Promotion

I promote on whether I think you have a good chance of survival in the next level.  This time is unusual. Usually my managers are very strict about a 217 or higher reading score. I really want you to use good grammar when you speak..  This class, they want me to be strict about listening comprehension, but not strict about the reading score or oral accuracy.  

PLEASE PRACTICE A LOT THIS SUMMER.  No one in our class can do no English this summer and be okay in high intermediate in the fall.  If you don't have a 217 or higher on the reading test, read as much as you can.  I've seen people who read for one hour a day make big gains in one month.  Write a lot too.

Intense English classes are hard.  If you came to class, you won.  Your English is better, and you became stronger.

Whether it rains or pours, I'm all yours....

 

Who's your favorite actor?  What's your favorite TV show?  What's your favorite movie?

Today, people in the class recommended Man in the Mirror, Prison Break, Breaking Bad, Titanic, Home Alone, The Color Purple, Mission Impossible, Game of Thrones and My Best Friend's Wedding.  Claribel recommended her son's favorite book series, "Awesome Alex."

I gave my love a cherry

 

Do you like to give gifts? 

When do you give gifts?

Who do you give gifts to?

What are good gifts to give to friends or childen?

Talking at a restaurant

Quizlet Vocabulary: Speaking about food

Grammar: Practice using count & non-count nouns

Can you find the spelling mistake in the subtitles?

A few regional differences:  My family says "appetizer" rather than "starter." 

In this area, a 20% (minimum) tip is customary.  "Tip jobs" have a lower minimum wage, so servers don't get the minimum wage of $12.77/hour without the tip money.  Servers usually get $2.13/hour from the restaurant, and taxes often take their whole paychecks.  Some restaurants require servers to pay some of their tips to their coworkers including bussers, "expo," (a person who checks the order and arranges the food in a pretty way) and bartenders.  Other restaurants take all the tips and redistribute them to every worker equally.  When I worked at a restaurant, the servers kept all of their tips, but that was a long time ago.

In the conversation at the end of the video, native speakers in this area say, "chicken sandwich" rather than chicken burger.  We'd probably say we like tacos or a taco if there's only one.

English for my Job-Hospitality

Food and drink Vocabulary from English Club  (Go down to see links to vocabulary and practice)

Grammar: count vs. non-count  (same link as the top)

What is your favorite restaurant nearby?  What is the best restaurant in your native country?  What is the best restaurant you ever ate at?

Holiday!

What's your favorite holiday?  Why do you like it?

What do you usually do to prepare?

Where are the best places to go for a vacation?  Why?

Challenge Listening: Thrift Store

 A thrift store is a place that sells used (secondhand) things.  Big ones near here are Salvation Army and Good Will.  The best selection of secondhand clothes in the area is probably at Unique.  The most expensive are probably consignment shops in Vienna.  The cheapest used clothes are from Facebook buy nothing groups or  at Yard Sales at random people's homes from 8 AM-12 PM on Saturday mornings.  

Yelp: Northern Virginia thrift stores

What's the best deal you ever found?  Was it new or used?

Shopping for a car!

 Whenever I shop for an appliance or a car, I look at Consumer Report's ratings.

Challenge Listening about cars:  (You probably should slow this one down in YouTube)

Maryann says that she checks Consumer Reports on the sofa at home through her library card!  

Here are her instructions:

Hi Laurie.

This is how I reached Consumer Reports online using my library account number and login:

1.  Logged into George Mason Regional Library with my library card number and password;

2. Go to “Research Center”In column on left side of screen

3.   Click “All Databases;” and 

4 .  Click on “C” in the alphabet list and Consumer Reports is the third or fourth entry.

Fairfax County Public Library cards are available free to residents of Fairfax County.  You can borrow books, CDs, DVDs, and artwork.