Phong Chau's Gift

I bought cloth and I made a pair of pants for my friend's baby. My nephew had twin girls and I gave bangles for the new twins.

Fang's Gift

I gave a necklace to my friend's baby five years ago.

My friend Yeau liked the necklace very much and she felt happy.

Later I bought a children's book for her to teach her baby to read. Now we meet each other very often.

Ming Tao's Gift

I gave a novel book to my friend Sheng last year on his birthday.

My friend Sheng likes to read novels very much. I knew he would like this book.

After I gave him the book, he felt very happy. I think maybe he will become a famous writer in the future.

Sanjoo's Story

In 1996 I worked for the Democratic Party in Burma. The police came to my house and asked me about the Democratic Party. I never answered them. I only told them that I did not know anything.

A few months later, the police came to my house again. I was very lucky because I was not home. I was at a friend's house. Two hours later, my mother came to see me. My mother told me, "You shouldn't come back home. You must run away. "

One day later, I went from place to place. After a month, I met my friend, Anil. Anil was my best friend. Now he is my husband. We are social workers together.

if we go back to Burma maybe the police will kill us or put us in jail.

Now that we are safe in the United States, we are fine. Sometimes I miss my mother and friends. I am very sad. I haven't seen my mother for ten years. Sometimes I call my mother, but I only listen. I can't talk because the telephone is tapped. The police always watch my mother.

I cry now because my mother is old.

Letter from Sanjoo

Dear Sir Richard,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!

First off, all I would like to say is my heartfelt regards to you. I will be thankful to you in my entire life. I have learned many good things from you. I believe that it will be very helpful in my life.

Where ever I go, I will never forget you. You will be in my memory. I will miss you always. You are my best teacher and friend. I always pray for your good health.

When you teach you make us very happy in our class. There are many activities and fun during our class. This all will be good memories in our lives. I believe that all of my classmates will never forget you.

With love and best wishes to you.

Respectfully,

Your student,

Sanjoo

The Gift of the Magi

Listen to this classic Christmas story by O'Henry.

Read the story.

Use these flashcards to improve your vocabulary.

Take a vocabulary quiz.

A Bus Story

I just arrived in the United States one month ago. Honestly, I am still not used to living in the United States.
One morning, I wanted to go to school by bus. I got up early and I waited for a bus. After a few minutes, the bus arrived. There were many people in the bus. I stood inside the bus. A woman was standing beside me and she had a big bag. When I was about to get off the bus, the woman was in my way. I couldn't go to the bus door. I tried to pass her, but I couldn't. So, I spoke Chinese to her politely, but she had no reaction. I spoke to her again, but she still didn't understand me. Finally, I tried to move her bag. Suddenly, the woman turned around and spoke loudly to me,"Say excuse me and don't push my bag. " I said "Excuse me"and "Sorry"in English to her immediately. This time I spoke in English. She moved her bag out of my way. So that I could get off the bus. I realized that I should have spoken English to the woman instead of Chinese. Again, I realized that I am in the United States, not in China any more.

Hello, Classmates

This is my first post.

I promised the teacher that I would send him an email. And I did.

Now I am promising that I will write a story for you. And I will.

Land by Leo Tolstoy

Land is recorded in 3 parts: (Click each part to play)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3 (I'll post it after we discuss the third part in class)

Tomorrow, Saturday

I think I will sleep late on Saturday. When I wake up, I will eat breakfast. After that, I will do some homework for my morning teacher. I will try to write a letter to my teacher. It is hard for me to write. I have trouble with my grammar, but I will do it.

I will go visit my daughter in Union City. After that, I will return home and go to sleep.

by Muoi Tan

This Saturday

I hope I will wake up late on Saturday. After I wake up, I'll brush my teeth, wash my face and get dressed. Then, I'll go to the supermarket to buy some meat, vegetables and fruit to make lunch for my family. After lunch , I will clean my room, wash clothes and cut the grass. In the evening, I'll visit my brother.

by John Wen

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Saturday. I will wake up early because I will go to an autoshow in Alameda. This is the biggest autoshow in the Bay Area. People can drive new cars on the special road. I will drive a Hummer for the first time. Then I will drive other cars. I think I will spend the whole day at the show. I hope I have a good day tomorrow.

by Hui Neng

My Favorite Relative

My mother is my favorite relative. She is 59 years old. She is strong and average height. She is a housewife and a nice mother. She always is kind to people. Her education was very limited, but I respect her more than anyone. When I have any trouble, I always ask for her advice first. I love her personality.

by Su Ling Li

My Favorite Relative

Uncle Berhane is my favorite relative. He is my mother's brother. He is a businessman and a hard worker. He gave me advice. He lives in Eritrea. He is 50 years old and married. He has two sons and two daughters. He is tall and strong. I like him very much.

by Yonas Woldesillise

Space Star (part 2 continued)

This is the end of the story!!!

Read the previous post first!!!

Space Star (part 2 )

St

Start Part 2 here!

Listen to Space Star (part 2 continued) after you listen to this post.

Space Star (part 1)

Please forgive my reading mistakes.

This is the first time I recorded a story for the Internet.

Like all of us, I need more practice speaking to an audience.

Leave comments if you would like me to record Space Star (part 2).

Hiring a New Administative Assistant

Today we listed to a podcast about hiring a new administrative assistant.

You can read the transcript by going to the ESLpod.com website.

Here is a list of words and idioms from the podcast:

• Administrative assistant
• Gave notice
• Could not have happened at a worse time
• Busy time of year
• Nothing I could do
• Right away
• Want ad
• Classified
• Applications
• Interviews
• Narrowed it down
• Resume
• Experience
• Working at
• Telecommunications
• Looked promising
• Dressed professionally
• Seemed personable
• With confidence
• Sounded like
• Perseverance
• Drawbacks
• Chatty
• Seemed disorganized
• Capacities
• Candidate
• Rough around the edges
• Earnest
• Eager
• Air of someone who had
• Corporate environment
• Seemed bright
• Easy to get along with
• Did strike me
• As shy
• Nervous
• Two options
• Give it some more thought

I hope you have time to review these new words and idioms over the weekend.

Hiring a New Administative Assistant

Today we listed to a podcast about hiring a new administrative assistant.

You can read the transcript by going to the ESLpod.com website.

Here is a list of words and idioms from the podcast:

• Administrative assistant
• Gave notice
• Could not have happened at a worse time
• Busy time of year
• Nothing I could do
• Right away
• Want ad
• Classified
• Applications
• Interviews
• Narrowed it down
• Resume
• Experience
• Working at
• Telecommunications
• Looked promising
• Dressed professionally
• Seemed personable
• With confidence
• Sounded like
• Perseverance
• Drawbacks
• Chatty
• Seemed disorganized
• Capacities
• Candidate
• Rough around the edges
• Earnest
• Eager
• Air of someone who had
• Corporate environment
• Seemed bright
• Easy to get along with
• Did strike me
• As shy
• Nervous
• Two options
• Give it some more thought

I hope you have time to review these new words and idioms over the weekend.

Concept Map

This is a concept map.

What (who) is a the center of the concept map?

How can a concept map help us write a paragraph?

How about a joke?

Sometimes we need a good laugh.

Click here to hear a joke.

Hi, Classmates

I am happy when I study with you.

Do you know where I am from?

Can you guess how old I am?

Do you know my favorite color?

Listen to English on the Internet

In our afternoon class, we often listen to English on the Internet.

You can listen to English poems at The Writer's Almanac.

ESLpod is a good place to build your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. Click here to read the scripts of the stories we heard in class.

Yes/No Questions (Simple Past Tense)

Yes/No Questions (with the verb to be)

She was late for class.

Question
Was she late for class?

Yes/No Questions (not the verb to be)

I went to the store yesterday.

Question
Did you go to the store yesterday?

Learn Geography

Click on this link:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm

to play an internet game and learn US geogrraphy.

While you are at it, click here:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Mexico_Geography.htm

to learn about Mexican Geography

Study Groups

Today we met in study groups of four or five students to review the test.

• Each group received one copy of the test.
• The students discussed each test question.
• The students didn't write on the test paper.
• They took notes.
• The teacher asked them to speak English only.

Do you think that study groups are an effective way to learn English?

Finding the Words to Songs

Using the Internet, you can easily find the words to songs if you know the song's title.

The words to a song are called lyrics.

Suppose that you are looking for the words for the song, Right Here Waiting.

1. Go to Google.com
2. In the search window type: Lyrics Right Here Waiting.
3. Click on one of the search result links

I usually copy the lyrics into a word processor.

1. Highlight the lyrics and copy them (cntrl-c).
2. Open a new Microsoft Word Document
3. Paste the lyrics (cntrl-v)
4. Type in the title and recording artist above the lyrics
5. Format, save and print the lyrics

Certain nonaction verbs are usually not used in the present continuos tense.

example:

• We usually do not say, "I am understanding you."
• We say, "I understand you."

What verbs are not usually used in the contiuous tenses?

Use the comments to post your answers.

A test!

Yes, we took a test today.

It was a review of the simple present, present continuous and future tenses.

How do you feel you did?

Tomorrow we are going to correct the test in class.

When you see the results, you will know what you need to study.

Do you think tests are a good idea?

We listened to music today.

We listened to Another Saturday Night by Sam Cooke.

We also listened to Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx.

Many students liked that song!

Here are some other songs that students like:

• That's Why
• Without You in My Life
• Smoke In Your Eyes
• Yesterday Once More
• Under Your Clothes
• Undiscovered

Tell us if you have a favorite song you would like to share.

Today we sang Money, Honey by Elvis Presley.

Please "email if you want to get along with me."

Today we studied how to use will or be+going to+root form of the verb to make a prediction, present facts about the future or discuss scheduled events.

Use be going to when talking about a plan for the future.

Use will when you offer help or make a promise.

Organize your binder!

Please organize your binder into five sections:

1. Grammar
2. Reading and Literature
3. Listening and Vocabulary Building
4. Writing
5. The American Experience

If you need dividers, please ask me for some.

Today we listened to a podcast about the post office.

You can go to the ESLpod website if you want to hear the podcast or read the script.

We also talked about how to give someone directions using "north", "south", "east" and "west".

We used Google Earth to travel around the world.

We also looked at some photographs of the teacher's brother's wedding in China.

Finally, we began to read a new story. The story is called "Crucita". It was written by Manuela Williams Crosno.

What is his name?

Where was he born?

What is his favorite food?

He isn't married, but he has a girlfriend.
Do you know her name?

Do you recognize this classmate?

What is his name?

What country does he come from?

How many children does he have?

What is his favorite food?

Happy Birthday!

Bicycling in Denmark with Sophia and Alex 

Traffic jam 

Working in groups is fun. 

Of course, we are talking English. 

People didn't have the internet. 

More smiles ... 

Why is everyone smiling? 

Alberto has a question. 

That's all, folks. We'll see you next time. 

Bob is full. He can't eat any more.

"Thank you," he said. "I have eaten enough."

"That is perfect," we answered, "present perfect."

The most delicious food 

More delicious food 

Delicious food 

Our dim sum part 

May I help you? 

There is no food on our side. 

Jun Dao and Tran offer advice. 

Where is my pencil? 

Oh, my gosh! 

Is Xin Xing telling the truth?