Horsing around Pacific Mall on CNY Day

 

 

Thanks to Chang for the above pictures and the new background pictures!

And thanks for the fun, all of you who came--Ning, Ling, Mehran, Asena, Teresa, Esmail, Fahimeh, Yasmin, Aswathi, Chang (photographer), and Sonjita.

Epic Photo Op or Shop Till You Drop?

Hard to turn away from the bling!

$25 for what?

Look who's happily trapped!

Kong Hee Fatt Choy 媽麻馬罵! Chinese words everywhere!

Happy Shoppers!

Monday's Assignment

Here's this afternoon's tasks:

1. Complete your tasks for the morning, including the Audioboo.fm.
2. Complete your corrections on your blog using the Editing Checklist.
3. Write comments on the blogs of at least 3 classmates.

Friday's Assignment

Here you are--T.G.I.F.!
(BTW, what was that last punctuation mark on the line above?)
Speaking of our theme of the week, health, here's another cartoon to consider:











Here are your tasks for this afternoon:

1. Edit your blog using the Editing Checklist, and check with at least 2 partners before updating.
2. Complete any outstanding work from this week's assignments.
3. When you have finished the above, compose a conversation between A and B on the following topic: Mental illness is a serious problem in modern society. Medication for diseases like schizophrenia can cost an arm and a leg. Create a conversation between A (a doctor) and B (the parent of a patient) about the cost of the prescription. Try it out with a partner before posting it on your blog.

Thursday's Assignment

Welcome back! Hope everybody's hale and hearty!

1. Finish what you haven't finished--check this week's previous assignments.
2. Listening and role play with a partner: Going on a Diet
3. Take notes from this video and post them, with embedded video, to your blog.
4. For extra practice, take dictation of the first 25 seconds of the video, and check it with the CC.

Wednesday's Assignment

Good morning! You made it back to school!

1. Find out the scope and phone number for Ontario Telehealth.
2. Watch this video and take dictation of 1:33 -1:50. Check your transcript with a partner.
3. With a partner, discuss and call the service with a legitimate question and post the answer on your blog.

Answers to the Editing Checklist Warm-up

Here's a nice little picture from this afternoon's activity for your Facebook page:

Have fun!

Tuesday's Assignment

Brr! Welcome to you brave souls who made it to class today!




The use of articles is one of the hardest things to learn in English. Today's tasks involve the use (or non-use) of articles with diseases. For example, which is correct:

1. I've got flu.
2. I've got a flu.
3. I've got flues.
4. I've got the flu.
5. I've got the flues.

Check out this lesson on illnesses for the answer!

Using the vocabulary from yesterday's medical history form, write a dialogue between a patient and doctor. Then check, practice, and record the conversation with a partner on Audioboo.fm.

Check the weather for Tuesday!

Turn on the radio! Bundle up! Use your heads!

Stay warm and safe!

Monday's Assignment

Welcome back! Can you guess what our theme is this week?

Well, why not watch the following video and take a guess:

1. Can you name the four modern diseases mentioned by Dr. Grout? Write down your answers and check them with a partner.
2. Listening and Role Play with a partner: Is Obesity a Modern Disease? 
3. Google for "modern diseases," and then write a post on your blog about three other modern diseases. Check and edit your post with a partner before publishing it.

Interested in Skiing during March Break?

UPDATE 2: Anyone thinking of staying overnight at a ski resort? Here's another deal, for Horseshoe Resort for $149, including a night's stay and tickets for two.
UPDATE 1: Or, even nearer, at Skyloft, just 45 minutes away, there's this other deal, which costs $47 for a full-day pass with equipment.

One of Toronto's most charming nearby ski resorts, Snow Valley is now available to skiers and snowboarders on a WagJag deal for $34 for skiing or $42 for snowboarding--including full-day lift ticket and rental equipment.

If anyone would like to organize a day trip to Snow Valley during March Break, perhaps on March 10 (Monday) or 13 (Thursday), please let us know! Think about it! The deal closes in one week (or when coupons are sold out).

Are you on Facebook yet?

On Facebook, you get to read and write about ideas and feelings with friends, watch favourite video clips, share good deals and stuff, organize meetings, and more!

Here are a few links for you to check out:

• LINC Folks in Toronto: ESL, networking, and other goodies
• Liveleak Freaks: crazy videos, the latest from around the world
• Your instructor's page

Out of the Darkness, Light!

National Post picture

Despite all the bad news of scandals, Christmas ice storm blackouts brought out something unexpected: light from all the negative stuff about the provincial government that we've been looking at all week.


Writes one newspaper reader, "I’m very impressed with the hydro crews who diligently worked to restore power to the citizens of Ontario. Unlike thousands who apparently have extensive experience at restoring power lines, I cannot criticize the planning and work of hydro employees— they were great."

Chimes in another, "Agreed. The front line workers deserve praise."


Read the rest of the article titled "Best 2014 pledge? No more scandals" and its comments here on Sun's E-edition.

Thursday's Assignment

On this Thursday morning, we have the following tasks to do:

1. Watch this video and discuss with a partner which scandals were new to you. How would you compare the video to this blog post?
2. Listen to and then roleplay this scandal with a partner. Change up the details and record it on Vocaroo.com.
3. Take dictation from the following recording, checking your work with a partner before posting it on your blog:

Audio recording and upload >>

Wednesday's Assignment

Good morning, and here are your tasks for today:

 

1. Google for news on Ontario's E-Health and ORNGE helicopters. Tell a partner three facts you learnt about each.
2. Listen and then roleplay this conversation with a partner. Change up the details to make it refer to politics in the coming provincial election.

Tuesday's Assignment

Good morrrrrrrrrrrrning! Brrrrr! Thank you for braving the elements and coming to school today!


Here's the drill for this morning:

1. Review this blog, focusing on the pages on the red bar above, e.g. Good Morning, Canada!
2. Leave a comment on three of your classmates' blogs.
3. Reread he first four paragraphs of this article. Find another five new words, and make sentences with them.

Monday's Assignment

Welcome back, and Happy New Year!

We start the new year with a look at Canada's government. How many levels of government does Canada have? What are their different responsibilities?

Here are your tasks for this morning:

1. Watch this video and practice using the online quiz. List five things that are the responsibility of the provincial government. Post the list and a map of Queen's Park on your blog.
2. Update your blog with something that happened or that you did during the school break.

Monday Afternoon's Assignment:

1. Complete your blog posting started this morning.
1. Focus on using Numbered List for your five provincial responsibilities.
2. Complete task number 2. Write at least 5 sentences and check them with a friend before posting.
2. Time permitting, read the first four paragraphs of this article. Make sentences with five new words. Discuss the article with a partner.