What's in my future?

I've got a shop, so I work as a shopkeeper. It's hard work but it's good. I might open another one next month. But I want to work as an engineer for a government company. It will be interesting there. I won't be married before that. Now I'm studying an English course. I'll be able to speak fluently with Mrs. Khadija. God willing.

Khaled Alhemaly

Pre-intermediate

In the future....

• I'll stay at home all day.
• we'll have robots in our homes.
• we might be able to fly without pilots.
• I won't stay at home all day only.
• I'll be able to do a computer degree.

Mohamed Tantoush

Pre-intermediate

My dreams for the future

I won't want to have lots of children because life is becoming more and more difficult everyday. I know it's out of my reach, but that's my opinion at the moment. I'll do Umra and Hajj, God willing, if I have enough money. But the first thing I might do is build a beautiful house with a nice garden. These are not all of my dreams.

Abdulbasset Tantoush

Pre-intermediate

A busy Friday!

We went to the mountains for a picnic last Friday.
Unfortunately, it was raining.
Fortunately, we had a tent.
Unfortunately, it wasn't big enough for us.
Fortunately, the weather became nice.
Unfortunately, we couldn't play because we forgot the football.
Fortunately, We played racquetball together.
Unfortunately, one of us broke his leg.
Fortunately, we had a car and carried him to the hospital.
Unfortunately, we didn't find a doctor there.
Fortunately, there was a perfect nurse who helped him.
Unfortunately, we came back home early and didn't enjoy ourselves.
Fortunately, we found a good program on TV.
Unfortunately, we heard some bad news.
Fortunately, some other friends invited us to go to a nightclub.
Unfortunately, we met some bad guys in front of the club.
Fortunately, there were policemen around there.
Unfortunately, the police tried to catch them but couldn't.
Fortunately, we got into the club without any problems happening.
Unfortunately, there wasn't nice music and we didn't enjoy it.
Fortunately, the food was delicious and we had a nice dinner!

Luay, Saad, Rania, Aiman & Fatih
Pre-intermediate

A present

I wanted to buy my teacher a present for her birthday.
Unfortunately, the shop was closed.
Fortunately, there was another shop.
Unfortunately, I didn't find a nice present.
Fortunately, I had a nice present.
Unfortunately, it was old.
Fortunately, I went to another shop.
Unfortunately, all the shops were closed.
Fortunately, I made her a present.
Unfortunately, my niece broke it.
Fortunately, I made another one.
Unfortunately, I didn't have all the things to make it.
Fortunately, my friend had another extra present.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a car.
Fortunately, my friend picked me up.
Unfortunately, the car broke down.
Fortunately, I stopped a taxi.
Unfortunately, I didn't have enough money.
Fortunately, I found some friends in the street.
Unfortunately, we didn't find the house.
Fortunately, I called her.
Unfortunately, she didn't answer me.
Fortunately, I found her husband in the street.
Unfortunately, I didn't talk to him.
Fortunately, I found her address in my pocket.
Unfortunately, the wind blew it away.
Fortunately, I found myself in front of her house.

And I gave her the present!

Elham, Sara, Enas & Mohammed
Pre-Intermediate

Abdeldeem's Dream Car

If I had a Hummer car I'd want to travel all the world. The first country I'd visit would be India. Then I'd want to see China and visit old historical places. I'd visit Thailand and go to the Himalaya Mountains. Then I'd go to Africa because Africa has many kinds of animals and I'd like to catch them because it's fun.

I'll go to the pyramids to see how they were built and I'll go to France to see the Eiffel Tower. I'll go to Italy to visit the beach and stay there for three days. Then I want to go to Germany and to travel to America. I will visit the deserts of America and Mexico.

Abdeldeem
B3 - Pre-intermediate

Dream Cars

In my dreams there are a lot of cars because I like cars very much, so I can't choose only one car to write about but I'll write about two cars that I want.

The first is a Ferrari Enzo. It costs about one million dollars. It's a sport car and it's my favourite car, it's very expensive. The second car is the latest model of Mercedes Benz S600. It's a luxury car.

In fact I can't buy these cars because they are very expensive. Now my real dream is only a new car. A new car today costs not less than 12,000 Libyan dinars. When I get a new car I would like to visit most cities in Libya, my country, to see the mountains, lakes, deserts and forests.

Adel Ali
B3 - Pre-intermediate

An Italian Dream Holiday

I would like to take a vacation next summer. I will go to Italy with my friends and I'll stay for seven days.

Italy is an old country. The weather in Italy is very wet and hot but I like it. I like Italy because it has a lovely sea and swimming pools, I'd like to swim there. Italy has good food too. I'd like to eat pizza and eat in restaurants in Italy and I'd like to walk in the old cities. I would like to see many things about Roman history and I'd like to sit in front of the seaside and drink coffee and smoke.Italy has many forests, mountains and lakes. There are many stores and shops. I'd like to go shopping and buy new clothes to wear. I'll stay in a hotel when I'm in Italy.

Abdelroof
B3 - Pre-intermediate

My Last Holiday

My last holiday was very exciting. The first thing I would like to write about is the day in the airfield. It was very enjoyable because I love to travel by airplane. I feel I'm like a bird, I can go from one locale to another one and I see my family.

I arrived in Jordan at about 12 am then I went to my apartment but I didn't take any rest. I took a shower, then changed my clothes, after that I went to a restaurant to eat the best meal ever - shawarma. Then I went to the mall and went shopping. That night I went to a party and I came home about 3:30 in the morning. I stayed in Jordan for about seven days then we went by car to Syria.

I arrived in Damascus at 2:30 in the afternoon and stayed there for two days. After that I took a bus to the country. It's very nice, it's name is Jablh in the north of Syria.

I stayed in Jablh for two weeks, then I took a small bus to Turkey were I stayed for four days. After that I came back to Syria. Syria is very nice and all travel is very nice because in the morning I went to the old market, in the evening I went swimming att he beach and at night I went to the Casino. After four weeks I came back to Libya.

Esraa Mohammed
B3 - Pre-intermediate

My Dream Car

I'd like a sports car that's very fast with big tires and two doors. About the engine, I'd like it to be a very strong engine with turbo power. It will have headlights and I want it like a convertible. For music I'd like a CD player with cassette and big speakers. In the back I want small, long taillights and I'd like a blue or dark blue car (I want a Ford Mustang GTi).

I would go in my Mustang to my farm to visit my grandmother and I'd like to drive to Egypt, Tunisia, Ghadames and Sebha. I'd like to go with my friends to the beach too.

This is not the end, it's just the beginning!

Hassan
B3 - Pre-intermediate

Writing letters

The pre-intermediate /PET preparation students were assigned the task of writing a letter to an editor of a newspaper saying why they wanted to win a competition for a weekend trip to the UK. Here is what some of the students wrote:

Dear Editor,

I would like to enter this competition.

I've been learning English for about seven years because I like learning this language. It helps a lot in life, for example; in work and in communicating with people.

I have visited a lot of countries like England, France, Germany and Italy, and if I win I will take my sister with me.

I want to win the weekend because I want to have fun and I'd like to stay at the hotel because they have got a nice breakfast and dinner and I can visit the famous northern market adn shop bargains.

At last, thank you for giving us a chance to practice our language.

Yours sincerely,
Esra Elsarraj

Dear Editor of the Times Magazine,

I have been learning English for five years, first of all my parents want me to learn English; thinking about my future they wanted me to have a third language. I can speak Arabic and Portuguese. English is an international language and beginning to study younger would help me to be more fluent.

I've visited some countries like Brazil, Italy, Tunisia and Spain with my family but if I win this weekend I'll take my dad with me.

I really want to win this weekend because I want to practise English in it's mother land.

Eman

Dear Editor,

I have been learning English for over six months and my language is better than before.

I am learning English to get a better job and improve my language, your organising a competition is helping me to learn English in a specific way, especially if I win I would like to visit other countries especially in Europe and take a friend with me for fun.

I hope to win the competition to visit Liverpool and make conversation with people who speak English very well.

Your faithfully,

Isam Ben Shaban

Dear Ahmad,

I live in a dormitory in Al-Fatha University. For five years I have lived there. I live in my room alone but I have many friends who live near me. Everyday I meet them and we talk about different subjects, drink coffee or tea and make dinner. I enjoy my time with them because they are good friends.

Every weekend I go to visit my family in Zliten. My father and my mother do the same job. They are both teachers.

I graduated about three months ago. I'm looking for a job now. I want to work in an oil company. (I wish that).

At the moment I'm learning English language because I need it to get a good job.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Write soon,

Hassam Ben Halim
Pre-intermediate

Dear Luke,

Hello my name is Jasmin. I'm 15 and I live in Tripoli, Libya. I'm currently on my summer holiday from school.

Just recently I had my results and I passed so hopefully next year will be my new school year.

I live in north Africa, in Tripoli, Libya with my family. I've got three brothers, two are older than me and one is younger.

I'm a student at secondary school. I love biology and physics. What do you like? Well, I hope it's the same subjects.

My hobbies are watching TV, doing art stuff and listening to music. I like listening to Oasis and Avril Lavigne. The reason why I listen to them is because they play the guitar which I hope I will play someday - if my mom gets me one.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? What are your favourite subjects? Who do you live with? Would you like to visit Libya?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Jasmin Ahtash
Pre-intermediate

Dear Yusef,

I am very happy that we're going to be pen friends.

I'll tell you about myself and you can do the same when you write to me.

I live in an area of Tripoli called Jama Al Saga. I live with my parents and my two sisters. They are younger than me and their names are Nessreen and Maram. My father is an engineer, he works in an Electric Company and my mother is a housewife.

I'm a student in high school in the fourth year. I like sorts like Taekwon do. In the morning I go to the club where I can learn the arts of this sport. Sometimes I visit my friends.

I'm looking forward to hearing about you.

Best wishes,

Anas
Pre-intermediate

Dear Enas,

I'm very happy that we're going to be friends. I'll tell you a little about me and I hope you'll write back and tell me something about yourself too.

I live in an area in Tripoli called Ain Zara. It's far away from the centre and there are so many farms in the area.

I live with my paernets and my three younger sisters and one brother. My father is a translator and my mother has a part-time job as a dentist.

I am studying at Takadum School and I have a lot of friends. I like most subjects but not all. I'm playing sport now; volleyball and swimming. I play music.

I miss you very much and I hope to recieve your letter soon.

Best wishes,

Iman Ibrahim
Pre-intermediate

Dear Hedaya,

How are you? I'm glad that I'm writing to you and I hope we can improve our friendship. In this letter I'll tell you a little about myself.

I live in Tripoli with my family. My parents are both doctors and my eldest sister is also a doctor.

I'm a student in the secondary school.

I like listeing to music and doing excercises and going shopping. I'm interested in books and fashion. Now I'm joining English classes.

Please try to write to me as soon as possible.

Lots of love,

Essra ElSarraj
Pre-intermediate

Dear Ali,

I am very happy that we are still friends. I will tell you a little about myself and you can do the same when you write to me.

I still live at the same place in Benashur Street with my parents, two sisters and two brothers. My older brother Azzam has been married for one year.

These days I have lessons in English at Yethreb School. I go there three times a week, I am really interested in it. My teacher is an English woman, she has been living in Libya for 35 years. She helps me and other students to learn English. My friend, you know how important English language is?

I am working as a receptionist at a private clinic. I earn ... from my job. I spend the money that I earn on basic things.

Write to me soon,

Anas Ben Barka
Pre-intermediate

How is the city different from the country?

Well, I think the city is very different from the country. The city is very big, modern, wonderful and there are a lot of people in the city.

The country has farms, animals and factories etc.

The city is more expensive than the country, and the life of the city is very exciting and interesting.

Anyway I love both, the city and the country. But I love the city very much! Especially Pyongyang, a Korean city.

So Un Ha
B3

My School

My school's location is in Benashur zone near the Al-Mukhtar clinic. It's a very large building, two floors, each floor has many classes. The number of students in each classes is between 12 and 15 students.

There are several English teachers in my school. Mrs. Alea, Mrs. Asma, and Mrs. Cynthia are from the UK, Mrs. Khadija is from the USA, Mrs. Carolina is from Argentina and Mr. Salah's from Libya. Besides them there is an important person who takes care of the students and the system of the school. Yes, it's Thureya the secretary. I call her 'The dynamo of the school'.

I want to talk about my teacher Mrs. Alea. I won't say she's beautiful and funny and she has blue eyes - like Elton John's song 'Blue Eyes' - because she knows that and she knows I love her, but what I really like in Mrs. Alea is that she's very clever and has a strong personality.

In my school there are multinational students from Libya, India, the Ukraine, Korea, Egypt, Sudan, etc.. And I like that because I can make friends from other countries and cultures. I can see their countries through them. I can improve my English language by dealing with them and this is making my communication skills better.

The courses in my school are useful for any levels and these courses can improve your English language. You can get a certificate from the University of Cambridge by doing some exams through my school.

I hope you like my school. Come to visit my school and you will see that by your self.

Sara
B3

English is my favourite class

My favourite class is English language and I take English classes three times a week at seven o'clock to nine o'clock on Sunday and Wednesday. Mrs Alea from the United Kingdom teaches us on these days and Mrs. Khadija from the United States teaches us on Monday from five o'clock to 6:30. I'm studying with a small group and the students are intelligent.

I like the English course very much because I'm learning more new vocabulary every day, grammar, how to pronounce words, we practice together and the teacher uses modern methods for teaching, such as for example, we answer a lot of exercises on the computer in the computer lab, we listen to CDs, tapes and we also use the Internet to see some of our homework on our schools weblog. All this makes my mind refreshed. As you know for any language - "If you don't use it you will lose it."

Finally I hope to learn English and speak English fluently.

Elmahdi Mohamed
B3