Process/passive

How to change a tyre

Getting a flat tyre is inconvenient, whether it happens in town or in a remote location. It’s important to know how to change a tyre, especially if there is no garage nearby to help out.

This is what must be done. First, the wheelnuts must be loosened. This should be done before the car is raised, using the jack. Next, the car is jacked up. Then the nuts are removed. After that the wheel is removed and the spare tyre is put on. Then the nuts are tightened and the car is lowered. The nuts are tightened one last time for safety. Finally the tools are tidied away. You are now ready to drive on.

As you can see, changing a tyre is a very simple and straightforward process, but you must follow the above steps in the correct order, particularly the first step of loosening the wheelnuts before you raise the vehicle.

158 words.

A long weekend break

Last weekend was a long one to celebrate the UAE National Day. My wife and I decided to drive from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and stay there for a four-night mini-break.

We left Abu Dhabi on Wednesday afternoon and drove to Dubai. The journey took about one and a quarter hours. We checked into the Holiday Inn Express which is near to Safa Park. This is an attractive and popular recreation area, and quite crowded at weekends. On Wednesday evening we walked to the Metropolitan Hotel and enjoyed a Thai seafood meal. On Thursday morning we jogged in Safa Park and in the afternoon drove out to watch the first day’s play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens. On Thursday evening we took our first ride on the new Dubai Metro, from Business Bay to Union Square. On Friday and Saturday we exercised in the park in the morning and in the afternoon went to watch the international teams competing in the Sevens. The final international match was Saturday evening and it was very exciting for us because England narrowly defeated Samoa to win the tournament for the third time.

On Sunday we celebrated by having lunch on the Boardwalk at the Dubai Sailing Club, overlooking the Creek. We then drove back to Abu Dhabi. As usual it had been a most enjoyable break.

220 words.

Process: orange juice

Orange juice is a very healthy drink, full of vitamin C. The process of producing orange juice for sale in supermarkets is quite long and complicated. Here is how it is done.

First, the fruit is unloaded from lorries. Then the oranges are graded, washed and sized. After that, the juice is extracted and the residual material is sent for use as animal feed. The next step is very important. The juice is evaporated at a high temperature over a short time, producing concentrate. The concentrate is then stored in refrigerated units. Then the juice is canned and shipped overseas to its destination. In the country where it will be sold, water is added to the concentrate. Finally, the orange juice is bottled and sent to supermarkets, where it is sold to the consumer.

As you can see, producing orange juice for sale in shops is a long and complicated process but the final product is worth it.

160 words.

Present passive

Future passive

Synonyms 1

Synonyms

1. couple = pair

2. abducting = kidnapping

3. series = sequence

4. emotions = feelings

5. expressed = showed

6. bundled = pushed

7. kept = held

8. abused = mistreated

9. prison = jail/gaol

10. released = set free

Compare & Contrast: the UAE & Brunei

The UAE & Brunei

In this essay I am going to compare and contrast two countries, Brunei and the UAE.

Firstly, let us examine the similarities. Both are Islamic countries and both have hereditary monarchies. In addition, both countries are very rich because of large-scale natural resources of oil and gas. Furthermore, both countries have national airlines, modern airports and well-developed infrastructures.

There are, however, a number of differences. First and most obvious is geographical location. The UAE is in the Middle East whereas Brunei is a tropical country in the Far East. Another difference is climate. The UAE has winter and summer, but in Brunei the weather is largely the same all year round. It also rains a lot more in Brunei and, as a result, the tradition is to build houses on stilts. Another difference is the currency, dirhams in the UAE and ringgits in Brunei. Furthermore, people drive on the right in the UAE but on the left in Brunei. Secondary education is single-sex in the UAE but co-educational in Brunei. A final difference is dress; people in Brunei do not wear dishdashas or ubayas.

I've worked happily in both countries and both are safe, pleasant places to work and raise families in. Brunei was more exciting in that it was my first overseas post but here in the UAE right now I'm very comfortable, both professionally and socially.

228 words

Reflection 2

We use a 4-paragraph format for Compare & Contrast, viz

1) Introduction: state which 2 things you are going to compare and contrast.

2) Compare the similarities: at least 3 or 4.

3) Contrast the differences: again at least 3 or 4.

4) Say whether the differences outweigh the similarities, or vice versa.

State which you prefer, or look at the merits/demerits of both. For example, with small
town/village v big city, say what you like about each. You can be positive about both.

It's important to express your own ideas/opinions if you want to get above the
minimum pass grade.

Group v Individual Work

Working with a group and working on your own

Here in ADMC we often work individually but at other times we have to work in groups. There are similarities and differences between the two modes of work.

The first similarity is that we have a task assigned by the teacher and, obviously, we have to complete it. Secondly, the assignment will have a time limit or deadline. In addition, the task will be assessed and marked by the teacher. Finally, of course, this mark will be entered into the gradebook and will contribute a fixed percentage to our ultimate mark.

There are, however, several important differences. When you work on your own you can work at your own pace but in a group you have to consult others in order to share tasks, meet deadlines and reach an outcome. Consulting others and sharing tasks means, therefore, that you are working as part of a team, rather than as an individual. As a team member, there has to be a degree of consultation, of give and take. Also, a team works better if each member has a specific task: spokesman, secretary, and so on.

For myself, I’m happy to work individually but working as a team has both social and academic benefits and is good practice for the workplace, where we will often have to work and cooperate with colleagues in order to achieve success.

225 words

Cheesemaking

How to make cheese

Making cheese is quite a long and technical procedure but it is very satisfying and worthwhile. Here are the steps you need to follow.

First, collect all the ingredients you need: milk, vinegar and salt. Then add four teaspoons of vinegar while you are boiling the milk. Don’t forget to stir well with a wooden spoon. After that, remove any moisture with a cheesecloth and then separate the whey from the cheese. Next leave the mixture to cool down. Then, for flavour, add salt to the cheese, remove any remaining moisture and place the cheese into a mould. Finally, wrap the cheese in a cloth and refrigerate before eating.

As you can see, making your own cheese is quite a long procedure but if you follow the above steps you should end up with a tasty and nutritious product. Bon appétit.

145 words

Big city/small town: compare & contrast

Compare and contrast living in a village with living in a city

In England, I live in a small town, while here in Abu Dhabi I live in a large, modern city. So I’m well qualified to compare and contrast village and city life.

There are certain similarities between the two lifestyles. Firstly, in both villages and towns you find domestic residences. Roads, schools, hospitals, shops, garages, and so on, are also common to both village and city.

The main difference between village and city is, of course, in terms of size and number. In a small village, there might be only one shop, one school, one garage, one hospital or clinic. In a large city, there are many of each. In addition a village shop will likely be small, whereas in a city like Abu Dhabi we have many large-scale shopping malls, in addition to supermarkets and smaller shops. Similarly, in a large city there will be more, and bigger, schools, hospitals and garages.

Personally, I love living in a small, quiet rural town when I’m in England. I savour walking in the countryside and along the coast. I relish the clean environment. I like using the local fishmonger, baker and other town tradespeople. On the other hand, I enjoy the wider range of shops, restaurants and sporting facilities here in Abu Dhabi. The increased noise and pollution is the price I pay for this.

223 words.

UAE past & present

Compare and contrast the UAE 40 years ago with the UAE today

The UAE has changed dramatically over the past forty years. Some things, however, have not changed.

There are certain similarities between the UAE forty years ago and today. First, the official language is still Arabic, although English is widely spoken. Secondly, the religion and culture is still Islamic and the sound of the mosque is still heard around the city. Traditional dress continues to be worn by both male and female Emiratis. Customs such as falconry and camel racing are still popular. The same ruling family fills the position of head of state, or president, of the UAE.

There are, however, many significant differences from forty years ago. Firstly, the population has increased, both Emirati and expatriate. In addition, the economy has been transformed by the development of the oil industry. The resulting wealth has funded a transformation of the infrastructure: more roads, high-rise buildings, harbours, bridges, schools and hospitals. The topography of the UAE has changed completely. Look at any old photograph of Abu Dhabi or Dubai forty years ago and the differences with today are striking.

In conclusion, the differences outweigh the similarities. The UAE has, in brief, modernised more quickly in forty years than perhaps any other country in the world.

205 words

Reflection 1

In writing procedure essays the 2 essential things to remember are:

1) use the imperative form, i.e. do this, do that, don't do this, etc. Sometimes we were given flow charts with the -ing form and we had to remember to change this.

2) use linking words, e.g. first, secondly, then, next, after that, finally.

We always divided these essays into 3 paragraphs: introduction (c. 20-30 words), main paragraph (c. 90-100 words) and conclusion (c. 20-30 words); total: 150-160 words.

We did several practice procedures before the first writing assignment and first progress test.

Butter

How to make butter

Making butter is a long procedure and you need to follow a lot of steps very carefully. If you carry out the following procedure you should produce high-quality butter.

Firstly, check the fresh milk for quality and fat content. After that, leave the milk to cool. Then separate and churn the cream. Next drain the buttermilk from the butter and place the butter in a jar. After that, wash the butter with cold water in order to remove the remaining sour milk. Then add a small amount of salt to add flavour to the butter. After that, cut and wrap the butter. Finally, store the butter in a fridge to keep it fresh and prevent it from melting.

As you can see from the above, making butter is quite a complicated and lengthy procedure. You need to follow all the steps mentioned very diligently but, if you do so, you should produce high-quality butter.

152 words.

Booking a holiday

How to book a holiday

Going on holiday can, surprisingly, be quite stressful, so it’s important to get everything right when you book.

First of all, choose a date of departure and return. Then select a destination and a place to stay. If you are going abroad, make sure you book flights which are convenient. Nowadays you can book flights and hotels online. When you have done this, make sure your passport is in order. Check to see if you need visas or other documents. After that, get information about the climate, so that you can choose suitable clothing for your trip. Also don't forget to take some local currency with you and that you know how to get extra money while you are away. Finally, it’s a good idea to read about the culture and traditions of whichever country you are visiting; if necessary, make a list of dos and don’ts.

Remembering everything is not easy but if you follow these basic steps you have done as much as you can to arrange a super holiday.

170 words

ATM

How to use an ATM

Using an ATM is a very simple procedure but you must follow these steps carefully for security reasons. Let me explain the procedure step by step.

First, go to the bank and select an ATM. Secondly, take your bank card from your wallet and put it into the machine as directed. Then enter your PIN, making sure that nobody sees it, as there is a growing amount of card fraud these days. After that, choose the service you require: deposit cash, withdraw cash, view balance, or whatever. If you are withdrawing cash make sure you retrieve your bankcard quickly as you only have a limited time to do so before the machine takes back your cash. Finally, take your receipt from the ATM.

As you can see, using an ATM is not a difficult procedure. However, you must follow the above steps carefully and take care. Always make sure you follow the correct procedure for security reasons.

157 words.