Wednesday, December 17th, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

Thank-you for all your hard work this term! It has been a pleasure to learn with you. As you take your next steps, I wish you and your families all the best.  I hope that you will keep in touch and please get in touch if there's anything I can help you with.  

This afternoon, I will complete the speaking assessments with you one at a time.  While you're waiting or after you've completed your assessment, I would like you to reflect on your learning for this term.  Have you achieved your goals? What are the new goals that you're setting for yourself in January?

Please complete the handout, and after that please record your plans (resolutions for 2015) using the 'Clarity Recorder' program on your computer.  If you have any trouble with it, Chet or I will be happy to help.  Once you've finished your recording and you're happy with it, you can save it as an MP3 file on your memory stick or on the computer you're using.  Then, please email it to me.  

All the best!

Kim

Wednesday, December 10th, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, I would like to give some more time to practice your paraphrasing and summarizing in speaking in preparation for the speaking tests on Monday.  

I'll give each of you a text which you summarize orally.  After you've read your text, I would like to practice summarizing for one or two of your classmates. You can also discuss whether or not you agree or disagree with the text.  

Please give each other honest (but kind) feedback on the completeness, accuracy, and delivery of your summaries.

When you feel like you have practiced enough, I would like you to record your summary of the main ideas from your text and add some information about your own opinions.

You can use one of my digital recorders or record yourself online using Vocaroo:

 http://vocaroo.com/

Enjoy,
Kim

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, I would like you to work on paraphrasing in your speaking.  

Please watch the presentation and take notes about the differences between paraphrasing, retelling, and summarizing.

http://www.slideshare.net/janicewillson1/paraphrasing-retelling

Here's the link to the folk tale from the presentation:

http://www.npr.org/2010/06/06/127483926/native-american-folk-tales-take-a-graphic-turn

Next, I would like you to find a traditional myth from your culture or another culture.  On Monday, you will paraphrasing your myth for the class.  Remember to use your own words as much as possible and don't forget to tell us the significance of your myth. 

Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 26th, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8, 

This afternoon, I'm going to let you choose what you would like practice.  Here are some links for the various skill areas.  Please choose the areas that you feel you need to practice most.  I also have TOEFL cds for anyone who like to try TOEFL practice exercises or a TOEFL practice test.

Speaking:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/webcast/tae_betterspeaking_archive.shtml

http://m.busyteacher.org/18521-10-esl-speaking-mistakes-students-make.html


Listening:

http://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_dare_to_disagree

http://ed.ted.com/on/gTGfE82A#review

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/index.shtml

http://breakingnewsenglish.com/



Grammar:

http://blog.ed.ted.com/2014/05/29/be-a-better-writer-in-15-minutes-4-ted-ed-lessons-on-grammar-and-word-choice/

http://www.englishpage.com/

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/word-games/verb-machine

http://blog.britishcouncil.org/tag/blog-awards/

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com.es/2014/06/gerund-or-infinitive.html?m=1

http://www.engames.eu/verbs-prepositions-ii/

http://talk2meenglish.blogspot.co.il/2014/05/the-present-simple-1-back-to-basics.html?m=1

http://www.engames.eu/nouns-prepositions/

http://www.esl-law.com/fileadmin/user_upload/esl-law.com/Grammar_Guide.pdf

Pronunciation:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/quiz/quiz1/



Test Preparation:

http://www.testden.com/toefl/reading.htm

http://www.learn4good.com/languages/spec_english_toefl.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1143_exams/

http://www.ieltspractice.com/

http://ielts-simon.com/



Mohawk College Writing Centre:

http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/studentservices/writing-centre/esl-resources.html

http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/studentservices/writing-centre/helpful-fact-sheets.html

Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

Following up on our conversation from the other day about language families, here's a diagram of the Indo-European family, which includes most of the languages in our class. In the bottom right corner, you will see 'Finno-Ugric/Uralic.'  Some linguistics believe that Turkish belongs in the same family as Finnish, Hungarian, and Estonia (to name a few), but other linguistics are not so certain, thinking that it belongs to the 'Altaic' family.  

For today, we're going to work on some listening and speaking exercises.  Please begin with the handout.  In the handout, you will begin with a reading task before moving on to listening and speaking.  

Here's the link for the podcast: http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/eal/media/nov16_2011.mp3

Here are some more strategies for listening and note-taking. 
http://www.northshore.edu/support_center/pdf/listen_notes.pdf

The final part of the handout mentions a short speaking task which will be completed on Monday, November 24th.  If you choose another topic, please check before you begin your preparations.  

Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 12th, 2014

                                      

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,


This afternoon, I would like you to revise your responses from last Wednesdays on 'Stress.' Please think about what we talked about this morning and use the example questions to help you reach from the level of 'analyzing' to 'evaluating.'  It is important for you to be able to evaluate all the sources of information you have and decide whether are valid, useful, and appropriate for your purposes.  

Once you've completed your revisions, please submit your writing.  

Then, you can continue to practice working on the sounds we've been practicing this week:

http://evaeaston.com/sh-zh-pattern.html

http://evaeaston.com/ch-dzh-pattern.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/sounds/con_voiceless_3.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/sounds/con_voiceless_8.shtml

Some more tongue twisters:

1. I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish.                                                                        
2. Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy, was he?                                                                                                                           
3. Can you imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie?                                                                                                              

Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 5th, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, I would like you write a short response to information that you've heard on Monday and this morning about stress.  I would like you evaluate the value of the warnings and the validity of the suggestions and recommendations that you heard for managing stress. Do you agree with everything you've heard?

Please use your notes from this morning.  If you'd like to listen to the podcast from Monday again, here's the link.

http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/eal/media/nov27_2008.mp3

It's not necessary to write more than a paragraph or two. What I'm going to be evaluating is your ability to "understand communication intended to persuade (such as extended warnings, threats, suggestions, recommendations and proposed solutions) in situations related to personal decisions."

Please refer to specific details, recommendations, and strategies you heard in the podcast and lecture.Submit your response before you leave.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 29th 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, you will be listening to the podcast that I previewed on Monday 'Mind Your Language- Part 1' and 'Mind Your Language- Part 2.'  Please listen to each of the podcasts (listen. Do NOT read the transcript!) If there are any words, you don't know, you can use the glossary or one of the online dictionaries.   Please complete the review quizzes and vocabulary exercises.  Prepare your responses to the discussion questions for Monday afternoon's class.

http://www.businessenglishpod.com/quiz/360-Tone1/player.html

http://www.businessenglishpod.com/quiz/360-Tone2/player.html

For some more practice with the consonant sounds we've been working on, please follow these links. I've tried to include something for everyone.

f/v: http://www.learnersdictionary.com/pronex/pron1.htm

b/p: http://www.learnersdictionary.com/pronex/pron11.htm

sh/ch: http://www.learnersdictionary.com/pronex/pron26.htm

r/l: http://www.learnersdictionary.com/pronex/pron41.htm

v/w: http://www.learnersdictionary.com/pronex/pron56.htm



Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

Since we can all use a little practice talking about graphs and charts, I'm going to collect some data from you to create my own graphs and charts.  Then, next Monday, I'll present my graphs and charts and show you what I mean about analyzing rather than describing.

Please answer the five questions from my Google Form. This will be the basis of my data.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZO7KBQPG2r294X5C7gGOhMCAKJbqj8rxcm027B0xd9g/viewform?usp=send_form

Once you've completed the survey, I'd like you to continue working on your note taking and summarizing skills.  You all seemed to do better with the note template that we used on Monday morning.  There's another method of note taking, called "Cornell Notes."  You might find this easier to use.  Please look at the outline and sample notes using the Cornell notes style.

http://lsc.cornell.edu/LSC_Resources/cornellsystem.pdf

Now, go back to your summary from Wednesday, October 8th "On the Art of Choosing." Try listening again using the Cornell notes template (I will give you one to use) to take your notes and create your summary.  Please remember to include only the main ideas. You also need to put the summary into your own words.  You can use your previous summary to help you, but you may find it easier to start fresh with the new notes.  

When you're finished, I would like you to submit your previous summary and this week's summary for feedback.   For those of you who have just joined us, you'll only need to submit this week's summary.

http://www.ted.com/talks/sheena_iyengar_on_the_art_of_choosing?language=en&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=awesm-publisher&utm_medium=on.ted.com-facebook-share&utm_campaign=&awesm=on.ted.com_e0SUb

Here's the link to register for the Communication in the Workplace for Internationally Trained Professionals:

https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e9womfhoc7a506d4&oseq=&c=dc1b8fe0-5297-11e3-8d79-d4ae529a8786&ch=dc7aedf0-5297-11e3-8dfd-d4ae529a8786

Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, we're going to continue working on analyzing research findings and graphs/charts.  In the presentations you completed earlier this month, you did a good job collecting survey data and expressing it in chart form.  However, the analysis of the data wasn't as strong as it could have been.  

Please begin by going to this website and completing some exercises.  We're not going to be focusing on writing about graphs, but the language you would use to write about graphs can also be used to speak about graphs.  What I would like is for you to have the ability to identify and analyze the main ideas and major trends in any graph, whether you're writing or speaking about it.

 http://writefix.com/?page_id=713

Try the exercises in these two sections: "Graphs: Getting the Main Idea" and "Graphs: Grouping Information."  If you would like some additional practice, you can also have a look at the other sections: "Graph: Vocabulary" and "Types of Graphs."

Once you've learned a little more about analysis, please go to the Statistics Canada website. I have selected a list of tables by subject.  With a partner of your choice, choose one of the topics from the list and look for some trends in the information provided.  On Monday, I'm going to ask you to report on the information you've researched.  You and your partner will give a short 5-10 minute presentation of your findings.  You don't need to create your own graphs and charts, but you may need to refer to the source of your information during your presentation.   

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/z01/cs0002-eng.htm

Please try to apply what you've learned fromWritefix.com.

Here's some additional information about the 'Baby Boom' in case you're interested. 

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/baby-boom/


Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014

Good afternoon, CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, I'm going to have you listen to a TED Talk.  Before you listen, here are some words from the talk that might be unfamiliar to you.  Please look them using one of the dictionaries from the 'Useful Links' section.  DO NOT use Google Translate! 

• procure
• anagram 
• vegetative
• imposition
• disparate
• disseminate

Here's another word that you won't find in the dictionary,  'gai jin.'  This is a Japanese word for foreigner.

Take notes while you listen to the talk.  After you've listened and understood the main ideas, please write a short summary of the main ideas.  Also, please consider this question and include your response in your summary: does choice empower us or hold us back?

Submit your summary before the end of class.  

http://www.ted.com/talks/sheena_iyengar_on_the_art_of_choosing?language=en&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=awesm-publisher&utm_medium=on.ted.com-facebook-share&utm_campaign=&awesm=on.ted.com_e0SUb

If you finish early, please continue to practice the consonant sounds we've been working on together: /b/, /p/, /t/, /d/, /g/, /k/.

http://evaeaston.com/consonants.html


Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This week, we've have heard and talked about graffiti.

Please visit these two websites showing both sides of the argument.
http://www.chch.com/new-graffiti-store-hamilton-causing-conflict/

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/09/14/tribute-to-graffiti-50-beautiful-graffiti-artworks/

What do you think about graffiti? Is it art? Is it vandalism?

The City of Hamilton spend approximately $250, 000 per year removing graffiti from city buildings and streets (Source: http://www.hamiltonnews.com/news/graffiti-is-a-hamilton-wide-problem-say-councillors/).

Is that money well spent? What would the result be if the graffiti were not removed?

Have your say!  Once you've visited the websites and thought about your opinions, please record your responses.  Please structure your response as if you were organizing your ideas in a paragraph, with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

When you're ready, use Vocaroo.com to record your opinion. Click record, and then, click 'allow' for your microphone.  Once you've finished, you can listen to your recording.  If you're happy with it, you can save it and share it with me, using the link, downloading the MP3.  If you have any difficulties, please ask Chet or me for help.

http://vocaroo.com/

When you're finished, practice your final consonant sounds in the story of "Pam & Pat at the Old Inn" with a partner.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 24th, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, I would like you finish up your autobiographies and place the final draft in your portfolios. I would also like you finish setting your SMART goals on your 'Action Plan' sheet and place those into your portfolios. Both of these items should go into your 'About Me' section.  Don't forget to fill out the inventory page at the beginning of the section.

You should have collected all of the responses to your survey questions by now and be ready to work with your data.  With your partner(s), analyze and organize your information into a short PowerPoint presentation using charts and/or graphs to highlight your findings. You will present your results to the class on Wednesday, October 1st. (no extensions, no delays, no second chances! ;) 






Please remember what we talked about in class when creating PowerPoint slides: background colour, text size and colour, font, font size, graphs/charts/photos, and the number of lines of text.  If you have forgotten, please refer back to page 90. 


Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 17th, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

Please notice that I have placed some additional websites under the 'Useful Links' section. This will give you some more information about the TOEFL and IELTS tests. 

This afternoon, we are going to be creating a document for your new learning portfolios. This morning, we talked about the purpose of a portfolio and how we will be using them. In the first section, 'About Me', you will place information about your specific needs and goals.  The first document will be your autobiography.  This is your story about who you are, where you're from and what you're planning to do in the future?



Please write several paragraphs describing what you think are the important details of your life. You don't need to write anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.  This information will help you to assess your needs, establish your goals, and make a plan for your future learning.  


Submit your writing before the end of class, and it will become part of your portfolio.  

Once you've finished your autobiography, please work with your partners on your survey questions.  Next week, you will be collecting responses to your questions from the other LINC students in the J Wing.


If you still have time, please follow the link to the POSE Test.  I would like you to complete the 'Word Stress' test.  

http://eslactivities.com/pt/mainMenu.php?sesID=7a774dc993e99bd547dedfa39b03cd13


Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 10th, 2014

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,


Welcome to Kim's CLB 7/8 blog!  You will notice that there are some helpful links on the right side to help you. I will add to these over the semester. You can use the blog when we're in the computer lab, but also when you're at home.

I hope you all learned some useful information about the college this morning.  Once you've recorded your short speech on culture clash, I'll share the recording with you.  Please remember that I won't share it with anyone else, but it can be very useful for helping you to identify areas of strength and weakness.

Next, go to the following website, "BBC: 6 Minute English" and choose a podcast that interests you.  Once you've listened to it, write a brief summary of what you've heard.  Make sure to use your own words. Do not use any direct quotes.  Also, don't forget to include the title of the podcast you've chosen.  Your writing is due at the end of the class. Please include your notes when you submit your writing (They don't have to be neat. I just want to see how you take notes).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/

Please email your writing to me or alternatively, you could share it with me using Google Drive (if you know how to use it)  If you would like to know how, I'd be happy to show you.

Enjoy!