We're not broken, just bent

 

What things can be fixed?  What needs to be replaced?

The time of our lives

"Let's have the time of our lives"  means let's have the most fun ever.

Write about a time you had fun! Where did you go?  What did you do?

Can you use "Let's _____(base verb)" to suggest fun activities?

Let's Go Fly a Kite

 

How do you recommend I make this class better?

What was your favorite activity when you were a child?

Let's go!

Let's have fun!  What are you going to do today?

Let's Get LOUD!

Gotta ______(base verb) is an informal way to express "have got to ______(base verb) 

which means must ____ or have to _____.
Ain't nobody is an informal way to say, "there isn't anybody that"

What do you have to do this weekend?  What do you want to do?

Our House

This song pronounces vase as olive-sock vase -- that's British English.

In the US, we say gray-day vase.

House Vocabulary Practice with Learning Chocolate (cupboard and cabinet are interchangeable words -.not for top and bottom.)

Language Guide House Vocabulary

Learning Chocolate: Kitchen 1

Kitchen Vocabulary from Language Guide

Kitchen 2

What do you like about your home?  What don't you like?  What do you plan to change?

Home Repair--More Vocabulary

House Vocabulary from Languageguide.org

http://www.languageguide.org/english/vocabulary/kitchen/

http://www.languageguide.org/english/vocabulary/kitchen2/

http://www.languageguide.org/english/vocabulary/bathroom/

http://www.languageguide.org/english/vocabulary/bathroom2/

http://www.languageguide.org/english/vocabulary/utility-room/

This next video is way too fast and silly, but it uses class vocabulary!

http://www.learningchocolate.com/content/tools-1

http://www.learningchocolate.com/content/tools-2

A handyman can fix many things.  Do you have any household problems that could use a handyman?  Did you ever fix something?  What did you fix?

Calling your landlord when the dryer doesn't work

A landlord or landlady is the owner of a property that someone rents.  They should pay for any big repairs.  The renter changes light bulbs and keeps things clean.

Vocabulary Practice with Learning Chocolate

Who can you call when you are the home owner?  

Did you ever fix something using YouTube videos for instruction?

Did you ever call a landlord or a landlady?  Why?

Bad Landlord

 

Blight is a disease that suddenly kills many plants.  Urban blight is bad condition homes that make a neighborhood feel unsafe.

Did you ever have a bad landlord?  What did you do?

What do you recommend?

 

Do bad situations teach more than good situations?  How do you remember vocabulary and irregular verbs?  Write about a situation that taught you valuable things.

For those who love Mother's Day....

 A tribute to loving mothers.... (for Mother's day...)

Please write three positive things about a mother you know.  

One Cup of Coffee

 

Do you like to drink coffee?  How do you take your coffee?  Do you prefer tea?  How do you take your tea?  What's your favorite beverage?  What's your favorite snack? What brands do you recommend?

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Are you celebrating Cinco de Mayo this week?  What are you doing?  

 

Many North Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo because they like the wonderful benefits of many Latino cultures' contributions here in the USA. They often don't understand the  holiday's focus on the amazing victory of Mexicans over the French Army in the Battle of Puebla de Los Angeles.  

In the US, many people wear Mexican-inspired clothes, eat tacos, and drink margaritas.  Some businesses try to make Cinco de Mayo into a Latino version of St. Patrick's day. The businesses that want to celebrate "Latino culture" often have no idea that different South or Central American countries are VERY different from each other. 

Challenging Video:  Ask History: Cinco de Mayo  Try using YouTube settings -- .7 to slow it down

My children's elementary school always celebrated all immigrants on Cinco de Mayo -- they usually had an international pot luck celebration.  One of my best memories of celebrating Cinco de Mayo was when I first ate Pakistani Kebobs.

In Japan, today is children's day.  There are many fish flying!!

Are you doing anything to celebrate Mexican, Latino, Japanese, or any culture this week?

At my worst

 

Describe a great friend or partner.

Are there any bad qualities that you don't pay attention to

because you really like that person?

On a Wednesday -- in a cafe -- I watched it begin again

 

ESL Lounge Prepositions of Time Quiz

Prepositions of time explanations and practice

Write about a friend and how you met.

We use "can" to talk about skills

We often use  can _______(base form verb -- swim, drive, cook, run, be calm....) when we talk about skills.  People use can at work and to get a new job often.

My husband loves the movie, "Aliens"  I think it is scary and disgusting.  I like this scene and this scene shows people using can ______(base form verb)

I feel like a fifth wheel means I feel I am not necessary.
Be my guest is an old way to say yes or go for it to a request.

Practice Vocabulary with some job skills

Ripley surprises her colleagues.  Do you have skills that surprise people?  One of my students can catch fish with his hands,  and another student can make a heart with cream in her coffee.

I Can Love MYSELF better...

Life can be a hard day for single people, but being single can be better than having a relationship with a terrible person.  How can you treat yourself?

(Pop music rarely uses good spelling and grammar, but it will help you understand people here.  

Some translations:  kinda - the kind of / 'til - until/ wanna - want to)

Practice reflexive pronouns

Write about ways that you can make yourself happy.

Do you buy yourself flowers or chocolate or anything you really like?  What do you buy yourself?  What can you do when you want to treat yourself very well?

Is Any Skill Actually Useless?

 

Do you have any silly skills?

I'll always remember us this way

 

Write about some good memories.  Then write about some things that you want to remember.

Do you know where you're going to?

 

Write about some beautiful places that you went to.  Write about things you're glad you did.

Where do you want to travel to next?

Describe the street where you live

Describe the street where you live, where you lived or where you want to live!  (Don't say the names of the streets, just what the homes and surroundings look like.)

We found love right where we are!

Do you know any old people that are  very happy with their spouses?  Describe them.  What do they do to stay happy together?

Where were you when you first fell in love? (Or when you fell in love with the person you are with now...)  Write about it!

Happy Earth Day!!

Practice this/that/these/those

Smithsonian Events for Earth Day (some are over now)

Did you celebrate earth day today? What did you do?
When I was in elementary school in Colorado, we often planted trees and picked up litter on Earth Day.

What is litter?  Trash on the ground.   

Do you have a garden? Even when I lived in a small apartment, I had plants on the balcony. My family always grows some plants. Do you like to talk about saving the earth? Is pollution a bigger or smaller problem in your old country or in the USA? Do you have a big or a small carbon footprint?

(VERY difficult English website:  Carbon Footprint Calculator)

NO SCHOOL APRIL 21, 2026!

 If you can vote, go vote!

If you are bored:  read in English, write in English, listen to English and practice past:  

Practice was vs. were  (was for 1.  Were for 2+. Always were for you 1 or 2+)

Practice making past questions (scroll down to start on number 1)

Past tense Real English Lesson

Challenge Video: What is Gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering is changing voting district lines to try to ensure that certain people get elected.

Virginia has a special vote on whether we should change the voting district map on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. 

President Trump openly demanded Republican gerrymandering in Texas, Indiana, & Florida.  Democrats want to respond by Democrat gerrymandering in California and Virginia.                              

Do you know if other democratic countries do gerrymandering?

Quizlet: Political Terms

Can you vote? Is voting in your country similar to voting here?

What issues (ideas that people argue about) are important to you?

Did politics affect your life? How?

Practice Simple past/How Did you Know?

SxS video past

S x S video  (was were)

Listen and practice speaking the most common regular past tense verbs (Press the speaker icon next to past tense to hear them)

Simple Past Grammar Explanation and Practice

When did you first fall in love?

Video: When professional basketball players fell in love with basketball

Write about the time you first met a friend.  Where were you? How old were you?

 What did your friend look like?

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

Write about a pleasant memory.

Pronouncing -ed

 

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

Don't Speak

 

Practice Present Continuous

Did you ever break up with someone?  What's the best way to do it?

Write about a person that you don't want in your life.

Borrow or Lend

 

How often do you borrow or lend something?

What do you usually borrow or lend?

Write about a time you borrowed or lent something.

Was class difficult today? Maybe these videos can help!

What's Present Continuous?  It's Present Progressive!  

                                                     BE ____ING for NOW or the future.

What are you doing tonight?  What are your friends doing?

All of Me

 

Write about someone you love.  What's the person like?  What does the person like?

I feel better when I'm dancing (after coming in from the cold)

This song repeats SO MUCH!

This song is SO FAST!!

When we talk about actions now, we use present continuous (be _____ing)

Common Dances in the USA:

 Fourth grade teachers teach their students how to do the electric slide

I like to do the Cupid Shuffle  It's fun and easy!

I like to dance.  What do you like to do?  What makes you feel happy? What are you doing tonight?

Enchanted to Meet You!

I am happy to meet you!  I like that many of you speak so well!  Write about yourself.  

What's your name?  Where are you from?  Do you live near the school now?  Do you like to talk about your family?  If so, please write about them.  Do you have a pet?  Do you like to cook?   Do you work?  What do you do?  Did you work before?  What did you do?  Do you want to travel?  Where do you want to go?

Who did you meet today?

Welcome to English Class

 Welcome to English Class!  

I post songs and questions.

Please write answers to some of the questions in the comments or on paper to turn in.

Please listen to songs. When I post a song you like, repeat listening to it until you can sing it.

Help me find good songs.

I also put many links to any website that looks helpful for our level.

On a phone, you need to go to the bottom of the page, and press "view web version" 

then click on a picture to see and use the links. 

 I usually update the class vocabulary on Quizlet after class.

If you love a helpful website, please tell me about it.

What's your name? What do you like to do?  

Nice to meet you!

 

Tell me about yourself!

What are you like?

What do you like?

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.

Spring 2026 Kahoot Quizzes

Kahoot for listening & Unit 9 vocabulary 

 Kahoot to practice color vowel and unit 9 vocabulary.

Kahoot: Unit 8 Review

Kahoot: Pronouncing ED

Kahoot: Duplicate of Conjunctions

Kahoot: Conjunctions and/but/or 

Kahoot: What or Where

Kahoot: Verb Tenses

Kahoot: Past tense questions

Kahoot about present continuous tense

Kahoot: What's the base verb?

 Kahoot - Past or Present:  

Spring 2026 Homework (scroll down to the date you are preparing for) Never skip class because you didn't have time for homework.

Kahoots

• 1 Spring 2026 Vocabulary
• Spring 2026 Green Reading Group Vocabulary
• Spring 2026 Blue Group Vocabulary

Spring 2026 Red group vocabulary

Homework for Monday, May 18: Study common irregular verbs set 4. and 2 Spring 2026 vocabulary set 2 If I returned papers to you, copy corrections to turn in.

5-15 Today, we practiced reading and unit 9 vocabulary with WB 110-111 and SB 119 . We played Quizlet Live, and spoke about homes in groups with conversation questions.  We practiced listening with a fill-in-the-blank lyric cloze to "Our House."  We wrote sentences about the future using will _____ and be going to _________.  We talked about using used to ______(base verb) for habits in the past.  Students wrote five sentences about things they used to do.

Homework for Friday, May 15:Study common irregular verbs set 4.  and 2 Spring 2026 vocabulary set 2 .  If you didn't do WB p. 108 in class on Wednesday, do it tonight.

Homework for Thursday, May 14: Study common irregular verbs set 4.  and 2 Spring 2026 vocabulary set 2  for a quick quiz.

5-13 Today was reading day! Check the group vocabulary!

 Homework for Wednesday, May 13:  Do WB p. 107.  Study your reading vocabulary: 

• Spring 2026 Green Reading Group Vocabulary or Spring 2026 Blue Group Vocabulary or Spring 2026 Red group vocabulary
• Study common irregular verbs set 4. 

2 Spring 2026 vocabulary set 2 

Parts of Speech

5-12 Today, we made recommendations and wrote a sentence about them.  We went over language for recommendations on WB 106-107.  We learned new vocabulary to talk about household problems SB 117.  We did a Kahoot for listening & Unit 9 vocabulary and a Kahoot to practice color vowel and unit 9 vocabulary.

Homework for Tuesday, May 12:  Do WB p. 106.  Study 

common irregular verbs set 4. 

2 Spring 2026 vocabulary set 2 

Parts of Speech

5-11  Today we talked about our weekend.  We practiced using which for choices and noticed that witch for Halloween has the same pronunciation, but different spelling.  We talked about how we take our tea or coffee.  (She drinks tea with lemon, honey, and turmeric.  I drink coffee with International Delight flavored creamer. He likes black coffee.   We did SB 114-115.

Homework for Monday, May 11: Look at the kinds of businesses listed on SB p. 115.  Do you have any favorites?  What are they?  Do WB p. 104 & 105.  Study our new vocabulary set: 2 Spring 2026 vocabulary set 2  We practiced scanning for information while comparing ads.  We practiced explaining decisions.

Today we practiced using will, practiced talking about weather forecasts, and practiced making requests.  Don't worry about differences with will, would, can, or could when making requestions.  Always use a base form verb with NO extra to when you use these question words.

Homework for Friday, May 8:  Workbook p. 102.  Study our new Vocabulary set.

Homework for Thursday, May 7: If you didn't turn in the handouts today, turn them in tomorrow. Study vocabulary.  Study Parts of Speech  and common irregular verbs set 4.  Handouts: Show what you know, & Describing Personality

 

5-6 Today was reading day.

Homework for Wednesday, May 6, 2026  Study your reading vocabulary. (Links are above)

Do 2 worksheets: Show what you know, & Describing Personality  If you don't know them, study the common irregular verbs set 4.

5-5 Today, we practiced new words to describe personality.  We reviewed Unit 8 with Kahoot and worksheets.  Kahoot:  Prepositions of Time 2, Kahoot: copy of Unit 8 Review

Homework for Tuesday, May 5, 2026  Study Unit 8.  Do you have any questions?Study vocabulary,  Unit 8 irregular verbs,  & Parts of Speech  I didn't assign written homework, but if you want a job and have time, please write and turn in the answers for SB p. 105 .

5-4 Today we talked about our weekend.  We practiced talking about jobs and their duties (WB 98-99) and practiced pronouncing -ed (SB 109)  We did the ed Kahoot again: Kahoot: Pronouncing ED

.

Homework for Monday, May 4, 2026  Write about 3 of your skills and the story of how you learned them.  

If you didn't finish Unit 8 in the workbook, finish it, especially WB p. 99.  

Study Unit 8.  Do you have any questions?

Study vocabulary,  Unit 8 irregular verbs,  & Parts of Speech

5/1  Today, we talked about duties, skills, & work.  We did Kahoots: Unit 8,  Can/could & negatives,  prepositions of time

Homework for Friday, May 1 Write a job history or resume to turn in.  Student, homemaker, and volunteer work count as part of your job history.

4-30 Today, we practiced using can & could.  Can and Could go with a base form verb to talk about ability or skills.   Can is for present, and could is for past. We practiced pronunciation: slides, we did p. 3 for present tense can & can't and p. 120 to practice can, can't, could, & couldn't.

Homework for Thursday, April 30, 2026  Study vocabulary.  If you didn't do WB p. 98-99, do it tonight.  Think about your skills.  What can you do very well?  How did you learn?  When did you learn?

4-29-26 Today was reading day.  We read and talked.    Write about your job history for Friday.  (Finishing homework is never as important as coming to class.)

Homework for Wednesday, April 29, 2026:  Do this worksheet:  page to read & questions to answer/past tense spelling  Please put it in my box on Wednesday. (or as soon as you can)

4-28  We practiced using conjunctions with an online practice quiz and a Kahoot.: 

Kahoot: Duplicate of Conjunctions.  We practiced writing sentences in past and present.  We went over homework.  We talked about duties and language for describing duties in a job interview.

Homework for Tuesday, April 28, 2026: Do WB p. 94 & 95.  If you have a resume/CV/written work history, check it to bring on Friday.  If you don't, start one.

 4-27 Today we wrote past tense sentences about our weekend.  We reviewed the idea of duties on SB p. 103.  We went over the homework on WB p. 97. We studied parts of speech and the conjunctions: and, but, & or.  We did a Kahoot: Conjunctions and/but/or

Homework for Monday, April 27  Do WB p. 97.  Think about your duties at work and your skills.

4-24 Today, we went over past homework including 92 & 93.  We practiced what for activity vs. where for location.  We talked about duties that go with common jobs on SB p. 103.  We did several conversational substitution drills to make it easier to speak with good grammar.  We had a guest teacher bring in a reading challenge about acupuncture and explain it.

Homework for Friday, April 24: Study vocabulary and do WB p. 92 & 93.  If the Kahoots were hard, try them again. 

Kahoot: What or Where

Kahoot: Verb tenses  What's a verb tense?  Study at this link.

4-23 Today, we practiced using where for location and what for activities.  We watched the video and did the exercises on SB p, 98 and 99 after we practiced the p. 98 irregular verbs on Quizlet.  We went over the homework and practiced unit 8 vocabulary on WB p. 90. We played two Kahoots:

Kahoot: What or Where and Kahoot: Verb tenses 

 Homework for Thursday, April 23: 

Study vocabulary  Can you make flashcards for the words you don't know?  Can you write the words in sentences?  Make sure WB p. 90 is finished.

4-22 Today we read about Earth Day and used words for environmentalism.

We have many new words to study:  Spring 2026 Green Reading Group, 

Spring 2026 Blue Group Vocabulary

 Spring 2026 Red group 

Homework for Wednesday, April 22: Study vocabulary and do these worksheets: She didn't expect,  Suddenly a wolf,   Was or Were for emergencies,  Describe emergencies - 

 Study reading group vocabulary.  If you sat with me, study Spring 2026 Green Reading Group Vocabulary.  Tigist,, Claribel, and Nayely study Spring 2026 Red group as well as 

• Spring 2026 Blue Group Vocabulary with all the students who worked with my volunteer, Mary Ann.

 

NO SCHOOL TUESDAY!  STAY HOME!

4-20  We practiced using past tense.  We talked about our weekends.  We did a speaking drill to practice was or were.  We did listening fill-in-the-blank papers to a video and to How did you know.  We did a Find-someone-who to practice using past irregular verbs for affirmative sentences, but base verbs with Did and didn't.  (Find someone who had to go to an appointment last week.  Did you have to go to an appointment?  Yes, I did/No I didn't.  Pamela didn't have to go to an appointment last week.  Emile had to go to an appointment last week.)  

Homework for Monday, April 20: Study vocabulary and do these worksheets about emergencies.

4-17 Today we talked about our weekends and wrote about our classmate's plans. (She plans to go to the grocery store.  He plans to sleep late.) We practiced 911 calls.  We listened and wrote in blanks.  We used emergency vocabulary.  We practiced answering questions with complete sentences.  (Not complete:  What's her name?  Maria Smith.  Complete:  What's her name?  Her name is Maria Smith.)

We went over the old homework on WB p. 11-12.  I reviewed when to use present continuous (NOW, a sure future!  These days) and when to use Simple present. (Routines, frequency (usually) with nonaction verbs like be, want, like, need)

 Homework for Friday, April 17:   Study vocabulary and do workbook p. 90.

Today we reviewed how to pronounce ed. (If the sound before the ed is t or d, say /id./ If it's voiced, say /d/. If it's not voiced, say /t/.  We went over the vocabulary on SB p. 12 and did the listening on p. 97.

Homework for Wednesday, April 15 & Thursday, April 16:   Study vocabulary & do Workbook p. 11-12  Study your reading group vocabulary: Spring 2026 Green Reading Group Vocabulary, Spring 2026 Blue Group Vocabulary or Spring 2026 Red group vocabulary

4-15 We had reading groups today, so we have new vocabulary sets.  The group with me was a combo of green and blue groups, but I put the words in the Green Group.  Maryann worked with two groups.  The first was red group.

4-14 Today, we learned to use the color vowel chart.  Intro to the idea of the color vowel chart  Color Vowel: these are the vowel sounds of English, We practiced using present continuous verbs (be __ing) for future -- this afternoon.  We used simple present (base verb, but +s with he, she, it) for "on Tuesdays" or "on Fridays"  We played a game using simple present for preferences.  We wrote name poems and thought about categories.  We went over the HW on page WB p. 4

Homework for Tuesday, April 14: Study vocabulary & do Workbook (white book) page 4.  Write positive and negative past tense sentences with go, come, have, sleep, buy, and take.

4-13 Today, we talked about the rules for simple past verb tense with this slide show.   The slide show included the rules for spelling with ed and for pronouncing ed.  We talked about last weekend.  We used present and past verbs for WB p. 5 and for "Bingo" conversation questions.  

 Homework for Monday, April 13:  Study vocabulary & do the worksheets:  present continuous worksheet & please remember these academic words.

4-10  Today, we continued asking personal questions to get to know each other. (SB p. 4 & 5  We practiced using present continuous and spelling verbs with ing. We practiced identifying base verbs.  Kahoot: What's the base verb?/Answer the questions now!  We also identified whether verbs were past or present.  Kahoot - Past or Present:   Regular past verbs end in "ED" in affirmative (positive) sentences.  Past questions use DID and negative sentences in past use DIDN'T or DID NOT.  Use a base form with did or didn't.

Homework for Friday, April 10, Study vocabulary & do the present continuous worksheet.  If the Kahoot was difficult, try it again: Kahoot about present continuous tense.

When I teach grammar, I want you to remember the rule and practice making many examples.  Grammar is often not logical. A vowel is an open voice sound -- A, E, I, O, U.  

A consonant is a sound made with your mouth or tongue - BCDFGHJKLMNPQRSTVWXZ.

A syllable is a part of the word with one vowel sound.  Vowels can work together to make one sound.  There are four vowels in "Laurie," but only 2 syllables.  There are 6 letters.

My quick review of present continuous (be __ing)(I am talking.  I am not spying on anyone.  Are you coming to class?)  turned into a long talk about how to spell when you add ing.   

We usually just add ing -- talk-talking,  work-working, spy-spying,  

If the base form verb ends in e -- drop the e (NO E) before adding ing

bake-baking, hope-hoping, write-writing, 

If the base verb ends in ie - drop the ie and substitute Y  Lie-Lying, die-dying

If the base verb is one syllable or has a stressed last syllable and ends with 1 vowel then 1 consonant (CVC- Consonant-vowel-consonant) double (repeat) the last consonant before adding ing.  Shop - shopping, hop-hopping, swim-swimming, dig-digging, begin-beginning, occur-occurring.

Be careful, if a 2-syllable word ends in CVC, but stresses the first syllable, there's NO DOUBLE   travel-traveling (USA),  enter-entering, listen-listening, finishing, opening

Homework for Thursday, April 9:  Study vocabulary & do WB (workbook=white book) p. 2.

4-8  We talked about using different answers for What do you like? (I like chocolate.  I like to talk)  What are you like? (I am careful and responsible, but I love to laugh)   What do you look like? (I am short.  I have blue eyes and light brown hair.)  and Who do you look like? (I look like my cousin, Nancy.  I look like my fourth child.)  We talked about initials and nicknames.  Half the class took the reading test.  The other half did a difficult mixed verb tense worksheet. & wrote the answers to the "It's enchanting to meet you" questions.

 Homework for Wednesday, April 8: Study vocabulary & do the worksheet.  Bonus:  Answer the questions for two posts on the class webpage, and write a lot about a goal and your strategy (steps you will take to get it.) 

4-7 Today we introduced ourselves and did an overview of the class.  We interviewed a classmate, did line introductions, and answered conversation questions.  We picked one language skill to set as a priority and wrote a goal.  We will practice all of the language skills because we have people who want to do every skill.  This class will do more writing than a class that has more people who all want to focus only on speaking

Do you want to practice?

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, and understanding basic grammar ideas and how to use grammar with lots of examples to learn a language makes those classes 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 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

Winter 2026

 In Winter 2026, we did units 2,3,4 then we studied employment.  For employment, we talked about how to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself."  We talked about our skills. (Grammar: can)  We practiced using know how to ____(base verb) We talked about responsibilities/duties at different jobs. We practiced talking about our job histories using prepositions of time.

Here are some job interview questions that anyone in our level should be able to answer.

If you didn't understand the grammar in our class or if you are moving up without finishing our book, please study Grammar I want you to know before you go to High Intermediate

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?

Did you get a good deal today because a business celebrated Pi Day?

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!.

Don't Cry Over Prom Dress Prices (if you have a daughter that needs a prom dress, go to Centreville HS this weekend)

For many young people in the USA, high school prom is the only formal dance they ever attend. 

Used dresses are much cheaper than new dresses, and they are often very beautiful.  

You may also find a good free dress at Centreville High School tomorrow

Kids that are willing to make and wear duct tape clothes can win the

Stuck-at-Prom Scholarship -- Grand Prize winners get $15,000, runner ups $1,000.

My daughter entered it (I bought $60 of duct tape), but she didn't win anything.  

My children already went to prom, 

but I still click the link to see all the duct tape dresses.

Did you go to a formal dance in High School?  

Did your child go to prom? 

Would you let your child go to prom?

How to Do Common Line Dances in the USA

Many people in the USA only do line dances at weddings.  Some people get together just to do them.  

I think the most popular line dance in the USA is called the "Electric Slide."  Although this video is made for fourth grade children, I think it's good.

The Cha Cha Slide is also very popular because the music tells you what to do!

The Music also tells you how to do the Cupid Shuffle

Instructions....

 and the real music for it!

Fairfax County Public School PE taught all my children to do "Cotton Eye Joe," 

with the touch across version, not the stomp.

Sometimes all the neighborhood kids did it at pool parties at our neighborhood pool.

Most people that lived in the USA during the 1990s know the "Macerena."

Instructions

The Music for the "Macerena" is in Spanish. It looks sexy!

I've heard that "Achy Breaky Heart" is the most common line dance at Southeastern USA weddings,

but I don't know it.

Challenge Listening stand-up comedy:  Don't Line Dance in the Ladies Room (restroom)

The Temptation Cha

Teenagers at my neighborhood swimming pool taught me "The Wobble"

New York, New York! (song)

Thank you for a delicious potluck party!

A potluck is a party that asks all the guests to bring food to share.  Many people have potlucks in the USA -- especially groups at schools, churches, and neighborhood pools.  Please bring something yummy.  If you really don't have the time or money to bring food, don't worry.  Come anyway.

Please don't bring pork (pig meat) children, or alcoholic drinks.

Are you going to do during the break?  Are you coming back?  

Do you have recommendations to make the next class better for you?

Patience

 

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

English often takes time.  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.