Chiara Soldi
PODCAST YOUR ENGLISH
2
Summer activities for lower secondary school
WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN THIS BOOK
Podcast Your English 2 offers an approach to the English language that combines listening, reading, writing and speaking activities. Drawing inspiration from the podcast by Amir, a young man of Indian origin your own age, you will learn new vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. Thanks to the structure provided by the various episodes, you’ll have the chance to practise English independently and dynamically, stimulating your creativity and turning the summer break into an opportunity for revision and consolidation. Along the way, you’ll find practical tools and moments for reflection, as well as creative opportunities where you’ll record your own podcast episodes! Below is a roadmap showing the stages of your journey.
Here are some useful tips for ‘navigating’ through the materials and activities. Each stage of the course begins with an idiom – an idiomatic expression or a figure of speech. Idioms are useful for getting to grips with spoken English and discovering numerous interesting facts about the culture of the language. Solving these little linguistic puzzles also provides an opportunity to compare them with the Italian language and culture. Each idiom will be linked to the topics covered in the various units.
LISTENING This section features an episode recorded by Amir, the podcaster at the heart of this book, who will tell you about himself, starting with his background and going on to share his interests, tastes and passions. Listen carefully to Amir!
READING In this section, you will read short texts on topics related to the opening episodes. You will be guided through exercises and fun activities that will help you practise your reading comprehension skills. These sections will also provide an opportunity to consolidate your vocabulary and learn new words.
WRITING This section will help you practise writing texts related to the topics covered in the episode, and you’ll find some exercises to help you build your vocabulary.
SPEAKING This is the most creative part of the book! By reflecting on Amir’s stories and following a few simple steps, you’ll write your podcast script and record your audio, even using your smartphone. This section will give you the chance to put your digital skills into practice!
GRAMMAR In this section, you’ll find activities and games to help you revise the main grammatical structures you’ve come across in this unit, as well as those you learnt during the school year.
USEFUL TOOLS
Here you’ll find clear, colourful visual aids and diagrams to help you revise and ‘commit to memory’ the key grammar rules covered in the episode. These resources are designed to serve as a handy reference for the future.
LET'S THINK ABOUT... In this section, which appears at the end of each episode, you’ll find a short questionnaire that will help you reflect on the activities you’ve completed, explore your emotions whilst doing them, and work on areas for improvement. It will also serve as an excellent selfassessment tool and a guide to becoming increasingly independent and selfaware in your studies. And now let’s take a look at some recurring symbols and elements that will guide you through this book.
THE ‘LIGHT BULBS’
As you work through the activities in this book, you will notice lightbulbs next to some of the tasks: these are there to ‘illuminate’ your learning journey by marking the start of three key stages in the sections on listening, reading, writing and speaking.
The first light bulb indicates a preparatory phase, a ‘warm-up’ during which you should try to make predictions and form hypotheses that will be useful for the activities that follow.
The second light bulb indicates the stage where you will focus on the key information and significant details relating to that specific skill.
The third light indicates the review and reflection phase, which should be carried out once all activities have been completed. Here, you will check your initial assumptions, consolidate the activities from the intermediate phase where necessary, and correct any mistake.
Following the order of these steps, without skipping any, will help you carry out all the tasks as effectively as possible, as they build on one another!
I BOX Date
These are spaces where you will need to write the date on which you will carry out the activities in the various sections. These boxes will be useful for noting down and reflecting on your ‘study time’ – a way of organising and keeping track of the time you will spend on your homework during the holidays.
I BOX STRATEGY TIP
Here you’ll find tips and strategies to help you get the most out of the activities in this book. These practical tips may also come in handy in the future and in other contexts.
You’re now ready to get started – learning English has never been so much fun! Stay tuned!
INDEX
8 EPISODE 1 When I was a child
8 Idiom (To run in the family)
8
Listening (When I was a child)
11 Reading (A celebrity from the past)
14
Writing (Describing celebrities’ life)
15 Speaking (Audio 1_When I was a child)
18 Grammar (Past simple - verb to be, Past time expressions)
21 Useful tools (Past time expressions, Past simple - be)
23 Let's think about...
24
24
24
27
30
EPISODE 2 My favourite trip
Idiom (To hit the road)
Listening (My favourite trip)
Reading (Around London)
Writing (Describing itineraries)
32 Speaking (Audio 2_My favourite trip)
35 Grammar (Past simple - regular verbs, Past simple - irregular verbs)
38 Useful tools (Past simple - regular verbs, Past simple - irregular verbs)
40 Let's think about...
41 EPISODE 3 My best weekend!
41 Idiom (To be in the limelight)
41 Listening (My best weekend!)
44 Reading (A sleepover weekend)
47 Writing (Describing plans)
48 Speaking (Audio 3_My best weekend!)
51 Grammar (Present continuous for future)
54 Useful tools (Future time expressions, Present continuous for future)
56 Let's think about...
57 EPISODE 4 My favourite birthday cake
57 Idiom (To cry over spilled milk)
57 Listening (My favourite birtdhday cake)
60 Reading (The summer party)
63 Writing (Describing food)
64 Speaking (Audio 4_My favourite birthday cake)
67 Grammar (Countable/Uncountable nouns, Some/Any)
70 Useful tools (Countable/Uncountable nouns, Some/Any)
72 Let's think about...
73
EPISODE 5 My ideal city
73 Idiom (To miss the boat)
73 Listening (My ideal city)
76 Reading (Travel green!)
79 Writing (Describing means of transport)
80 Speaking (Audio 5_My ideal city)
83 Grammar (Comparative adjectives, Superlative adjectives)
86 Useful tools (Comparative adjectives, Superlative adjectives)
88 Let's think about...
89
EPISODE 6 Online... responsibly!
89 Idiom (To be off grid)
89 Listening (Online... responsibly!)
92 Reading (Hostel «By the lake»)
95 Writing (Describing rules)
96 Speaking (Audio 6_Online... responsibly!)
98 Grammar (Verbs used to express obligation - Must/Have to)
102 Useful tools (Must, Have to)
104 Let's think about...
105 Create your own podcast
MY FAVOURITE TRIP
Today’s idiom is… to hit the road
It’s an idiom used when talking about travel. Have you ever heard it? What does it mean? Look up the meaning and a similar saying in Italian. E pisode 2
LISTENING
Date ........ / ........ / ........
1. Look at the picture. Answer the questions and explain your answers. Remember, your answers are personal and based on your observations!
STRATEGY
TIP (listening,Alwaysfinisheachsection reading,writingand speaking)onceyouhavestarted it. This will make it easier to move on to the activities in the followingsections.
1) Which country does the flag belong to?
2) Which monument is being represented?
2. Listen carefully to the second episode of Amir’s podcast. Then answer the questions and explain your answers.
STRATEGY
X How do you think Amir is doing?? He is happy He is bored
TIP yourWhileyou'relistening,puton You'llheadphonesorearphones. be able to better!concentrate
X Where is Amir? On the train In his room At the cinema
X Who is with Amir? He is alone He is with some friends
3. Do you remember what Amir is talking about? Point it out (✓).
A trip A party A school day
4. Listen again and tick off (✓) some of the places Amir visited in Barcelona.
Sagrada Familia
Parc del Carmel Casa Batlló
Casa Milà La Boqueria Playa Mar Bella Parc Güell
5. Look at the picture and write down which place is shown. If necessary, listen to the episode again.
6. Connect the sentences as shown in the example. If necessary, listen to the episode again.
0) Amir went to Barcelona A) is Antoni Gaudí.
1) Amir and his family B) was Amir’s favourite monument.
2) Amir’s favourite artist C) took lots of photos and videos.
3) Sagrada Familia D) with his family.
4) Amir E) is known as «El Drac».
5) The lizard in Parc Güell F) stayed in Barcelona for three days.
0 D 1 2 3 4 5
7. Go back to Exercise 1. Think about the questions and answer them.
X Which elements of the image helped you to better understand the content of the episode?
X Was it helpful to make assumptions about the image in order to better understand the content of the episode? Why?
Yes No
8. Check exercises 2–6 carefully and correct any mistakes. Date
READING
1. The text you are about to read is called Around London. Fill in the spider diagram with the words you think you will find in the text. You can write in English or Italian.
STRATEGY TIP toBeforereadingatext,remember willalwaysthinkaboutthetitle.It you’rehelpyougetanideaofwhat easierabouttoreadandmakeit to understand.
Around London
2. If you have written words in Italian, translate them into English and update the spider diagram. Look up the words in the dictionary.
3. Which mode of transport is known as the Tube? If you don’t know, look it up online and write it in the box.
4. Read the text without getting bogged down in the details or words you don’t know. Look at the picture.
AROUND LONDON
Last month Robert went to London and he stayed there for three days. He went with his mother as the school was closed for a few days and she had some holiday. They booked at the «Camden Suites», a 3-star hotel in the Camden Market area — quite cheap. Luckily they found a last-minute flight. They visited some top attractions in the city. Unusually the weather was sunny, so sightseeing in London was really enjoyable. Their itinerary started in Camden Market, near the hotel, a colourful market, very typical. They walked there. Then they reached Hyde Park by tube and had a long stroll through this iconic park. On the second day they visited Buckingham Palace. They took the tube down to Hyde Park near Wellington Arch and then headed down Constitution Hill. On the third day they took a ride on the wonderful panoramic wheel: the London Eye. They got there by cab and it was the landmark that impressed Robert most. Afterwards they walked through St. James’s Park and finally they took the tube to Tower Bridge. Being on the walkway of Tower Bridge was a unique experience. On the way back to the hotel Robert and his mother also saw Shakespeare’s Globe! Amazing! Before they left, they did a bit of shopping. It was a wonderful stay!
WORD BANK (English to Italian)
X Flight: volo
X Sightseeing: visitare da turista
X Stroll: passeggiata
X Panoramic wheel: ruota panoramica
X Cab: taxi
X Walkway: marciapiede
X Stay: soggiorno/permanenza
5. Read the text again and tick (✓) the correct answer. Follow the example.
0) Robert went to London… last week ✓ last month
1) Robert and his mother stayed… in a hotel in a hostel
2) The weather was… really bad good
3) They went to Camden Market… by tube on foot
4) On the third day they visited… the London Eye London Bridge
5) Before leaving London they… did a bit of shopping ate some typical food
6. Based on the text you have read, write down five adjectives that, in your opinion, describe the city of London. Use a dictionary if necessary. Follow the example.
TIP withType‘adjectivesbeginning engineOinEnglish’intoasearch and,onceyou’vefound them,lookuptheirmeanings.
GRAMMAR
1. Change the base form of the verb into the -ing form, as in the example. BASE FORM -ing FORM
Go going Show Meet Pitch
Read
Have
Date ........ / ........ / ........
STRATEGY
TIP
haveBeforeyoustarttheexercises, a look at the ‘Useful tools’upsection.Itwillhelpyoubrush onsomeofthetopicsyou’ll need to work on!
2. Mark (✓) with the letter P if the present continuous indicates a present action, or with the letter F if the present continuous indicates a future action. Follow the example.
0) Amir is going to the cinema now. P F
1) Amir is going to the cinema next Saturday. P F
2) The Minions are making me laugh right now. P F
3) Amir and his friends are meeting at 9:00 am. P F
4) What are you doing at the moment? P F
5) What are they doing tomorrow? P F ✓
3. Look at the pictures and write correct sentences using the prompts. What will the characters do? Follow the example.
0) She / tomorrow .
She is eating pizza tomorrow
1) She / next week .
2) We / tonight .
3) They / at 9:30 pm .
4) She / tomorrow evening .
5) They / on Sunday .
4. Change the affirmative sentences in Exercise 3 into negative sentences. You may use contractions. Follow the example.
She is not / isn’t eating pizza tomorrow. She is eating pizza tomorrow.
5. Translate the following questions into English.
STRATEGY TIP compoundThepresentcontinuousisa tense.Remember thestructureofquestions:be verb+subject+verb+-ing+ rest of the sentence + ?
1) Are you going to the cinema next Saturday?
2) Will you be sleeping in a tent this coming weekend?
3) Are you going to eat your favourite cheesecake?
4) Will Joshua be waiting for Andrea at 7 pm?
5) Are they going to Andrea's house by car?
6. Review and correct exercises 1–5.
USEFUL TOOLS
FUTURE TIME EXPRESSIONS
TOMORROW Wed. 5 Thur. 6
19 Thur. 21 Wed. 20
TOMORROW EVENING Wed. 5, 6:00 pm Thur. 6, 6:00 pm Fri. 20 Fri. 27
Sun. 3 Mon. 4 Tue. 5 Wed. 6 Sun. 10 Mon. 11 Tue. 12 Wed. 13
PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE - ACTION VERBS
PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE + wake up
I AM WAKING UP I’M WAKING UP
PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE –wake up
I AM NOT WAKING UP I’M NOT WAKING UP
I WAKING UP? SHE IS WAKING UP SHE’S WAKING UP
IS NOT WAKING UP SHE ISN’T WAKING UP
PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR FUTURE ? wake up
LET'S THINK ABOUT...
Date ........ / ........ / ........
Now that you’ve finished all the activities, take a moment to reflect on how it went!
X How do I feel now that these activities are over? Here’s the emoji that sums me up!
X Which task was the easiest? Why?
X What was the most difficult task? Why?
X What activity would I like to do again? Why?
X Which activity would I not do again? Why?
X Do I still have doubts about certain topics? Which ones?
X How can I clear up any remaining doubts?
What do you think Amir will talk about in the next episode?
READING
1. The text you are about to read is called Travel green! Fill in the spider diagram with the words you think you’ll find. You can write in English or Italian.
STRATEGY
TIP
Aspiderdiagram,alsoknownas thata‘spiderchart’,isavisualtool visualiseallowsyoutojotdownand the ideas that come tomindonaspecifictopic.Learn how to use it!
2. If you have written words in Italian, translate them into English and update the spider diagram. Look up the words in the dictionary.
3. How do you say ‘environment’ in Italian? If you don’t know, look it up in the dictionary and write it in the box.
Travel green!
4. Read the text without getting bogged down in the details or words you don’t know. Then answer the question.
TRAVEL GREEN!
Alan is a «young ecologist» and he knows that people who get around with green means of transport are more responsible than those who use traditional alternatives, such as cars, scooters and motorbikes. Unfortunately, Alan’s city is not one of the greenest and his parents are not as green as him! For this reason, he tries to convince them to make choices which are more helpful for the environment.
Alan’s father, for example, can’t do without his car, so Alan always tells him to buy an electric one. It is more expensive than a traditional car but it is friendlier to the environment and easier to maintain. Alan’s mother uses her moped to go to work. Going by moped is more polluting than going by bus but she says it is faster and makes her more independent. That’s why Alan tells her to buy an electric bike, which is as fast as the moped but it is more respectful of the planet. Alan, instead, has an electric scooter that he uses both to get to school and to go to his rugby training. There are some bike lanes in the city, so it is easier than moving in the traffic. It is faster than walking and cycling, and also cheaper than going by bus. Alan knows that the bus is safer, but for him the electric scooter is definitely the best solution!
MY NEW WORDS
Which image relates to the text you have read? Explain your choice. Write in Italian.
Picture 1
Picture 2
5. Read the text again and link the parts of the sentences, as shown in the example. Look up any words you don’t know in the dictionary and write them in the ‘MY NEW WORDS’ box next to the text.
0) Alan is A) is more expensive than a traditional car.
1) Alan’s city B) is more polluting than going by bus.
2) An electric car C) is as fast as the moped.
3) Going by moped D) a «young ecologist».
4) An electric bike E) is easier than moving in the traffic.
5) Moving on bike lanes F) is not one of the greenest.
6. Read the instructions and complete the crossword. Then answer the question.
1) more responsible
nicer
easier
more independent
just as fast as
safer
the best
What types of adjectives did you use in the crossword? (Two answers are correct)
7. Go back to Exercise 1. Think about it and answer the questions.
X Which of the words you had guessed did you find in the text?
X How did the title help you get an idea of the text’s content?
8. Check exercises 2–6 carefully and correct any mistakes.
WRITING
1. Look at the picture and fill in the blanks with the modes of transport you can see, as shown in the example.
MEANS OF TRANSPORT
2. Look at the picture from Exercise 1 again and write six sentences using comparatives and superlatives, as in the example. Use a dictionary if necessary.
3. Read through the sentences again and correct them. The moped is more polluting than the electric scooter.
SPEAKING Date ........ / ........ / ........
1. Listen to Episode 5 again and answer the question.
What is Amir talking about??
Holiday Cities for everyone Food Weather
2. Read Steps 1–5 and complete them carefully with the required information. If you need more space, write in your notebook.
STRATEGY
TIP adjectivesInStep4,youcanalsouse inthesuperlative usedform.Rememberthatthey’re persontocompareonethingor withmanyothers!
EPISODE 5: MY IDEAL CITY
X Step 1: Welcome the audience
Hi everybody! How are things? Hope everything’s OK! Well, I’m going to start my new episode and I want to tell you about my ideal city!
X Step 2: Write about your city/town (big/small, chaotic/quiet, polluted or not)
X Step 3: Write about your ideal city/town (a brief description of your ideal city or place)
X Step 4: Write some differences between your city/town and your ideal one (some differences between your current city and your ideal city, using comparative forms)
X Step 5: Say goodbye to the audience So, friends, today’s episode is over! Thanks for listening and don’t miss the next one! Stay tuned!
3. Read through the information in the previous exercise carefully and correct any mistakes.
4. Now it’s your turn! Follow steps 1–5 and record your audio. You can use your smartphone, tablet or computer. Imagine you’re in a recording studio!
5. Listen to the audio you’ve recorded and tick (✓) the checklist.
CHECKLIST
Talk clear and easy to read not always clear and sometimes halting
Tone varied and appropriate always the same
Diction usually correct not always correct
6. Is the information in the checklist helpful for improving your registration? Tick YES or NO, then continue.
Yes No
Record the audio again, following the tips in the checklist, and save it on your device under the name Audio 5_My ideal city.
Save the audio on your device under the name Audio 5_My ideal city.
7. Answer the questions and explain your answers.
X Was it difficult to record the audio?
X What was the biggest challenge you faced?
X Do you think there’s still room for improvement? If so, what?
8. Now turn to page 105 and follow the instructions carefully to turn the ‘Audio 5_My ideal city’ file into a proper episode. It’ll be interesting and fun, but it’ll take a bit of time! Don’t rush!