LPE update

Letters have gone out by email with invitations to take the exam.  The exam will take place on 19 October at 2pm and will end at approximately 6.30pm  You should arrive at least 30 minutes before the start to register.

Bring along black or blue pens, pencils (number 2) and eraser.  I also suggest bringing along a pencil sharpener, a ruler, white out or other pen eraser equipment.

The written part of the exam cannot be changed.  On the same letter you will have a date and time for your oral exam.  This can be changed if necessary.  Contact the examiner if you are on mission or have another appointment at the same time.

News lessons with exercises and answer keys

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

Free online quizzes and activities

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topicsmenu/advanced-ielts.html

Good websites found today

For audio and transcripts of different native speakers (you have to sign up for previous stuff but today's is free)
http://www.spotlight-online.de/audio

For exercises and lessons on holidays
http://www.eslholidaylessons.com/

Good site to practise writing tasks

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/cae/students/writing/makeover/archive.htm
http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/cpe/students/writing/makeover/index.htm

LPE exam registration is now open from today till Tuesday 20 July 2010

Anyone currently enrolled in level 8 or above can apply to take this exam regardless of their attendance or end of term result.  Anyone who was enrolled in level 8 in the past may also apply to take this exam.

Send me an email if you don't have access to the UN broadcasts and if you fit the criteria.  cwaites@unog.ch

For others, read the circular and see if you fit the criteria.

The English written exam (composition, listening, reading, grammar and vocabulary) is on Tuesday 19 October from 14:00-17:30.  This date cannot be changed.

The orals are taken following the exam and you can change the date if you are unable to come when we set it.

Recipe for success in the LPE in a few easy steps

Here is the recipe for success!!

1 For formal multiple choice practice of reading and listening skills: - BARRON'S - Practice Exercises for the TOEFL - with six audio CDs - 6th edition / Pamela J. Sharpe

2 For regular fun reading of a newspaper style, take out a 6 month subscription to The Week

http://www.theweek.co.uk/

For more serious reading, subscribe to the Guardian Weekly

http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekly

3 For light romantic fiction, read books by Susan Lewis, Tony Parsons (NOT Stories we could tell but others are all good), Mary Higgins-Clark for example. No dictionary!

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/p/tony-parsons/

http://www.susanlewis.com/

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/mary-higgins-clark/

For crime, thrillers or mystery novels, go to amazon.co.uk and search 'crime, thrillers or mystery' to find one you like, then order it from your favourite site

http://www.amazon.co.uk/

4 Many students like graded readers (top level) with CDs to listen to in the car, or audio books

http://penguinreaders.com/

5 Regularly practise writing on topics timing yourself and then check with the microsoft grammar and spell checker or give your essay to a native speaker friend to comment on or correct in exchange for a coffee! For topics, see the page with 'writing topics' on this site.

6 Go to the cinema every week to see a film in English. Or get out a DVD every week. And watch BBC or CNN news every night.