Dale Pobega's Free ESL Club

Summer Holiday Fun !!!

2011-12-04T17:31:00.015+11:00

***

Level One & Two: I HATE THE BEACH

I Hate the Beach by Ann Dunn (PRACE,2006)
Click here to order PRACE PAGETURNER KITS

This week we read the funny story of a woman who hates the beach.

Do you like the beach? List the things you like about the beach. List the things you hate about the beach.

LESSON UNIT : Australian English at the Beach.

This is a really interesting and fun website about the beach - famous beaches, the history of the 'Aussie Cozzie' (bathing suit), Dangerous Creatures, Beach Safety and First Aid. (Developed by Barker, Chalk, Dunn, Malakar, Hanrahan and PRACE, 1999-2007)

Exercises from Australian English at the Beach for you to complete this lesson:

The Language of Signs (group work, matching, reading, vocabulary, prepositions

The Aussie Cozzie (A short history about bathing and bathers in Australia +Quiz)

Here is another video about the beach with Benny Hill!
The video was made in Australia in 1978.

Exercise:

1) Watch the Benny Hill video ONCE

2) What can you remember? Print out this fun, quiz about the video

3) Watch the video again to see if your answers are right or wrong

Jokes in English

Jokes in a second language can be hard to understand. There are many double meanings and playing on words. Here are some simple, funny jokes from www.englishclub.com :

Jokes for ESL Students (Level 1)

Jokes for ESL Students (Level 2)

Joke ...:-)

In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens.
In the second year of marriage, the woman speaks and the man listens.
In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.

Here are lots of other similar jokes from www.manythings.org (text and mp3)

Here are some simple American jokes and riddles you might enjoy

Download a printed copy of the jokes to read

Listen to the jokes (click here)

Source: The Lighter Side of TEFL

Tongue Twisters

These are fun! They are good for pronunciation practice. Have a go ...

She sells sea shells ...

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck ...

Here are some Tongue Twisters for you to download and practice on your own (PDF)

Holiday Reading

Some of you want reading practice over the holidays (are you crazy? ;-)

Level 1

200 Super Easy Reading Stories for ESL (+audio, +exercises)

200 Easy Reading Stories for ESL

Level 2

365 ESL Stories (+audio, +exercises)

Mullah Nasreddin Stories

Here are some very funny and wise stories from the 13th century Muslim teacher, Mullah Nasreddin (audio, video and lessons by Turgan Evren):

Nasreddin and the Coat

Nasreddin and the Beggar

Five more Nasreddin Stories (+Comprehension exercises)

The Christmas Story

These children perform the Nativity Story (the Birth of Jesus). Watch the video and then read the simple story below.

Here is a simple version of the Nativity Story for you to read.

Here is a simple crossword about the Nativity for you (word doc)

Writing a letter to Santa (Board Game you can play with your kids at home)

End Note

Dear students

thank you for coming to class in 2011. For the students of English following this blog from overseas (Peru, China, Egypt, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia) please visit again in 2012. There will be new lessons and some special new sections including a Practice Assessment Centre.

Best wishes ... see you in February 2012

Dale Pobega

***

Australian History : Refugees

2011-11-21T11:05:00.022+11:00

VPAM 549.4, VPAU 500.1, VPAU 496.3, VPAU 493.3, VPAU 498.1

The Vietnamese started to arrive in Australia after the Vietnam War (1975). Many came in boats on dangerous voyages. They ran away from a bad government and poverty from the war. They wanted a new life ...

Click here to read the full text and download a simple dictation

Here is the dictation ...

REFUGEES (British Council)

Here is a listening /reading exercise (difficult)about Refugees with text and task.

***

***

Can you mark the countries from the story about refugees?

1) Vietnam

2) Cambodia

3) Laos

4) China

5) Afghanistan

6) Iran

7) Iraq

8) Sri Lanka

Do you know any others ...

9) _________

10)_________

Print out the map of Asia and the Middle East here

***

Listening: Life in a New Country

1) Watch the video

2) Print this comprehension sheet

3) Watch other young refugees talking about their new lives in the UK.

Edmund (Uganda)

Kamran (Iran)

Exercise 2: You be the teacher! Make a comprehension sheet about Edmund from Uganda or Kamran from Iran

***

African Refugees in Australia ... where we come from, who we are

Question: How many hours do the women spend collecting water?

Vocabulary: a well / collect / fetch / round trip

Understanding Graphs & Charts (Talking statistics)

Look at the following graphs about the Somali, Ethiopian and Sudanese communities in Australia.

Somali Community

Ethiopian Community

Sudanese Community

How many Somalis / Ethiopians / Sudanese were there in 1991 and 2006?

What was the rate of increase?

What would you say about the graphs?

Find out more about one of these communities on the museum victoria website.

***

***

Australian History: They're a Weird Mob

2011-11-15T08:44:00.016+11:00

***

VPAM 549.4 / VPAU 494.3 / VPAU 500.3

This is a film from 1966 about an Italian migrant called Nino.

On his first day in Australia Nino goes to a pub in Sydney. He meets a friendly Aussie man.

What happens? What problems do the two men have? Why do you think this film is called, They're a Weird Mob.?

Note the Aussie slang words and phrases from the film you do not understand.

(Can you guess the meaning of any?) ...

What'll it be?

A schooner

A Midi

A bloke

(beer) puts a gut on ya

Whaddya (what do) you do for a crust?

Your turn to shout

Bloody oath!

Aussie Slang

Here is a useful list of Aussie slang words, phrases and expressions (Monash Uni)

Here is a much longer list of other Aussie Slang words and phrases (some very strange and not used very much)

(Information Text) Dictation - European Migration after World War 2

After World War 2 many migrants from Southern and Eastern Europe came to Australia looking for a new life. In 1945 the war ended and many countries such as Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia were poor ...

Click here for the Dictation Cloze exercise and full information text

Listen to the Dictation ...

Click here for a (practice) test / questions based on the Information Text, Migrants After World War 2

***

If I had a million dollars ...

2011-11-09T12:21:00.011+11:00

***

What would you do if you had a million dollars?

Now play the game --- and download the mp3 --- at Genki English.com

And what about these people?

Level 1 : Watch the video below, download this worksheet, tick how many times you hear the answers ... and then ask your class mates the big question!

Level 2: Make a list of what they would do if they won $10 million dollars?

1. (I'd) quit my job and travel

2.

3.

etc ...

Click here to read the transcript of the video to check your answers.

***

Level 2+ : Third Conditional (unreal conditional / regret or wish) : If I had ...

eg. If I had studied harder I would have passed

PAIR WORK: Print out this exercise and complete it with a friend (PDF)

Money, Money, Money

If I got me a wealthy man, I wouldn't have to work at all, I'd fool around and have a ball ...

Money, Money, Money - Lyrics (click here)

***

Australian History : Federation and the White Australia Policy

2011-10-23T21:26:00.008+11:00

Australia became a country in 1901. The colonies became states. This was called Federation. The first policy of the new Federal government was to make sure that "non-white" people did not come to Australia. This was called "The White Australia Policy."

Why do you think Australians in those times did not like non-white people?

What is racism? What is prejudice?

Can you think of other examples of racism?

Was there racism in the country you came from?

Watch the video above.

Now try this dictation (and find out more about the White Australia Policy) ...

Print out this dictation (fold, listen, write and check)

***

ROMAN CATS

Rome is full of cats! The volunteers at Torre di Argentina cat shelter take care of them. Which cat would you choose?

Click here to meet (and choose) a Roman cat you can write about in the exercise below

ACCESS 1 : Read and Write Simple Information Texts : Design a Poster

A LOST CAT

In class we have been reading and writing descriptions of people, places, animals and things.

1) Use this poster to help you design your own.

2) Print this blank poster.

Let's pretend you adopted a Roman cat. Use your Roman cat to write your own LOST CAT poster.

***

Reading (Level 1)

Easy Dialogues (short conversations + audio)

Super-Easy Reading (stories, audio, vocabulary, cloze and sentence writing)

***

Listening (Access 1 Practice Test)

An Accident in the Bakery

We have been listening, reading, writing and speaking about accidents and scary experiences.

1) Watch the video above.What happens?

2) Watch again.Print and complete this PRACTICE TEST about the video.

***

Australian History : Immigration

2011-10-09T21:03:00.009+11:00

Look at the painting. It is called The Last of England by the artist Ford Madox Brown. He migrated to Australia in 1852 during the Gold Rush.

Exercise 1 : Discuss these questions with a friend.

Who are the people in the painting? Where are they? Where are they going? What are they wearing? What are they thinking? How do they feel?

Exercise 2: Complete this reading exercise about The Last of England

Access 2 : Information Texts : Report on a Country

Use the New Zealand story from class to help you. Collect information (location, size, population, languages spoken, cities, attractions, climate, other interesting facts) about one of the following countries:

Argentina

... more info & pictures

Poland

... more info & pictures

Japan

... more info & pictures

Botswana

... more info & pictures

***

Australian History : Gold : Hero or Villain? Peter Lalor and Eureka

2011-09-17T14:55:00.013+10:00

WANTED - £200 REWARD

Name: Peter Lalor
Height: 5 ft 11 inches
Age: 35

Hair dark brown, whiskers dark brown and shaved under the chin, no moustache, long face, rather good looking

This is how they described the leader of the Eureka Stockade miners ... read more about Peter Lalor and Eureka.

The Southern Cross Flag.

This was the flag of the miners at Eureka. How is it like the Australian flag? How is it different? What is missing from the Southern Cross flag? Do we need a new Australian flag? Should we change our flag? Why? Why not?

Flags of the World

Do you know these flags? Do you know the name of the country and nationality? (eg. Australia / Australian, Greece / Greek)

How well do you know the different flags of the world. Try this fun quiz.

Describing People

Here are some faces of the world ... young, old, rich, poor, happy and sad

Download this worksheet about describing people (PDF)

***

Australian History : Gold : Eureka

2011-08-23T14:21:00.010+10:00

***

What is this document? Could it be ... money? ...a cheque? ... a certificate? What was this document used for? Why was this document important for goldminers? What are shillings? How much is five shillings in today's money? What is a colony? Where is Bendigo? Where is Ballarat? What is the Bendigo Petition? Who was Governor La Trobe? What was the Eureka Rebellion? Read on if you want to know more ...

A license to mine for gold was very expensive on the gold fields. Every month miners had to pay about $137 just for their license.

The cost of living was very high. Here are some prices from the goldfields in today's money:

*a pair of socks = $65
*a shovel = $200
*1 kilo of flour $30
*a packet of tea $20

Read more and do some exercises. Click here.

***

Grammar: Unless

In the story about Gold the German miner said,

"You do not go out at night unless you have a gun."

Watch this video and learn how to use UNLESS ...

Level 2+ : Grammar Exercises - Unless

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

***

Instructions, Directions and Procedures 3

2011-08-14T21:23:00.015+10:00

***

Level 2+ : WRITE AN INFORMATION TEXT (PROCEDURES) ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MUMMIES

What do you know about Ancient Egypt? Do you believe in life after death?

The ancient Egyptians were very sophisticated people. They buried their dead in a special way to help them get safely to the afterlife. They made "mummies".

Download the story Tombs and Mummies

1. Read the story and answer the questions in your book. Use your dictionary for any new vocabulary.

Loading...

***

LEVEL 2+ : GRAMMAR REVIEW:

We use the IMPERATIVE for giving instructions (exercises 1 -6)

We use the PASSIVE VOICE for explaining a process
or procedure (exercises 1 - 7)

***

DISCUSSION

What is your favourite sandwich? What ingredients do you need? How do you make it? Share your sandwich recipe with a friend. Tell the rest of the class or another person about your friend's favourite sandwich.

Level 1 and 2+ : Mr. Bean Makes a Sandwich

Watch the Mr. Bean video.

How did he make his sandwich?

What ingredients did he use?

***

Level 1 : SPEAKING : HOW TO MAKE A DAGWOOD SANDWICH

Look at this picture with your friend.

1. List the ingredients

2. Download this worksheet and complete

***

Level 2+ : Listening ... My Favourite Sandwich

Questions ...

1. What are the two types of sandwich the speaker likes most?
2. What does a Foccacia have in the middle?
3. How do you heat up a Foccacia?
4. What is good to drink with a Foccacia?
5. What type of bread do use to make a Lebanese roll?
6. What is the speaker's opinion of the Lebanese roll?

Or Download a PRACTICE MULTIPLE CHOICE test

***

STUDENT SANDWICH RECIPES

Listen to these recipes by Level 1 and Level 2 students on VOXOPOP.

***

Instructions, Directions and Procedures 2

2011-08-10T12:44:00.012+10:00

***

Duke Street Students : How to Make (Our Own Special) Indian Tea

***

Grammar (Level 2+): Used for ..+ verb-ing & Used to + verb

In our lessons we talked about UTENSILS and TOOLS.

eg. A rolling pin is used for preparing dough

Exercise: Can you tell me what these kitchen utensils are used for?

A whisk

An egg beater

A flipper

A carving knife

Used to ...

It is easy to confuse used to and used for.

Used to = something we did in the past but not now

eg. I used to drink 10 cups of coffee a day (but not now).

Remember the small spelling change with QUESTIONS and NEGATIVES ... drop the 'd'

eg. Did you use to drink lots of coffee?

eg. I didn't use to drink lots of coffee, but now I do.

Exercise: Try these online exercises

Exercise 1 (mix and match)

Exercise 2 (word order)

Exercise 3 (complete the sentences)

Exercise 4 (complete the sentences 2)

***

Homework (Level 2+):

How to Make a Good Cup of Coffee

Here is a simple (but good recipe for making a great cup of coffee by Ryan from the Flying Saucers Cafe in Santa Monica, California (USA).

Can you write instructions? Also list INGREDIENTS / UTENSILS.

VOCABULARY:

a single cup filter

a paper filter insert

a 1 ounce scoop

boiling water

a grinder

to grind

(ground) beans

to dump something

to place back

to pour

a circular motion

to drip through

to stick

fine (adj)

weak

see-through

coarse (adj)

to remove

***

PROCEDURES (Level 2+)

In this lesson we are looking at PROCEDURES (Instructions explained). We use the PASSIVE VOICE when we describe most procedures. The OBJECT and not the SUBJECT of the action are important.

eg. the coffee beans are sorted

Watch this video about HOW COFFEE IS MADE.

Take some notes on the PROCEDURE for WET PROCESSING or DRY PROCESSING. (We will continue this exercise in class ...)

***

Australian History : Gold

2011-08-07T21:47:00.017+10:00

***

Introduction

Who are these men? Where are they from? Where are they going? What are they carrying? What year was this?

What about the men below? Who are they? Where are they from? What are they doing?

***

Reading

The first gold was found in 1823 at Bathurst, N.S.W but the "Gold Rush" did not start until the 1850s.

Gold was found in Victoria in 1851, Queensland in 1858, Tasmania in 1886 and in Western Australia in 1886.

Hundreds of thousands of people came to Australia. They came from Britain, Ireland, Europe, North America and China.

Click here to read more about the Gold Rush

Click here for the Gold Rush Criss Cross Puzzle (PDF)

Dictation

Print the exercise sheets, fold (only use the full story to check your answers AFTER you listen to the Dictations below)

Print out Level 1 Dictation cloze exercise

Listen to the Level 1 Dictation ...

Print out Level 2+ Dictation Cloze exercise

Listen to the Level 2+ Dictation ...

***

Online Game

Level 2+: The Gold Rush

***

Australian Census 2011

2011-08-03T12:09:00.006+10:00

***

This week all students in the ESL program at Duke St are studying skills to help understand and complete the Australian Census 2011.

*What is a census?

*Why do we have to complete the census form?

*How does it help our Government?

*How can it help citizens of Australia?

CLICK TO VIEW SPOTLIGHT ON THE AUSTRALIAN CENSUS 2011 (In English - interactive. Teachers: good to use as intro tool in class)

***

Information (and video) in some Duke St student languages about the upcoming Census 2011 ...

Cantonese

Mandarin

Arabic

Dinka

Vietnamese

Russian

Karen

Burmese

Tamil

Spanish

***

Asking for Directions / Instructions and Procedures

2011-08-01T12:09:00.010+10:00

View Larger Map

Giving Directions (Level 1 and 2+)

Look at the Google Map above. Use the navigation arrows to go from A (Duke Street Community House) to B (Bharat Indian Supermarket in Barkly Street, West Footscray)

Exercise 1: Write simple directions. (eg. Go to the corner and turn right into South Road)

Exercise 2: Include some landmark information in your directions. (eg. At the corner of South Road and Ashley Street you will see the Central West Shopping Centre)

Exercise 3: Include some time information in your directions. (eg. Drive for two or three minutes / keep walking for about 10 minutes).

Speaking

Asking for directions / asking for something :

Vocabulary:

Excuse me ...

Sorry to disturb you ...

Sorry to bother you ...

Sorry to interrupt ...

Can I trouble you for a moment? ...

Exercise 1 : In pairs practice asking for directions. Use the vocabulary to open the conversation. Use the directions you wrote for getting to the Bharat Indian Supermarket.

***

Comprehension (Level 2+)

How to Make Indian Tea

Watch this video and make notes with your friend about how to make Indian tea. (You can play the video as many times as you like).

a. List the INGREDIENTS

b. Write simple INSTRUCTIONS

Comprehension (Entry / Level 1):

How to Make a Cup of Tea

Verbs: FILL / PUT / TAKE / BOIL / POUR / TAKE OFF/ TAKE OUT / ADD / SERVE
Vocabulary : TAP / KETTLE / STOVE / TEA BAG / CUP / MILK / SUGAR
Sequence words: FIRSTLY / THEN / AFTER THAT / BEFORE / FINALLY

Exercise One: Use the words above and pictures. With a friend write down the instructions HOW TO MAKE A CUPPA

Exercise Two: Click here and Go to VOXOPOP. Tell me 'how to make a cuppa'.

***

Less Polite, More Polite: Instructions, Inquiries, Requests, Directions

2011-07-19T14:02:00.018+10:00

***

(All Levels) Directions: Can you tell me the way to ...

All Levels : Watch the video. Make a list of the places (1-10) where the woman wants to go.

Can you follow the directions people give in the first half of the video? Check the subtitles in the second half of the video to see if you understood.

Entry Level and Level 1:

1. Practice exercise. Listen, read and record: Can you tell me the way to ...?

Entry Level:

2. Listen to Duke Street students give directions just like the people in the video!

***

Level 2+: BBC Skillswise - Instructions Worksheets and Activities

Level 2+:

Game: Destination Impossible (BBC)

Help the people find their way to their destinations by playing this fun game.

CLOZE EXERCISE : Giving Directions (BogglesworldESL)

***

TEACHERS: Other activities and pair work exercises about Directions from Lanternfish

***

Level 2+:

Exercise 1: Would you mind + -ing

Complete this exercise using "would you mind" + the -ing form of the verb

Exercise 2 : Other ways to make imperatives into polite requests

Complete this exercise - watch the video and then select the correct sentence

Level 1:

Inquiries and Instructions : Banking

Level 1 students created their own dialogues. These are the following inquiries about some banking services and instructions about what you need to do to access them.

Level 2+:

Pair Activity (Booglesworldesl.com)

Going for a Bite (Street Names and Nearby Landmark)

When we give directions we often include a landmark to help us find the place more easily.

eg. The Vietnamese restaurant is on the corner of Pine Street and First Avenue opposite the police station.

New Expressions:

What's up?

I was wondering if ...

to go for a bite
to get something to eat

to be in the mood for
to feel like

I wouldn't mind ...
I could go for

Download the activity sheets from this page (Part I: Street Name and Nearby Landmark)

Entry Level:

The Sound Alphabet

This is a song for teaching kids the English sound alphabet. You can play it at home. I hope it is useful:

Letter from Colombia

2011-05-16T05:22:00.008+10:00

Exercises:

1. Can you match the photos with the places in my letter?

2. Can you find the places I visited on a map?

G'day students!

I hope you are studying hard? I am enjoying Colombia. At the moment my wife and I are at Santa Marta. Santa Marta is very modern and looks like the Gold Coast. It is nice and warm here - about 31 degrees! I know it is cold in Melbourne. Somebody told me it was 4 degrees the other day?

When we arrived we stayed in the capital city, Bogota for three days. In Bogota we went to the wonderful Gold Museum. It is full of Pre-Hispanic treasures made of gold.

After that, we flew to the beautiful Caribbean city of Cartagena which is very old and has beautiful streets. It also has double storey, town houses.

Our third destination was Mompox, 9 hours from the coast. The road was rough and muddy. Mompox is an old colonial town on the Magdalena River. It was built in the 16th century by the Spanish.

We are now back on the coast enjoying the sun.

Write to me if you like. You can leave a comment below or send me an email. Marion, Anne and Molly know my email address.

Best wishes amigos!

Your teacher,

Dale

Australian History : Exploration 2

2011-03-22T13:59:00.008+11:00

The First Europeans to Explore Australia

A. Read about Willem Janszoon and Louis Vaez de Torres

B. Read about Abel Tasman

C. Read about James Cook

D. Read about Arthur Phillip

Above picture: Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman

Exercise 1: Read the above stories about the European Explorers . Can you match the map below with the Explorer?

Exercise 2: Can you match this painting with the Explorer?

(Creative Commons reproduction, Wikipedia)

***

ACTIVITY : Let's Make a Time Line of European Explorers

1606 <-------------------------------------------------> 1788

Join three pieces of paper together (landscape). Copy the time line above (from 1606 to 1788).

Read the stories above.

On the time line you should mark :

Year:
Name of Explorer:
Country:
Ship name:
Part of Australia they explored:

***

Australian History : Exploration

2011-03-15T22:17:00.006+11:00

Click the photo to read about this painting

What do you think is the right answer?

A. Captain James Cook discovered Australia in 1770

B. Aboriginal people discovered Australia, and have lived in Australia for more than 40 000 years

C. The first people to discover Australia arrived in the 1600s. They were Dutch explorers from the Netherlands.

Click here for the answers

Time in English

Can you say these ...?

1776
the 1600s
the 19th century
40 000 years ago
20 AD
415 BC
the Middle Ages
the 21st Century
Prehistoric times

MAPS

Click here for a map of South East Asia and Australasia.

Can you mark the countries on the map?

Can you draw the route Aboriginal people might have taken to get to Australia more than 40 000 years ago?

***

Summer Holiday English

2010-12-05T19:54:00.018+11:00

***

Join ... DALE POBEGA'S FREE ESL CLUB ... ON FACEBOOK

You can keep up your English through the Summer Holidays at our new site on Facebook!

Click here to LOGIN or SIGN UP FOR Dale Pobega's Free ESL Club on Facebook

VIDEO LESSON MESSAGES

I will leave VIDEO MESSAGES through the holidays. I will share links which will help you with your English. We will also do some ONLINE DICTATION and PRONUNCIATION work.

You can ask me questions. You can chat. You can meet new friends. You can leave messages. You can leave photos and videos. Join our network. Your friends and family from around the world can join us too.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?

I will show you how to join and use Facebook in class this week. If you are not in my class ...

1) Join Facebook at www.facebook.com
3) SEARCH for us by typing in DALE POBEGA'S FREE ESL CLUB
4) Apply to join (and don't worry ... you can leave the group whenever you like)

ONLINE DICTATION

We will do some dictation work over the Summer holidays. Join Facebook, do not miss out!

I will give you the link to the Dictation from our Facebook page.

Here is Dictation #1 , a story written by Level 1 students, playing a picture game in class.

Instructions:

1) Click here to download the DICTATION.

2) Print it out.
3) Fold it in half so you cannot see the whole story.
4) If you are a Level 1 or Level 2 student, fill in the gaps when you listen.
5) If you are a Level 3 student, fill in the gaps but listen again and try to write the whole story without looking at the complete story.

6) Listen to Dictation#1: Love Story ... play as many times as you like. Click here.

STUDENT PORTRAIT - TANU FROM BANGLADESH

We now have many student friends from around the world in our club. There are students from Argentina, China, Cambodia, El Salvador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mexico, Uruguay, and Vietnam.

Come and meet Tanu on Facebook. She is our first club member from Bangladesh. Here is Tanu speaking about her new year resolutions:

What do you know about Bangladesh?

Read this article on Simple English Wikipedia to find out more.

Let's talk about Bangladesh on our Facebook site.

***

Doesn't time fly ...

2010-11-29T11:07:00.013+11:00

DISCUSSION - CELEBRATIONS

It's the end of the year ... time to relax ... and (after some rest)... to think about the new year to come.

I know you love Bean ... study the song, Auld Lang Syne, they sing in the video.

When do we traditionally sing Auld Lang Syne?
Why do we sing that song?
Do you celebrate New Year? If so, what do you do?

KARAOKE - Auld Lang Syne Let's have a sing along ...

LISTENING - MAKING RESOLUTIONS

A "Resolution" is a promise to change your life in some way. On New Year's Eve many people make a resolution. Here are my resolutions for the coming year ...

Dale o0(I'm going to cut down on eating sweets)
Dale o0(I'm going to read a short story in Spanish every week)
Dale o0(I'm going to keep on going to the gym and riding my bike to work everyday)

ADVICE: Do not make too many resolutions. You might not be able to keep them!

SPEAKING MY NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS ... LIFE & STUDY

Make two resolutions ... 1) about your life 2) about studying English.

Use the vocabulary and phrases we used in class:

*quit
*cut down on
*keep doing
*try harder
*start

Structure:
*I promise to ...
*I am going to ...
*I will ...

PHONE CAST YOUR RESOLUTIONS ...

Please phone your resolutions on to our class Phlog at ipadio.com (use the Mobile English learning sheet with 1800 number, codes and pin from your book!!!)

Here are some Level 1 and 2 Resolutions ... (many, many more at our ipadio.phlog) :

Animals

2010-11-03T10:50:00.020+11:00

Level 3 - Information Texts : Extinct Animals

What do you know about the Tasmanian Tiger? What other extinct animals do you know about? Why are these animals extinct?

Read about the Tasmanian Tiger at Simple English Wikipedia. Click here.

CATEGORIES:

*size
*weight
*appearance
*life expectancy
*diet
*location
*environment
*current numbers

Can you write a paragraph about the Tasmanian Tiger using the CATEGORIES above as well as CONJUNCTIONS (but / and / however / although, etc) to join your sentences.

Loading...

ENDANGERED ANIMALS

Find out about endangered animals, why they are endangered and what we can do by watching this presentation:

endangered animals powerpoint1

See more presentations by Calvin1 | Upload your own PowerPoint presentations

OUR CLASS BOOK : ESL ENDANGERED ANIMALS

Click here to download our Simple English Wikipedia Book called "ESL Endangered Animals".

1) Download the ESL Endangered Animals book above.
2) Use the questions / categories we studied to help you write short sentences about one of the animals in the form.

3) CLICK HERE to go to the FORM

Level 1 - Read and write a simple information text

In class we read about the Yellow-Eyed Penguin from New Zealand.

Making questions from Information Words. Finish writing the questions

Height : How tall are they?

Weight: How ___________________?

Age they live to: How long __________________?

Home country: Where ______________________?

Number left: How many _______________________?

Food: What __________________?

***

Level 2 - Writing Notes : Don't Forget to Feed the Cat!

Imagine you are going on holiday for two weeks. Here are some things that need to be taken care of:

*garden
*pets
*mail and newspapers
*rubbish bin
*security

Loading...

Karaoke ...

Growing Up

2010-10-11T08:12:00.007+11:00

Don't Eat the Marshmallow

Level 2 and 3 - Interpret a Spoken Informational Text

Level 2 - You can use the language subtitles first viewing
Level 3 - Do not use the language subtitles first viewing

Watch the video two or three times. LEVEL 3 students ... answer the questions and submit them to me:

If you cannot see all of the form and the SUBMIT button, click here.

Loading...

Natural (and Everyday) Disasters

2010-10-05T15:43:00.013+11:00

***

Make a list of the "household disasters" you see in the video. Which ones are common? Which ones are ridiculous? Which ones are really dangeous?

Have you got a short story to tell about a common, household disaster? Leave your story on our student Phlog at ipadio. (Use the number and codes I gave you in class).

The 24th of August, 79 AD started like any other day ...

(scroll down for more activities about Pompeii)

Volcanoes - Reading and Writing for Information (Level 3)

As you know I spent my holiday in Sumatra, an island in Indonesia with very active volcanoes.

How and why do volcanoes erupt? Watch the Volcano Song ...

1) Note the key words
2) Can you explain what happens?

3) Watch this BBC slideshow for more information

4) Tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, typhoons ... look at other BBC slide shows and prepare a short written description. How do they happen? Where do they happen? How do they affect lives?

We read about "Super-volcanoes" in class. If Yellowstone National Park explodes the world will be in a lot of trouble. We talked about two past eruptions in class - Krakatoa in the 19th Century and Pompeii in 79AD.
POMPEII

In 2009, Melbourne Museum held an exhibition called A Day in Pompeii

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE VIRTUAL EXHIBITION Can you find the virtual cinema? Watch the three movies about the eruption of Mt.Vesuvius

1. Watch the short video called The House of the Vine.

2. Read the section DAILY LIFE. Was life in Pompeii the same for everyone?

GRAMMAR - The Passive Voice

to be + past participle

eg. Volcanic eruptions are caused by the build up of pressure.
eg. Glass is made from sand.

Remember, we use the passive voice when the object, not the subject, of an action is most important.

Exercise One:

Complete this online exercise about the passive.

KRAKATOA : The Last Days (Part 1)

This is a short BBC film about the eruption of Krakatoa which took place in 1883 and killed over 36,000 people. The film shows a Dutch family, the Bejjernicks, trying to escape the volcano on a ship with more than 100 passengers ...

What would you do if you were at Krakatoa in 1883?

Watch the other parts of the movie at YouTube.

***

LEVEL 1 : Taking Phone Messages

1. Use the BLANK message sheet I gave you in class. Listen to the telephone conversation. Fill in the message sheet.
2. Questions:

Who is the message for?
Who took the message?
Who called?
What is the message?
What is Phil's number?

Level 2 examples ... (a little bit more complicated!

***

Horrible Housework

2010-09-06T12:13:00.016+10:00

Level 1 and 2: Watch the video. What can we do to clean up this house? Finish the sentences ...

Empty ___ ________.

_____ up the bedroom.

Scrub the ______ bowl.

Get ___ __ the Kittens.

___ away the things in the kitchen.

Throw ___ the old computers.

_____ the bath!

(Call in the health inspectors?)

Level 3 : Watch this video. How do you feel about this messy house? Who does the owner blame for most of the mess? Do you think Cary's problems are funny or serious?

Speaking Exercise : Giving Opinions

Here are some opinions by others who watched the video:

"it is the parents responsibility to keep a safe enviroment for the kids and set a good example."

"lots of people have kids and thier homes are nothing close to this. I'm surprise she still has her kids."

"How dare you say her kids should be taken away from her! ... some people just need help in their lives, and a gentle push in the right direction. Depression is a sad thing to live with it can destroy families. She obviously got so low she stopped functioning properly."

Do you agree with these opinions? Do you feel sorry for Cary? What would you do to help her? Where would you start?

Phone in your answers to ipadio.com - use the 1800 number and codes I gave you in class.

If you like ...

Watch How Clean is Your House - Blame the Kids 2 (to see how they clean Cary's house)

Watch How Clean is Your House - Blame the Kids 3 ( final part - before and after)

***

GRAMMAR - Almost, Almost all, Most of

In class we read about three Thai boys sharing a flat. They were very messy but wrote a housework roster to solve their problems.

Remember our sentences? Are they (generally) true? If so, why?

Most men are messy. / Most women are tidy. / All chidren are untidy.

Try this quiz using Almost / Almost all and Most of

***

Fun Activity ...

CREATE A ROOM ONLINE (@icovia.com)

Click on this link to go to a website where you can be an interior decorator - create the perfect room for yourself

Exercise: With a friend talk about your room. Which room did you decide to create? What furniture did you include? What furniture did you move or get rid of?

***

LISTENING EXERCISE : LEVEL 3 : The Waiter and the Lady

1. Take home the sheet with the scrambled story I gave you in class
2. Cut up all of the phrases and put them on an empty table in front of you
3. Play the story below
4. Try and put the story back together
5. Write up the story
6. Answer these questions ... What is funny about this story? What is the joke?

***

I Want to be Elected

2010-08-25T14:23:00.008+10:00

The 2010 Federal Election is over! But still we do not have a Government. What happened? Watch the video above. Click here to read the transcript and find more stories and videos about the election result.

What is a hung parliament?
Who has the most seats in the House of Representatives?
Who has most of the seats in the new Senate?
What are independents?
What is a minority government?
Should we have another election?

Discuss these questions with your teacher.

GRAMMAR GAME - Giving Advice

Should / Shouldn't / Ought to / had better / Why don't you ... / What you can do is ...

Click here for a board game. You will need a dice. (Get your teacher to blow up a copy on the photocopier)

Level 2 and 3 : 'D BETTER vs. 'D RATHER

What is the difference?

I'd better go now / I'd rather go now

Complete this online exercise

LEVEL 3 : Either or / Neither nor ...

Neither the Coalition nor the Labor Party are able to form a government.

Try this online exercise

Watch the Mr. Bean video, I Want to be Elected ... maybe Mr.Bean should become our next Prime Minister?

***

Making Stuff

2010-08-22T20:44:00.023+10:00

Origami - paper folding - is a very old Japanese art. Can you follow Tavin's instructions? Can you make this jumping frog? All you need is a piece of square paper ... and a little patience!

Here is a simple diagram and set of instructions to help you. (Many other great origami models to make here too!)

With a friend or family member choose another piece of Origami to make from Tavin's site on YouTube (click here). Stop and start the video as many times as you like. Have fun!

Watch the Mr. Bean video. How did he make his sandwich? What ingredients did he use?

Print this worksheet about the Mr. Bean video from ESL Galaxy.com. Watch the video again and complete the worksheet

Listening ... My Favourite Sandwich

1. What are the two types of sandwich the speaker likes most?
2. What does a Foccacia have in the middle?
3. How do you heat up a Foccacia?
4. What is good to drink with a Foccacia?
5. What type of bread do use to make a Lebanese roll?
6. What is the speaker's opinion of the Lebanese roll?

My Friend's Favourite Sandwich

What is your favourite sandwich? What ingredients do you need? How do you make it? Share your sandwich recipe with a friend. Tell the rest of the class or another person about your friend's favourite sandwich.

Speaking : Level 2 and 3

Use your mobile or home phone to tell the world about your friend's favourite sandwich recipe(use the 1800 number and codes I gave you in class to make a phonecast on ipadio.com)

Speaking : Level 1 - What would you like?

Practice ordering a sandwich. Use your mobile or home phone. Order your sandwich at ipadio.com!

eg. Give me a chicken sandwich with Mayonnaise, please. / I'd like a salad roll, thanks.

Ordering in a restaurant

In class we put the conversation between a waiter and customer in correct order:

Waiter: Are you ready to order?
Customer: Yes, I'd like soup to start, please.
Waiter: And what would you like for your main course?
Customer: Can I have the fish, please?
Waiter: The fish. Very good. And what would you like to drink?
Customer: Can I have a glass of white wine, please?
Waiter: Certainly. A glass of white wine.
Customer: And I'd like a bottle of mineral water, too.
Waiter: Yes, of course. Thank you.

Listen to some Level 3 examples of Ordering in a Restaurant at our Voxopop Talk Site (Click here)

Level 3 : Ordering a Coffee at Starbucks

This American teacher gives advice about ordering a coffee at Starbucks. Do you think her advice is helpful? Are cafes like this in Australia? What type of coffee does she order? Do you think she is "culturally biased" (or is she just trying to help?)

To look at the script of this video click here. (Also explanations of vocab and American slang)

Level 2 and 3 : Writing ...Taking care of a neighbour's house

In class we listened to someone asking a neighbour to feed the cat while he was away for the weekend. Imagine you are going on holiday for two weeks. Here are some things that need to be taken care of:

*garden
*pets
*mail and newspapers
*rubbish bin
*security

Loading...

Up, Up and Away ...

2010-08-08T20:39:00.023+10:00

Online Forms, Schedules, Timetables and Itineraries

Make your own air ticket online! Click here to go to Ticket-O-Matic, a very simple online form where you can create a pretend boarding pass ... up, up and away!

Last week we used the Air Asia website to look for cheap flights between Melbourne and other cities in our region. All flights from Melbourne go to Kuala Lumpur (KL). From KL you can look for flights to other parts of Asia.

Let's find some flights ...go to Airasia's flight search by clicking here

Level 1 - Can you find a return flight between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur in August for two adult passengers? What time do the flights depart? When do they arrive? What are the dates? What are the flight numbers? How much will it cost?

Level 2 - Search for a return flight from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur for two people. Also search for a flight from Kuala Lumpur to another destination. Make sure the flight connections are okay. What time do the flights depart? When do they arrive? What are the dates? What are the flight numbers? How much will it cost all together?

Level 3 - A. Search for a return flight from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur for two people. Also search for a flight from Kuala Lumpur to another destination. Make sure the flight connections are okay. What time do the flights depart? When do they arrive? What are the dates? What are the flight numbers? How much will it cost all together?

B. Continue to the next part of the booking process. Fill out the online form for Booking Contact, Guest 1 and Guest 2. Print out the information. NOTE : DO NOT GO ANY FURTHER.

Listening and Speaking - Inquiry about an airline ticket

Many people prefer to book tickets through a travel agent. This week in class we heard a man making inquiries about a return trip to Darwin.

Exercise: Use the tapescript to write a new dialogue. This time you want to inquire about a return flight to Kuala Lumpur.

Here is some good examples from the Level 3 class:

Exercise: With a class mate, friend or family member phone in your dialogue to the Duke Street Student site on ipadio.com (Click to view)

(You already have the phone instructions and FREE 1800 number and codes ... ps. remember to switch on 'speaker phone' to use your mobile or home phone like a microphone)

General - Australian Government Elective

Download information about the 2010 Federal Election in your language. Click here.

Search these pages to find out where you can vote. Remember: if you live in the Sunshine area you are in the Gellibrand electorate.

Use the polling place locator. Click here to do your search.

***

Ring, Ring Why Don't You Give Me a Call?

2010-07-29T15:13:00.024+10:00

MOBILE PHONE ENGLISH

This week let's use our mobile phones - and home phones too - for learning English!We can now use our phones to make voice recordings on the internet - and it's free. We can do speaking practice, give talks, tell stories and express opinions from anywhere at anytime! Just ring the number and speak!

We will use a FREE service called ipadio.com
I will give you an instruction sheet, the free 1800 number and password in class.

Listen to this recording I made online from my home phone! It's simple!

Level 3 - What are they saying about the Election on Community Radio?

1)Listen to one of the community radio programs below

2)Use your mobile to tell me (in English!)what is being said about the Election

3) Use the FORM below to write a short summary about what they are saying on community radio about the Election

We will compare your spoken and written summaries in class.

VIETNAMESE:

CANTONESE:

MANDARIN:

SPANISH:

HINDI:

ARABIC:

Here are some of your fantastic phonecasts:

Tanu about the Hindi radio broadcast...

Tuyet about the Vietnamese radio broadcast...

Abir about the Arabic radio broadcast ...

Kim about the Vietnamese radio broadcast...

Loading...
LET'S SING ...

Here is a link to the lyrics of "Ring, Ring" by Abba.

Level 2 and 3: GRAMMAR - Reported / Indirect Speech

Try this online quiz on Indirect Speech.

Level 2: Listening and Speaking - Lost in England

CLASSWORK:

Use the worksheet I gave you in class - look at the maps, read the dialogues. With a friend practice the dialogues in class.

HOMEWORK:MOBILE ENGLISH

Can you give instructions by only looking at the maps? Use your mobile or telephone to give instructions.

(Use the instruction sheet, free 1800 number and code I give you in class to phone into ipadio.com)

ONLINE GAME : DESTINATION IMPOSSIBLE (BBC)

Use the BBC Game to help people get to their destinations and collect things along the way. Fun! Fun! Fun!

CLICK HERE TO START --->

Level 1 - The 24 Hour Clock

Look at this clock and review what we learnt in class about telling the time.

1) Ring ipadio.com using the instruction sheet I gave you in class

2) Practice telling me the time

eg. This is me telling the time in the normal way. Can you tell me the time using the 24 hour clock?

***

***

Election 2010 : Issues

2010-07-25T23:05:00.016+10:00

ISSUES: TV ADS - Labor, Liberal, Green

Labor, Liberal, Green. Same or different?

1)Watch the ads above and below.

2)Download this worksheet:

3)Make notes / or write words you see or hear on what they say about:

the economy
education
health
migration
the environment

Be a PA for an MP. Organize a politican's diary!

Play this fun game from the Kids View Parliament website! Click here!

BEHIND THE NEWS

Here is an interesting video about the PM, Julia Gillard and the ex-PM, Kevin Rudd. To read the script and other material click here.

Level 1 - Let's Practise Telling the Time

Here are some of my favourite online games to help you tell the time ...

Click here to play STOP THE CLOCK (15 minute intervals - easy)

Click here to play STOP THE CLOCK (5 min intervals - medium)

Click here to play STOP THE CLOCK (1 minute intervals - harder)

Click here to play BANG ON TIME (tricky!)

Click here for other games and worksheets about telling the time (Maths Zone)

***

Love Thy Neighbour

2010-07-19T15:14:00.005+10:00

GENERAL

Do you think someone should keep 130 cats in a house or flat?

What problems would this lady have living with 130 cats in Sunshine?

What does your local council say about pets?

LEVEL 3

Read the local council regulations for keeping pets here.

Download the Animal Registration Form from the same page. Read it with your teacher. Fill in the form for the lady from Siberia!

LEVEL 2 and 3

Remember the article we read in class, Love Your Neighbour? Sometimes it can be difficult!?

We discussed these problems:

They talk loudly.
Their babies cry all night.
They have noisy parties.
Their dogs bark.
They watch TV late at night.
They move furniture.
They play the violin.
They argue with their partner.

Speaking: Requests - Asking your neighbours to change their behaviour

Click here to go to VOXOPOP.

Use the situations above. Practise kindly asking your neighbours to change their behaviour.

eg. "Could you please turn down the TV? It's late. I have to get up early.
eg. "Would you please stop moving your furniture. My kids can't sleep.

***

Democracy, Voting, Politicians & Parties

2010-07-11T15:59:00.025+10:00

Welcome back to Duke Street students !!!

This semester we begin our new learning unit: Australian Government. There will be a Federal Election soon and then a State Election in November. So this is a good time for us to learn about Australian Government, Voting, Politicians and Parties.

But before we start ...

ARE YOU ENROLLED TO VOTE? YOU CAN CHECK ONLINE!

Click here and go to the AEC Website to check if you are enrolled to vote. Voting is important. Make sure you are enrolled!

If you are NOT enrolled or have changed your address, please click here and follow the steps for FILLING OUT AN ENROLMENT FORM, PRINTING & SIGNING and RETURNING IT TO THE AEC. ASK YOUR TEACHER TO HELP YOU !!!

Now let's start with a guessing game ...

FEDERAL POLITICS

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

1) Match the photos with their names:

Julia

Bob

Tony

2) Do you know their surnames?

3) Match the people and their jobs:

Senator

Prime Minister

Opposition Leader

4) Match the people and their parties:

Let's make some sentences ...

eg. Julia _______ is the ___________ and she is the leader of the ________________.

Who are these two women? What are their jobs? Are they from a political party? What do they do in our system of Government?

Level 3 : Who is Julia Gillard?

Watch the video. Take notes. What do they say about Julia Gillard in relation to :

Deputy Prime Minister
Wales
1961
six years later (1966)
student politics
solicitor
John Brumby, a shadow minister
education / employment / social inclusion
hairdresser

STATE POLITICS

Who are these two men? What are their jobs? Which parties are they from? Write sentences about them.

Listening: A Day in the Life of a Politician

We are going to watch a short video about Andrea Coote (a Victorian Liberal Party MP).

Level 1 : Download the activity for the video here.

Level 2 and 3: Download the activity for the video here.

GRAMMAR: WHO DECIDES? Federal / State / Local Government

Instructions: Click on the picture below and print out in full size

1) Can you make 10 sentences using the Present Continuous tense? eg. The worker is sweeping the road.

2) Can you name the services and/or guess who takes care of these government areas eg. The worker sweeping the road = road repairs and maintenance = local government. (Work with your teacher)

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS - FAMOUS AND INFAMOUS POLITICIANS

Here are some politicians from different times and places. Who are they? What words would you use to describe them? Were they good or bad politicians? Or both? Why?

(Teachers: Click here for excellent FREE materials about Government and voting)

Global Village

2010-06-22T11:47:00.014+10:00

LEVEL 3 : If the world were a global village of 100 people, what would it look like?

Here is a video related to the work we did in class about the Global Village Project.

Take Notes:

How many ...

would be ... Men? Women? Asian? European? African? Latin American? North American? Christian? Muslim? Hindu? Buddhist?

...would have ... electricity? safe drinking water? a college education?

...wouldn't have enough to eat?

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT AT WWW.100PEOPLE.ORG

I'm sure you remember this song? Let's have a class Karaoke!

Here are the lyrics to "We are the World".

Level 1, 2 and 3 : The World Game

Are you sleepy? Have you been watching the World Cup 2010 in South Africa? Do you like soccer? Will the Socceroos go to the next round? Which teams are strong? Which teams are weak? Which are your favourite teams? Who are your favourite players? Which team will win?

Here are all the match results. (so far)

Answer these questions using the match result tables above:

1. Which teams played the first match of the tournament in Johannesburg?
2. Who won the match between Australia and Ghana?
3. Which teams played in the city of Polokwane in Group C on June the 13th? Who won?
4. Which Group G team lost 7 - 0 to Portugal in Cape Town on June the 21st?

Here is the latest schedule of matches from South Africa? Can you read it? Who will play next?

Use this page to find some information about your favourite players

Level 2 and 3

TOPICS - An Online Magazine for ESL students

Are you still having a problem choosing a topic for your talk? Maybe you should take a look at this easy to read magazine written for and by ESL students. In the It's International section topics include: holidays and festivals, food, traditions and superstitions, clothing, proverbs and folktales. Take a look ...

If I had a little money ...

2010-06-09T14:19:00.012+10:00

Level 2 and 3 : The Second Conditional : If you won a million dollars, what would you do?

Watch this video. What answers do the people give? What would you answer?

LISTENING EXERCISE & SURVEY: CLICK HERE and PRINT the listening exercise and survey. Watch the video again. Complete the survey in class.

Loading...

ONLINE GRAMMAR EXERCISE - SECOND CONDITIONAL - CLICK HERE (from Grammar Aquarium)

If I got me a wealthy man, I wouldn't have to work at all, I'd fool around and have a ball ...

Here's a classic song from ABBA (using the 2nd Conditional) ... watch, enjoy, and sing along. PRINT THE LYRICS HERE.

Level 2 and 3: The Conditional : If +will, would, were

Last week we looked at the First Conditional (if +will). Watch this lesson if you are not sure how to use this grammar

ONLINE GRAMMAR EXERCISE - FIRST CONDITIONAL - CLICK HERE (from Grammar Aquarium)

IF - Online exercise (First and Second Conditional)from UsingEnglish.com

LEVEL 1 : HOW MUCH IS IT? / ... FOR HOW MUCH?

SHOPPING AT ALDI

This week we read the Aldi Catalogue. There are some great specials this week. Do you remember the dialogue?:

Customer: Excuse me, can you tell me how much the Vanilla Soy Milk is?
Assistant: It's $1.99
Customer: For how much?
Assistant : For a one litre carton

Vocabulary: litre / grams / kilo / carton / pack / box / bottle / packet / tin / block

It is easy to confuse HOW MUCH? (Price) and FOR HOW MUCH/MANY? (AMOUNT/NUMBER)

REPEAT THE EXERCISE WE DID IN CLASS ON YOUR OWN

1) PRINT this worksheet.
2) GO to ALDI'S ONLINE SPECIAL BUYS page. CLICK HERE.
3) Use the worksheet and write down the PRODUCT / THE PRICE / AMOUNT

MAKE SOME DIALOGUES LIKE THE ONE ABOVE AND PRACTICE THEM WITH A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER

LEVEL 1 - VIDEO : What have you got in that bag?

COMPLETE THE VIDEO LESSON (Click here)

***

Two Minute Talks

2010-06-07T21:27:00.014+10:00

LEVEL 2 and 3 : This week we begin preparing for our two minute talks. You can choose to speak about anything you like. It can be a funny or sad story, something from the news, an interest or hobby, a TV show, film or book you like.

If you like:

Use GOOGLE IMAGES to find some pictures for your talk

Use YouTube to find a short video

Use Wikipedia for information if necessary (English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Arabic ... and much more here)

WATCH AND LISTEN TO THESE TALKS BY OTHER ENGLISH STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Some suggestions:

What kind of music do you like?

Fishing

My City - Vancouver

Listen to SHORT TALKS given by other Duke Street students in 2009. CLICK HERE

I'm going to talk to you about Italy and Italians! Watch this video. Do you know any Italians? What are they like?

COMPLETE THIS ONLINE LESSON about the Italians! (Lots of fun!)

Italy for Kids - a Picture Book

I really like this picture book about Italy written by some American school children. Find out more about Italy by reading ITALY FOR KIDS

***

Road Safety

2010-06-02T14:55:00.012+10:00

Watch the video above. How many people in the car? How old do you think they are? Why does the accident happen? Where does it happen? What do you think about this video?

Loading...

YOUNG DRIVERS

This week level 2 students have been studying road safety. How cna we make our roads safer? Here is a survey we made in class. Ask other people if they AGREE or DISAGREE

GRAMMAR Level 1 and 2 - TO BE ALLOWED TO

Click here and download a board-game you can play in class. You just need a dice and a token.

Level 3 - Make, Let and Allowed to (Online Exercise) - from Grammar Aquarium

VICROADS - Road Rules Website - Knowledge Game

So you think you know the road rules??? Try the VicRoads Knowledge Game. Click here.

Here is a site for learning the road rules.

Level 2 - Finding a Garage

We listened to the conversation with the man who needed his brakes fixed. Now give similiar directions to someone who needs to find the BP Sprint Service Station (Hampshire Road) from Duke Street. CLICK ON VIEW LARGER MAP below:

View Larger Map

Grammar: Level 2 - Verb-ing

When we use two verbs together we sometimes use INFINITIVE (to) and other times GERUND (-ing). You learnt the following this week:

I love ... - ing eg. I love cooking
I like
I hate ...
I enjoy ...
I don't mind ...
I can't stand ...

Watch this video to learn more about when to use TO and when to use -ING

A Lost Boy

2010-05-26T10:55:00.005+10:00

Level 1 and 2

This week we read the story about Paul Lee, the 2 year old boy from Queensland who was lost in the bush. Paul survived because he ate insects and sucked leaves. In this video Bear Grylls from Man Vs. Wild (SBS, Monday night, 8.30 pm)eats an African worm! Very funny ... but not very yummy!

LISTENING : A LOST CHILD

When listening to a description of a lost child, what kinds of information would you expect to hear (e.g., the child's name)?

CLICK HERE FOR LISTENING COMPREHENSION ACTIVITY - MISSING CHILDREN IN A SHOPPING CENTRE(Randall's ESL Lab - American English)

MAKING ENQUIRIES ... "I lost my son"

You are at Highpoint Shopping Centre. You look in a shop window for a minute. You look around - your son is gone!

What do you do?
What do you say?
Who do you ask?
Where do you go?

1) ASK THE PEOPLE NEAR YOU ...

a. Excuse me

b. I lost my son

c. Did you see a boy about 3 years old wearing a blue T-shirt and white pants?

WHAT WOULD THEY SAY

No luck!

ASK AT THE INFORMATION DESK

a........

b........

c........

d. Can you make an announcement?

What questions would the lady at the information desk ask you?

eg. Can I help you? / Does he speak English? / What's his name? / etc

1. NOW WRITE A DIALOGUE
Lady: Can I help you?
You: Yes, I lost my son?
Lady: Oh dear! Don't worry. What's his name?

(continue)

2. PRACTISE YOUR DIALOGUE WITH A FRIEND

3. RECORD YOUR DIALOGUE HERE

Here is a PAIR WORK exercise to help you complete the exercise above

Messages, Notes, Risks and Dangers

2010-05-17T11:41:00.015+10:00

LEVEL 1 and 2

Last week we studied instructions - what to do in an Emergency.

In the video Mr. Bean visits the Emergency department at a hospital.

What is his problem? How would you help him? How does he try to get to the front of the queue?

LEVEL 1

Read this note and answer the questions:

11.15 am

Fred

Grandma is in hospital. Don't worry, it's not serious. I'm going there now. She is in the Queen Victoria Hospital in Carlton. She is on the 4th floor in Room 409.

See you there.

Susan

P.S I've taken the car

Who wrote the note?
Who is the note for?
What is the message?
What time was it written?

LEVEL 1 : Assessment Task - Listening and Speaking VPAU 493.3/493.4

TAKING NOTES

Listen to the phone discussion. CLICK HERE.

1. Take notes from the conversation you hear ...

HOSPITAL:

FLOOR:

ROOM:

VISITING HOURS:

What happened?

Is he alright? Yes / No

If yes, how do you know?

What was he wearing?

2. A FRIEND OF YOURS HAS HAD AN ACCIDENT. WITH A FRIEND WRITE A DIALOGUE. RECORD IT HERE AT VOXOPOP.COM

CLICK HERE TO READ AND PRINT SCRIPT OF THE CONVERSATION

Teachers: Here is a copy of the VPAU 493.3 Assessment Task

LEVEL 2 and 3: Dangerous Sports : Taking risks

Watch the video above to get an idea about the "exciting" new sport of Free Running (also known by its French name, Le Parkour)

Boxing / Skydiving / Karate / Footy / Diving / Free Running (Le Parkour)...

We talked about these sports in class.

1. Which sport is the most dangerous? Why?
2. Which sport is the least dangerous? Why?
3. Is Boxing more or less dangerous than Free Running? Why?

Now ask your friend what she thinks? Use REPORTED SPEECH and tell me your answers:

eg. Teresa said Boxing was the most dangerous sport because people get brain damage.

Grammar Exercise : Reported Speech (Click here and complete)

LISTENING - LEVEL 2 and 3

DANGEROUS ANIMALS

Which animals are dangerous in your country? In Australia we have sharks and crocodiles, snakes and spiders --- but are they really dangerous?

CLICK HERE to hear from Jingwei and Joseph from Singapore. Which animals do they think are dangerous? Note: Click VIDEO QUIZ on the right hand side ofthe page to complete the listening exercise when you have finished listening to Jingwei and Joseph.

READING ... Are Sharks Really Dangerous?

Facts about Sharks ... CLICK HERE

Read and take notes about sharks from this website to answer the question.

LEVEL 3

The Letters of Rachel Henning ... Life in a Foreign Land

In our reading of the novella last week we discovered that Rachel does not seem to like life in Australia very much. She complains about many things and seems very homesick for England.

Loading...

CLICK HERE to visit the Permanent Australia Collection at the Ian Potter Gallery (NGV) Melbourne.

Find some paintings of early Australian life to show to the class and discuss with your classmates

Level 1

APPOINTMENTS

We listened to people making appointments last lesson. Here is Mr. Bean trying to get to his Dentist appointment on time ...

Letters: From Me to You

2010-05-11T11:39:00.005+10:00

LEVEL 3 : THE LETTERS OF RACHEL HENNING (Chapters 1 and 2)

Last week we started reading the novella, The Letters of Rachel Henning (1853). We will also use this book in our study elective, Australian History.

You have been writing personal and business letters, letters of complaint and emails. How do Rachel's letters differ from the way we write personal letters today?

The letters are very interesting and give us a good idea of what life was like in Australia for a young woman 150 years ago. Her letters are like a diary.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION: Do you think you would like being a young woman in the bush back then? How was the voyage out to Australia? What was life like when a young woman arrived? What was life on the farm like? What was life in Sydney or Melbourne like?

Complete the following questions to help you with the discussion topic

Loading...

(if you cannot see all of the form, click here)

Level 3 : Writing letters of complaint

Exercise 1 : Rental Property Problems

Go to this page - copy and paste into Word - then practise writing a letter of complaint to Bowman's Realty about problems a - f in our class reading text. Use the reading text to help you complete the task.

Exercise 2 : Problems with a Purchase

Go this page - copy and paste into Word- then practice writing a letter about something you bought which is faulty.

You can copy and paste other templates into Word from this website.

Introducations: Nice to Meet You

2010-02-08T21:26:00.017+11:00

Welcome (back) students in Levels 1, 2 and 3 at Duke Street Community House ... and to others using this blog for practising reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in English.

INTRODUCTIONS

"How do you do? My name is Dale Pobega, and I am the teacher of this course at Duke Street Community House."

"Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too."

EXERCISE ONE: Practice the dialogue with a friend or classmate.

EXERCISE TWO: Write down some questions you might ask next?

eg. Is this your first time learning English at Duke St? Where do you live? Do you have any kids?

SHAKING HANDS : In Western culture we generally shake hands when meeting someone for the first time. Do you shake hands? If you do not shake hands tell the other class members and your teacher. Many Asian people and Muslims do not feel comfortable shaking hands --- that's ok, don't worry!

LEVEL 1 and 2 : WATCH these people introduce themselves and SPELL their names:

LEVEL 3: LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND SAY ONE THING ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY

CLICK HERE TO START ...

Complete the questions with your teacher and the rest of the class OR by yourself (if you have your own computer)

PRINT and STUDY the audio-script

READING COMPREHENSION & VOCABULARY : The British Royal Family

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is popular all over the world. She is eighty years old and has a large family. There have been many ups and downs in the lives of the British Royal Family - just like any family!

In this exercise I want you to

1) STUDY the Family tree of the British Royal Family. CLICK HERE.
2) PRINT the Family tree for reference.
3) COMPLETE the questions below about THE QUEEN AND HER FAMILY

CLICK HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS --- remember to click SUBMIT when you have finished!

GRAMMAR: The Simple Present Tense

Watch the video above to review when we use this grammar tense in English.

Points to remember. We use the Present Simple when we talk about:

1. Facts
2. Permanent situations
3. Routines and habits
4. Future meaning - after these prepositions: "when", "as soon as", "before" and "until". eg. I will buy a new car when I have enough money.

Level 3 Homework Exercise - SIMPLE PRESENT and SIMPLE FUTURE. Click here!

In Grammar this week, Level 1 and Level 2 we are looking at SUBJECT PRONOUNS and OBJECT PRONOUNS. Remember --- He loves her but she doesn't love him .

Level 1 and 2 Homework Exercise - Using Subject and Object Pronouns. First answer: Tony saw that girl yesterday ---> He saw her yestrday. Click here

WORK AND OCCUPATIONS

I LOVE LUCY

This TV show from the 50s is still very popular. In this episode Lucy and her friend, Viv, are employed at a chocolate factory. Let's watch the episode in class. Others can write to me by email. Click the ENVELOPE icon below.

Did you enjoy the video? What happens? Why is it funny? Have you had a job you liked or didn't like? How was the job? How was your boss? How were your workmates?

LISTENING - MY FIRST JOB

Listen to Aiste from Lithuania talking about her first job in Japan. CLICK HERE.

What was she selling?
What was her biggest problem?
How did she feel?

LISTEN TO THIS DISCUSSION BETWEEN CRYSTAL AND GEORGE FROM THE U.S.A ABOUT JOB OPTIONS. Complete the online comprehension questions.

TIP: Print the dialogue FIRST and study it if you have any problems with vocab and grammar ---> use your dictionary and teacher! We are here for you! :-)

COMPETENCIES: VPAU493, 494, 497, 498, 502, 503

Week 8, Term 4: We All Call Australia Home

2009-11-29T20:39:00.014+11:00

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?

Loading...

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!

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

2009-11-21T13:02:00.015+11:00

Hello students

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

Loading...

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

Loading...

Level 3 : Survey about food

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

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)

Loading...

Try this fun English poll:

English level testgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Week 6, Term 4 : The Future

2009-11-11T15:27:00.008+11:00

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.

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

2009-11-03T20:53:00.007+11:00

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

Week 4, Term 4 : I've got a Cold

2009-10-26T12:20:00.010+11:00

Watch the video. Can you list the symptoms of flu or the common cold? How do you treat flu symptoms?

Level 2 and 3 Listening - Conrad's Got a Cold

CLICK HERE to listen and do the comprehension exercise

The H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu)

You can get a FREE injection from your local doctor to protect you - and others around you - against swine flu. With your teacher talk about Swine Flu. Is it different to other types of flu? Who does it affect the most? CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SITE.

How can we PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES from flu?

DOWNLOAD THESE 2 SIMPLE POSTERS and PRINT OFF from your laptop.

POSTER #1: Cover your mouth

POSTER #2: Wash your hands

We read a story called "I've Got a Cold" (AMES) ... what did you learn about treating colds and flus? Can we use antibiotics? Wht is the difference between a virus and an infection? WRITE ME AN EMAIL by clicking the envelope icon at the bottom of this lesson.

Level 3 Catching up on some odds and ends

Click here for Adverb Grammar Exercises

How good is your Aussie slang? Click here and see

Try this Grammar quiz on Permission and Requests. CLICK.

Vocabulary ... try the BBC Word Master Game

Week 3, Term 4 : Tell me about it ...

2009-10-18T19:40:00.018+11:00

ACCESS 2 SHORT TALKS (West Sunshine Class)

Here are two excellent short talks by Raquel and Walter ...

CLICK HERE to listen to Raquel's short talk about ceramics and mosaics

CLICK HERE to listen to Walter's short talk about his art.

OTHER TWO MINUTE TALKS YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO:

Phan ... on her auntie who never married;
Joanne ... on her trip to Europe and Hong Kong;
Kien ... on 'Health is Gold';
Kim ... about the wonder-food, broccoli;
Thanh ... on eyelash extensions;
Yvonne ... tells us about her vegetable garden;
Q ... talks about her mother's guo hua (Chinese traditional painting)

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE WONDERFUL TWO MINUTE TALKS

Access Level 2 and 3: Giving a Short Talk

This week we are practising giving a short 2 minute talk. You can choose any subject you like - maybe your favourite sport, hobby or pastime. You can talk about an animal, your favourite city or maybe a story from the news ... you decide!

CLICK HERE AND WATCH THE VIDEO OF AMIR FROM IRAN TALKING ABOUT HIS COUNTRY'S NATIONAL SPORTS - WRESTLING & FOOTBALL

When planning your talk think about the stages we discussed in class.

1. Amir Introduces himself and the subject of his talk to his audience;

2. Amir's main points are about a) Football - Iran is not doing so well in Asia b) in Wrestling, however, the country is #1 or #2 in the world;

3. Amir explains why Iran is so good in Wrestling - a) they have a long history doing the sport b) it is a very spiritual activity for Iranians, he says;

4. Amir closes his talk by inviting his audience to talk about their national sports and to ask him questions.

Remember to FIND and PRINT some pictures from the internet / or find a short video on YouTube to show the class - it is good to have something to show the class as you talk.

Level One - Today's Question is ...

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO HOA FROM VIETNAM TALK ABOUT HER FAVOURITE ANIMAL.

LEVEL 3:

CLICK FOR THE LISTENING ACTIVITY ABOUT CATS OR DOGS

CLICK HERE AND PRINT OUT THE LESSON ABOUT CATS AND DOGS

COMPUTER USE : LEARN TO PRINT USING YOUR LAPTOP

HERE IS A POSTER OF DOG BREEDS

HERE IS A POSTER OF CAT BREEDS

The Lady and the Tramp is a nice story with good dogs and bad cats.

Click here to go to the colouring book website. PRINT some pages to take home for your kids. Show me how to print to the photocopier from your laptop.

Week 2, Term 4: At the Beach

2009-10-14T12:03:00.010+11:00

Level One: I HATE THE BEACH

I Hate the Beach by Ann Dunn (PRACE,2006) Click here to order PRACE PAGETURNER KITS

This week we read the funny story of a woman who hates the beach.

Do you like the beach? List the things you like about the beach. List the things you hate about the beach.

Send me an EMAIL by clicking the small envelope icon at the bottom of this posting.
Use the book, I Hate the Beach, to help you complete the email writing exercise.

LESSON UNIT : Australian English at the Beach. CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SITE!

This is a really interesting and fun website about the beach - famous beaches, the history of the 'Aussie Cozzie' (bathing suit), Dangerous Creatures, Beach Safety and First Aid. (Developed by Barker, Chalk, Dunn, Malakar, Hanrahan and PRACE, 1999-2007)

SOUNDS OF THE SEA GUESSING GAME

With a friend listen to these sounds. Can you guess what they are? Use the expressions to talk about the sounds. Check by CLICKING HERE TO SEE

1. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN | THEN CLICK HERE TO SEE

I think it is a ______. It could be a ________. It might be a _____. It may be a _____.

2. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN | THEN CLICK HERE TO SEE

I think it is a ______. It could be a ________. It might be a _____. It may be a _____.

3. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN | THEN CLICK HERE TO SEE

I think it is a ______. It could be a ________. It might be a _____. It may be a _____.

GRAMMAR - REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

We have been studying reflexive pronouns this week (myself/yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) and the use of phrases EACH OTHER / ONE ANOTHER as well as BY MYSELF / ON MY OWN

Click here for a SIMPLE REVIEW WORKSHEET

CLICK HERE TO TRY OTHER FREE GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY WORKSHEETS FROM www.eslpdf.com

Week 1, Term 4 : Playing it Safe

2009-10-06T11:34:00.011+11:00

LEVEL 2 and 3

This week we have been practising listening / video comprehension and reading skills for our assessment task next week (interpreting information texts). Watch the Worksafe video above. Think about the CONTEXT, PURPOSE, TONE, INFORMATION (it is presenting), MESSAGE and your OPINION about it.

Do you remember the meanings of the words?
Match the words and the meanings below:

A. CONTEXT
B. PURPOSE
C. TONE
D. INFORMATION
E. MESSAGE
E. OPINION

1. What you personally think of the text, story, article or video?
2. The feeling of the text - serious / fun / educative / comical / ironic
3. What the text is trying to do eg. warn us about danger, help us to understand something better, make us laugh.
4. The facts and ideas a text give us
5. A strong idea or piece of advice eg. Be careful when using machinery or power tools, do this or that to avoid problems.
6. What is this text? eg. a TV commercial Where would you find this text? eg. an article in a newspaper (sports section)

WATCH THIS VIDEO:

Email Writing Exercise - Slip! Slop! Slap!:

Write about the CONTEXT / PURPOSE / TONE / INFORMATION given / MESSAGE and your OPINION of the Slip! Slop! Slap! Advertisement that appeared on Australian Television in the early 1980s.

Send me an email (click on the little email icon below and use the form to write your response or use your GMAIL account)

Week 10 : Holiday Hijinx

2009-09-16T12:27:00.013+10:00

Level 1, 2 & 3
TEACHER NASREDDIN HOLIDAY READING AND ACTIVITIES (Click here)

Nasreddin is my hero. A wonderful Turkish teacher from the 13th century who seemed to have the answer to almost all of life's problems. Go to the site and complete the reading activities (or just read and enjoy the stories).

Nasreddin Hodja is a collection of Hodja stories compiled by Alpay Kabacali, beautifully illustrated by Fatih M. Durmus. CLICK HERE to read the stories.

HOLIDAY HOMEWORK ( ... if you are crazy for more English!)

Some people never take a holiday from learning :-) so here are some ideas and activities for you over the holidays.We come back to school the week beginning 5 October.

1) REVIEW LESSONS from the last 20 WEEKS on this blog: work your way backwards from Week 10, Term 3 to Week 1, Term 2.

2) Level 1, 2 & 3 DOWNLOAD FREE ESL COURSE BOOKS from Banana.com (CLICK HERE). The FREE Grammar Workbook from Banana.com on the left side of this page called THE BIG GRAMMAR BOOK is good for reviewing basic English. There are many other books from English Banana.com that you can download and print at HOME (please, DO NOT downaload or print at Duke Street.

4) Level 2 & 3 Ello.org Video Comprehension Lessons

Everybody was crazy about these lessons in Term 3. I agree, they are super and so good for learning English.

Try these Video Lessons (CLICK HERE)

For hundreds of more Video Lessons use the VIDEO INDEX menu on the side of the page at Elllo.org

5) Catch up with VOXOPOP. If you have a microphone at home, you can leave a recording on lots of subjects at our ESL Talkgroups. CLICK HERE TO GET THERE

Level 3 Grammar: Modals

Modals are always difficult in English and need lots of review. Try these:

Modals of Ability – http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/330-modals-ability.htm

Modals of Advice – http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/330-modals-advice.htm

Modals of Necessity – http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/330-modals-necessity.htm

Modals with “Not” – http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/330-modals-not.htm

Modals of Polite Request – http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/330-modals-polite.htm

Week 9: Telling Jokes and Stories

2009-09-06T20:28:00.012+10:00

This week we are going to have some fun! Jokes in English are a good way to learn new vocabulary and practice grammar.

Level One : (The Perfect Son) Click here, read the joke and listen to the MP3

Level Two : (A Second Opinion) Click here, read the joke and listen to the MP3

Level Three : (Two Riddles) Click here, read the joke and listen to the MP3

For more ESL Jokes click here.

TONGUE TWISTERS!!!

Try this tongue twister - good for pronunciation, especially the sound, 'ch' :-)

How much wood would a wood chuck chuck (flash exercise)

She sells sea shells (practice the 'sh' sound)

I saw Susie sitting (practice the 's' sound)

WORKPLACE STORIES

Level 2 & 3

We have just watched a story on video about jokes made at work which can offend. I am interested to hear your workplace stories - funny or bad.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH CHRISTOPHE FROM BELGIUM TELL HIS STORY ABOUT THE WORST JOB HE EVER HAD.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO VOXOPOP. TELL ME ABOUT THE WORST JOB YOU EVER HAD? Where was it? When? Who was involved? What happened? How did it happen?

GRAMMAR - Should, Ought to, had better ...

Watch this video if you are not sure how to use should, ought to or had better

Level 3 : Writing letters of complaint

Exercise 1 : Rental Property Problems

Go to this page - copy and paste into Word - then practise writing a letter of complaint to Bowman's Realty about problems a - f in our class reading text. Use the reading text to help you complete the task.

Exercise 2 : Problems with a Purchase

Go this page - copy and paste into Word- then practice writing a letter about something you bought which is faulty.

You can copy and paste other templates into Word from this website.

Week 7 & 8, Term 3: Making Complaints

2009-08-26T11:05:00.010+10:00

Level 3 : Listening

This week we have been learning about making and responding to complaints. On public transport, in the workplace and when we go shopping - there are many opportunities for this. This week I am introducing you to a new listening site called Elllo.org. There are hundreds of listening lessons for you and the speakers are from all over the world. In the lesson below, Todd is complaining about Hollywood films. Do you agree with him?

Complaints about Movies. Click here to do an exercise from Elllo.org!

Click here to choose other listening lessons from Elllo.org. (Also listed in the sidebar of this blog).

In class we listened to the conversation between an inspector and traveller on public transport. The inspector gives the lady a $158 dollar fine but the lady protests. The ticket machine at Yarraville station was broken. The inspector tells the lady to write a letter of complaint.

Click here to see a complaint/feedback form for METLINK.

Print out the form and practice writing a complaint.

Include the following information:

Time you were travelling

Where you were travelling from

Where you were travelling to

What happened

Why you didn't have a ticket

What you want Metlink to do

The Past Continuous

We use this tense in the following ways:

*Emphasizing 'the progress' of an action in the past
Example: He was playing football.

*Talking about two actions happening at the same time (in the past)
Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.

*Talking about action going on at a certain time in the past
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.

For more information ...click here!

Test yourself on the Past ContinuousLevel 1 / Level 2 / Level 3

****

Week 6, Term 3 : How is silk made?

2009-08-16T17:34:00.005+10:00

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Level 3

This week we are writing about HOW THINGS ARE MADE. In class last week you studied How Tea is Produced and Distributed. You also know about How Bananas are Produced and Shipped to Europe and America.

Watch the video above about HOW SILK IS MADE in Bangladesh.

Complete the following exericse:

Instructions:

(i) Put the steps in the correct order
(ii)Change the sentences from ACTIVE voice to PASSIVE voice

A) The women immerse the coccoons in boiling water. The silk worm inside the coccoon dies.

B) The women collect and sort huge piles of golden silk worm coccoons

C) The women wind the raw, silk thread onto a spindle. They dry it and then ship it to a textile factory

D) After boiling, the women cool the coccoons and take them to a loom. They unravel the coccoons onto the spool.

TO READ THE SCRIPT (& FIND THE ANSWERS) CLICK HERE

Week 5, Term 3: The Red Balloon

2009-08-10T15:24:00.009+10:00

Level 1 : The Red Balloon

Last weekend I watched a wonderful film called The Red Balloon by the French director, Albert Lamorisse. It is a film with only a few words so anyone can watch it and enjoy it.

You can watch it here (but it is 33 minutes long). I will show you this film in class from DVD.

1) Click here and PRINT OUT the worksheet. Read the questions before you watch the film..

2) Watch the film and complete the worksheet.

SONG : UP, UP AND AWAY (IN MY BEAUTIFUL BALLOON) - THE FIFTH DIMENSION (1972)

Here is a great song about 'balloons' ... maybe like the film it is about joy and freedom?

Here are the lyrics for some Karaoke. CLICK HERE.

APOLOGISING

Match the opening and closing phrases (A and B):

A

I’m sorry…
I’m very sorry…
I’m terribly sorry…
Excuse me…
Pardon me…
I apologize…
I’m afraid…

B

…I wasn’t very well yesterday
…I didn’t see you
…It won’t happen again
…I’ll be more careful next time
…I’ll finish it before I go home
…It’s my fault
…It’s all my fault

CLICK here to listen to the above phrases

Level 2 & 3 : SAYING SORRY (BBC Audio Lessons)

Click here to do a lesson from the BBC about Saying Sorry

Click here to do a lesson from the BBC about Accepting Apologies

Week 4, Term 3: What is it used for?

2009-07-30T14:45:00.012+10:00

Look at these Japanese inventions.

What are they used for?

Do you think they are useful?

Have you got one of those things you use for ...?
Have you got some of that stuff you use for ...?

Often we do not know the name in English for something. Even native English-speakers do not know the names of many tools, instruments or products they may need.

It helps if we can DESCRIBE the object we need the best way we can.

Remember the ORDER OF ADJECTIVES we studied last week? (opinion -> size -> age -> shape -> colour -> origin -> material -> purpose). These can also help us describe something we do not know the name of so someone else can guess and help us.

eg.

Person A: Have you got some of that black, sticky stuff you use for cleaning shoes?
Person B : Do you mean 'shoe polish'?
Person A: Yes, that's it! Have you got any? Can I borrow some?
Person B: Sure! Here you are.
Person A: Thanks a lot
Person B: You're welcome.

PAIR WORK:

With a friend create some dialogues like the one above. Pretend you do not know what these objects are:

PLIERS
AN EGG FLIPPER
CHOP STICKS
A SET OF SCALES

With a friend record a DIALOGUE at Voxopop in the discussion called BORROWING THINGS / ASKING FOR STUFF ... CLICK HERE

PASSIVE VOICE:

In class we have been using the ACTIVE VOICE to describe objects. However, we often use the PASSIVE VOICE INSTEAD.

eg. ACTIVE VOICE :

You use a set of scales for finding out how much you weigh.

PASSIVE VOICE:

A set of scales is used for finding out how much you weigh.

We use PASSIVE VOICE when we are more interested in what the OBJECT does rather than who the SUBJECT of the action is.

CLICK here to do an exercise on WHAT THINGS ARE (USED) FOR

ACCESS 2 & 3

A CAR FOR EVERYONE?

Would you like this car? It's from India. What is it's name? What type of car is it?

CLICK HERE FOR THE WORKSHEET. PRINT THE WORKSHEET AND WATCH THE VIDEO AGAIN. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

We studied the following in class:

Used for / used to (purpose)
used by (person)
to be used to (accustomed)
used to (remote past tense)

Study the difference in meaning.

Exercise 1:

Do this exercise Used to do or Be Used to. Click here.

Exercise 2 :
Write a short paragraph in the COMMENTS section below.

Tell me what you think about the REVA Electric car? What do you like about the car? What don't you like? Are there problems with REVA , especially driving here in Australia?

Week 3, Term 3: Describing People and Things

2009-07-27T12:01:00.012+10:00

This week in class we are DESCRIBING PEOPLE and THINGS. Watch the fashion show above. Do you like the clothes?

What clothes can you see : skirts? jackets? ... What colours are they? ... What are they made of?

What do you think this English expression means: CLOTHES MAKETH THE MAN

Do you think fashion is important? Is beauty important?

What do you think this English expression means: BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

MR WORLD 2007

Do you like beauty contests? Here is Mr.World 2007, Juan Garcia from Spain.

Can you write a short paragraph about him using full sentences? Leave your description in the COMMENTS section below.

Name:
Age:
Clothes (colour, material):
Hair (length, type, colour):
Height (approximate):
Weight (approximate):

Level 2 and 3 ...

For more information about Juan go to: http://www.mrworld.tv/index.php/en/mr-world

*What are Juan's interests?
*What is his job?
*What is he studying?
*What is his life goal?

Here is Juan winning the award in 2007. Do you think he is the most handsome man in the World?

GRAMMAR: Order of Adjectives

In class you learnt the formula : opinion -> size -> age -> shape -> colour -> origin -> material -> purpose

Click here to find out about the correct order of adjectives in English. Read the explanation and do the exercises.

Exercise #2 : Click here to do an exercise that teaches you the correct/incorrect order of adjectives.

SPEAKING : What do you look like? What are you wearing today? Tell the class at VOXOPOP.COM (click here).

FOR FUN ... take a look at these 'bloopers' on the catwalk :

Week 2, Term 3: Where were you ...?

2009-07-20T20:46:00.005+10:00

Where were you 40 years ago when the first man walked on the moon? What were you doing? Did you watch the event on TV or listen on radio? Did you read about it in the newspaper?

This week we have been talking about important historical events.

Level 2 and 3 students will give short talks, some of which we will video and record.

Choose one of the 'big events' in your lifetime. We discussed the following in class (but you can choose something different if you like).

1. The end of the Soviet Union (1990)

2. September the 11th terrorist attack (2001)

3. Democracy comes to Portugal (1974)

4. The fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)

5. The assassination of John F. Kennedy (1964)

6. the Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004)

QUESTIONS:

(i)Where were you when the event happened?
(ii) What were you doing?
(iii) How and when did you hear about it?
(iv) How did you feel? What was your reaction?

Watch the videos and do some research using Google search - web and images. You can use pictures in your class talk if you like.

RECORD YOUR TALK / INTERVIEW WITH A FRIEND AT VOXOPOP IN THE DISCUSSION 'WHERE WERE YOU...? IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS IN OUR LIFETIMES'. CLICK HERE.

Please feel free to contribute to the Voxopop discussion - even if you are a teacher or outside follower of this blog. We appreciate your contribution.

We are also looking at the use of FOR / SINCE / AGO. Click here to do some online exercises.

Week 1, Term 3: Singing in the Rain

2009-07-12T19:51:00.019+10:00

What's the weather like?

CLICK HERE FOR THE LYRICS TO 'SINGING IN THE RAIN'

Click here to get the weather forecast where you live.

Do you like hot or cold weather? What's the weather like where you live? Is it likely to rain? Is the weather in Melbourne like the weather in Sydney?

The word 'like' in English has many uses. It can be very confusing. Do you understand the difference between:

to like
to be like
to be likely

What does the expression "like father, like son" mean?

INTERNATIONAL WEATHER - WHERE IS IT LIKELY TO RAIN?

CLICK HERE TO CHECK THE INTERNATIONAL WEATHER FORECAST

In class we discussed the use of TO BE LIKELY / UNLIKELY. Click the link below and using the 0-50% (unlikely) / 60-100 % (likely) formula list 5 countries where it is likely to rain.

(ii) Choose one of the international cities and tell a friend or your teacher the weather forecast for the coming week.

Level One : Telling the time (Matching Games)

There are two types of clocks - analogue and digital. We can tell the time in different ways. We practiced this in class, now let's play some fun matching games ...

CLICK HERE TO PLAY THE 'TELLING THE TIME' MATCHING GAMES

LISTENING : Telling the time - Clocks and Watches

CLICK HERE TO DO A LISTENING EXERCISE ABOUT TELLING THE TIME

Week 9: Asking for and Offering Help

2009-06-21T19:30:00.008+10:00

This week we are 'asking for help'. In the video above Mr. Bean tries to help a man who has a heart attack ... with very funny results! An emergency like this one, however, is not funny in real life.

What would you do in this situation? Who would you call? What would you say?

Giving 'CPR' (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

In Term 1 we watched a video called 4 STEPS FOR LIFE (The Ambulance Service and You, Ames/MAS 2007).

ii. Go back to your notes and activities we did last term. Compare them with this British video called HOW TO DO CPR ON AN ADULT. The methods are very similar. Compare your notes and the video.

iii. In the COMMENTS section write instructions on HOW TO GIVE CPR.

ASKING FOR PERMISSION : PAIR WORK ACTIVITY

With a classmate or friend click through the following presentation (see the little arrow on the Scribd toolbar 1/30). Practice the dialogue ... DO YOU MIND IF

Do you mind if I . . .

Spanish speaking students ... here is the list of verbs you asked for:

Bank of Verbs

Week 8: Let's Party!

2009-06-05T15:39:00.008+10:00

Hello friends. Hope you liked the BIRTHDAY BLOOPERS :-)Now the serious stuff ...

ACCESS 1 & 2: INVITING SOMEONE TO A PARTY

This week we are learning how to make INVITATIONS and ACCEPT or DECLINE INVITATIONS. Have you had a party recently? Did you invite friends and family over the phone.

In class we listened to Sam inviting Hanna to his daughter's birthday party.

EXERCISE ONE : Now I want you to write a similar dialogue.

READ and PRINT this WORKSHEET called INVITING SOMEONE TO A PARTY. Follow the model. Write your own dialogue in the second table on the worksheet. CLICK HERE.

EXERCISE TWO :With a friend record your dialogue in the discussion called MAKING INVITATIONS at VOXOPOP.COM. Click here.

*************************************************************************************

ACCESS 2 and 3 : WHAT JULES, JULES and DALE DID NEXT (PART 2 of the MOVIE)

Here is PART 2 of the video students. Were your stories the same, similar or different to what happened in PART 2 of the movie? Did you like the movie? Leave a COMMENT below if you like.

Access 2 (Sunshine West) and 3:

EXTREME (and OTHER) ACTIVITIES

This week we are looking at Lesiure Activities - extreme ones like EXTREME IRONING and your favourite activities, maybe cycling, walking, swimming or knitting - whatever you like.

DOWNLOAD this worksheet called EXTREME AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

You have completed the listening exercise in class. Fill in the table and add your own answers.

Go to our Talkgroups at VOXOPOP and leave a message in the discussion called EXTREME AND OTHER ACTIVITES. Make sure you cover all the points about EXTREME IRONING as well as YOUR FAVOURITE ACTIVITY.

(Remember the general rule about the use of VERB -ing with 'activity nouns')

Week 7: A Sunday Bike Ride

2009-05-31T21:49:00.011+10:00

On Sunday, I went for a ride with my friends, Jules and Jules (yes, they have the same name!) Watch PART ONE of the movie we made.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? / WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT?

With a friend look at the photos.

(Exercise i) Can you put the photos in order (1-8)to complete the story?

(Exercise ii)Write what you think is going to happen in PART 2 of the movie.

START YOUR STORY LIKE THIS ...

It was a nice Sunday morning. Dale and his two friends went for a bike ride. They crossed the Yarra river on the Punt ...

(Exercise iii)Copy your story into the COMMENTS section below (look for the little pencil and the word COMMENTS)

CLICK HERE to get a web-copy of Exercise i and Exercise ii

In the next lesson I will show you PART 2 of Jules, Jules ... and Dale Go for a Sunday Bike Ride. You can compare your story with the movie!

ROAD SAFETY - STOPPED BY THE POLICE

In class this week we are looking at road safety. We are also reading and understanding fines. Have you been stopped by the police before? Why did they stop you? (eg. speeding, drink driving, to check your licence or registration)

Watch this video? What do you think it is about? What is the message? Are the police good or bad? Write your answers in the COMMENTS section below.

Week 6: Access 2 & 3: Online Banking For Beginners

2009-05-25T15:15:00.012+10:00

ONLINE BANKING FOR BEGINNERS WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

Last week we were paying bills at the post office. As you already know, we can also pay our bills on the internet - but many of us are afraid of online banking. Maybe someone will steal our login details and then steal all of our money?

This week we will do some exercises using the ONLINE BANKING FOR BEGINNERS WEBSITE. There are many good activities and you will get a tour of what it is like to do internet banking so you can see for your self.

Exercise One: Complete the four exercises in the FOR AND AGAINST SECTION (click here). Write down your answers from the HAVE YOUR SAY exercise.

Exercise Two: Use the COMMENTS section at the bottom of this posting to write your paragraph. (Look carefully for the little pencil and the word 'comments')

Exercise Three: Go to the HOW TO BANK ONLINE section (click here). Work through each step and finally TRY SIMBANK.

Exercise Four: GO to VOXOPOP and leave your opinion about Online Banking (click here)

ACCESS LEVEL 1: ESL BLUES - Grammar Games

This is a fun site with lots of simple, grammar games. Enjoy. Click here to go to ESL BLUES - Grammar Games

Week 5 : Access 2&3 : Eurovision Song Contest 2009

2009-05-18T15:21:00.000+10:00

Did you watch the Eurovision Song Contest final on Sunday night? It was a great show. Congratulations Moscow! Norway's Alexander Rybak won the competition with a record number of votes. The festival was very controversial this year. The Georgian group, Stephane & 3G, was disqualified because their song was considered too political. The song "We Don't Wanna Put In" was seen as an attack on Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin.

Exercise One: Watch and listen to the winning song from Norway. Watch and listen to the song from Georgia.

Read the lyrics of both:

Fairytale - Alexander Rybak (Norway)

We Don't Wanna Put In - Stephane & 3G (Georgia)

Exercise Two: Vote in our Micro-Poll. Which country had the best song - Norway or Georgia?

Click Here for Poll Online Survey
| Website Polls
| Email Marketing

| Crowdsourcing
View MicroPoll

Exercise Three: Leave a COMMENT at the bottom of this posting (Week 5) about the two songs. Which one did you like the most? Which one had the best music? Which one had the best lyrics? Which song has the best presentation? Should Georgia have been disqualified? Is pop music the right place place for politics?

Exercise Four: Leave a voice message at our talkgroup on VOXOPOP about the discussion.

Watch clips by other 2009 Eurovision finalists by clicking here!!!

ACCESS 1 : Paying Bills

Paying Bills can be a headache. We have been practicing conversations this week where we pay bills at the post office by cash, cheque and EFTPOS. Go to our VOXOPOP talk group and practice the model dialogues with a friend.

Week 4: Make me a cuppa

2009-05-10T17:38:00.000+10:00

Hi students, this week we are studying INSTRUCTIONS. Our theme this week is TEA ... mmm! very nice as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter. Watch this video by Ruju from India about making Indian-style tea. Make notes. Talk about the video in groups of three.Not everyone makes tea the same way. How do you make tea at home?

ACCESS 1.

How to make a cuppa

Verbs: FILL / PUT / TAKE / BOIL / POUR / TAKE OFF/ TAKE OUT / ADD / SERVE
Vocabulary : TAP / KETTLE / STOVE / TEA BAG / CUP / MILK / SUGAR
Sequence words: FIRSTLY / THEN / AFTER THAT / BEFORE / FINALLY

Exercise One: Use the words above and pictures. With a friend write down the instructions HOW TO MAKE A CUPPA

Exercise Two: Click here and Go to VOXOPOP. Tell me 'how to make a cuppa'.

ACCESS 2 & 3

How to make Indian Chai

Exercise One: Watch Ruju making chai again. Use the verbs, vocab and sequence words we discussed in class to tell me how you would make chai tea.

Exercise Two: Click here and Go to VOXOPOP. Tell me 'How to make Indian Chai tea'.

For fun ... here is a nice video called Morning-Cuppa-Chai (New Delhi) ... seems everyone around the world loves tea!

Week 3 : Getting to Marciano's (Yummy!)

2009-05-03T21:31:00.000+10:00

Hello friends at Duke Street and West Sunshine.This week we are studying directions and instructions.In class we have used Google Maps to find our way to one of the best cake shops in Melbourne, Marciano's South American Cakes in Maidstone.

Exercise 1: There are 3 easy ways to get to Marciano's by car from Duke Street in less than 10 minutes. Go back to Google Maps (click here) and write down the three routes.

Exercise 2: Go to our talk group on VOXOPOP (click here) and tell me how to get to Marciano's using the DEVONSHIRE ROAD route. Remember what I told you about direction, time and landmarks.

PS. Make sure you go to Marciano's and try a cake ... the Milhoja is my favourite and the empanadas (Chilean meat pies) are very good too!

Week 2 : West Sunshine Class

2009-04-29T00:13:00.000+10:00

Hello Friends,

today was a great class and I enjoyed hearing your postings on VOXOPOP.

CLICK HERE TO GET BACK TO VOXOPOP

I know you also enjoyed the poems for pronunciation practice and reading aloud. Find more at home by clicking this link: TRADITIONAL POEMS, RHYMES AND STORIES

Oh! and here's a 'karaoke' clip from The Sound of Music ... :-) You can sing along to this version ...

Week Two : Term Two : Access One : As I was going to St Ives ...

2009-04-26T14:48:00.000+10:00

Hello Access One Students

A) Listen to the old English riddle called, As I was going to St. Ives.

B) In pairs can you answer the question: HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE GOING TO ST.IVES?

Can you also answer the following questions:

1) How many men were there?

2) How many wives were there?

3) How many sacks were there?

4) How many adult cats were there?

5) How many kittens were there?

Do you like my cat, Sita? She's a darling, isn't she?

Do you like cats? Or do you like dogs? Maybe you don't like either? Post a comment and tell me what you think.

C) Would you like to practice reading for pronunciation at our Talkgroup on VOXOPOP?

Read the other poems and rhymes I gave you class about cats (Hey Diddle Diddle, Ding, Dong Bell, Pussy-Cat, Pussy-Cat)

There is a new Talkgroup there called READING POEMS.

Bye for now

Your teacher,

Dale

ACCESS 3 : Graffiti - Art or Crime

2009-04-21T23:40:00.000+10:00

Hello Access 3 students,

here are two videos about graffiti from YouTube. The first is the one we watched in class about the problem of graffiti on trains in the German city of Hamburg. The second video shows some of the graffiti 'art' in Melbourne's laneways. Maybe we need to go on an excursion to see those laneways for ourselves? What do you think about graffiti? Leave a message here and also leave an audio message for the class at our talkgroup at VOXOPOP (click the link below):

http://www.voxopop.com/group/489f1612-c1b4-4601-86db-1b49ebd0d9a5

HAPPY VIEWING ... Dale

VOXOPOP TALK GROUPS START THIS WEEK

2009-04-21T15:30:00.000+10:00

Hello Students

Voxopop talk groups start this week! If you would like to leave an opinion about discussions we are having in class just click the link below:

http://www.voxopop.com/group/489f1612-c1b4-4601-86db-1b49ebd0d9a5

See you (and hear you!) there

Your teacher

Dale

Week One : Access 2 & 3 : These are a few of my favourite things ...

2009-04-16T21:38:00.001+10:00

All of us have things which are special to us. Here are some of my favourite things. Watch and listen to the 'slidestory' above. What do you think? Tell the class about your favourite things. Click the little pencil below to add a comment. Also do the related quiz below.