E-PBLA

Great Job, Guys!

Our next task is a quick self-assessment, and we do it by adding it as an additional point at the end of each post where you did your task:

1. For a Speaking task, you listen to yourself speak and listen for hesitations, clarity, grammar, etc. You can make notes about your task and deepen your awareness of your strengths and weaknesses. 
2. For Listening and Reading tasks, 
1. You focus on whether or not you used appropriate strategies to find the answers.
2. You can correct yourself. You can write your initial answers in one colour, and then make the corrections in a different colour. 
3.  You can make notes on strategies that you missed, and give yourself feedback on where you need to improve.
3. For Writing, go through your work and check off if you have met the criteria. This can be anything from capital letters, to punctuation, to a proper thesis statement. Again, it is about making you become more self-aware.
4. Besides the specific skill, you could add your Reflections about the process and how you felt about the task. How did the task move you forward? What do you need to work on? How did you feel about your ability? Did you find the task easy or challenging? What did you learn about language and technology? What is your overall feeling about doing this task?

So remember to click on the Comment link at the bottom of each task to add a quick self-assessment!

Here's an example:

Self-Assessment: I should have understood "withya" in the recording as "with you." I should check my appointments using Google Calendar.
Reflections: This task was a bit challenging especially for sounds/words that join together. But getting it through more practice is useful because this happens very often in English.

Here Are Your Tasks: 24 + 1 By May 20

By Friday May 20, let's see who can place the following artefacts into their e-portfolios/blogs:

1. About Me Artefact
1. A brief introduction about yourself, your L1, your background, etc.
2. List at least 3 social situations and tasks you need English for, e.g. listening to a weather forecast, speaking to your child's teacher, reading a medicine label, writing an email to the teacher for class absence.
3. Rank the 3 most important tasks you need.
4. Which ones have you already achieved?
5. List the ones you believe you can achieve in the next 3 months.
2. 6 Listening Artefacts
3. 6 Speaking Artefacts
4. 6 Reading Artefacts
5. 6 Writing Artefacts

Those who complete these tasks by May 20 will be eligible to win three top prizes based on the detail and quality of their work.

Here are your tasks in the four skills:

1. Listening
1. CLB5L Listen to a phone message from a medical receptionist (Vocaroo) changing the date and time of an appointment
1. Who is this message from, and for whom?
2. Write down the old and new appointment information.
3. How does the speaker feel? How do you know?
4. Check your calendar and plan a call-back response. What better date/time canyou suggest? What good reason can you give? Write out your notes.
5. Ask yourself: Did you identify specific factual details and implied meanings; formal and casual style and register; language functions; emotional states from tone and intonation; the situation and relationships between speakers; and feelings such as interest, likes/dislikes, preferences.
2. CLB5L Follow directions to locate an office, school or tourist attraction on a map.
1. Listen, and then find the directions map on Google Map.
2. Write down 3 questions about the directions.
3. Post your link with detailed TTC directions with those 3 questions.
4. Ask yourself: Did you follow a range of basic cohesive devices indicating order and sequence; seek clarification and confirmation if required; and respond with actions to directions and instructions?
3. CLB5L Listen to a phone message from a co-worker asking about switching a shift to make a decision before returning the call.
1. Write down the key facts, names, times, details, etc.
2. What are some of the options given? What are some choices or decisions you have to make?
3. Will you agree to switch your shift? List 3 reasons.
4. Ask yourself: Did you identify main intent, main idea, factual details, words and expressions; some implied meanings; cohesive devices and discourse indicators for sequence, comparison and contrast; and basic signals in speech for collaboration, turn-taking and interrupting; and recognize and interpret advice, opinions and suggestions?
4. CLB5L Listen to a short explanation from a bank teller about different accounts (Vocaroo) to determine the advantages and disadvantages of each.
1. List the key facts about each account mentioned.
2. What options are recommended? Are they relevant to your needs?
3. Write a text message to members of your family. Which account will you probably decide on for each member of your family? Give reasons.
4. Ask yourself: Did you get the gist; identifies key words and phrase, factual details and some implied meanings, and opinions; and interpret descriptions, reports and explanations?
5. CLB5L Listen to a co-worker, friend or classmate's likes and dislikes regarding the organization of an upcoming social event to respond and contribute ideas.
1. What are the facts mentioned in the voicemail?
2. Is the tone formal or casual?
3. What is the relationship between the caller and recipient?
4. What is the feeling of the caller? How do you know?
5. Write a short SMS/WeChat/Whatsapp text to respond to this voicemail. You may offer criticism, help, or suggestions, e.g. a joint effort or to share the cost of the potluck.
6. Ask yourself: Did you identify specific factual details and implied meanings; formal and casual style and register; language functions; emotional states from tone and intonation; the situation and relationships between speakers; and feelings such as interest, likes/dislikes, preferences.
6. CLB5L Follow directions on using public transit given over the phone. 
1. List the destinations and details in correct order, and find directions on Google Map.
2. Write down 3 questions about the directions.
3. Post your link with detailed TTC directions with those 3 questions.
4. Ask yourself: Did you follow a range of basic cohesive devices indicating order and sequence; seek clarification and confirmation if required; and respond with actions to directions and instructions?
2. Speaking
1. CLB5S Invite a friend, co-worker, or classmate to lunch.
1. Record your conversation with your partner on Chirbit.com, indicating who are speaking.

1. First greet each other.
2. Partner A invites Partner B to a lunch on Saturday. B says no and gives a reason, but invites A to lunch the following Saturday. A agrees but wants to understand some detail that is not clear about the lunch (e.g. who all will be there, going dutch, time, venue).
3. End the conversation in a friendly way, and record it the other way as well--i.e. Partner B starts by inviting A to an event on Saturday.
2. Ask yourself: Did you opens and maintain a conversation; respond to small talk; extend, accept or decline invitations; takes turns by giving non-verbal and verbal signals; encourage conversations by using eye contact, nodding, showing interest, etc.; and indicate non-comprehension?
2. CLB5S Give directions to a home or business.
1. Record a voicemail of your directions on Chirbit.com.
2. Begin with a polite greeting and the reason for the voicemail. Tell the person how to get from Don Mills Station to 1955 Steeles Ave East on the TTC, including the bus numbers, estimated waiting/arrival times, and street names.
3. Ask yourself: Did you use appropriate courtesy forms and structures and appropriate expressions to sequence instructions?
3. CLB5S Ask permission from a teacher to hand in an assignment late.
1. Record a voicemail of your request on Chirbit.com.
2. Begin with a polite greeting, state your request and good reasons for it. Think of a polite way to end.
3. Ask yourself: Did you provide details and give reasons, and did you use modals with the appropriate level of politeness?
4. CLB5S Describe symptoms to a pharmacist in order to get an appropriate medication.
1. The pharmacist asks you, "So, how can I help you today?" Record your detailed response on Chirbit.com.
2. Note the relationship and age of the person who needs the medication, and list the duration and nature of the symptoms--e.g. coughing for 3 days, rashes for 2 hours, fever of 39C overnight; and what you have done so far--e.g. Tylenol, massage, exercise.
3. Include 2 questions for the pharmacist.
4. Ask yourself: Did you provide necessary information; ask relevant questions; repeat information and ideas to confirm understanding; express opinions and feelings; agree and disagree appropriately; thank others for their contributions and information; and participate adequately in interactions with some degree of support from others?
5. CLB5S Answer the phone at work. Provide information to the caller (such as company name, hours of operation, basic information about a product or service).
1. Leave a telephone recording of the above details on Chirbit.com.
2. Include a tiny detail about a good or service not available, e.g. an advertised sale of mushrooms or free rides that has run out. What expressions would you use?
3. Ask yourself: Did you answer the phone, greet a caller, and close a conversation using appropriate conventions and expressions; and provide simple personal information?
6. CLB5S Give instructions to a new coworker on how to use an appliance, machine, or system at work, such as a photocopier or coffee-maker, or how to transfer a call on a telephone system.
1. Watch how your instructor makes coffee every morning and write down the three basic steps. What nouns, verbs, and prepositions are important to know? How would you show sequence and politeness?
2. Record on Chirbit.com your instructions to a new student on how to make coffee for everybody in your instructor's absence.
3. Ask yourself: Did you use appropriate courtesy forms and structures and appropriate expressions to sequence instructions?
3. Reading
1. CLB5R Read letters to an advice columnist in the newspaper to decide whether you agree with the advice given.
1. Do you agree with the advice given here?
2. Email Aunt Aggie what you think about her advice. Summarize in a sentence the situation, and comment on her attitude towards Josephine. What did you like or dislike about it, specifically? Do you think her advice was smart? Or helpful to everybody in general?
3. Ask yourself: Did you identify specific factual details and implied meanings; purpose of the message; reader/writer relationship; mood and attitude of the writer; and context, register and style?
2. CLB5R Follow instructions on how to unclog a drain using a commercial product.

1. Put the following instructions in the correct order:
• After clearing clog with Drano® Max Gel Clog Remover, follow up monthly with Drano® Prevention to prevent future clogs.
• Before going on to the second step, lock cap, pushing down on cap and screwing on tightly. 
• First, carefully push down on childproof cap with palm of hand and turn cap counterclockwise. Don't squeeze bottle or splash product. (Clean up any spills at once.) 
• For garbage disposal drains, follow steps two through four. If drain does not clear, do not turn on disposal since Drano® Max Gel Clog Remover may splash back. Consult plumber. 
• For tough problems, allow 30 minutes. Flush with hot water. Repeat steps two, three, and four if necessary. 
• Second, for use on clogged or slow-running drains, pour one half of the bottle (32 oz. size; one fourth of the 64 oz. size) slowly over drain. For extremely slow-running drains or complete clogs, pour in entire contents of 32 oz. bottle or one half of the 64 oz. bottle. 
• Third, allow to work for 15 minutes. 
2. What is a cheaper and more effective way of dealing with clogged drains? If your uncle is about to buy some Drano® product to unclog a drain at home, how will you advise him? Record your 60-second advice on Chirbit.com.
3. Ask yourself: Did you interpret sequence and location signals (such as first, next and before); and follow instructions and directions by responding with actions as required to complete task?
3. CLB5R Use 2 bus or train schedules to plan a trip that involves a stopover or transfer. Locate departure and arrival times to coordinate the travel.
1. Plan a class field trip from Don Mills Station to Union Station and back on both the TTC and GO Train. Discuss your route and budget with 2 classmates.
2. Draw a map by hand with details, including routes, fares, places, and times, and post it.
3. Ask yourself: Did you identify layout and organization of text to find the information needed; and did you find and use 1 or 2 pieces of information?
4. CLB5R Use an online resource (such as an occupational database) to find key information about own occupation or target occupation in Canada.
1. Look up a job you had and a job you would like to have using either Google.com or a website like Monster.ca or Job Bank.
1. Write down the titles for each job as well as company, salary, qualification, and other details.
2. Compare those jobs to going back to school and starting your own business. Include 2 additional questions you would like answered.
3. Post your list of comparisons and any comments or observations you may have. Then visit your classmates' blogs to offer answers to their 2 questions.
2. Ask yourself: Did you scan to locate relevant terms to access the information needed; access relevant information through a navigational source (Internet search engine, website, table of contents, index, glossary); and locate 2 relevant pieces of information in reference sources?
5. CLB5R Read a workplace email message about a company fundraising event to decide whether to participate.
1. If it's too small, use Ctrl-+ to enlarge the email. Read to find out or imagine how well Mike and Jenny know each other, the frequency of receiving such requests, and whether Jenny is in a position to donate. Discuss with 2 classmates when fundraising emails might become harassment, if ever.
2. Draft a short email response based on your reading and thinking about the situation.
3. Ask yourself: Did you identify specific factual details and implied meanings; purpose of the message; reader/writer relationship; mood and attitude of the writer; and context, register and style?
6. CLB5R Read an instructional text on the prevention and treatment of burns at home or in a work setting.
1. Imagine you were stuck in traffic and needed someone to help clean a wound. Study the paragraph on Wound Cleaning (p. 24), and identify 3 things that can be done to clean the wound before you get home. Put the 3 steps in correct order. Who would you ask help from at home to clean a wound? Give reasons.
2. Record a 60-second phone instruction on burn wound cleaning on Chirbit.com.
3. Ask yourself: Did you interpret sequence and location signals (such as first, next and before); and follow instructions and directions by responding with actions as required to complete task?
4. Writing
1. CLB5W Write a formal invitation for a group function (such as a company picnic, BBQ or potluck).
1. Have you ever received a formal invitation to a big event? Look at 10 formal invitations here, and write down 5-6 expressions of politeness or formality. These may include unusual adverbs, key nouns and verbs, and passive verb forms. How are they different from an informal invitation?
2. Think of a group function with some details, and write a formal invitation appropriate to that event.
3. Ask yourself: Did you convey the intended meaning; use language and content appropriate and relevant to the situation; and express main ideas and support them in some detail?
2. CLB5W Take notes from a pre-recorded telephone message (such as a company message about job openings, a message about a store’s location and hours of operation, or a message detailing a bus or train schedule). Include details for personal use.
1. Create a complete table of the store's information, and check it for correct spelling, formatting, etc.
2. Write in one complete sentence a note to yourself on when you might visit the store this week.
3. Ask yourself: Did you include important points with accurate details; convey a clear message; and record details (such as names, addresses, numbers, dates, times and directions) legibly, with correct spelling and other standard conventions of capitalization and punctuation?
3. CLB5W Write a note to an insurance company to cancel or change a policy and to request a refund.
1. View samples of insurance policy cancellation letters here. What are the key parts of each note? Is it important to include the policy number and date of termination? Write down 5-6 useful terms you could use.
2. Write a cancellation note including all the important details.
3. Ask yourself: Did you convey a sense of audience in language and format and convey the message clearly?
4. CLB5W Write a paragraph to report a factual event or incident, such as an accident, a workplace incident or a burglary.
1. You just witnessed something bad happen, and you have to write a report on it. Look at this sample, and notice the tenses used and details mentioned. What words communicated time and logic connections?
2. Write a 50-word report on what you saw. Be sure to have an introduction, body, and conclusion.
3. Ask yourself: Did you address the purpose of the task; express a main idea and support it with details; provide introduction, development, and conclusion in an adequate paragraph structure; provide accurate descriptions or accounts of events and adequate explanations where necessary; and use appropriate connective words?
5. CLB5W Write a letter or email to a friend to describe feelings about a new home town, English class or job.
1. What 3 things have you enjoyed the most, and what 3 things the least, in this LINC class? Give details for each. What tenses would you use to describe your experience and your feelings?
2. Write an email to a friend, maybe someone in your hometown, about how you feel. Would you be more formal or informal with this person?
3. Ask yourself: Did you convey the intended meaning; use language and content appropriate and relevant to the situation; and express main ideas and support them in some detail?
6. CLB5W Take notes from an advertising flyer on products, features, prices and retail locations to inform shopping decisions.
1. Check out the brands and promotions at this shopping destination.
2. Someone has proposed to go on a field trip to the place in the next two months. Imagine writing a comment under that proposal, using full sentences, stating your position. Whether you agree or not, be sure to include details of stores, times, brands, discounts, locations, etc., to strengthen your argument. Check for accuracy.
3. Ask yourself: Did you include important points with accurate details; convey a clear message; and record details (such as names, addresses, numbers, dates, times and directions) legibly, with correct spelling and other standard conventions of capitalization and punctuation?

Welcome to Portfolio-Based Language Assessment! Instead of tests and exams, your portfolio is used to show what you have done and can do in English!

These are the things you will need in your portfolio:

1. About Me Section--Write about:
1. Who are you?
2. What are your English learning goals in Level 4-5?
3. What are your goals for this week?
4. What have you learnt so far?
5. What I have enjoyed doing the most?
6. What I have enjoyed doing the least?
7. Any other comments I may have ...
2. Listening Artefacts
1. Dictation--versions 1.0, 2.0, etc.
2. Taking notes from eslpod.com, esl-lab.com, radio listening, etc.
3. Speaking Artefacts
1. Audioboom/Chirbit recordings
2. Photo of teacher's or classmates' feedback for in-class presentation
4. Reading Artefacts
1. Written or spoken records in response to reading task
2. Photo of Dictation Triptych or other handout for reading, with handwritten notes
5. Writing Artefacts
1. Field trip reports--versions 1.0, 2.0, etc.
2. Editing checklists
3. Forms for employment, healthcare, etc.
4. Emails
5. Blog postings
6. Social media postings and comments

Additional information:

If you would like to see what the paper binders look like, here are your Online Learning Companions for Levels 1 - 8:

1. CLB 1 - 4 
2. CLB 5 - 8
3. Binder Tabs

Here's the template for your tasks (e-artefacts) for your blog (e-portfolio):

1. TASK
2. ARTEFACT

Here's an example:

Please include: 1. Task, 2. Answer, and 3. Corrected Answer