Tuesday's Speaking Assignment

Did you recognize this music?

How do we talk about a field trip? What things are worth telling? What are not? What vocabulary do you need? What tense to use?

No refunds, you Christmas carollers!

Here are your tasks:

1. Read the first five paragraphs of this news article.
1. Find at least five new words to learn their meaning and pronunciation.
2. Locate the names of stations on the subway map, and trace your journey to the concert.
3. Compare your results with a partner's. You may need to interview a partner if you didn't go.
2. Rate how you and others did on the following concert rules of etiquette (Good/Could be better/Atrocious); then compare your rating with a partner:
1. The concert begins at noon, lasting approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. 
2. When you arrive, please check in with an usher. The ushers will seat your group. 
3. Please arrange to have lunch prior to arrival or after departure. Please note that food, beverages and gum are not permitted in Roy Thomson Hall. 
4. Concert etiquette serves to provide the best possible listening environment for you, your fellow audience members and the performers on stage. Your group’s consideration for fellow patrons and performers will ensure everyone’s full enjoyment of the live performance. Please observe proper concert etiquette throughout. Patrons may be asked to leave the auditorium if they are disturbing others. 
5. Cameras, cell phones and video games are not permitted in the auditorium.
3. Note down briefly what you liked the most and the least and what surprised you.
4. Organize your thoughts, and record a 2-minute report of yesterday's field trip on Youtube.com, Audioboom.com, or Chirbit.com.
5. Guess what to do next after publishing the audio on your e-portfolio.

Important Announcements for November/December

Mon Dec 12: Field Trip to Amadeus Choir Concert at Roy Thompson Hall

Discuss which rules are similar or dissimilar to those from another country that you have lived in.

You don't want to miss our annual year-end free concert with reserved seating for MicroSkills. Please do not arrive any later than 11:30 or you will definitely be with the crowds standing in line. As seating is limited and on a first-come basis, coming before 11:30 does not guarantee a place in reserved seating. Those going from Don Mills Station are welcome to grab this map.

Please note that the concerts are suitable for children aged 6 years and up.

Day of the concert:

 The concert begins at noon, lasting approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.

 When you arrive, please check in with an usher. The ushers will seat your group.

 Please arrange to have lunch prior to arrival or after departure. Please note that food, beverages and gum are not permitted in Roy Thomson Hall.

 Concert etiquette serves to provide the best possible listening environment for you, your fellow audience members and the performers on stage. Your group’s consideration for fellow patrons and performers will ensure everyone’s full enjoyment of the live performance. Please observe proper concert etiquette throughout. Patrons may be asked to leave the auditorium if they are disturbing others.

 Cameras, cell phones and video games are not permitted in the auditorium.

Friday's Writing Assignment

What's happening on December 25 this year? What else?

Who and what do you see in the picture? Discuss with a partner.

Here are your tasks:

1. Do this lesson on Hanukkah.
2. Plan a one-hour driving tour to see Hanukkah lights in Toronto. Where and when would you go?
3. Publish your Google Maps itinerary giving a reason for each destination.
1. Check your classmates' maps on times and places.
2. Leave a comment!

Thursday's Speaking Assignment

There is one more cultural celebration in December, and no, it's not Boxing Day.

Here are your tasks:

1. Do this lesson on Kwanzaa.
2. Find a nearby location, indoor or outdoor (dressed warmly), to do a 30-second donut selfie speech:
1. first introducing yourself, 
2. then giving 2 details about what you learnt about Kwanzaa, and 
3. finally, what it means to you personally.

Wednesday's Assignment with Despina

Today we have Despina teaching a wonderful lesson (click on the link)!

Tuesday's Listening Assignment

Some year-end ceremonies in Canada are not happy or merry. What do you think is happening in the picture below?

Do the words Marc Lepine, Gamil Gharbi, Ecole Polytechnique, and Montreal Massacre mean anything to you?

Here are your tasks:

1. Watch this video from 1:46 - 2:34 without CC.
1. Check off the words you hear: donut, friends, Joe, moo, pollis, selling, tennis, women. 
2. Check your findings with 2 partners.
2. In no more than 50 words, write on how families, society, and the police respond to domestic or gendered violence in another country as compared to Canada. Then write a sentence on how you feel as a newcomer to Canada.

Monday's Reading Assignment

This is a month of many Canadian celebrations.

What do you say in December: Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas?

Discuss with a partner.


Here are your tasks:

1. Discuss what was heard and seen at last week’s field trip to CBC, and check out the website.
2. Compare the modern to the traditional celebration. Discuss the following:
1. Which country is mentioned in both readings?
2. What are the similarities?
3. What are the differences?
4. Why?
5. So what?

Thursday's Writing Assignment

Do you think it's easier for older people to experience bone loss?

Check out 5 of these cartoons, and see what true/false assumptions some of them have.

Here are your tasks:

1. Role play: Breaking an Arm and a Leg
2. Watch 0:00 - 6:30 of this video and create a list of dos and don’ts for a health brochure for new immigrants.
1. Include a great title, an introduction, a table of things to avoid or focus on, a conclusion, and at least 1 picture.
2. Have 3 classmates check it carefully before publishing.

Tuesday's Listening Assignment

What mosquito-borne diseases can you think of?

Do you consider them modern? Why or why not?

How about Zika, eh?

1. Listen to this recording in Medium (N. American English) and one more.
2. Do this spelling exercise and this dictation exercise.
3. Listen to the Medium (N. American English) reading again.
4. On a blank world map, include details about Zika virus in three different areas/countries mentioned in the audio. Include three different areas/countries NOT mentioned in the audio, and mark them differently.

Monday's Reading Assignment

Welcome back! How has your Black Friday and Cyber Monday long weekend gone?

Our theme this week is on Modern Diseases. Can you explain the following picture?

Here are your tasks:

1. Role play: Flexible and Mobile
2. Read your cutout, and publish three T/F statements based on it.
   
1. Indicate which cutout was yours: A, B, C, or D?
2. Go answer your classmates’ T/F statements on their blogs under comments. 
3. Then copy their statements with your answers to your blog.
3. Work with a partner to create a 60-second video or poster on Sitting Disease.

Thursday's Speaking Assignment

What are some things you talk about in a professional relationship?

What can you say about your colleagues and friends?

What can you say about your day in the office?

Here are your tasks:

1. Role play: Socializing at a Reception
2. Vocabulary: Types of People at Work
3. Discuss with a partner how best to answer the question at a reception, “So how was your day today?”
1. Make a 2-minute chirbit recording of your answer.
2. Listen to your classmates’ stories and leave a nice response for each.