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Godot Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Help with a Question on the CELTA Pre-Interview Task
Hi all,
I'm new to this site, but it looks like it could be a lot of fun!
Anyway, I sent off my application for the CELTA program a few days ago, and they sent me an e-mail back asking me to think a little harder about one of my answers. The question asked me to explain the difference between "If I had the money, I'd buy a new car" and "If I have the money, I'll buy a new car." I was also supposed to come up with a way to teach these concepts to students, using the examples given.
Previously, I'd said something like, "The first sentence showed an imaginary situation, whereas the second was a conditional and a little more likely to happen. I'd teach the differences by explaining the difference between imaginary and conditional with things like, "If I met an alien, I'd scream" and "If I see my best friend, I'll say hello.""
I struggled with this one a little more than the others, and I know I messed up on the application by just giving new examples instead of clarifying the ones about the car. I don't want to screw up my chances of getting into the program, so could you tell me if this new explanation sounds better? If you have any other pointers or suggestions, I'd love to hear them too.
"The first sentence shows a situation that is totally imaginary. The second sentence shows a situation that is more based in reality. I would use two different methods of obtaining the money to buy the new car in order to show the likelihood of each event. The first sentence relies on a very far-fetched method of getting the money (something like winning the lottery), whereas the second sentence is talking more as if the speaker is actively saving money to buy a new car right now. I would then do an activity of asking what students would do if they won the lottery and what they are saving for right now."
I'm still not feeling great about my answer, but I've been racking my brain forever trying to think about how to explain it better...
Thanks so much in advance,
Laura
I'm new to this site, but it looks like it could be a lot of fun!
Anyway, I sent off my application for the CELTA program a few days ago, and they sent me an e-mail back asking me to think a little harder about one of my answers. The question asked me to explain the difference between "If I had the money, I'd buy a new car" and "If I have the money, I'll buy a new car." I was also supposed to come up with a way to teach these concepts to students, using the examples given.
Previously, I'd said something like, "The first sentence showed an imaginary situation, whereas the second was a conditional and a little more likely to happen. I'd teach the differences by explaining the difference between imaginary and conditional with things like, "If I met an alien, I'd scream" and "If I see my best friend, I'll say hello.""
I struggled with this one a little more than the others, and I know I messed up on the application by just giving new examples instead of clarifying the ones about the car. I don't want to screw up my chances of getting into the program, so could you tell me if this new explanation sounds better? If you have any other pointers or suggestions, I'd love to hear them too.
"The first sentence shows a situation that is totally imaginary. The second sentence shows a situation that is more based in reality. I would use two different methods of obtaining the money to buy the new car in order to show the likelihood of each event. The first sentence relies on a very far-fetched method of getting the money (something like winning the lottery), whereas the second sentence is talking more as if the speaker is actively saving money to buy a new car right now. I would then do an activity of asking what students would do if they won the lottery and what they are saving for right now."
I'm still not feeling great about my answer, but I've been racking my brain forever trying to think about how to explain it better...
Thanks so much in advance,
Laura
Top answer
Hi, I'm assuming your need for an answer is long gone. Did you end up getting into the course? I think the reason they asked you to think a little harder is because of the emphasis you put on imaginary/reality.
- Hi, I'm assuming your need for an answer is long gone.
- Did you end up getting into the course?
- I think the reason they asked you to think a little harder is because of the emphasis you put on imaginary/reality.
- It has nothing to be with imagination, it has to do with tense.
- Talking about a conditional topic in the past, also talking about the future in the past.
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2 Answers
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Hi, I'm assuming your need for an answer is long gone. Did you end up getting into the course?
I think the reason they asked you to think a little harder is because of the emphasis you put on imaginary/reality. It has nothing to be with imagination, it has to do with tense. Talking about a conditional topic in the past, also talking about the future in the past.
I don't know if
I think the reason they asked you to think a little harder is because of the emphasis you put on imaginary/reality. It has nothing to be with imagination, it has to do with tense. Talking about a conditional topic in the past, also talking about the future in the past.
I don't know if
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Thanks for your reply, but I did end up getting into the course. The interview wasn't nearly as nerve-wracking as I was thinking it would be. Now, I'm just biting my nails as I do all the pre-course tasks and readings before July!
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
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