Key to the exercise


KEY

1. Although the marks are high, the students'level is low.
2. Despite the fact that it was dark, he managed to find the keys.
3. He got up early. However, he arrived late to school.
4. Tim is in good shape. Nevertheless, he doesn't get much exercise.
5. Samira kept smiling and having fun in spite of her sadness.
6. She loves him even though he treats her badly.
7. Despite the fact that he didn't work hard, he passed the baccalaureat exam.
8. Some people are, whereas others are thin.
9. While Errachidia is hot, Ifrane is cold.
10. Brahim is a good student. His brother, on the other hand, is lazy.
11. Fatima is economical, but her sister is extravagant.

LINKING WORDS


AN IDEA ABOUT WRITING                             
Writing is one of the most feared skills for both student and teacher. Students are reluctant to write for fear of making errors, whereas errors are very crucial in the learning process. “To err is human”, as we say.  However, Teachers find writing an intricate task to deal with, as it takes a lot of effort on their part to implement a good writing activity. Let’s make writing simple: Keep it simple and stupid! When you write, don’t try to be Shakespeare, be just yourself and try to write as simply as possible.
To understand writing, we should know the different types of writing that students get in the baccalaureate exam.  There are four fundamental types of essays that students are supposed to know:
  • Cause and Effect Essay
  • Comparison and Contrast Essay
  • Argumentative Essay
  • Descriptive Essay
 Each Essay comprises five or four paragraphs. And it is very important to use the linking words because they add a flavour to the essay like spices to a dish.

 

linkingwords

 

CONTRAST


opposition

Direct Opposition

opposition1
Complete the following. Use: although, even though, though, nevertheless, however, in spite of, or despite.
  1. The marks are high. The students level is low.
  2. Although………………………………………………………………………………...
  3. It was dark. He managed to find the keys.
  4. Despite…………………………………………………………………………………..
  5. He got up early. He arrived late to school.
  6. ………………………………. . However, …………………………………………….
  7. Tim is in good shape. He doesn’t get much exercise.
  8. ……………………………………… . Nevertheless,………………………………….
  9. Samira was sad. She kept smiling and having fun.
  10. …………………………………….in spite of………………………………………….
  11. She loves him. He treats her badly.
  12. ………………………………………….even though………………………………….
  13. He didn't work hard. He passed the baccalaureat exam .
  14. Despite the fact that………………………………………, …………………………....
  15. Some people are fat. Others are thin.
  16. ……………………………, whereas…………………………………………………
  17.  Errachidia is hot . Ifrane is cold .
  18. While……………………………….., …………………………………………………
  19. Brahim is a good student. His brother is lazy.
  20. ……………………………. . …………., on the other hand,…………………………
  21. Fatima is economical. Her sister in extravagant.
  22. ……………………………………, but………………………………………………

Listening

Listening

Listening is an effective way to improve a language. You can use your MP3s, or your Ipods to learn English. You should listen at least an hour a day to the same text for one week or two; while you're going to school or coming back from it; while you're doing a task, or just sitting at home; before you sleep, or take a nap; when you get up in the moring. Keep your earphones plugged in to your ears, and you'll see the results in just two,or three months.
This is the first listening activity taken from Gateway. I'll record other listening actitvities from the other baccalaureate textbooks: Ticket2 and Insights.
I have chosen the reading texts because they are rich in vocabulary and expressions.Therefore, by mastering these reading texts, you will broaden your lexical reservoir and master the grammar as well without making any effort, just by listening. For those students who can't afford having an MP3, or an Ipod, I advise you to read each text at least ten times a day for a week or two.

GLOBAL TEST


GLOBAL TEST
The situation of women in Morocco is somewhere between that of women in the West and those in conservative Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia.*  Here in Casablanca, everything seems fine on the surface. Clothing varies: women wear the entire range from the traditional conservative jelaba and foulard  to Western suits, to skin-tight shirts and mini-skirts. The choice of dress tends to depend on both age and occupation: in general, teenagers wear casual Western clothes; professional women wear Western-style business clothing; and older, blue-collar, and unemployed women wear jelabas. 
Both men and women working together almost everywhere I go: in banks, bakeries, schools, stores, and even government offices (although there are noticeably more men than women in the latter). ). I have never seen women running a stall at the souq (market) or driving a taxi; these domains seem to be reserved for men. From the conversations I've had, it sounds as though women are usually paid about the same as their male colleagues, which is more than can be said for some of their Western counterparts. My husband teaches at a private school of English for professionals, and at least half of his students are women. Thus, there doesn't seem to be any prejudice against women working and going to school, Upon further study, though, there are a number of serious problems.
In the whole of Morocco, there is an extremely high illiteracy rate, especially in the countryside, and especially among women. According to the UNDP, more than 80% of women in rural Morocco are illiterate. I don't know what this means, exactly, except that based on what I said above about women at work and school, Casablanca is not a representative sample of Morocco.
A married woman must get her husband's permission before seeking a job. Most working women, about 60%, are in textiles and light industry. Another 10% or so are femmes de ménage (housekeepers or maids). Typically, these women are uneducated, illiterate, and unmarried, and earn room, board, and extremely low wages. They usually speak Arabic and possibly a few words of French. Their duties may include cooking, cleaning, and taking care of their employer's children, and those who don't live in usually go home to do the same thing for their families (which may include illegitimate children, sickly siblings, and/or elderly parents). 
test2
  1. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH APPROPTRIATE PHRASAL VERB. (1 pt)
  2. It took the firemen two hours to  …………………. fire.
  3. Writing:
What are the causes and effects of divorce?

GLOBAL TEST

GLOBAL TEST    
Access to labour markets and to decent and productive employment is crucial in the process of creating greater equality between men and women, says the report. The study observed that the most successful region in terms of economic growth over the last decade, East Asia, is also the region with the highest employment-to-population ratio for women (65.2 per cent), low unemployment rates for both women and men and relatively small gender gaps in sectoral as well as status distribution.
Overall, the report found that policies to enhance women’s chances to participate equally in labour markets are starting to pay off, but the slow pace of change means that disparities are still significant. Most regions have still a long way to go in full economic integration of women and realizing their unused potential for economic development.
Broadening access for women to employment in an enlarged scope of industries and occupations will be important to enhancing opportunities for them in the labour market, says the report. Society’s ability to accept new economic roles for women and the economy’s ability to create decent jobs to accommodate them are the key prerequisites to improving labour market outcomes for women, as well as for economic development on the whole.
“Access to labour markets and to decent employment is crucial to achieving gender equality”, says Evy Messell, Director of the ILO’s Bureau for Gender Equality, which will host a discussion by women who have made a mark in the world of finance and eminent trade unionists on International Women’s Day, focusing on the value of investment in women’s development. “Yet women have to overcome many discriminatory obstacles when seeking jobs. Societies cannot afford to ignore the potential of female labour in reducing poverty, and need to search for innovative ways of lowering economic, social and political barriers. Providing women an equal footing in the workplace is not just right, but smart.”
testtest1

FUNCTIONS

CULTURE


CULTURE

People:

Citizen, indigenous, aborigine, inhabitant, occupant, resident, dweller-immigrant- expatriarte

Action:

 to stick to customs and traditions ,to get adapted to a new culture, to get integrated in the new culture, be prejudiced, to discriminate, to have stereotypes, affect, influence, offend

 Definition:

Sub-culture-multicultural-cosmopolitan- myths-customs – traditions – religious beliefs –cultural values-cultural issues –cultural background – cultural shock -discrimination – integration  –homogenization – lifestyle – misconception – offence – permissiveness – rejection – ritual- rooted – stereotypes – uniqueness – tolerance- diversity –- identity- consumerism- alienation-
Imitation-