For homework, please:
- don't forget to meet with your partner this week
- read Units 13 and 14 and complete all of the accompanying exercises.
As you will see in Unit 13, the past in English serves many functions. For advanced learners, it's crucial to master "unreal time" because of its function in making statements and requests more polite. It is also essential to master "unreal time" in order to soften your speech in professional settings. (The speakers in these videos stress that British speakers place a premium on politeness, but politeness is important for the entire English-speaking world.) You will find overlap with German in many cases. (Some situations do call for directness and/or straight talk, however, so let the context dictate the language you use. You simply want to add polite forms to your repertoire so that you can use them when you deem them necessary. Having options is the essence of attaining fluency.) These videos are useful resources in explaining unreal time further:
BBC Learning English: When is the past not the past? Grammar: When is the past not the past? - BBC English Masterclass - YouTube
BBC Masterclass: Being polite (how to soften your English): Speaking: Being polite - how to soften your English - YouTube
BBC Learning English: Three ways to use "wish": Three ways to use 'wish' - BBC English Class - YouTube
BBC Learning English: Stop saying (Using the correct verb form for "I wish"...and, yes, the teacher's delivery is a bit odd in this one, but the content is good): Stop Saying: Using the correct verb form for 'I wish' - YouTube
The following channels tie into "quantity and money" and are channels I draw material from for business English classes. Consider using content from these channels for your listening content for your partner this week. Even if you are not going to choose business as your focus at the TH, I recommend that all of you gain a solid foundation in the business register and with business terminology. Nearly every professional activity will involve business acumen in some capacity. All the better if you can maneuver in this environment in multiple languages.
CNBC Make It (with some interesting series like "Millennial Money," which features what kind of standard of living a certain salary can get you in various cities, and "Suddenly Obsessed," which chronicles the rise of featured products and trends): CNBC Make It - YouTube
Business Insider (known for their "So Expensive" series, which explains why certain brands and products have such high price points): Business Insider - YouTube
Freakonomics weekly podcast (hosted by the authors of the popular Freakonomics books): https://freakonomics.com/archive/
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