Homework
Homework assignments will be posted here.
Weekly Blog Postings
Each week, you are required to visit the class blog (you may access the blog via the button below) and post a response to the question. In addition, you must comment on AT LEAST TWO of your classmates' posts. This is due each week by 9PM on Friday night. You are being graded on your PARTICIPATION ONLY, not on your language, so please feel free to experiment with new forms and vocabulary, relax, and express yourself. This is meant to be a casual, laid-back forum where we can get to know each other and share ideas - it is NOT meant to be a formal essay, so have fun!
Each week, you are required to visit the class blog (you may access the blog via the button below) and post a response to the question. In addition, you must comment on AT LEAST TWO of your classmates' posts. This is due each week by 9PM on Friday night. You are being graded on your PARTICIPATION ONLY, not on your language, so please feel free to experiment with new forms and vocabulary, relax, and express yourself. This is meant to be a casual, laid-back forum where we can get to know each other and share ideas - it is NOT meant to be a formal essay, so have fun!
Homework for the night of Tuesday, May 27th (due in class Wednesday, May 28th)
1. Please visit our class blog and post a brief introduction of yourself, and read through the other posts to get to know your classmates. You do not have to comment on anyone else's post (although you may if you like). This is due by 9AM on Wednesday, May 28th, and is in addition to your weekly blog post for this week.
2. Please prepare for an in-class debate on Wednesday: HAVE SMARTPHONES IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES? Please be prepared to argue the side you were assigned in class, "yes" (pro) or "no" (con). Below are some articles that may help you. You may also google to find additional support on your own.
"How I Learned to Stop Worrying by Loving the Smartphone" By Damon Darlin
"Someday, Your Smartphone Will Actually Improve Your Life" By Rick Newman
"Have smartphones killed boredom (and is that good)?" By Doug Gross
"Smart phones could be bad for eyes" from ABC Local
1. Please visit our class blog and post a brief introduction of yourself, and read through the other posts to get to know your classmates. You do not have to comment on anyone else's post (although you may if you like). This is due by 9AM on Wednesday, May 28th, and is in addition to your weekly blog post for this week.
2. Please prepare for an in-class debate on Wednesday: HAVE SMARTPHONES IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES? Please be prepared to argue the side you were assigned in class, "yes" (pro) or "no" (con). Below are some articles that may help you. You may also google to find additional support on your own.
"How I Learned to Stop Worrying by Loving the Smartphone" By Damon Darlin
"Someday, Your Smartphone Will Actually Improve Your Life" By Rick Newman
"Have smartphones killed boredom (and is that good)?" By Doug Gross
"Smart phones could be bad for eyes" from ABC Local
Homework for the night of Wednesday, May 28th (due by class on Thursday, May 29th)
1. Please post your introduction in the class blog if you haven't already done so
2. Today we worked on making a small speech about whether smartphones have improved our lives. Please refine your speech (if you like), rehearse (PLEASE ENSURE YOUR SPEECH IS NO MORE THAN 2-3 MINUTES), and when you are ready, call the Google Voice number: 917.780.2236. Don't worry - I will never answer the phone. After several rings, you will hear a message from me asking you to leave your "speaking test" after the tone. Please record your speech, then hang up and relax. You will receive comments back from me via text message to help you improve your speaking.
3. Begin to review what you know about relative clauses. Please read through p. 57 - 59 in your textbook. You DO NOT need to do any of the exercises in the book - we will work on these together in class.
4. The YouTube video below will help you review some information about relative clauses:
5. Please complete PRACTICE 4 on page 35 in your WORKBOOK. I know we haven't studied the grammar in class very much yet, so just do your best - it is fine to make mistakes or guesses. Come to class with any questions about the workbook exercise and the pages in the textbook.
1. Please post your introduction in the class blog if you haven't already done so
2. Today we worked on making a small speech about whether smartphones have improved our lives. Please refine your speech (if you like), rehearse (PLEASE ENSURE YOUR SPEECH IS NO MORE THAN 2-3 MINUTES), and when you are ready, call the Google Voice number: 917.780.2236. Don't worry - I will never answer the phone. After several rings, you will hear a message from me asking you to leave your "speaking test" after the tone. Please record your speech, then hang up and relax. You will receive comments back from me via text message to help you improve your speaking.
3. Begin to review what you know about relative clauses. Please read through p. 57 - 59 in your textbook. You DO NOT need to do any of the exercises in the book - we will work on these together in class.
4. The YouTube video below will help you review some information about relative clauses:
5. Please complete PRACTICE 4 on page 35 in your WORKBOOK. I know we haven't studied the grammar in class very much yet, so just do your best - it is fine to make mistakes or guesses. Come to class with any questions about the workbook exercise and the pages in the textbook.
Homework for the night of Thursday, May 29th (due in class Monday)
1. Please refine your short presentation based on the feedback about structure and content that you received from your classmates in class on Friday, as well as the feedback on your language that you will receive from me via text or email by Friday evening. Please email me if you do not receive your feedback from me - there may be a technology issue. When you are ready, please call the Google Voice number and leave your "final draft". You will not receive text feedback from me on this "final" version, and it will count as 20% of your weekly test grade
2. Please complete exercises 5-7 (pp. 36-37) in your WORKBOOK. Come to class with any questions on Monday. We will have a grammar workshop to make sure you understand everything - don't forget, there will be a test on Tuesday!
3. Enjoy your weekend, speak English and HAVE FUN!
1. Please refine your short presentation based on the feedback about structure and content that you received from your classmates in class on Friday, as well as the feedback on your language that you will receive from me via text or email by Friday evening. Please email me if you do not receive your feedback from me - there may be a technology issue. When you are ready, please call the Google Voice number and leave your "final draft". You will not receive text feedback from me on this "final" version, and it will count as 20% of your weekly test grade
2. Please complete exercises 5-7 (pp. 36-37) in your WORKBOOK. Come to class with any questions on Monday. We will have a grammar workshop to make sure you understand everything - don't forget, there will be a test on Tuesday!
3. Enjoy your weekend, speak English and HAVE FUN!
Homework for night of Monday, June 2nd
Please study for the UNIT 5 TEST. If you have any last minute grammar questions, please post them in the "Grammar Workshop" section of the class blog. Relax and get some sleep!
Please study for the UNIT 5 TEST. If you have any last minute grammar questions, please post them in the "Grammar Workshop" section of the class blog. Relax and get some sleep!
Homework for night of Tuesday, June 3rd (due in class Wednesday, June 4th)
1. I will post a discussion question to the Class Blog related to the theme of "Horror" (Unit 6) by tonight. Remember to make at least ONE post and at least TWO comments by 9PM Friday night. You may of course make more posts, or continue posting after the due date.
2. Tomorrow, we have an in-class speaking activity that I am very excited for! I think it will be a lot of fun and also help you develop the speaking skills you need in your everyday lives - whether you are a business person, a professor, or just want to make friends at a party. It is called "impromptu speaking." To prepare, please view the three short videos below and complete the worksheet. DON'T WORRY - the activity is relaxed and enjoyable - you will NOT have to give a speech in front of the class. See you tomorrow!
P.S. Videos 2 and 3 feature ESL learners like you!
1. I will post a discussion question to the Class Blog related to the theme of "Horror" (Unit 6) by tonight. Remember to make at least ONE post and at least TWO comments by 9PM Friday night. You may of course make more posts, or continue posting after the due date.
2. Tomorrow, we have an in-class speaking activity that I am very excited for! I think it will be a lot of fun and also help you develop the speaking skills you need in your everyday lives - whether you are a business person, a professor, or just want to make friends at a party. It is called "impromptu speaking." To prepare, please view the three short videos below and complete the worksheet. DON'T WORRY - the activity is relaxed and enjoyable - you will NOT have to give a speech in front of the class. See you tomorrow!
P.S. Videos 2 and 3 feature ESL learners like you!
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/rtf.png)
homework_to_prepare_for_impromptu_speaking_activity.docx | |
File Size: | 82 kb |
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Video 1
Videos 2 and 3
Homework for night of Wednesday, June 4th (due in class Thursday, June 5th)
1. Please read pp. 69 (beginning with the "Grammar" section at the bottom) - 72 and complete exercises 1-6. Check back here for the answer key soon! If you have any questions, don't forget to use the Grammar Workshop section of the blog. Come to class with any questions that you can't figure out. On Thursday, we will review the grammar, have a workshop and do a mini-teaching exercise during which YOUR team will have a chance to teach other students in the class about a grammar point.
2. Google Voice - Great work on the speeches today! Please record your two minute speech for me by Saturday at 5PM. You can NOT go over 2 minutes this week, like we practiced in class - so be careful! Set a timer for yourself if you need to. Look under Class Materials Week 2 to see your beautiful posters of "Effective" and "Needs Work" ideas to help you prepare your speeches.
1. Please read pp. 69 (beginning with the "Grammar" section at the bottom) - 72 and complete exercises 1-6. Check back here for the answer key soon! If you have any questions, don't forget to use the Grammar Workshop section of the blog. Come to class with any questions that you can't figure out. On Thursday, we will review the grammar, have a workshop and do a mini-teaching exercise during which YOUR team will have a chance to teach other students in the class about a grammar point.
2. Google Voice - Great work on the speeches today! Please record your two minute speech for me by Saturday at 5PM. You can NOT go over 2 minutes this week, like we practiced in class - so be careful! Set a timer for yourself if you need to. Look under Class Materials Week 2 to see your beautiful posters of "Effective" and "Needs Work" ideas to help you prepare your speeches.
Homework for night of Thursday, June 5th (due Monday, June (9th in class)
Thanks everyone for all of your hard work and excellent questions in class today! I can tell you are are thinking very critically about the grammar, questioning the book and helping to push our understanding. I really appreciate the intelligence and enthusiasm of this class.
For this weekend, please complete the following exercises, and check the answer key to review your work (you can zoom in to read it better):
WORKBOOK Practice Exercises 4 - 7 (pp. 42-44) (YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO 1-3 or 8-11)
For several of the exercises, the Answer Key has "suggested answers" - those are only examples. You can be creative and make your own sentences - they are not wrong if the meaning doesn't match the sentences in the answer key. Try to check the grammar structure, You will have a chance to check your answers with your team on Monday. Also - keep up the great work using the grammar blog!
Thanks everyone for all of your hard work and excellent questions in class today! I can tell you are are thinking very critically about the grammar, questioning the book and helping to push our understanding. I really appreciate the intelligence and enthusiasm of this class.
For this weekend, please complete the following exercises, and check the answer key to review your work (you can zoom in to read it better):
WORKBOOK Practice Exercises 4 - 7 (pp. 42-44) (YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO 1-3 or 8-11)
For several of the exercises, the Answer Key has "suggested answers" - those are only examples. You can be creative and make your own sentences - they are not wrong if the meaning doesn't match the sentences in the answer key. Try to check the grammar structure, You will have a chance to check your answers with your team on Monday. Also - keep up the great work using the grammar blog!
Homework for night of June 9th (due Tuesday, June 10th in class)
1. Study for the Unit 6 test (remember, you have the Grammar Workshop in the blog to help you)
2. Please finish VIEWING the YouTube video below, about Room 237, a documentary about people who are obsessed with symbols in "The Shining"
1. Study for the Unit 6 test (remember, you have the Grammar Workshop in the blog to help you)
2. Please finish VIEWING the YouTube video below, about Room 237, a documentary about people who are obsessed with symbols in "The Shining"
Homework for night of June 10th (due Wednesday, June 11th in class)
1. Please choose a topic for a mini-speech tomorrow. You will expand this topic into your final presentation, so choose something that you are interested in and about which you will be able to speak for 10 minutes (at the end of the course, NOT tomorrow). Do some SHORT research for tomorrow's mini (2 minute) speech. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WRITE A SPEECH. Just take some notes on your topic.
2. Please watch the following brief video about "Extemporaneous Speaking"
3. I will post a starter question in the blog about this week's textbook theme. Please add to this by making up some of your own questions and taking the topic in whatever direction you are interested in. Please post ONCE and comment TWICE by Friday, 9PM (you can do more over the weekend if you like)
1. Please choose a topic for a mini-speech tomorrow. You will expand this topic into your final presentation, so choose something that you are interested in and about which you will be able to speak for 10 minutes (at the end of the course, NOT tomorrow). Do some SHORT research for tomorrow's mini (2 minute) speech. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WRITE A SPEECH. Just take some notes on your topic.
2. Please watch the following brief video about "Extemporaneous Speaking"
3. I will post a starter question in the blog about this week's textbook theme. Please add to this by making up some of your own questions and taking the topic in whatever direction you are interested in. Please post ONCE and comment TWICE by Friday, 9PM (you can do more over the weekend if you like)
Homework for night of Wednesday, June 11th (due Thursday, June 12th in class)
1. Read pp. 85-87 (top) in the textbook (about the Subjunctive)
2. Read p. 88 (bottom) in the textbook "Speak Out" about "Using Visual Aids"
3. Complete Exercises 1,2,3 on pp. 86-87 of the textbook - There is a mini-lesson posted under "Week 3 Class Materials" that will help you with the Subjunctive. Also, please remember to continue using the Grammar Blog
4. Google Voice - Please record your short (2min) speech for me by Saturday, 5PM
GRAMMAR EXERCISES ANSWER KEY:
Ex. 1
consider, take, not cheat, be, not ask, be, be done, be paid, be given OR take, determine
Ex. 2
Answers will be different, so we will discuss in class. The important grammar point is that all of these sentences must use the SUBJUNCTIVE, so you have to use the base form of the verb
Ex. 3
a,b,d
Homework for night of Thursday, June 12th (due Monday, June 16th in class)
1. Workbook: Ex. 4, 5, 6 on pp. 50-52
2. Blog: Like last week, we will do a mini-activity related to our blog discussion to warm up our speaking on Monday. So please review the blog sometime before Monday's class.
1. Read pp. 85-87 (top) in the textbook (about the Subjunctive)
2. Read p. 88 (bottom) in the textbook "Speak Out" about "Using Visual Aids"
3. Complete Exercises 1,2,3 on pp. 86-87 of the textbook - There is a mini-lesson posted under "Week 3 Class Materials" that will help you with the Subjunctive. Also, please remember to continue using the Grammar Blog
4. Google Voice - Please record your short (2min) speech for me by Saturday, 5PM
GRAMMAR EXERCISES ANSWER KEY:
Ex. 1
consider, take, not cheat, be, not ask, be, be done, be paid, be given OR take, determine
Ex. 2
Answers will be different, so we will discuss in class. The important grammar point is that all of these sentences must use the SUBJUNCTIVE, so you have to use the base form of the verb
Ex. 3
a,b,d
Homework for night of Thursday, June 12th (due Monday, June 16th in class)
1. Workbook: Ex. 4, 5, 6 on pp. 50-52
2. Blog: Like last week, we will do a mini-activity related to our blog discussion to warm up our speaking on Monday. So please review the blog sometime before Monday's class.
Homework for night of Monday, June 16th (due Tuesday, June 17th in class)
Study for the Unit 7 test (remember, you have the Grammar Workshop in the blog to help you)
Homework for night of Tuesday, June 17th (due Wednesday, June 18th in class)
1. Choose a Ted Talk HERE. Choose any talk that is interesting. Watch the talk and take some notes. You may want to watch the talk more than once to be sure you understand it well, but you do not have to. Tomorrow, we will do a speaking activity based on your talk.
2. We will be reading from "The Mole People" tomorrow; click HERE to see the book on Amazon.com.
3. Read pp. 97 (bottom) - 98 in the TEXTBOOK. Be sure to refer to the list of verbs and expressions that are followed by a gerund or infinitive on p. 166. Complete Ex. 1-2. We are starting grammar a bit early this week so that you have more time to study for the final exam and prepare your presentations :)
Study for the Unit 7 test (remember, you have the Grammar Workshop in the blog to help you)
Homework for night of Tuesday, June 17th (due Wednesday, June 18th in class)
1. Choose a Ted Talk HERE. Choose any talk that is interesting. Watch the talk and take some notes. You may want to watch the talk more than once to be sure you understand it well, but you do not have to. Tomorrow, we will do a speaking activity based on your talk.
2. We will be reading from "The Mole People" tomorrow; click HERE to see the book on Amazon.com.
3. Read pp. 97 (bottom) - 98 in the TEXTBOOK. Be sure to refer to the list of verbs and expressions that are followed by a gerund or infinitive on p. 166. Complete Ex. 1-2. We are starting grammar a bit early this week so that you have more time to study for the final exam and prepare your presentations :)
Homework for night of Wednesday, June 18th (due Thursday, June 19th in class)
WORKBOOK: pp. 58-60, Ex. 4,5,6
WORKBOOK: pp. 58-60, Ex. 4,5,6
Homework for night of Thursday, June 19th (due Monday, June 23rd in class)
1. Study for the FINAL EXAM (next Tuesday, June 24th, full class - covers Units 5,6,7,8). Please use the grammar blog!
2. Work on Final Presentations
Homework for night of Monday, June 23rd (due Tuesday, June 24th in class)
1. Study for the FINAL EXAM (TOMORROW, full class - covers Units 5,6,7,8). Please use the grammar blog!
2. Work on Final Presentations
Homework for night of Tuesday, June 24th (due Wednesday, June 25th in class)
Work on Final Presentations - Group 1 presents tomorrow
Homework for night of Wednesday, June 25th (due Thursday, June 26th in class)
1. Work on Final Presentations (Group 2 presents tomorrow)
2. Please bring some food/drink to share with the class for our party!
1. Study for the FINAL EXAM (next Tuesday, June 24th, full class - covers Units 5,6,7,8). Please use the grammar blog!
2. Work on Final Presentations
Homework for night of Monday, June 23rd (due Tuesday, June 24th in class)
1. Study for the FINAL EXAM (TOMORROW, full class - covers Units 5,6,7,8). Please use the grammar blog!
2. Work on Final Presentations
Homework for night of Tuesday, June 24th (due Wednesday, June 25th in class)
Work on Final Presentations - Group 1 presents tomorrow
Homework for night of Wednesday, June 25th (due Thursday, June 26th in class)
1. Work on Final Presentations (Group 2 presents tomorrow)
2. Please bring some food/drink to share with the class for our party!