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8/6/2019 Text at Ions

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Textations

160 exercises

for the art of txtngincluding mini txt speak dictionary

Chris Buckingham


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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial ShareAlike (3.0 Unported) license. Users are thus permitted without any further permissionfrom the copyright owner. Permissions beyond the scope of this license areadministered by Buckingham English.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed astrademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names,service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Thepublisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

Published by:Buckingham English, Unit 27 City Business Centre, Winchester, SO23 7TA, UK.Telephone +44 (0) 1962 620 389Email: [email protected]: www.buckinghamenglish.com

DISCLAIMER: Whilst the information herein is supplied in good faith, no responsibility istaken by either the publisher or the author for any damage, injury or loss, howevercaused, which may arise from the use of the information provided.

Font 12 ArialPrinted and bound on demand by lulu.comCover art work by Chris Buckingham


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Contents Notes

Introduction 1

Methodology 2

1 Lateness 3

2 Excuses 6

3 Apologies 9

4 Details 12

5 Names 15

6 Emotions 18

7 Abilities 21

8 Rescheduling 24

9 Forwarding 27

10 Offering 30

11 Greetings 33

12 Descriptions 36

13 Disappointing 39

14 Disagree 42

15 Agree 45

16 Relationships 48

SMS Template 51

Dictionary 52


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Introduction

Textations is a fun filler, warmer or ice breaker. It can and has been used equally wellwith adults and teenagers.

It can be used as a management, team building or ELT (English Language Teaching)resource.

The idea behind this book is that learners (Ls) learn how to produce more accurate &fluent text messages.

The situations on the following pages are designed as prompts for teachers or trainers(Ts), or indeed Ls, to dictate to an individual or class.

Ls then have to produce a message on their mobile device as quickly as possible.

This could be done as a competition with rewards going to those that are the fastest, themost accurate grammatically, the most appropriate, the funniest, the one with the mosttxt speak etc. The options are almost endless.

The options for writing a response though are not so endless, most phones allow 160characters per message (hence there being 160 exercises here).

You could get the Ls to use a real mobile device or if such resources are scarce theycould write their 'response' on paper. A template for this has been supplied on page 51.

It's possible you may wish to limit the number of characters Ls are expected to write,which could also make the exercise more difficult.

If resources are available and the Ls are prepared to send their messages for real,great, but be aware their network may charge them.

Alternatively Ls can write their message on paper, on a computer screen or how aboutphotocopying their mobile device screens? Obviously this means they are not txting, butit does mean Ls are still engaged with creating a message.

A little imagination can go a long way!

In part for this reason we have included a Continuous Professional Development sheetat the end of each unit for reflection and to help keep best practice at the forefront ofyour teaching.

Textations is a little fun with a serious objective of aiding Ls to be both quicker & moreaccurate when messaging. :)


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Methodology

Learners (Ls) can either dictate the situation to each other (Ls 2 Ls) or it can be doneteacher (Ts) to Ls.

Ls can correct each other's messages.

Ts can drill Ls with traditional drills or backward chaining.

Ls could role play or mime their message to their group/Ts who then has to guess thecontent or subject area of the message.

Ls could write their messages on paper, place these face down in a pile on the table.Then Ls take one (not their own!) & try to guess who wrote it.

Ls could re-write the message in full or re-write the message on 2 pages instead of 1.

Ls could write the message as a formal letter.

Ls could keep a record of their written messages for reflection and revision later.

Ts could physically photocopy the mobile device screens for later class work or forrecording their progress over time.

Group discussion about the future of the mobile device (see Nokias Morph presentationon bbc.co.uk).

A mini txt speak dictionary has been provided with lots of space for you to add anysuggestions of your own.

If you have any great ideas forTextations please email them to us:[email protected]

So we can share best practice with others.

You will be given credit for any ideas we use in future editions.


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Category 1 - Lateness.

Instruction: Text to say....

1.1you will be 50 minutes late.

1.2your colleague will be 40 minutes late.

1.3the group will be 30 minutes late.

1.4to your boss that she is late for a meeting.

1.5to your boss that she is going to be late for a meeting.


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Category 1 - Lateness.


1.6to your boss that she is late for a meeting & they can't wait any longer.

1.7to a friend you are going to be late.

1.8to the local guide at the museum to wait for your group to arrive.

1.9hold a place in the entrance queue.

1.10you need to know if you're too late.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?

What could be improved?

Why?

What action is essential next time?

Why?


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Category 2 - Excuses.


2.1you're sorry, but you're not going to make it.

2.2you can't deliver an order on time.

2.3you have to break the promise of signing a contract today.

2.4you are to going to work with someone after all.

2.5you will be able to make it next week.


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Category 2 - Excuses.


2.6you have lost your diary.

2.7you have had your bag stolen.

2.8you can't remember what time you were supposed to be there.

2.9you're stuck in traffic.

2.10the plane is delayed by 45 minutes.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 3 - Apologies.


3.1this situation will not happen again.

3.2you're very sorry for the delay.

3.3you're sorry.

3.4you have shredded the documents.

3.5you have lost the bag with the documents in.


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Category 3 - Apologies.


3.6sorry, but the situation wasn't your fault.

3.7sorry to Brenda.

3.8the number was wrong, it should have been 0044 2199 9889 6364,

apologise for any inconvenience.

3.9sorry for sending the wrong email.

3.10sorry to Faye, Amy & Chloe.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 4 - Details.

Instruction: Text to....

4.1get the correct number.

4.2get the correct fax number.

4.3get the correct mobile number.

4.4get the flight number.

4.5get the figures of the last quarter.


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Category 4 - Details.


4.6to ask the full names of the group.

4.7get confirmation of the dates.

4.8get the prices confirmed.

4.9ask for more details.

4.10ask for clarification were the references bbe 0098 & bbb 0089 & bbt080908?


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 5 - Names.


5.1get the correct spelling of the board members.

5.2check that Joshus Rammadie is spelt correctly.

5.3check whether Russell is spelt with two ls?

5.4spell Russell Henry Williamson correctly.(Ts don't do this for learners).

5.5ask for the correct name of the hotel.


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Category 5 - Names.


5.6check the names of the reservations are correct.

5.7ask how to spell Harriet?

5.8ask how to spell Constantinople?

5.9see if the names have been altered correctly.

5.10find out if Mr Rose will be accompanied by Mrs Rose?


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 6 - Emotions.

Instruction: Text to express....

6.1surprise.

6.2anger.

6.3happiness.

6.4fear.

6.5you're very upset.


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Category 6 - Emotions.

Instruction: Text to express....

6.6you're very insulted.

6.7you're delighted.

6.8you're disappointed.

6.9you're sad.

6.10you're shocked.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 7 - Abilities.


7.1explain that you cannot pilot a plane.

7.2say you cannot swim.

7.3say yes, you will be driving.

7.4say yes, you will be driven.

7.5say no, you can't eat spinach.


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Category 7 - Abilities.


7.6say you know how to solve the problem.

7.7say you are willing to learn.

7.8say you haven't done it before, but are willing to try.

7.9you will be able to make it on that date.

7.10you will not be able to make it on that date.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 8 - Reschedule.


8.1you aren't able to make it today, could it be next Thursday instead?

8.2you need to reschedule.

8.3when would be best for you?

8.4the weekends are not possible.

8.5you will probably have to reschedule for next week.


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Category 8 - Reschedule.


8.6this month is full, what about next month instead?

8.7you have double booked.

8.8that you have gone to the wrong country, reschedule.

8.9you will need to reschedule for next week if possible.

8.10it's out of the question, today is impossible.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 9 - Forwarding.


9.1you are passing on this message.

9.2you have received this message by mistake.

9.3you need your boss to forward the last message from the suppliers.

9.4you are trying to forward the attachment via email.

9.5you will forward the details as soon as you have them.


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Category 9 - Forwarding.


9.6you want the details forwarded to you today.

9.7it will be too late to forward the message this afternoon.

9.8you can't forward that message as it contains sensitive information.

9.9you think your boss should be responsible for forwarding this information.

9.10you need to check before you can forward this message.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 10 - Offering.


10.1you could offer to do it.

10.2you can't offer to do it today, but would be willing to do it tomorrow.

10.3you offer to do it because you have the money.

10.4you offer to lend the money.

10.5you will offer your boss a lift.


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Category 10 - Offering.


10.6you can't offer your boss a lift.

10.7you offer to prepare the figures.

10.8you won't have the time today, but would be willing to do it any other time.

10.9you offer to help at the weekend.

10.10you offer to pick up a colleague from the airport.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 11 - Greeting.

Instruction: Text to greet....

11.1a colleague you've never met.

11.2a colleague you know very well.

11.3a colleague you have met once before.

11.4a colleague you email all the time.

11.5a colleague's assistant you have never met before.


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Category 11 - Greeting.

Instruction: Text to greet....

11.6an old friend.

11.7a new friend.

11.8a friend you've fallen out with.

11.9a person who you have texted once before.

11.10an old school acquaintance.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 12 - Descriptions.

Instruction: Text to describe....

12.1your office.

12.2your home.

12.3your car.

12.4your clothes today.

12.5your dream house.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 13 Disappointing.

Instruction: Text to disappoint....

13.1you can't make the party.

13.2you can't make the christening.

13.3you can't make the wedding.

13.4you can't make the dinner.

13.5you have to close the shop.


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Category 13 Disappointing.

Instruction: Text to disappoint....

13.6you have chosen a different person for the job.

13.7you have chosen a different supplier.

13.8you have chosen a different partner.

13.9you have decided to use a different product.

13.10you have decided to launch the product in a different area.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 14 Disagree.


14.1you think the figures are wrong.

14.2you mildly disagree.

14.3you strongly disagree.

14.4you currently don't agree.

14.5you don't agree at all with their proposal.


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Category 14 Disagree.


14.6you think the times are wrong.

14.7you disagree with the references.

14.8you disagree with the choice of names.

14.9you disagree with the sizes ordered.

14.10you disagree with the invoice total.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 15 Agree.


15.1you agree.

15.2you agree with Paul not Simon.

15.3you agree to the price.

15.4you agree to have it in writing.

15.5you agree to the dates.


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Category 15 Agree.


15.6you agree to the schedule.

15.7you agree to the methods.

15.8you agree with the boss.

15.9you agree to look into it.

15.10you agree something more should be done.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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Category 16 Relationships.


16.1you no longer want to see someone.

16.2you want to know what is happening with your partner.

16.3you want to know where your partner is.

16.4you think your partner is lying.

16.5you want a person to stop pestering you.


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Category 16 Relationships.


16.6you wondered if someone would be free to meet.

16.7you think someone deserves better than they have.

16.8you really, really like someone.

16.9you want to know if they like you.

16.10thanks for the most incredible evening.


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CPD sheet

What worked well?

Why?


Why?


Why?


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SMS Template (150 characters per template maximum).

New message:

Send Close


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Symbols

A

@}--\------,--- a rose

O:-) angel

:-ll angry

:-{ angry

:-z angry face

:-O appalled

>:-( annoyed


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B

~~\8-O bad hair day

:-* bitter

:-) happy

(((H))) big hug

:-ozz bored

:^) broken nose


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C

:-< cheated


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D

:-l determined


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E

:) embarrassed

>:) evil


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F

:-< frowning


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G

8:-) glasses on head


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H

:0 hungry


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I

%-} intoxicated


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K

:-x kiss

:-* kiss


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L

:-D laughing

:-9 licking lips

:-{} lip stick


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M


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N

:-x not saying a word

%-6 not very clever


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O

:- oh wow


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P

+ly positively

:-t pouting

-:-) punk


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R

:-)) really happy


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S

:-( sad

:-9 salivating

:-\ sceptical

:-( ) shocked

8-O shocked

: @ shouting

:-v shouting

:-(o) shouting

:O singing

l-l sleeping

:-)= smiling with beard

:-)8 smiling with bow tie

d:-) smiling with cap

&:-) smiling with curls

#:-) smiling with fur hat

8-) smiling with glasses

{:-) smiling with hair

(:-) smiling with helmet

Cl:-) smiling with top hat


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S continued

[:-) smiling with walkman

:-, smirk

:-Q smoking

:-? smoking a pipe

l-O snoring

B-) sunglasses

B:-) sunglasses on head

:0 surprised

:- surprised


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T

:-v talking

:-w talking with two tongues

:-& tongue tied

{:-) toupee

}:-( toupee blowing in the wind

;-) twinkle

;) twinkle without nose

:=) two noses


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U

=l:-)= uncle sam

:-\ undecided

:-c unhappy

@:-) using a turban


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V

:-{{ very angry

>:-( very angry

:-))) very happy

%) very tired

(:-( very unhappy


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W

:-1 whatever

:- whistling

:-{) with a moustache

'-) winking


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AbbreviationsA

a3 anytime, anywhere, anyplace

afaik as far as I know

afk away from keyboard

asap as soon as possible

asl age, sex, location

at always tomorrow

atb all the best

atk at the keyboard

atm at the moment

atw at the weekend


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B

b2b business to business

b2c business to customer/client

bak back at keyboard

bb bye bye

bbfn bye bye for now

bbl be back later

bbl be back later

bbs be back soon

bcnu be seeing you

bcoz because

bf boyfriend

bfn/b4n bye for now

bion believe it or not

bk big kiss

brb be right back

brt be right there

btw by the way


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C

cibl could it be love

cibm could it be magic

cid consider it done

cio check it out

cm call me

cu see you

cul8er see you later

cut see you tomorrow

cya see you


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D

dgt dont go there

dk dont know

dur do you remember


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E

evry1 everyone


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F

f2f face to face

f2t free to talk

faq frequently asked questions

fc fingers crossed

fwiw for what its worth

fya for your amusement

fyi for your information


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G

g9 genius

gal get a life

gf girlfriend

gfn gone for now

gg good game

gmta great minds think alike

gr8 great

grr angry


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I

ic I see

icq I seek you (also a chat program)

ilu I love you

imho in my honest / humble opinion

imo in my opinion

iou1 I owe you one

iow in other words

irl in real life


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K

kiss keep it simple, stupid

kit keep in touch


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L

l8r later

ldr long distance relationship

lmao laugh my arse off

lol laughing out loud / lots of love

ltns long time no see


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M

m8 mate

mte my thoughts exactly

mu miss you


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N

nc no comment

ne1 anyone

no1 no one / number one

nrn no reply necessary


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O

oic oh I see

ok ok

otoh on the other hand

otw outta this world


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P

pc private chat / politically correct

pita pain in the arse

pm private message / afternoon / evening

pls please

prt party

prw parents are watching


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Q

qpsa que pasa

qt cutie


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R

r are

rgds regards

rofl rolling on the floor laughing

roflol rolling on the floor laughing out loud

rotflmao rolling on the floor laughing my arse off

ruok are you ok


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S

sc stay cool

sk8 skate

sot short of time

sum1 someone

swak sealed with a kiss

swalk sealed with a loving kiss

sys see you soon


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T

t2yl talk to you later

ta thanks again

thx thank you

ttfn ta ta for now

txt text


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U

u2 you too

u4e yours forever

u you

uraqt you are a cutie


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V

vbg very big grin


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W

w8 wait

w4u waiting for you

wb welcome back

wknd weekend

wtf what the fuck

wtg way to go

wuf where are you from

wuwh wish you were here


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Y

y why

ybs youll be sorry


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- 1 -

Other great titles from


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- 2 -

Business English

This goes deep!Specially written for anyone interested in innovation and creativity,

My Breakdown really gets to grips with the core values of the learners organisation.

Written for teachers with little business experience,the learner can lead and the teacher can learn!

Simply brilliant.


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Business English

Brilliant for serious business students.

My Marketis an analytical toolthat sheds light on the both the position and the market

of the students organisation.

As with all Strategic Business English titles My Marketis written for complete novices.

The student becomes the teacher and the teacher becomes the student.


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Business English

A fantastic resource if you teach management at any level connected to IT.

My Web offers your learners the opportunity to examine web design and web content.

This can be looking at their own site or at their competitions!

As with all Strategic Business English titles My Web is written for complete novices.

The student becomes the teacher and the teacher becomes the student.


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General English

One of the coolest research-based titles on the market!

Inside you will meet 80 deceased people that were notable for something special.

From Alien abductee to Zulu historian.

Come and meet them and decide for yourself if they are Hero or Villain!


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General English

This is one of the best vocabulary builders on the market.

Silly Season has it all sex, religion and politics in short news story format.

Ideal as a filler or warm-up.


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General English

A classical explanation of the English tense system and irregular verb practice with bothvisuals and text.

Clarity is the key to Timelines as it helps learners build their confidence when using thetense system, packed with irregular verb exercises this is superb for beginners and

great for advanced learners as a revision tool.


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Blended m-learning

New to blended m-learning?

Want to do more with mobile technology in your classroom?

Answer yes to any of these questions?

Then Textercise is essential to you.

Packed with task-based plans this is all you need to start delivering m-learning.


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