10 Things Students Need to Know to REALLY Know a Word (and how a teacher can help them)

Wednesday, September 16th, 2015

Good afternoon CLB 7/8 and welcome to my blog!

We will use the blog regularly, so please check it frequently.  On the right side of the blog, you will find you 'Useful Links' which you might find helpful.  As I get to you know you all a bit better, I'll personalize these links for our class.

Today, we're going to complete two tasks. I would like you to listen to two podcasts about academic listening.  I'll give you the handout, and here are the links you will need.

BBC Academic Listening Part 2

BBC Academic Listening Part 3

Please complete the handout and submit it at the end of the class.  If you have any trouble at all, please ask.  I'm happy to help!

Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 17th, 2015

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

Well, we've made it to the end of the school!! :)  I would like to say thank-you for all your hard work this term.  I wish you all the best in your next steps where ever they may take you.  Please keep in touch to let me know how you're doing, and if there's ever anything I can do for you, please get in touch.  

Here are some links to help you keep up your English skills over the summer. Remember if you don't use it, you lose it! ;)

Listening:

http://tigger.uic.edu/~onufrock/lecture_main.html

http://www.teachitelt.com/academic?T=1654

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/

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

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

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

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/678/01/

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/grammar.htm

Pronunciation:

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

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

http://evaeaston.com/

http://soundsofspeech.uiowa.edu/english/english.html (consonants)

http://soundsofspeech.uiowa.edu/english/english.html (vowels)

Test Preparation:

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

http://www.ieltspractice.com/

http://ielts-simon.com/

http://www.dcielts.com/

http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare-test/free-practice-tests

https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/prepare/test_questions

http://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/toefl_listening.htm

Vocabulary:

http://www.lextutor.ca/

http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/wordlist/english/academic/

http://www.englishvocabularyexercises.com/AWL/

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

Online Language Tests:

http://clb-osa.ca/home  (The online CLB self-assessment tests listening & speaking and gives you a benchmark range.)

http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/researchenterprise/dialang/about (The DIALANG Test tests reading, writing, listening, grammar, & vocab and provides a score using the CEFR [European CLBs; CLB: 8 = approx. CEFR:C1.1/TOEFL: 85/IELTS 6.5) Have a lovely summer, and all the best!! Ramadan kareem for those of you observing Ramadan. 


Kim

Wednesday, June 10th, 2015

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, I would like you write a summary of the podcast you heard this morning using only your own notes. This is an individual task so do not discuss it with your neighbour(s).  

I'll be evaluating how well you're able to accurately paraphrase what you've heard into your own words.  Please refer to the rubric for the specific task instructions.  Your summary is due at the end of today's class. (I won't accept any summaries submitted after today.)  Please submit your summary and the rubric provided after completing the learner's comments section of the rubric. 

Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 27th, 2015

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, you will be working on a few different tasks.  First, I would like you look at your notes from the presentation you selected this morning.  Using your notes, I would like to record yourself retelling the directions or instructions you heard. I would also like you offer some constructive feedback about what you heard.  Please consider these questions: 

1. Were the instructions/directions clear?
2. Could you follow all of the steps?
3. Would you add or change anything? 

Please use 'Clarity Recorder' which is installed on every computer in the lab. You can record yourself.  Click on the icon and record yourself.  You can save the file as an MP3 and then email it to me.  Please include your name and date in the file name.  For example: Kim270515.mp3.  Jason or I can help you with this if you have trouble.

Next, I would like you to record one of the jokes the jokes that I gave you on Monday. Please use Clarity Recorder again and give your file a name like: Kimjoke2470515.mp3. 

Please email your two MP3 files to me.  

Finally, I would like you take the POSE Test to check your skills at sentence stress and intonation. It's your choice whether you would like to save your results or not.  You will see this screen when you click on the link 'Take the POSE Test.'

Click 'yes' and enter your information to save your result or click 'no' to just try the test without saving your answers.   Please try the following parts: Intonation 1, Intonation 2, Sentence Stress 1, and Sentence Stress 2. 

POSE Test

Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 20th, 2015

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, you'll be doing some listening, reflecting on your listening strategies, and preparing for your next speaking activity.  Please begin by reading the text and completing the vocabulary exercise.  

Then, listen to the podcast and answer the comprehension questions.  The final two pages contain a self-assessment of your listening strategies and some useful phrases for checking your understanding and clarifying what you hear.  

http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/eal/media/nov16_2011.mp3

When you've completed the listening tasks, please submit your work, and I'll give you the task and rubric for the speaking tasks for Wednesday, May 27th. 

Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 13th, 2015

Good afternoon CLB 7/8,

This afternoon, I would like you write a summary of the lecture you heard this morning using only your own notes. This is an individual task so do not discuss it with your neighbour(s).  I'll be evaluating how well you're able to accurately paraphrase what you've heard into your own words.  Please refer to the rubric for the specific task instructions.  Your summary is due at the end of today's class.  Please submit your summary with the rubric provided after completing the learner's comments section of the rubric. 

The dean of our faculty would like to collect information about how well the college meets the needs of international students.  Please complete this short survey to help improve programs and services at the college for all international students.

LINC/ELT Survey


Enjoy!