Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Language

Prepositions

Prepositions are short words (on, in, to) that usually stand in front of nouns (sometimes also in front of gerund verbs).

Types of Prepositions

• Prepositions of Time
• Prepositions of Place
• Prepositions of Direction/Movement
• Prepositions of Agent
• Prepositions of Instrument
• Phrasal Prepositions

Prepositions of Time

A preposition of time allows you to discuss a specific time period, such as a date on the calendar, one of the days of the week, or the actual time something takes place. Prepositions of time are the same words as prepositions of place; however, they are used in a different way.

• at: for a precise time.

Example: I have a meeting at 9 am.

• in: for months, years, centuries, and long periods.

Example: Paul was born in 1992.

• on: for days and

Database Keys and Normal Forms

You guarantee uniqueness by designating a Primary Key (PK) - a column or set of columns that contains unique values for a table.

Foreign Key (FK) is a column in one table that references the primary key of another table.

Database Normal Forms

First Normal Form (1NF)

It states that all column values must be atomic.

Second Normal Form (2NF)

A table is in 2NF if it is in 1NF and every non-key column is fully dependent on the entire PK. That is, tables should store data relating to only one “thing” (or entity), and that entity should be fully described by its primary key.

Third Normal Form (3NF)

A table is in 3NF if it is in 2NF and if all non-key columns are mutually independent.

Database Integrity Rules

Entity Integrity

Gender Inequality in Classic Plays

Introduction: Societal Context

In the literary works A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen (published in Norway, 1879) and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (published in the US, 1947), discrimination against women is strongly evident. Throughout history, societies and cultures have often placed women at a disadvantage compared to men. This disparity can be witnessed through the characterizations, the language, and the societal context presented in these plays.

Characterization: Portraying Female Vulnerability

Characterization effectively portrays the plays' themes by defining each character's role. Both Nora in A Doll's House and Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire often appear weak and vulnerable when confronted... Continue reading "Gender Inequality in A Doll's House & Streetcar" »

Unit 4: Fashion Vocabulary

Style Adjectives, Verb Collocations, and Clothing

• Style Adjectives:
  • Brand new
  • Comfortable
  • Designer
  • High street
  • On-trend
  • Practical
  • Retro
  • Second hand
  • Unique
  • Vintage
• Verb Collocations:
  • Dress to impress
  • Dress well
  • Follow fashion
  • Look good
  • Make a good impression
  • Make a statement
• Clothing:
  • Accessory
  • Cast-offs
  • Classic
  • Dress-code
  • Garment
  • Gear
  • Must-have
  • Outfit
  • Replicas
  • Trend

Phrasal Verbs and Adjectives with Prepositions

• Phrasal Verbs:
  • Catch on
  • Dress up
  • Go with
  • Pull on
  • Wrap up
• Adjectives + Prepositions:
  • Accustomed to
  • Amazed at
  • Annoyed at
  • Anxious about
  • Ashamed of
  • Attached to
  • Aware of
  • Capable of
  • Characteristic of
  • Conscious of
  • Excellent at
  • Familiar with
  • Indifferent to
  • Ready for
  • Responsible with
  • Satisfied with
  • Serious about
  • Shocked at
  • Sorry for

Blogging Tips for Students

Most of the following instructions will apply to written blogs, but the principles apply to all formats.

• Adopt a conversational, chatty style. Avoid cliches, jargon, academic language, and acronyms.
• Put some serious work into your intro – is it intriguing, engaging, and different?
• Always use specific examples, perhaps based on personal experience. Don't generalize or waffle on about challenges and passion.
• Use common nouns as much as you can: "boots" and "apples" are much more evocative words than "footwear" and "produce".
• Try to find recent research or media coverage about your topic, and link to it in your blog.
• Check your facts. These pieces are going on the Guardian site, so they need to be factually accurate. There'

Steinbeck's Novel: Of Mice and Men

Author's Life and Novel Connections

Write a concise phrase relating each aspect of the author to a particular novel aspect, or conversely, each novel detail to a detail of the author’s life. (3 points each)

Be certain to stay on topic and not wander from the question.

1. Geographic setting: The setting is a ranch in Soledad, California. Steinbeck was born in California.
2. Particular names and observations of flora and fauna: Steinbeck lived in a small rural town. He spent his summers working on nearby ranches and later on sugar beet farms. His descriptions of flora and fauna are influenced by what he saw and experienced.

Regional Work Details (True/False)

(2 points each)

1. Most farm workers live in a room attached to the

Part Two: Ballads

A. History

Let's explore the history of English ballads using the following word bank:

• France
• Germany
• Italy
• 600's
• 800's
• 1000's
• historic/geographical/social
• language
• literary
• local-interest
• orally
• story details
• tempo (speed of melody)
• traditional

English ballads originated from France, gaining popularity in the 1000's when Geoffrey Chaucer established English as a language of literature and scholarship.

As ballads spread, their language could change entirely. Their tempo and story details might shift slightly, while their historic/geographical/social context often remained consistent. Traditional ballads are written compositions that imitate oral storytelling models.

The primary purpose of traditional ballads was to convey current, local-interest... Continue reading "Exploring Traditional English Ballads: History, Conventions, and Analysis" »

Chapter 6

Helen's Discovery

When Helen came home from school, she could tell something unusual was happening. Gregory's class teacher and the headmistress were talking with her parents.

Gregory's Progress

Gregory's teacher was happy with his progress because he was learning quickly and had a good influence on the class.

School Improvements

If the school wanted to take more children with problems, they would have to adapt the building. This included installing ramps for wheelchairs, lifts, different toilets, and wider doors.

The Headmistress's Suggestion

The headmistress suggested that Helen and her friends organize a fundraising event to raise money. The winning team would win a trip to Paris.

Chapter 7

Fundraising Ideas

There were many different ideas... Continue reading "The Fundraising Challenge" »

Good evening ma'am, i'm going to tell you about what i would like to do in the future. 

First of all i'm going to buy a master's degree in politics.Then I will ascend without doing anything, because that is politics. I will become the president of Spain. After that, some people are going to start investigating me, but i don’t care, because nothing would happen, because if I get fired, I would still get paid the same money. Before all of this I will live in the Moncloa Palace with my husband. At this point I'm going to be rich as no-one in Spain. I will not know what to do with the money, so I will deposit it in an account in Andorra. 

My hobbies could be: being rich, breathing, get plastic surgery, steal creams from Eroski and talk to my

LOMCE-Madrid Decree 89/2014 and English Language

Treatment of Content and Skills

The Primary curriculum emphasizes grammar within language systems over skills development.

EFL Unit Planning with Royal Decree 5958/2010

Royal Decree 5958/2010 helps with EFL unit planning by setting specific, realistic skills in language development classes.

Integrating Skills Work in Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)

In CLT, skills work is often integrated into language development classes (focused on language systems) through:

• Restricted Exposure: Aural or written texts introduce the target language in a rich context (e.g., Hi Five 5, lessons 1 and 2).
• Target Language Practice: Primarily fluency speaking, sometimes extended writing.

Breaking Down Macro Skills in