Sounds of the Season 2015

For more pictures ...

Friday 4th, Field Trip to CBC Sounds of the Season

Hope you have a good time there! I'm taking a sick day; sorry I can't join you. But please take a nice group picture if you can, and share it on Facebook, okay?

On Friday, we will be going to CBC's Sounds of the Season to enjoy live performances and help our community at the same time.
Check out their website by clicking on this link.
This is an all-day event, but our meeting time is at 10 a.m. However, you are free to go earlier if you want to. The schedule is on their website, so please take some time to check all the events there.

Thursday's Assignment

Good morning! Having seen the historical and popular Christmas, how about the commercial one?

Here are your tasks:

1. Role play: Boxing Day Sales
1. Do it aloud.
2. Practise with a partner aloud.
3. Record a chirbit.
2. Group writing of 3 sentences each: 1. Graph 1 2. Graph 2.
1. Make sure to discuss in a group of 3 or 4.
2. One person will write down a list of 6 points.
3. One will talk about Graph 1 while the others help.
4. Another will talk about Graph 2 while the others help.
5. If there's a fourth team member, that person will check the writing by sitting next to the writer.
3. Copy out the headline and subheads of this article.

Wednesday's Assignment

So, besides Christmas, which we've looked at over the last couple of days, what else do Canadians celebrate? Imagine being Santa Claus and arriving in a home that doesn't celebrate Christmas:

Why is this picture funny? Identify some of the objects you see in this picture.

Here are your tasks:

1. Role play: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa
1. Learn the vocabulary, using a good online text-to-speech resource. Can you recommend one? How about any of the following?
1. From Text to Speech: speed, voices
2. ReadSpeaker TTS + accents
3. Text2Speech: simple choices
2. Then do the usual, practising speaking aloud and getting a partner to practise with.
3. Do you think it's ok to mix up various traditions? With your partner, write a 10-line dialogue using the vocabulary you have learnt. Feel free to include a chirbit.
2. Listen and take notes: Hanukkah for Kids.
1. Discuss in groups of 4 or more how historical Hanukkah is.
2. Publish your findings.

Monday's Assignment

Here are your tasks for this afternoon:

1. Role play: Singing Christmas Carols
2. Listening and Vocabulary: The Christmas Gift
3. Singing time! Congratulations those of you who learnt the carol--you can now practise with the video:

Santa Claus, Old Saint Nick, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Postal Code H0H 0H0 ... what have these to do with Christmas?

Actually, a lot, just not the historical one, like the name Quirinius. Check out the sixth line of the tablet below--do you see part of the name of the Roman governor named Publius Sulpicius Quirinius?

Unbeknownst to him, and perhaps you've just seen his name for the very first time, Quirinius played an important role in the historical Christmas! But in what way?

Here are your tasks:

1. Dictation from Chirbit: 1:50 - 2:56 (Answer: Video link)
1. Check your transcript with a partner.
2. Let your teacher know you have published.
3. Wait for the announcement to refresh your browser.
2. Compare the story with the original document. Take notes, and then discuss any similarities and differences.
1. Why do people wish each other a Merry Christmas?
2. How is the celebration different in other countries?
3. Share in a group of three or more.

Friday Nov 27: Field Trip to Chocolate Factory and Buffet Lunch

On the brink of the festive season, we're ending this week with a sweet holiday food theme. This Friday's field trip begins with car pooling from Don Mills at 10 a.m., and it aims to cover a chocolate factory in the neighbourhood before proceeding to Frankie Tomatto's, a popular buffet restaurant.


There may be employment opportunities available, too!



If you'd like to join the lunch, it's $14 per person (or about $18 after tax and tip, or more if you order drinks). Come hungry!
And don't forget to submit your review after the trip.

Thursday's Assignment

CHIRBIT FIX!

Some of us have had trouble this morning accessing and using chirbit.com. Me, too!

So I simply followed the link that said to Verify by Email, and then got the following email (below). Please follow the instructions in the email to verify your account, and see if it works now.

It works for me! :)



Welcome back! We have a busy day today before our field trip tomorrow.
Before our movie this afternoon and the informational talk later this morning, here are your tasks:

1. Grab a partner and create a chirbit with yesterday's Dictation Triptych:
1. Record without practising.
2. Practise jumping between columns 2 and 3 at least twice, and then record again.
3. Then record a third time with only A (the judge) looking at the Dictation Triptych. B (applicant) can choose to be creative in answering.
4. Publish all three recordings to your blogs.
5. Also, as follow-up on your blogs, state 
1. What you did well, 
2. What could be improved, and 
3. What you learnt in this activity.
6. 3. Then leave a comment on 2 classmates’ blogs on 

1. What they did well (Loud, clear voice; eye contact; very few pronunciation mistakes) and 
2. What might be done to improve it (more practice with a partner; practising w/v or v/b sounds).
2. Did your parents ever tell you to go do some physical exercise? Today, we have a community nurse coming in to talk about Physical Activity. So remove headphones, grab a partner, and role play before listening: Childhood fitness.

Wednesday's Assignment

What should fathers do in the home? Mothers? Kids? Do you believe in clear gender roles?

Discuss with a partner what might be a good caption here.

Here are your tasks:

1. Role play: Being a Stay-at-Home Dad
2. Using the vocabulary learned, write 6 sentences describing family roles and responsibilities in your country of origin.
3. Cross-check with a classmate before publishing.

Tuesday's Assignment

So, here's something to do before some of you move on to Workplace English ... Was it hard coming to Canada? Is it hard trying to become a citizen?

Is this cartoon funny? Why or why not? Discuss with a partner.

Here are your tasks:

1. Watch this video, and take dictation from 0:52 to 1:34. (For transcript see below.*) Then listen with a partner, and make corrections before publishing.
1. In the article, locate the six bullet points listing changes in immigration policy.
2. In a group of 3 or 4, discuss these points.
2. Create a short instructional on the appeal process for family sponsorship. Read and record a chirbit in your voice for your partner of their writing from Monday morning's assignment. Allow them to publish the audio link on their blog, and vice versa.

* Click below to see the transcript (Thanks to Zachary from York U's TESOL!):

Monday's Assignment

Editing today--with changes tracked

Here's this afternoon's tasks:

1. Role play: Roles within the Family
2. Google to identify the historical background of “the prodigal son,” “scapegoat,” and “lion’s den.”
3. Exchange notes with at least 2 classmates.

What's your family like? Immigrants often travel as families or try to reunify their families at a later time. What is the process for sponsoring family members to Canada? We start on the weekly theme of family relationships with the following flowchart:

What do the acronyms CIC, IAD, and IRB stand for?

Here are your tasks:

1. CLB 5 R Interpret a simple chart to explain a familiar government process (such as how a law is passed). Write 8 or more sentences about how the above process works.
1. Try to use passive verbs in the present tense, e.g. If your application is accepted, you do not need to reapply, or Next, the appeal is considered by the CIC.
2. Check your sentences with a partner before posting.
2. Compare this process with that in your country of origin. Add 2 - 3 sentences. What are some major differences?

Friday's Assignment

Do you expect your future employer to offer exactly the salary you imagine getting?

Here are your tasks:

1. Role play: Negotiating Salary
2. Write a trip report of yesterday’s Job Fair. 
1. Write down 5 experiences/facts about the job fair, e.g. who you talked to the longest, any pattern you noticed about employers/job hunters.
2. Update your list with 3 other classmates before drafting.
3. Check your drafts with 3 other classmates before publishing.
1. What are the best ways to use your editing checklist?
2. Did you learn anything while checking for your classmates?
4. Add pictures/videos to your trip report.
5. Write comments on at least 3 classmates' reports.

Thursday's Field Trip

Please meet before 10 a.m. at Don Mills Station so the car pools can leave at 10 a.m. sharp.

And let's try to take a group photo at 11 a.m.

Wednesday's Assignment

What are some important terms in a job interview?

   

Here are your tasks on the language of employment:

1. Role play: Practise aloud at least 3 sets of dialogue.
2. Practise one of them with a partner, and create a youtube wefie together.
3. Make sure you have registered for tomorrow’s job fair.

Tuesday's Assignment

What's better than a portfolio and a printed resume? How about a video resume?

Interesting? Interested? Here are more samples.

Here are your tasks:

1. Role Play: Preparing Your Video Resume 
2. Take dictation from 0:32 - 0:41 of this video, check with a partner, and then record your own Youtube introduction. Publish, and check the transcript below.

Monday's Assignment

You have your LINC/ESL e-portfolio here. But what does your career portfolio look like? Tell a partner what you would put in it and what you wouldn't.
Welcome to this week's theme on employment and job interviews in preparation for this Thursday's field trip!

Here are your tasks:

• We start with this quick survey to review what you've learnt last week--on the theme of A Child's Education. Please post your answers under Comments below:
1. This week I learned to _________________________
2. I can use this when I ________________________
3. I can do it well.  I can do it with help.  I can’t do it yet. 
4. The learning activity I liked best was ___________________
5. I want to do more __________________________

1. Role play: Your Professional Portfolio
1. Practise by yourself, 
2. with a partner, and then 
3. before your teacher, before 
4. recording your chirbit.
2. Follow these Resume Wizard instructions. Invite 2 or 3 classmates to provide mutual suggestions.

Thursday's Assignment

In your country of origin, when do people tell their kids about the birds and bees? How do they do that? Is it mainly done in school or at home?

Did you know the idiom?

Here are your tasks:

1. Role play: Describing Bodies
2. Read, think about, and discuss this report.
3. In which grades is homophobia discussed in this document? Use Ctrl-F to find keywords.
1. How is Canada's sex education compared to that in your country of origin?
2. Discuss this with a partner from a different country. Take notes.
3. Record on chirbit a group discussion about the similarities and differences as well as how you feel about what it should be like in Canada.
4. Listen to another group's chirbit and leave a comment.
4. Write a brief trip report about yesterday's Remembrance Day Service. When did you arrive, what did you see, who did you talk to, and how did you feel? Add pictures.
   
5. Sign up for next Thursday's job fair.

Remembrance Day Field Trip on November 11th, 2015

Lest We Forget

Our whole school will be going to the Remembrance Day Ceremony to celebrate those who gave their lives for our country.
Please arrive at 10.30 a.m. to find a good spot to sit.

Here is the address and the website:

North York Service
George Weston Recital Hall at the Toronto Centre for the Arts5040 Yonge Street
View program

Tuesday's Assignment

How do students classify themselves in their country of origin? Do they have a term for poor or rich students? Or smart or silly ones? Or fat or skinny ones? How do you feel about calling or being called a name? How's the situation here in North America? Have you talked to a schoolkid in Canada lately?

Nerds, goths, and Jocks? Take a look, in images and videos!

Here are your tasks:

1. Vocabulary: Getting Childcare
1. Listen, and work on pronunciation--speak out loud. (If you need text-to-speech, try these resources.)
2. Read aloud while a partner checks your pronunciation.
2. Role play: Types of Students
3. Take dictation from 2:23 through 3:05 of this video.
4. Using 10 of the words/expressions you learnt today, write an email to a friend overseas about school life in Canada.
1. Begin your email with "Hi __________, Long time no see!"
2. In the first paragraph, write 3 sentences describing the children and the culture in Canadian schools.
3. In the second paragraph, write 3 sentences describing your thoughts and feelings.
4. Don't forget to sign off.

Monday's Assignment

Welcome back to school! What do you think are some differences between an adult's and a child's education? Tell a partner your answers, and then tell another partner your first partner's answers.

Does this remind you of coming to the LINC program?

Here are your tasks:

1. Role play: Staying Home from School
2. Role play: Coming Home Late
3. Identify pages in this document on helping your child with bullying, ongoing support for learning, and parent-teacher interviews. Find one more area of help and make a list using the Numbered List button.

Friday's Assignment

Imagine that you had an unforgettable tenant named Jimmy. How much would you ask Jimmy to leave as a deposit for renting your apartment. What would you do if Jimmy left a big hole in the kitchen wall and damaged your stove, refrigerator, and living room carpet?

Will Jimmy get his deposit back?

Here are your tasks:

1. Reading and discussion with a partner: CLEO on Damage and FMTA's FAQ.
1. Share with your partner one surprising finding from each document.
2. Write a short email of about 50 words of your own advising a friend on what to do in a tough situation as a tenant.
2. Role play: Getting the Deposit Back
3. What does the term "tenant  from hell" mean? Skim this article, check out the pictures, and discuss with a partner.

Thursday's Assignment

Can a tenant get kicked out? What, if any, circumstances could make this happen? Discuss this with a partner.

Does this picture look familiar? What's the story behind it? Is the cartoon funny, and if so, why?

Here are your tasks:

1. Reading: Fighting an Eviction
1. Find 3 or more interesting/surprising facts and list them in your own words on your blog.
2. Comment on your classmates' discoveries on their blogs.
2. Role play: Eviction Notice
1. Identify phrases that are most useful and could be used in other situations, and practise them more, aloud.
2. With a partner create a chirbit on eviction or record another conversation based on your useful phrases.
3. Write an email to your telephone company about a late payment. If you have the time, try writing a warning letter from a telephone company to a delinquent subscriber.

Wednesday's Assignment

Who's responsible when there's a leak in your apartment? Or when the light bulb is blown? Or the fuse? Or the toilet stopped up? Who pays? Discuss these with a partner.

Ever needed something quick? How quick was the service you got from the landlord or super?

Here are your tasks:

1. Listening and vocabulary: Housing Complaints
1. Go through the lesson, and take the quiz.
2. Make sentences with the expressions you just learnt, and check them with a partner.
3. What does the term walking refrigerator mean? What can you do when you are stuck with a strange term?
1. Source 1
2. Source 2



Food for thought: Does the right to
freedom of expression include the
right to undermine itself?

3. Other sources
2. Role play: Calling the Landlord to Report a Leak
1. As usual, practise aloud by yourself and then with a partner.
2. Record your conversation with your partner, and do it again using the "jumping/pinball" exercise.
3. Publish your audio chirbits to your e-portfolios.
3. In preparation for Remembrance Day, listen to and practise singing this song.

Tuesday's Assignment

What are some synonyms of negotiation? Have you ever bargained about the price of something, e.g. your rent? How hard and how long have you ever haggled over any item? Are you a low-baller?

Is this funny? What idiom do you think is referred to? Have you heard of this one?

Here are your tasks:

1. Listening: Prices
2. For your role play: 
1. Compare the following:
1. Negotiating the Price
2. Negotiating the Price (2)
2. Practise them with Tutor Mike.
3. Find a partner, compose and record your shared conversation on price negotiations, and then post your recording on Chirbit.

Monday's Assignment

Do you rent your apartment? If so, what does your lease say about its condition? Do you remember talking to your landlord or tenant? Was the conversation difficult? Guess the theme for this week.

What new words did you see in the cartoon? Was the cartoon funny? Discuss it with your partner.

Here are your tasks:

Where's William, Fabio, Reed, Tina, etc.?

1. Write your field trip report. 
1. Consider your favourite speaker, piece of career advice, networking partner, university memory, and free souvenir.
2. Make sure to interview your classmates, get them to check your writing, and include some pictures before publishing.
2. Listening & Vocabulary: Apartments for Rent
3. Vocabulary: rental apartments
4. Role play: Scheduling an Appointment Viewing



CN Tower at night

1. Practise the conversations with Tutor Mike.
2. Practise with a partner, and then choose one to record on Chirbit with your partner.
3. Write your own conversation based on what you have learnt!

Friday's Field Trip: York University

Here's the latest update, which you should have received if you've signed up:

Good Afternoon,This is to remind you that you are registered for the following event:Pathways To Bridging Programs - Post Secondary Education and Careers

Date: Friday, October 30, 2015
Time: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: York University - Meeting Room
Address: 4700 Keele St
Date: Friday, October 30, 2015 Time: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Location: York University - Meeting Room Address: 4700 Keele StClick here for a mapPlease contact Employment & Social Services staff if you have questions about this Event: Employment & Social Services, 416-392-6557

Have you been thinking much about a post-secondary education and career? This Friday's field trip may bring you some answers!


From the ad, this event helps those "wishing to explore bridging programs to employment and/or advanced education. The session will showcase the pathways and resources available to achieve related career and employment goals."

Keynote and closing speeches by various directors from the City of Toronto!

Please register early.

Directions from Don Mills Station are provided here.

Thursday's Assignment

It's one thing to get a friend into your network. It's another thing to keep them.

How successful was this networking attempt?

Here are your tasks:

1. Now that you have submitted your ESL Week contest entries, you have two days to vote by clicking on "Like"!
2. Register for tomorrow's field trip to a career event at York University if you still have not.
3. Role Play: Socializing with Clients
4. Listening and Vocabulary: Maintaining Connections.
1. Write down and practise with a partner. 
2. Record on chirbit.
5. Check through the work for this week, and complete any bits that are missing.

Wednesday's Assignment

So let's learn how to network with others!

Here are your tasks:

1. Role Play: Important Business Contacts.
2. Listening and Vocab: Socializing and Networking
1. Write down and practise with a partner. 
2. Record on chirbit.

Tuesday's Assignment

How important is it to network with high officials in government? Can you be successful in business or life without connecting with government? Is it any different in Canada than in your country of origin?

Do the words e-health, ORNGE helicopter, and gas plants mean anything to you?

Here are your tasks:

1. Role Play: Corrupt Officials
2. Take dictation from 3:45 - 4:07, check with a partner, practise it aloud, and record a chirbit.**
3. Edit your blog to show improvements in your writing skills:
1. Do not delete the original writing, but label it "BEFORE."
2. Copy the original writing, label it "AFTER," and correct it using the checklist.
3. Update your blog.

**Transcript below:

Monday's Assignment

It's the last week of the month! So let's remember to do our feedback on the LINC program!

Welcome back! Did you connect with anybody over the weekend?

Read the banner for the theme of the week!

Here are your tasks:

1. Register for this Friday's field trip to a career event at York University.
2. Browse and find the 5 most attractive groups you could join.
3. Role Play: Making Business Contacts
4. Create your online business and social network:
1. Add at least 5 classmates and your teacher to your LinkedIn network.
2. Add at least 5 classmates and your teacher to your Facebook network.

Friday's Assignment - Janice

Vocabulary for the article

Please find the meanings from an online source (a dictionary or google).  Write the meanings down next to the definitions.  If you don’t understand the meaning(s) or can’t find the word(s), please ask a classmate.

Obesity-

Epidemic-

Weight-

Eliminate-

Consume-

Harmful-

Best interest-

Impact-

Nutrition-

Antioxidants-

Source: http://www.ivlproducts.com/Health-Library/Health-Concerns/Healthy-Living/Four-Lifestyle-Factors-Contribute-to-One-Third-of-All-Deaths/

 Four Lifestyle Factors Lead to One-Third of All Deaths

Please read the article. Summarize the four unhealthy habits in your blogs.

*Factor One-Waist Size*

An obesity epidemic is happening in North America. There is a direct link between waist size, health and longevity. Being overweight will increase your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and even cancer. Taking steps to lose weight will decrease your overall mortality risks and help you feel better is important. Here are key steps for weight loss.

1) Eliminate junk food and processed foods

2) Eat whole foods

3) Increase fruits and vegetable intake

4) Consume more omega-3 fatty acid rich foods such as sardines and wild

Alaskan salmon

5) Eat more nuts and seeds

6) Reduce sugar

*Factor Two-A Lack of Physical Activity*

Most people are not getting enough physical activity. Maintaining a good body means that physical training is a must. Your heart, needs to be worked out as well. It is necessary to exercise your body a few times a week.

*Factor Three-Smoking*

Smoking has been extremely harmful to human health. If you are smoking, it is in your best interest to stop. Smoking increases the risk of cancer, and not just lung cancer, but also to cancers including brain and pancreas cancer.

*Factor Four-A Poor Diet*

Poor dietary choices will impact your health. Processed foods are bad for you and they reduce people's lifespan. If you want to life longer and be healthier, you will need to choose a diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals. Consider adding flavor to your food with spices which are full of nutrition and antioxidants.

When you finish writing the four unhealthy habits, please write two or three of your own unhealthy habits.

Examples:

l  I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day.  I know I shouldn’t but it’s difficult to stop. I should try reducing the number of cigarettes I smoke.

l  I eat potato chips three or four times a week.  It’s so tasty even though it’s not good for my health. I will try to eat only two smaller bags a week.

Your own unhealthy habits:

1.

2.

3.

Thursday's Assignment

So, does the thought of exercise cause you to sweat?

Let's talk about exercise today.

Here are your tasks:

1. Share your notes from this morning's talk on your blog.
2. Role Play: Walking or Running as Exercise
1. Practise speaking aloud by yourself.
2. Get a partner to practise it with you.
3. Make a chirbit recording of your conversation.
3. Listening and vocabulary: Exercise Program
4. Listening and comprehension: A Healthy Lifestyle
1. Listen first without CC.
2. Then click on CC and follow, checking for comprehension.

How About This Inspirational ESL Week Contest?

UPDATE! Check out these free videos teaching you how to make your own effective videos. Nice clear speech!

HOW to Make Video EASY!

Some of you have written really nice and inspiring things about your experience in learning English. But you just lack the confidence to finish the job and submit it. So why not:

1. Check out these early entries.
2. Check your work by yourself and with friends.
3. Submit it to win the prize!

Here is one of the most prestigious ESL contests, organized by TESL Ontario, and this year it is all in digital format! The theme this year is "Sharing Inspirational Moments." "ESL learners are invited to share inspirational moments from their language learning experiences in either written or video format."

The deadline is October 23; so let's start moving on this one!

To see some of the winning entries of last year's contest, click here: 2014 Learner Contest.

We can work on our entries in class--there's a category for writing and one for video!

So, are you ready to rumble, ready to rock and roll?

I can't wait to see us submit some good ones at Learner Online Entry Form!