ESCUELA SUPERIOR DE LENGUAS EXTRANJERAS

ESLE

ENGLISH
LANGUAGE I

Prof. Titular Silvina Enrico

Prof. Adjunta Cintia Benedetti
JTP: Graciela Caballero

MATERIAL SELECCIONADO POR LA CÁTEDRA

MENDOZA, 2023
 unit 1
The Dictionary. Types of English
Dictionaries and How to use them

Polysemy of Words. Denotation and

Connotation. Semantic and
Syntactic Collocations.

Writing process: Identifying- The

Paragraph: Topic, Supporting
and Concluding Sentences.

Analyzing the 4 features of a

paragraph: building better
sentences
 The Dictionary.
Types of English Dictionaries and How to use them

https://word-connection.com/how-to-use-a-monolingual-paper-dictionary/
 Also go to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhhJP7qSD9Y
and watch the video HOW TO USE MONOLINGUAL DICTIONARIES

Identify the different types of English dictionaries

 How to Use
an Online
Dictionary
https://live-language.com/how-to-use-an-online-dictionary/

To learn English vocabulary and pronunciation as quickly as possible, you can use an online dictionary. You
can find out new words and more information about words you have learned with your teacher in your live
lesson.
Five top tips for getting the most out of your online dictionary. There are many dictionaries
available online, such as Cambridge, MacMillan and Collins Dictionaries. Here are some tips to help you
get the most out of your English online dictionary.
1. Find the word you are looking for and write it in your vocabulary notebook (check your spelling).
2. Write the part of speech in your notebook – for example, noun, verb, adjective, adverb.
3. Click the icon to listen to the pronunciation and practise saying the word to yourself. This really
helps you achieve good pronunciation quickly.
4. Read its definition and write this, in your own words, next to your word in your vocabulary book. If a
picture helps you to remember the word – draw it! It’s your vocabulary book! You could also find out if
there are any synonyms or antonyms (words with similar or opposite meanings).
5. Use the example sentences in the dictionary to help you understand how to use it in a sentence and
then try to use the word in your own sentences to help you remember it.
Bonus tip – some dictionaries give you related words (word families). Write these down too! This will help
you build up your vocabulary quicker! This is an excellent way to learn more English free online!!

Two of the most popular monolingual learner’s dictionaries are from Oxford
(https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/) and from Longman
(https://www.ldoceonline.com/). However, there are also dictionaries available
online from Macmillan (https://www.macmillandictionary.com/), Cambridge
(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/), Merriam-Webster (https://www.merriam-
webster.com/) and Collins
(https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english). Each of the dictionaries
is also available in paper form, often with a CD-ROM. Many of them are also
available as apps. Try a few out and see what works best for you. The advice
below should apply to all of them.
 WHY YOU SHOULD USE A MONOLINGUAL DICTIONARY

By looking up words in an English-only dictionary you:

practise your reading skills;

practise your writing skills (when you copy the definition/write an example);
can check the pronunciation of the word;
see the word in context;
find common collocations;
find out how important the word is;
learn about common problems for English learners and how to avoid them;
spend time with words, instead of rushing, so that your brain has more time to take them in;
expand your vocabulary by learning synonyms, opposites, and words you don’t understand in
the definitions.
I
 Polysemy of Words. PERSONALITY ADJECTIVES
Denotation and Connotation.
Semantic and Syntactic Collocations.

Look at the words in the word cloud and try to think of a definition for each term.
You DON'T HAVE TO WRITE THE DEFINITIONS.
You can start your definitions by saying: "A .................. person is someone who..........." .
E.g. A creative person is someone who has the ability to invent and develop original ideas and objects.
THIS IS A WARM-UP ACTIVITY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAND IN ANYTHING HERE.

After watching the video "Describe your Character and Personality in English", write and share
introducing yourself briefly. Provide personal information (name, place of origin and course of
studies you belong to) and information about your character and personality. Choose 3/4
personality adjectives that best describe your personality and briefly explain the reasons of your
choice.
Commonly Confused Words:
connotation/denotation

"Long before the Christian era, people celebrated the winter equinox. Let's remove
religious connotations and call it the winter equinox break." (Washington Post)

"I kind of hate that word 'collector' because it has such a financial investment connotation."
( Los Angeles Times)

"Bryan has instead always opted for baseball caps, a fashion item that carries few
connotations other than a sense of casualness and youth." (The Guardian)

People love to read between the lines, so connotation is more popular,

but it's often held up against its more rigid friend denotation.
 ACTIVITIES

- Identify the text main idea and each paragraph main idea.

- Write an answer to the question: What is the text about?

1 Everyone has a different personality. It is what makes people individuals and

2 unique. However, there are some shared personality qualities which let us talk about

3 personality “types”. One of the most basic personality differences is between

4 extroverts and introverts. These terms are used in many theories of personality

5 types. They were made popular by the important Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung (1875-

6 1961), although he did not invent them. Extroversion and introversion are ways of

7 describing a person's attitude to the world: do they move towards it or away from

8 it?

10 Extroverts are people who look outwards. They are friendly, sociable, talkative, and

11 self-confident. They are interested in a range of experiences and enjoy spending

12 time with other people. They tend to act first, then think later. When extroverts feel

13 bad, unmotivated or without energy, they look outside themselves. This means they

14 might go shopping, call friends or have a party. Typical extrovert jobs are in politics,

15 sales, teaching and management.

16 Introverts, on the other hand, look inwards. They feel more comfortable alone and

17 enjoy ideas and thinking. They are reserved, quiet, thoughtful and maybe shy. They

18 like to think and consider before taking action, and will often analyse before

19 speaking. In contrast to extroverts they value fewer, but deeper experiences. When

20 feeling bad or stressed, introverts look inside themselves for energy and motivation.

21 Introverts often work as artists, writers, engineers and inventors.

22

23 Although the types are different, most people have both extrovert and introvert

24 characteristics in their personality, but often they are more one type than the other.

25 There has been some interesting research into why people are basically extroverts

26 or introverts. Some people say that extroverts and introverts are born not made.

27 Others believe that environment is more important in shaping someone's

28 personality.

29 Attitudes towards introverts and extroverts vary in different cultures. For example,

30 Americans value extrovert qualities. However, cultures such as those in Central

31 Europe and Southeast Asia regard introvert characteristics more highly.

32 Interestingly, research shows that people who live on islands tend to be more

33 introverted. Studies have also found that extroverts have higher happiness levels

34 than introverts.
 Writing process: Identifying- The Paragraph: Topic, Supporting and Concluding Sentences.

https://writingexplained.org/grammar-dictionary/paragraph

In non-fiction writing, a body paragraph is any paragraph that comes between

the introduction and the conclusion.

A good body paragraph will have the following:

Unity, Coherence
what is an introduction paragraph As mentioned above, the ideas in a paragraph should logically fit together. Furthermore, they
should flow from one idea to the next.

A paragraph should be organized in a way that it builds appropriately. This could be by sequence of ideas or events. Additionally,
transitions should be used from one sentence to the next that connect the ideas and concepts.

Adequate Development
In order for a paragraph to be considered “adequate” or “sufficient,” the paragraph should be well-developed. The reader should not
be left wanting more information.

Similarly, the paragraph should include enough evidence to support its topic sentence.

Transitions
what is the purpose of a conclusion paragraph Good paragraphs have transitions between preceding and proceeding paragraphs.
These transitions are logical and verbal.

One paragraph should logically flow to the next. The ideas in a body of work should be organized so each paragraph transitions well
to the next. It should not be choppy.

Additionally, verbal transitions within and between paragraphs should help the reader move seamlessly through the piece of writing.
 ACTIVITIES:
1. How many paragraphs does this text have?
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2. Which paragraph is the introduction?
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3. Which paragraphs make up the body?
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4. Which paragraph is the conclusion?
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5. In a few words, what is the main topic of this text?
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6. Can you find a sentence in paragraph 1 that tells readers what to expect in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4?
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7. What is the main idea of paragraph 2?
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8. Can you find a sentence that introduces this idea?
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9. Write the topic sentences of paragraphs 3 and 4.
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10. In paragraph 2 the writer shows that people do not like to iron clothes. Write 2 of the supporting
sentences.___________________________________________________________________
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11. In paragraph 4, the writer suggests that cleaning the bathroom is not a fast chore. Write the sentence in
which the writer makes this point.
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Analyzing the 4 features of a paragraph: building better sentences
 unit 2
REVIEW: Elements of a paragraph

Academic writing.
Formal vs. informal style.

The Writing Process.

The Basics of Punctuation.

COLLOCATIONS
REVIEW: Elements of a paragraph
ACTIVITIES

- Read the text "Homeworking: Working from Home on the Rise"

(File attached - Source: Coursebook New Language Leader INTERMEDIATE).

- Identify the text's main idea and each paragraph's main idea.

- Write an answer to the question: What is the text about? (Write between 100 - 120 words)

HOMEWORKING
Working from home on the rise

1 Sunjit Patel is a graphic designer with a well-known publishing company. He has

2 lived in South London since he was five, and for the last three years he has been
3 working from home. He prefers working from home because he can spend more
4 time with his family and have a better work-life balance. Sunjit is just one example
5 of a worldwide, upward trend towards working from home, and according to a study
6 by the International Labour Organization, “The expansion of teleworking… is likely
7 to further accelerate in the years to come.”
8
9 What are the reasons for the rise of homeworking? Technology has been a key
10 factor. Fast broadband connections have provided people with a quick way of
11 receiving and sending data from home. People can now do most of the work at home
12 that they did previously in an office. Other reasons for the rise of homeworking are
13 that it lowers costs for companies and homeworkers tend to be more productive and
14 take fewer sick days than office workers.
15
16 In recent years, a large number of companies have been offering employees more
17 flexible ways of working. British Telecom was one of the pioneers of homeworking.
18 In fact, it has been offering a telework scheme since 1986, which has paved the way
19 for others. It says that homeworkers save the company an average of £6000 per
20 person, annually.
21
22 Homeworking brings many benefits to employers and employees. Office space is
23 costly, so if a company can reduce its workstations, it may be able to move to a
24 smaller side. Homeworking employees will no longer be commuting daily to work,
25 which is time-consuming and stressful. They can plan their own work schedule and
26 develop good time management skills.
27
28 There are, however, disadvantages of homeworking. For some people the office
29 provides a break from the family, colleagues to talk to and a creative environment.
30 There are many jobs too in which people have to work closely in teams and
31 brainstorm ideas. Homeworking is not really suitable for that kind of activity. It is
32 also not suitable for people who have got a very young family and nowhere separate
33 to work.
34
35 Whatever the pros and cons, teleworking is here to stay. For Sunjit Patel it is only
36 good: “For someone like me, who has a family and the time management skills to
37 work well on their own, homeworking is a no-brainer. I’m much happier with my
38 life since I quit the office.”
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ACTIVITIES:

- Read the text "Getting away from it all" and answer the question "What is the text about?"

- Read the text "Cool Things to Do in Dubai" and answer the question "What is the text about?"

REMEMBER!

Follow these steps when reading and elaborating on your answers:

1- Read the text several times.

2- Identify each paragraph's main idea (topic sentence).

3- Once you have all the main ideas, write your answer.

*ANSWERS MUST BE SHORT. Remember we are reporting the text main ideas. We are NOT writing summaries yet.

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 Think for a minute: Travel and Tourism
Getting away from it all?

1 1- Tourist or Traveller?
2
3 What's the difference between travel and tourism? Well, being a traveller is more
4 than just being a holidaymaker. A holiday is just a short time away, and it normally
5 involves relaxation. Tourists stay in holiday resorts, not travellers. Travellers go for
6 the experience, and their journeys are usually much longer and more challenging.
7 For example, travellers tend to avoid tourist traps and like to go off the beaten track
8 to discover new places. Travel is an age-old phenomenon, but tourism is a relatively
9 recent invention. Thomas Cook is often described as the first travel agent because
10 he arranged the first "package tour": a 19-kilometre trip for 500 people, in 1841.
11
12 2- Holiday at Home
13 Going overseas in order to experience a different way of life is what many people
14 think of as travel, but travel does not necessarily mean going abroad. How many
15 people can say they have visited every part of their own country? Many people who
16 live in vast countries such as Russia and the USA have only visited a small part of
17 their own country, and so domestic travel is also very exciting. It's a surprising fact
18 that about 75% of US citizens do not own a passport, so traveling does not mean
19 leaving the country for them.
20
21 3- Virtual Tourism
22 Some people can't travel or don't like the physical reality of traveling to far away
23 destinations. These days it is easy to be an “armchair traveller”. People can visit
24 distant corners of the world or even little known parts of their own country without
25 leaving their living rooms by using Google Earth. Television documentaries and the
26 internet make the world a small place, and some people argue the travel is no longer
27 necessary. Many people already use interactive computer programs, and virtual
28 travel will become increasingly common. Enthusiasts argue that by doing this we
29 will have all the benefits of travel without the inconvenience

Taken from COTTON, David; FALVEY, David & KENT, Simon (2013). New Language
LEADER – Intermediate. England: PEARSON EDUCATION LIMITED.
 COOL THINGS TO DO IN DUBAI

1 If you're looking for adventure in a unique vacation place, try Dubai. Located south
2 of the Persian Gulf, on the Arabian Peninsula, Dubai is one of the seven emirates of
3 the United Arab Emirates. It enjoys sunny days and warm temperatures year round,
4 though the best time to visit is between November and March when the sun is not
5 so strong.
6
7 Every year, millions of visitors come to Dubai. The beautiful architecture, creative
8 theme parks, sunny beaches, surrounding desert, and outstanding hotels and
9 restaurants are just some of Dubai's many attractions. There are also many activities
10 to enjoy.Some of the most popular activities in Dubai are scuba diving, camel racing,
11 and, of course, shopping.
12
13 Shopping in “the Shopping Capital of the Middle East" can be an adventure,
14 especially in January. The month-long Dubai Shopping Festival brings 3.3 million
15 shoppers to the special events, the nightly fireworks, and the huge sales on luxury
16 items.
17
18 If you're not interested in shopping, there is still plenty to do, like sand skiing. This
19 unusual sport is increasingly popular with tourists and locals. A jeep will take you
20 to the high desert dunes between Dubai and the village of Hatta, where you can sand
21 ski or sand board.
22
23 But one of the coolest things to do in Dubai is to play in the snow. Yes, snow! Ski
24 Dubai is an indoor ski resort with artificial snow where you can ski, snowboard, or
25 just make a snowman. The temperature is always -1° to -2° C. It is the largest indoor
26 snow park in the world.
27
28 So, if you plan to visit Dubai, pack carefully. You'll probably need your wallet, your
29 sunscreen, and a winter coat and hat!

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 Academic writing.
Formal vs. informal style.
At university, you will be required to write assignments using a formal or "Academic
Style". What is "Academic Style"? What are the main characteristics of this style?
Academic Style is characterized by many features that make it different from
speech-like writing and informal writing. We will start analysing the use of
punctuation. Today, in this class, we are going to analyze FORMAL vs. INFORMAL
LANGUAGE and the CHARACTERISTICS OF ACADEMIC STYLE.
 Academic
Style
1. Study the style of this paragraph and underline any examples of poor style.
A lot of people think that the weather is getting worse. They say that this has been going on
for quite a long time. I think that they are quite right. Research has shown that we now get
storms etc all the time. 2. Academic writing attempts to be precise, semi-formal, impersonal
and objective. This does not mean that pronouns like I and we are never used, but in general
the focus is on presenting information as clearly and accurately as possible. In this way such
writing differs from normal speech and writing, which is more personal and uses more lively
idioms and phrases. Using these guidelines, the paragraph above can be analysed:

The paragraph can be rewritten:

It is widely believed that the climate is deteriorating. It is claimed that this process has been
continuing for nearly 100 years. This belief appears to be supported by McKinley (1997), who
shows a 55% increase in the frequency of severe winter gales since 1905.
3. It is difficult to give rules for academic style which apply to all subject
areas.
When reading books and journals in your area you should note what is
acceptable. You will probably meet exceptions to the points below as you
read, but if you follow these guidelines you should be able to develop a
suitable style of your own.
a) Do not use idiomatic or colloquial vocabulary: dad, guy. Use standard
English: father, man.
b) Use vocabulary accurately. There is a difference between rule and law,
or currency and money, which you are expected to know.
c) Be as precise as possible when dealing with facts or figures. Avoid
phrases such as about a hundred or hundreds of years ago. If it is necessary
to estimate numbers use approximately rather than about.
d) Conclusions should use tentative language. Avoid absolute statements
such as education reduces crime. Instead use cautious phrases: may reduce
crime or tends to reduce crime.
e) Avoid adverbs that show your personal attitude: luckily, remarkably,
surprisingly.
f) Do not contract verb forms: don’t, can’t. Use the full form: do not, cannot.
g) Although academic English tends to use the passive more than
standard English, it should not be over-used. Both have their place.
Compare:
Manners (1995) claims that most companies perform worse when …
It is widely agreed that most companies perform worse when …
In the first case, the focus is on the source, in the second on what
companies do.
h) Avoid the following:
like for introducing examples. Use such as or for instance.
thing and combinations: nothing or something. Use factor, issue or topic.
lots of. Use a significant/considerable number.
little/big. Use small/large.
get phrases such as get better/worse. Use improve and deteriorate.
i) Do not use question forms such as What were the reasons for the decline in
wool exports? Instead use statements: There were four main reasons for the
decline…
j) Avoid numbering sections of your text, except in certain reports.
Use conjunctions and signposting expressions to introduce new
sections (Turning to the question of taxation …). Sub-headings are widely
used.
k) When writing lists, avoid using etc. or and so on. Insert and before the
last item:
The forests of the twelfth century consisted of oak, ash and lime.
l) Avoid using two-word verbs such as go on or bring up if there is a
suitable synonym. Use continue or raise.
4. In the following, first underline the examples of poor style and then re-write
them in a more suitable way:
a) Lots of people think that the railways are getting worse.
b) Sadly, serious crime like murder is going up.
c) You can’t always trust the numbers in that report.
d) The second thing is that most kids in that district will become
criminals.
e) I think that there’s a big risk of more strikes, disorder etc.
f) A few years ago they allowed women to vote.
g) Regrettably, the inflation in Russia led to increased poverty, illness and
so on.
h) Sometime soon they will find a vaccine for malaria.
i) What were the main causes of the American Revolution?
5. Re-write the following paragraphs in better style.
a) These days a lot of kids are starting school early. Years ago, they began at five, but now
it’s normal to start at four or younger. Why is this? One thing is that mums need to get
back to work. Is it good for the kids? Jenkins has studied this and says that early
schooling causes social problems like stealing, drug-taking etc. I think he’s right and
we should pay mums to stay at home.

b) Why are there so many jams on the roads these days? One thing is that public
transport like trains, buses etc is so dear. A long time ago cars cost a lot but now,
unfortunately, they’ve got a lot cheaper. Another thing is that driving is a lot nicer than
waiting for a bus. The trouble is that if everyone buys a car the roads get packed.
The Writing Process.
The Basics of Punctuation.
COLLOCATIONS