Message from Simon:Goodbye, Goodbye

Well all things must come to an end and now it is the turn of this blog. As most of you who read this blog know, I am leaving Taif University to go and work as an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Language and Culture at Osaka University in Osaka, Japan.

I have really enjoyed my time teaching in Taif and have really appreciated the opportunity to work with the students in the Medical College: they have been amongst the best I have worked with in my professional career.

For now, as always, be good and happy. I hope all goes well for all of you in the coming years.

Simon

p.s. my email - simon.combe@gmail.com - will remain the same. Please feel free to contact me if there is anything i can do to help you or you are in Japan.

Weekly Powerpoints: Unit 1 to Unit 14

Find below links to files containing revised Audio and Powerpoints for all 14 Units. Remember you will need Powerpoint 2010 for the audio to play automatically. The final two links are tozip files containing the the pdf's of the Powerpoints.

Links:
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Unit 6
Unit 7
Unit 8 
Unit 9
Unit 10
Unit 11
Unit 12
Unit 13
Unit 14
pdf's 1-7
pdf's 8-14

Weekly PowerpointUnit 14: End of Semester Review

To help you prepare for the exams, please find below links to Media Fire files for:
1. the Powerpoint for Unit 14 of the textbook
entitled "End of Semester Review";
2. The audio for the Unit; and,
3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

Links:
Powerpoint: Unit 14
Audio: Unit 14
Powerpoint Pdf: Unit 14

Weekly PowerpointUnit 13: In The Future

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:
1. the Powerpoint for Unit 13 of the textbook
entitled "In the Future";
2. The audio for the Unit; and,
3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

Links:
Powerpoint Unit 13:
Audio Unit 13:
Powerpoint Pdf Unit 13:

Weekly PowerpointUnit 12: Bigger and Better

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:
1. the Powerpoint for Unit 12 of the textbook
entitled "Bigger and Better";
2. The audio for the Unit; and,
3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

Links:
Powerpoint Unit 12
Audio Unit 12
Powerpoint Pdf Unit 12

Weekly PowerpointUnit 11: An Important Event

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:

1. the Powerpoint for Unit 11 of the textbook
entitled "An Important Event";

2. The audio for the Unit; and,

3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

Links:

Powerpoint: Unit 11
Audio: Unit 11
Powerpoint Pdf: Unit 11

Weekly PowerpointUnit 10: Holidays and Travel

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:

1. the Powerpoint for Unit 10 of the textbook
entitled "Holiday and Travel";

2. The audio for the Unit; and,

3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

Links:

Powerpoint: Unit 10
Audio: Unit 10
Powerpoint Pdf: Unit 10

Weekly PowerpointUnit 9: Biography

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:

1. the Powerpoint for Unit 9 of the textbook
entitled "Biography";

2. The audio for the Unit; and,

3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

Links:

Powerpoint: Unit 9
Audio: Unit 9
Powerpoint pdf: Unit 9

Weekly PowerpointUnit 8: Food and Eating

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:

1. the Powerpoint for Unit 8 of the textbook
entitled "Food and Eating";

2. The audio for the Unit; and,

3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

Links:

Powerpoint: Unit 8
Audio: Unit 8
Powerpoint pdf: Unit 8

Weekly PowerpointUnit 7: Mid-Semester Review

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:

1. the Powerpoint for Unit 7 of the textbook
entitled "Mid-Semester Review";

2. The audio for the Unit; and,

3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

p.s. please note if you are having trouble playing the audio when going through the Powerpoint it is most probably because you don;t have the latest version. I am using Powerpoint 2010 and you will need to use it for the audio to start automatically when you click the slide to move on. You can get it at Extra or any other of the smaller Computer Supplies shops around town.

Links:

Powerpoint: Unit 7
Audio: Unit
Powerpoint pdf: Unit 7

Weekly PowerpointUnit 6: Leisure Time

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:

1. the Powerpoint for Unit 6 of the textbook
entitled "Leisure Time";

2. The audio for the Unit; and,

3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

Links:

Powerpoint: Unit 6
Audio: Unit 6
Powerpoint pdf: Unit 6

Weekly PowerpointUnit 5: Daily Routines

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:

1. the Powerpoint for Unit 5 of the textbook
entitled "Daily Routines";

2. The audio for the Unit; and,

3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

Links:

Powerpoint: Unit 5
Audio: Unit 5
Powerpoint pdf: Unit 5

Exam UpdateMid-Term Exam - Questions and Answers

Please find attached a copy of the Mid-Term Exam paper with the correct answers marked in yellow. I have also included the answers of the first part of the writing section plus sample sentences to the second part.

Link:

Mid-Term Exam Paper

Weekly PowerpointUnit 4: Personal Possessions

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:

1. the Powerpoint for Unit 4 of the textbook
entitled "Personal Possessions";

2. The audio for the Unit; and,

3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

The last file is a zipped file containing ALL the other material for this unit and includes:

- the individual Powerpoints for the Theoretical and Practical Classes,

- Pdf's for all the Powerpoints plus the pdf's on the textbook, the answers and the Unit's Syllabus. Enjoy!!

Links:
Powerpoint: Unit 4
Audio mp3's: Unit 4
Powerpoint pdf: Unit 4
Zipped File all pdf's: Unit 4

Zipped File all Powerpoints: Unit 4

Exam UpdateMid-Term Exam Draft Paper

Dear Guys and gals, please find attached links to:

* a draft copy of the mid-term exam paper,

* details of the speaking exam,

* a pdf of the Powerpoint I presented in class about the exam.

More information will be forthcoming in the next couple of days.

Remember, the first document is just a DRAFT copy of the exam: the questions in the final exam will be similar BUT different!

Links:

- a draft copy of the mid-term exam paper [Parts 1-3],

- details of Part 4 [the Speaking/Oral exam,

- pdf of Powerpoint explaining the exam

Examination NewsMid-Term Examination

Dear Guys and Gals, as you might know, the details of the mid term exam are becoming clearer. They will, as you all should know, be held on Monday the 24th of October. and will seek to exam all four skills: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Needless to say, in order to do each of these, you will have to know and understand the Grammar and Vocabulary that has been covered in each class.

To make sure you don't miss any posts, subscribe to the post by entering your email address in the space provided at the top of the column on the right hand side of the blog.

Specifically:

• the exam will be worth 40 marks and comprise 20% of your final mark.
• each skill [Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking] will be worth 10 marks.the Reading, Writing and Listening skills will be examined during the period set for the examination on the 24th of October,
• the Speaking will be examined separately at a time and place organized between you and your teacher.
• more information about the questions/activities for each skill will be published on the blog.

Message from SimonBlog Postings

Dear Guys and Gals, I hope all is going well!! Sorry for the lack of posting on the blog lately. I have been waiting until I finished all the classes for Unit 3 before posting anything more. You will notice that I posted all the materils for Unit 3 yesterday , and the material for Unit 4 will posted half way though next week.

Over the next couple of days I will start posting the support materials for the previous units, i will also post re-worded versions of the Powerpoints for the Uits 1 and 2. The links will direct you to sites on the Web where you can practice some of the points that have been covered in the textbook.

Finally, just a reminder that if you need to contact me, you can always send an phone or send an email. Otherwise you can chat with me on Messenger [use my email address] or Facebook [name: Simon.Combe59]. Otherwise, as I have mentioned before, you can always find me most days in the coffee shop on the 30th floor of the Awalif Hotel. Just ask for 'Dr. Simon' and you should be able to get in for free. Just phone me first however to make sure I am there.

[the photo is of me, aged 4]

Weekly PowerpointUnit 3: People and Family

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:

1. the Powerpoint for Unit 3 of the textbook
entitled "People and Family";

2. The audio for the Unit; and,

3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

The last file is a zipped file containing ALL the material for this unit and includes:

- the Powerpoint for the Whole Unit:

- the individual Powerpoints for the Theoretical and Practical Classes, and the Powerpoints for the Writing, Speaking and 'Homefun' Activities;

- Pdf's for all the Powerpoints plus the pdf's on the textbook, the answers and the Unit's Syllabus. Enjoy!!

Links:
Powerpoint: Unit 3
Audio mp3's: Unit 3
Powerpoint pdf: Unit 3
Writing Homework Unit 3
Speaking Homework Unit 3
Zipped File: Unit 3

Message From SimonSubscribe to the Blog

If you would like to be notified of new postings to this blog by email, all you need to do is put you email address in the: FOLLOW BY EMAIL box to the right at the top of the blog and follow the links. The process ends by activating your subscription following an email. Its as easy as ABC. As always, if you have problems let me know and I will try to help.

Weekly PowerpointUnit 2: Personal Information

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:

1. the Powerpoint for Unit 2 of the textbook
entitled "Personal Information";

2. The audio for the Unit; and,

3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

Links:

Powerpoint: Unit 2

Audio mp3's: Unit 2

Powerpoint pdf: Unit 2

From the Newspapers:Recent Articles From The Arab News

One of the best way to improve your English is to read the newspaper in English. This can be a difficult task to do especially when you are busy medical students. What I plan to do is to provide some links to some medical related articles contained in some of the local English language newspapers [e.g. Arab News and the Saudi Gazette]. Hope you find them interesting.

Links:
Is Saher a solution to traffic problems?
Saudi nurses need to improve people skills
Rare disease among newborns

Surplus Medicines

Weekly PowerpointUnit 1: Nice to Meet You

Please find below links to Media Fire files for:

1. the Powerpoint for Unit 1 of the textbook
entitled "Nice to Meet You";

2. The audio for the Unit; and,

3. a pdf of the Powerpoint.

If you place the Powerpoint file in the unzipped folder containing the audio you should find that the audion files play automatically as you work your way through the Powerpoint. if you have any problems or questions, please feel free to phone or email me at the number/address in the column to the left of the posts. If you don't already have a program on your computer to unzip files, try 7-zip.

If you would like to get access to these files every week through Dropbox, please send an email to: simon.combe@gmail.com with the message: "please add me to the Medical English Dropbox"

Links:

Powerpoint: Unit 1

Audio mp3's: Unit 1

Poweroint pdf: Unit 1

Message from SimonTextbook for the Course

The textbook for the first part of this course is entitled English 1A and it has been especially prepared for the students of Taif University by a team from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. The first book will hopefully be available next week and will distributed free of cost.

There will be three other books for this course: English 1B, English 2A, and English 2B. I am not sure whether they will be free or not but, they will be available when the previous books are completed.

The books will start at what is commonly known as the Elementary Level and Conclude at the end of the Pre-Intermediate level. While the material in these books will appear to be very easy for at least some of you, we hope you will use the classes as a chance to consolidate the English you have learned up to now.

Message from SimonWelcome to the Taif University Medical English Page

Dear Guys and Gals,

Welcome to the Taif University Medical English Page! The aim of this blog spot is to provide a means to supply you with resources that will be helpful during the course of your English subjects this year. It is also hoped that you will use it as a means to comment on subjects raised in the course and to also ask questions.

Among the things you will find on this blog are:

1. links to copies of the Powerpoints and audio for each Unit of the textbook;

2. information about assessment items [exams etc..]; and

3. links to websites where you can learn more about and practice some of the vocabulary and grammar items in raised during the course of the classes.

It will also contain, from time to time, links to articles and websites related to medical issues both in Saudi Arabia in particular and the wider world.

This blog is yours as much as it is mine so please feel free to comment and make suggestions as to how it can be improved.

For now, be good and happy,

Simon

Exam Update:Final Exam: Explanation of Answers

Dear Guys and Gals, please find below an explanation of the answers in the exam. If you have any more questions please feel free to direct them to Ayana, Mubib and Hashim .

[just joking, direct them to me and I will try and answer them]

Link:
Final Exam Answers: Explanations

Exam Update:Final Exam: Questions & Answers

Dear Guys and Gals, Hope you are well and recovered from your exam today. Please find below a link to the exam paper today. I have marked the correct answers in yellow.

Please note that I have decided to accept both the answers for question 33 ['Ive got a bad cough'. 'You _______ smoke']. The answer is "shouldn't", but I can understand why some of you might think "mustn't" mght be the answer. All other answers are non-negotiable [including Question 2: sorry Sami...]

Please note that Ayana and I can not give the results for the final exams until the examination board of the College allows us to so please don't ask. We will post them as soon as we can.

[sorry, the two earlier version posted had a mistake. Question 10 the answer is 'C' and I will accept answers 'B' and 'D' for question 1 (even though 'B' is the answer for question 4)]

Links:
Final Exam: Questions and Answers

Exam Update:The Final Post: Modal Verbs

Guys and Gals, this is my final post tonight. I am about to turn off my computer and go to bed [please no more phone calls!!]. In response to the last panicky phone call, the only Modal verbs you will need to know for the exam are:

must, mustn't, has to, have to, don't have to, shouldn’t, should

For now, goodnight and good luck tomorrow.

Message From Simon:Lasange & Pappadams

Dear Guys and Gals, I am having lots of questions about Lasagne and Poppadoms [there are different spellings for the latter]. Both are types of food.

Lasagna (plural: Lasagne) is a very wide, flat pasta (sometimes with wavy edges ). It is typically served in alternating layers with cheese, a sauce, and often other ingredients such as ground beef, sausage, or spinach. Typical of the cuisine of Italy.

Papadum, also known as papad in Norther India , is a thin, crisp Indian preparation sometimes described as a cracker or flat bread. It is typically served as an accompaniment to a meal in India.

This might give you a hint about what the reading in the exam will be about....

Exam Update:Answers to the Sample Questions

Here are the answers to the sample questions I posted earlier this week:

A: Match the questions and answers.
1.Teacher, sorry I’m late. I got stuck in the traffic.
a. Me? Run? You must be joking.
b. It cost a fortune..
c. Mind your own business.
d. Never mind. You’re here now.

B: Put the words in the correct words in the correct order.
2. your forget textbook ? how you did
a. ? textbook your forget you did how
b. How did you forget your textbook?
c. Forget your textbook how did you?
d. Did you forget your textbook how?

C. Match the job names with what the people do.
3. A waiter
a. serves food
b. flies airplanes
c. kills badguys.
d. heals the sick

D: Complete the sentences with the correct adjectives.
4. She’s not careless In fact she's very ___ driver .
a. good
b. reckless
c. fat
d. funny

E: Complete the sentences with a positive or negative auxiliary verb.
5.How long_______ you got left in the country?
a. are
b. does
c. do
d. have

F: Present Simple or Continuous: Choose the correct answer.
6. _______ what I mean.
a. You’re knowing
b. You know

G: Choose the correct modal verb.
7. Did you _______ wake up so late today?
a. must
b. have to

H: Read the text. Are the statements true (T) or false (F).
8. The sun revolves around the earth.
a. True
b. False

Online Resources:Final Exam: Part 3

Find below links to exercises related to the final two sets of questions in the final exam:

Links:
Modal verbs:
englishpage.com learn-english-today.com
e-grammar.org
advanced-english-grammar.com
Reading:
usingenglish.com
esoeonline.org
web2.uvcs.uvic.ca

Online Resources:Final Exam: Part 2

Find below the second set of links to assist you in preparing for the final exam:

Links:
Complete the Sentences: Adjectives
web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc 1
a4esl.org
web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc 2
Positive and Negative Auxiliary Verbs
esl.about.com
esl-lounge.com
ego4u.com 2
ego4u.com 3
Simple Present or Continuous
englisch-hilfen.de
web2.uvcs.uvic.ca
englishpage.com
a4esl.org

Online Resources: Final Exam: Part 1

To prepare for the final exam check out the following online exercises.

Links:
Matching Exercises: Questions and Answers
a4esl.org
englishgrammarsecrets.com
englisch-hilfen.de
ecenglish.com
Putting Words in the Correct Order englishgrammarsecrets.com
crjg.vil.ee
english.specialist.hu
eslpartyland.com
Word / Definition Match Exercises
eslgamesworld.com
carolinebrownlisteninglessons.com
learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org
learnenglish.de

Exam Update:Teacher, Teacher!! How will you do it?

Dear Gals and Guys, I have been having some expressions of confusion.:
- "Will there be an 'Adjective into Noun' question?" [no, there won't],
- "Will there be listening" [no there won't].
To make an easy exam even easier therefor find a link below to sample questions. These should answer all your questions.

For now, be good and happy and, don't worry!!!
Link:
Final Exam: Sample Questions

Exam Update:Key Words

Guys, Gals [and Abdul Rahman], find below a list of what I think are the words you might possibly not know. I can't give you the adjectives and nouns need to know because they are part of the exam. Anyway, here are the words:
absorb, berry, complicate, decorate, design, disguise, fancy, Fatima, firm [noun], incorporate, ingredient, interior, invasion, lasange, law, poison, poppadoms, representative, sauce, variety

If you don't know the other words in the exam, its time to throw away your books and give up medicine.

Exam Update:The Answers

Gals and Guy, I've changed my mind about giving you the answers as well. The answers to the first 20 questions are:
1.A; 2.C; 3.D; 4.A; 5.D; 6.A; 7.B; 8.A; 9.A; 10.D; 11.C; 12.D; 13.X; 14.B; 15.A; 16.C; 17.A; 18.C; 19. D; 20.A

[just joking...]

Exam Update:Question Types

To help you focus your study and to stop you asking me every 5 minutes which book to look at, find below the types of questions that will be asked in the exam:

A: Match the questions and answers.
B: Put the words in the correct words in the correct order.
C. Match the job names with what the people do.
D: Complete the sentences with the correct adjectives.
E: Complete the sentences with a positive or negative auxiliary verb.
F: Present Simple or Continuous: Choose the correct answer.
G: Choose the correct modal verb.
H: Read the text. Are the statements true (T) or false (F).

Exam Update:Good News [Hopefully]

Dear Guys and Gals, I have [hopefully] some good news for your. I know that many of you would only be happy if I not only gave you the questions in the exam but the answers also, the best I can do is tell you that:

- there are now only 40 questions
- 25 will be M/C with a choice of 4 options
- 10 will be M/C with a choice of 2 options
- 5 will be T/F

There will be no listening or writing but there will be a Reading passage. You will have an hour and half to finish the exam.

Stay tuned [a phrasal verb] for more details.

Exam Update:Final Written Exam

Dear Guys and Gals, i am just writing to let you know that the final written exam will be on the the 6th of June [I think]. It will consist of a total of 60 questions: including 10 listening questions. All questions will be either Multiple Choice or True/False and will cover the first 7 Units of the book.

I will provide examples of the questions you might expect to receive in the couple of days along with key words. If you have any questions please let me know by email.

For now, good luck with your exams next week and especially Chemistry tomorrow.

Work Book Extra:Powerpoint PDF's: Work Book Units 6-8

Please find below links to pdf versions of Unit 6 to 8 of the Workbook Powerpoints. I posted the audio about a week ago here.

Links:
Powerpoint pdf: Work Book Unit 6
Powerpoint pdf: Work Book Unit 7
Powerpoint pdf: Work Book Unit 8

Course Book Extra:Audio: Course Book Units 6-8

Please find below links to the Audio for the Course Book for Units 6 to 8.

Links:
Audio: Course Book Unit 6
Audio: Course Book Unit 7
Audio: Course Book Unit 8

Course Book Extra:Powerpoints: Course Book Units 6-8

Guys and Gals, find below links to pdf's of the Powerpoints for Units 6 to 8 of the Course Book. I'll be posting them in the usual way over the next coupe of days so those of you who like working through the Powerpoints Step by Step can do that. I will be outing up the audio files in the next post.

By the way, during the break, I plan to post the Powerpoints for all the remaining units of the New Headway Intermediate Books so that those of you who are interested cab continue to work through them.

Links:
Powerpoint pdf: Course Book Unit 6
Powerpoint pdf: Course Book Unit 7
Powerpoint pdf: Course Book Unit 8

Final Practical Exam:Class Powerpoint

Guys and Gals, find below a link to the Powerpoint I presented on class last week argumentative speeches. I have included a pdf version of the Powerpoint as well.

Good luck!!

Links:
Final Practical Exam: Argumentative Speeches [Powerpoint]
Final Practical Exam: Argumentative Speeches [Pdf]

Practical ExamMake Your Propositions Strong

Just a reminder that when preparing your speeches for next week that it is essential to make sure that the propositions you are arguing are STRONG.
For example, take the following topics suggested on the suite101.com website posted earlier this week:

Do schools have the right to search students’ lockers?

Should children be given sex education in schools?

Should the state fund schools run by particular faiths?

Should schools require their students to wear a school uniform?

Are beauty contests harmful?

In order to make these effective propositions, you need to replace the question words "do", "Should" and "Are" with the word "That":

That schools should / should not have the right to search students’ lockers!!

That children should / should not be given sex education in schools!!

That the state should fund schools run by particular faiths!!

That should require their students to wear a school uniform!!

That beauty contests are/are not harmful!!

Remember you will be trying to convinve your audience that a particular proposition is true. In order to do this you will need to make sure it is strong.

Online Resouces: Persuasive Speaking Tips: Tracey Goodwin

Find below links to a series of talks on Youtube on the issue of Persuasive Speeches. The short videos are presented by Tracy Goodwin — who has a Masters in Corporate Communication and 10 years experience in professional speaking — on behalf of Expert Village.

The first link is to the expertvillage website page, the remainder to individual videos on Youtube.

Links:
- Tracy Goodwin on Expert Village
1. Introduction Examples for Persuasive Speeches
2. How to Write a Conclusion for Persuasive Speeches
3. Logos, Pathos, & Ethos Appeals in Persuasive Speaking
4. Credibility in Persuasive Speaking
5. Understanding the Audience in Persuasive

. Using Evidence in Persuasive Speeches

Online Resources:Argumentative Speeches

Please find below some links on Youtube.com to some sample Argumentative Speeches.

Please note that you will only have 2 to 3 minutes to give your speech next week so your speeches will be shorter than many of these. Remember also that you will have to talk about both the arguments against your proposition as well as the arguments in favour. The ones on organ donation and stem cell research are of particular relevance to you as future doctors.

Links:
1. Stem Cell Research
2. Spanking Children
3. The Legalization of Legal Drugs
4. Organ Donation

Practical Exam:Online Resources: 2

As noted last week, you will have to give what is sometimes known as an 'argumentative speech' for the Practical Exam. 'Argumentative speeches' are also sometimes refered to as 'persuasive speeches'.

Please find below was some links to web resources on persuasive speeches.

Links:
persuasive-speechesnow.com
presentationmagazine.com
sample speeches:
social networking
organ donation

Workshop Extra:Audio Units 6-8

Find attached the audio files from units 6 to 8 of the Workbook. I will post pdf's of the Students book Powerpoints as soon as possible and then will post the Powerpoints themselves later in the week.

Links:
Audio Workbook Unit 6
Audio Workbook Unit 7
Audio Workbook Unit 8

Practical Exam:Sellected Web Resources

He is a copy of a post I posted for the first years students last year at this time. I hope it helps:

As noted in class this week, an argumentation / argumentative speech is "a form of persuasive public speaking. The speaker presents a personal opinion, judgment or idea about a controversial and current issue, problem, value or dispute in a way that the opinion of the audience will change in favor of his or her side". [speech-topics-help.com] Argumentative speech ideas are controversial and refer to current political, social, business, religious iPracticassues, disputes, policies and values.

There are lot of sites of the web related to argumentative speeches and in particular, possible argumentative speech topics . Check some of the links below:

Links:

speech-topics-help.com/argumentative-speech

edu/communication/Argu-Speech-Outline-Format.pdf
goodpersuasivespeechtopics.com/argumentative
homeworktips.about.com/argumenttopics