Balance

Hello, E.T.! Hello, English Team!

We had a well-balanced lesson on Wednesday...checking the 'IF' homework, learning from the whiteboard, and speaking in pairs about using mobiles while driving (Tibor thinks it's okay) and a ban on smoking (András says it's too extreme). ("ban" means something not allowed).

By the way, IF you check out the IF music coffeehouse on Ráday utca you WILL want to go - nice place!

The homework is two exercise papers about past tenses. Check 5percangol for irregular past tense verbs!

You can find your homework at the following links:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/40478865/Test-Yourself-Past-Tenses
http://www.scribd.com/doc/40478773/Past-Tenses



Coming up next week: prepositions of place (IN, ON, AT), storytelling, and telephoning to make appointments

I chatted with Attila during the lesson, and we mentioned the beautiful, sunny autumn weather. Here is a photo of Lake Balaton in the autumn--really, really wonderful!

The Fishermen's Bastion

Hello, English Team!

Our lesson yesterday focused on Budapest. You discussed your memories of Budapest, growing up in Budapest, and places like Zugló and Kispest. Then you made two teams and suggested a day in Budapest for visitors.
One team suggested a circle walk starting and ending at Deák Square, the other team had a visit to Margaret Island. We talked about using "going to" for a fixed plan and "will" for a more general idea (e.g. "we will go to the theatre" - but not sure until the visitors agree with us).

Interesting words: agree with someone, appoint/name someone to a position, to be called xx = She is called Barbara.

Finally, the homework is "if" sentences about the Budapest visitors, 2 sentences of each of 3 types, that is 2x3=6!
For example:
"If I have time, I usually meet my friends at the Trofea."
"If you walk from Deák Square to the Danube, you will find the Vigadó"
"If we had time, we would go to the museum."

Sincerely,
Mary

Update October

Dear English Team,

Here is an update of our lessons.

• Verb tenses practice (don't forget to check the Grammar links -----> )
• Question forms - grammar links again!
• Email: information, action, help (there is a photocopy, get it from István, Edit, or Attila...)
• Countable and uncountable nouns (you know where to look!)
• "IF" forms (conditionals)

In the last lesson, we practiced these types of "if":

1. If I have time, I usually go jogging/read a book/watch television. (HABITS)
2. If I have time, I will write an email to my friend/will study my English words/will go for a walk. (FUTURE PLAN)
3. If I had time, I would do more sport/go on a long trip/knit (HU: kötni) a pullover. (NOT REAL, JUST IMAGINATION)

In our next lesson, we will:

• talk about Budapest and your favorite places in the city 
• practice conditionals
• do a pair exercise about prepositions (Attila finds this difficult -- maybe you, too?)

 To prepare for the lesson, please visit the Budapest Business Journal website and find 3 interesting facts to share with the group. Special vocabulary too!



Looking ahead, the next topic is writing practice (next week, October 27).

See you soon!
Mary

One lesson!

Dear English Team,

We finally had our first lesson after the summer -- and then I got sick!

Now I am better, and I am ready for your next lesson -- I hope you are, too.

In the first lesson, I really liked talking with everyone. There were many interesting questions. I tried to answer them well, too.

From your questionnaires (HU=kérdőív), I found out that most of the group want to do presentations in English in the future, and also most of you need to speak on the telephone in English. We will focus on presentations and telephoning soon.

The homework is about email. Three types of email are: information, action, and help. What kind of emails do you write? Do you ask for information? Do you need action? Do you want help with something? Or something different?

I have just looked at my recent emails, and I usually ask for information or answer questions from other people.

DON'T FORGET! Count the emails that you write! Start from September 23! Erika has already started - from 23-29 she wrote 11 emails, but the contest goes on until October 6, so keep on counting, Erika!

Finally, I want to tell you, the whole group is speaking English very well -- keep on working, everyone!

Sincerely,
Mary