Sumários

Debate #1

28 Abril 2026, 14:00 • Irene Bulla

Today students debated the motion “Social media is making us happier.” Aléxia, Leonor, and Margarida argued in favor of the motion, while Carolina, Maria, and Martim argued against it.

Modelling the Oral Presentation

28 Abril 2026, 09:30 • Hilda Alexandra Prazeres Eusebio

Today, went through the oral presentation rules and success criteria.  Students who missed this class should go through the PowerPoint entitled 'Oral Presentation Rules & Success Criteria' which has been uploaded onto the shared drive.


Oral Presentations - General Information
  • Oral presentations are worth 30% of your final grade.
  • You must speak for a minimum of 12 minutes and a maximum of 25 minutes.
  • The presentation will consist of presenting your written exam (i.e. your paper) to the class.
  • I will be asking you circa 1-5 questions after your presentation.
Oral Presentations - Rules
  • You must use a PowerPoint to make your presentation more interesting and so that I can read the quotes/evidence that you’re using to prove your statement/answer your question.
  • You presentation must last no less than 12 minutes and must last no longer than 25.
  • You cannot read your essay to us – nor should you have the essay up on the board for us to see.  Just use
  • uotes.
  • Do not plagiarize.  Do no use AI to write a speech for you – this will result in a mark of 0.
  • Do not read your presentation – this will result in a mark of 0.
  • Do not memorize your presentation word for word - this will result in a 0.
  • udents will be asked 0-5 questions at the end of their presentation - if asked questions by the teacher, try to answer these in long answers and avoid 1-2-word answers.  Giving very short answers may result in a mark of 0.
  • Your notes must be in hard copy and may be requested at the end of the exam - if this happens, you must hand them over to the teacher.

Oral Presentations - Success Criteria

English - 10 Points

  • Consistent correct use of Verb Tenses

  • Advanced Vocabulary

  • Appropriate Word Order

  • No Missing or Extraneous Words

  • Correct Pronunciation.  Please project and enunciate.

  • Correct use of Articles

  • The 3 Cs: speaking that is clear, concise, and coherent.

  • Perusasive Techniques: you must use a minimum of 8 separate techniques – never force them.
Content - 10 Points

  • Avoid vague title/subtitle – must refer to author (Lahiri) and stories or theme.  In principle, same title as written essay.

  • Thesis statement/essay question clearly stated at the end of your introduction.

  • Your arguments must prove the thesis statement.  You must make a minimum of three (3) arguments.

  • Minimum 4 quotes – 2 primary source, 2 secondary source/s. Maximum 8 quotes. 

  • Quotes must be used correctly respecting punctuation rules. In-text citations must be done according to MLA rules.

  • Your conclusion must reiterate the thesis statement (but in different words) or answer the essay question.

  • There must be a bibliography on a separate slide, listed alphabetically and formatted according to MLA guidelines. Please separate primary from secondary sources.

  • If you made major mistakes in your exam, address these as you go through your essay and correct them, e.g. if your thesis statement was wrong/unprovable, let us know at the beginning and tell us with what you have replaced it.  Do not inform us of small/English mistakes.
Students who still have not chosen a date for their oral presentation should email their choice of date to the teacher (hilda.eusebio@edu.ulisboa.pt) as soon as possible - or a date will be assigned to them.

The teacher then went on to model the oral presentation for the model essay.  A copy of this PowerPoint has been uploaded onto the shared drive.


FAWLTY TOWERS 2

27 Abril 2026, 17:00 • Gaile Parkin

Discussion of how character drives plot.

Note-taking during a short video about the “hidden formula” of sitcom episodes. Feedback to check notes.

Pairwork: matching the Fawlty Towers episode “Basil the Rat” to the stages of the formula. Feedback.

Homework: Watch the pilot episode and any other episodes of Friends.

The UK class system

27 Abril 2026, 11:00 • John Richard Walker

The traditional 3-level class system versus the new 7-level "Great British Class Survey".

Active discussion with the calculator.

On regrets (continued)

23 Abril 2026, 14:00 • Irene Bulla

Today we completed the worksheet on regrets (Week 10 subfolder on Google Drive) and practiced past modals and the past perfect.