The first part of exam is of paramount importance because it allows you to pass to the next stage of selection. It is dispiriting to fail this part when all your expectations for you future life were focussed on this exam after a hard working year. Unfortunately the same mistakes seem to be persistent and accordingly some guidelines are proposed to overcome the obstacle to move on to the second part. These guidelines are based on my experience as a president of panel for a couple of years of the official exam for “Oposiciones de inglés de secundaria in Andalusia” and on the feedback from the conversations held with other teachers that were chosen to make up the English panel for this exam.The written part set so far seems to be fixed. Let´s see.
1. Look at the following words, which are in bold in the text. Using the context, explain the meaning of each one. (Give just the meaning in this particular context), and write a complex sentence using each word in a different context.
Answer: It´s surprising to see the amount of examinees that fail to carry out this question successfully and accordingly penalised. Firstly the sentence must be complex, containing more than one clause, the main clause (independent) and the subordinate using conjunctions and/or relative pronouns. Avoid using compound sentences. Secondly, use the word in a clearly different context, that is, use any of the different meanings of the word (acepciones).i.e. "Backgroung": the background of the picture, curriculum vitae, setting. "Spread": news, rumours, virus.
2. The verbs ……….. and ……. appear in the text. You are given one phrasal verb from each verb. Explain the meaning of the phrasal verbs and write a complex sentence using each one
Answer: It is widely said that you become proficient in English when you hace mastered the Phrasal verbs. If you haven´t taken this seriously so far, then what are you waiting for? It refers to using the word with another meaning. One way to avoid the mistake is by using the verb either literally or figuratively. One easy way of teaching them is by presenting the literal one first; our knowledge comes from our experience with our surroundings. None of the dictionaries begin teaching these constructions with particles, starting systematically with the literal meaning and then with the metaphorical one, everything seems to be mixed up. At the moment, I am on the process of writing a book about them using our cognition and our culture to understand them. There is always a mental image underlying the phrases with the same phrasal verb.
To be continued….