I'm not giving up

Dictation and verb tense practice

 Write about something difficult that you did.  Did you have to persist?

If (bread)

 Where do you like to go?  Where is the most beautiful place you have ever seen?

What do you like to do?

Happy National Punctuation Day!

 

Practice punctuation mark names.  

Do you want to learn more about punctuation?

Talking to the Moon

 Do you like to eat moon cakes?  Did you ever celebrate a mid-autumn festival? (If yes, write about it!) What is your favorite season?  What do you like to do in Fall?

This is my now.

 

Look around.  What is happening?  Describe what's going on right now.

Happy Autumn!

Matching -- Autumn Vocabulary Words

Activity: Put Autumn vocabulary words in alphabetical (ABC) order

Unscramble (change the letter order to make)the Autumn Vocabulary words (same ones you put in ABC order)

Hikes near DC

What's your favorite season?  My husband's favorite season is Fall because he likes to go hiking and camping.  Do you like hiking or camping?  Tell me about it!

You needed me

80 Irregular Verbs on Quizlet

Irregular Verb Game

 Write two past tense sentences in the comments.

Remember When

This country song has great examples of past "to be."  

Remember:  Was for 1, were for 2 but always were for you (1 or 2!) 

Study and practice simple past

Some of my best memories were meeting you and talking with you.

Write about a pleasant memory.

Hello! Welcome to class! (Hello Again)

 

Hello!

Welcome to class!

What's your name?  Where are you from?  What do you like to do?

Listening to songs can help you speak and understand English better.  I post songs and write questions.

Please write answers to the questions as often as you can.  You can write comments or on paper for me.

There are also links to useful websites.  On a phone, you need to scroll down and touch the link for view web version to get to the links. 

 Please tell me about any songs, websites, or YouTube videos that helped you.

Who did you meet today?  Can you describe a classmate that you met today?  What do you want me to know about you?

In My Life

 

Write about something or someone that makes you happy.  What do you like to do? 

My Heart GOES on...

(Warning:  this video has a picture of people kissing with bare (no clothes) shoulders.  You are not required to watch the music videos for homework, but your listening will probably improve faster if you repeatedly watch some of the videos on here.)

I think that listening to pop music helps improve listening skills.  I can't find a lot of good pop music with perfect grammar.

Grammar Teacher Note:  Do NOT use DOES for every day positive statements.  (My heart goes on, not my heart does go on)  Does for positive statements is called "emphatic."  Emphatic is for fights and for strong feelings -- just like using always and never with present continuous.  You will occasionally hear these in real life, but don't pick them as answers on grammar tests.

What do you feel strongly about?  What do you love to do with your family?

Imagine

 

Do you think Lennon's ideas can lead to world peace?

Imagine your life with excellent English.  What are you going to do?  Describe your life.

Like My Father (Warning: some sexy language - mild by US standards)

 I always enjoy when my students show me a new song.  Thanks!

Please write about your family.  Do you have a big family?  

Do you think this young woman will find the man she describes?  Are there more important things that a man should do?  Did you/Do you want to marry a man like your father?

The Devil Doesn't Bargain

 

What would a partner have to do to make you call him or her "Devil?"  Describe a terrible friend, partner, or spouse.

I'll be missing ...

 This tribute to B.I.G. has expressions from US dialects I don't  teach because they aren't good for college essays or job interviews.  In a formal situation, say "I'll miss you" rather than "I'll be missing you."

If it won't make you sad, describe some foods and people that you miss right now.

That's My Goal

Why do you want to learn English?  What are your goals?  What will you do when your English is excellent?

Please write about another goal that you are happy that you got.

Getting ready for the next class!

 

Do you like to meet new people?  Where can you speak English with people?  What should we do in the new class?

Friday the 13th

Are you superstitious?  Are you extra careful on Friday the 13th?

 Juan Carlos makes a lot of sense when he says that a live cat should be better luck than a dead rabbit.

How is today going for you?  What brings good luck? 

Can you write any examples that show that a superstition is true or not true?  (Faride wore pearls on her wedding day and has a wonderful marriage.  Reham's sister was born on the 13th and is a very lucky person.)

International Day of Charity

 Can you write what is happening in the video?  Although this video was made for world kindness day, I think it's better for International Day of Charity.

 What is charity?  Do you support any charities?  What charities will you support when you become rich?

Happy Labor Day!!

 Federal and office workers often get the day off on Labor Day.  Restaurant and retail workers usually have to work really hard.

Are you working?  What do you do?

Are you looking for a job?  Did you look at the Job Listing links on this blog?

Do you like to shop?  We usually have sales on Labor Day!

Sales at Springfield Mall   Sales at Home Depot  Sales at Best Buy  Sales at Potomac Mills

Please write about your job or about shopping!

See You in September

 

Great work this summer!  I hope you enjoy your break!

Are you watching the Olympics?

 

Are you watching the Olympics?  What's your favorite sport?  Did you ever play a sport?  Which one?

Stay a little longer...

accidentally=by accident=with no intent=I didn't mean to do it

Student Examples: Comparative

Our levels are very big.  I am really happy with

the progress of everyone who came to class a lot.  You all are smart and have wonderful attitudes.

You improved a lot, and that gave me a LOT of joy.

Thank you!

You don't need to use perfect grammar or to remember good grammar words (verb tense, noun, adjective, comparative, etc.) to get placed in high intermediate.  Good grammar and grammar words can make your progress much faster.

Grammar I Want You to Understand before you go to High Intermediate

What attributes do you like your friends to have?

What did you like about class?

What did you enjoy learning?

Did you learn anything useful for your life?

What was boring?

How can I make next class better?

Lady in Red-- Describe people with adjectives in the correct order (1. Opinion 2. Size 3. Color 4. Pattern 5. noun that you are describing)

When you describe clothing, use the adjective order: opinion, size, color, pattern.

(If there isn't a pattern, the word "plain" goes before the color.)

She's wearing a dramatic, long red sparkly dress.  I'm wearing a comfortable, large, plain blue tee-shirt.

Basic Vocabulary Review and Listening Practice: Women's Clothing   men's clothing

Basic Shopping Conversations (Despite American accents, this video uses a few British terms. Instead of lift, use elevator. Instead of trial room, we say fitting room  Instead of "make a bill," say, "ring this up.")  Most of the phrases are common in the USA too.

Challenge:  Explanations of Adjective Order and Difficult practice using all the categories

(NO SAS-C POMP= number, opinion, size, age, shape, color, pattern, origin, material, purpose)

Intermediate Level Shopping Conversation (Turn on CC if it's too fast...)

What is your favorite color?  What is your favorite season?  What's your favorite outfit?  

Describe what you wore when you looked really good.

Do you want to practice grammar?

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 of grammar you should master before going to high intermediate.  If you want grammar practice, try these links.

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

Where were you?

 There aren't many videos of this song.  "Outreach" is the wrong word.  It should be "our reach."

Is dating normal in your former country?

Do you like to go on dates?

Where are good places to go on a first date?

What do you do if you feel "ghosted?"

Outreach is a strategy to try to get more members into an organization.  "In our reach" means that with some effort, we can get it.  Fluent English is in your reach.

Glued 

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?

How do you like your eggs?

 

Do you like to eat eggs?  How do you like them cooked?

Talking at a restaurant

Quizlet Vocabulary: Speaking about food

Grammar: Practice using count & non-count nouns

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 $21/hour.  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 bussers, "expo," (a person who doublechecks the order and arranges the food in a pretty way) and bartenders.

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?

It feels like I'm falling in love

 

How do you feel right now?

Describe someone that's easy to fall in love with...

Sky full of stars

 I miss the dark skies and zillions of starts I could see from my grandmother's yard when I was a child.

We went to a special dark sky place to camp last year.

It wasn't very dark.

What are you going to do tomorrow?

What do you wear when you want to look good?

How long will I love you

 

How long does it take to clean your kitchen?

How long does it take to walk around your neighborhood after dinner?

How long should you know someone before considering marriage?

What's this? What's that?

 A lot of topics in this class feel easy because they are not new for most of you, but they are also not easy to remember to do every time you speak or write. If you are in my class for listening, try to have English conversations as often as you can.

Most of you learned food names, singular and plural, and count nouns a long time ago.

Do you remember (1) this/that   (2+) these/those? A student asked about those terms today.

Easy Quiz from test-English.com

UsingEnglish.com Quiz

Count-Non-Count

My class presentation on count and non-count

Video: Some things you can count and some you can't...

Practice using a or an only with singular count nouns

Easy Partitives (In this game, fruit is count (grrrrr) and a piece is thicker than a slice

Similar Information -- Who Wants to be a Billionaire Style

Partitives Game (Partitives are containers or pieces that make non-count nouns countable)

Quizlet -- Count or Non-count

More Practice!!

Advanced Class List of Non-Count Nouns

Birthdays

 

Do you enjoy parties?

Do you like birthdays?

What were your important birthdays?

Happiness

 

What do you do when you would like to feel better?

I read and eat crunchy food.  I call my friends.  I take a walk.  I sometimes go swimming.  I sometimes go shopping.

Do you like to dress up?

We say "dress up" both for costumes and beautiful formal clothes.

Kids and adults in the US often wear costumes on Halloween.  My children liked to do theater so they dressed up in costumes when they were actors.

 Did you ever wear a costume?  I had a great glow-in-the-dark ghost costume in fifth grade.   

Some people dress up for parties.  What do you usually wear to parties?  What was your best outfit ever?

Right where we are

 

Are you in a relationship?  If yes, how old were you when you met?  What do you like to do together?

If no, describe a good partner for you.  

Frequency

We use frequency adverbs to talk about how often things occur or repeat.

(Don't forget to write sentences with FAs for homework!)

I often teach my classes to put frequency adjectives before most verbs, but after the verb "to be" because that's how we usually speak them in the USA.

It's okay, however, to start or end a sentence with a frequency adverb especially to emphasize the frequency in poetry, lyrics, or writing.

Quiz: Click on the words to put them in the sentence in the correct order. Make a mistake? Click in the box to start over.

Kahoot: Adverbs of Frequency

How often can you speak or listen to English?  When can you speak or listen to English?  How often do you have fun?  What fun things do you do?

He doesn't want to talk, and she doesn't either.

Formal English:  The stars in the sky don't mean anything to you.  Not 

The stars in the sky don't mean nothing to you.

Using English Quiz: Practice Simple Present

EasyESOL.blogspot: agree with too or either

Quiz to practice too vs. either. The ones that aren't at the end of the sentence are "too" meaning also.

What are some things you and your partner/friend/family member agree on?

My husband likes spicy Chinese food, and I do too.

My daughter likes chocolate, and I do too.

My mother likes to read novels, and I do too.

My husband doesn't like to run marathons, and I don't either.

My daughter doesn't like scary movies, and I don't either.

I don't like to iron clothes, and my mother doesn't either.

Dance

 

I love to dance, but I don't usually dance at parties.  I am excited that my student picked this as a favorite song because I sometimes do a line dance to "Dance Monkey."  Some of my classmates won a prize in the 2019 Senior Olympics by dressing up as monkeys and doing this dance.

Do you like to dance?  How often do you dance?  What's your favorite kind of dance?  Do you like to watch dancing?  Did you ever take dancing lessons?

Happy Fourth of July!!

This next video is super-fast for our level, but it repeats enough that it's good for training your ears. Understanding every word doesn't make the song easy to understand.

History of Independence Day -- Also fast, but clearly spoken.  Make sure you turn the closed captioning (CC) on.

ESOL Explanation of Independence day with a transcript.

Some U.S.A. patriotic songs you will probably hear today...

Read about the flag and other USA symbols...

During fireworks, you usually hear "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Listening: Interview with questions about the Fourth of July


Reading/listening practice -- press the triangle to hear the story as you read it.

funinfairfax.com:  Fireworks in Northern VA (scroll down for the 4th)


Are you enjoying the fourth of July?  What are you doing?  Does your former country have an independence day celebration?  When is it?  What do you do?

All of Me

 

Are you in a romantic relationship?  

(If Yes)  How did you meet your current partner?  Do you do any small things for the person you love?

  

(If No)  Do you like to talk about family?  Can you describe how you met a good friend? How do you stay in touch with old friends?

Goals

Think about your goals for English class!

Practice DO or DOES in questions

Challenging (Difficult) Video and Reading

My goal is to teach you a lot of good English as fast and as pleasantly as I can during the next five weeks.  

What are your goals?  What do you want to talk about and work on in English Class? 

We're starting a marathon, but you can go the distance

 

I really want to make learning English easy and interesting.  What makes English difficult?  How will you get past the challenges? 

You are so beautiful

 

Learning Chocolate: Physical Appearance Hair

Learning Chocolate:  Appearance

What do you look like?  Does anyone in your family look like you?

Now and Then

 

Wow!  New from The Beatles?

Did you ever listen to the Beatles?  What singers did you like when you were in your teens?   

Happy First Day of Summer

 What are you favorite activities in the summer?

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?

A Million Years Ago

 What did you want to do when you were 12?

What did you want to do when you were 17?

What do you want to do now?

Happy Father's Day

https://www.languageguide.org/english/vocabulary/family/

Are you celebrating Father's Day?  What are you doing?  What should a good father do?

I want to dance!

 

What do you want to do this summer?

Are you on vacation?

gonna=going to= will (future tense, not movement)  jalopy=old word for badly maintained car
hop in =get into   have a ball = have fun 'neath=beneath=under "The Mashed Potato"=old dance

Are you enjoying the break?  What are you doing?

If

 

Please send me more pictures!  I particularly want pictures of the food at the party and of Giovanna's gorgeous cakes! I really enjoyed my plate of food after the party.

If you do Duolingo, please read aloud a LOT.  If you try Voscreen, tell me if it costs you money and if you like it.  

The people who created our Color Vowel chart also have pronunciation classes and an app called Blue Canoe.  I think Blue Canoe is probably difficult and expensive, but I'm curious about it.  To get the app or enroll in the online pronunciation classes click here.

Please do not spend a lot of time as you randomly watch videos of ALL THE GRAMMER.  Be strong in  adjective and easier verb tenses:  present, present continuous, future, and past.

Challenging Video: The hardest Part

 

What is the easiest part of English class?

(For me, break time is the easiest.)

What is the hardest part of English class?

(For me, LOTS of vocabulary is the hardest.)

What are you going to do?

wanna = want to

oughta= ought to=visualized ideal (best in my mind)  Everyone ought to use the blog!

Review, expansion, and practice with "going to"

What are you doing tonight?
What are you going to do tomorrow?
What are you going to do this weekend?
Where are you going to go the next time you travel?
What are you going to do next summer?

The Sound of Sunshine

 What makes you feel better when you are stressed?

The One

 

What makes a person "marriage material?"  Describe "the one" for you.  How is "the one" different from the others?

Don't give up on

 

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

Write about something you did or learned because you did not give up.

Lovers, Dreamers, and so far

 

Do you remember looking at a rainbow?  Where were you?

Shopping Around

too, very, or so?

Game to practice comparative

Here are some links with some grocery sales.  Most show the sale prices this week, but Walmart is easy to search by product. (Thing you want to buy).  Comparing is easier if you pick something on sale at another store then search for the same thing on the Walmart page.

Aldi's

Amazon Fresh

Lidl

Giant food circular -- pick your store first

Fresh World

Shoppers Food Warehouse

Harris Teeter Specials

H-Mart

Walmart

Target

Wegmans

Food Lion

Amazon

Costco

J and L Green Farms

Farmer's Markets in Northern VA

Simply the best!

SxS Superlative Video

English with Sound and Light (start at 1:47)

Practice comparative and superlative
Can you describe your best friend?  or
Describe the best day you ever had...  or
Describe the best thing you've ever bought.

Nothing Compares

 

Practice Simple Present Tense verbs

Learn and practice comparative & superlative adjectives

What are the best things in life? 

I hope you return!

 Friday, May 31 is the LAST DAY for current students to register for Summer Classes.

I plan to teach.  We will probably focus on directions, travel, and getting jobs.  If the majority of students in the Summer class already took class this spring, we will have more opportunities to have conversations.

What are you going to do this summer?

You better....

 .Listening ESL Lab-Picnic Preparations

When we want to say a strong "good" to compare things, we use better.  This website is better than that one.  I like chocolate better than vanilla.  Vegetables are better for you (healthier) than pork.

You better _______ (verb) is common to hear, but it is not good formal English.  It's supposed to be you had better, but the had is often 'd and that 'd often disappears.  You'd better is a threatening way to say you must.  If you don't do something you'd better do, there will be consequences.

What had we better do?

Is it a good idea or a bad idea to date many people before you get engaged?  Do you agree with this mother?  Why?

Memorial Day -- NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY!!

On Memorial Day, we remember people who died in military service.  We also often shop, have barbecues, and go to outdoor pools and water parks.  Many outdoor pools open on Memorial Day.

Do you like to shop?

  

Springfield Mall Sales 

Potomac Mills Sales

Pentagon City Sales

Tysons Corner Sales

Leesburg Outlet Sales

Fair Oaks Sales

Things to Do for Families with Children


At the end of the day, many military units play "Taps" at bedtime.  "Taps" is often played at military funerals.  It's rare to hear lyrics except in Boy Scouts.  "Safely Rest" (not "Bob Good Night") is usually the last line.

One of my students suggested the following song as a tribute to military families.  

Can you find which word is not spelled correctly?

Voice of America Article on Memorial Day

Online Word Search for Memorial Day

What are you doing for memorial day?  (I plan to relax!)

Longer...

Study and Practice Using Comparatives and Superlatives

Can you take photographs that show comparisons?

What are your best attributes?  Write about two of your friends.  Who is taller?  Who is younger?  Who is funnier?  Who is farther away?

You said you were going to....

 

What are you going to do this weekend?

You don't have to say...

(Please let me know if the Spanish lyrics are wrong or inappropriate...)

Side by Side: have to

Reepworld Health: Medicine labels

Do you have to take any medicines?  Do any of your children take medicine?  Do you take vitamins?

Have to vs. Has to vs. must

Must is always must _____(base verb)  Must doesn't change.  It doesn't need an s with he, she, or it.  Must not means something is prohibited.  You must not _________ (base verb) is a strong way to say DO NOT _______(base verb) (You must not hurt my other students. She must not drink whiskey in our class.)  In the US, we rarely use must in a question.  We use have to or has to _____(base verb) instead.

Don't have to_______(base verb)/Doesn't have to ______(base verb) means something is no obligation.  Do ____ or don't do ________= NO PROBLEM.  It's your choice.  (Example: You don't have to wear a blue shirt to class.)

  Have becomes has with he she or it, but only in positive statements.  Use have with does or doesn't.  It's common to forget that you have to use "have" with "does" or "Do"

I have to study./I don't have to study./ What do I have to study?

He has to study./He doesn't have to study.? What does he have to study?

  Have to acts just like have in simple present. Here's some practice.

Practice with Kahoot: Have to/must _____(base verb)

What do you have to do?  What are some things you must not do?  What are some things you don't have to do?

Happy Mother's Day!

(English teacher note:  capitalize "I," and use a ' for I'm.)

What is your mother like? Describe her. If it won't make you sad, please tell me at least three nice things about your mother

Common Health Problems/At the doctor's

Language Guide-- The body

Inside a body vocabulary (language guide)

The digestive system (language guide)

language guide: medicine

Vocabulary:  Common Health Problems on Learning Chocolate

Vocabulary:  Internal Body Parts

How often do you go to the doctor?  Do you have a good doctor here?  How is the experience at the doctor different here?

Learning Chocolate Medical Equipment

Learning Chocolate Health Problems 1

Common Health Problems 2

Learning Chocolate: Body Organs

Are you healthy?  Do you have allergies?  Is everyone in your family healthy?  Is anything the matter?

Long Dialog -- Mechanic

 

Did you ever fix anything?  What?

Are you a mechanic?

Do you have a good mechanic?

Looking for a mechanic?

 

Language Guide Car parts

Learning Chocolate Vocabulary Driving Lesson

Do you have a car?  How do you get around?  Can you fix a car?  Do you do maintenance on your car?  What do you do?  If you have a car and you don't work on it, who takes care of it?

Challenge Listening- estimates from a mechanic

Randall's Listening Lab: Talking to a mechanic - listening and quiz

Do you have a good mechanic?

Make or Do

Woodward English Presentation Make or Do

Woodward English Printable Chart

Make or Do Expressions on Quizlet -  some common expressions to "collo"

Make or Do flashcards -pick the make or do

English online make or do game

similar blog post with a few more links

Mixed Tense Make vs. Do game from Woodward English-- really challenging, but easy to change your answer!!

Driving Vocabulary & Road Signs!

 

Practice road signs on Quizlet!

Language Guide: Car parts -- Learn and try the listening test!

ESL Fast- Vocabulary and expressions

Do you have your Virginia driver's license yet?  Was it difficult to get?  What did you study?  

Can you give advice for someone studying for the driving test?

Are you a good driver?  What are some things that bad drivers do?