Grammar Class 11-30-09

Hello Class,

Today you can work on FOCUS ON GRAMMAR on this computer. We have been studying TAG ENDINGS, Unit 7 in your book, Unit 6 on the HIGH INTERMEDIATE FOG program. We will also be learning SO, TOO, NEITHER, etc. Unit 8 in your book, and Unit 7 on the FOG program.

Good Luck!

:)Bonnie

Nov. 30th Level 5 ESL Class - Monday 8:30am-10:40am

Good Morning Class!

Here are your super fun assignments for today. There's plenty to do, so get started!

1) You can start your Final Project.

Next Tuesday, December 8th through December 15th, our CEC Level 5 class will give their Final Presentation to the class.

Your final project should be of interest and importance to you and this should reflect in your presentation.

You may work with a partner or in a team as long as you commit to do your part of the assignment.

Choose one of the following activities to present to your class:

►Possible Topics and Activities:

1) Tell us about your country.

2) Tell us about your career choice.

3) Tell us about your favorite hero, musician, singer, actor, writer, friend, or….?

4) Tell us about your favorite hobby.

5) Show us your talent: dance, sing, jump, cook, talk, perform, or….?


►Possible Presentation Materials:

You should have pictures, music, maps, PowerPoint, or some kind of realia (something to show) to enhance your presentation.


►Time: 5 to 10 Minutes: If you need more than 5 to 10 minutes just ask.

2) Passive Voice

Today, you can work on the passive voice on the Focus On Grammar program. Go to Unit 18 and/or 19 (sometimes the program is not the same as our book, so just check the index for the passive voice.)

Enjoy!

GRAMMAR CLASS!

Happy Wednesday!

Today we are working on the Future Perfect and Future Perfect Progressive!
You can use the F.O.G. program on this computer (it's not on the internet.)
Also, you can click on the grammar links on the right-side of this page.

Here are some internet links explaining the grammar points,you can also access these from your home computer:

http://www.myenglishteacher.net/future_perfect_and_future_perf_progressive.html

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futureperfect.html

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futureperfectcontinuous.html

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/tenses/future_perfect_progressive.htm

Have fun!

:)Teacher Bonnie

LEVEL 5: ARMY OF ONE

Good Morning Class,

You have read the article about the last US World War 1 veteran fighting for a memorial in Washington DC. To hear Mr. Buckles describe his WW1 service, go to:

http://www.tinyurl.com/hearbuckles

November 11th is next week, it is a holiday to celebrate the end of WW1. You can also find more info about WW1 from the Library of Congress at:

http://www.tinyurl.com/ww1resources

Grammar: We are studying reported speech, go to these websites for more interactive lessons:

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_reported1.htm

http://www.english-4u.de/rep_speech_ex1.htm

http://www.english-4u.de/rep_speech_ex4.htm

http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoEnglish/gr.report.p.htm

Enjoy!
- Bonnie

GRAMMAR CLASS

SIMPLE PAST, PRESENT PERFECT and PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

Review the above grammar points and complete the exercises in the Focus On Grammar program on this computer (Not available on the net.)

Also, you can click on these websites to get more grammar information and information on today's topic of extreme sports:

Go to: Grammar sites:

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfectcontinuous.html

http://www.english-zone.com/verbs/prsperfcont.html

http://www.learn4good.com/languages/evrd_grammar/presentpcont_exc.htm

Extreme Sports:

http://www.extreme.com/default.aspx

Enjoy!

- Bonnie

Happy Thursday!

Good Morning Sleepy-heads! :)

Today we are going to research sleep associated problems.

1) Work with a partner or in a group.

2) In your team, research ONE TOPIC of the following topics:

a) sleep-walking or...
b) stress and sleep or...
c) sleep apnea (breathing problems when you sleep) or...
d) snoring or...
e) nightmares (scary dreams)

3) Be prepared to discuss your research in class. Here's what you need to report:

a) What topic did you choose?
b) What are the causes of the disorder?
c) What are the suggested cures for the disorder?

4) If you finish that, you can work on Focus on Grammar on this computer.
You can practice phrases that conditions or reasons: even if, unless, only if, etc.

5) Also, you can go to the Weekly Reader website (follow the link on your right) and research hurricanes from our lesson this week on Storm Chasers.

TGITH!
Teacher Bonnie

Happy Tuesday!

Good Morning Class!

Here is your lesson for today:

1) You may use the Focus on Grammar program on this computer, use the Intermediate or High Intermediate program and choose a lesson from the menu. This is a good time to review your grammar.

2) You may also follow the links to learn about Eco-Cities which we studied Monday, of particular interest is the information on Dongtan. Apparently, the plans for Dongtan have been abandoned. Follow this link to Yale University's report:

go to: http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2138

or http://www.ecocitybuilders.org/


3) We are starting Unit 4 on Sleep. Here is a website that has an MP3 story on sleep idioms, you can read and listen at the same time.

go to: The Language of Sleep

http://www.english-test.net/stories/69/

Then answer these questions:

a) Who is the "sandman"?

b) What is a polite way to tell someone that you are going to sleep?

c) What is a polite way to say you're going to take a nap at work? (FYI: this will not work in our classroom:)


Next, we will be studying adverb clauses stating reasons for doing things and outcomes, or results. The adverbs to focus on are: even if, unless, only...if, as long as, just in case, and considering that.

Follow these links:

http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/9-7.html
- take the quiz at the bottom of the page after you finish your review.


Additional explanations can be found at:
http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_adverbclauses_condition.htm

Have fun!
Teacher Bonnie

Today's Assignment :)

Happy Thursday!

Next Thursday, October 1, your poster assignment is due on an unsolved mystery.

Today, you can research, with your partner or group, more information about the topic you chose.

Remember: the design of your poster should include:

-Title

-What?

-Where?

-Historical details?

-Explanations?


You can do a Google search or here are some links to find information about various mysteries that we have discussed and others that might interest you, these websites will give you more information:

- about the Mothman:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothman

- about Betty and Barney Hill and the UFOs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_and_Barney_Hill_abduction

- about Bigfoot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigfoot




- about the Loch Ness Monster aka Nessie: http://www.nessie.co.uk/

If you finish, you can go to the Focus on Grammar program on this computer, use the index to find the appropriate lessons. Choose an interactive lesson to work on.

Also, you can follow the links in the right column to read current news and answer comprehension questions, go to breakingnewsenglish.com Additionally, there are listening exercises on a4esl.org

Ok, get to work and good luck!

Good luck!

Wedding Entrance Dancers

What would you do??? This video is great fun, however, what would you do if your intended wanted to "dance" down the aisle?

Copy and paste this link: Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Today's Assignments :)

Good Morning Class!

Today you can choose what you want to work on, however, it is strongly recommended that you take this opportunity to complete your final project.

1) Final Presentation
Next week we will be giving our Final Presentation to the class.

As a reminder, your final presentation should be of interest and importance to you and this should reflect in your presentation.

You may work with a partner or in a team as long as you commit to do your part of the assignment.

Choose one of the following activities to present to your class:

►Possible Topics and Activities:

1) Tell us about your country.

2) Tell us about your career choice.

3) Tell us about your favorite hero, musician, singer, actor, writer, friend, or….?

4) Tell us about your favorite hobby.

5) Show us your talent: dance, sing, jump, cook, talk, perform, or….?


►Possible Presentation Materials:

You should have pictures, music, maps, PowerPoint, or some kind of realia (something to show) to enhance your presentation.


►Time: 5 to 10 Minutes: If you need more than 5 to 10 minutes just ask.


2) You can read articles on the National Geographic website or Breaking News English:

Follow the links in the corner of this web page.


3) You can work on the Focus On Grammar program.

Enjoy!

Final Project

Good Morning Class!

Here is your assignment for your final project:

1) On or about Tuesday, December 10 through December 12, 2012,  our CEC Level 5 class will give their Final Presentation to the class.

Your final project should be of interest and importance to you and this should reflect in your presentation.

You may work with a partner or in a team as long as you commit to do your part of the assignment.

Choose one of the following activities to present to your class:

►Possible Topics and Activities:

1) Tell us about your country.

2) Tell us about your career choice.

3) Tell us about your favorite hero, musician, singer, actor, writer, friend, or….?

4) Tell us about your favorite hobby.

5) Show us your talent: dance, sing, jump, cook, talk, perform, or….?


►Possible Presentation Materials:

You should have pictures, music, maps, PowerPoint, or some kind of realia (something to show) to enhance your presentation.


►Time: 5 to 10 Minutes: If you need more than 5 to 10 minutes just ask.



2) You can read articles on the National Geographic website:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/


3) You can work on the passive voice on the Focus On Grammar program. Go to Unit 18 and/or 19 (sometimes the program is not the same as our book, so just check the index for the passive voice.)

Enjoy!

CASAS PREPARATION - TEST MATERIALS

Tuesday, May 5th, is the CASAS post test. Here are websites that will help you prepare for the CASAS test.

Here's the website: (cut and paste into the address box if necessary)

http://www.mnabeassessment.com/basic_communication.html

Additionally, here is another website: www.mcedservices.com

- go to the Online Activities then to Basic Skills

Good Luck!
Teacher Bonnie

Earth Day!

Hi Class,

1) We're getting ready for Earth Day, April 22nd! We ask the question, what is your carbon footprint? What does "carbon footprint" mean? How much do you contribute to Global Warming and what can you do to reduce your carbon footprint?

Directions: Use the worksheet that was provided in class. Then, go to the carbon calculator: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/carbon-calculator

How do you compare to the average American household? Why do you think your carbon footprint is greater or less than the average American family? Discuss your results with a partner.

2) Also, follow the link to Breaking News English:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0903/090311-weather.html

There is a good article with exercises about how warm weather is causing more headaches. Additionally, there is an article about a solar powered oven:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0904/090410-inventions.html

3) Visit the Earthday website and find the 10 steps you can take to help the planet in your own home!

http://earthday.net/node/145

Go Green!

Your Teacher

SLEEP and ADVERB CLAUSES :) WOW!

Good Morning Class!

Here is your lesson for today:

1) We are starting Unit 4 on Sleep. Here is a website that has an MP3 story on sleep idioms, you can read and listen at the same time.

go to: The Language of Sleep

http://www.english-test.net/stories/69/

Then answer these questions: Who is the "sandman"? What is a polite way to tell someone that you are going to sleep? What is a polite way to say you're going to take a nap at work? (FYI: this will not work in our classroom:)


Next, we will be studying adverb clauses stating reasons for doing things and outcomes, or results. The adverbs to focus on are: even if, unless, only...if, as long as, just in case, and considering that.

Follow these links:

http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/9-7.html
- take the quiz at the bottom of the page after you finish your review.


Additional explanations can be found at:
http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_adverbclauses_condition.htm

Have fun!
Bonnie

Today's Assignments :)

Hi Class,

Wake up! :)

1) GRAMMAR: First off, you can go to the FOCUS ON GRAMMAR program and research the menu to find the chapter for Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses. Also, you can do a search on the internet for similar grammar lessons. We will review these clauses this week. Here's an internet link that has a good explanation of the grammar points: http://www.edufind.com/English/Grammar/REL2.CFM and for more info and exercises: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/relative-clauses

2) ACTIVITY: We will begin Unit 3 this week, which has information about traveling around the world. Question: What city do you think would be a perfect city for the next summer Olympics? Why? Do research on the internet to support your idea(s).

3) FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Below are some links about mysteries that we have discussed and others that might interest you, these websites will give you more information:

- about the Mothman:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothman

- about Betty and Barney Hill and the UFOs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_and_Barney_Hill_abduction

- about Bigfoot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigfoot




- about the Loch Ness Monster aka Nessie: http://www.nessie.co.uk/


Ok, get to work and good luck!

More Websites on Gerunds and Infinitives

Hi Class,

Many students wanted more information and practice using gerunds and infinitives.

A great resource for grammar is the Owl at Purdue University website:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/627/01/

Also, for gerund and infinitive quizzes, you can go here:

http://eslus.com/LESSONS/GRAMMAR/GERUNINF/Gramb.htm

That's it for now...

Enjoy!

Bonnie

Your Assignment :) Gerunds and Infinitives

Good Morning Class!

Welcome to computer class! Here's your assignment for today, you can choose to do all or at least one of the following:

1) Gerunds and infinitive review. Go to the Focus on Grammar program on this computer and then go to Unit 9. Choose an interactive lesson to work on.

2) Using Google, research a fast-food restaurant or an online restaurant menu. Make sentences using gerunds and/or infinitives stating your opinion about the food served at that restaurant. Discuss with a partner your choices and opinions.

Examples:

- At Joe's Cafe people can expect to find fresh food.
- This restaurant seems to be expensive.
- Many people can't afford to eat here because a hamburger costs $20.
- Try to avoid eating too much greasy food.
- I'd like to eat there because they have delicious food.
- I don't advise eating there because it's very expensive.

3) Following yesterday's lesson, write a paragraph about your negative or positive traits. Be sure to write a topic sentence using support and a conclusion. Keep it short, it's a paragraph!

4) Investigate Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Lousiana. Make notes and report to the class what you have learned.

Good luck, and have fun!

Your teacher,
Bonnie

PCC L5 Curriculum and Student Learning Objectives

Pasadena City College Noncredit Course
Department: Community Education Center

ESL 1031 English as a Second Language — Level 5

Course Description: High-Intermediate/Advanced English. This course is designed for students to demonstrate English proficiency in the four basic skills to meet most life/work-related demands with little problem. Students develop skills at the cognitive level in preparation to transition to higher education, career training, and active participation in the community.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

Speaking:
1. Give a well-prepared speech on a given topic, using outside resources.
2. Summarize, orally, a reading, lecture, or broadcast.
3. Speak fluently in formal and informal conversations.

Listening:
1. Demonstrate understanding of broadcast information.
2. Demonstrate understanding of verbal instructions /procedures, including idioms.
3. Demonstrate understanding of informal conversations among fluent speakers of English, without much repetition or rewording.

Reading:
1. Demonstrate appropriate reading strategies for understanding content on unfamiliar topics in a variety sources. Use strategies such as: skim, scan, preview, and predict.
2. Interpret main ideas and key passages of various types of readings such as: short stories, non-fiction, manuals, and magazine and newspapers articles.
3. Interpret a variety of forms such as: applications, graphs, and charts.

Writing:
1. Demonstrate pre-writing activities such as: brainstorming, clustering, and outlining.
2. Write descriptive, narrative, and/or expository essays.
3. Summarize media presentations, lectures, and interviews.

Critical Thinking:
1. Identify and solve complex problems.
2. Implement solutions.

Information Competency:
Use technology, effectively, to locate, retrieve, and evaluate information.

Social Responsibility:
1. Participate in school/community activities
2. Participate actively in group-activities.

Textbook & Workbook: Passages 1. Richards/Sandy, Cambridge University Press, 2005 Edition.

Today's Lesson

Hi Class!

Today we are going to learn more about time clauses, sleep and Valentines Day. Wow!




REDUCED TIME CLAUSES:

Notice how time clauses show time relationships.

Go to this website: http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/

Page down to:

"Connectors, Adverbs, Conjunctions & Transition Words"

Choose: When vs. While and Adverbs of Time

Study the lesson and complete the online quizzes.

(If you want you can study Noun Clauses:)

SLEEP:

In our Passages book, Unit 4, we will be studying about sleep:

Go to the article on Sleep:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/healthysleepfs.pdf

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

You can learn about Valentines Day from this website:

http://www.history.com/content/valentine/history-of-valentine-s-day

Then take the quiz about dating through history:

http://www.history.com/content/valentine/game-dating-through-the-ages

Have fun!

Hi Class!

Your first assignment today is to research information about an interesting mystery and you will later make a poster about this mystery. Work with your team. Assign duties for each member. This is a fun project, so have fun and be sure to use the grammar that we have learned in class - past modals. You will present your "mystery" posters next week.

Below are some links about mysteries that we have discussed that will give you more information: - about the Mothman:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothman

- about Betty and Barney Hill and the UFOs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_and_Barney_Hill_abduction

- about Bigfoot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigfoot




- about the Loch Ness Monster aka Nessie: http://www.nessie.co.uk/

Your second assignment, if you have time, is to go to the Focus on Grammar program and find the chapter in Book 4 on Adjective Clauses. This will greatly help you understand the grammar we studied yesterday.

Ok, get to work and good luck!

Martin Luther King "I Have a Dream"

Hi Class,

Here is a link to Martin Luther King, Jr. 's "I Have a Dream" speech made at the civil rights protest, March on Washington, August 1963. This is one of the greatest speeches ever made.

It's on youtube, but it is the best audio/visual quality that I have found of the speech.

copy and paste into your browser:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEMXaTktUfA

:) your teacher