Final course grade

The English B course is officially over. Thanks everyone. Please e-mail me if you'd like to know your final  grade. Return your course book Shortcuts 2 as soon as possible.

The remaining classes

Today you received your results of the national test.
Those of you who have missed reading and listening, please check your e-mail for information on a possible second chance.

Friday, May 27: No English class.

Wednesday, June 1: Come to class at 14:40 if you'd like to know your final course grade. Return the books Shortcuts 2 and Big Mouth & Ugly Girl as well, please.

National tests

On Wednesday you will have your results of the national test.

I would also like to collect the course book (Short Cuts 2) and the novel (Big Mouth & Ugly Girl). Make sure you bring yours.

See you then!

Friday's class

Tomorrow 20 May there will be a regular English class at 08:15. Please return your novel (Big Mouth & Ugly Girl) then. Also return your textbook (Shortcuts 2).

I need Patric V and Simon R to be there to do the speaking part of the national test that you missed on Wednesday.

Reminder: return Big Mouth & Ugly Girl, please

When you do the speaking test - see schedule below - please remember to hand in your copy of the novel Big Mouth & Ugly Girl at the same time.

On Thursday you will all do the reading and the listening test at 08:15 in room B210. Be on time.

Updated schedule, latest version

National test schedule HP2+3: Please note the changes in red.

All of the speaking tests will be in Room BERLIN on the 4th floor in the B-building.

Wednesday, 4 May Preparation for the writing part of the test. Obligatory attendance for everyone who has not received the preparation material. 

Friday, 6 May Writing 08:15 – 09:55, Room B121 (everyone)

Wednesday, 11 May

14:30 – 16:00 Speaking

14:30: Felicia, Besarta, Erik, Eremal

15:00 Sandra, Arnela, Dennis

15:30 Samire, Josefin, Kristin

Thursday, 12 May: Reading + listening 08:15-10:40 (everyone) Room B210

Friday, 13 May

08:15 – 09:20 Speaking

08:15: Zaman, Irene, Martin, Keyvan

08:45: Sara H, Ahlam, Marielle, Tim

Wednesday, 18 May

14:30 – 16:00 Speaking

14:30: Nina, Nadja, Louise, Hampus

15:00: Müjgan, Aysun, Patric, Simon

15:30: Therese, Anahita, Dieynaba

Updated schedule

All of the speaking tests will be in Room BERLIN on the 4th floor in the B-building. Please be there 5 minutes ahead of your scheduled time. Wait outside. Don't knock on the door. Your speaking tests will be recorded.

Wednesday, 4 May 14:40 - 16:00 Preparation for the writing part of the test.

Friday, 6 May Writing 08:00 – 09:55, Room B121 (everyone)

Wednesday, 11 May

14:30 – 16:00 Speaking

14:30: Felicia, Besarta, Erik, Eremal

15:00 Sandra, Arnela, Dennis

15:30 Samire, Josefin, Kristin

Thursday, 12 May: Reading + listening 08:15-10:40 (everyone) Room will be posted shortly.

Friday, 13 May

08:15 – 09:20 Speaking

08:15: Zaman, Irene, Martin, Keyvan

08:45: Sara H, Ahlam, Marielle, Tim

Wednesday, 18 May

14:30 – 16:00 Speaking

14:30: Nina, Nadja, Louise

15:00: Müjgan, Aysun, Patric

15:30: Therese, Anahita, Dieynaba

Feedback on your sound files/videos

Those of you who have submitted sound files or videos from your internship, please check your Pednet e-mail for feedback on your work.

Good job, all of you! I truly enjoyed listening to you and watching you!

Preparation for the national test

Here is the link to the preparation material for the national test: preparation material. It's the same material that we will be using in class. You will find the key (facit) to the tasks below "bedömningsanvisningar".

Schedule for the upcoming classes

Today: Summarize your overall impression of the novel in writing + preparation for the national test.

Friday, 15 April: preparation for the national test.

Week 16: Easter holiday

Wednesday, 27 April: preparation for the national test

Friday, 29 April: preparation for the national test

Wednesday, 4 May: Obligatory attendance for everyone. Material for the essay on Friday (6 May)  will be handed out. 


Friday, 6 May: National Test: Writing


Wednesday, 11 May: National Test: Speaking (schedule will be posted soon).

Thursday, 12 May: National Test: Reading + Listening.

Friday 13 May: National Test: Speaking (schedule will be posted soon).

Wednesday, 18 May: National Test: Speaking (schedule will be posted soon).

Don't forget...

... to summarize your impressions of the novel Big Mouth & Ugly Girl in the post below! Deadline is tomorrow before class starts at 2:40 pm.

Keyvan is always the first one to write :) Good job! All of you who have done the homework on the blog will get a summary and a grade on your writing via e-mail.

Tomorrow we will prepare some more for the national test that's coming up and you will answer some final questions on the novel.

Homework for Wednesday 13 April

Your response is due no later than Wednesday, 13 April at 2:40 pm. 

What is your overall impression of the novel Big Mouth & Ugly Girl?

Try to both summarize what you find most important in the novel and describe your personal opinion of the novel as a whole in your response.

Today's class

Today we discussed the ending of the novel Big Mouth & Ugly Girl in class. We also read a review of the novel and an interview with the writer Joyce Carol Oates.

Homework for Wednesday 6 April

Please answer the following questions before class starts on Wednesday 6 April.

1. What do you think has happened to Pumpkin and what would be the reason for someone to abduct the dog?

2. Why is it so important for Matt to make up with/become friends with Ursula again after the argument about the law suit?

3. How do you think Ursula has changed in the story so far?

Speaking assignment due 15 April

This task only applies to the students who are currently doing their internship (praktik).

I want you to make a recording (a sound file or a short movie) where you talk about your internship in English. You can choose to talk on your own, or with a friend. If you like, you can interview each other in English about what you are doing and what you think about your position as an intern (praktikant). You need to talk for 2-3 minutes/person. A cell phone recording should be fine.

Send your sound file or movie to me via Pednet (you may need to compress the file a bit if it's too large) asa.falk@pub.malmo.se

Please let me know if you have any questions.

This task is due no later than Friday, 15 April.

Reading schedule Big Mouth & Ugly Girl

Week 13
for Friday, 1 April: page 185 - 224

Week 14
for Friday, 8 April: page 225 - 266

Bowling for Columbine part 1 and 2

Please check the Bowling for Columbine-post below where you can find the links to the first two parts of the film.

Homework for Wednesday 30 March

Please answer the following questions. Deadline Wednesday 30 March before class starts at 2:40 pm.


1. Ursula sees Matt up on a cliff and gets the impression that he is thinking about jumping. Do you think that Matt is considering something like that? Give reasons for your answer.

2. Why is Ursula's mother still so concerned about Ursula hanging out with Matt even though the whole incident at school is officially "over"?

3. Analyze the e-mail conversation between Matt and Ursula in chapter 29. What do their messages tell us about them as individuals and about their relationship with each other?

Reading for Friday 1 April

Please read pages 188 - 224 for Friday, 1 April. Check the blog for your homework for Wednesday.

Bowling for Columbine

Today there has been some technical problems here on the blog. My posts were all of a sudden gone. Hopefully it has been resolved now.

Today in class we talked about the novel so far and looked at the response people have posted here. We also watched two episodes of Michael Moore's film Bowling for Columbine in which he explores the American love/hate relationship with guns. I will post the clips we watched here shortly.

Here is part 1 and part 2 of Bowling for Columbine.

Picture: www.imbd.com

Homework for Wednesday 23 March

Deadline for your response is Wednesday 23 March before class starts at 2:40 pm.


1. Can you understand Matt's mother's reaction to the situation or do you think she's overreacting? Explain.

2. Why do you think Ursula suspects the Brewer twins to have something to do with Matt's arrest?

3. Find a passage in the text (up to page 140) that you find interesting and explain why it's interesting to the story.
________________________________________

Thanks to Felicia and Besarta who helped me come up with the questions.

No class 16 March

Wednesday's class is cancelled due to "utvecklingssamtal" at Malmö Borgarskola. Please note your homework for Friday 18 March. See previous post.

Homework for Friday 18 March

Please answer the following questions in the comments section below this post. Deadline: Before class starts on Friday 18 March (8:15 am).

1. Why do you think Ursula is avoiding Matt at school after he has been released?

2. What do you think about the way Matt's friends react to the situation and what would you have done if you had been a friend of Matt's?

3. Find a quote (a sentence or 2-3 sentences) on page 57-96 that you find interesting and important to the story. Type the quote that you have chosen and explain why you picked it.

Response to today's homework

To those of you who did your homework for today: good job! What happened to the rest of you? I'm grading your response, you know.

I think your response is reasonable and to the point. You relate to school shootings and bomb threats in America that may have caused the fear at Rocky River as well.

Try to be even more creative in your response next time. If you see that someone else has already written what you were going to write, either try to relate to and expand on that idea somehow, or try to think of something else to write.

In class today we read the response on the blog and we looked up words and expressions from the chapters that we have read so far. Homework for Friday is to read up to page 96. 

Here are some of the words that we looked up:

asthmatic
hoarse
brusquely
absorb
anxiously
coincidence
exuded
anxiety
flurry
tantalising/tantalizing
elusive
frowning
relent
scorn
famished
aching
evidently
obsessed
desperate
neglect
accused
inquired
investigation
plotting
interrupt
immature
authorities
grin
attorney

Homework for Wednesday 9 March

Here are the questions that I want you to answer in the comments section below this post. The students who were in class today helped me come up with the questions. Thanks!
The deadline for your response is Wednesday, 9 March at 2:40 pm.

Don't forget to type your first name before you post. Click the "anonymous" option. If you are having trouble posting, please e-mail me at: asa.falk@pub.malmo.se
________________________________________

1. Why do you think everyone in the novel is terrified about the rumors of a bomb threat at the school?

2. What would be Ursula's reasons for helping Matt, do you think?

3.  What would be Ursula's reasons for calling herself "Ugly Girl"?

Questions for today's class

Today we discussed the first two chapters of Big Mouth and Ugly Girl.

We talked about the following:

1. What happens in the very first chapter and how does Matt react to what is happening to him? How would you react if the same thing happened to someone in your class or to you, even?

2. In chapter 2 Ursula/Ugly Girl is introduced. How does she describe herself?  
   ____________________________________________
   
   Please note: After Friday's class I will post the questions that you will answer here on the blog. Check back here soon. 

Bring your novel

Please bring your copy of the novel we are reading for today's class. See you!

Reading info

In the post below you will find the reading schedule for the novel Big Mouth and Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates that we will be reading during the next few weeks. This goes for everyone in the class, whether you are currently doing your internship or not.

Keep up with the reading schedule and respond to the questions that I will post shortly on the blog. For those of you who are in class we will discuss the novel both here and during our regular classes.

Please note: If you have not yet picked up your copy of the novel, please come and find me in my office next week (room B 212). I have two more copies of the novel. The school library will have two copies as well. Please ask the librarian and tell him that it's for Åsa Falk's class. It's also possible that one of your friends who was in class last Wednesday has picked up a copy of the novel for you, so be sure to ask your friends.

Reading schedule Big Mouth & Ugly Girl

Week 9
for Friday, 4 March: page 3 - 56

Week 10
for Friday, 11 March: page 57 - 96

Week 11
for Friday, 18 March: page 97 - 139

Week 12
for Friday, 25 March: page 140 - 188

Week 13
for Friday, 1 April: page 185 - 227

Week 14
for Friday, 8 April: page 228 - 266

Tests back + novel

Today you received your results of the grammar test. Two students achieved an MVG on the test. Congratulations!

If you were not in class today, e-mail me at asa.falk@pub.malmo.se to get your result.

We started reading Joyce Carol Oates' novel Big Mouth And Ugly Girl. I will post a reading schedule here as well as questions to answer here on the blog. Responding to the questions on the blog is compulsory and your response will be graded.

Check back here soon for further instructions.

Please note: No classes on Friday, 18 February.

Today's class

Today we watched the BBC news about the current situation in Egypt.

We also looked at where to find sample national tests of English B.

On Wednesday you will get your grammar tests back. I will also give you a novel to read for the upcoming weeks.

Please check back here for information about English assignments during your internship.

Grammar Test

Today we did the grammar test.

I'd like to see as many of you on Friday as well.

BBC Learning English

Today we did a word game that can be found at BBC's website.

Try it. It's fun!

Please note: On Wednesday, 9 February, there will be a grammar test.

Reading + listening

Today we looked at the correct answers to today's homework. After that we did a listening comprehension from an old national test.

Your homework for Friday is to read the texts "Street Markets" + "mini texts" and answer the questions.

Irregular verbs + reading comprehension

Today we did a quick review of the irregular verbs. Make sure you know all of them for the grammar test on February 9.

We also did a reading comprehension from an old national test of English B. We need to prepare for the test already since some of you will not be here for quite a few weeks this spring.

Irregular verbs

Today I gave you the key to the grammar exercises in your book. You also got a list of irregular verbs that you need to study for the test. We did an exercise on verbs as well. Make sure you pick up your copy of the grammar key on Friday if you were not in class today.

I then listened to four students in the class who talked about their internship. It's great fun to hear you talk, I think.

See you all on Friday.

Homework + Grammar key

For Wednesday, 26 January, you need to finish all of the grammar exercises in your book. I will then give you the key (facit) so you can study for the test. The test will be Wednesday, 9 February.

More grammar

Today we did a quick run through of if-clauses and the use of would in these clauses. We also did the passive. The passive is often used when the Swedish uses "man", like: Man ska bygga ett hus här. = A house will be built here.

I also talked to you individually about your "omdöme".

I meant what I said about planning meetings, appointments and other activities around your classes. You need to be in class at all times to get a fair grade in this course.

Homework for Wednesday 26 January: finish all of the grammar exercises in your book.

Grammar schedule + test date

This will be your homework for the upcoming weeks:

Wednesday, 19 January: up until page 221

Wednesday, 26 January: up until page 233

______________________________________________________

Please finish all the exercises above.

There will be a grammar test on page 209 - 233 on Wednesday, 9 February.

Todays' class: grammar

Today, and for the upcoming classes, we will be doing some grammar. You will find the exercises on p 209 - 233 in your textbook. Please make sure you bring your book to class. Please note that we have already finished the exercises on page 209 - 211 and we will start on p 212 today.

There will be a grammar test in a few weeks.

I would also like the students who have now done their internship to talk about their experiences.