Sunday, November 29, 2009

Week 8, Term 4: We All Call Australia Home



Dear Students, this is the last week of classes. I wish you a safe and happy holiday. I thought we could study and celebrate Australia, our country. Do you like the video, I Still Call Australia Home? It is a very moving song by Peter Allen. I am sure most of you have seen it on TV.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LYRICS OF 'I STILL CALL AUSTRALIA HOME'. PRINT FROM YOUR LAPTOP

AUSSIE QUIZ



HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT AUSTRALIA? TAKE THIS QUIZ










AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS



What do you know about these birds?



If you cannot read all of the questions CLICK HERE.

DREAM TIME STORIES - THE EMU



CLICK HERE TO WATCH AND LISTEN TO THIS STORY ABOUT THE EMU AND THE JABIRU - A TRADITIONAL ABORIGINAL DREAM TIME STORY FROM THE NORTHERN TERRITORY


TRAVEL THE WORLD FROM YOUR DESK : LEARN ABOUT OTHER COUNTRIES WHILE STUDYING GRAMMAR

CLICK HERE to try one of the many quizzes here about other countries. You can also practice your grammar at the same time!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Week 7, Term 4: What do you think about ...

Hello students

we are looking at FORMS, SURVEYS and POLLS this week. Please complete the surveys below.





If you have problems reading the survey below, CLICK HERE TO SEE IT ON ANOTHER PAGE




Level 3 : Survey about food

If you cannot read the form below CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SURVEY


I would like to know what you think of this weekly ESL Club. Could you please take the time to fill out this online survey for me?

(If you have problems reading the form below, CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY)



Try this fun English poll:

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Week 6, Term 4 : The Future

ACCESS 1 and 2

Watch the video about the FUTURE TENSE (WILL vs. GOING TO)



The teacher above explains the basics but she is not telling you the full story about EXPRESSING THE FUTURE in English.


GRAMMAR : Talking About the Future - 6 Different Ways

We talked about the 'very soon future' in class (about to) that is, when we are on the point of doing something. WILL and GOING TO can also be used for talking about the future but the shade of meaning is different.

In fact there are about 6 ways of expressing the future. LEVEL 3 students click here and read/listen about the 6 ways we can talk about the future.

1. Going to +verb = Intention, prediction
2. Will and Shall = a future fact, a sudden decision, an offer, a threat, a promise, an opinion about the future, a probability especially after think, suppose, expect, doubt if
3. to be + -ing (Pres. Cont for the future) = future plans
4. Present Simple for the future = something already arranged / part of a program or timetable eg. The train leaves in half an hour.
5. Is to / Are to = express something officially arranged. eg. The party is to be held at the Community Centre
6. About to / due to = To express that something is going to happen very soon or is expected to happen soon.




JEALOUSY - A STORY ILLUSTRATING THE 6 WAYS WE TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE

LEVEL 3 STUDENTS CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY

1. Read the story that shows the 6 ways of expressing the future.
2. How do you think the story will end? Send me an email or leave a COMMENT below




SPEAKING AND LISTENING - MYSTERY BOY

Go to Voxopop and listen to the DISCUSSION called :

MYSTERY BOY ... Telling a Tale (Click here)

If you are in Level 2 or 3 you might like to add your own version based on the activity we did in class this week.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Week 5, Term 4: Repeat after me ...













Try these tongue twisters in class ...

•Nine nice night nurses nursing nicely.
•Three gray geese in the green grass grazing. Gray were the geese and green was the grass.
•Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks
•Long legged ladies last longer.
•Red lorry, yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry
•Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper.Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled pepper? If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper, where's the peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked?


LEVEL 3

TEACH YOURSELF PRONUNCIATION



With a good bilingual dictionary you can teach yourself vocabulary and PRONUNCIATION if you understand the International Phonetic Alphabet.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE 'SOUNDS OF ENGLISH AND THE IPA' WEBSITE.

You can listen to the sounds and also print off the alphabet.

PRINT THE IPA - CLICK HERE (PDF)



OKANAGAN COLLEGE PRONUNCIATION COURSE

This Canadian college has a website where you can PRINT PDF LESSONS and use MP3 to practice pronunciation.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OKANAGAN COLLEGE PRONUNCIATION COURSE


Level 1 and 2



Click and Repeat Exercises: Learn English. <--- Try this site for fun!!!












Exercise One: Drag and Drop Grammar Game : But, Too, Either. Click here

We have studied Too/Either in class. Now try this Drag and Drop Grammar Game on your laptop. PRINT the exercise when you have finished and checked your answers.

Exercise Two: Read the story Mary and John. Answer the questions. Click here.

PRINT the exercise from your laptop.

Source: Laurie's ESL Website

Exercise Three: Listening. Places and Locations.

Listen to the places and drag the names to the correct location