My Holiday Plan

A very beautiful holiday is coming! so exciting. When I heard that a holiday would come in those years I was in school, I always excited. Now, I am still exciting. Very happy!
What will I do? Thinking..., Maybe I will go to fishing  on the ice and in the snowing, it is a very beautiful thing for me, as it is pretty cold, I need to prepare a tent, a fish finder, a warmer heater and many tools for fishing. But whether it is implemented depend on my wife's mood. I can't make decision right now.
And maybe I will go to skiing with my families. I never went to skiing in Canada, it is a exciting thing too.
And maybe I will go shopping with my families. It will be implemented on most probability.

Donut Selfie

Concert trip & TTC

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Tuesday's Speaking Assignment

How do we talk about a field trip? What things are worth telling? What are not? What vocabulary do you need? What tense to use?

No refunds, you Christmas carollers!

Here are your tasks:

1. Read the first five paragraphs of this news article.
1. Find at least five new words to learn their meaning and pronunciation.
2. Locate the names of stations on the subway map, and trace your journey to the concert.
3. Compare your results with a partner's. You may need to interview a partner if you didn't go.
2. Rate how you and others did on the following concert rules of etiquette (Good/Could be better/Atrocious); then compare your rating with a partner:
1. The concert begins at noon, lasting approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. 
2. When you arrive, please check in with an usher. The ushers will seat your group. 
3. Please arrange to have lunch prior to arrival or after departure. Please note that food, beverages and gum are not permitted in Roy Thomson Hall. 
4. Concert etiquette serves to provide the best possible listening environment for you, your fellow audience members and the performers on stage. Your group’s consideration for fellow patrons and performers will ensure everyone’s full enjoyment of the live performance. Please observe proper concert etiquette throughout. Patrons may be asked to leave the auditorium if they are disturbing others. 
5. Cameras, cell phones and video games are not permitted in the auditorium.
3. Note down briefly what you liked the most and the least and what surprised you.
4. Organize your thoughts, and record a 2-minute report of yesterday's field trip on Youtube.com, Audioboom.com, or Chirbit.com.
5. Guess what to do next after publishing the audio on your e-portfolio.

hanukkah

http://www.eslholidaylessons.com/12/hanukkah.html

Hanukkah is one of the most important celebrations in the Jewish calendar. It means the Festival of Lights. It is an eight-day holiday that takes place each year in November or December. The festival is to celebrate a miracle that happened in the Second Temple in Jerusalem. A Syrian king took the temple from the Jews. In 164BC, a small group of people called the Maccabees revolted against the king and took back their temple. Their leader Judah Maccabee decided to cleanse the altar by burning olive oil in a special candle holder called a Menorah. They only had enough to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days and nights. Jewish elders declared an eight-day holiday to commemorate this miracle.

Today the festival is observed by lighting the lights of the family Menorah. One light is lit on each night of the holiday until there are eight lights on the final night. Families also say prayers throughout the festival, especially after meals. In Israel, schools close for a week to celebrate Hanukkah. Families exchange gifts and eat festive food. Potato pancakes and fruit-filled doughnuts are the most traditional food, but there is also a custom of frying or baking food in olive oil. Hanukkah is also a time for singing and playing games. There are more songs for Hanukkah than for any other Jewish celebration. The most traditional game is played using a four-sided spinning top, called a dreidel, and coins or tokens.

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.

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KWANZAA-What's KWANZAA

http://www.eslholidaylessons.com/12/kwanzaa.html

Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday that is celebrated around the world. It takes place between December the 26th and January the 1st every year. The holiday celebrates African culture and history. Kwanzaa started in 1966 in the U.S.A. It was the first holiday just for African Americans. Ron Karenga, an African-American civil rights campaigner, created the seven-day holiday. He said it was to give Americans of African descent an opportunity to celebrate their unique heritage. He wanted a holiday that did not “simply imitate the practice of the dominant [white] society”. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and means “first fruits”. Many Americans celebrate Kwanzaa alongside other holidays that take place at the same time. Ron Karenga said: “All people can share in the celebration of our common humanity.”

Kwanzaa celebrates Nguzu Saba, which means "The Seven Principles of Blackness". Each of the seven days represents a different principle. The principles are unity, self-determination, working together, cooperating in business, building the nation, creativity, and faith. People who celebrate Kwanzaa light candles in a special candle holder called a kinara. People decorate their homes in African colours and put up pieces of African art. Some people attend a Kwanzaa ceremony that has African drumming and music. One of the most important parts of Kwanzaa is a special feast called a karamu. Family and friends get together and celebrate who they are. If you go to a karamu, you should say “Habari gani,” which is Swahili for “What’s news?”

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.

The Recording of 'Driver and Police' 2016-12-7

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1quxUPsSDqN

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Here are your tasks:

1. Watch this video from 1:46 - 2:34 without CC.
1. Check off the words you hear: donut, friends, Joe, moo, pollis, selling, tennis, women. 
2. Check your findings with 2 partners.
2. In no more than 50 words, write on how families, society, and the police respond to domestic or gendered violence in another country as compared to Canada. Then write a sentence on how you feel as a newcomer to Canada.

I come from China. This country has a long-standing history, but most of them belong to feudal socity, in this period, the governor ruled that men enjoy higher status than women,  woman has a lower level in family and socity, so there were many family violence. Now, the law keep the women rights, but due to the reason of history, some gendered violence happen often. How to respond this, I think the goverment should assume more duty responsibilities to guarantee the rights of women.

I just know a little about gendered violence in Canada. In my opinion, Canada is a legal institution and democratic socity, family violence would less much  than other countries.

I am a newcomer, I came this country because she is a legal and democratic country and I can enjoy the clean air, water, foods and so on.

BLACK FRIDAY 2016

I spent my first Black Friday in Canada last week. I was excited as our teacher Joseph took us to the Downtown to experience the atmosphere of the special day. 

I met Joseph and other students in the Sheraton Hotel around 11 am. There happened to be an ESL exhibition in the hotel. As we visited the exhibition, Joseph introduced some exhibitors, I took a few ESL materials and souvenirs from some exhibitors. 

After visiting the exhibition, we went to Eaton Center through the PATH. The mall was so crowded. Lots of items were on big sale, which encouraged people to buy, buy and buy. There was a very high and well-decorated Christmas tree in the mall. It is said that this Christmas tree was the highest one this year. We can feel that the festival season is here and the Christmas is coming.

I think it is one of the best forms to learn English and understand the culture of Canada, isn't it?

THE MAP OF ZIKA Monday, November 28, 2016

Monday, November 28, 2016

Tuesday's Listening Assignment

What mosquito-borne diseases can you think of?

Do you consider them modern? Why or why not?

1. Listen to this recording in Medium (N. American English) and one more.
2. Do this spelling exercise and this dictation exercise.
3. Listen to the Medium (N. American English) reading again.
4. On a blank world map, include details about Zika virus in three different areas/countries mentioned in the audio. Include three different areas/countries NOT mentioned in the audio, and mark them differently.

answer for Q4:

EQUITEK - seeking job

http://en.equitek.ca/

TALKING WITH PARTNER

http://img.chirbit.com/feed-pic-green.png

Nov. 23, 2016 Assignment

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Wednesday's Reading Assignment

Here are your tasks:

1. Role play: Having a Business Mentor
2. Check out these associations: 1, 2, 3, 4
1. What are their histories, features, and opportunities? Use Google and take notes for each of them.
2. As a member of one association, write a brief email requesting services equivalent to another association’s, providing the relevant URL evidence.

ANSWERS;

1.The Canadian Tamil Professionals Association (CTPA)

The Canadian Tamil Professionals Association (CTPA) founded in 2008, is a non-profit, non-political organization focused on developingopportunities for young Tamil professionals through networking events, professional development, and community involvement. CTPA will further the interests and objectives of local emerging leaders and stimulate interest and participation in local business activities and community events.

CTPA was formed to address the need for Tamil people starting a new career or business to network with each other and support and promote each others’ businesses. Providing opportunities for young Tamil professionals to meet on a regular basis encourages relationships to be built and perspectives to be shared.

2.The Canadian Arab Institute (CAI) 

The Canadian Arab Institute (CAI) is a charitable, non-partisan policy and community engagement think-and-do-tank.  It was founded in 2011 with the aim of starting a new conversation about the life and contributions of Canadian Arabs and offering a unique perspective on public policy issues.CAI generates original discourse that engages Canadian institutions and the public and helps improve understanding between communities.

3.Cross-cultural Professionals Association of Canada(CPAC)

CPAC (Cross-cultural Professionals Association of Canada) was first founded in 1992 as a registered not-for-profit organization. Our mandate is to assist internationally trained professionals in gaining recognition, cultural integration, career advancement, civic engagement in Canada and expanded international opportunity through quality service and advocacy.

4.Professional Immigrant Networks (PINs)

PINs is made possible through the collaborative efforts of a number of stakeholders.Associations are member-based associations run by and for skilled immigrants. They work to help their members connect with and integrate more quickly into the labour market.One of the ways the PINs program builds the capacity of professional immigrant association is by raising awareness. They do this by:Promoting PINs associations to immigrants, prospective immigrants, employers and key stakeholders through our outreach activities including immigrant fairs, speaking engagements and other related conference. Encouraging immigrants to connect with PINs associations to help build their professional networks as part of their job search strategy. Engaging employers to connect with immigrant talent through the associations

SOME RESOURCES

http://425window.blogspot.ca/p/resources.html

Pronunciation

Learn Phonics with Your Kids! 
Text-to-Speech in Various Accents; also, http://ttsreader.com/ and http://www.fromtexttospeech.com/ (Thank you, Liu Shui!)
Sounds of American English (Iowa University)
ELLLO Listening Lessons
The Canadian Accent 

Resources

English Language Conversation Teacher: Anyone interested in private tutoring can contact Kathleen Dearing atkathleen.dearing077@sympatico.ca.

New! A self-driven pronunciation course from Carnegie Mellon University!

Featured

ESL Teacher's Facebook
LinkedIn Business Networking Site
Videos for conversation starters/startlers
Facebook Toronto LINC Site: Share your ideas and experiences!
Free Online Storage/Sharing of Huge Files (> 1GB)
Camping Tips for Torontonians - post your ideas or questions for the summer!

Listening

200 Dictation Exercises!
Dictation for "Beginners"
Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Dictation
Dictation of 10 Useful Suggestions
ELLLO Listening Lessons
English Media Lab Video Lessons
Science Vocabulary and Listening with Steve Spangler
Stories & Poems with MP3
English Media Lab Video Lessons

Speaking

Animated English Medical Dialogues
Talk English Speaking & Listening Help
Listening, Speaking, and Pronunciation (MIT)

Reading

Canadian Stories, by Subject
Reading Comprehension, from Beginning to Advanced

Writing

Peter Vale's Writing Workshop
Editing Checklist
Writing Class

Typing

https://www.typingclub.com/typing-qwerty-en.html
http://www.learntyping.org/beginnertypinglesson1.htm
http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/tutor/keyboarding.php

Grammar

ESL Tower Grammar Exercises
Self-Study Grammar Lessons

Pronunciation

Learn Phonics with Your Kids! 
Text-to-Speech in Various Accents; also, http://ttsreader.com/ and http://www.fromtexttospeech.com/ (Thank you, Liu Shui!)
Sounds of American English (Iowa University)
ELLLO Listening Lessons
The Canadian Accent



Think or Sink? OUC Pronunciation Page
Help for Chinese Speakers
More Help for Chinese Speakers
Help for Russian Speakers
Help for Indian Speakers
Help for Arabic Speakers
Help for Hindi Speakers
Help for Spanish/Filipino Speakers
Help for Farsi Speakers
PowerPoint Lesson on the American Accent
American Intonation Training: Take Dictation

Assorted

Famous People Lessons
Dr Rong-Chang Lee's ESL Site
Internet TESL Journal's Activities Site
ManyThings Fun Grammar, Pronunciation, Etc. Site

On Meetup

Monday, November 21, 2016

Monday's Writing Assignment

Here are your tasks:

1. From this list of meetups, make a list of 3 you would be interested in and 3 you would not.
1. For each meetup, list the group name, cost, number of members, frequency of meetings, and one or two more details.
2. Write a short text message to a classmate to recommend a group, stating key details and reasons for your recommendation.

		The group name	cost	Number of members	Frequence of meetings	Leadship Team	Upcoming meetups	One of details
3 Interested	1	Startup Toronto	No	3624	124	5	5
	2	Toronto Entrepreneurs	No	11377	195	1	2
	3	Hacker Nest Toronto Tech Socials	No	10535	88	14	12
3 No Interested	1	Toronto Gay Men’s Group	No	43	900	1	14
	2	Ladies Night Out	No	633	210	1	7
	3	Peel Region Investing	No	47	1	1	2

The Text: Hi Marry, do you want to start up your own business? I think you have to collect informations at first. Now there is a group 'Startup Toronto' in meetup maybe help you, the address is: https://www.meetup.com/Startup-Toronto/, you may try. Good luck!

1. Learn the key vocabulary in this podcast: Not Getting Walked All Over
1. Select a Text-to-Speech website to read it aloud.
2. Finish the paragraph: "In professional relationships, my best experience was when ..."
3. Use vocabulary words you learnt from the podcast, publish, and read your classmates' paragraphs!