13 Transactional matching Time: 10-15 minutes Exam focus: Paper 2, Part 1 Lexical areo/ topie Transactional leters Type of activity: Team activity based on identifying suitable expressions that can be Used in a semi-formal trensocional later, nl identilying ‘end correcting some common language mistakes Preparation: Copy the transactional letter ‘expressions on poge 74 — Wo copies for each group of four students Other materials required: None Method 1 Introduce the activity by asking the students about some common expressions that can be used in semi-formal transactional letters. They should be familiar with some expressions such as ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, ‘Yours sincerely’, ‘am writing to...’, etc.) 2. Divide the class into groups of four. Divide each group of four into pairs. The two pairs in each group will be playing against each other. 3. Give each pair a copy of the transactional, expressions, 4. Explain that the sheet contains the beginning and end of different sentences ‘hat can be used in transactional letters. ‘The second part of each sentence also contains a mistake (this is either a spelling mistake, a missing word or an extra unnecessary word). 5. The student pairs then take it im turns to: ‘+ Match the beginning of the sentence in the first column to the ending in the second column, * Identify and correct the mistake in the second part of the sentence. ‘They have a maximum of 30 seconds cach time. The other team should time them. They should write their answers down on a separate sheet of paper. © Stop the game after 10-15 minutes and check the answers with the class. The pair in each group that has matched and Teocher's notes corrected the largest number of sentences is ‘the winner in that group. ‘The scoring works as follows: If they match both the sentence halves and identify the mistake correctly, they win 2 points. if they match the sentences but fail to identify the mistake, they win 1 point. If they fail to match the sentence, they don’t win anything, even if they are able to identify and correct the mistake. Alternative activity Tis could be done as a simple pairwork activity, with the students working together to match up the sentence halves and identify the ‘errors. Follow-up Choose any semi-formal transactional letter from an FCE past paper or practice tests book and ask the students to decide which of the expressions from the game would be suitable for use in that letter. Key 1 Dear Mr Blackwell sir, (remove) 2 Dear Sir/Madame, (spelling ~ remove the e) (1 +2.can be in either order) 9 Tiefer to your advertisement in yeaterday’s Times for a tour guide. (spelling) 4 Lwould like to apply for the post of ‘Assistant Teacher Was advertised in the Oxford News on 8 April. (remove) 5 Lam very interested in applying you for the post of student reporter. (remove) 6 I would like to complain about the service 1 received recently in your restaurant. (spelling) 7 Lam veriting to thank you for the help you {gave me when I visited to your school. (cemove) 8 I would be grateful if you would send me ‘more of information. (remove) 9 Thank you very much for your letter of 12 September. (spelling) 10 As you requested, 1 enclose full details of the itinerary for a next weekend, (remove) 11 Lregret that | am unable to attend at the conference next Tuesday. (remove) 12.1 suggest meeting with at 7 o'clock. (remove) 13 Thope I have covered for the main points. (remove)Teacher's notes 14 Ifyou require any more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch me. (remove) 15 Please give my best wishes to a Mr Smith, (remove) 16 Ican usually be contacted by telephone ot the e-mail, (remove) 17 Lwonld be free to attend an interview at any time, (spelling) 18 I very much appreciated the effort you went to in order to make this meeting a success. (add) 19 I would like to point out that your article contained a number of errors. (Speling) 20 Leet that Iam owed an apology. (spelling ~ remove one p) 211 would be grateful if you would let me know when you will then arrive, (remove) 22,Thank you for your attention to allthis matter. femove) 2311 look forward to hearing from you so soon, (remove) 24-Vome sincerely, (spelling) 25 Yours faithfully, (spelling) (24 and 25 can bein either orden) 14 Paragraphs Time: 10 minutos + follow-up writing Exam focus: Poper 2, Part 2. Articles Lexical are0/ topic General Type of actviy:.Pairwork activity based on dividing a piece of writen text into paragraphs Preparation: Copy the arcles on Maltese food ‘and Improving your English on yes 75 and 76 — one copy of och per par of students Other materials required: None Method 1 Introduce the activity by writing the word ‘paragraphs’ on the board and asking the students if they can explain what the word means and why paragraphs are important ina plece of written text (they break the text up into individual untts, with each ‘unit covering a particular aspect of the text, and they make it easier for the reader to follow what is being said). 2. Divide the class into pairs. 3. Give one student in each pair a copy of the article on Maltese food and the other student a copy of the article on Improving your English. They should not show their papers to each other. 4 Ask them to look at their articles and identify what is wrong with them (.c., there are no paragraph breaks). 5. Explain that their articles can be divided into six paragraphs. The text therefore contains five paragraph breaks which come between some of the words in bold. They must identify where the breaks come, and write the words that they come between in the table at the bottom of their sheet 6 The students work on their own to identify ‘where their paragraph breaks come, When they have finished, they get together to see who correctly identified the most breaks (They have each other's answers in the second table at the bottom of their sheet.) 7. Ask the students how they were able to Identify their paragraph breaks (ie.. each paragraph begins with a paragraph statement, which briefly summarises what that paragraph Is going to be about). Follow-up Focus class attention on one of the two articles and ask them to think about either (@) food in their country or (b) their own ideas on how best to improve their English. Ask them about the things they would include and write mese in note form on the board - these notes can then form the basis of individual paragraphs which the students then write up in the form of a complete essay. Key ‘The answers are on the sheets. 15 Complete the composition Time: 15-20 minutes Exam focus: Paper 2, Part 2. Composition Lexical area/ topic Food Type of activity: Team aelviy based on using ke a words to oa whole ‘entences, i ‘order to complete « composition Copy the Complete the composition sheet on poge 77 ~ one copy per student. Preparation: & om oy13 Transactional matching Paper 2, Part 1 Rw Ne wearan 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 7 18 19 20 2a 22 23 24 25 Dear Dear refer to your advertisement I would like to apply for the post of Assistant Lam very interested in Twould like to complain Tam writing to thank you Twould be grateful if you Thank you very much for ‘As you requested, regret that I am T suggest Thope I have If you require any more information, Please give my best wishes T can usually be contacted I would be free to attend very much appreciated the T would like to point out T feel that I am Twould be grateful if you would Thank you for your attention T look forward to Yours Yours an interveiw at any time, in yesterdays Times for a tuor guide. meeting with at 7 o'clock. toa Mr Smith, for the help you gave me when I visited to your school. let me know when you will then | anive. | effort you went to in order make this meeting a success. . owed an apology. unable to attend at the conference next Tuesday. . faithfuly, Mr Blackwell sir, covered for the main points. about the service I recieved recently News on 8 April. applying you for the post of student reporter. to all this matter. ‘that your article contained a number of erors. Sir/Madame, Tenclose full details of the itinerary for a next weekend, would send me more of information. hearing from you so soon. your leter of 12 September. by telephone or the e-mail. please do not hesitate to get in touch me. ves sincerly, | in your restaurant. | Teacher was advertised in the Oxford fa ee yor or en en a