Saturday, January 28, 2017

The Fonix 2017: Describing Pictures


To describe a picture or an image in English, you should follow these steps:

Introduction
· The photo / picture shows...
· It was taken by / in...
· It's a black-and-white / coloured photo.

What and where
· In the foreground/background there are... / there is... / you can see...
· On the left/right there are... / there is... / you can see...
· At the top/At the bottom there are... / there is... / you can see...
· In the middle/centre there are... / there is... / you can see...
· Behind/In front of ... there are... / there is... / you can see...

Who and what
To describe the persons or animals in the picture and explain what is happening, you have to use the Present ContinuousHe is walking / They are sleeping / ...

Personal opinion
· It seems as if...
· The woman / boy / cat / child seems to...
· I think... / believe... /guess...
· I (don't) like the picture because...


For well skilled students, or those who want to improve their description skills, here you have a presentation with some exercises that could help you: 

Describing a Picture in English




The Fonix 2017: Transition Words and Phrases


Transition words and phrases help establish clear connections between ideas and ensure that sentences and paragraphs flow together smoothly, making them easier to read. Use the following words and phrases in the following circumstances.

To indicate more information:
Besides
Furthermore
In addition
Indeed
In fact
Second...Third..., etc.
To indicate an example:
For example
For instance
In particular
Particularly
Specifically
To indicate a cause or reason:
As
Because
Because of
 
For
 
For the reason that
Since
To indicate a result or an effect:
Finally
Consequently
So
 
Therefore
To indicate a purpose or reason why:
In order to
So
So that
With this in mind
To compare or contrast:
Although
 
However
 
In comparison
In contrast
Nevertheless
On the other hand
Yet
To indicate a particular period of time: 
After 
Before
During
Eventually
Finally
First, . . . Second, . . ., etc.
Immediately
Later
Next
Previously
Soon
To summarize:
Briefly
In brief
Summing up
To sum up
To summarize
To conclude:
Given these facts
In conclusion
So
Therefore
To conclude

Friday, January 27, 2017

The Fonix 2.017: Task Types (Regional Stage)


REGIONAL STAGE TASK TYPES:

Each year the competition uses a theme to base all the tasks around. The theme will be  in short announced.


1st CYCLE OF SECONDARY / 1º Y 2º DE ESO)
  • Vocabulary: Verbs and nouns related to a theme.
  • Reading: Text about the given theme with questions about it.
  • Language: Present Simple / Past Simple + verbs related to theme.
  • Tasks: gap filler, answering questions, matching, true / false questions and putting words in order to make sentences. Giving simple advice.
  • Writing: Writing about 120 words about the given theme.
  • Time Limit: 55 minutes


2nd CYCLE OF SECONDARY (3º Y 4º DE ESO)

  • Vocabulary: General verb tense review, words related to a theme.
  • Reading: Text about the given theme with questions about it.
  • Language: Present simple / Past Simple / Present Perfect and Past Perfect.
  • Tasks: Matching definitions, gap filler, completing sentences with correct tense, giving advice.
  • Writing: Giving opinion about a theme. Writing about 130 words.
  • Time Limit: 55 minutes

How to Write an Essay (2.017)


An essay has to be structured in three key elements:
  1. Introduction
  2. Body Paragraphs
  3. Conclusion
1) Introduction

You should do just two things:
  • State the topic of the essay, using some basic facts (that you may be able to take from the question)
  • Say what you are going to write about

2) Body Paragraphs

You should have 2 or 3 body paragraphs - no more, and no less.
For your body paragraph, each paragraph should contain one controlling idea, and have sentences to support this.

3) Conclusion

The conclusion only needs to be one or two sentences, and you can do the following:


  • Re-state what the essay is about (re-write the last sentence of your introduction in different words)
  • Give some thoughts about the future.

What does a good essay need?

An essay aims to persuade readers of an idea based on evidence.

·         An academic essay should answer a question or task.

·         It should have a thesis statement (answer to the question) and an argument.

·         It should try to present or discuss something: develop a thesis via a set of closely related points by reasoning and evidence.

·         An academic essay should include relevant examples, supporting evidence and information from academic texts or credible sources.