WEEK 11: COMPLAINING

• Browse the Net and find out charts where phrasal verbs are illustrated and upload one of them to your blog. Add more phrasal verbs from the same family.

Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example sentence
Back something up	reverse	You'll have to back up your car so that I can get out
Back somebody up	support	My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.
Blow up	explode	The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.
Break up	end a relationship	My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.
Break up	start laughing (informal)	The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.
Bring somebody up	raise a child	My grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
Bring something up	start talking about a subject	My mother walks out of the room when my fatherbrings up sports.
Catch up	get to the same point as somebody else	You'll have to run faster than that if you want tocatch up with Marty.

• Find a text on the Net where a complaint is stated and underline expressions to complain.

From: https://www.scribendi.com/advice/example_complaint_letter.en.html

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing today to complain of the poor service I received from your company on June 12, 2016. I was visited by a representative of That Awful Company, Mr. Madman, at my home on that day.

Mr. Madman was one hour late for his appointment and offered nothing by way of apology when he arrived at noon. Your representative did not remove his muddy shoes upon entering my house, and consequently left a trail of dirt in the hallway. Mr. Madman then proceeded to present a range of products to me that I had specifically told his assistant by telephone I was not interested in. I repeatedly tried to ask your representative about the products that were of interest to me, but he refused to deal with my questions. We ended our meeting after 25 minutes without either of us having accomplished anything.

I am most annoyed that I wasted a morning (and half a day's vacation) waiting for Mr. Madman to show up. My impression of That Awful Company has been tarnished, and I am now concerned about how my existing business is being managed by your firm. Furthermore, Mr. Madman's inability to remove his muddy shoes has meant that I have had to engage the services, and incur the expense, of a professional carpet cleaner.

I trust this is not the way That Awful Company wishes to conduct business with valued customers—I have been with you since the company was founded and have never encountered such treatment before. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss matters further and to learn of how you propose to prevent a similar situation from recurring. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

• Tell us what you've done this week to improve your English.

This week I have been writing an essay for my literature project. I watched some interviews in which Ian Mcewan is interviewed and he is talking about his book "Saturday". 

Nassira Dahmani

WEEK 11: complaining

• Browse the Net and find out charts where phrasal verbs are illustrated and upload one of them to your blog. Add more phrasal verbs from the same family

• Find a text on the Net where a complaint is stated and underline expressions to complain.

two examples of complaint letter taken from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/letters-of-complaint and https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/complaints-problems/write-a-complaint-letter

Dear Manager

RE: COMPLAINT ABOUT FAULTY TELEVISION CABINET PURCHASED AT CABINET WORLD ON 15 DECEMBER 2016

I am unhappy with the quality of a television cabinet I bought at 5 Street on 15 December and I am writing to seek a replacement.

The cabinet doors do not open and shut properly and the stain on the cabinet is uneven, with one half darker than the other. The cabinet was delivered on 30 December and I noticed this problem as soon as I unpacked it from the box.

The cabinet  is not of acceptable quality and does not match the sample cabinet I was shown in store. I would like you to replace it with one of the same quality and finish as the sample and arrange for return of the faulty cabinet at no cost.

I have attached a photocopy of my receipt as proof of purchase.

I would like to have this problem fixed quickly please. If I do not hear from you within 10 days, I will lodge a formal complaint with Consumer Affairs in my state.

You can contact me on 1234 5678 during working hours or after hours on 123 456 789 to discuss this matter further.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Brown

Dear Mr Black: Following our telephone conversation earlier today, I am writing to give details of my dissatisfaction with my stay at the New Hotel, Los Christianos, Tenerife, on 10– 18 August 2010, which I booked with your company for me and my family. 

My central complaint is that the hotel fell far short of the description in the brochure. We had booked two double suites, in rooms 213 and 214. Although the rooms were billed as four-star accommodation, they were very cramped, and the furnishings were worn and dirty. In addition, the shower in room 213 did not work. The hotel’s grounds, described in the brochure as “pleasant, tranquil, and spacious,” were in fact bordered on two sides by a very busy main road. The swimming pool was closed the entire week for repairs.

 When we spoke to your representative, Tracey Mills, she promised to try to get the shower fixed, but this took an unacceptably long time to happen—three days from when we first complained. I asked her to fill out an accommodation report form detailing these issues and I enclose a copy for your information, together with photos of the bedrooms and the hotel grounds.

 As I stated in my telephone call, I feel that we are due a full refund for this hotel stay as it failed to meet the description in the brochure, and it ruined our holiday. I look forward to hearing from you within the next two weeks. 

Sincerely yours,

 Maria Johnson

• Tell us what you've done this week to improve your English.

In order to improve my English, this week I have been practicing on making references. I have learned how to make a proper reference list and how to write in-text citations in order to avoid plagiarism. In addition, I have watched a marvel film, Iron man in English and with English subtitles. Furthermore, I have done some exercises form the teacher's website since the final exam in near.

SARA BAHADI

WEEK 10: UNDER THE WEATHER WITH THE WEATHER

• Find out on the Internet 2 pieces of news about weather issues, and highlight the vocabulary related to the weather. Upload this to your blog.

South Central US: Severe storms, flooding rain may close out February

Some of the same communities cleaning up from severe weather this past weekend may face more violent thunderstorms and flooding as February comes to a close.

Much-needed dry weather will return to much of the corridor from northeastern Texas to western Tennessee through Monday.

Residents will be able to take advantage of the dry weather for storm cleanup, while flooded streams and smaller rivers will have an opportunity to recede.

Larger rivers, such as the White, Ouachita and Mississippi, are expected to continue to rise as the flood waters drain downstream.

The dry spell will only last a couple of days, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Faith Eherts.

"While a damp day is expected for Tuesday, heavy rain and potentially severe storms could sweep through the area starting on Wednesday," she said.

The next storm emerging from the Southwest, after delivering some much-needed rain and mountain snow to Southern California, is expected to cause the downpours and thunderstorms to ramp up once again.

The exact arrival time and track of the storm will determine which areas will face flooding rain and/or severe thunderstorms.

At this point, residents from central Texas to Arkansas and northern Mississippi are being put on alert for potential dangers.

This includes those living in Dallas and Tyler, Texas; Shreveport, Louisiana; Little Rock; Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Greenville, Mississippi.

If the storm tracks farther to the north, the threat zone may expand to the mid-Mississippi Valley.

Flooding rain may become more of an issue than severe thunderstorms around Arkansas if the storm tracks farther south than currently expected. More of Louisiana and southeastern Texas may face severe weather if this solution pans out.

While the severe weather danger is projected to unfold on Wednesday, the violent thunderstorms may be delayed until Thursday if the storm from the Southwest is slower to arrive.

"Any thunderstorms could produce hail and damaging winds," Eherts said. "The formation of a few tornadoes is not out of the question."

Due to the saturated ground, trees may be more susceptible to be blown over by any strong thunderstorm winds. Trees, power poles, roofs or siding weakened by the severe weather on Saturday can also be damaged more readily at midweek.

"Downpours in these storms will reintroduce the threat of flash flooding and contribute to existing river flooding," Eherts said. "It will be important for motorists to respect closed roads and to avoid driving through flooded areas."

Even in the absence of flooding, any downpours will create hazards for motorists by dramatically reducing visibility and heightening the risk of vehicles hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds.

Airline passengers may encounter delays or cancellations.

On the heels of this severe weather event, a change in the weather pattern should prevent yet another from quickly following.

"An extended period of dry weather is then expected to settle in, allowing plenty of time for waters to recede and flood clean-up to continue," Eherts said.

From: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/south-central-us-severe-storms-flooding-rain-may-close-out-february/70004253 

UK: Warmth to last for 2018 London Marathon, St. George's Day festivities

Whilst Thursday was the warmest day so far this year across the United Kingdom, the mild air will hang on for this weekend's London Marathon and St. George's Day festivities.

Saturday will bring another day of temperatures soaring well above normal across the U.K.

Highs will generally range from 14-17 C (57-62 F) in Northern Ireland and Scotland and 17-22 C (64-71 F) across most of Wales and England. Coastal communities may be cooler.

London and surrounding areas are expected to turn even warmer with temperatures approaching or cracking 24 C (75 F). Residents will not have to worry about wrapping up to attend the Feast of St. George at Trafalgar Square at 12 p.m. BST.

Thundery showers are expected to rattle Wales and England on Saturday, mainly in the afternoon.

The showers will precede a cold front, which is expected to sweep the mild air out of the northern and western U.K. by Sunday.

The warmth will linger across South-East England for the second half of the weekend. As a result, this year’s London Marathon will rival the warmest on record.

A high temperature of 21 C (70 F) is forecast for Sunday in London with a temperature near 17 C (62 F) at the start of the day’s events. The all-time record for the marathon 23 C (73 F) from 1996, according to the Met Office.

While spectators may enjoy the warmth, racers would rather have more seasonable temperatures for the event. The normal high in London on April 22 is 14 C (57 F).

Extra water, ice, showers and medical stations are being provided to the runners,according to the Associated Press.

Runners are also discouraged from dressing up in “fancy costumes.”

Light-colored clothing is ideal to combat warmth as dark colors absorb more sunlight. With sunny spells in the forecast, spectators should join runners in applying sunscreen.

The same applies to those heading to Sunday’s St. George’s Festival at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.

As the cold front approaches South East England, odd thundery showers are expected to develop on Sunday afternoon. The showers are expected to impact only a fraction of the region, but may cause issues for runners and anyone else outdoors if one targets the London area.

"Any shower or thunderstorm could create a slick running surface," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.

As soon as thunder is heard, the threat of being struck by lightning is present and shelter should be sought immediately.

The passage of the front will bring an end to the warm spell across England by Monday. Highs to start the new week will be trimmed to 16-17 C (lower 60s F) in London.

From: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/uk-warmth-to-last-for-2018-london-marathon-st-georges-day-festivities/70004747 

• Upload 2 graphs or tables about the same issue and try to interpret and compare the info found in them.

This graph shows us the climate of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The highest temperature recorded in this country was in March reaching the 40 °C  and the lowest was in December reaching the 35 °C. The precipitation reached its highest in August with more than 40mm and its lowest was in January. Regarding the daylenght, the highest was in June and July and the lowest in December. 

• Tell us what you've done this week to improve your English.

In order to improve my English, this week I have been reading some articles about different topics and watched some videos in English. 

Nassira Dahmani

WEEK 9: NATURAL WONDERS

• Browse the Net and upload a descriptive text of a well-known place, and underline all the expressions used for describing the place. Add other sentences by yourself to improve the text selected.

Named the Taj Mahal in honor of Mumtaz Mahal, the mausoleum was constructed of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones (including jade, crystal, lapis lazuli, amethyst and turquoise) forming intricate designs in a technique known as pietra dura.

Its central dome reaches a height of 240 feet (73 meters) and is surrounded by four smaller domes; four slender towers, or minarets, stood at the corners. In accordance with the traditions of Islam, verses from the Quran were inscribed in calligraphy on the arched entrances to the mausoleum, in addition to numerous other sections of the complex.

Inside the mausoleum, an octagonal marble chamber adorned with carvings and semi-precious stones housed the cenotaph, or false tomb, of Mumtaz Mahal. The real sarcophagus containing her actual remains lay below, at garden level.

The rest of the Taj Mahal complex included a main gateway of red sandstone and a square garden divided into quarters by long pools of water, as well as a red sandstone mosque and an identical building called a jawab (or “mirror”) directly across from the mosque. Traditional Mughal building practice would allow no future alterations to be made to the complex.

As the story goes, Shah Jahan intended to build a second grand mausoleum across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal, where his own remains would be buried when he died; the two structures were to have been connected by a bridge.

Extracted from: https://www.history.com/topics/taj-mahal#

• Tell us what you've done this week to improve your English.

This week I have continued reading the book "Saturday", and did some exercises I found on the Internet. I also watched Britain´s Got Talent and enjoyed Marc Spelmann´s magic who won the first Golden Buzzer of this year. 

Nassira Dahmani

WEEK 10:Under the weather the weather

• Find out on the Internet 2 pieces of news about weather issues, and highlight the vocabulary related to the weather. Upload this to your blog.
  
  
  HOT TIMES IN THE ARCTIC.

In late February, a large portion of the Arctic Ocean near the North Pole experienced an alarming string of extremely warm winter days, with the surface temperature exceeding 25 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

These conditions capped nearly three months of unusually warm weather in a region that has seen temperatures rising over the past century as greenhouse gas concentrations (mostly carbon dioxide and methane) have increased in the atmosphere. At the same time, the extent of frozen seawater floating in the Arctic Ocean reached new lows in January and February in 40 years of satellite monitoring.

In recent years, the air at the Arctic Ocean surface during winter has warmed by over 5 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. So was this recent spate of warm weather linked to longer-term climate change, or was it, well, just the weather?

What we can say is this: Weather patterns that generate extreme warm Arctic days are now occurring in combination with a warming climate, which makes extremes more likely and more severe. What’s more, these extreme temperatures have had a profound influence on sea ice, which has become thinner and smaller in extent, enabling ships to venture more often and deeper into the Arctic.





  WHAT IS KEEPING EUROPE SO COLD AND SNOWY?

While much of the United States has been left wondering, "Where's winter?," Europeans have been shivering under a blanket of cold air that has sent temperatures plummeting and snows drifting.

The climate pattern is called a "Russian Winter" because the intense cold and snow is triggered by a strong Siberian anticyclone hovering over northern Russia, according to a NASA statement.

In the coldest parts of the year, when the intense cooling of the surface layers of air over northeastern Siberia occurs, the time is right for the formation of a Siberian anticyclone. Also called a Siberian high, it is a semi-permanent system of high atmospheric pressure centered in northeastern Siberia. The Siberian anticyclone is one of the principal sources of polar air masses, and outbreaks of polar air westward from the high-pressure area can cause severe cold spells in the European continent.

Articles form https://www.nytimes.com and https://www.livescience.com/31153-keeping-europe-cold-snowy.html

                           

• Upload 2 graphs or tables about the same issue and try to interpret and compare the info found in them.

The following graph shows the temperature change in the living room, in a garage and outside for a week. The temperature in the garage and outside are quite similar. The degrees in Monday are below 10, and it eventually decreases until reaching below 5 degrees in Tuesday. And on the inside, specifically the living room, is warmer.

• Tell us what you've done this week to improve your English.

In order to improve my English I have seen, for a third time Pursuit of Happiness. The film is about a man that is left by his wife because he is not able to earn a living and pay the bills. He is left with his son an then he does anything to earn a living not only for him but for his son. Furthermore, I have also continued my reading of Small Island. 

                         

SARA BAHADI

Under the weather with the weather (WEEK 10):

• 2 pieces of news about weather issues: 

Why the snow in parts of Europe was orange? 

The photos are surreal, like a Martian ski slope or a toasted marshmallow sky.

But why did some people in Eastern Europe last week see the world in sepia tones? The answer lies hundreds of miles away.

The orange-brown filter applied briefly to that part of the world was caused by dense Saharan dust kicked into the air and swept north, experts said.

The process began when a polar jet stream made its way farther south than usual last week, bringing the strong winds and thunderstorms needed to whip up the dust, according to Tyler Roys, a meteorologist with AccuWeather.

“A trail of storms have been going through Italy, the Balkans, Ukraine and into western Russia, and finally this last storm that finally moved through, an area of lower pressure closer to the northern coast of Libya, helped pull the dust-up,” he said in a phone interview.

(From https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/27/world/europe/orange-snow.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FWeather&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection ).

Hot Times in the Arctic. 

In late February, a large portion of the Arctic Ocean near the North Pole experienced an alarming string of extremely warm winter days, with the surface temperature exceeding 25 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

These conditions capped nearly three months of unusually warm weather in a region that has seen temperatures rising over the past century as greenhouse gas concentrations (mostly carbon dioxide and methane) have increased in the atmosphere. At the same time, the extent of frozen seawater floating in the Arctic Ocean reached new lows in January and February in 40 years of satellite monitoring.

In recent years, the air at the Arctic Ocean surface during winter has warmed by over 5 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. So was this recent spate of warm weather linked to longer-term climate change, or was it, well, just the weather?

What we can say is this: Weather patterns that generate extreme warm Arctic days are now occurring in combination with a warming climate, which makes extremes more likely and more severe. What’s more, these extreme temperatures have had a profound influence on sea ice, which has become thinner and smaller in extent, enabling ships to venture more often and deeper into the Arctic.

(From https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/opinion/temperature-climate-students.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FWeather&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=6&pgtype=collection).

• 2 graphs or tables:

AVERAGE WEATHER IN LONDON

According to the temperature, the warm season lasts for 2.8 months, from June 15 to September 7, with an average daily high temperature of 69°F. The hottest day of the year is August 1, with an average high of 74°F and low of 60°F.

The cool season lasts for 4.0 months, from November 16 to March 18, with an average daily high temperature below 53°F. The coldest day of the year is February 7, with an average low of 39°F and high of 47°F.

CLOUD COVER CATEGORIES IN PARIS

In Paris, the average percentage of the sky covered by clouds experiences significant seasonal variation over the course of the year.The clearer part of the year in Paris begins around May 7 and lasts for 5.2 months, ending around October 12. On July 22, the clearest day of the year, the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 62% of the time, and overcast or mostly cloudy 38% of the time.The cloudier part of the year begins around October 12 and lasts for 6.8 months, ending around May 7. On December 30, the cloudiest day of the year, the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy 74% of the time and clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 26% of the time.

Finally, this week I have watched several films in English in order to improve my level: 

LORENA CONESA MARTÍNEZ.

Natural wonders (WEEK 9):

I have found on the Internet a descriptive text about the Eiffel Tower, where all the expressions used for describing this place are clearly shown. However, WHAT IS A DESCRIPTIVE TEXT? 

• Descriptive text is a text which says or describes a place, a person, a thing... so that the readers can easily visualize the described place, person or thing or they can picture what it looks like. When writing a descriptive text, you have to focus on one object, in this case, a building, the name of the place (the Eiffel Tower) and the location, in Paris. Finally, the description itself must include the size, color, condition, and position. 

The Eiffel Tower is a famous tower located on Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it became both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest building in Paris and the most visited paid monument in the world; millions of tourists visit it every year. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair. 

The tower's height is 1,063 feet tall, about the same height as an 81-story building. Upon its completion, it surpassed the Washington Monument to assume the title of tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years. However, due to the addition in 1957 of the antenna, the tower is now taller than the Chrysler Building. 

The tower has three levels for visitors. Tickets can be purchased to ascend, by stairs or lift, to the first and second levels. The walk to the first level took over 300 steps, but the third and highest level is accessible only by elevator. 

You need to know a unique fact, the tower is considered as an eyesore for the people of France when it freshly made. When Eiffel was built in 1889, the tower was intended as a temporary building and will be demolished 20 years later. However, when it was useful as radio transmitters, it eventually still be allowed to stand. 

Today, it has been regarded as one of the most beautiful architectural works in the world. Besides its use for tourist attraction, the tower is also used as a communication tool for sending signals to televisions and also radios.

(Extracted from https://prezi.com/9gvv4foambdc/descriptive-text-eiffel-tower/ ). 

Finally, in order to improve my English, I have done some exercises from these web pages that you can find very useful to improve your level:

http://www.stgeorges.co.uk/online-english/english-grammar-exercise-for-advanced-levels

http://www.englishtag.com/tests/level_test_lower_advanced_C1.asp

http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/advanced/cae-003-multiple-choice-cloze-exercise.php

LORENA CONESA MARTÍNEZ.