Lab Tests

Hello, seniors!

This week we learned about requisitions for blood work. I enjoyed watching your role plays with real cotton balls, gloves, and band-aids. Weimiao made a syringe from a pen.

Listen to these conversations between a patient and the laboratory staff.

If you enjoyed that one, take a look at the whole list. There is one about giving a urine sample, as well.

Happy learning!

K

Lots of Listening - Doctor

Hello, seniors!

Teacher Stephanie has a lot of listening activities on her blog. Her class is studying health now, too. Take a look!

Also: Maritza Goes to the Doctor

See you Monday.

Kelly

More Practice with Medical Language and the Body

Hello, seniors' class!

This week we are learning dialogues used during an eye exam.

First we will watch this video.

Listen to parts of the face and eye.

But don't forget to study the whole body. Listen and pronounce body parts HERE.

Pronounce more body parts.

Pronounce parts of the digestive system.

This British site has useful phrases that you can hear AND see translated. Click for Chinese or Arabic.

Our Posters

Hello, class!

Having requested a 'part two' to our health/medical unit, this week you agreed that breaking into teams to create posters of the systems of the body would be a good way to cement the new vocabulary into memory. I never dreamed you would do such a lovely job with your posters. You planned, sketched and coloured them beautifully. Crayons might have worked better for shading the organs. I'll remember that for next time.

First we had the planning stage...

Then you chose to colour in the organs.

Each team posed with their poster.

And finally we played "Each One Teach One."

In the end, you told me you want us to learn English this way more often. Creating the posters has helped you learn the vocabulary. From here, you've asked me to present lessons on the function of each organ. We will do that, as well as talking about the diseases associated with each system, tests involved in diagnosing those, and typical language used to discuss such investigations with your medical team.

Health, Part II

Hello, students!

You have voted to study health again, going further this time.

Last time we used English in Vancouver - Health. There are many good videos.

This week we talked about colds and the flu.

Here is a listening text about colds and flu.

Practice a few health phrases.

Learn some medical vocabulary.

For the very adventurous, you can view all the systems of the body HERE.

Our Main Traits

Hello, students! Take a look at the WIFF schedule.

Take this quiz on adjectives describing personality traits.

Watch this little video with adjectives describing personality.

Here is another one with great pictures.

Enjoy!

Volunteering

Hello, students!

Aiying asked me if I could record "Lazy Mailman." I did. You can listen to it HERE.

Would you like to create a profile in the WEVolunteer database?

Do you want to practice spelling our adjectives?

Try to unscramble these sentences. This helps you with English syntax.

Or listen to this 1-minute audio about volunteerism.

Here is a news podcast about volunteering. It's a bit harder.

More on Houses

Hello, morning class!

The last post gives you links to some of the resources we used this week. Here are some activities you can do to reinforce the new terms.

Listen a minute - houses

House vocabulary

Read and listen - My family's house

Take a tour of a Craftsman American Foursquare. I love all that unpainted woodwork.

You asked how much one of those homes on Victoria Avenue would cost today. Check prices of homes around downtown Windsor. You can see photos of the interiors, too!

The Architecture of Windsor's Core

Hello, students of my morning class!

I am VERY excited that Doors Open Windsor has inspired you to want to learn more about the architectural heritage of Windsor, specifically here in the downtown core where there is SO MUCH POTENTIAL for a fun walking tour! This ties in beautifully with our goal of accessing free educational opportunities and achieving more social integration as we learn about Canadian culture.

I hope for us to be able to undertake this walking tour on Thursday.

In the meantime, we will learn the names of ten to twelve architectural styles and the terms needed to understand the main features of each one. I will be referencing this website in class a lot. I have asked the author for permission to use some of her photos in our handouts, but have not yet received a reply. Another good resource is the blog InternationalMetropolis. Andrew Foote has been blogging about Windsor and Detroit's history and architecture for some years now, so his is a rich site.

This "vernacular cottage" is the downtown home that first caused me to stumble upon the Heritage Register. It was built in 1900 and seemingly has no basement or crawlspace. I managed a peek inside when it was for rent two or three years ago.

I can't think of a better way to enjoy a mild September morning in the core than walking around looking at the beautiful Queen Anne, American Foursquare, and Craftsman style houses around us! It's like a treasure trove in our own backyard.

Free and Low-cost Continuing Education

This week e of four teams was assigned an educational venue and given materials in which to find course tuition (if any), times and days of classes, campus locations, etc. The venues were:

Mackenzie Hall
Canterbury ElderCollege
The YMCA
The City of Windsor (Activity Guide)
Free online courses offered by top universities

Also today we talked about Doors Open Windsor. I plan to ride my bike to Prado Place and take a tour of the unique architecture. It's a beautiful street! I will print off the Windsor Heritage Register for six of you. Let's turn that into a field trip soon!

You can use any English practice sites on the right, or use Mr. Zhang's page for listening practice.

Learning as a Senior

Hello!

Here you can take a quick dementia self-test.

Watch this video.

If you want the test, I can print it for you.

Here are short dialogues about staying healthy.

Here is a story you can listen to and read.

Post Office

Welcome back to lab Fridays, morning students! I'm very pleased you have voted once again to include an hour of computer time in your week. I think it's a wise decision.

Do you want to listen again to the text we listened to on Wednesday? It's HERE.
You can watch this video of a man mailing something ExpressMail.
You can listen, read and practice these sentences.
Try completing this dialogue about renting a post office box.

Want to visit the Canada Post website? It's HERE.

These are addressing guidelines.

Listen to Lazy Mailman Hides Letters (c) Oxford University Press.

Simple English Videos

Hi, students!

I just discovered a new YouTube channel called Simple English Videos. Check it out!

I especially like this one about air travel.

What are you up to these days?

Kelly

Summer Fun in Windsor

Hello, students!

There is so much fun and educational stuff happening around Windsor in August and September.

Click the orange links for dates, time, place, and cost--if any.

Starting tomorrow, Ribfest

August 15th through 17th - Leamington Sunset Tomato Festival

August 21-24 - Tecumseh Corn Festival

August 23-34 - Amherstburg Art by the River

August 28th through 31st - Harrow Fair

August 29th - YMCA - 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. - Information Session: How to Avoid Being the Victim of Scams with Popo. Call your orientation worker if you are interested.

September 13 - Vintage in the Village Street Festival

September 27th and 28th - Doors Open Windsor

Do you plan to participate in any of these events? Which one appeals to you the most, if any?

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

Hi, students!

Tonight I borrowed a DVD from the library and watched it at home. It is a film I had seen a few years ago, but this time it was more meaningful to me. Why? Because of what you have shared with me and taught me about the Cultural Revolution.

Have you seen it? The trailer is HERE.

I'll bet many of you have seen it.

What did you think of this movie when you saw it?

You can leave a comment below.

I hope you're enjoying your summer break. I can't wait to hear about Yellowstone National Park from Shurong and Weimiao.

Kelly

Do You Remember Your Air Travel Vocabulary?

Hello, students!

I hope you are having a nice summer. Mexico was VERY HOT. I have written about my trip on my personal blog. You can look at pictures from my trip if you want to. Mostly I wrote about the food and the birds. It's HERE: http://bordercitiesblooming.blogspot.ca/2014/07/mexico.html
And it continues on the next nine posts.

Everything we prepared for in class happened to me!

When we arrived in Mexico, we didn't get our bag. It was lost. After two days, they delivered it to us.

Because our flight from Phoenix, Arizona was late getting to Charlotte, North Carolina, we almost missed our connecting flight. But we didn't. We ran fast from one gate to another. The airline representative was very happy to see us coming. She said, "Great! That's everybody." They were waiting for us before closing the door!

And then our bag was again delayed. When it arrived, they drove it all the way from Toronto to Windsor and delivered it at 3:47 in the morning!!!

Can you remember the names of the things in the pictures? Please leave a comment and describe these pictures.

What do you see in this picture? Where am I? What am I doing?

Picture A

How about picture B? Where am I? What am I holding?

Picture B

And picture C? What am I opening? I hear the flight attendant coming. She has pop and peanuts.

Picture C

And how about picture D? You are right. I am finally in sunny Mexico. I am birding. I am wearing very strong sunblock.

Picture D

Many funny things happened on our trip. For example, we forgot to book a hotel room in Chicago for our nine hour layover. So we had to sleep on army cots in the airport. That was not much fun, but it makes a good story now. Now we can laugh.

Also, my boyfriend was stung by jellyfish while swimming in the sea. He is okay now. In addition to this, I forgot to load Mexican maps onto my GPS before we left. We had to buy a map at a convenience store.

When we come back to school in September, I am going to ask you about any trips you took this summer. Don't forget all the words we learned for travel! You will have to tell your classmates about your trip, especially any mishaps. Do you know the word "mishap?" It's a great word.

Please leave a comment today.  Thank you.

Kelly

Summer English Lesson #6 - Gone Fishing

Hello, students!

Today's lesson is especially good for those of you who fish or who stroll along the riverside. When you see someone else fishing, you can start a conversation by asking about their luck fishing.

Here are some ways to start the conversation:

"Hi! Caught anything?"

Or...

"Having much luck?"

These two are yes/no questions, so don't forget the rising intonation.

"What kinds of fish have you caught today?"

That's a wh- question, so your voice goes up on the word FISH, then down again.

If you are also fishing, you can tell the other person about your fish. You can say,

"I really like catching perch. They are delicious."

The most stressed words are PERCH and DELICIOUS.

You can also ask people how they cook their fish. You can say:

"Do you fry your fish? I steam mine." 

Those sentences are contrasting two ways of cooking, so you need to stress the words FRY and STEAM.

Give this a try the next time you are down by the water.

Summer English Lesson #5 - Small Talk

How's it going? Have you struck up a conversation with a stranger in pubic yet?  I hope so!  Please leave a comment here when you achieve this goal.

Here are some lessons and ways to practice to get ready.

Randall's Listening Lab has a lesson on small talk HERE.

Here's a good video about small talk.

Please practice small talk this week when you are in public.

You can compliment someone on a pretty blouse or nice watch.

You can admire a beautiful baby.

You can ask a dog owner about his/her dog.

You can comment upon the weather.

You can ask, "Are you following the World Cup?"  "Which team are you rooting for?"

Please leave a comment after you do the lesson.

Cheers!

Summer English Lesson #4 - A Beautiful Dog

Hello, students!

Today's assignment is for you to go down to the riverside area and strike up a conversation with a stranger. Here are three ways you can get the conversation started.

Conversation #1 - A Beautiful Dog
People love to talk about their pets. Here are some questions to get the conversation started, and more questions to keep the ball rolling.

1. That's a beautiful dog. Is it a HE or a SHE?
2. How old is he/she?
3. Have you had him/her since he/she was a puppy?
4. What breed is he/she?
5. I'll bet he/she really loves coming to the park!

Conversation #2 - A Beautiful Baby

People love to talk about their children! Here are some questions to get you started.

1. That's a beautiful baby. How old is she/he?
2. What's his/her name?
3. Does he/she like to come to the park?

From there you can give your new friend information about your grandchildren, nieces or nephews. For example: "I have a grand baby, but he/she is XX years old."

Conversation #3 - The Weather
Canadians love to talk about the weather. It's a safe topic. Let's try...

1. It sure is [hot / pretty out / windy / humid / nice] today, isn't it?

From there you can tell your new friend what the weather is like back in your hometown.

Good luck! Please LEAVE A COMMENT when you fulfil this assignment.

Kelly

How to Comment

Hello!

WeiYing wrote to me to tell me that YES, many of you ARE doing the lessons.  Please click the COMMENT link under each post. This is good practice writing. If you comment, I will answer.

For example, you can say:

Kelly, I went to a yard sale. I used my English. I bought a vase.

It's not difficult. Will you try?

I will post a new lesson tomorrow.

Bye for now!

Kelly