High Hopes

(Make a killing = earn a lot of money)

I have high hopes for our next class!!  Do you?  

Tell me about something you hope for.

Happy Hannukah

Do you celebrate Hannukah?  What do you do?

חנוכה commemorates the re-dedication of the holy temple in Jerusalem.  In the US, Jewish people get together, light candles, and give gifts for eight days.  In the USA, Hannukah is a big holiday, partly because it gets commercialized in a similar way to Christmas.

Party Today

 Please come!  Please speak English as much as you can!

If you want to bring food, please bring food!

Please don't bring your children or alcoholic drinks or pork-based dishes.

Mood

 There's nothing like finding a sad song when you already feel sad.  I promised Yoon Jung I'd put up a BTS song, so here it is.  I'm going to miss you.

Mood is usually your emotional tone.  My teenager says, "mood" when she relates to someone else's expressed emotion.

What are the best slow songs in English?  Are they depressing?  Are they fun?  Are they romantic?

Lullabies and baby vocabulary

 What calms you down when you are angry or stressed?  How do you calm down babies?


Language Guide: baby vocabulary

Language Guide: toys and playground equipment

Learning Chocolate: baby equipment (although a CRADLE rocks. A crib is a baby bed that doesn't move.)

Lullabies:

Brahms is really common here for baby toys, but I suspect that most of us don't know the words.

I often sang this next one -- just the first verse.  I learned it as "see" rather than "have."

I don't know anyone personally who sang the next one, 

but I think most people here know at least some of it.  

My mother sang this next song as a lullaby for me.  Instead of a ring with no end, it was a story with no end because it was the "story of our love."  The movie "Animal House" showed me that many people

don't like it the way that I did.

I think every child in the USA learns this next lullaby.  I have NO idea how it became popular.

The next lullaby is Christian-flavored, although my friend who always sang it isn't christian.

Do you sing lullabies?  What do you like to sing?

Are you shopping today?

 

Where did you go shopping?  Did you find any good deals?

Better

 Now that your English is getting much better, what do you want to talk about?

Thanksgiving Vocabulary Quiz

 

Freeeeeeeeee to be sad

I want you to say, "It doesn't cost much" rather than "It don't..."

Stronger

A syllable is a part of a word with one vowel sound.  

The number of sounds is more important than the number of vowels.

A silent e is never a syllable.

Ed is always a syllable even if we don't pronounce it as another syllable.

(We only pronounce "ed" like another syllable after a last letter = T or D)

Children's Video that practices breaking words into syllables

If you understand which syllable is stronger, your pronunciation will be better.

Study and practice using comparative adjectives

Do you do anything to get stronger?  What do you do? I lift weights twice a week, but I'm still not very strong.

You don't have to...

 

What did you have to do yesterday?  What do you have to do tomorrow?  Is there anything you used to do that you don't have to do anymore?

"Don't have to" is NOT "must not"

Note:  We rarely use "mustn't" in US English.  Spell out the not.

Please write about two things you must not do and two things you don't have to do.

Happy Halloween! Trick or Treat Customs

Introducing Halloween for ESL

Rules and Customs for Trick or Treating

  Video: Tips for fun Jack O Lanterns

Did you have a good Halloween?  What did you do?

http://www.elcivics.com/halloween.html

Halloween Vocabulary

Halloween Vocabulary Matching Game from www.esolcourses!

Halloween reading and gap-fill

Be careful:  "She don't" is not correct formal English.  Even though you will hear native speakers use it, you should use "she doesn't." 

What makes a person beautiful?

Far from the Shallow

 NEVER dive in shallow water...

Video about diving history for anyone that says, "What is dive?"

Do you like to swim?  How often do you go swimming?  Do you like to watch diving at the Olympics?

Health Problem Vocabulary

 

Practice using have/has

Words about ailments

Practice using a few words about symptoms on Learning Chocolate

Intermediate symptoms on Learning Chocolate

Vocabulary we talked about during Unit 4

We have school today!

 The children get the day off on Teacher Workdays, but we don't.  We have school!!

Everything I do

 

Practice using should ____ and shouldn't ___(base form)

What should I do to have good relationships with people?

You're Going to Make it After All

make it= be a success   gonna=going to (similar to "will," "going to" indicates future tense)

When I was a child, this show was my mother's favorite.  We watched it every week.

Make or Do

What do you want to be successful at?  What do you do to make it happen?

Past or Present (Kahoot and many examples)

 Kahoot from class on Tuesday

Answers to p. 39

Practice using simple past

Practice Simple Present

What do you do every Monday?

What did you do last Monday?

Check the Car

I never say "brights" or "dims."  I say high beams and low beams.  Other than that, I like the following video.

Car Parts--(Language Guide. org)

Quizlet Car Parts

 ESL Fast Dialog

Challenge Video (fast talking with good visuals) Basic Car Maintenance

I won't give up on us

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

Set up your Ellii.com class account

 

1. Go to: ellii.com/students
2. Click the "Create an Account" link at the top of the page.
3. Follow the prompts to set up an account.
4. Enter the invitation code.  Invitation Code: B7PJ8N

10-4

 Today's date is 10-4-22.  10-4 means "I understand" or "okay" on the CB radios that truckers used to communicate on the road before they had cell phones.

Did you ever drive a truck?  Was it fun?  Write about something that you understand now.

When we were young....

 VOA: Child's Play-- English in a Minute

VOA: Burst your bubble

Describe a good day when you were young.  What did you look like?  What did you like to do?

Hello

 Formal grammar practice:  Future with will  Future with going to, and Present Continuous

How did you meet your best friend?  Was it easy to say, "Hello?"

What do you want?

 

What do you think his ex-girlfriend wants?  This song is a good way to practice, "What do you want?" "What would you like?" is a more polite way to ask the question.

What would you like to learn after you finish learning English?

Dogs in the Yard

 Please tell me if the Spanish is incorrect...

What do you do when you want to have fun?

Worksheet Answers

 Today, we did a speaking exercise to practice "Will be able to ___(base verb)" is a formal way to talk about can in the future.  You can also use "Can _____(base verb)"

Worksheet Written Answers

More Practice with will

Bad Habits

 

Name three of your good habits, and one bad habit

Peace Train

What are the best ways to promote peace?

Seasons

 

I am delighted that you are taking my class this season!

What is your favorite season?  Why?  What do you usually do during that season?

Passionfruit

 I've never heard this class favorite before.  I love the chill vibe. (Chill vibe-gives a calm feeling)

What are good ways to improve a relationship when you can't spend much time together?

Live in Life

 Knowing English does NOT help me understand this catchy class favorite.

I enjoy some of the phrases.

May you always live in life

Write about a time that you took a car trip.  Where did you go?  Who were you with?

What did you do?

Amazing Grace

 This student favorite is a traditional Christian hymn (old song for church)  It's one of the most popular hymns in the USA.

Write about an amazing experience.  What makes you very happy?

Imagine

 This student favorite is very popular in the United States

When you imagine a good future, what does it look like?  Where are you?  What are you doing?

Seasons

 

Making lots of mistakes is the best way to learn English fast. Be kind to yourself.  Mistakes are normal.

Write about a mistake or a sad time that you feel grateful about.

Nice to Meet You!! (For some of you...again!!)

Describe someone you met today!

Do you like to dance?  Do you like to sing?  This song is fast, but try to sing it anyway!!

Happy Talk-Like-a-pirate Day

 

Do you like adventure stories?  Do you like sea stories?  Write one!

Mr. Bojangles, Dance

 

Write about an interesting person that you met

Moon

 

Do you like to look at the moon?  Are you eating moon cakes today?

New York State of Mind

 

Did you ever go to New York City?  What did you do?  What did you see?

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

 

Are you celebrating Korean Thanksgiving?  What are you doing?  What are you eating?

Queen Elizabeth

 

Did you ever go to England?  If yes, did you like it?  Do you read the news about any royal family?  Who?

Read all about it

 

What is your favorite genre?  What are your favorite books?

Fresh Air

 

Is Northern Virginia more polluted than other places you've lived? Do you think electric cars will help with air pollution? 

 Where do you go when you need to relax?  What helps you to relax?

My Best Friend

Write about your best friend.  What do you like to do?  How did you meet?

Yolanda's Song

 If you do Facebook, add my student Yolanda's Video to our songs with subtitles!  

Join my online summer reading class! (No meetings -- read and answer questions)

 Please let me know if the assignments on this website are good for you!

1. Go to: ellii.com/students
2. Click the "Create an Account" link at the top of the page.
3. Follow the prompts to set up an account.
4. Enter the invitation code.

L45HRV

Will you go on a road trip in August?

 

Where would you like to go?

Night Shift

(You're not alone, not Your not alone)

What jobs have night shifts?  Does your job have shifts?  If yes, what shift do you work?

Wherever (Challenge Listening)

 

Do you like to hike?  Where?

All I Am

I never feel that I am all one thing.  I am many things.  I am a wife.  I am a mother.  I am a daughter.  I am a teacher.  I am an American.  I am a little crazy and a little silly.  I am talkative.  I am trying to improve.

Optional Practice:  When should I use "a," "an," or "the?"

Tell me some things your are.  Write:  I am ____________.  Use articles (a/an) for nouns, but not for lone adjectives.

Try Everything

 

Write about a time you got a goal because you didn't give up.

Time to Shine!

 

Are you planning to watch fireworks tomorrow?

What do you enjoy?  When do you feel you are shining?

Separate Ways

 

My first date ever was to a Journey Concert.  I loved the music and the light show.  I didn't like the crowds.  I didn't trust my date, but he got me home just fine. 

Write about a song and a memory that go together.

Home Sweet Home

 Steve recommended this song...

What can you do to make your home here feel like "home sweet home?"  What were the best things about your former home?

Hope to see you soon!!

Do you want to practice grammar?

Names for the parts of speech

Stative Verbs

Present Continuous vs. Simple Present

Conjunctions

Should    

Simple Past

Prepositions of time

Prepositions and directions

Please continue to use the blog!  Please comment to practice writing!  Please tell me how you are and what you are doing!.

CHALLENGE: Cars

Are you learning to drive?  Here are some resources for English and driving!

Car Parts -- Use language guide to practice vocabulary!

Taking the Behind-the-Wheel Test

During COVID -- The driver is quite slow.

Many people recommend using turn signals even in the parking lot for the driving test.

documentation=paper.  You should bring your  insurance card.  You shouldn't bring your cell phone.

Be sure  = make certain = be careful to do

turn signal:   = 

Emergency flashers=hazard lights:  

I think this instructor has good advice and it's good for you to hear realistic american English.

I don't think you should take classes from 

anyone who only uses one hand to drive or who films selfies while driving!

The next video was made in Canada, but it has good advice for Virginia too!!

Quizlet Car Vocabulary (made by another teacher)

Practice Car Vocabulary with Learning Chocolate


Do you know how to drive?  If yes, when did you learn?  If no, how do you get to school?  

Tell me about yourself.

Tell me about yourself.  Answer twice -- once for a new friend, and once for a job interview.

Even better, write a short answer and say it for me.

Job Listings

Remember that you can't work mornings because you have English class!

Snag a Job Listings (by Zip Code)

Indeed.com

www.simplyhired.com

Monster Job Listings

Craigslist

Washington Post (This site wants you to register)

Google Template to track where you applied (please make a copy to use)

Department of Labor Arlington Office -- place to report employers who illegally cheat you

Advice for creating a resume

Sample Job Interview:

Sample Interviews

Occupation Information

Virginia Wizard Resume Builder and Occupational Advice

Understanding a paycheck

A paystub explains your paycheck.  Gross pay is all the money you earned.  Net pay is the money you actually get after they take taxes out.

 Income or wages shows money you earned.  (Added so the net pay is higher)

Deductions show money that comes out before you get paid.  (Subtracted so the net pay is lower.)

Do taxes come out of your paycheck before you get paid in your former country?  How often do you get paid?  

The Street Where You Live

Practice Prepositions:  https://wordwall.net/resource/558273

This picture is a Lilac

Describe your neighborhood and the street where you live!

NO SCHOOL MONDAY (scroll down for information about Memorial Day)

 Grammar I want you to know before you go to High Intermediate

Medicine (Just a spoonful of sugar!)

(Skip to :23)

Link to class activity:  Practice Health Vocabulary -- Prescriptions  (Bottom right-- Medicines)

Types of Medication

Prescription Label Vocabulary

Do you take any medicines?  Do they have side effects?  Do you take Vitamins?

I should probably...

Practice Should

Internal body vocabulary

The digestive system

Medical Stuff

You shouldn't give up.  English is hard.  You'll get it if you keep practicing.  Students often don't learn as fast as they want, but the people who don't quit always get better.

What should I do if I have a headache?  What should my daughter do if she feels anxious?  What should your friend do if she wants to visit you?

 Reepworld Health Prescriptions

Are you studying now? Here are some links to practice Unit 3 in Ventures!

 Ventures Arcade -- BLUE Unit 3  (Vocabulary for the crossword is on Student Book p. 32.  Vocabulary for "Guess the Word" is on p. 39)

Kahoot at home-Identify Past or Present

*Past or Present (another Kahoot)

Easy ESOL Grammar:  Simple Past

Irregular Verbs on p. 34   Kahoot with Irregular Verbs from p. 34

Easy ESOL Grammar:  Simple Present   Kahoot:  Do or Does in Simple Present

Kahoot:  Practice Make or Do

Practice Vocabulary on Quizlet

Think about a special day.  Why was that day special?  What did you do first, second, etc.  

That's What Makes You Beautiful

 

When you describe people or things, use the order # opinion, size, color, pattern

Write about a beautiful person in your life.

Make or DO

make or do


What are you doing tonight?  Did you make anything?  Are you going to make anything?

US Money

 A couple of students asked about names of coins today.  I like the explanation and practice on this YouTube video.

What do you use coins for?  

Do you believe it's good luck to pick up a penny?  If you find a penny, does it matter if it's heads or tails? 

 Did you ever buy something expensive using only coins?

Why? Because!

 

In this song long means want a LOT.  Don't use long this way in everyday speaking.  It's okay for poetry and writing.

We practiced a speaking drill today.  A few people found it difficult.  Here are the answers.  Speak them a few times.

How do you feel today?  Why?

Computer Resources to Practice Unit 1 in Ventures

Ventures Arcade  (We are BLUE 2 Unit 1)

Quizlet Test

Practice Agreeing with too or either

Grammar Practice: Simple Present

Grammar Practice:  Present Continuous

Practice using simple present vs. present continuous

Unstoppable

 

What makes you feel strong?  What do you need to do to master English?

I'm trying to...

 

Tryna=trying

wanna=want to

What are you trying to do today?

Stay

(Challenge video because some of it is fast.  I hope you enjoy it.)  

Where are the best and worst places you stayed when you last (most recently) traveled?

Pronouncing -ed

 

Which words are easy to say in past tense?  Which words are difficult?

What are you listening to?

 What are you doing?  What is your favorite kind of music?

Soccer Positions

 I briefly talked about soccer positions today, so I am looking for a video with the same information for the people who couldn't be in class today.  I think the names for soccer positions probably changed since I last played.  What I learned as "center" is "striker" on many videos.  Many videos call half-backs "wings."  Many videos distinguish full backs as the left or right back.

Do you like to play soccer?  Does your child play soccer?  Do you (or your child) usually play offense or defense?  
 

Challenge Listening: A History of May Day

Before COVID, preschools and elementary schools in the USA taught children to dance with ribbons around a pole on May 1.  

Did you ever celebrate May Day?  What did you do?

Home Sweet Home

 

What makes a house your home?

A very long time ago, I had a student take my class because he failed the English exam needed to go to college in his country. The exam asked the difference between a house and a home.  He wrote an essay on the difference between a horse and a home.  Spelling matters. One letter sometimes makes a big difference.

If you love your home here in the USA, please give advice to the people who are making this new place their home.  

Describe some things you like about your home. 

We are family...

 

Practice family vocabulary (with languageguide)

Practice family vocabulary 2 (with learning chocolate)

Do you have a big family?  Who works hard?  Who cooks?  Who likes to go outside?

(I grew up in a small family.   I had five children, so many people in the USA think I have a big family.  My daughter works hard.  She's a real estate agent.  She also likes to cook.  My husband cooks a lot.  My daughter-in-law cooks very well.  Most of my family likes to stay inside, but my third child loves to run and ride a bicycle.)

Nice to meet you!

I am very happy to meet you.  We will take a difficult reading test tomorrow, so try to sleep tonight and eat breakfast in the morning.

Who did you meet today?

Happy World Health Day!

Language Guide: Medical Vocabulary

Body Parts in English

What do you do to stay healthy?

April Fools!

On April 1, people play pranks on each other.  They try to trick people in a funny way.  On April Fools a few years ago, all the teachers changed classes in my children's elementary school for the first ten minutes.  Some children were really upset, but most of  them laughed when they realized it was a trick.

EL Civics-- April Fool's Day -- Do you agree that stealing the toilet paper is funny?

Children's Picture Book: Arthur's April Fools

Did you ever play a trick or be tricked on April 1st?  What happened?

You make me happy

What makes you smile?

Practice Using Pronouns

Happy Pi Day!!

 

Enjoy Pi Day in Fairfax County!

Do you like math?  Can you tell me a story about using math or eating pie?

Don't forget to change your clocks!

 

Be careful when you drive this week!  What do you think of Daylight Savings Time?

I remember it all too well

Was-were SxS videos

Was Were Quiz Game -- Woodward English

Was were in Questions

Was were in short answers

Write about a day that you are happy to remember.

We are the World

 Thank you, Sonia for suggesting this song!   

(I'm putting up an older version because I want English subtitles!)

Do you think the world response will promote peace in Ukraine?  

What are the most effective ways to help refugees?  

Yellow

Yellow is an adjective.

Please describe something yellow!  Post a picture if you can!!

Practice that Counts on your certificate!

At the end of our class, I will give you a certificate.  The certificate will show your attendance -- it will say you did so many hours out of the total hours.

Our ESOL program now has a subscription with ESL Library.  If you are my currently registered student and you use esllibrary.com, the time you spend can count toward your certificate hours.

How?

1. Go to: esllibrary.com/students
2. Click the "Create an Account" link at the top of the page.
3. Follow the prompts to set up an account.
4. Enter the invitation code.

AM CLASS:  ACU6F7

PM CLASS: AG82XN

Please let me know if you try this.  Tell me if the assignments are good, easy, or difficult.  

Getting Chores Done

 

Many Make or Do Expressions

What chores did you do today?  Do you like to listen to music when you do housework?  

Describe a chore that makes your life happier.

Winter Song

 

What is your favorite season?  When is winter in your former country?  What is it like?  What do you like to do in Winter?

I can....

 Can is a helping (auxiliary) verb.  

The verb that comes after it should be base form -- no ing or s at the end.

What are your skills?  

What skills make life at home better?  

What skills are good for getting a job?

Lucky

 

Do you want to study or practice using simple present verbs?

What makes you happy? Do you pick up pennies when you find them on the floor? Can you write a lucky story?

WE HAVE SCHOOL MONDAY EVENING!

I told everybody no school, but I was wrong.  We have school tonight.

What do you do every Monday?  We love to complain about Mondays in the USA.  Do people complain about Mondays other places too?  Where? 

I hope you are having a great weekend!

 

Save your tears for another day = don't cry now.  Cry later.  Did you ever cry because you were happy?  If yes, please write about it.

What are you doing this weekend?  What do you usually do on the weekend?

Rest in Peace (RIP) Meatloaf

 

When I started this blog, I spent hours looking for good songs with proper English lyrics.  I gave up.  It's good for you to listen to these songs anyway.  This video honors an artist that just died, and it demonstrates how we pronounce "can" differently when there's another verb behind it.

Do NOT say "ain't" even though it's a common word. 

•  Ain't means isn't.  
• There ain't no way = there isn't any way.// That ain't gettin us nowhere = that isn't getting us anywhere = Our efforts are not working.
•  cause = because.  gonna = going to (used like will to show future.) 
•  hoarse = voice sounds weird from sickness, crying or yelling.

Did you ever listen to Meatloaf's music?  Who are your favorite singers?

NO SCHOOL Thursday, January 20, 2022 (Evening students for Wednesday night-- we have school. Please come!!!)

 I am surprised!  I told Yoon Jung that we will probably have school tomorrow.  NO!  No School!!

The children don't have school, and we don't either!!  Please don't come.

When we cancel school, we add another day at the end of the term or add hours.  We don't want you to lose the time you pay for.

Do you like snow?  What are you doing today?

Nice to meet you!

 

Describe a student you met today.  Be kind!

What do you like to do?

 

What do you like to do?  Do you have a job?  Do you have a big family?

What do you do outside of class?

Hello (Adele Cover)

Welcome to English Class!  Please listen to songs you like many times.

Listening to songs can help listening comprehension and speaking rhythm.

Hello!!  Please write about yourself.  Who are you?  What do you like to do?    What's your favorite food?  What do you like to do?  What is your favorite holiday?  Do you like to talk about your family?

Happy Science Fiction Day

 

My family loves science fiction.  My daughter loves Star Trek.  My son loves the Expanse and the Martian.  My husband likes quoting from a funny character on Babylon 5.  Do you like science fiction or space history?  What are your favorite movies or TV shows?