Good luck Dec 1st IELTSers

My champs

All the very best for tomorrow, ladies and gentlemen, I hope (?) to be hearing from you on the blog...

By the way, my understanding is that you CAN use highlighter pens on the IELTS QUESTION paper. I specifically asked the examinations people and they said highlighters are permissible for use on the question paper. So, if you want to argue for the right to use a highlighter pen, then STAND UP for yourselves. I shall seek to clarify this point with the Examinations Officer after the National Day holiday.

Basically you are on your own, please feel free to post / comment on the blog. You all know my email address. You have been another extremely passive class and this blog has never really taken off (it is hardly likely to do so - witness the supine contribution (?) of the October IELTS class to the blog). It is your loss.

Hats off to Vladimir! It was a privilege for you all that this modest person bothered to come along and address you on Wednesday. Maybe that is why all 16 of you came along for the final class. Thanks again, Vladimir - you are a gentleman and a scholar.

As usual, there will be no comments on this post - you can see why I have currently lost interest in IELTS teaching at the BC.

Good luck everyone for the 1 and 15 December IELTS candidates!

Happy National Day for the UAE national students (I still have not accepted 'Emirati' as an English word) - 36 wonderful years and a superlative achievement of unity and co-operation for the 'Switzerland of the Gulf' as I once heard the UAE described.

Bye for now

Tony

ps Ayesha K (if you are reading (???) stick with the General Training, give it your best shot and then argue your case with a 6.0 / 6.5 (?) in your hand, OK?

Essay + Tony's comments/edits

To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?


Since many years animals has been used for research, which has benefited humans for their survival. Opposes believe that it is cruelty to animals. This essay will discuss about some of the advantages of mammals and rats used for experiments.


First of all, experiments done on animals helped to treat many of the diseases including MRSA . As we know new bacteria’s are developing which is resistant against many of the old antibiotics which gave challenges to medical profession. Secondly insulin which is derived from pigs are used to treat diabetes. there fore humanity has saved from a killer disease. Medical sciences are in search of new medicines to treat or prevent new diseases such as AIDS. Finally animal research has helped for trials of organ transplantations like liver, and pancreas so human life could be saved and prolonged.


Many part of the world animals are used as a messenger including military services. I do remember an article which says Wales are used to identify some of changes in the sea and even to recognize enemies.

In conclusion necessity of animals in scientific research is crucial .As long as we do not have another option for experiments we have to accept the use of animals. (205 words)

For many years animals have been used for research, which has benefited humans for their survival. Opponents believe that it is cruelty to animals. This essay will discuss some of the advantages of using mammals and rats for scientific experiments.

First of all, experiments conducted on animals have helped to treat many diseases including MRSA . As we all know, new bacteria are developing which are resistant to many of the old antibiotics, which has posed severe challenges to the medical profession. Furthermore, insulin, which is derived from pigs, is used to treat diabetes. Therefore, humanity has been saved from a killer disease. Medical science is in search of new medicines to treat or prevent new diseases such as AIDS. Finally, animal research has helped for trials of organ transplantations such as liver and pancreas so that human life could be saved and prolonged.

It cannot be denied that in many part of the world animals are used as messengers including military services. I do remember an article which says whales are used to identify some of changes in the sea and even to recognize enemies. In this way, animals can play a significant part in tracking climate change and thereby help save lives in low-lying coastal areas such as Bangladesh.

In conclusion, it is of crucial necessity to continue using animals in scientific research. It is my firm belief that as long as we do not have other options for such experiments, we have to accept the use of animals. (251 words)

Very acceptable essay, the third paragraph needed more development. Very solid work, Daisamma. Yes, write complete sentences, my dear!

Any reaction from the silent majority?

Tony, 2 December 2007

Dear Tony,
This is the first time, I am entering web log, even I tried before I couldnot log on .I have read your comments, I regret that I lost many of my valuable days. From today i will try my best to be active in the log.
Thanks,
Daisamma joseph

ESSAY

Hi Guys

It is worth to see the web site http://www.writefix.com/ , which gives more ideas about essays, specially if there is any arguments. Even the samples are provided. The other side which you can do the practice on your own , go to http://www.google.ca/ and type "free IELTS preparation papers", for almost three hours. It's interesting, try it out ?

I took one argument out of the 69 which were given by Tony, to practise:

• Children should never be educated at home by their parents. Do you agree or disagree?

It is an interesting topic, specially because I have two daughters who are schooling here , and my wife and I are full time workers to survive in today's way of living style. My eldest daughter is in grade 10 ( British syllabus) in an international school, whereas my youngest daughter is studying in an Indian school. Through my experience I may disagree to some extent.

Nowadays in most of the families both parents are working to manage the expenses in day to day life. In this part of the world ( U.A.E ) specially Education is the most expensive but parents do not mind because it will benifit the children one day. Moreover, with that expectation, I am sure most of the parents are depending on the Teachers who are professionally trained to bring up the next generation to the very competitive society. Like me, I am sure, others too agree not only the studies but the manners , how to deal with the society and so on to teach the children in school. My Eldest daughter is very much comfortable with one of her class teachers and some time we get know her requirments & weekness etc through that particular teacher.

However, everything you cannot expect teachers to teach the children . One of the main points, which I want to mention is that the teachers does not know the habits of most families which are taught by parents. In my family every evening except week-ends, both of my daughters are compulsary to show the home work or revision to us and my wife help them to do . But how many parents are taking intrest on this ?

I would like to conclude stating that, eventhough children are educated in schools , it is our duty to follow up and show them that we are concerned about them and this will make children to be serious about their studies and other activities. Who wants to see their children not worthy in the society ?

Tony's reaction:

Thank you Douglas for this initiative! I can make some suggestions (and will do so) regarding improving certain aspects of your writing above. I think you missed the point somewhat - the question said children should "never" be educated at home by their parents. There are bad schools, bad teachers and bad parents. So as ever, we have to define our terms and qualify how we will treat such a question.

Your third paragraph opened up the dimension of parental responsibility for the child's moral education, which goes far beyond the role a teacher can perform.

What do others think?

Once again, thank you for your input, Douglas.

Tony

Damage environment and life style

Dear Feras,

Your posts really make me keep reading and contributing into the Blog. Wish you every success in your mission to defeat the ILETS monster. As a result, i feel myself encouraged to enlarge your experience in writing by adding some comments as (green) colored:

Dear Colleagues


When any one read this subject, first question jumps to his mind did ( I think "DOES" is the right word as it indicates the present time and it is simple present verb that illustrates the time you are talking about is continuous. sure our life has not ended yet. The use of the verb "DID" indicates that our life has started and then ended) our life style destroy or cause damage to our lovely plant environment?, and if yes haw (how) this will happen and what we can do to reduce this influence on our earth.? ( you have to use the question mark because you are asking a question here and trying to give the answer in your essay)


One team he agrees ( the word "TEAM" indicates a group of people and for many people you have to use the verb "agree" without "S") that the speedy world we live in and the luxury life style some of us live with is causing many bad influence on environment, while other team believes that the modern style of our life serves the people in a way could cover the damage caused to environment.

In this few rows I will not take the position to defend one opinion against the other but I will bring some evidence shows that both teams has (have, because you have mentioned two teams not one) their vision. I think that our current life style caused many problems to the environment, for example we enjoy riding cars, flight by airplans, to save our time and efforts, and we are using several disposable items on a daily basis, like plastic cups and dishes, plastic pages etc. All this items caused bad influence on our environment. Vise versa our speedy life force us to depend on this item to cover our needs.
When you finish your introduction you should start a new paragraph in a new line, so the sentence " I think that our current life style...........item to cover our needs" should be below your introduction " ....their vision".

THE ABOVE INTRODUCTION IS WONDERFUL, BUT TOO LONG. YOU SHOULD MAKE IT SHORTER AND DIRECTLY INTO THE SUBJECT. YOU SHOULD MAKE IT TWO TO THREE ROWS 30 WORDS APPROXIMATLY.
However, there are some acts can reduce this bad influence on the enviroment by using public transporation instead of our own cars , replace the plastic bags with those made from paper, reduce the use of electronic items like air conditioning.

In conclusion, that advantages and disadvantages for our present life style is almost equal and the whole story depend on balancing our needs with our earth needs to live in a safe and healthy environment.

Regards,

Feras


TRY TO USE THE RIGHT PUNCTUATION.


ALL THE BEST

Captain"Tony",
what do you think? needs two paragraphs with more words and sentences.

Information Technology

Dear Colleagues

Today i wanna talk about the influence of information technology on our daily work and the working process in the past ten years.

First idea came to my mind that if we are still depending on the classic methods of storing our data using papers and files, the situation how it will be? I think that we will have a huge numbers of papers, folders and pictures...etc. While in the other hand using the information system technology such as database softwares and compact disks will help us a lot.

These kind of items i mentioned above help to decrease time and efforts to store the data and being more effective and safer than the classic ways, for example we can store and get back all the information we need with a butoom press on our personal computer and our data can be copied and keep safe from the danger of fire or weather influence, and we can navigate all the information we need in a short time.

Therefore, i believe that informatin technology may list as one of the improtant progress in our contemporary history.

Thanks.

Feras

What are you waiting for?

Time is running fast. Reading the blog is fine, but unless you contribute then it's 'megaphone' teaching with me shouting at you and getting little, if not zero, response.

Oh for the blogs of 2005!

We need leaders, students with character and dynamism to make this blog work. You said you were waiting for the weekend, so . . .

That's all from me for the time being, unless you guys get your acts together! (At least I tried. . .)

Tony

Essay writing practice

Class

See what a former Academic IELTS student posted on the weblog in July and how I re-wrote his essay.

What do you think?

Tony

ieltsdrama.blogspot.com/2007/07/for-mr-tony-only.html

Come on and contribute!

Hmm

The weekend has started (for some)! Lots to do, so take a deep breath and think about:

• organising those folders
• starting those vocab lists
• listening to 90.3FM for 30 minute chunks (not in the car)!
• reading those task 1 handouts and going through the Insight book sections on task 1 writing
• digesting those reading strategies handouts and self-studying Insight reading sections - units 1, 2 and 3
• going through old weblogs - one of my favourites, which lasted for four months, thanks to massive student contributions, was http://www.ieltsdream.blogspot.com/
• looking at the spelling of those 12 cities you couldn't spell (you only got the phonetic one - Toronto)!
• registering for the January IELTS as soon as possible
• reading your National Geographic magazine - why not post a message here on the blog about what you've read and found interesting?
• doing some hard work in the Learning Zone (open Saturdays until 3pm)
• finding out that greatest invention
• joining this weblog
• checking out some IELTS websites - chiefly http://www.writefix.com/ and for general interest NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING compares to http://www.bbc.co.uk/
• looking ahead to a fun-filled second week with 'Uncle' Tony

OCTOBER students: see, you have deserted me and only Ali and Hamda have been in touch. I have cancelled all the outstanding invitations for those who did not take up my offer [email me if you want to join].

FORMER students: just drop in and say hello - how are you getting on? My mate Firas Shaker is still contributing regularly, let's hear from the rest.

It's rather strange to be talking to myself - can I have a reaction / comment please?

Enjoy the weekend - are you weak at the end of that four day session? There's lots more to come . . .

Standing by

Tony

Hi Mr. Tony



This morning, i want to give small notes about the last letter which i wrote in the classroom.



After I read all notes you mentioned on my letter, I figure out that 75% of my mistakes limited in spelling mistakes, not giving spaces between the words, capital and small letters, and I think that with more concentrating and focussing I can do better.


Feras

IELTS Challenger

Dear Mr. Tony



I would like to thank you for inviting me to attend this weblog, which in my opinion will add value for me and for my colleagues. I feel that we have to give name to our study group and let me suggest "IELTS Challenger", i hope that all my colleagues in the class will agree with me about this name. Mr Tony, for the last two days since our IELTS preparation course start i figure out that IELTS need practice and practice and practice and to know how you can catch points and how you should avoid mistakes, so you don't loose points. As for now i feel comfortable with the information i got about the IELTS test mecanisem and criteria and for the next 3 weeks i will put my full attention and efforts to benefit from your experience as teacher and examiners. The only thing i had to manage , is my work timing so i can save more time to study and log to the useful website you gave us.



Thank you again Tony



Feras

IELTS Recommended Websites

Dear Tony,

I've tried to check the IELTS recommended website which you gave us, but i've observed that most of them are not working. So do you recommend any other websites...??

Hamda

Hmmm

Thanks, Hamda but WHAT sites aren't working? OK the Australian ones on the list and the Russian one (Section 1 numbers 3, 4 and 6) appear down. BUT what about:

http://www.ielts.org/
http://cambridgeesol.org.teach/ielts/
www.elc.polyu.edu.hk/ielts
http://www.writefix.com/

???? They are ALL working (just tried them) and I strongly recommend the HONG KONG Polyuniversity site as well as Writefix.

Be more specific, because the new students will think that ALL the websites are out-of-date.

Regards

Tony

What is the point?

Hello again!

Well, I was going to give a detailed response to some of your comments in the end-of-course questionnaire, but I hardly think it is worth it.

The thing is, 36 hours went by so quickly, didn't they? Unfortunately, we cannot just do practice test after practice test. You need to understand what IELTS is testing you on and then you apply that knowledge. Some of you can barely attend the 12 classes, let alone do the preparation and long hours in the Learning Zone. Others make it to most classes, but their minds and focus are elsewhere. There are those that miss classes and they should be ashamed of depriving more deserving students from entering these much in-demand IELTS preparation courses at the British Council.

There again, there are those extremely negative students who felt they had hardly improved in any skills; that everything (listening, reading, writing and speaking) was "most worrrying". Also, according to this person, the teacher was not "hard" enough and needed to give "a lot of listening, reading, writing and speaking"; the course should have been longer and this person would NOT recommend a friend/colleague to do the 36 hour course maybe if it had been longer??? Boy, some people are never satisfied, are they?

For the record, this weblog is not a website where I deposit IELTS practice material. It is, ideally, an interactive means of communication between me and you. You make or break the weblog. No reaction, no contribution = no dialogue & no benefit...

So, all those good intentions? All that freed-up time before your 1 December exam, let's hear from you! Otherwise, you are are a passive, lost non-community who cannot take responsibilty for your own learning. Or, just blame:

• the teacher
• the weather
• life
• the unfairness of IELTS
• lack of time
• your boss
• the traffic
• the lack of parking
• ........???????!!!!!!!!!!!

Over to you, I shall be kicking off the new course tomorrow evening. Maybe they will put you to shame... lol

Ciao

Tony

An inspiration then, now and forever

Everyone

Read about Mais Al Bassam, from Baghdad via London, and see that miracles do happen.

I will be in touch after I have digested your end-of-course questionnaires - some people are rather disappointed with certain aspects of the course. I understand and wonder how much responsibility YOU are prepared to take for YOUR learning.

I will never forget Mais Al Bassam and was proud to play a part in her amazing achievement.

Bye for now

Let's hear from you (lol)

Tony

ieltsdream.blogspot.com/2005/07/dearest-sir-tony-i-did-it.html

IELTS Writing Module.

Dear “Captain”

I have a friend who is currently attending IELTS preparation course in the British Council. This friend has been told by his instructor that for the (WRITING) module, he has to write an essay of “two-side” argument style instead of the “one-side” approach. I mean FOR and AGAINST essay, while I do remember your (golden advice) to write “one-side” essay (either FOR or AGAINST) as your case and the related instances would be more convincing than the “two-side” elements.
This friend has been told that he is doing a huge mistake and the writing assessor (in the real IELTS exam) will deduct some marks for the candidates whom are writing “one-side” essay.
Please advise whether this friend has to follow his tutor’s instruction or he can change his writing style as per your above mentioned advice?


Yours sincerely,

Private tuition

Dear Tony,

My boss's wife, who is Swiss, needs to learn English but she is unable to go to British Council because she has small babies at home, therefore, she prefers private tuition.

As British Council do not offer private tuitions, it came to my mind asking you if know any british lady/man who can do the job. If yes, please provide me with a contact number in order to get in touch with her/him.

Thanks a lot.
Regards
Maha Hanna

A chance to redeem yourselves

Hello everyone!

Smashing news about Maha, wasn't it? She had achieved Band 7.0 overall for GT IELTS, but then the rotten Canadian authorities said she needed 7.0 7.0 7.0 and 7.0 in all FOUR modules, not just overall. Phew! That would have been tough, but the outcome was positive in the end. Bravo, Maha!

As for now, and my champs-to-be, here are a few announcements:

• please bring the INSIGHT book tomorrow TUESDAY, for the Final tests (are you reading me, Jaafer?)
• I would appreciate those National Geographic magazines back
• OK then, let's do the Diana debate for Wednesday
• I have decided to keep this blog going for my next course, which starts on 11 November (yep, another three week sprint...). So that means you can keep in touch and help the next batch. Don't worry Sayed, I shall re-invite you all now. So this is your means of redeeming yourselves (lol).

See you in two hours' time!

Take courage!

Tony

Hi all

Dear Tony, old IELTS batch, new IELTS contributors

It is been long since I post something on the IELTS weblog. It was summer vaction, then busy office workload, then laziness.

I have good news old friend, I was ready to do another IELTS and bought some new books to prepare myself then I received my medical papers from the Canadian immigration. It means that(band 7) was enough and got me the points I need to pass the immigration points.

Tony, I enjoy reading the weblog and the comments of the new comers who do not really know what is waiting for them. I salute your enthusiam on every new course and the way you energize the group. I alwyas recall how funny and enjoyable was our course. I miss Ahmad, Khawala and all the people who I forgot their names but did not forget their faces.

Please guys listen to Tony, he should guide you well, you shall score enough in IELTS if you practice and listen to his instructions.

I will alwyas contribute to IELTS as I feel I still belong to every group who struggles for IELTS.

GOD bless you all.

Regards,

Maha Hanna

Useful IELTS Practice Book

Dear all,

I know this course is full of practises for all the modules, and our great teacher Tony is trying to give us as much as he can of the practises, but for me is not enough specially for the period after finishing this course. Most for us who will be not able to come the the British Council to do some practises, however I recommend a book which I bought from All Prints book store, I don't actually remember the name

[Tony here: The book is called "BARRON'S IELTS" by Dr Lin Lougheed and costs Dhs 100 (ISBN 978-0-7641-7935-8) including the audio CD. I'll talk about in class and try to give some further feedback on the blog. It is wonderful to see some initiative coming from the class. Well done, Roudah!]

of it but it's full of practises with answer keys and a CD is included for all the modules Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. I found it very useful as I will work on it in the period before the test. I will bring the book with me on Sunday, you can check it if you would like to.

I just would like to tell you about that if you are interested on it.

Best Regards,

Roudah