Academic Writing

Here is a link that will help you learn to use academic writing. Feel free to visit the site and use it in your main course.

http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/assets/resources/study-support/study-skills/essay-success.pdf

Academic Summary 2

This post is for my students at VU. Please click on the link and listen to the report written by Caty Weaver. You can listen as many times as you like. It is a good idea to read the text out loud with the speaker to work on improving your speaking skill. Let your friends in class that the links are online now. Sorry for the delay.

http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/Haitis-Cholera-Outbreak-Puts-Pressure-on-Capital-107006788.html

Thanks for the people who sent their emails for the first task.

Ibrahim Mohamed

Academic Summary 1 (12/11/2010)

This post is for my students at VU. Sorry I haven't uploaded the links earlier. Before you start typing your summary, please look at this post:

http://imohamed.blogspot.com/2010/05/academic-summary.html

I am sure it has all the relevant information that you'll need to write a good summary. Remember that writing an academic summary may not be the same as in your own country but it is always good to try and learn something new.

After you finish reading the post, please read the article carefully and write a summary of about 10 to 15 lines. Do not copy and paste from the text. I want you to use your language as much as you can.

Before you go to the link, can you please ask yourself the following question; "Is my English good Enough?" If you are not 100% sure that your English is of very high standard, you can go to one of the web sites I gave you in class and do a couple of listening tasks to work on improving your English. If you are in a hurry and have no time, it is time to think about spending a few hours everyday online doing more and more lessons daily.

Anyhow, enough talking and let's go to the article.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/desperate-afghan-women-seek-fiery-end-20101108-17kgs.html

If you have any questions, email me.

Nuclear Protest

Here is some new vocabulary for a newspaper article that you can read online. I will put the link to the article at the end. Please read the vocabulary first.

Large = big

I bought a house that has a large garden.

At large = free = not inside a cage

A lion is at large. He ran away from the zoo. All the city’s residents stayed at home.

Protest = demonstration

There was a protest in the city this morning demanding that the government not to go to war.

Protest = say that you are not happy with something

Protest against the government

Many people took to the streets to protest against the government's plan to make people work until they are 66 years old.

Tell the government that you are not happy with what they are doing

Take place = happen

An accident took place in our street this morning.

Waste = rubbish

Waste-paper basket = rubbish bin

Chain

Gold chain

I bought my wife a gold chain on her birthday.

Chain smoker = someone who smokes too much and can’t stop

Chain saw = a saw used to cut trees

supermarket chain = a supermarket that has many branches in different cities

anti = against

anti-America

authorities = government

nuclear = atomic

nuclear bombs

prevent from = stop from happening

The bodyguard prevented the young man from entering the night club.

secretly = in a secret way

disruption = nothing is happening according to the timetable

traffic disruption = the cars are not moving as they shoud and every thing is a mess.

Eventually = finally = in the end

Provide with = give

I need you to provide me with the answers.

Ton = 1000 kilograms

Germany = a big industrial country in Europe

German = a person who was born in Germany

German = the language spoken in Germany

Controversial = people have different opinions about it and they will never change their point or view

The Iraq war is a controversial matter. Some people support it and say it is 100% correct while others say it is 100% wrong.

Decade = period of ten years

Extra = more

My boss at work asked me to do extra hours on the weekend.

Chancellor = A position in government in Germany like the Prime Minister in Australia

Power plants = powre station = a place to generate electricity

Fear = feeling afraid = feel very worried about something

I fear that my friend may have a car accident. He doesn’t know how to drive well.

Activist = a person who goes public against the government and has some followers

Huge = very big

Huge building – huge wealth = a lot of money

Extend = make something last longer

I exteded my party by two hours.

I extended my holiday by two days.

Opposition = acting against something

Lifespan = lifetime

Ignore = pretend not to see something

I saw her in the street but she didn’t talk to me. She ignored me. She gave me the cold shoulder.

Horrified = feel shocked

I was horrified to hear the news of the war on the radio and watch the news on TV.

Shipment = something sent by a ship or a truck

We expect a shipment from the factory this afternoon. They will send us 200 machines to sell to customers.

Increase = make more

I asked the boss to increase my sallary.

Decrease = make less

The boss didn’t like me. He decreased my overtime hours from 6 to 4.

Rally = a very big number of people who walk in the street as one group for one cause

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1011/101107-nuclear_waste.html

Young Offenders

Please read this article and write an academic summary to it.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/child-crims-the-real-risk/story-e6frfhqf-1225865727160

Job Search Tips

I came across this web site when I was doing a search online for new lesson ideas. It is about many things you can do to get a job in Australia. The web site is for a company that helps people get jobs but I am not sure if they charge people for their services.
Anyhow, have a look for yourself because the tips on that web site are really good.

http://www.russo.qld.edu.au/site/SRJA/GetThatJob/index.aspx

The Emergency Department

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Emergency_department_what_to_expect