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Thanks to the advances
in communications and transport, young people go abroad more frequently.
They travel to other countries to find a job, to continue their
studies and they can also learn a foreign language and have contact with
other cultures.
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Pablo´s experience in Belfast
"My name is Pablo, I am from Spain. At present I am working in
Belfast. I have been here for six months now. I am working in the
Spanish Department at Queens College in Belfast. I have already made
many friends here and I have also learned a lot of English. At
the beginning it was difficult to understand the language but I have
improved my English now. At the weekends, I love going to the
pubs and drinking a Guinness with a friend. I am learning a lot
about Irish culture and the sense of belonging to a place. People are very nice
here and the weather is not so bad!"
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Pre-writing:
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Meeting other
cultures: Would you like to
travel abroad and learn about other cultures? Discuss with your partner
about this:
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How do you imagine young
people's lives in other countries?
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Do you think they have
the same problems?
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What about young people's
independence and job oportunities?
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Read these words
related to jobs and occupations:
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| accountant actor
air steward
architect shop assistant
butcher clerk computer
operator / programmer cook
dentist doctor
painter
bus / taxi / train driver
economist electrician
engineer farmer
pilot
fisherman hairdresser
journalist judge
lawyer musician
nurse
photographer politician
secretary teacher
waiter |
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Take this easy
quiz on jobs
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Grammar review:
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Young people's
lives in other cultures: |
Americans for a
Society Free from Age Restrictions
ASFAR
is a very interesting association of young people in the USA. In
Their "Declaration of
Principles" they fight against many restrictions upon young people in
the USA. Some of these restrictions are: In the United States young
people under 21 are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages. Some other
restrictions are similar to those existing in Spain: young people have to
go to school until they are 16, young people under 16 are not allowed to
buy tobbacco, voting is allowed for people over 18, etc.
ASFAR
tries to fight against legal restrictions upon young people. You may agree
or not with their statements. Here are some:
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People
of all ages should be allowed to vote in elections.
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Young
people should be able to access any music, movies,
etc... legal for adults.
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The
age separating legal adults from "minors" should be eliminated.
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Public school students
shouldn't be forced to wear uniforms.
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Students in public schools should decide and choose their educational destiny.
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All
laws requiring compulsory education should be rejected.
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Businesses should not refuse to employ or serve people simply
because of their age.
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Legal
gambling ages should be abolished.
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The
legal Minimum Drinking Age of 21 should be abolished.
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The
right to have arms should not be restricted on the basis
of age.
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Check the
vocabulary
of the text. Do you know the meaning of the words in bold (negrita)?
Look them up in the dictionary
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What
do you think about these "principles" ?
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Do you agree with them? Discuss it with your partner.
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Now look at an example of an "Opinion essay"
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AN OPINION ESSAY
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THE
DEATH PENALTY
People nowadays have started to discuss this topic:
do murderers deserve death penalty? However in my opinion,
the death penalty is ineffective, risky and barbaric.
In most countries the death penalty was
abolished long ago. In my view, there are very good reasons
for this. Firstly, in countries like the USA where the death
penalty is established, the murder rate has not fallen. Secondly,
the death penalty os final. You cannot correct mistakes after a man
has been executed. Finally I believe that murder is wrong and
this incudes murder by the state.
In conclusion, I think that the
death penalty should not be used in a humane, civilized society.
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1.
Essay 1
is divided into three main parts.
a) Introduction
(where you introduce the
topic and express you general opinion)
b) Body
(where you mention the
arguments on which you base your opinion)
c) Conclusion
(where you summarize your
opinion and conclusions on the topic)
2.
Look at the phrase is bold in the text.
They are used to
connect ideas and to introduce personal opinions:
In my
opinion I think In my view
Firstly Secondly In conclusion
3.
The following words and phrases could also be used in an essay of
this type. Put them into the categories above a) b) or c)
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In the first place
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In addition,
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I agree/disagree
that
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Besides,
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In short,
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It seems to me
that,
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WRITING TIPS |
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OPINION ESSAYS:
-Brainstorm your
ideas by quickly writing them
down before you
start your composition.
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Choose
the best ideas.
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Divide
your composition into
3 or 4 paragraphs,
making sure you have an introductory paragraph and a
concluding
paragraph.
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In the
introduction
say what the topic is and give your opinion.
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In the
body mention
the things you agree with/don't agree. Explain why.
-
Prepare
your conclusion
before you start writing. In the summing up, summarize your
arguments generally and say what your opinon is again.
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Writing:
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Plan an opinion
response to the text above: What arguments are you in favour of?
What arguments are you
against? Think again about ASFAR's principles and organize your
ideas following this outline.
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You agree on/think it
is good.... |
You disagree/don´t
think it is good .... |
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- -
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Think about these
questions to generate ideas:
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Do you think it is good
or bad to prohibit young people under 21 drinking?
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Do you think a person who
is 16 can decide about his/her future, politics,etc?
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Do you think people under
18 should be allowed to access adult web pages, carry arms
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Writing skills:
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Using conjunctions
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Narrating a story
from pictures. |
Revision
of the past simple.
In this exercise you will write a story
based upon pictures and extra help (vocabulary and connectors).
Worksheet "rats"
Rewriting:
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Remember to
revise and rewrite your texts
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