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!