Dear Students,

I wanted to provide a summary of our online class held on 21-06, detailing the activities, objectives, and content we covered. This class was designed to synthesize the material from our six units of the semester, focusing on the theme of folklore and legends. Remember that all the materials are available for you in U-Cursos.

Class Objectives
- Develop listening, reading, and speaking skills at a B1 level.

- Engage with various myths and legends from British and American folklore.

- Discuss and share Chilean myths and legends.

Activities and Content Covered.

1- Introduction and Review of Prior Knowledge  

- Activity: We began by looking at photos of well-known British myths and legends.  

- Objective: This activity aimed to activate your prior knowledge and spark interest in the topic (check PPT on U-Cursos. Concerning the concepts of Myths and Legends, this website was used for clarifications: https://www.diffen.com/difference/Legend_vs_Myth )

2- Listening Comprehension: Legend of Robin Hood  

- Activity: We listened to an audio recording of the legend of Robin Hood.  
- Objective: You practiced listening comprehension and extracted key details from the story.
Check this website and video: https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/listen-watch/short-stories/robin-hood

 
3- Listening Comprehension: American Urban Legend  
- Activity: We then listened to a more complex audio about an urban legend from the USA. 
- Objective: This task was designed to enhance your listening skills with more challenging material.
Go to this website for the video and the listening comprehension exercise in the PPT we used in the class (check U-Cursos): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANN9Wc48dTY

4- Reading Comprehension: Fairies in British Folklore  
- Activity: We read a text about fairies in British folklore.  
- Objective: This activity focused on developing your reading comprehension and expanding your vocabulary related to myths and legends.
Go to this website for the video and reading comprehension exercise: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/b1-reading/legend-fairies

5- Group Discussion: Chilean Myths and Legends  
- Activity: We concluded with a group discussion where you shared some of the most frightening Chilean myths and legends you know.  
- Objective: This was an opportunity to practice speaking and sharing personal knowledge in English.

Summary
This class was an integration of all the semester's content into a cohesive theme of folklore. We explored myths and legends from different cultures, providing a comprehensive review and practical application of the grammar, vocabulary, and language skills developed throughout the semester.

* Homework
Please note that a homework has been assigned in the "Tareas" section of the platform. The exercises provided will serve as preparation for the SUFI written tests. These exercises are calibrated to your level, and it is important that you complete all sections. Please upload a screenshot of your results of each homework activity (specifically the feedback section provided by the web pages) in a Word document to keep a record of your progress.

Thank you for your active participation and enthusiasm. If you have any questions or need further clarification on any of the activities, please feel free to reach out.

Best regards,

Prof. Jordán Masías O. 

Dear all,

I hope this message finds you well. In our recent online sessions, we got deeper into the theme of "Society." We began with an exploration of societal changes through a listening activity, followed by a discussion to ensure comprehension.

We then enriched our vocabulary regarding life experiences and practiced reading comprehension with a text on digital habits across different generations, concluding with a reading comprehension exercise.

In our subsequent session, we focused on essay writing. We started by learning the structure of a five-paragraph essay and analyzed a sample essay to understand its components.

We discussed key writing tips and engaged in writing practice, where you began drafting your essays. We also practiced creating essay layouts and writing essay introductory paragraphs, refining our writing skills for clarity and coherence.

Thank you for your active participation, and keep up the great work! 

Best regards,

Prof. Masías 

Dear Students,

In our last session on Friday, June 7th, we began by reviewing an online listening activity. We also went over some idioms related to money matters. Following this, we proceeded with a mini-class-project where we had to record audio based on two situations defined in a handout available in the "Material Docente" section. The project involved researching the requirements and guidelines for opening bank accounts as foreign students, either in Chile or in England. We focused on this research and left the review of the audio recordings pending due to the minimal attendance in the second part of the class.

During the second part, we addressed any concerns and discussed the differences in financial systems between the mentioned countries. We shared the findings from the brief research conducted during the first session. After this discussion, we moved on to an individual interactive online activity, which integratively covered financial matters in English, including vocabulary, verbal expressions, and idiomatic phrases used in everyday situations. You can access the activity using the following link: Money Matters Interactive Activity https://www.tinytap.com/activities/gpiz/play/money-matters .

Once the activity was completed, we reviewed it and provided feedback. We also coordinated the homework assignment, which is available in the "Tareas" section of the platform. Additionally, we shared the latest update indicating that the strike has been extended. Therefore, our classes next week will also be conducted virtually, following the same guidelines we have been using.

Best regards,

Prof. Masías O. 

Dear Students,

In our last session on Friday, May 31st, we began by reviewing the pending homework from our previous class. During this review, we focused on various aspects of Anglo-Saxon verbal modality.

Following this, we concentrated on the main objective of the class: being able to talk about money, basic bank transactions, etc. To achieve this, we engaged in a variety of activities encompassing reading, listening, writing, and speaking, all designed to enhance our understanding and use of financial vocabulary and transactions.

Additionally, we included grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation activities. We revisited financial vocabulary with an interactive group activity. Through various exercises, we stimulated the learning of vocabulary, structures, and idiomatic phrases commonly used to talk about money matters. We covered topics ranging from discussing places like the bank to actions like withdrawing money from an ATM and different types of currency.

All the materials from this session are available on the platform in the "Material Docente" section, so please review them to stay up-to-date with the content.

We concluded the class by discussing the preparation and practice activities for the Speaking midterm test.

Best regards,

Prof. Masías O. 

Dear Students,

I hope this message finds you well. In our last session on 24-05,  we started with the unit on Facing Problems, reviewing details of the communicative functions associated with the topic. We explored the scope of verbal modality to talk about - obligation, prohibition, necessity, advice, suppositions, formalities, possibilities, and expressing regrets, using formulas with Have to, Must, and Should. We conducted a listening practice and oral practice with various exercises.

Additionally, an asynchronous activity was posted in the "Tareas" section to reinforce the class content. Moreover, a document titled Level 4 Speaking Mid-term PREPARATION & PRACTICE IDEAS.docx.pdf (Material Docente) was provided to help you start practicing individually for the Midterm Speaking Test.

Please stay tuned to the official channels for more information related to this very last point, and feel free to write to me if you have any questions.

N.B. The FCEI has also informed of the decision to resume all academic activities and evaluations in person starting next Monday, June 3rd. Therefore, we will be conducting the Midterm Speaking Test next week.

Looking forward to our next class. 

Best regards,

Prof. Jordán Masías O. 

Dear Students,

I hope this message finds you well.

Due to the lack of quorum in today's class on Friday, 17-05, the material is considered reviewed and has been uploaded to the "Material Docente" section. You will find two Reading Comprehension activities relevant to the professional areas of those enrolled in the FCEI course(s).

Additionally, to support those who encountered issues with submitting the Video Talk, the deadline has been extended on the platform until today at 23:59. If you have not yet uploaded your video, please do so exclusively in the requested manner (Tareas in U-Cursos), to ensure a comprehensive record and facilitate an organized evaluation process.

Furthermore, study material has been provided in a handout under the "Tarea" section, which is also part of today's second class content. Completing this homework is mandatory and will be reviewed in our next session.

Lastly, to support your preparation for the Speaking Midterm Exam, a handout with ideas and exercises has been provided. This will help you gradually start practicing for this instance and review the contents of units 1-4. We will go over clarifications regarding the format and objectives of the exam in our next class.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

Best regards,

Professor Jordán Masías O.

Dear Students,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to provide you with a summary of our last class and some important reminders regarding upcoming assignments.

During this week's session, we began by discussing the feedback from the recent evaluations and went over the corrections for our writing tests. We then we carried out a written exercises in small groups, complemented by dynamic online activities to practice more with narrative sentences. These activities included exercises in oral production and idiomatic modulation, focusing on the chronological details of events in a narration and integrating all the content we have covered so far this semester; You can find the material in both the "Material Docente" and "Enlaces" sections of the U-Cursos platform.

In the second part of the class, we changed the type of activities and engaged in an extensive listening comprehension exercise. We listened to a famous rapper sharing anecdotes and insights about his art.

Towards the end of our session, we conducted a group reading comprehension activity on Campbell's poem "Iguana," stimulating an interesting discussion about the preservation of ancestral values through contemporary Anglo-Saxon art and literature.

Finally, we concluded by giving instructions for the "Video Talk" activity, where you will record a 2-3 minute video on the topic of "An activity you like to do in your free time." This activity constitutes 10% of your final grade for the course. You can find the instructions in the "Tareas" section of the platform, and the deadline for submission is May 17th at 2 PM.

Please note that submissions must be made through the platform, and deadline extensions will not be granted unless requested with appropriate justification through official channels. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me.

Keep up the great work!

I look forward to our next session.

Best regards,

Professor Masías O.

Dear Students,

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to summarize the content covered in our recent classes and provide an update on our evaluation progress.

In our last sessions, we explored various topics related to language skills and comprehension. During the first part of the class, we focused on vocabulary activities related to travel. We engaged in two integrated activities, one focusing on listening comprehension and the other on speaking production. These activities aimed to enhance your language skills in real-life scenarios.

Following this, we shifted our focus to a reading comprehension activity centered around advice for cyclists in Santiago. This allowed us to explore practical language use while also discussing important safety tips for cyclists navigating the city.

In our second session, we conducted the first continuous evaluation test for writing. This assessment provided an opportunity for you to demonstrate your writing skills and apply the concepts we've covered in class.

Additionally, I want to remind you that the material for our next session is available in the "Material Docente" and "Enlaces" sections of the U-Cursos platform.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about the material covered or the evaluation process, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Best regards,

Professor Jordán Masías O.