Good morning! Here's my recap for yesterday! We began class with "Every cloud has a silver lining", meaning (more or less) when everything looks bad (dark and gloomy), something good will eventually happen. I was a reading a newsletter and found the same idiom yesterday afternoon, so I will bring it in as another example.
We returned to reviewing the grammar. You seem to have a strong grasp of it, so I feel confident that you will perform well on next week's quizzes. We owe Marguerite a thank you for being the first presenter of the quarter. What an interesting topic. I hope that she can bring one of her dresses later this quarter.
After that, we returned to social studies and did our last timed reading. In the next class, we will finish up the vocabulary and then do a test-taking practice exercise.
It certainly seems that summer has returned! See you very soon!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Summer Quarter, Week 3, Day 3
Hello again!
Now for today's rundown! We began class with "You brighten my day". The image I used was actually from a greeting card (I will fit in that request-- what to write in a card?-- later this quarter). I hope that English grammar brightens your day :)!
After that, we had a great discussion on the rules. Because I was able to elicit the rules from Thursday/yesterday so easily, it seemed to me that you "got it". We did a short exercise today to allow me to catch up on some other aspects of the class (goal sheets, writing, etc.). Tomorrow, we will review once more.
Then, we did our goal sheets. They are required by the progam and I need to turn them in at the end of the quarter. I think they are helpful because they can help you focus your goals. I bring up your goals throughout the quarter in my many ways-- the information sheet from the first day of class, choosing listening topics, the goal sheets, journal writing, etc.
After break, we finished up the vocabulary from the reading. We have one more reading (in this format) to do this week and then we will be focusing specifically on the 13 British colonies.
Finally, we began thinking about topics. I gave you yesterday's brainstormed list for you to consider and an outline to fill in. I want you to know that we do writing very slowly for the first 3-4 weeks in class. I strongly believe that once you "get" the format, you can apply it to other contexts fairly easily.
I hope you've enjoyed this beautiful afternoon we had. See you in the morning-- hopefully, we won't oversleep tomorrow! :)
Now for today's rundown! We began class with "You brighten my day". The image I used was actually from a greeting card (I will fit in that request-- what to write in a card?-- later this quarter). I hope that English grammar brightens your day :)!
After that, we had a great discussion on the rules. Because I was able to elicit the rules from Thursday/yesterday so easily, it seemed to me that you "got it". We did a short exercise today to allow me to catch up on some other aspects of the class (goal sheets, writing, etc.). Tomorrow, we will review once more.
Then, we did our goal sheets. They are required by the progam and I need to turn them in at the end of the quarter. I think they are helpful because they can help you focus your goals. I bring up your goals throughout the quarter in my many ways-- the information sheet from the first day of class, choosing listening topics, the goal sheets, journal writing, etc.
After break, we finished up the vocabulary from the reading. We have one more reading (in this format) to do this week and then we will be focusing specifically on the 13 British colonies.
Finally, we began thinking about topics. I gave you yesterday's brainstormed list for you to consider and an outline to fill in. I want you to know that we do writing very slowly for the first 3-4 weeks in class. I strongly believe that once you "get" the format, you can apply it to other contexts fairly easily.
I hope you've enjoyed this beautiful afternoon we had. See you in the morning-- hopefully, we won't oversleep tomorrow! :)
Summer Quarter, Week 3, Day 1
Good evening! Here's Monday's class in a nutshell (short summary). We began class with to spill the beans. A similar idiom is to let the cat out of the bag. Every once in a while (occasionally) was also new for some of you.
After our introduction, we returned to adverb phrases. I used the dictation for you to concentrate on spelling/sounds and introduce the grammar. We reviewed the phrases for the meaning of time, and introduced the 2 possibilities for while (when while means "at the same time") and the rules for cause/effect. When using while, remember that "while" is optional (when the phrase is at the beginning of the sentence.) EX. While I was driving/While driving/Driving by the park on the corner of Ft. Vancouver Way and Mcloughlin Blvd,I saw my friend and her son. As for cause/effect, the rules are basically the same, but you also have to take out the connecting word (because/since/now that). You can completely take out "be" if it is followed by an adjective + another phrase. You also show the meaning of before when you use having + participle. EX. Wanting to become a pharmacist, the student decided to volunteer at the hospital. Having moved just two weeks ago, I still have a lot of things to organize.
After the grammar, we talked about the presentation rubric and how you'll be checked. Keep in mind that even though the presentations are more informal this quarter, they might even give you a better speaking opportunity because you do all of the speaking by yourself and you are in complete control of the topic. I think we have some interesting topics and I'm lookin forward to them.
You voted again for guest speakers-- the student (U.S. & former ESL) speakers were the winners, so I have begun setting them up. One day, I'm sure I'll be asking some of you to return to our program and tell about your success after ESL!
We got to brainstorm some topics (to be used in the next class) for essays. I think this is important to give you the chance to find a topic that you really want to write on. Also, we finished up the questions on the reading.
Monday was a busy and good class. Everyone seemed to be able to follow along quite well.
After our introduction, we returned to adverb phrases. I used the dictation for you to concentrate on spelling/sounds and introduce the grammar. We reviewed the phrases for the meaning of time, and introduced the 2 possibilities for while (when while means "at the same time") and the rules for cause/effect. When using while, remember that "while" is optional (when the phrase is at the beginning of the sentence.) EX. While I was driving/While driving/Driving by the park on the corner of Ft. Vancouver Way and Mcloughlin Blvd,I saw my friend and her son. As for cause/effect, the rules are basically the same, but you also have to take out the connecting word (because/since/now that). You can completely take out "be" if it is followed by an adjective + another phrase. You also show the meaning of before when you use having + participle. EX. Wanting to become a pharmacist, the student decided to volunteer at the hospital. Having moved just two weeks ago, I still have a lot of things to organize.
After the grammar, we talked about the presentation rubric and how you'll be checked. Keep in mind that even though the presentations are more informal this quarter, they might even give you a better speaking opportunity because you do all of the speaking by yourself and you are in complete control of the topic. I think we have some interesting topics and I'm lookin forward to them.
You voted again for guest speakers-- the student (U.S. & former ESL) speakers were the winners, so I have begun setting them up. One day, I'm sure I'll be asking some of you to return to our program and tell about your success after ESL!
We got to brainstorm some topics (to be used in the next class) for essays. I think this is important to give you the chance to find a topic that you really want to write on. Also, we finished up the questions on the reading.
Monday was a busy and good class. Everyone seemed to be able to follow along quite well.
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