Welcome to ESOL Study!

Using English is the best way to improve your English! Please sing with the songs and write comments.

Please suggest songs and topics you like.

If you are using a phone, you need to scroll down and press "view web version" to find links to the vocabulary and grammar exercises.

If your phone translates this blog, please set your phone to use English. The instructions are here.

Click on the picture of the book to find the link to class vocabulary!

If you want me to explain any English topic to you on here, please comment or text to tell me.

Thursday, November 12, 2026

Please come back!!

It's time to register for the next class.
Since it's very easy to get stuck at my level, my level often fills up fast.
Many moving-up beginning students already registered.

If you started with reading and listening in my level, one level can take one year, 
but people that had good English instruction before this class usually move up faster.
If reading or listening started below my level, it takes a lot of practice
 before you can move up to high intermediate.


Are you looking forward to the weekend?  What do you have to do?

Monday, November 9, 2026

Veteran's Day

Today is a day to recognize everyone who joins the military and serves.

Who are veterans?  Veterans are people who serve in the military and survive that service.  Veterans Day used to be Armistice Day, the day stopped using weapons for World War 1. People remembered World War I at 11:00 on 11/11.  Now, we honor all the soldiers that serve in the Armed Forces on Veteran's Day.

WE HAVE SCHOOL today!  It's a holiday for federal government employees, but not a day off for us!  








What makes you proud?  Do you know anyone that serves in the military?  Who is your hero?   Why is that person your hero? Can you describe that person and what he or she does?



I gave my love a cherry

 My mother sang me this song when I was a baby.  She used it as a lullaby to help me go to sleep.



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?

Sunday, November 8, 2026

Happy Diwali

 Diwali is a multi-faith festival that celebrates good beating evil. At least five polytheistic religions celebrate Diwali.  Diwali's festival of lights last five days.  The third is a main observance day.



Did you ever see a Diwali celebration?  What did it look like?
 

What's your favorite holiday?  Do you usually go shopping before that holiday?  What do you buy?

What do you like to wear on your favorite holiday?

Friday, November 6, 2026

I won't give up on us



The reading test does not determine promotion.  
I need to evaluate your writing, speaking, and listening too. 
I like to evaluate at the last minute because listening sometimes kicks in with a big jump after weeks of feeling like it'll never get better.
Please show up.  We have 21 more hours that you paid for.



Tell me about a time you persisted and it was good.

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Talking at a restaurant




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 most of their tips, but usually voluntarily tipped bussers and bartenders. Many people think that the server gets a good paycheck and the tip is extra money only for excellent service.


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?

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Patience

 


Do you hate when people tell you to be patient? I do!

English often takes time, patience, and very hard work.  Thank you for working hard.  

Please help us make the classes good for you.

How can the class be better?

Write about a time when your patience worked for you.