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!

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!