4BHK - Sample Complaint letters

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/letters-of-complaint

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/media/words/assets/uk_sample_complaint_letter_faulty-product.pdf 

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/media/words/assets/uk_sample_complaint_letter_disappointing-holiday.pdf

http://www.dearcustomerrelations.com/best-ever-complaint-letters/ntl-trying-to-get-connected/

http://www.writeexpress.com/orders05.html

http://www.dearcustomerrelations.com/2015/03/top-gear/

http://www.dearcustomerrelations.com/2015/05/smelly-feet/ 

http://mastercss.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/complaint-letter-template-hg8cr9tg.png
http://www.sampleletterpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/complaint-letter-template-1.jpg

https://www.scribendi.com/advice/example_complaint_letter.en.html  
Dr. JoJo's Favorite:  https://i.imgur.com/959ht5o.png

7C - Homework for Thursday, November 12

For this homework you will need:
* Your textbook (forgot it at school? No problem! http://www.veritas.at/sbo/ebook/px/30834/)
* A favorite DVD that you can switch to English
* Your brain
* 1-3 hours of your time

Task 1:  Watch one of your favorite DVDs (TV show or movie) in English.  It should be one of your favorite episodes/movies where you know the plot and dialogue.  Switch the sound to English and the subtitles to English.  This will help your English in at least ways:  You will hear the language (listening), you will see the language (reading) and you will match the sounds to the words (pronunciation).  You will also learn some new vocabulary and idioms.  Try to watch at least 10 minutes a day (or more if you've got the time and energy!).

Task 2:  Look at the Vocabulary on page 44 (Unit 3) in your textbook, Focus on Modern Technology 3.  You will need this vocabulary to begin working with Chapter 44.  TIP:  In your SÜ Heft, divide the vocabulary words into Verbs, Nouns, Adjectives, Phrases.

Task 3:  Look at the Language in Focus section on page 41 (Indirect speech: Statements).
Note the differences between these sentences:
Martin Cooper:  "It took me three months to build the first mobile phone."
Martin Cooper SAYS that it took him three months to build the first mobile phone.
Martin Cooper SAID that it had taken him three months to build the first mobile phone.

Want more practice?
VOCABULARY:

• Do exercise 3 on page 35 (general vocabulary) and/or
• exercise 4 on page 40 (prepositions)

GRAMMAR: There are plenty of resources on the internet to practice your English grammar.  See the sidebar of the blog under English Grammar Resources.  You can also sign up for English grammar sites on Facebook (again, see sidebar).

READING: 

• Readings in Unit 2 (page 23-24, exercise 2, 27-28 exercise 4)!  It's not too late to submit this homework!
• You can also do the readings in Unit 3, page 38-39 (this will help with your homework!)
• The reading on page 42-43 is a Matura Aufgabenstellung (Multiple Matching).  Kill two birds with one stone!  Do Exercise 1, p. 42 and exercise 2, p. 43

SPEAKING:  Prepare to speak in class.  Our topics will be robots (your experience in Robotik), discussing pros and cons of robots (exercise 5 on page 29)

Describe what happens in this 30 second video.  Use markers (first, then, next, after that, finally...) and the present simple tense:

WRITING: If you haven't written an article about 'Fun Ways to Learn English', it's not to late to turn in this homework!

7C - Homework for Thursday, November 5

TASK 1 - Study for a Test on November 5.  Includes PASSIVE VOICE and DESCRIBING CHARTS AND GRAPHS.

TASK 2 - Download the Student Correction Key from Lehrer für Schüler Tausch > 4CHMIF > Sandrock > StudentCorrectionKey

TASK 3 - Rewrite blog text (Should Cell Phones be used in the Lessons?).  Sandrock needs both the original and the rewrite.  For best results, paste the original on the left side of your HÜ Heft and write the corrections on the right side.  Don't forget:  LINIERTES PAPIER MIT KORREKTURRAND

TASK 4 - Write an article for an English language magazine for Austrian HTL students.  The topic of your article is how you can improve your English in a fun way.  In your article you should:

* State the problem of having English only two hours a week
* Describe fun ways in which you can improve your listening, grammar and pronunciation
* Comment on your own method of learning English (give your best English learning tip)

Write about 250 words (+/- 10%)

Before you submit your text, use this handy WRITING CHECKLIST

Don't forget!  LINIERTES PAPIER MIT KORREKTURRAND

Did you forget your book at school? No problem!

Focus on Modern Technology 1
http://www.veritas.at/sbo/ebook/px/30476/

Focus on Modern Technology 2
http://www.veritas.at/sbo/ebook/px/30833/

Focus on Modern Technology 3
http://www.veritas.at/sbo/ebook/px/30834/

Focus on Modern Technology 4/5
http://www.veritas.at/sbo/ebook/px/30835/

Focus on Modern Business 4/5
http://www.veritas.at/sbo/ebook/px/24358/

Just Go For It 2
http://www.hpt.at/Flipbooks/JUSTGOFORITBMS2/

1C - Homework for Wednesday, October 7

Review Class Etiquette and Rules bzw. Mitarbeitsnoten


HOMEWORK
You will need:
Your textbook, Focus on Modern Technology 1
Access to the Internet
Approximately (ungefähr) 1.5 hours

For Wednesday, October 7, study (=lernen!) the vocabulary on p. 13 (School Subjects, Technical Jobs, Countries/Languages) of your textbook.  Learn the meanings and the pronunciation of these words (for pronunciation, go to The Oxford Learner's Dictionary, type in the term engineer, then click on the

so you can hear what the word sounds like (BrE=British English; NAmE=North American English).

We will begin using this vocabulary in class on Wednesday, October 7 so make sure you learn it!!

Make a FLUENT first impression in English!

http://reallifeglobal.com/make-a-fluent-first-impression-in-english/

Check out more English hints from www.reallifeglobal.com!

7C - Homework for Monday, February 2

For Monday, February 2

1) Finish the worksheet (below)

2) For Section 2, write a sentence for each word to turn in.

3) Read over Writing Reports (p. 47 in FMT 4/5, p 201 Laser B2)

For Section 1:

Typical verb endings
-ize /-ise
-ify

Typical noun endings
-ment
-tion/-sion
-ity
-ure
-ness
-er

Typical adjective endings
-able/-ible
-ive
-some
-ic
-tial/-cial

Typical participle endings
-ing
-ed

Presentation Guidelines

EXPECTATIONS FOR PRESENTATIONS

WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO THIS? – Presentations demonstrate your ability to research a topic in English, to organize the information, and to communicate the information clearly to your classmates. Moreover, it demonstrates your ability to speak English fluidly.  Mistakes are o.k.!  Just make sure people can understand what you are saying.

DO YOUR RESEARCH IN ENGLISH – Don’t try to research your topic in German and translate it into English.  That’s an extra step and will make your preparation too long.

SUBMIT AN OUTLINE FOR REVIEW – at least two weeks before your presentation, present an outline to the teacher for feedback.  The outline should be detailed and reflect the structure and content of your presentation.  You should also list the sources you used in constructing the presentation.

SPEAK FREELY – Don’t read or memorize your presentation.  You may have a notecard with keywords to remind you what you want to say. Remember Bela Lugosi as Dracula. 

BE PREPARED! -  Know your topic backwards and forwards so that you can speak freely and answer questions.  Look up words you don’t know or use an easier word for your audience.  Double-check pronunciation. 

VISUAL AIDS – Powerpoints should be used as a visual aid to help your audience understand what you are talking about.  Pictures, labels, graphs, keywords are all good things. Do not put large chunks of text on a Powerpoint slide that you intend to read.  Also, do not use long videos to substitute for your presentation

HANDOUTS - Handouts are a good idea to help your audience remember your topic and to give them ideas for further research.  You may include an outline of your talk and your sources.

REMEMBER THE BASICS – Use good eye contact with members of your audience.  Don’t dress down the day of your presentation.  Modulate your voice so your audience doesn’t lose interest.  Don’t be too relaxed or stiff.  It’s always a good idea to interact with your visual aids and with your audience.

NO EXCUSES – I’ve heard them all:  “I forgot my presentation” “I accidentally erased my power point” “I didn’t know it was today” “I had a test in another class” “My dog ate my USB stick”  If you are absent the day of your presentation or if you defer your presentation , you may or may not have the chance to make it up.  The presentation counts as Mitarbeit, so the important thing is to give it – a zero is worse than a 51%!

IN THE END, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LANGUAGE – I don’t care how brilliant your slide show is.  I care about whether you are speaking English from the heart.

Academic Integrity

Before you turn in an assignment, go through this checklist.  If it is not your own work, don't hand it in.  This wastes your time, the teacher's time and leads to unhappiness all the way around.

*   Is your text your own work? Have confidence in yourself that with a little practice, you, too, CAN ACTUALLY WRITE ENGLISH!
*   Did you copy it from the Internet? (if the answer is 'yeah, but I changed a few words' or 'yeah, but it was a German text and I ran it through Google Translate' then it is NOT your own work.  Stop being lazy and start over!).
*   Did you copy it out of the book?  (if the answer is 'yeah, but I rearranged a few words and left some stuff out' then it is NOT your own work.  Stop being lazy and start over!)
*   Did you copy it from a classmate?  (if the answer is 'yeah, but she's in the other group' then it is NOT your own work. Stop being lazy and start over!)
*   Did you run a German text through Google Translate?

*   Did you copy a classmate's computer file and print it out with your name?

Rules for the use of capital letters and apostrophes

From http://languagelearningbase.com/86153/the-rules-for-the-use-of-capital-letters-and-apostrophes

Word order in English

When NOT to use articles

from http://languagelearningbase.com/86218/when-not-to-use-articles

What kind of learner are you?

This test is in German, with results in German.  Note what kind of learner you are (visual, auditory, kinetic) and pay attention to the learning hints!

Veritas Lerntypen - http://www.veritas.at/sbo/extproj/Lerntypentest/lerntypentest.php

Post your results in the comments with your initials and class:  Visual, JS, 5C

Terrible Twins and Triplets of Grammar - Part I

THE / A / AN

THE is a definite article and refers to something specific.
 I saw THE moon last night.

A is an indefinite article. It refers to something general, not specific.
N.B.: use A before a CONSONANT
I saw a star in the sky.

AN is an indefinite article. It refers to something general, not specific
N.B. use AN before a VOWEL (a, e, i, o, u)
I saw AN asteroid in the sky.

BIG IMPORTANT DETAIL!
If the vowel sounds like a Y or a W, use A.
He is a one-trick pony. (one = won)
He wears a uniform. (uniform = you-niform)

THIS / THAT / THESE / THOSE

THIS is a singular demonstrative pronoun. It refers to something close at hand.

This pen is running out of ink.

THESE is a plural demonstrative pronoun, referring to things close at hand.
These high heels are killing me!

THAT is a singular demonstrative pronoun.  It refers to something comparatively far away.
That car over there is burning a lot of oil.

THOSE is a plural demonstrative pronoun, referring to things comparatively far away-Those trees over there are birch trees.

YOUR vs. YOU’RE

YOUR is a possessive pronoun meaning “belonging to you”
Your mother wears army boots!

YOU’RE is a contraction of “you are”
You’re the love of my life.

HOW DO YOU CONSOLE AN ENGLISH TEACHER?  THERE, THEIR, THEY’RE

THERE is adverb of place.  Answers the question where?
I live there (in that place).

THEIR is possessive pronoun meaning "belonging to them"
That's their house. They live there.

THEY'RE is a contraction for THEY ARE.
They're waiting for us at the movie theater.

ITS vs. IT’S

ITS is the possessive pronoun “belonging to it”
The jury has reached its decision.

IT’S is the contraction of “it is” or “it has”
It’s past my bedtime.

TO/TWO/TOO

TO is a preposition indicating place to which.
I am going to the store.

TO can also be used to indicate an infinitive verb.
I have to buy ice cream.

TWO is a number
There were two ducks swimming on the lake.

TOO can be an adverb meaning also (auch)
I am going to the Maturaball too!

TOO can also be an adverb meaning excessively
 I am too tired to watch the movie.

FUN vs. FUNNY

FUNNY is an adjective to describe a person or thing that makes you laugh.
A comedian is funny.  He tells funny jokes.
(Note:  funny can also be an adjective meaning “strange”.  The gym has a funny smell.)

FUN is an adjective or a noun.

As a noun, it means enjoyment. (Spass)
We had a lot of fun at the amusement park.

As an adjective it means “bringing enjoyment”
The amusement park was fun. We’ll have to come back sometime!

LIFE vs. LIVE

LIFE is a noun meaning “das Leben”
“Life moves pretty fast; if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it” – Ferris Bueller

LIVE (short i) is a verb (zu leben, zu wohnen)

I live in Austria.

LIVE (long i) as an adjective means “alive, in the flesh” (lebend).
We always use LIVE bait when fishing.

DIE/DEAD/DEATH

DIE is a verb meaning to lose one’s life (sterben) (die, died, died)
My cat died last night.

DEAD is an adjective meaning not alive (tot)
My cat is dead.

DEATH is a noun meaning the absence of life (der Tod). Sometimes personified.
I’m very depressed since the death of my cat.
Death waits for no man,

OWLS SAY WHO, NOT WHICH WITCH.

WHO is a question word, asking about a person.
Who drank my Coke?

WHO can also be a relative pronoun, referring to a person.
The woman (the one) who drank my Coke was wearing lipstick.

WHICH is a question word, which asks about a specific thing.
Which dress do you like best?

WHICH can also be a relative pronoun, referring to a thing.
The car which we rented was a Maserati.

WITCH is a noun that means “Hexe” in German. Don’t confuse it with WHICH.

Twelve Days of Christmas - Day 8

Enjoy these math hacks from Architecture and Design:

(yes, I know, this is an English blog... but y'all need help in maths, too, right?!)

Writing Checklist

Before you turn in written homework, please follow this helpful checklist!

TASK ACHIEVEMENT IS EVERYTHING!
Did you write the text the prompt called for? (formal letter/e-mail, informal letter/e-mail, blog, article, proposal, report, brochure). A description of the different text forms can be found here: https://www.bifie.at/system/files/dl/srdp_lfs_textsortencharakteristika_2013-06-20.pdf
*   For letters/e-mails:  Did you include a subject line, salutation, closing and signature line?
*   For blogs, articles, reports, proposals: Do you have a title/subject line, introduction, conclusion?

Did you follow the prompt?
*   Did you write the text the prompt called for (see above)
*   Did you address all of the bullet points?
*   Did you follow the instructions to the letter?

Did you use language appropriate for the task?
*   Contractions should not be used in any formal writing (short forms like 'cause' for 'because' and 'though' for 'although' should only be used in informal e-mails).
*   If you are writing a formal letter/e-mail, be as polite as you can possibly be: use 'please' and 'thank you' and 'could's and 'would's (Would you be so kind as to/could you please send me your newest catalogue?)

ORGANIZATION
*   Did you use paragraphs?  A good rule of thumb is one paragraph for each bullet point in the prompt.
*   Did you use proper conjunctions to link ideas (first, second, third, finally, moreover, furthermore, in addition, on the one/other hand, etc. See other discourse markers here)

LANGUAGE RANGE
*   Reread what you've written!  How many times did you use the same word or phrase?
*   Avoid repeating language from the prompt.
*   Avoid unnecessary repetitions (instead of 'for example' use 'including' 'this includes' 'for instance')
*   Avoid Germanisms ('My English is not the yellow of the egg but it goes' is not English!)

LANGUAGE ACCURACY
*   Did you use proper spelling, grammar, capitalization, punctuation?
*   Pay special attention to tenses and word order.
*   Seriously, did you check all your subjects and verbs for 3rd-person S!?

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
*   Is your text your own work? Have confidence in yourself that with a little practice, you, too, CAN ACTUALLY WRITE ENGLISH!
*   Did you copy it from the Internet? (if the answer is 'yeah, but I changed a few words' or 'yeah, but it was a German text and I ran it through Google Translate' then it is NOT your own work.  Stop being lazy and start over!).
*   Did you copy it out of the book?  (if the answer is 'yeah, but I rearranged a few words and left some stuff out' then it is NOT your own work.  Stop being lazy and start over!)
*   Did you copy it from a classmate?  (if the answer is 'yeah, but she's in the other group' then it is NOT your own work. Stop being lazy and start over!)
*   Did you run a German text through Google Translate?

*   Did you copy a classmate's computer file and print it out with your name?

4AHK - Homework for Tuesday, December 2

A BLOG ENTRY is used to convey information, tips or personal opinion (a blog comment is a response to something that has been written like we did for Coca-Cola's sponsorship of the American Family Physicians).

You contribute to the BHAK Liezen English blog, The B-HAWK.  You have been asked to write an entry about the American business tradition of Black Friday, and to get feedback from your readers for a similar event in Austria.  Write a blog entry about Black Friday in which you

* Describe the Black Friday tradition in America
* Explain why Black Friday is so important for retailers
* Suggest a way or ways in which Austria could hold a similar sales event to increase revenues at the end of the year.

CHECKLIST (see Writing Checklist at http://ennsvalleyenglish.blogspot.co.at/2014/11/writing-checklist.html)
Did you use a catchy title?
Did you catch your readers’ interest in the first paragraph? (rhetorical questions or directly addressing your readers are good for this)
Do you have a paragraph for each of the bullet points?
Did you encourage your readers to leave comments?
Did you use correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization  and grammar?
Did you do your own work (nicht abgeschrieben vom Internet, Buch, NachbarIn, Google Translate)?
Is it something you can be proud of?

Enjoy this video about Black Friday!

And then there's this article from the Onion!

7C - Preparation for Schularbeit, Monday, December 1

Here are the multiple choice questions for Chapter 3, Exercise 3 (reading, top) and Exercise 10 (listening, track 7).

The Schularbeit is two hours on Monday, December 1

The format of the exam is
1 Listening
1 Reading
2 Writings (total of approximately 400 words)

The Stoff for the SA is:

Text sorts:      Formal email/letter (reply to inquiry, letter of complaint)

                       Blog entry

Grammar:       Basic sentence structures (positive statements, negative statements,                         questions)

                        Passive voice

                        Participles (active, passive)

Topics             Advertising, interactive advertising, advertising technology

                        RFID, Internet of Things, NFC

                        Big Brother, Surveillance, (Biometrics)

When you are finished studying for the Schularbeit, treat yourself to an episode of the old Mission: Impossible series!  

4AHK - Homework for Tuesday, November 11

For Tuesday, November 11, select a famous brand and its logo (use one from page 26, Ex. 3 or select your own - suggestions below). Then search the Internet for more information about the story behind this logo. Be prepared to speak FREELY for one minute about this brand and logo.

 

 

2C - Homework for Thursday, November 13

For Thursday, November 13

A)  Write a blog comment (see hints below) about how to eat well, in which you

1) Explain the reasons why people eat so much fat, sugar, and salt
2) discuss the consequences of eating too much fat, sugar, and salt
3) Suggest ways in which people can improve their diet.

This should be approximately 150-200 words. To turn in at the beginning of class on Thursday, November 13.

You may use information from the text book, from the internet, and from the presentations.

I know you know this already, but... You may NOT copy a text from your neighbor, you may NOT cut and paste text from the Internet, you may NOT use Google Translate.



(For other Textsorten for the neue Zentralmatura, see here: https://www.bifie.at/system/files/dl/srdp_lfs_textsortencharakteristika_2013-06-20.pdf)

B) Finish the worksheet on Listening Practice by listening to this broadcast (http://www.npr.org/2014/11/03/357428287/tom-magliozzi-popular-co-host-of-nprs-car-talk-dies-at-77) and answering the detailed questions.

Here are some words you may want to know:
infectious - ansteckend
epiphany - Erleuchtung
bum - Faulenzer
mischievous - spitzbübisch (it really is a word!)
feisty - streitlustig
affection - Zuneigung