Book Structure Each unit presents the objectives that students are meant to accomplish based on the MEP program. This book follows a structure that allows the students to:
Turn it on! Activate their previous knowledge on the subject through pictures, questions or short readings so that they can establish connections to the new material that will be covered. This also works as a diagnostic activity for the teacher to decide about any adaptations or changes.
NEW
What's new ?
Learn or review vocabulary related to the topic using engaging activities such as crosswords, matching, picture analysis, etc. The vocabulary will help them advance in the unit in a smooth way.
Get the tools Analyze and learn the rules of the language in a very simple way and with examples taken from the readings studied before. The teacher expands on the explanations and examples in class. Students have a space in which they can take notes or write questions to ask in class.
Practice makes perfect Put into practice the structures and rules previously analyzed with exercises and practices related to the topic. Review the material and internalize it for the following activities.
Let's read about... Identify new vocabulary related to the topic and grammatical structures that will be analyzed later through readings, articles, tales, etc., that include pre, during and post reading exercises. The readings will work as examples for the following exercises and activities.
Leave your words Write sentences, paragraphs or essays in which they apply the vocabulary and structures covered in the unit.
what do you say? Develop conversations, drills, information gap activities or oral presentations about the topic applying the new structures.
Check yourself Check that the objectives of the unit were covered and understood once all the activities and exercises are done.
TABLE OF CONTENTS uNIT 1
........... 4
Types of food, eating habits and behaviors at the table • Comparatives and Superlatives
uNIT 2
........... 26
Touristic aspects worldwide • Modals of advice
uNIT 3
........... 43
uNIT 8
........... 113
Prefixes, suffixes and root words
uNIT 9
........... 123
Gender: Men’s and Women’s roles • Stating opinions
uNIT 10
........... 136
Linking words in contexts • Linking words and connectors
Senior citizens and minority groups • Making offers and requests
uNIT 4
uNIT 11
........... 52
Job demand in Costa Rica • Present perfect tense review
uNIT 5
........... 73
Careers • Modals of possibility
uNIT 6
........... 84
Science and technology • Future tense review
uNIT 7
........... 101
Morals and values • Suggestions
........... 145
Words with the same pronunciation but different meanings • Homonyms
uNIT 12
........... 152
Mass media and communications • Agreeing and disagreeing
uNIT 12
Mass media and communications At the end of this unit you will be able to… SPEAKING • Offer advice. • React to extreme points of view. • Report information gathered from a text or a discussion. • State an opinion. READING • Identify the main point or important information in a piece of discourse. • Distinguish the main idea from supporting details. • Read between the lines WRITING • Make effective use of resources to vary the style and scope of their own writing. • Produce a piece of coherent writing.
Turn it on! 1. Which of these means do you use to communicate? Discuss in small groups.
NEW
What's new ?
1. Read the descriptions and complete the crossword puzzle. Check in pairs.
Across
4. A text post in a newspaper or internet or TV if you want to sell or buy something
Down
1. Paper printed daily or weekly with news or advertisements 2. Broadcasting programs for people to watch on their TV sets 3. Small device for talking and connecting with people far from you 5. Sending and receiving information through the air 6. The net used by millions of people all over the world to communicate and get information
2. Read the words in the chart and classify them in the boxes accordingly. Work in pairs.
chat show tabloid
blog text voting
newspaper
soap opera
TV and Radio
magazine text message updates web page
Press
sitcom game show
social media reality show
chat room
documentary
Internet
Benefits
Let's read about... 1. Read the following essay and complete the exercises related. A. Classify the statements below into benefits and dangers of television. 1. Television helps us to learn more about the world and to know and see many new things. 2. Television can make us passive. We don’t have to think and our brains become lazy. 3. It has increased the popularity of sports and arts. 4. It takes time away from activities such as reading, conversation, and games. 5. It is an enjoyable way to relax. 6. It encourages us to buy things that we don’t need, and can
Dangers
make us unhappy with our own lives.
7. It has made us aware of our global responsibilities. In 1985, for example, 1.5 billion people in 147 countries watched TV pop concert and helped to collect more than $100 million for people in Africa. B. Read the essay and check true or false. Whether we realize it or not, TV plays a very important part in our life. It’s the main source of information and a cheap form of entertainment for millions of people. It’s the window into the world which gives us an opportunity to “travel” all over the world, to “meet” different people and learn about their customs and traditions. It has the power to educate and broaden our minds. Besides it helps us to relax after a hard day of work and escape from reality. There’s always a great variety of programs on TV: news and sports programs, talk shows and TV games, documentary and feature films, reality shows, concerts and etc. Of course, not all programs are good. But many are made in good taste and with great professional skills. Some people argue that television is a terrible waste of time. It makes us lazier. We stay at home instead of going out. We read less. We even talk less. Violence on TV is another problem that worries people. As George Mikes once said, TV teaches us “how to kill, to rob, to shoot and to poison”. But the same can be said about computer games and many films. And if you don’t like a certain program, why watch it? 1. _____ TV is not important for everyone. 2. _____ One of the advantages of watching TV is its low price.
3. _____ You can know a lot about different cultures through TV. 4. _____ The variety of TV programs is narrow.
2. Imagine that you have to choose the person of the year in different areas. Complete the chart in small groups.
Person
Who?
Why?
Sports Politics Movies Business Technology Music
MEP sample questions Television “Hypnotizes” Tico Kids
Television has become the proverbial electronic babysitter in Costa Rica. Teachers interviewed lamented what they saw as the lack of control by parents over what goes on in the child’s home, and of parents allowing their children to be in “hypnotized” of television. They criticized the intrusion of the medium on time that could be more productively spent studying. A University of Costa Rica study last year found that the average child spends some six hours per day watching television, longer than they spend in school. Officials surveyed cited the almost complete lack of educational programming available in the afternoon when students return home from school. Though many students surveyed by Al Día admitted to studying a maximum of one to two hours in the evening as exam time neared, most tuned in to cartoons and soap operas. 1) Most of the programs the students watch are considered ________________.
2) According to some teachers, __________ responsible for this problem.
A) B) C) D)
A) B) C) D)
suitable for the student’s age very educational programs non-educational programs excellent programs
the University of Costa Rica is principals are students are parents are
Television has become the proverbial electronic babysitter in Costa Rica. Teachers interviewed lamented what they saw as the lack of control by parents over what goes on in the child’s home, and of parents allowing their children to be in “hypnotized” of television. They criticized the intrusion of the medium on time that could be more productively spent studying. A University of Costa Rica study last year found that the average child spends some six hours per day watching television, longer than they spend in school. Officials surveyed cited the almost complete lack of educational programming available in the afternoon when students return home from school. Though many students surveyed by Al Día admitted to studying a maximum of one to two hours in the evening as exam time neared, most tuned in to cartoons and soap operas.
RADIO WAVES
All over the world, radio is one of the most important sources of entertainment and information. People can listen to the radio almost anywhere and there are many different types of programs to interest people of all ages. The United States has more radios than any other country in the world. There are approximately 2,100 radios per 1,000 people. It also has the most radio stations, around 12,000. Regular broadcasting began in many countries in the 1920s. Music has always been the most popular form of radio entertainment. A music radio station plays an average of 13 songs each hour. Many popular stations offer mostly music, mixed with some competitions, talk shows, and news. Portable radios have helped to attract more and more listeners to radio stations: with small hand-held radios and car stereos, listeners can tune in when they are on the move.
1. E-mail is a way to send _____ over the computer. a. letters b. checks c. individuals d. computer programs 2. “Outlook” is a very well known _______. a. letter b. e-mail c. internet service d. computer program 3. You can send ______ by e-mail. a. cash b. images c. outlook d. individuals 1. Why is radio broadcasting considered important in the world? Because, ____________. a. there are 21,000 radios b. there are 12,000 radio stations c. it offers a great diversity of programs d. 1,000 people listen to the radio in the United States 2. Why did portable radios become an attraction? Because, they __________________. a. let people listen to their programs everywhere b. were mixed with some competitions c. helped listeners with small hands d. played 13 songs every hour 3. What is the main kind of entertainment that radio provides? a. Music b. Portable help c. Small-hand radios d. Radio station average
Get the tools AGREEING AND DISAGREEING
There is no clearly defined difference between formal and informal ways of agreeing or disagreeing but it’s good to be careful about using expressions that sound too informal in certain situations. It depends on the situation in which you are exchanging opinions with someone else that you choose the best way to express your agreement or disagreement. Below are some useful expressions for agreeing, disagreeing, suggesting alternatives, and interrupting.
Agreeing with an opinion
Disagreeing with an opinion
Of course. You’re absolutely right. Yes, I agree. I think so too. That’s a good point. Exactly. I don’t think so either. So do I. I’d go along with that. That’s true. Neither do I. I agree with you entirely. That’s just what I was thinking. I couldn’t agree more.
That’s different. I don’t agree with you. However… That’s not entirely true. On the contrary… I’m sorry to disagree with you, but… Yes, but don’t you think… That’s not the same thing at all. I’m afraid I have to disagree. I’m not so sure about that. I must take issue with you on that. It’s unjustifiable to say that...
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My notes and questions
Polite ways to suggest alternatives
Why don’t we....? Maybe we could....? Maybe we should...? It might be better if we.... How about....?
Polite ways to interrupt someone Excuse me, could I say something? Could I add something here? Could I interrupt you for a second please?