New Year's Resolutions

Listen to the Youtube video below.  Can you write down the "good" resolutions and the "bad" resolutions you hear?

Lyrics to the song can be found here:

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=6847

New Websites to Practice English

Today in class we talked about making plans and discussed vocabulary for how to invite/accept/decline invitations.  We also listened to some dialogues about making plans.  The websites below give you an opportunity to listen to real English being spoken, learn new ways to say things, and practice your pronunciation.

Please practice your English every day over your 2-week vacation!

English Speak

Daily ESL

ESL Fast

Linking Y & W + Vowel Sound

The video below gives very slow examples on how to link /y/ to /w/ + vowel sound.  Warning:  there are long pauses between the examples.

 




American English Pronunciation - Listen & Practice

I wish...

 

Level 2 students completed an "IF" packet today and the last thing learned was "wishes".  The EngVid video below is an excellent summary of what was discussed.

 

 

"Wish" can be used in many ways in English.  The website below explains all of them and you can also complete several online exercises.

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/wish/menu.php

Here is another website with many excellent examples of how to use "wish" in the present, past, and future along with online exercises.

http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/condition4a.html

Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps

“If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.”

Dave Ramsey Baby Steps

How to Link Words that Begin with 'H"

         Disappearing /h/

Level 2: Animated Short Story Paperman

 

You can re-watch the video on Youtube.  If the video gets pulled off, just type it in the search box to find another copy.

 

Let it Snow!!

"Get to know" the 2016 Presidential Candidates

http://presidential-candidates.insidegov.com/

http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm

http://www.politics1.com/p2016.htm

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/your-guide-to-the-2016-presidential-candidates/article/2564959

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/what-the-candidates-believe/

Pronouncing Can vs Can't

Story Time for Me - Online Listening and Reading Practice

This is just one example of many sites with free online stories for children. The narrators read clearly and slowly. You can use these kinds of stories to practice reading aloud.

http://storytimeforme.com/series

Youtube: Real English

This video explains what Real English is and how it can help you improve your English.  There are several videos that can help with your listening comprehension.  It can also be used on your phone.

7 Essentials for English Fluency

International Thanksgiving 2015

Reservation Challenges for some Native American Indians

 

 



 

TH and SH Pronunciation Practice with Dave Sconda

 

TH pronunciation practice

 

 

SH pronunciation practice

 

English Meeting with Dave Sconda

 

 

Free Visual Online Dictionary

Take a look at a website that I recently heard about - Snappy Words!  If you place your cursor on the word(s) inside a circle, you will also see an example sentence.  I used the word "glance" since we discussed it in class on Wednesday.

http://www.snappywords.com/?lookup=glance

Level 2 Writing Assignment - Write a 3 Paragraph Essay

You must write a 3 paragraph essay giving reasons why ________ is a popular place to visit in your home country.

An example for the USA is:

Grand Canyon National Park is one of America's most popular national parks for several reasons.

Your 1st paragraph will be your introduction, your 2nd paragraph will be your main body, and your 3rd paragraph will be your conclusion.

It is important to create an outline for your essay before you begin to write.  Here is an example outline:

I.  Introduction (3 sentences, including your thesis)

II. Body

     A.  First Point
           1.  Supporting Sentence/Example
           2.  Supporting Sentence/Example

     B.  Second Point
           1.  Supporting Sentence/Example
           2.  Supporting Sentence/Example

     C.  Third Point
           1.  Supporting Sentence/Example
           2.  Supporting Sentence/Example

III.  Conclusion

Remember to write your essay in "3rd Person" (do not use I, my, mine, we, ours, you, yours).

Writing No-No: Never Use 1st or 2nd Person in Academic Writing

Warning:  The information below is very challenging!

Using 1st or 2nd person is a common mistake that beginning writers often make.  It is only okay to do this when your writing assignment is a personal essay.

The video below helps you understand this idea.

The following two websites help to further clarify this concept:

English Composition 1: Formal Writing Voice

Pronouns in 1st person, 2nd person, and 3rd person

How to Write in 3rd Person

Pumpkin Carving 2015

On bottom photo, from left to right:  Wanna, Sozan, Medhat, Ivette, Nabil, Suheidy, Fatiha, Mousef, Chan, Cristina, Dalia