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Some links to start your search for news articles.

General:

• Google news - New Zealand
• Google news - Australia
• Google news - South Africa
• Google news - United Kingdom
• Google news - United States
• Google news - Canada

National news sources:

• New Zealand Herald
• Sydney Morning Herald
• New York Times
• The Guardian
• BBC

Easier stories:

• Ananova

In order to improve your English skills, you need to read the English press on a regular basis.

So, every 5 weeks you must hand in a folio with five articles including the following:

• a copy of each news article - see "reading log resources"
• 15 key and new words and their translation
• a summary of the article (50 words)

Please note that:

• the articles must be published after the 1st of September 2009
• they must be written in English and taken from an English language site/magazine...
• you must include the publishing date and source

French-English dictionary: wordreference.com
Definitions, synonyms, antonyms: dictionary.reference.com/
Bulk translators: Google translation ; Reverso

Work through the dialogues in BBC Learning English's Flatmates.

• Start with episode 1
• To listen to the dialogue, use the link "Download mp3".
• Read the language point - copy or print the text for reference.
• Do the quiz about the language point.
• Continue to the next episode;

Work through the episodes at your own pace - at the IUT or at home.

Ten days in Manchester

Work through the exercises, choosing "good day" or "bad day" for each. Keep a written record of dialogues you complete, the things the characters do and vocabulary you learn - there will be a test!

The Seven Deadly Sins of Powerpoint Presentations
Excerpt from "Really Bad Powerpoint": A Great Powerpoint Presentation.pdf

1. Read the articles.
2. Use the advice offered to create a powerpoint presentation that avoids the "seven deadly sins".

Write a dialogue between a restaurant customer and a waiter. Use as much of your food vocabulary as possible.

1. The waiter greets the customer (evening meal)
2. The customer asks for a table
3. The waiter gives the customer a menu
4. The waiter describes "today's special"
5. The customer asks what is in one of the dishes
6. The customer orders a dish
7. The waiter asks if the customer would like a drink
8. The customer orders a drink
9. (The customer eats)
10. The waiter asks the customer if the food is O.K.
11. The customer replies with his:her opinion