6.2.1. Verbs followed by gerund or infinitive in the context of arts

Opening speaking practice: Comment in teams about the best museum you have been to.

Verbs followed by Gerund or Infinitive

Introductory Listening Exercise:

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/I2fVgU8y0LG

Audiolink: https://lasallecancun-my.sharepoint.com/:u:/g/personal/dc0519_lasallecancun_edu_mx/EcRy9AFYmq9BuXTHAZ9eRXcBebhX_yE4o-jaAE75rVQOHA?e=YWrXB2

Collaborative Online Exercise:

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/96533380

Book Exercises on page 50

6.1. Art and intesifying adverbs

 Art and Intensifying adverbs

Inroductory Listening Exercise

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/IFb9aB8vjQq

C1-level Intensifying Adverbs

 

Intensifying adverbs strengthen (or occasionally weaken) the meaning of an adjective, verb, or another adverb. They add emphasis, highlight emotional depth, or show the degree of intensity. They’re not always interchangeable—some strongly prefer certain collocations.

 

Explanation by Adverb

1. Absolutely

• Use: To emphasize totality or strong agreement.
• Collocations: absolutely essential, absolutely certain, absolutely fantastic, absolutely impossible.
• Example: The view from the top was absolutely stunning.

2. Completely

• Use: To show that something is whole or entire, without exception.
• Collocations: completely wrong, completely different, completely empty.
• Example: I felt completely different after the meeting.

3. Deeply

• Use: To express strong feelings, emotions, or states of mind.
• Collocations: deeply concerned, deeply sorry, deeply grateful, deeply moved.
• Example: She was deeply committed to helping her students.

4. Dreadfully

• Use: (slightly old-fashioned in formal English) to mean “very” in a negative sense.
• Collocations: dreadfully sorry, dreadfully wrong, dreadfully boring.
• Example: The weather was dreadfully cold that night.

5. Eagerly

• Use: To show enthusiasm or strong interest (usually modifies verbs).
• Collocations: eagerly await, eagerly accept, eagerly anticipate.
• Example: The audience eagerly awaited the band’s arrival.

6. Generally

• Use: To express something true in most cases, but not always.
• Collocations: generally speaking, generally accepted, generally true.
• Example: The students are generally well-prepared for class.

7. Highly

• Use: To intensify in a positive or evaluative sense, often with participles or adjectives of opinion.
• Collocations: highly recommended, highly unlikely, highly intelligent, highly effective.
• Example: This book is highly recommended for exam preparation.

8. Perfectly

• Use: To mean 'completely' or 'flawless.'
• Collocations: perfectly clear, perfectly normal, perfectly safe, perfectly reasonable.
• Example: Your explanation is perfectly understandable.

9. Totally

• Use: Similar to completely, but often less formal and sometimes used conversationally.
• Collocations: totally different, totally unexpected, totally agree.
• Example: I totally forgot about the appointment.

10. Utterly

• Use: Stronger than completely, often used with negative or extreme adjectives.
• Collocations: utterly ridiculous, utterly exhausted, utterly alone.
• Example: The proposal was utterly absurd.

11. Wonderfully

• Use: To intensify in a very positive sense, with admiration or pleasure.
• Collocations: wonderfully talented, wonderfully simple, wonderfully kind.
• Example: The actors gave a wonderfully moving performance.

12. Widely

• Use: To indicate large extent, coverage, or acceptance.
• Collocations: widely known, widely used, widely recognized, widely accepted.
• Example: Her research is widely respected in academic circles.

 

Final Notes:

• Absolutely / utterly / completely / totally → intensify adjectives that are non-gradable , e.g., perfect, impossible, exhausted.
• Deeply / dreadfully / wonderfully / highly → usually collocate with emotions, evaluations, or extreme descriptions.
• Generally / widely → less emotional; they indicate extent or frequency rather than intensity of feeling.
• Eagerly → stands out because it intensifies verbs (actions) rather than adjectives.

Collaborative Exercise 1 on page 48

Individual Online Exercise of Intensifying Adverbs:

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/yE1UkSvTRQF

Speaking Practice on page 48

Vocabulary presentation of online arts

https://lasallecancun-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/dc0519_lasallecancun_edu_mx/EXbocMv4TW5IttZHD3zavmYB2JzthO7SL7SgixUvLoI5tQ?e=UFeglR

Reading Practice on pages 48 and 49

Teamwork: Describe an artwork on a poster including at least five collocations with intensifying adverbs and using between 70 and 120 words.

Description of Sunflowers

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers is an absolutely iconic painting that captures the vibrancy of nature in a highly distinctive style. The golden tones are absolutely radiant, creating an atmosphere that feels perfectly uplifting yet at the same time deeply emotional. The brushstrokes are completely unconventional, almost wild, which gives the flowers a wonderfully expressive quality. Some critics have called it utterly overrated, but for many art lovers, it remains a widely acclaimed masterpiece that is profoundly inspiring.

Academic Integrity

 

Video quiz of Academic Integrity (C1 level):

https://app.kwizie.ai/en/qp/524673

📘 Reading Text (C1 Level): Upholding Lasallian Values in Higher Education

 📘 Reading Text (C1 Level): Upholding Lasallian Values in Higher Education

 

At Universidad La Salle Cancún, education transcends academic achievement; it is fundamentally rooted in a set of values inspired by Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. These Lasallian values—faith, service, fraternity, respect, and commitment—serve as the ethical compass that guides students, educators, and administrators alike.

 

Faith is not limited to religious belief but understood more broadly as trust in oneself, in others, and in the educational process. Students are encouraged to engage in reflective practices and cultivate a sense of purpose that transcends personal ambition.

 

Service, meanwhile, promotes a culture of solidarity and social responsibility. It urges students to use their skills and knowledge not only for personal gain but to uplift their communities. Community service, volunteer projects, and outreach programs are integral parts of the Lasallian educational model.

 

Fraternity fosters a sense of belonging, cooperation, and empathy. Within the classroom, this value is visible in collaborative learning, mutual support, and intercultural respect, especially relevant in a multicultural institution such as La Salle Cancún.

 

Respect, a cornerstone of all human interaction, is practiced not only in interpersonal relationships but also in academic conduct. Students are held to high standards of academic integrity and are expected to appreciate diverse perspectives with openness and humility.

 

Lastly, commitment refers to perseverance and dedication to both personal development and collective goals. Whether in class attendance, punctuality, or participation in institutional initiatives, commitment is the bridge between intention and action.

 

Incorporating these values into university life is not merely aspirational—it is essential. They cultivate socially responsible graduates prepared not only for professional success but also for ethical leadership in an increasingly complex world.

📚 References:

Comité de Misión Educativa Lasallista. (2015). Valores Lasallistas. Instituto de los Hermanos de las Escuelas Cristianas. https://www.lasalle.org.mx

Universidad La Salle Cancún. (2023). Modelo educativo lasallista: Formación integral con valores. https://lasallecancun.edu.mx/modelo-educativo/

Huerta, F. (2021). Identidad Lasallista en la educación superior mexicana. Revista de Educación y Valores, 12(3), 56–68. https://doi.org/10.35622/ev.21.3.4

González, L. (2019). Ethical formation through Lasallian values in university contexts. Journal of Educational Leadership, 7(2), 34–45.

 

Individual Online Exercise:

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/3yq_G0_JZgk

Halloween

What is part of Halloween? 

Listening Exercise

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/FbUkZMotGfg

Reading Exercise

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/U80SCgAy9MX

Vocabulary Exercises

Exercise 1
https://wordwall.net/es/resource/81020759

Exercise 2

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/tTZp3Pvt-_c

8.6.-- Formal and Informal Language and how to write a letter of applicaation

Formal and Informal Language

Someone's research about the job market

Lila was well informed about the job market, having spent weeks researching various companies. As she prepared for an interview, she hoped to understand the situation better, knowing that many applicants faced excessive competition. She entered the room with confidence, but her enthusiasm quickly faded when the interviewer seemed completely unaware of her qualifications.

 

After a few awkward questions, Lila became extremely disappointed. She had thought she would impress them, especially since she was quite interested in the role. Instead, it felt as if they had misunderstood her experiences entirely.

 

Fortunately, Lila didn’t let this setback deter her. She decided to seek feedback from others who had recently interviewed. With their advice, she refined her approach and applied to new opportunities, determined not to let one experience define her.

 

In the end, her resilience paid off, and she landed a job that was a perfect fit, far exceeding her initial expectations.

Collaborative exercise 1 on page 70 on wordwall

https://wordwall.net/resource/31883937

Collaborative exercise 2 on page 70 on wordwall

https://wordwall.net/resource/31884052

Collaborative reading of the exam task on page 70

HOW TO WRITE A LETTER OF APPLICATION

This is an example of how to write a letter of application for the CAE exam. 

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing you regarding a job advertisement that I saw on my university bulletin board two days ago. I am therefore really interested in applying for the position of children carer in your summer camp in the United States this coming season.

I am the right person to do the job as I have been working at public and private schools with kids and teenagers of different ages and backgrounds for over 20 years and I have a degree in Education from the University of Glasgow, so I have got broad experience in this field. I consider myself a well-trained and highly-qualified childminder and I assure you that I am capable of working with big groups of children of different ages.

In addition to this, I am a talented artist. Hence, I can teach the children how to play the guitar and the violin as well as to make cute handicrafts because I honestly think it is important for young people to develop their creativity and find their natural talents.

I hope you will give my application serious consideration since I believe that I am a strong candidate. I have a great sense of responsibility and genuinely care about children. I also have a lot of patience, enthusiasm, and energy.

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience for a further interview.

Yours faithfully,

 

E.O.

Elements of the letter of application:

1.- Salutation

2.- Introduction

2.1.- The reason

2.2.- Job position and location

2.3.- How and when the candidate knew about the vacancy

3.- Body (2 or 3 paragraphs)

3.1.- General information including academic background and experience.

3.2.- Added values

3.3.- Asking for consideration and why the candidate thinks he or she is the ideal one

4.- Closing paragraph or final remark about encouraging further contact

5.- Closing formula

6.- Signature (full name or initials)

Word range: 220-260 words

Source: http://cpesamplewritings.blogspot.com/p/how-to-write-letter-of-application.html

Useful Phrases for a Cover Letter or a Letter of Application

Letter Phrases for a start:

·  I noticed with interest your advertisement for …

· I am writing in response to your advertisement posted on…

·  I am very interested in applying for the position of …

·  I am applying for the position of ….., which was advertised in …..

·  I was interested to see your advertisement for …

·  I was referred to you by …./name/, who informed me of a …./position/

· I have pleasure in applying for the advertised position, as …

Salutation:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Dear Mr Wilson Director of Human Resources,

Dear Mr Wilson, 

Phrases for reasons for applying for a job:

·  I would be well suited to the position because …

·  My professional skills appear to be well suited to your company’s requirements.

·  I have a lively interest in … and would appreciate the opportunity to work with you.

·  As you can see from my enclosed résumé, my experience and qualifications match this position’s requirements.

·  I would be well suited to the position because …

·  My strengths are …

·  I believe the combination of my education and experiences have prepared me…

· It is a challenging position for which I believe I am well qualified.

· This position represents an opportunity to continue my committed career path…

Phrases for writing about your skills:

·  I have a working knowledge of …

·  I believe I possess the right combination of …

·  I am an experienced user of …

· My professional experiences are supplemented by…

·  My interest and knowledge in this area was further enhanced by…

·  My particular area of effectiveness is…

·  I have an excellent command of …

Phrases for the final remark or last paragraph:

·  I would appreciate the chance to meet with you to discuss …

·  I look forward to our meeting.

·  If you are interested, please contact me at …

· I am eager to talk with you about the contribution I could make to your firm.

·  I would welcome the opportunity to discuss these and other qualifications with you.

·  I would welcome the opportunity to discuss further details of the position with you personally.

·  I look forward with enthusiasm to an opportunity for an interview.

 Closing formulas:

- Yours faithfully,

- Yours sincerely,

- Best regards,

Individual exam task on page 71

Subjunctive in Fixed Expressions and Verbs and Expressions followed by the Subjunctive

 

Video about Queen's coffin enters Westminster Abbey

What do you think about the Queen's funeral?

Subjunctive in Fixed Expressions and Verbs and Expressions followed by the Subjunctive

Some fixed expressions in subjunctive:

• Bless you!
• God bless America!
• God save the Queen.
• Long live the President!
• Heaven forbid!
• Heaven help us!

Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive

The Subjunctive is used after the following verbs:

to advise (that)
to ask (that)
to command (that)
to demand (that)
to desire (that)
to insist (that)
to propose (that)
to recommend (that)
to request (that)
to suggest (that)
to urge (that)

Example:

• Dr. Smith asked that Mark submit his research paper before the end of the month.

Expressions Followed by the Subjunctive

The Subjunctive is used after the following expressions:

It is best (that)
It is crucial (that)
It is desirable (that)
It is essential (that)
It is imperative (that)
It is important (that)
It is recommended (that)
It is urgent (that)
It is vital (that)
It is a good idea (that)
It is a bad idea (that)

Example:

• It is crucial that you be there before Tom arrives.

Sources: 

English Club (2024) Subjunctive on EnglishClub.com on https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/subjunctive.php

Englishpage.com (2024) Subjunctive in Learn English at Englishpage.com on https://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/subjunctive.html

Collaborative Exercise about Phrases in Subjunctive in Songs, Poems, Novels, Films, etc.

for example, 'I were a boy, even just for a day.'

Individual Online Exercise about the Subjunctive

https://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/subjunctiveexercise.htm

Speaking Exercise on Wordwall

https://wordwall.net/resource/72254715