Wednesday, June 11th, 2014

Good afternoon LINC 7,

Hooray! We've made it to the end of the year! Thanks for all of your hard work and enthusiasm this term.  I wish you all all the best in your next steps.  

Over the summer, what you are you going to do to keep your English growing?  Remember English is like a muscle.  If you don't use it, it'll get flabby. ;)

Here are some links organized by skill to help you keep improving your English over the summer:


Speaking:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/webcast/tae_betterspeaking_archive.shtml

http://m.busyteacher.org/18521-10-esl-speaking-mistakes-students-make.html

Listening:

http://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_dare_to_disagree

http://ed.ted.com/on/gTGfE82A#review

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/index.shtml

http://breakingnewsenglish.com/



Grammar:

http://blog.ed.ted.com/2014/05/29/be-a-better-writer-in-15-minutes-4-ted-ed-lessons-on-grammar-and-word-choice/

http://www.englishpage.com/

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/word-games/verb-machine

http://blog.britishcouncil.org/tag/blog-awards/

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com.es/2014/06/gerund-or-infinitive.html?m=1

http://www.engames.eu/verbs-prepositions-ii/

http://talk2meenglish.blogspot.co.il/2014/05/the-present-simple-1-back-to-basics.html?m=1

http://www.engames.eu/nouns-prepositions/

Pronunciation:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/quiz/quiz1/



Test Preparation:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1143_exams/

http://www.ieltspractice.com/

http://ielts-simon.com/



Mohawk College Writing Centre:

http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/studentservices/writing-centre/esl-resources.html

http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/studentservices/writing-centre/helpful-fact-sheets.html


Also, don't forget that the Hamilton Public Library (4th floor, ESL section) is filled with hundreds of books for you to use.  

Have a lovely and safe summer!

Kim

Wednesday, May 28th, 2014

Good afternoon LINC 7,

This afternoon, you will begin preparing for your final presentation.  This time, you'll be working in pairs. You and your partner will be given a topic.  You create a 15-20 minute presentation using PowerPoint, Prezi, or other visuals showing both sides of your topic and the opinions of you and your partner.  The structure will be roughly something like this:

1. the 'Agree' side
2. the 'Disagree' side
3. Yours and your partner's side (either agree or disagree; both agree or both disagree)

You will need to provide a balance of information on both sides before presenting your own opinions. Remember to create interesting slides with visuals and not to much text.  You're presenting, not reading or asking your audience to read your information from the slides.  Also, think about your delivery and try to incorporate features to make your presentation interesting and engaging for the audience. 

You will be evaluated on the coherence and balance of your content, your delivery, and finally, on your ability to communicate effectively.  

Presentations will begin on June 11th.

Wednesday, May 21st, 2014

Good afternoon LINC 7,

This afternoon, you'll be completing two tasks.  First, I'd like you to complete the self-assessment for the presentation you completed this morning.  Once you finished it, please hand it in, so I can complete my assessment of your presentation.

Next, you going to listen to a CBC podcast and take detailed notes.  You will use your notes to discuss your podcast with your classmates on Monday.

Here's a format that you might use for taking notes:


Title:_______________________________

New vocabulary:
-__________________________
-__________________________
-__________________________

Main Ideas                                                                    Details/examples:

* ___________________                                      - __________________

* ___________________                                      - __________________

* ___________________                                      - __________________

* ___________________                                      - __________________

Go to these two CBC websites and choose one podcast.  There are many different topics, so you shouldn't have any difficulty finding one of interest to you.  

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/current-affairs-information/the-current/

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/current-affairs-information/white-coat-black-art/

Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 14th, 2014

Good afternoon LINC 7,

This afternoon, you will be working on two tasks. First, I would like you to prepare a short descriptive presentation (8-10 mins.) which you present for us starting next Wednesday (May 21st).  When you're preparing, please keep the things in mind that we have been practicing about organization and delivery. I will be evaluating your organization and content, as well as your delivery, so please be enthusiastic.   You may use visuals, picture, PowerPoint, Prezi, etc. if you wish to enhance your presentation.  Choose a topic from this list:

1. In your opinion, what is the most important characteristic (for example, honesty, intelligence, a sense of humor) that a person must have to be successful in life? Use specific reasons and examples from your experience to explain your answer.

2. If you were asked to send one thing representing your country to an international exhibition, what would you choose? Why? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

3. Your city has decided to build a statue or monument to honor a famous person in your country. Who would you choose? Use reasons and specific examples to support your choice.

4. Describe a custom from your country that you would like people from other countries to adopt. Explain your choice, using specific reasons and examples.

5. A foreign visitor has only one day to spend in your country. Where should this visitor go on that day? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

6. If you could go back to some time and place in the past, when and where would you go? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

7. What discovery in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

8. People have different ways of escaping the stress and difficulties of modern life. Some read; some exercise; others work in their gardens. What do you think are the best ways of reducing stress? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

9. People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge). Why do you think people attend college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

10. Nowadays, food has become easier to prepare. Has this change improved the way people live? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

When your finished, you can move on and do some more practice with word stress:

http://evaeaston.com/stress-pattern.html

Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 7th, 2014

Good afternoon LINC 7,

Please begin by writing a one paragraph summary of the lecture from this morning.  You may use your notes to help you.  Please hand in your notes, comprehension question answers, and summary at the end of class.  

Here are some tips for taking better notes:

For those of you who have not completed the autobiography for your learning portfolio, please refer to the blog entry from April 23 for instructions.  

Ideally, you will also have some extra time to work on word stress.  Please follow the link to read more about word stress.

http://www.really-learn-english.com/word-stress.html

Here's an online exercise for extra practice:

http://esol.britishcouncil.org/pronunciation/identify-stressed-syllables

Enjoy!

Wednesday, April 30th, 2014

Good afternoon LINC 7,  

This afternoon, I'm going to give you some time to work on your autobiographies and goal statements for your portfolios. Please finish your final versions of your autobiographies and submit them via email.  Then, you can finish creating your list of goals for language learning.  This video might help you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cCiqbSJ9fg

Finally, go to the VoiceThread and post your comments for today's slides.

https://voicethread.com/share/5608869/

Enjoy!

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014

Good afternoon LINC 7,

This afternoon, we are going to be creating a document for your new learning portfolios.  This morning, we talked about the purpose of a portfolio and how we will be using them.  In the first section, 'About Me', you will place information about your specific needs and goals.  The first document will be your autobiography.  This is your story about who you are, where you're from and what you're planning to do in the future?

Please write several paragraphs describing what you think are the important details of your life.  You don't need to write anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.  This information will help you to assess your needs, establish your goals, and make a plan for your future learning.  
Submit your writing before the end of class, and it will become part of your portfolio.  

Once you've finished your autobiography, please follow the link to the POSE Test.  I would like you to complete the 'Word Stress' test.  

http://eslactivities.com/pt/mainMenu.phpsesID=7a774dc993e99bd547dedfa39b03cd13

Enjoy!