Happy Juneteenth

 

My mother grew up in Galveston Texas 
where people had beach parties to celebrate Juneteenth 

throughout the twentieth century.

Juneteenth is new as a federal holiday,
but it's an old celebration of freedom 
even though many people were still enslaved after that date.

Do you celebrate any historical events?  Which ones? How?

Bluer than Blue

 

If you ever think of me, please send me a text or an email and tell me how you're doing...

Party in the USA

Tell me about parties you enjoy.  What's the best food?  What do people do?

Do you want to practice grammar?

The most important thing you can do to improve English is use English -- talk to people, read, listen, and write English.

I like to teach Grammar because if you use it well, it's an excellent short cut.  If you catch the rule with the grammar pattern, you can immediately understand how to say 10,000 things correctly.  Also, advanced classes usually use grammar rules. If you understand basic grammar ideas and how to use grammar with lots of examples, high level classes can be easy rather than incomprehensible.

• Try to remember grammar rules, but don't get mad when they don't work 100%.
• Make tons of your own examples from the rule, and ask a native speaker if they are correct.
• Repeat correct useful phrases a LOT

Can you find any grammar mistakes in this grammar song?

Some people in our class got an excellent grammar education before this class.  Some never had a chance to learn grammar before. Here are links for some topics you should master before going to high intermediate.  If you want grammar practice, try these links.  If you find other helpful websites, please send them to me.

Can you name the parts of speech?

Simple Present

Present Continuous=Present Progressive

Simple Present vs. Present Continuous

future with will

future with going to

Simple Past

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Old Fashioned Pronoun Use

Challenge: Adjective Order

Memory work:  80 Common Irregular Verbs 

Irregular Verbs - A variety of little-by-little lists, songs, and games to help you remember  

Non Count Nouns

Common expressions with Make or do

Promotion

I promote on whether I think you have a good chance of survival in the next level. I assess your level for reading, writing, speaking, and listening.  Three of these should be above our level for you to move up.  

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 as strict about the reading score (still should be above 207.)  At the beginning of the level, 40% of this class was reading below our LI level.  Now you all are doing much better.

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 218 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?