Reading Comprehension

There are five reading texts available . Each text has multiple-choice questions (just choose your answer and click to find out if you're right). Each text is also followed by a grammar exercise and a summary-writing exercise.

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/reading/index.htm

Free Grammar and Vocabulary Exercises

Jede Menge Lernstoff mit drei unterschiedlichen levels bietet diese Seite:

http://www.speakspeak.com/html/d3_english_resources_grammar_practice.htm

Listening Comprehension - a diagnostic test

Hier ein Test aus dem Bereich Hörverstehen mit 100 Teilen.
Der Test kann online durchgeführt und im Anschluss sofort ausgewertet werden.

http://www.edict.com.hk/Diagnostic/listening.htm

Listening comprehension

Hörverstehensübungen mit worksheets und den jeweiligen Transkripten und Lösungen findest Du auf dieser Seite:

http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/openforum/

Reading comprehension

Du möchtest deinen Zugang zu Texten testen. Du möchtest dein Textverständnis verbessern?
Diese Seite bietet jede Menge Lesestoff. Zu den jeweiligen Texten gibt es Zusatzübungen, deren Resultat nach der Bearbeitung angezeigt wird. Eine runde Sache.

http://www.usingenglish.com/comprehension/

Grammar Exercises

Eine Seite, die eine Unzahl an Grammatikübungen bietet. DieÜbungen sind dem jeweiligen Gebiet untergeordnet, so dass das gewünschte Gebiet leicht auffindbar ist. Have a try!

http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/exercises/main/grammar.html

Transitions with sample sentences

Wie strukturiere ich meinen Text logisch? Diese Seite gibt die Antwort. Alle Connectives sind mit Beispielsätzen versehen, so dass der Anwendungsaspekt Vorrang hat.

http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/writing/transitions.html

English Grammar Exercises

Zur Wiederholung und zur Übung der Tenses und der Word Order

http://www.die-zeiten-in-englisch.de/corporate/grammitik/mix_tenses.php

Hörverstehen – Links zur Vorbereitung auf den ersten Teil der ZP 10

Hier findet ihr viele Links zu Webseiten mit denen ihr euer Hörverständnis trainieren und testen könnt.

Hinweis: Um Audiodateien abspielen zu können, benötigt ihr unter Umständen entsprechende Programme:
Real Player downloaden
Windows Media Player downloaden

• CDLP - Learning Activities
  

  Geschichten anhören, den Text mitlesen und anschließend verschiedene Aufgaben dazu machen.
  

1. Randall's ESL Listening Lab
   

   Hörverständnisaufgaben in den Kategorien "Easy", "Medium" und "Difficult". Diese Seite ist für die ZP 10 Vorbereitung am besten geeignet
   

2. ELLLO - English Language Listening Lab Online
   

   Auf dieser Webseite finden Sie verschiedene Hörverständnisaufgaben. Diese beinhalten Bilder, Quiz sowie ein Transkript der Audiodatei.
   

3. CNN Literacy Network
   

   Geschichten zu verschiedenen Themen. Zu einigen Texten gibt es auch Audio- oder Videodateien. Im Anschluss können eine Reihe von Hörverständnisaufgaben gemacht werden.
   

4. 1-language.com - Listening Center
   

   Gesprächen zuhören und anschließend Aufgaben dazu machen.
   

5. eflclub.com - Songs Room
   

   Lieder ( u.a. von den Beatles) anhören und die Lücken im Liedtext ausfüllen.
   

ZP 10 Hörverstehen

Zur Vorbereitung des ersten Teils der ZP 10 ist es unerlässlich in verschiedene "real life situations" hineinzuhören. Diese Seite ist aufgeteilt in EASY, MEDIUM, ADVANCED.
Zu allen Beispielen wird zunächst eine pre-reading activity, in der ihr Vokabular zum Thema des Hörtextes aktiviert.
Dann wird das Verständnis überprüft, das heißt:
Während ihr das Tonbeipiel abspielt, minimiert den Player und konzentriert euch auf die Fragen, klickt die Lösungen an und lasst euren "score" errechnen.
Beginnt mit den Beispielen aus der Rubrik EASY, das entspricht den Vorgaben der ZP 10.
Im Anschluss ist es möglich, sich post-listening activities anzuschauen.
Hier der LINK

Randall's Cyber Listening Lab
http://www.esl-lab.com/

Obama's speech "We are the United States of America"

How to write a summary

Writing a summary

Why summaries?

The summary was not invented to torture students. Instead, it is something very useful. Summaries of the essential contents of longer texts can be found in

• surveys summarizing the most important information of longer reports,
  
• blurbs giving a brief overview of the content of a book,
  
• dissertation abstracts containing short information about scientific theses,
  
• minutes recording the main results of a meeting.
  

What does a summary do?

In a summary, you tell the reader (or the teacher, if he doesn't know already)

• what a text talks about in general (the topic)
  
• what exactly a text talks about (the sub-topics of the text) and what it says about these things (the messages of a text)
  
• what is the overall message of the text.
  

A topic is one word or expression that a text or a paragraph is about. It can normally be found somewhere at the beginning of a text or paragraph. What is the topic of the following short paragraph?

Mike's house was so comfortable and warm! He really didn't want to leave, but he couldn't afford the rent, you know. And it had such a nice garden in the back!

What does the text say about this topic, __________________? That's the message of a paragraph. You should be able to express this message in one sentence or two. Sometimes, the author has done this bit of work for you and has put the message at the beginning or at the end of a paragraph / text, but sometimes you have to make it up yourself. Unfortunately, it's not always that clear what the message is.

A longer text will deal its topic by talking about different subtopics.

How do you write a summary

1. Take a first look at the text, try to understand what it is about (this might be the general topic of the text)
   
2. Read through the text, try to understand what it is really about (general topic), which things it talks about (subtopics), and what its overall message is. Underline the corresponding expressions in three colours. Colour pencils are expensive, so use the colours sparingly!
   
3. Read through the text again, try to find sections that talk about the same subtopic and mark them.
   Hint: Most of the time, a new topic will be treated in a new paragraph. Also watch out for adverbials that express a distance in time (a few years later), a logical contrast (however, nevertheless, on the other hand), a new development of the argument (therefore, consequently), or a new topic (As far as XYZ is concerned /As to XYZ,). You can underline these signal adverbials when you read through the text first.
   
4. Read through the text again (if you don't know it by heart yet) and try to understand which messages the text gives about its different subtopics. If you're lucky to find a key sentence, underline it, otherwise write down the message at the margin of the text.
   
5. At the same time, try to understand the logical connection between the different messages of the text. If you're lucky, the author has helped you with some nice adverbials of time or reason.
   
6. Congratulations! Your summary is finished. All you have to do now is write it down, in the following order:
   

• Overall topic of the text (XYZ's text ABC talks about X // deals with the question as to whether / why…)
  
• Subtopics and messages, connected logically or, if there's no logical connection to be seen, with First, second, third / Moreover / In addition.
  
• General message of the text (In general / On the whole, the author shows / makes it clear that… // Thus, the bottom line of XYZ's text is that…)
  

1. The tricky thing about a summary is its style. You're not supposed to just copy the text, because then your teacher would have nothing to correct. Instead, you're required
   

• to use your own words as far as possible
  
• to avoid repetitions, especially as far as the connections between the different ideas are concerned. Vary your choice of words.
  
• to be short and snappy: In general, a summary has about a third of the length of the original text.
  

1. Remind the reader time and again that you are summarizing. Moreover, if the author expresses his opinion, make it clear that it is his opinion, not yours, even if you happen to agree with him. You can do this by using the following expressions.
   

 

The author…

says, states, points out that ... claims, believes thinks that ... describes, explains, makes clear that/why … uses examples to confirm/prove that … doubts, asks the question as to whether ... agrees/ disagrees with the thesis/ view that … contradicts the view/ opinion that … criticizes/ analyses/ comments on … concludes that … shows that it is important to consider … contrasts X with Y / compares X to Y… tries to express … tries to convince the reader argues that … suggests that sth. should be done to/ against/ for … appeals to the reader/government/ ? to …

Applying for a job - an advertisement

The job advertisement


Administrative Assistant - Amazon.com[1]

Job Title: Administrative Assistant
Location: SEATTLE, WA
Job Type: Full-Time
============================

Amazon.com is looking for a highly motivated, detail-oriented self-starter to assist our Product Development group. In addition to day-to-day administration, responsibilities will involve challenging projects such as online research. This position requires a high level of organizational skills, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills. A solid knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel is also required. Candidates must be bright[2], independent and flexible. Candidates with a passion for the Internet and creating the world's best e-commerce Web site will find this a very good job.

Required Skills:
* Organizational Skills
* Communication Skills
* MS Word
* MS Excel

Contact Information:
Jack Peters
Recruitment Manager
Amazon.com
P.O. Box 80387
Seattle, WA 98108

The Amazon.com philosophy is simple: if it’s good for our customers, it’s worth doing. Our company mission is to provide the best buying experience on the Internet. Put another way, we want people to come to Amazon.com, find whatever they want, discover things they didn’t know they wanted, and leave feeling like they have a favorite place to shop.
Work hard. Everyone at Amazon.com works hard and long. We act like owners because we are owners--stock options[3] are given to each of us.
Have fun. We like what we’re doing. Because of that, we have fun at work, and it makes it easy for us to work hard.
Make history. This is the most compelling reason to work at Amazon.com. What we’re building is new. We’re not trying to follow a company model--we are creating the model. Amazon.com is the product of a great idea, hard work, and exceptional people. We are pioneers in a growth industry, and we’re leading the way. But this is just the beginning; it’s still day one at Amazon.com. If you would like to help us build our company, we invite you to apply.
[1] Amazon.com = American Internet bookshop operating in other countries (incl. Germany), too
[2] bright = intelligent
[3] stock options = Firmenanteile (wie Aktien)