Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for English for Other courses

Volunteer Application

Dear Volunteer Coordinator,

My name is [Your Name], and I am [Your Age]. While I may not have extensive experience in volunteering, I am eager to learn and contribute in any way I can. I have a genuine love for animals, especially dogs, and I believe that volunteering with your organization would be a rewarding experience for me.

Although I have not volunteered formally before, I have had pets of my own and understand the responsibility that comes with caring for animals. I am patient, compassionate, and reliable—qualities that I believe would be beneficial in working with the dogs under your care.

I am available to volunteer [mention your availability, such as on weekends or specific days/times]. I understand that volunteering...

Eric Birling: The Weight of Guilt

Quote: “You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can’t. Nor can mother. We did her in alright.” — Eric (Guilt)

1. Blame and Internal Conflict

Eric’s blunt, almost accusatory tone with “We did her in alright” reveals his overwhelming sense of guilt. The inclusive pronoun “we” suggests he is accepting collective responsibility, contrasting with the others’ attempts to evade blame. This aligns with Sheila’s growing sense of responsibility as she, too, acknowledges her part in Eva’s downfall.

2. Fragmented Speech and Emotional Collapse

Eric’s fragmented, disjointed language conveys his inner turmoil and emotional collapse. The short, abrupt phrases reflect his inability to process...

Formal Letter Writing

Greetings and Opening: Dear Sir, I'm writing in response to your request.

Body: Giving information and details: To begin with... Another important aspect...

Closing Remarks and Signing Off: In conclusion... I strongly believe... Yours faithfully, Javier

For and Against Essay Structure

Opening: Introduce topic... It is often said that... The question proposed is an interesting one because... It is a well-known fact that...

Body: Presents topic for both sides with supporting details... On the one hand... On the other hand...

Closing: Sums up the topic and presents the writer's opinion: Taking all these aspects into account, I believe that the plan, while well-intentioned, is unrealistic and totally unnecessary. In my view...

Formal

1. Multiple Choice Answers

1: B / C / E / A / D

2: appeals / bargain / dependable / bighearted

3. Sentence Construction

• a) I think fashion magazines can influence young people.
• b) Martina is great. She knows how to get things done.
• c) We should make an effort to help others.
• d) There is a small charge for a plastic bag.
• e) They are advertising their new product on TV.

4. Present Tense Corrections

• a) The sun does not go around the Earth.
• b) The Olympic Games take place every four years.
• c) Look! Those children are feeding the cows.
• d) Today Helen is not wearing a jumper because it is not cold.
• e) Do you usually swim in this river?

5. Past Tense Usage

• a) I was hiking in the hills when I fell.
• b) My mum sold her old car last week.
• c) The child broke his leg while

Keep Mobile Phones in Schools for Learning and Safety

Control Should Not Come at the Cost of Connection: The Case Against Banning Mobile Phones in Schools

By [Your Full Name]

4 June 2025

We live in a world where young people are constantly told to “prepare for the future.” Yet, paradoxically, the very tools that define that future — mobile phones — are being stripped away from us in schools. Banning mobile phones in educational settings is not an act of discipline; it is an act of denial. A denial of how we live, how we learn, and most crucially, how we connect.

Addressing Real Dangers Without Bans

Of course, the dangers are real. The hypnotic glow of screens, shortened attention spans, and the darker corners of online bullying are not to...

J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls functions as a moral crucible, where the playwright interrogates the ethical decay and class hypocrisies of Edwardian society. Set in 1912 but performed in post-war 1945, the play explores the illusion of respectability and the urgent need for collective accountability. Through specific characters or themes, Priestley constructs a dramatic microcosm of Britain’s fractured social hierarchy, embedding didactic undertones to expose the corrosive consequences of issues like capitalist self-interest, patriarchal dominance, or generational complacency. The play operates as a vehicle for ideological reformation, compelling audiences to reevaluate their complicity in systemic injustice and embrace a more egalitarian...

English Grammar Exercises

Exercise 2: Transforming Active to Passive Voice

Convert the following sentences from active to passive form:

• 1. Someone had stolen the school computers before everyone arrived.
  The school computers had been stolen before everyone had arrived.
• 2. Someone must have heard something.
  Something must have been heard.
• 3. Has a chef prepared all these desserts?
  Have all these desserts been prepared by a chef?
• 4. They won't give us a map, we'll have to manage by ourselves.
  Option A: We won’t be given a map, so we’ll have to manage by ourselves.
  Option B: A map won’t be given to us, so we’ll have to manage by ourselves.
• 5. They gave me the information very late, so I couldn't tell you.
  Option A: I was given the information very

Mastering Sentence Transformations

Practice converting sentences between active and passive forms to improve your English grammar skills and writing clarity.

1. Using Instruments and Agents

• Someone used a knife to cut this shoelace.
• This shoelace was cut with a knife.
• This shoelace was cut by someone with a knife.

2. Causative Verbs and Resignations

• The principal made the head of studies resign.
• The head of studies was made to resign by the principal.
• The head of studies was forced to resign by the principal.

3. General Knowledge and Impersonal Passive

• Everybody knows that exercising is good for the heart.
• Exercising is known to be good for the heart.
• It is known that exercising is good for the heart.

4. Describing Actions with Tools

• She drew the man with

Listening Comprehension

• 1. Who's Ellen? R: Dana's friend
• 2. Where's Ellen from? R: Miami
• 3. How old is Laura? R: 22
• 4. What's Laura like? R: She's shy

Multiple Choice: Grammar and Vocabulary

• 5. Daniel Barton is single. He is... R: Mr. Barton
• 6. Jenny Smith is married. She is... R: Mrs. Smith
• 7. Alice Meyer is single. R: Miss Meyer
• 8. Am I in the English class? R: Yes, you are
• 9. Is she outgoing? R: No, she's not
• 10. Does she live with you? R: No, she doesn't
• 11. What's he like? R: He's smart
• 12. ______ a Shakira fan. R: I'm
• 13. Really? She's ______ favorite singer. R: My
• 14. _____ parents are from Italy. R: Our
• 15. Italy? ______ grandpa is from Italy, too. R: My
• 16. My sister is very _____; she talks a lot and she has a lot of friends. R: Outgoing
• 17. Robert

Oral Communication Skills in English Language Learning

The primary objective of teaching English is to equip students with the ability to communicate effectively using the language. Therefore, oral communication plays a pivotal role in our classrooms.

Developing Oral Competence

Developing oral competence involves two key aspects: receptive (listening) and productive (speaking). Our communication activities should aim to:

• Foster a genuine desire in students to communicate and receive information.
• Present an engaging communicative purpose that resonates with them.
• Incorporate the processing of diverse language elements.

Effective Classroom Activities for Oral Communication

Classroom Language

Encourage the use of English phrases for communication between...