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!