Yakety Yak and Kayak

Great weather today! Early comers catch the warmth! Here we are, but where's Reyadh, Yoo Li, and Noor?

And what a whale of a time we had! Food, frolic, and folly. Didn't feel much of the earthquake. Much to thank the Creator for.

Let's share our pictures, everyone! (Holiday Assignment: please don't forget to check Peter's input on your blogs above, under Writing Workshop.)

Don't miss more pictures and a short video, below.

Friday's Field Trip to Bluffers Park

This Friday's field trip is to Bluffer's Park. Here's the tentative program:

1. Meet and Greet 9:45 a.m.
2. Brunch Picnic, Land and Lake Activities 10 a.m.
3. Head Back for Cookie Factory (370 Progress Ave.) and Thrift Store 12:30 p.m.
4. Arrive Home by around 2:30 p.m.

Bring sunglasses, a snack, some water, and clothing and footwear appropriate to the weather.


View Larger Map

Learning to Camp, in the Child Minding Room Downstairs

One of our learning emphases is to embrace the great Canadian outdoors, and what better way than to bring the outdoors indoors, like what happened this morning, courtesy of Ontario Parks' Learn to Camp program.

Lena checks in

So, who's stealing the big poster board? Is it Kate or Katie?

Monday's Assignment

Welcome! The theme for this week is Community & Government Services— Recreation Facilities & Community Centres.


Here are your tasks for this afternoon:

1. Research with a Partner: Check out the Toronto Fun Guide.
1. Find the registration code for Camp Naorca for 10-year-old Pushpa for nine days beginning on July 29.
2. Her brother would like to learn Digital Film Production at Oriole CC from August 12; what would his registration code be?
2. Role Play: Getting Childcare
3. Check your blogs thoroughly using the Editing Checklist.

Friday's Assignment

Here we are, on our last day of studying about a child's education.

1. Use your Editing Checklist to edit your blog. Ask a partner to check before clicking to update. 
2. Listening Comprehension: School Report 
3. Role Play: Enjoying Nature

Wednesday's Assignment

Those who had to leave early due to our IT problem this afternoon can record their response to "So, tell me about yourself" at vocaroo.com. I will be checking your blogs around 10:15 p.m. this evening.

Educating a child is probably different from some of your home countries. Today, we'll be having a look at some of the educational practices and options in your new country:

1. Listening Comprehension: A Day in School
2. Check out Ontario’s E-Learning options and discuss with a partner.
3. Role Play: Staying Home from School

Bonus: Would anyone like to take dictation of this?

Last Friday's Field Trip

Thanks to Farnaz and Anna, here are some pictures from last week's field trip to the neighbourhood. Among the highlights were a Japanese restaurant that offered our class a discount; the MPP's constituency office, which gave us their bagels and cookies; and an Eastern European and a Filipino supermarket. Not to mention several lungfuls of aerial pollen as well, scratch twitch tchoo, excuse me.

Monday's Assignment

Welcome back! This week we consider the topic of a Child's Education.

1. Complete all the amendments to your blog based on your teacher's proofreading marks.
2. Following our lesson this morning on children's dreams for education, listen again and practise your pronunciation. Then listen again and answer these 20 questions.
3. Reading: Compare Ontario’s grade structure with other provinces’ and territories’, and share what you learnt with a partner.
4. Role Play: Talking to Your Child
5. Vocabulary: Getting Childcare

Good or Gross--What Do You Think of Canadian Food?

What do beaver stew, beaver tail, poutine, lièvre à la royale, and tourtière have in common?



They're all recognized as "Canadian food," but I'm staying with maple snow taffee and Coffee Crisps! Or going entirely mutlicultural and "ethnic" after reading this article.

Animal blood? Trans fat and saturated fat? Meh, I don't know. I think I'll stick to Scarborough, with its dimsum, Indian buffets, Korean/Japanese AYCEs, and stuff. And I'll go a bit Canadian for dessert--besides the maple-syrup and candy stuff already mentioned, perhaps a Nanaimo bar or two?

Ah, can't wait for the return of Toronto's Tasty Thursdays!

Friday's Assignment

 T.G.I.F. Here's your last interview-related assignment for the week:

1. Write your résumé using the template, altering any sensitive information (e.g. address, company names, dates, etc.). Have a partner check it before publishing on your blog.
2. Make all corrections to your blog.
3. Listening practice: watch this video with CC turned on.
4. Practise role playing with a partner, and record your conversation on Vocaroo.com: Negotiating a Salary.

Wednesday's Assignment

Great job fair this morning! Way to go, guys!

 

 

So, here's what we're going to do this afternoon:

1. Blog on the five sentences that you wrote out this morning.
2. Listening Comprehension—fill in 9 blanks: IELTS Job Interview
3. Role Play: Preparing a Video Résumé