Wednesday, January 28th, 2015

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

Most of you have already completed your autobiography for your portfolio.  Please make sure to print the final good copy and add it to your 'About Me' section.  Don't forget to complete the inventory at the beginning of the 'About Me' section.

This morning, we listening to the TED Talk by Sid Efromovich entitled "5 Techniques to Speak Any Language."  I would like you to use your notes to create a summary of the information that you heard in your own words.  If you use Sid's words, please be sure to use quotation marks. Include the main ideas and important details. The summary can be in one paragraph.  In a second (or subsequent) paragraph, I would like you to evaluate what you've heard and decide whether you think his strategies are effective.  Use the handout from Monday '13. The Hidden Truth' for vocabulary to help you critically evaluate his strategies.  You don't have to disagree with him, but I expect you to be able to explain your opinions and give supporting evidence whether you agree or disagree.  Please submit your work by the end of class.  

As it's end of January, I would like you think about what you've done this month to improve your English skills and consider what you will do in the coming month.  Please follow this link:

http://goo.gl/forms/hD2qRXzQNc

Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 21st, 2015

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, I would like you to begin by completing the final copy of your autobiography. This will be the first item in the 'About Me' section of your new portfolio.  Once you're finished, please print it and add it to your binder.  Don't forget to out the inventory page at the beginning of the 'About Me' section.

Senait, Ileana, & Peter, please follow this link to complete the CLB 7/8 needs assessment from a few weeks ago. (The rest of you have already completed it)

http://goo.gl/forms/MP5mJmcJOC

When I was reading your autobiographies, I noticed a few things that you could all use a little more practice with: articles, punctuation, and verb tenses.  Please refer to the following pages in the 'Helpful English' section of your portfolio binder: verb tenses, pg. 44-47 and punctuation, pg. 49. Here are some additional resources and exercises.

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbtenseintro.html

http://www.englishpage.com/articles/a-vs-an.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1456_gramchallenge24/

http://www.englishpage.com/articles/a-an-vs-the.htm

http://www.englishpage.com/articles/advanced-articles.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1113_gramchallenge30/

http://chompchomp.com/terms/commasplice.htm

http://chompchomp.com/csfs01/csfs01.htm

While you're working on these tasks, I'll record you reading the pronunciation passage individually.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

Feeling a little like this? I am!  This afternoon, you're going to be working on a few tasks.  

First, I would like you create your autobiography.  As part of your portfolios, which we will talk more about next week, you will need to include an autobiography.  This should be several paragraphs which include information about where you’ve come from, where you are presently, and where you’re planning to go in the future.  Please use the information from the two videos this morning to help you organize your information.  

You autobiography should include the following parts: 

• Information about where you came from, and what you did in your country? (work, study, etc.) You can also include a little information about your family if you wish. 
• Information about what you’re doing at moment.  This will of course include our class, but you can also include information about work, volunteering hobbies, etc.
• Information about your goals for the future, both short-term and long-term goals.  This should also include information specifically related to language learning goals.  (For example: specific benchmark requirements, language tests (TOEFL/ IELTS), professional exams or accreditation, etc.)

Write only what you’re comfortable sharing with me.  Your portfolio will be your own private document that you will show to me and future instructors.  It will be your decision if, when, and how much you share with your fellow classmates.  Your autobiography should be organized in paragraphs like an essay.  Please give specific details about your goals and how you will achieve them.

You will submit a first draft before the end of today’s class (via email or shared via Google Drive). I will give you some feedback, but I’m not going to correct everything.  The autobiography should be an example of your individual voice and writing ability. The final copy will be the first document in your portfolio.

When you've submitted your autobiography, follow this link for some additional practice with the AWL words from list 1a and 1b.

http://goo.gl/forms/VYI6T9Tkex

If you have any time left, I would like you to practice the 'Pronunciation Diagnostic' passage.  I'm going to have you record yourself next week, so that I can see what we need to work on in pronunciation (consonants, vowels, word stress, sentence, stress, intonation, etc.).

Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 7th, 2015

Good afternoon CLB 7/8 and welcome to our class blog!

On the right side of the blog, you will find some useful links.  You will use the blog during class time, but you can also check it from home or even on your phone or tablet. 

This afternoon, you will be working a few different tasks. First, I would like you to complete a needs assessment, so that I can better understand your needs and goals for learning.  Please begin by completing this survey.  Please click on the link and answer all of the questions (Your answers are confidential).

http://goo.gl/forms/MP5mJmcJOC

Next, I would like you type up your summary of the podcast from this morning, "New Year's Resolutions."  In addition to your summary, please also consider the following questions and add your responses to your summary:

1. Have you made any resolutions for 2015? If yes, what are they?
2. If not, what are some resolutions related to your English learning that would like to make?  
3. How will you make sure that keep your resolutions?

Please double-space your writing and don't forget to check your spelling.  You may use any dictionary that you like to help you, but no Google Translate please.

Once you've completed your summary, please print or email your writing to me.  

Finally, finish working on the list of AWL words from Monday.  Please remember that we will have a test on Monday with these words.

Enjoy!