Tag Questions

Hello!

Yesterday we worked with an audio text from the LINC 3 Classroom Activities book. There were some tag questions in the dialogue, so I would like to follow up today with a lesson on tag questions.


While we eat, I'll play a couple of lessons on tag questions that have been posted on YouTube by other English teachers. Then, after we are all done eating, we will do an activity with this language point.


See you!

The Impact of Flight 1549

On Monday we will watch a re-enactment of the emergency water landing of US Airways Airbus Flight 1549 under the control of veteran pilot Captain "Sully" Sullenberger.

Here is an article I will print for you to read.

On Tuesday we will watch some news coverage of the "Miracle on the Hudson" and continue with a worksheet to help reinforce the new vocabulary.

On Wednesday Ioana will be with you to watch this interview with Captain Sullenberger.

On Thursday we will watch a TED Talk by Ric Elias, who was aboard that flight on January 15, 2009.

Chris' Class Likes Mr. Bean

In the morning we are watching Mr. Bean is late for the Dentist.

In the afternoon, we will kick off the lesson with Mr. Bean at the Bus Stop.

English with Jennifer

Jennifer is a very good English teacher. Her pronunciation lessons are good, too. Check out this one on can and can't.

Alpha Bravo Charlie...

Practice the telephony alphabet here.

What is Facebook?

Hello!

Yesterday we indulged Lisa in her lesson idea. She wanted us to bring up the Windsor Star newspaper website and then discuss one or more of the articles. You chose the story about baby Joseph. At the end of the lunch period, June asked what you could do if you wanted to show your support to the family of baby Joseph. I said you could join the Save Baby Joseph group on Facebook. Then someone asked, "What is Facebook?"

Today's activity centred around that question: what is Facebook?

For the first half hour, we ate our lunches and read print-outs from Wikipedia in our first languages. Jun, Zhen, Bernie, Lisa and Wen read in Chinese while Svitlana and Lena read in Russian. Mihaela brought Mary down to introduce her to us. Fortunately, I happened to have printed out the Facebook article in Arabic, too!

After eating and reading in our first languages, we talked about the Facebook phenomenon in English. I asked you a few questions:

1. What is Facebook?
2. Who invented it?
3. When?
4. What does it do?
5. How many people in the world use it?
6. What do they use it for?
7. Do you have a Facebook account?

Lena told us that Facebook is a social network. We talked about both of those words.

Bernie said that "social" means having to do with people and society. June said that a network means connections. That's exactly right!

Lena, Svitlana and Mary all said they have Facebook accounts. Lisa said that Chinese people don't like Facebook.

We talked about the many uses of Facebook: to connect with friends, to chat, to share ideas and photographs. Also, Facebook is being used to organize revolts against repressive regimes in the Middle East. Mary told us that Facebook is not allowed in Iran for this reason.

After covering all of this, we took a peek at my Facebook account. Lisa said that Chinese people really like QQ. Actually QQ is a chat and instant messaging application. Facebook is much more than that. I told you that through Facebook, I can get updates from my church and notices about special sales from my favourite stores. I also can see what all my friends are doing and thinking all through the day.

We posted a message to my Facebook page that said, "I am teaching my lunch and learn class about Facebook." We got one reply from a friend of mine! She said, "Hello, Kelly's students!"

How fun was that, eh?

Billy Joel - The Piano Man

After more than a week of telephone practice, we have a request for a song lesson. The song I have chosen for us to listening to and study for a day or two is called The Piano Man by Billy Joel.

Billy Joel was born in New York City in 1949. He began studying piano at the age of four. He recorded the album "Piano Man" in 1973. The song was his first "top 20" single and the LP was his first gold album. He had multiple top singles and award-winning albums in the 70s and 80s.

In 1987, he became the first U.S. pop star to bring a full rock production to the Soviet Union. He performed in Moscow and Leningrad. His concerts still attract sell-out crowds around the world.

Billy Joel is also recognized as a humanitarian and philanthropist.

Cloze of lyrics - can you fill in the verbs? (Asterisks indicate phrasal verbs.)

The Piano Man by Billy Joel

It’s nine o'clock on a Saturday;
The regular crowd _______________ in.
There's an old man _______________ next to me
Makin' love to his tonic and gin.

He _________, "Son, can you ___________ me a memory?
I'm not really sure how it ___________,
But it's sad and it's sweet and I ___________ it complete
When I ___________ a younger man's clothes."

La la la, di da da
La la, di da da da dum

Refrain:
Sing us a song, you're the piano man.
Sing us a song tonight.
Well, we're all in the mood for a melody,
And you've got us _____________ all right.

Now John at the bar _____ a friend of mine;
He ________ me my drinks for free.
And he's quick with a joke or to _________ _______ your smoke,
But there's someplace that he'd rather be.
He says, "Bill, I ___________ this is __________ me."
As the smile ________ __________ from his face*
"Well I'm sure that I _________ be a movie star
If I could ________ ________ of this place"*

La la la, di da da
La la, di da da da dum

Now Paul ______ a real estate novelist
Who never ________ time for a wife.
And he's ____________ with Davy, who's still in the Navy
And probably _______ _______ for life.

And the waitress ______ ______________ politics
As the businessmen slowly get stoned.
Yes, they're _______________ a drink they call loneliness,
But it's better than _____________ alone.

Sing us a song, you're the piano man.
Sing us a song tonight.
Well, we're all in the mood for a melody,
And you've got us feelin' all right.

It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday,
And the manager __________ me a smile
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been ___________ to see
To _____________ about life for a while.
And the piano, it _____________ like a carnival.
And the microphone ____________ like a beer.
And they _________ at the bar and _________ bread in my jar
And say, "Man, what are you __________ here?"

Oh, la la la, di da da
La la, di da da da dum

Sing us a song, you're the piano man.
Sing us a song tonight.
Well, we're all in the mood for a melody,
And you've got us feelin' all right.

Discussion of the song can be found here.

Joe Canadian

Hello! Today Bernie sends his regrets. He had something he needed to do, but before he left he thanked me for teaching not just words but also Canadian culture. No problem, Bernie. I enjoy it! The rest of us said we were pretty tired of hearing that rap song over and over. So instead we watched the "I Am Canadian" beer commercial. I asked you to take note of the similarities between the two messages. What things do Jarrett and Joe both say? How are their attitudes similar and how are they different? We thought about that while eating, then at 12:00 we talked about it. We talked about stereotypes and what a lumberjack is. It seems both Jarrett and Joe are tired of being stereotyped, especially by Americans. They also seem tired of the fact that Americans don't know very much about Canada. Well, that was a hard text to tackle. It took us all week. Next time we need to pick something easier and shorter. We talked about Wen's idea of listening to a telephone dialogue. Everyone agreed that's a good idea, so that's what we will do on Monday. After that, Lisa has an idea for us to consider. Have a good weekend!

Windsor Rap Song

Hello! This week we are slowly working our way through the lyrics of the Windsor Rap Song. Bernie studied some of the vocabulary at home and reports that there is a lot of slang, which makes it difficult. Next time we will tackle something easier, okay? Wen says she would like for us to listen to a short news or radio broadcast, or some short telephone dialogues. I have some selections for us to choose from. See you!

Two Ballots

Hello!

Today we kicked off our lunch and learn club. We had a lot to decide today!

First of all, we discussed the purpose of the space and time together. You all told me that we have two purposes: eat lunch and practice English. I asked you if you know which one is the higher priority. Yes, you're right! Nick has told me that first and foremost, the space is for you to have a comfortable place to eat lunch. Secondary to this is a chance to practice English. That said, many of you are very keen to get to the activities!

The first thing we had to discuss was how to handle eating and learning in the same hour. Many people have said that they can't participate in a speaking exercise while trying to chew their food. So I asked you all if you would like to divide the hour into two parts: a time for eating and a time for the activity. Many of you nodded in agreement. You like that idea a lot.

Wen was concerned that our time together is very brief. She doesn't want to lose 30 minutes of it to eating. Esterline suggested that we finish eating by 11: 40 or 11:45, but Mindy said that gobbling your food down in a hurry isn't good for you. I agree. Rushing through your meal is not healthful and not mindful.

Zhen and Wen said that perhaps we could have something playing in the background while we quietly eat and listen. Then at 12:00, after I have also finished my lunch, we can start an activity related to the audio or video.

So then we brainstormed some ideas for things you want to see or listen to.

The next item up for a vote was how committed we are to speaking only English over the lunch hour. I put three choices on the board:

100% English, 95% English, I don't care.

We talked about what each one of these choices means, then I passed out the magnets. Each person got one vote (magnet). While my back was turned, you put your magnets next to your choice. Here we can see the results. You should be able to see nine little round magnets of different colours (yellow, pink, white, blue).

It looks like "95% English" won by a landslide.

Finally we used our last 15 minutes to listen again to the Windsor Rap Song. Tomorrow we will start discussing it stanza by stanza. I have a print-out of the words, which I will give you either tomorrow or Wednesday.

I think our "Lunch and Learn" Club is off to a fun start. See you tomorrow!

What Shall We Do Together?

Hello, students! Starting April 1, we will no longer have a pronunciation class. However, we can still meet in the same room to have lunch and practice English. On Friday, April 1, I will begin asking you for ideas on how to spend our time together. We can brainstorm many ideas and then vote. I have already started making a list of fun ideas. Here are some of my ideas. You will have a chance to add to them or comment on them over the next several days. Ideas to discuss and vote on:

• Maintain this blog together


• Learn to set up a personal web log ("blog")


• Learn to open an email account, if you don't already have one


• Learn to open a Facebook account


• Watch music videos


• Watch short movies (under 50 minutes)


• Play games (Jeopardy, etc.)


• Have conversations


• Discuss current events


• "Ask any question" day


• Homework help

Try to think of more ideas! See you Friday!

TED Talk - China's Rise

In this TED talk, author Martin Jacques attempts to explain China to a western audience. He tries to explain to us non-Chinese the implications of the future rise of this country to a position of global dominance. Please view Understanding the Rise of China on TED.com, then come back here to consider these questions.

BLUE TEAM'S QUESTIONS

1. Goldman Sachs is a global investment banking and securities company. They do global economic forecasting. What did they predict would happen by the year 2050?


2. BNP Paribas is the largest global banking group in the world. What is their latest prediction regarding the Chinese economy?


3. What will happen for the first time in modern history?


4. What do people in the West assume?


5. Professor Jacques is going to give his western audience three building blocks for understanding China. What is his first point?


6. Professor Jacques says that China gets its deepest sense of identity as a civilization. He gives us a few examples of some very old customs and values. Name three.


7. Name two very important political values for the Chinese.


8. What happened in Germany in 1990?


9. What do the Chinese have that is very, very different from the rest of the world?


10. How does Jacques explain the Chinese disrespect for Tibetan culture?


11. Does Jacques call China a democracy?


12. According to Jacques, how do we in the west view the state/government?


13. Jacques says the Chinese state is extremely strong and ubiquitous. What does ubiquitous mean?


14. Jacques says the Chinese civilization-state has been very big and very strong and ubiquitous for a long, long time. What examples does he offer us?


15. Why does Jacques say that China is more cosmopolitan than the West? What forced them to be so?


16. What does Jacques predict is going to happen more and more in the future?


17. In the last sentence of this paragraph, Jacques says, "This, alas, is no longer true." What is no longer true?


18. If you want to see the future, where does Jacques tell you to look?


19. Why does Jacques say we westerners will have to learn about the rising civilizations like China and India?


20. Do you think most Chinese have heard of Christopher Columbus?

GREEN TEAM'S QUESTIONS

1. According to Goldman Sachs, the Chinese economy will be twice the size of the US economy by 2050. When did Goldman Sachs make this prediction?


2. What is the population of China?


3. What does "developing country" mean?


4. What does "assumption" mean? (noun - assumption, verb - to assume)


5. Professor Jacques says China is not a "nation state." Instead, what does he say it is?


6. What does "civilization" mean?


7. What was China doing while the Roman Empire was breaking apart?


8. What happened in China in 1997?


9. What do over 90% of Chinese believe?


10. What does Jacques call "the cement that has held this country together?"


11. What does Jacques mean when he says that the Chinese state enjoys more "legitimacy" than any government in the West?


12. According to Jacques, how do the Chinese view the state?


13. Jacques claims that the state is everywhere in China. What examples does he give?


14. What are the three building blocks for westerners to understand the difference that is China?


15. What does parochial mean? Why does Jacques call us westerners "parochial" and our attitudes toward China "ignorant?"


16. What portion of the world's population lives in East Asia?


17. Jacques says that the world will become _________ to us westerners. What adjective goes in the blank?


18. What do you think of the megabus?


19. What does Jacques say has been going on for 200 years?


20. Do you think most North Americans have heard of Zheng He?

Landlord / Tenant Problems

Hello, Vinka's afternoon class!

Have you finished typing your letter to the landlord? If not, please do that first.

Next, you can visit Vocabulary and Spelling City. You will need to find a word list called Vinka23. I can help you! Just call me.

Your Job Search

Hello, Vinka's morning class!

To practice spelling and vocabulary, please visit Vocabulary and Spelling City. You will need to find a word list called "Vinka34." I can help you. Just call me over!

Another good site for JOB SEARCH vocabulary is Job Readiness - Vocabulary.

Please click this link to visit Settlement.org. On that website, click the Employment tab.

If you would like to explore Job Bank Canada, click on the link.

After the break, we will close the Internet and use Ellis Intro to view and listen to the dialogues about "Looking for a Job."

Welcome to the Computer Lab!

Hello!

On the right side of this blog you will find many helpful websites. Try them!

After you try one, hit the BACK button to come back here. Then choose another website.

Advanced students (level 5, 6, 7) may want to explore TED.com. Call me over and I will show you how to use the interactive transcript.

Enjoy!

Kelly

Learn the Months of the Year!

Hello, Chris' Level One class!

Welcome to the computer lab.

Click here to listen to a song.

Click here to do a quiz.

Click here to visit Spelling City. You can learn the months, do quizzes and play games. Call me and I will help you find the right list. Say, "Excuse me, teacher, I need help."

If you finish all of these, open a new Word document and practice spelling the months! Call me. I will help you.

Peace Week

Hello!

Tuesday was our day in the computer lab. Not many people showed up for our conversation class due to the Peace Week activities.

Today we finished our review of the front vowels, syllables and word stress. Then we played a game to review the phonetic symbols.

Monday we will start with a mid-central vowel!

Have a great weekend and remember: Peace - think it, say it, do it!

Front Vowel Review

Hello!

Today we started class with an pairs activity just to get you thinking about all five front vowels. I handed each pair a set of five cards. On those cards were printed the words "bet, bit, bat, bait and beat." Your job was to put them in order from highest in the mouth to lowest in the mouth. I told you that you would need to put your hands on your jaws to figure this out. Ina and Rose got it right the second time, once they moved the word "bit."

Pretty much everyone got the highest and lowest, but the middle ones were harder! I hope this exercise got you to thinking about how we pronounce vowels.

Next we did choral repetition with a 5-column chart of words. We practiced saying lead, lid, laid, led, lad and dean, din, Dane, den, Dan. And so on. This was an excellent exercise for seeing which sound you are having the most trouble with. We noticed that our Arabic speakers have trouble with the /I/ sound as in "sill." I'm glad Lina stayed after class to have me work with her some more on this sound.

For the next activity, we put a bunch of words into the correct column according to the vowel sound. Be careful, you can't always go by spelling. That's English, I'm afraid.

Finally, we listened to a dialogue. Then you had me read it, and then two pairs had time to perform it before we adjourned. Don't worry, we will pick up where we left off on Thursday.

Tomorrow is computer lab day, and Wednesday is our conversation circle. I hope you will work on your front vowels in the lab tomorrow. You could also work on sentence stress.

Cheers!

The Lowest Front Vowel

Hello!

Today we covered the last of the front vowels. This is the relative "a" sound as in "cat." Some teachers and books call this the short a sound.

We started with talking about how the sound is formed in the mouth. You really have to open your mouth for this one, don't you? We also looked at the Sammy Diagram to see how low this one is compared to the other front vowels.

Next we compared some word pairs like pen and pan, left and laughed, bet and bat. We did a short listening exercise and then learned some vocabulary by matching the words with the pictures.

Finally we listened to a dialogue. You were to put a check mark by the items described in the dialogue.

Next I passed out the text of the dialogue so we could check your answers. You wanted me to read the dialogue once before you all tried it, so I did. Then we had one pair of students read the dialogue for us.

It was a very big class today, so we made the best use of class time by practicing the dialogue with a partner.

Besides focusing on the vowel sound, we also took note of the word stress patterns in the dialogue. We have already talked about content words and structure words. We usually put most stress on the last content word of a sentence or phrase, especially at the beginning of a conversation. But then what happens? As we saw in the dialogue, then we stress the new information.

On Monday we will review all five front vowels. Have a great weekend!

Three Truths and a Lie

Hello!


I hope all our Muslim colleagues had a wonderful holiday yesterday. Eid Mubarak!


Today was conversation day. We played a game called "Three truths and a lie." I started us off by putting my example on the board:

• I used to have rats for pets.


• I don't have a television.


• My mother is a famous artist.


• I have visited 12 countries.

Three of these are true and one is a lie. Can you guess which is the lie? The idea is to think of true things that seem very unusual. You want to deceive your classmates!

I gave you ten minutes to think up your sentences and write them down. Then we got into groups of three to four students to play the game.

I had fun learning very interesting things about each of you! We learned that Ricardo was a famous dancer when he was a child. We learned that Lena's mother has chickens, goats, ducks and rabbits. We found out that our new colleague Svitlana is a geography teacher. She can help me when I don't know where a country is. People educated in America are not very good at geography, I'm afraid.

Oh, and I also got you all to guess which of my statements was a lie. The lie was about my mother. She is an artist, but not famous. I showed you pictures of my pet rat, Stella. She is dead now, but I loved her a lot when she was alive.

Tomorrow we will continue with the lowest front vowel. See you!