The document provides examples of reported speech, including cases where tenses do and do not shift between direct and reported speech. It also gives examples of how questions are handled in reported speech. Finally, it suggests rewriting a passage in a more formal style to identify problems in the education system and consider teacher assessment.

1. REPORTED SPEECH Online activities

2. TASK 1: Answer the following questions on Reported Speech Give 2 examples of where there is NO backshift of tenses in Reported speech. Give 2 examples of where there backshift of tenses is possible in Reported speech. 3. Write 2 examples where both options (with backshift/ or without) are possible 4. What happens to the questions in reported speech? Give 2 examples.

3. The Answer key: 1. Two examples of no backshift of tenses: a) Reporting words are in present: Direct speech: “I teach in school. “ Reported speech (no backshift): She says that she teaches in school. b) Request Direct speech: “Carol, speak English.“ Reported speech (no backshift): He told Carol to speak English. c) Reporting about facts that are always true

4. 2. Two examples of where the backshift is possible: a) One person is reporting what the others are saying – there is a shift in time Direct speech: My mother says: “I lived in Ljubljana .“ Reported speech: My mother said that she had lived in Ljubljana. Direct speech: Tanja said: “I worked as a lawyer .“ Reported speech: Tanja said that she had worked as a lawyer.

5. 3. Two examples where both options are possible: a) Statement Direct speech: “I speak English.” Reported speech (no backshift): He says that he speaks English. Reported speech (backshift): He said that he spoke English. b) Situation is still unchanged or you agree with original speaker Direct speech: “Canberra is the capital of Australia.“ Reported speech: She said that Canberra is / was the capital of Australia.

6. 4. What happens to the questions in reported speech: a) Direct speech: “Do you speak English?” Reported speech: He asked me whether / if I spoke English. b) Direct speech: Teacher asked: “Do you like apples?” Reported speech: Teacher asked if we like apples.

7. 5. More online exercises: http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/reported.htm http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/report.html

8. TASK 2: Change the style of writing School system - Proposal I am trying to identify the main problems in our educational system, and we come across certain range of discussable themes. The most common answer that students of selected school (Druga Gimnazija Maribor) provided us in a recent interview, was “it is not my fault, maybe it’s teachers”. As we continued our research wandering if the teachers are really responsible for the ( bad ) test results of the students, we’ve decided to make a questionnaire giving them “guidance” how to asses good language teacher.

9. Suggested Answer Key: The main problems in our educational system were considered , as well as certain range of discussable themes identified . The most common answer that the students of selected school ( II. Gimnazija Maribor) have provided in a recent interview, was “it is not my fault, maybe it’s the teachers”. As the research continued, the question was raised , if the teachers are really responsible for the ( bad ) test results of the students. The questionnaire was created giving students some “guidance” on how a good language teacher can be assessed .