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.