will be part of the curriculum. If you have trouble understanding what I say, you are most welcome to ask me to repeat, I will do so. I am ready to find alternatives to let my explanations sink into your mind - other words, gestures, drawings, ... - but bear in mind French should be avoided as much as possible. However, as soon as the bell rings, feel free to come to my desk and ask for extra explanations, then we may chat in French.
Documents and internet
Most of the material which I hand out to students can be found in your class folder on Moodle6 or on my blog7, allowing students to access a document even if they have been absent or if it happens to be lost .
In case of absence or illness, it is each student's responsibility to inquire about the material received or the assignments due. You always have the opportunity to contact me by e-mail6.
Tests and marks
Small vocabulary tests will be grouped and their average (decimal, rounded) will give you one full mark equivalent to any other mark you will get in writing, reading comprehension, ... .You will have an extra vocabulary test so you will be allowed to leave out the worst mark if you have attended all tests at the end of the school year. In addition to the vocabulary tests mentioned above, expect two tests in each skill (reading comprehension, writing, speaking and listening) plus two major grammar tests. All the tests are worth the same , except vocabulary tests. It is your job to keep your marks updated.
Teacher’s word
Please be sure to come to class prepared (which means ready for tests , exercises done or chapters read), with all the necessary equipment for each lesson. I hand out a lot of photocopies, make an effort to organize them into files so as to find them easily when needed. Switch off your cell phones and open your mind.
Finally, if you find yourself in trouble, academically or otherwise, please come and see me sooner rather than later so we can work together to find a way to get you back on track. Don't be afraid to ask for help. I will make time to see you one-on-one. I hope this will be a good year for you in English.
Martine Guignard
1John Boyne: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Random House, 2006
3 M English focuses on developing strong reading and writing skills as well as improving your oral English (listening and speaking) in addition to mastering grammar and vocabulary at an upper intermediate level.
Reading
Reading is challenging and will serve to develop your understanding of British and American literature and culture, as well as to strengthen your comprehension, analysis, and interpretation. We will focus on essay writing. Literary topics and issues will enable you to write essays in which you will show your analytical skills.
We will start with
The Glass Castle1,by Jeannette Walls,a startling memoir2 of a successful journalist’s journey from the deserted and dusty mining towns of the American Southwest, to an antique filled apartment on Park Avenue. Jeanette Walls narrates her nomadic and adventurous childhood with her dreaming, ‘brilliant’ but alcoholic parents. At the age of seventeen she escapes on a Greyhound bus to New York with her older sister; her younger siblings follow later. After pursuing the education and civilisation her parents sought to escape, Jeanette eventually succeeds in her quest for the ‘mundane, middle class existence’ she had always craved. In her apartment, overlooked by ‘a portrait of someone else’s ancestor’ she recounts poignant remembered images of star watching with her father, juxtaposed with recollections of irregular meals, accidents and police-car chases and reveals her complex feelings of shame, guilt, pity and pride toward her parents. The film starring Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts provides an excellent interpretation of Walls’ memoir.
We will go on with Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet3 : by way of introduction, we will study some of the most famous Shakespearian sonnets so that you get familiar with his language and watch the film Shakespeare in Love, which gives you a good insight on Shakespeare’s life, albeit slightly romanced. Either tragedy will allow you to practice close text analysis and spot figures of speech by the scores. Acting out some scenes will guarantee us more than our share of fun in class. The edition chosen, No Fear Shakespeare, gives you the complete text on the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand translation on the right. Baz Luhrmann's controversial film will highlight the power of this masterpiece.
Writing
Your skills will be evaluated in all essays including analysis of the novels as well as in the proficiency of your argumentative writing, which you will practice in relation with the main issues the novels deal with. Of course most routine assignments are also ways for you to master and improve your ability to compose insightful, articulate and quality texts. Follow the “how to write a good essay” handout and you’ ll be fine.
The written literary exam will consist of an essay based on topics chosen from the books we will have read by June 2022. You will be allowed to choose one topic out of two. A minimum of 500 words is expected. Take every opportunity to express your writing skills inthe regular assignments I give you while reading both books.
Speaking
Oral expression is worth a good deal of the exam, therefore a strong priority will be given to oral presentations to the class, grammar or vocabulary topic-based role-plays or other research work. We will spend most of our small group classes analysing and commenting newspaper and magazine articles, as well as literary extracts, either individually, in pairs or in groups, debate-style when appropriate .
These practice exercises will prepare you for your individual oral exam, which will last 15 minutes (ten minutes presentation, fiveminutes conversation with teacher/expert). You will be given 30 minutes preparation. You will deal with an unknown text, similar to the ones practised all year long, either a literary extract or a newspaper article, it's up to you, but you must make up your mind a few weeks before the exam.
Grammar
Your third year in high school will be mostly devoted to revisions, as we have already covered most of the grammar topics you should master to be able to writeand express yourself fluently in correct English, be it orally or written. If there's anything you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask questions, even elementary ones especially when revising ! I will always be ready to explain again.
Summaries of every chapter of the Grammar Book can be downloaded on Moodle. I also recommend you to visit and practice on the excellent interactive padletwebsite 4.
Vocabulary5
Your proficiency in English during the written as well as the oral activities will rely greatly on you mastering the words of the Petit Vocabulaire Actuel. On top of the final chapters to be covered, emphasis will be given on phrasal and irregular verbs - you can't do without them, so be prepared !
Listening
Expect quite a few listening exercises and tests , for instance from the BBC, during this school year as a listening comprehension will be included in your final exam. Your listening comprehension exam will take place early June. Watching films like “Shakespeare in Love” which will introduce you to the Elizabethan era,, and films adapted from the works we will have studied, in their original version, will challenge your listening and understanding skills. Mind you, the oral comprehension exam will be audio only.
Reading Comprehension will be tested in your final exam, on at least two unknown texts (~3000 words) on social issues, or a literary extract . It is worth 40% of the written exam and is made up of True/False questions, titles to give, short answers to provide, a,s.o, similar to the reading comprehensions done in class.
Tests and marks
Vocabulary and grammar tests will be grouped and their average, multiplied by 2, will give you 2 full marks, each one equivalent to any other mark you will get in other skills such as reading comprehension, listening... As you will have at least one more test than the required ones, you will be allowed to leave out the worst mark at the end of the school year, provided you have attended all tests. If you miss one vocabulary test, every mark will count. If you miss more than one test, then you will have to redo it in class, provided your excuse has been accepted as valid.
In addition to the vocabulary/grammar tests mentioned above, expect about two tests in each skill ( reading comprehension, writing, speaking and listening).
Teacher’s word
Please be sure to come to class prepared (which means with exercises done and chapters read), with your notebooks, books, cell phones off and an open mind. Should you be absent from school on a quarantine or because of illness, you will find all the material you need on Moodle.
If you find yourself in trouble, academically or otherwise, please come and see me sooner rather than later. Don't be afraid to ask for help. I will make time to see you one-on-one.
I hope this year will bring you a most fulfilling time and lead you to successful exams!
Objectives: during the summer holidays, you will be asked to read a literary work written by an English-speaking author (not necessarily British or American, but originally written in English) in order to improve the autonomy of your reading skills and your ability to grasp the essentials of a novel or play. Your creative resources will be challenged as well, as you will have to deliver an original and insightful feedback to your fellow students who haven't read the book - possibly making them want to read it !
Description: at the end of the summer vacation, you will be asked to present the results of your work orally to the class for about 15 minutes. It shouldn't be too long, but should be attractive in the way it is presented and synthetic in its contents. You won't be allowed to read anything, only keywords, thesis statement and quotes will be accepted. The outline of your work should be handed out to me when you go back to school, during the first week. The oral presentations will follow in the course of September
Contents: your presentation should include:
a quick biography of the author, an illustration of his/her life
a summary of the story
a general thesis statement on the whole novel or play : what does the book tell us, what is the main message in it, is it a grand metaphor of something, a sharp criticism of a given time or society?
three minor (sub-thesis) statements connected to the thesis above
three different quotations to back up or illustrate your three sub-thesis statements, each quote with a short comment of your own. Remember to write down the page number next to each quote
the main thesis statement and the three minor ones must be represented by symbols, objects, drawings , collages or any original concrete prop (=accessoire, support) of your choice, which you will bring to class on the day of your presentation and on which you will be allowed to write your statements
You can either choose one object as a main symbol (e.g: a tree with its branches, a flower with its petals) and write each minor thesis statement on every branch or petal, and the main thesis statement on the trunk or the middle of the flower) or four individual symbols with one distinct statement on each (see example on Of Mice and Men)
a conclusion with your personal opinion on the work: did you like it? Why? Would you recommend it to the class? Why?
Deadline: By June 9th 2021 your choice must be made.
By the second week of school year 2021-2022 your outline must be handed out to me (including quotes)
Tip: if you find yourself in the middle of the summer wondering what all the project was about, you'll find all the necessary information on my website, including the example.
