Last Day Party Pictures

Have a wonderful winter holiday!

 

 

Holiday Season

See how much you know about Christmas by taking these quizzes.
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz2431621bd7338.html
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz229312a31f0.html

Optional:
LEARN ABOUT OTHER DECEMBER HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/TM/WS_lp2255_tf.shtml
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/winter-holidays-around-the-world.html


********RESEARCH A CHRISTMAS TRADITION:**********

Some Christmas traditions in North America are:
Hanging stockings
Christmas trees
Mistletoe
Santa Claus
Christmas Caroling (singing)

1. Research a Christmas tradition on the Internet. Where does the tradition come from? There are many sources of information and different stories. Which one do you believe? Print it out.

2. Does your culture celebrate Christmas? If yes, how is it different than the way we celebrate in North America?

3. What does Christmas mean to you (even if you do not celebrate it)? Peace and joy? A time for family and giving? Overindulgence (buying and eating too much)?

If possible, please post your answers to the questions here in the comments-- or print it out.

Level 4A Class Slide Show

Turn on your speakers!!

Click Here:  Holiday Slide Show

 

Future Time Clauses

FUTURE TIME CLAUSES

Read the example sentences

WHEN

When I finish writing the reports, I will go out with my friends.

She will move to San Diego when she finds a good job.

When the party is over, we’ll clean the house.

BEFORE

Before I go to Paris, I’ll book a room.

Murat will visit all his relatives before he joins the army.

They won’t transfer any players before they sign the advertising agreement.

AFTER

After her sister prepares dinner, they’ll invite their neighbours.

My father will buy a new car after he saves enough money.

What will you do after you finish the French course?

AS SOON AS

They will go to the beach as soon as they have their breakfast.

All the players in the national team will go on holiday as soon as the Europian Championship is over.

Don’t worry mom. I will phone you as soon as I arrive Paris. OR   As soon as I arrive in Paris, I will phone you. 

UNTIL

You can go out. I will wait until she calls.

They won’t start the match until the rain stops.

I won’t buy anything new until I pay all my debts. OR   Until I pay all my debts, I won't buy anything new. 

IF

If I go home early tonight, I will watch the Olympic Games.

Tak will buy a new TV set if the price goes down.

If you pass the test, what will you do?

HAVE YOU NOTICED THE STRUCTURE ?

when, after, before, as soon as, until, if are followed by SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE.

Main clauses in these sentences are followed by future ‘will’.

Click here for website:  future time clauses- when-before-after-as-soon-as-until

Practice Phrasal Verbs

To learn about them, click here: Phrasal Verbs

To quiz yourself, click here: Quiz Phrasal Verbs

See the Holiday Lights Near Pasadena!

There are some beautiful places to see the Christmas lights near Pasadena. You will be amazed at these places. It's well worth it! You can even drive in a car with your PJ's and hot chocolate and see the lights! Thanks to this person who blogged this information.

http://ablogawayfromhome.blogspot.com/2007/12/neighborhood-christmas-light-displays.html

You Can Make a Difference!

ESL Dictation Game

Make comments in VoiceThread

Hi Students,

Please go to this link here below and leave some comments on the Unit 2 Voice Thread.
1) Register
2) Sign in to make a video, audio, or text comment on each slide.

 Thank you!

Click here: Voice Thread Unit 2

Study for the CASAS Test Level 4

Please study for the CASAS Post Test here:

Level B: http://esl.adultinstruction.org/documents/WIA80Series-LevelB.pdf

Level C: http://esl.adultinstruction.org/documents/WIA185-186Series.pdf

Thanks! :)

To Ask or Not to Ask (Indirect Questions)

Tuesday, November 27th

Hi Class!

We only have 2 1/2 weeks left in class. Where has the time gone? Before I forget, I want to acknowledge each and every one of you for getting up so early in the morning and dealing with traffic to get to your ESL class. I admire your dedication, and your efforts will pay off!

Today we are in the lab until 9ish. Here's what you can do:

1) Work on Unit 3 in Ventures Arcade Website (Test Wed. after break)

2) Type up a writing piece that I have edited.

3) Go to the PCC Canvas Login site, open this course, and try to leave a VoiceThread message in Unit 2 VoiceThread. I will help you!

https://canvas.pasadena.edu/login
 

Class Photos ESL 1064 A -- In the Computer Lab

 

Tuesday Lab

Happy Thanksgiving next Thursday, November 22:

 

1) Take a Thanksgiving quiz:

http://funschool.kaboose.com/fun-blaster/thanksgiving/quiz/index.html

 

2) Learn about Thanksgiving (and answer the questions)

http://www.ego4u.com/en/read-on/countries/holidays/thanksgiving/history

 

Unit 2 -At School

 

1) Go into Canvas (from the PCC website, enter your 8 digit ID and birth month/ birth day). Then, try to go into the VoiceThread Unit 2 (same login info) and leave comments.

 

 

2) Listening Activity ---Randall's Listening Lab:  

Grades for this assignment come from the quiz: false
Click here to go to the quiz

This assignment is linked to the discussion, false. Grading will be based on posts in the topic.
Click here to go to the discussion

Instructions:

• Choose one or more of the listening activities:

(easy) College Life http://esl-lab.com/school1/scholrd1.htm

(medium) College Majors http://esl-lab.com/collegemajor/collegemajorrd1.htm

(difficult) A University Degree http://esl-lab.com/universitydegree/universitydegreerd1.htm

• Do the activity. The first time: listen (with no script text) and take the quiz. Remember your score. How did you do?

• Listen again the second time: and select the "Quiz Script" at the top of the page. Listen while you read. Take the quiz again. Remember your score. Did you improve your understanding?

• You can also do any activities shown after the quiz you selected! Have fun!

3) Using the Passive Voice (Unit 2- Lesson B & C).      

BE + Past Participle

Watch these two videos:

4)  Study Unit 2 in Ventures Arcade (Do you have your Ventures Arcade Checklist?)

Unit 2 At School

Higher Education in California





Here are two fantastic websites that show and give information about all the community colleges, public state colleges and university colleges in  California

http://www.campusoutreach.ucsb.edu/ap/ca_highered.html


http://www.cpec.ca.gov/CollegeGuide/HigherEdSystems.asp


How many community colleges are there?

How many Cal States are there?

How many UCs are there?

Thanksgiving and Freerice.com

 

 

 

November already?!! Thanksgiving Holiday is fast approaching this year on Thursday, Nov. 22nd. The Simpsons image here reminds me of what Thanksgiving looks like in my home. Seriously, it is good to pause, spend time with the people we love, and "count our blessings".

 

Here is a fun website (freerice.com) to learn English while helping end hunger in the world. For each answer you get right, Free Rice will donate 10 grains of rice through The World Food Program to help end hunger.

Thank you! To complete registration, please check your inbox for your confirmation email with your log in details.

Thank you! Your parent has been sent a confirmation email with your log in details.

 

ENGLISH

• English Vocabulary
• English Grammar

The world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide

Freerice is owned by and supports the World Food Programme (WFP).

Here it is: http://www.freerice.com/category

 

 

Welcome to the New Level 4A Class (Oct. 22- Dec 13)- Presentation Due Monday

Hi Everyone,

It was so fun to meet all of you on Monday! Remember to check the syllabus for important information about the class. :)

 

Presentation about Your Native Country

We want to learn about other countries, so you will have a presentation assignment (due Monday) about your native country. You may work in a group (in class with poster paper), or you may elect to give a short presentation on your own (using the computer with images).

 

Please be prepared to tell us about some of these areas and show us some pictures:

Location (map)

Geography (mountains? rivers? fields? etc...)

Climate (weather in each season)

Food (most popular)

Customs (important celebrations or traditions)

Dress (what people wear sometimes)

Religions


If you have any other suggestions, please let me know. This will be fun!!






 

Pictures

Pictures

More Pictures

Last Day Party

Thanks to Grace for these wonderful photos! I wish all of you happiness and success in your future endeavors!

 

Volunteer Assignment due tomorrow (Wed. 10/17)

 

 

Looking for a place to volunteer? Try Volunteer Match:

http://www.volunteermatch.org/

 

 

Article: Volunteer for the City of Monrovia

 

Why Volunteer?

 

Improve your English!!

Network- Connect with People

Gain Valuable Experience and Skills

To Help Others and Feel Better

May Lead to a Job

Find your Passion

Explore an Interest

Meet New Friends

Add it to your Resume

Be Part of your Community

Change your Life

 



 

 

 

Are You Stressed Out?

Stress Management:

How stressed are you? Take the "Healthy Lifestyle Quiz" or one of the other quizzes to find out. Then make a comment and tell us about your results.

http://stress.about.com/od/selfknowledgeselftests/a/lifestylequiz.htm

 

 

Coping with Stress- Poster Project

Wow! Great job with this project! Sorry that some pictures are blurry.

Interesting Interview about Possible Food Scarcity

1 - 0 of nullprevnext

 

1 - 0 of nullprevnext

Food is the New Oil and Land the New Gold: Lester Brown

Click on this website to see the (video) interview with Lester Brown:

 

 

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/food-oil-land-gold-lester-brown-113235261.html

 

 

Feel free to leave your comments about this topic!

Expressing Regret

on the other hand, however , by contrast, similarly, in addition

We are now writing paragrpahs using transition words that either signal the reader how the next sentence will relate to what you just said (beginning of sentence), or will help your reader follow your meaning or logic (middle of sentence).

Using transitional words and phrases
helps papers read more smoothly, and at the same time allows the reader to flow more smoothly from one point to the next.

Transitions enhance logical organization and understandability
and improve the connections between thoughts. They indicate relations,
whether within a sentence, paragraph, or paper.

This list illustrates categories of "relationships" between ideas,followed by words and phrases that can make the connections:


Here is a great website with transitional words and phrases:

http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr6.htm

 

In the ESL Lab

Our class is hard at work learning English in the lab.

Our Level 4A Class! (8/27- 10/18)

Thanks to Camila for these photos! More class photos to come.

 

Great News Source- The New York Times (Global/Online)

The New York Times (online) is a wonderful place to read the most current world news and some pretty fascinating articles, too! Here is the link to the newspaper and to an interesting article I stumbled across. Feel free to give your opinion about the newspaper, or this article about music lessons. Just make a comment below.

New York Times



NY Times Article: Early Music Lessons Have Longtime Benefits

Dreams for the Future

Where will you be five years from today?

I am excited to talk about this week's lessons regarding school and careers. Many of you would like to go to school to explore, start, or transition to a new career/job. This website California Career Cafe will guide you to:

Identify Your Strengths and Talents

Match Your Personality to Careers

Use Your Learning Style

Be a Great Student

Make Math Matter

Set Goals

So give this website a try. It is a really fun way to learn more about yourself and set goals- something we could all use a litttle help with.

Instructions:

1) Click here on this link below to begin with the main page and watch the video!

California Career Cafe
(http://www.cacareercafe.com/get-started/)

2) Follow the steps in each of the 6 areas.

3) After you finish, please come back here to comment on your experience.

What did you learn?
Was this website helpful?

Thanks!

 

Study Ideas for Unit 1 Test (Thursday)

Hello Class! Thanks for showing up each day and being such wonderful students.

We have Unit 1 Test on Thursday (tomorrow). You can study for this by reviewing your student books and workbooks.

Another great idea is to go  to the Ventures Arcade Website (see the link on the right- one of the first few links). Remember to go to the PURPLE color (Level 4) and Unit 1. It's a fun way to review and learn. Here is the link also: http://cambridge.org/venturesarcade

Have fun!

Welcome Fall Level 4A Students!

 

Hello to my lovely level 4A class! Do you like this picture? I actually took this picture last summer when my daughter was at a running (cross country) training camp in Mammoth, CA. This is my most favorite place in California! No crowds- and the most beautiful air and scenery anywhere!

 

Where is your favorite place that you have visited? Please sign in to my blog here with a Google account (can use your regular email) and reply with your name and favorite place. Also, why do you like that place so much? You may include a picture (download from Google images) if you wish!

 

I will try to update this blog every few days or so to give you English learning mini lessons. Please take time to explore some of the resource links (English learning websites to the right) when you have time.

 

Remember when we were talking about the different English verb tenses and when to use them? Check out the link on the right in the Grammar area called Explains Tenses Using Cartoons. It will give you a lot of info about all the verb tenses and how/when you use them. Moving cartoons in time...it's really cool!

See you soon!