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!