Lab 48

Use your lab time to complete all assignments and to prepare for your presentation on Monday.

Lab 47

For Thursday, 07/13/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Appendix C26: Distinguish Specific and General Ideas" pp. 549
2.) Complete Appendix Exercise C26 pp.549-550
3.) Complete Appendix Review Exercise C26 p.550

On the Longman CD-ROM:
3.) Go to Skills>Writing>Independent Tasks> Complete Task 3 (Skills 9-15)

Presentation:
4.) Use the rest of the time to work with your group on your presentation.

Lab 46

For Wednesday, 07/12/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 15: Review Grammar" p. 292
2.) Complete Writing Exercise 15 p. 293

In the Longman Textbook:
3.) Read "Appendix C25: Make Articles Agree with Nouns" pp. 548
4.) Complete Appendix Exercise C25 p.548-549

We will begin the review process today. Please look over your notes since the beginning of the course. We have covered all four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing.

Over the next few days compile a list of useful tips and strategies that you have learned in the course. We will be taking small "reminder" tests in the next few days. Before you take the test review those particular SKILLS sections in the book.

For instance, during lab today you will take a Reading Post-Test. You should 1.) look back at your class notes from the several weeks we spent on the Reading; and 2.) look at the Reading Skills Section in the book (pp. 8-110). 3.) Make a list of the important steps to remember when answering the 7 types of reading questions (p.8). (What are the 7 types of reading questions!?) 4.) After you take the test, write a few notes about what was difficult and prepare to ask questions in class. (Hint: this review period will prepare you for your group presentation on Monday and for the test on Tuesday!!)


In the Longman Textbook:
5.) Complete the Reading Post-Test (30 minutes) pp. 111-116

Lab 46

For Tuesday, 07/11/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 14: Review Sentence Structure" p. 290
2.) Complete Writing Exercise 14 p. 291

In the Longman Textbook:
3.) Read "Appendix C25: Make Articles Agree with Nouns" pp. 548
4.) Complete Appendix Exercise C25 p.548-549

Lab 45

For Monday, 07/10/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 13: Write the Conclusion" p. 287
2.) Complete Writing Exercise 13: Choose one question from pp. 288-289. Write a conclusion based on your notes and writing from previous Skills.

In the Longman Textbook:
3.) Read "Appendix C24: Distinguish A and An" pp. 546-547
4.) Complete Appendix Exercise C24 p.547

Internet Activity: Complete Activity #27 posted below.

Internet Activity 27: Take 10 minutes for news

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1001

Find a news story on NPR, listen, and take notes. Prepare to tell us about the main points of the piece during class.

Lab 44

For Friday, 07/07/09

Writing Exercise:
Today in lab time you will write a complete TOEFL Independent Task Response. Take 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise a response to the following question. Aim for approximately 300 words.

Some people spend their entire lives in one place. Others move a number of times throughout their lives, looking for a better job, house, community, or even climate. Which do you prefer: staying in one place or moving in search of another place? Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.

Vocabulary Exercise: With the rest of your lab time play the FreeRice vocab game.

Lab 43

For Thursday, 07/06/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 12:"Connect the Supporting Paragraphs" p. 284-
2.) Complete Writing Exercise 12: Questions 2-4, p. 285

On the Longman CD-ROM:
3.) Go to Skills>Writing>Independent Tasks> Complete Task 2 (Skills 9-13)

In the Longman Textbook:
4.) Read "Articles" and "Appendix C23: Use Articles with Singular Nouns" p. 545-546
5.) Complete Appendix Exercise C23 p.546

Lab 42

For Wednesday, 07/05/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 11: Write Unified Supporting Paragraphs" pp. 281-282
2.) Complete Writing Exercise 11, questions #1-13, p. 283

In the Longman Textbook:
3.) Read "Appendix C22: Use -ed and -ing Adjectives Correctly" p. 543
4.) Complete Appendix Exercise C22 p.544-545

Lab 41

For Tuesday, 07/04/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) You should have read "Writing Skill 10: Write the Introduction" p.277 last Friday. We will be going over this skill today in class, so please complete Friday's assignment if you have not already.

In the Longman Textbook:
2.) Read "Appendix C21: Position Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly" p. 541
3.) Complete Appendix Exercise C21 p.542-543

Review your notes from Internet Activity 26 be prepared to discuss the talk.

Lab 40

For Monday, 08/03/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Adjectives and Adverbs" and "Appendix C20:Use Basic Adj. and Adv. Correctly" p. 539
2.) Complete Appendix Exercise C20 p.539-541

Internet Activity: Complete the Internet Activity #26 posted below


We will be taking a Mini-Test today in class.

Internet Activity 26 :"Ken Robinson says Schools Kill Creativity"



Assignment: This is a 20 minute talk. Take notes of his MAIN POINTS, but mostly listen. When you are finished make a list of points that you either agree or disagree with.

Next, write an introduction (JUST THE INTRODUCTION!) to a TOEFL-style independent response to the following question:

Do you think schools "kill" creativity? Explain how you feel using the points from the talk.

Lab 39

For Friday, 07/31/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 10: Write the Introduction" pp. 277-278
2.) Write two introductions (based on the plans you wrote yesterday) for Writing Exercise 10

Writing Exercise:
Today in lab time you will write a complete TOEFL Independent Task Response. Take 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise a response to the following question. Remember that the more you write, the better (approximately 300 words); however, make sure that your content is cohesive and your topic is focused on answering the question. (This is an actual question from a past test.)

Some people think that human needs for farmland, housing, and industry are more important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you agree or disagree with this point of view? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Vocabulary Exercise: With the rest of your lab time play the FreeRice vocab game.

Lab 38

For Thursday, 07/30/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 9: Plan Before You Write" p. 273-274
2.) Complete Writing Exercise 9: #2, #3, and #4 on p. 274-275 (We will share these in class!!)


On the Longman CD-ROM:
3.) Go to Skills>Writing>Independent Tasks> Complete Task 1 (Skills 9-13)

Internet Activity:
4.)Do the Internet Activity #25 posted below

Internet Activity 25 :"Tim Ferriss: Smash fear, learn anything"



I think this talk has something for everyone in class: sports, Japanese, language learning, dancing, and motivational wisdom! Listen, take notes, and, you know, be prepared.

For Fun: Dialects and Accents of English Archive

http://web.ku.edu/~idea/dialectmap.htm

Click on the countries on the right to listen to samples of non-native English accents from around the world. Listen to the samples and try to take notes on the features that you recognize.

Also, spend a few minutes listening to accents from around the U.S.A !

http://web.ku.edu/~idea/northamerica/usa/usa.htm

Lab 37

For Wednesday, 07/29/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 8: Review" pp. 270
2.) Complete Writing Exercise 8 #1 and #2 pp. 270-271

On the Longman CD-ROM:
3.) Go to Skills>Writing>Integrated Tasks> Complete Task 3 (Skills 1-8)


Writing Assignment: Edit and Feedback movie review comparisons

a.) Edit your partner's draft based on the criteria I outlined in class, looking for overall cohesion of ideas, sentence clarity and correctness, and spelling and punctuation mistakes.

It is always easier to edit the work of someone else than it is your own. It is good practice for reviewing sentence structure and grammar.

b.) Make clear markings on the text itself, but also make suggestions for re-writing sentences at the bottom of the page.

c.) Finally, on the back of your partner's draft, write a note to him/her explaining what was well-written and effective, and also what parts of the response need more work. Make suggestions as to how to make the response more coherent and how to better address the purpose of the assignment.

This is due towards the beginning of class.

Internet Activity: Complete Internet Activity #24 posted below.

Internet Activity 24: "Spanglish, Chinglish...."



Listen to this short audio piece about misspelled English here in South Florida http://wlrnunderthesun.org/2009/06/whats-up-with-south-florida-inglish-gratis/


Spanglish

Chinglish
Konglish
Engrish
and many more...

Think about the possible poor/mistranslations of your native language into English and your experience as an English learner. Prepare to speak about this topic at the beginning of class.

Lab 36

For Tuesday, 07/27/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 7: Review Sentence Structure" p. 268
2.) Complete Writing Exercise 7: #1 p.269

Finish your FILM REVIEW RESPONSE AND EMAIL IT TO ME!!!

Lab 35

For Monday, 07/26/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Appendix C19: Check Pronoun Reference for Agreement" p. 537
2.) Complete Appendix Exercise C19 p.538
3.) Complete Appendix Exercise Review C15-C19 p.538

COMPLETE: Friday's Internet Activity 23 I have given you plenty of time to complete this. We will share and discuss them in class on Monday. It should be a fun writing assignment, so pick a movie you enjoy (or thoroughly hate would be interesting too)!

Lab 34

For Friday, 07/24/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 5: Write Supporting Paragraphs on Reading Passages" pp. 263-4
2.) Read "Writing Skill 6: Write Supporting Paragraphs on Listening Passages" pp. 265-6

On the Longman CD-ROM:
3.) If you have not finished all CD-ROM assignments for this week Go to Skills>Writing>Integrated Tasks> Complete Task 1 and 2 (Skills 1-6)

In the Longman Textbook:
4.) Read "Appendix C18: Distinguish Possessive Determiners and Pronouns" p. 536
5.) Complete Appendix Exercise C18 p.537

Internet Activity: Begin the Internet Activity #23 posted below. You will work on the writing portion of this assignment during class while I have individual consultations.

Internet Activity 23: TOEFL writing practice with movie reviews



Assignment: Watch this short video about how to practice TOEFL writing skills by watching movies, discussing the movie with friends, reading (professionally written) reviews, and then writing a TOEFL-style response that compares your friend's opinion with the film critic's review.

Internet Sites that source professionally written reviews.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/
Roger Ebert
http://www.filmcritic.com

Step 1: Ask a classmate to tell you his/her opinion about a movie that both of you have recently watched.
Step 2: Take notes during your partners response.
Step 3: Switch! Repeat STEPS 1 and 2
Step 4: Now you will work independently. Find a review of the movie using the above links. Take notes during your reading.
Step 5: Now prepare a 150-225 word response that addresses the following question:

How does your partner's review of the movie compare or contrast with the film critic's review?

Lab 33

For Thursday, 07/23/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 4: Write a Topic Sentence" pp. 260-261

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Writing>Integrated Tasks> Complete Task 2 (Skills 1-6)

Writing Assignment:
3.) Spend 30 minutes (uninterrupted) writing an independent response to the following question based on our debate.

Do you think printed material is an essential feature of human communication/knowledge-sharing or do you think it is a possibility that printed material could become obsolete? (In other words, can you imagine a world where no one writes using paper and pen, or reads a paper book, etc.?)

For Fun: Spontaneous Food Court Musical in a Los Angeles Mall



http://improveverywhere.com/

Lab 32

For Wednesday, 07/22/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 2: Note the Main Points as you Read" pp. 253-255
2.) We will listen to Writing Exercise 2 in class
3.) Read "Writing Skill 3: Plan Before You Write" pp. 257-259

Internet Activity:
4.) Watch the Internet Activity #22 posted below
5.) Read the key terms for debate posted below

In your debate groups:

Get together and make a list of all possible arguments for or against the following proposition.

Resolved: Digital technology is the inevitable future of all forms of communication; and, thus printed material (books, magazines, newspapers, mail, etc.) should eventually be eliminated.


Each person in the group is responsible for researching the points they are to speak about. Use facts and reasoning to make plausible and credible arguments.

Debate Format:

Affirmative Group (Agrees with the proposition) 5 minutes:
Person 1: Statement of position: One person will make a general opening remark summarizing the groups main points that will be discussed.
Person 2: Discusses 1-2 main points
Person 3: Discusses the remaining points.

Negative Group (Disagrees with the proposition) 5 minutes:
same format as above, three individual speakers

Cross-Examination: 5 minutes to prepare questions for the opposing team
Each team will have 1-3 cross-examination questions, plus my own (Judge Hannah)

Affirmative Cross-Examination (10 minutes)
Negative Cross-Examination (10 minutes)

Closing Remarks: 5 minutes to prepare final arguments

Closing Remarks both sides: 3 minutes each

Debate Key Terms

Proposition – a statement of the issue to be debated

Resolution – a statement of your position on the issue

Affirmative – “yes”

Negative – “no”

Premise – something that must be true in order for you to make your point; there are three types of premises: facts, policies, and values

Argument – a reason to support your side of the debate

Evidence – facts that help prove you are right

Case – the sum total of arguments per side of the debate

Brief – an outline of the affirmative and negative cases

Cross-Examination – the time during a debate when one side is questioned by the opposing side

Refute – to provide evidence that shows your opponent is wrong

Rebuttal – providing evidence that further shows you are right after your opponent has attempted to show you were wrong

Fallacy – anything you can prove is not true

Format – the rules and procedures that govern a debate

taken from source

Internet Activity 22: Debate Tips

Watch all 7 videos of the series "Debate Tips and Advice" (1-2 minutes each), and note how to effectively outline, organize, analyze, and potentially refute a persuasive argument. You will practice these skills in our class debate at the beginning of class.

Lab 33

For Tuesday, 07/21/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Skill 1: Note the Main Points as you Read" p. 249
2.) Complete Writing Exercise 1: #1 on p. 251

On the Longman CD-ROM:
3.) Go to Skills>Writing>Integrated Tasks> Complete Task 1 (Skills 1-6)

Internet Activity:
4.)Do the Internet Activity #21 posted below

Internet Activity 21: "Nina Jablonski breaks the illusion of skin color"



Assignment: Listen and take note of the main points. (There is no interactive text or subtitles, but you will find that she speaks very clearly)

Keep the following questions in mind as you listen:

What does Nina Jablonski say about Dawrin's idea that differences in human skin color (pigmentation) do not coincide with differences in climate?

How does she use NASA data to undermine Darwin's idea?

What is the relationship between UV radiation and the earth's surface?

What is the relationship between UV and human skin color development?

What is "natural sunscreen" and how does it work?

According to Jablonski what are the implications to our health when living in latitudes/climates that are not suited for our skin pigmentation?

What does she say about having evidence of evolution on your body?

Lab 32

For Monday, 07/20/09

Many of you were absent on Friday. We were scheduled to take a Mini-Test. We will do this today in class. However, you are not excused from Friday's assignments. Please, complete the assignments from Lab 31 , as well as the assignments below.

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Writing Overview" p. 247
2.) Complete Writing Diagnostic Pre-Test Question #2 on p. 246.
Refer to the directions for Independent Writing on p.244.
You should type the response in Windows Notepad, then email it to me.
You should time yourself for approximately 30 minutes.
Your response should be about 300 words.

2 things are due at the beginning of class: a.) Today's writing response above and b.) the list of 5 essay topic/questions as posted below.

Lab 31

For Friday, 07/17/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Appendix C16: Use the Correct Singular and Plural Noun" p. 533-534
2.) Complete Appendix Exercise C16 p.534
3.) Read "Pronouns" and Appendix C17: Distinguish Subject and Object Pronouns p.534
4.) Complete Appendix Exercise C17 p.534

Go back through the blog and make sure you've completed and read all previous assignments in the Appendix.


For Class:
5.) On a separate sheet of paper, ("brainstorm") write 5 ideas/questions for possible short essay topics. You will turn this into me at the beginning of class.

For example,
What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a car in Miami?
or
I would like to write an essay about the importance of speaking fluent English in my field.
or
I would like to write an essay about the "rules" of online social networking (i.e. facebook, myspace, etc.).

Lab 30

For Thursday, 07/16/09

In the Longman Textbook:
Integrated Tasks (Listening+Speaking: Campus Tasks)
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 16: Note the Main Points as You Listen" pp. 231-232
2.) Read "Speaking Skill 17: Plan before you Speak" pp. 234
3.) Read "Speaking Skill 18: Make the Response" pp. 236


On the Longman CD-ROM:
4.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks (Listening)>Academic Task complete Task 1 (Skills 16-18)
5.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks (Listening)>Academic Task complete Task 2 (Skills 16-18)
6.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks (Listening)>Academic Task complete Task 3 (Skills 16-18)

Internet Activity: Complete the Internet Activity #20 posted below

Internet Activity 20: "Public - Private Healthcare Partnership in Miami"



Listen to the audio story Public - Private Healthcare Partnership in Miami at PRI about a new plan to help uninsured people in Miami receive health care coverage. DO NOT READ THE SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE FIRST. Listen first, then you can check your notes to the written summary after.

Try to take down the MAIN POINT of the piece with it's supporting details. Jot down important facts and statistics. Then compare your notes to the information in the written summary.

Lab 29

For Wednesday, 07/15/09

THIS LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT IS JUST A REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS SKILLS IN THIS SECTION


In the Longman Textbook:
Integrated Tasks (Listening+Speaking: Campus Tasks)
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 13: Note the Main Points as You Listen" pp. 223-224
2.) Read "Speaking Skill 14: Plan before you Speak" pp. 227-228
3.) Read "Speaking Skill 15: Note the Main Points as You Listen" pp. 229-230


On the Longman CD-ROM:
4.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks (Listening)>Campus Task complete Task 1 (Skills 13-15)
5.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks (Listening)>Campus Task complete Task 2 (Skills 13-15)
6.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks (Listening)>Campus Task complete Task 3 (Skills 13-15)

Just for Fun! Money!



Describe how you count money from your part of the world.

Lab 28

For Tuesday, 07/12/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 12: Make the Response" pp. 221

In the Longman Textbook:
2.) Read "Nouns: Appendix C15: Use the Correct Singular or Plural Noun" p. 532-533
3.) Complete Appendix Review Exercise C3 p.533

4.) Internet Activity A: Do the Internet Activity #19 posted below

5.) Internet Activity B: Read or listen to a news article from National Public Radio (NPR) or The New York Times. Prepare a short written description of the article, which includes the topic and main key points.

Internet Activity 19: "A.J. Jacobs' year of living biblically"



Assignment: Take notes as you listen. Go to the link to see the interactive transcript.

Lab 27

For Monday, 07/12/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 11: Plan Before You Speak" pp. 219

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks>Academic Task complete Task 3 (Skills 9-12)


Internet Activity:
Go to http://www.npr.org/ choose a news story from the "Browse Topics" column on the left hand side. Take notes. Make a plan that includes the topic of the news story and the main points. You will use the plan to make a small presentation about the news story in class.

Lab 26

For Friday, 07/10/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 10: Note the Main Points as you Listen" pp. 216

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks>Academic Task complete Task 2 (Skills 9-12)


In the Longman Textbook:
3.) Review "Appendix B" p. 507-513
4.) Complete Appendix Review Exercise B1-B3 p.513

Internet Activity:
5.) Do the Internet Activity #18 posted below

Internet Activity 18: "Jared Diamond on why societies collapse"



Assignment: Watch, take notes, and prepare to discuss his main points and examples.
Here is the link to the interactive transcript.

Lab 25

For Thursday, 07/9/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 9: Note the Main Points as you Read" pp. 214
2.) Complete Speaking Exercise 9: #1,2,3 p.215-216


On the Longman CD-ROM:
4.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks>Academic Task complete Task 1 (Skills 9-12)


In the Longman Textbook:
5.) Read "Appendix B3: Use correct complex sentences" p. 511
6.) Complete Appendix Exercise B3 p.512

Internet Activity:
7.) Do the Internet Activity #17 posted below

Internet Activity 17: "Sophal Ear: Escaping the Khmer Rouge"



Assignment: Listen and take notes on some of the more important details, so that you may also re-count this tale of cunning escape.

Lab 24

For Wednesday, 07/8/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 7: Plan Before you Speak" pp. 209-210
2.) Complete Speaking Exercise 7: #1,2,3 p.211
3.) Read "Speaking Skill 8: Make the Response" pp. 212-213

On the Longman CD-ROM:
4.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks>Campus Task complete Task 3 (Skills 5-8)


In the Longman Textbook:
5.) Read "Appendix B2: Use correct compound sentences" p. 509
6.) Complete Appendix Exercise B2 p.510

Internet Activity:
7.) Take THIS QUIZ ON COMMAS WITH COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

Onomatopoeia

What is a whir? What is a whirring sound? Whir is an onomatopoeic word which mimics the sound of gears or a machine spinning around.

In class we will explore words that describe sound. Use the website below to look for sound words in our class activity.

http://www.writtensound.com/

Lab 24

For Tuesday, 07/5/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 6: Note the Main Points as you listen" pp. 206-207


On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks>Campus Task complete Task 2 (Skills 5-8)


In the Longman Textbook:
3.) Read "Appendix B1: Use correct simple sentences" pp. 507-508
4.) Complete Appendix Exercise B1 p.508

Internet Activity:
5.) Do Internet Activity #16 posted below

Internet Activity 16: "BBC project saves endangered sounds"



Assignment: Listen to the PRI audio story here, then visit and play with the
Save Our Sounds Map

What sounds are new and foreign to you here in Miami, or in other parts of the U.S.A where you have visited? Think about the places in the world where you have traveled or the particular sounds that you would hear in your hometown. Spend a few minutes writing a free-form memory. Be prepared to share with the class. Here is an example...

When I think of my childhood sounds in my hometown, Spring, Texas, I think of cows mooing, the faraway cheers of a little league baseball park, the song of the ice cream man circling the neighborhood, train horns, and lawn mowers. I think some of these sounds are distinctly American. When I think of my time living abroad in China, I think of a clamor of vendors calling out their vegetable prices in the market, car horns, and the din of ballroom dance music in the evening park.

Lab 23

For Monday, 07/5/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 5: Note the Main Points as you read" pp. 204-205
2.) Complete Speaking Exercise 5: #1 and #2 p.205

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Integrated Tasks>Campus Task complete Task 1 (Skills 5-8)


Internet Activity:
3.) Complete Internet Activity #16 posted below

Internet Activity 15: "Gever Tulley teaches life lessons through tinkering"



Assignment: What is tinkering? Do you think tinkering with objects as a child helped you develop useful and creative skills as an adult? Use an illustration from your own childhood to make a free response.

Lab 22

For Thursday, 07/2/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 4: Make the Paired-Choice Response" pp. 202-203

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Independent Tasks>Paired-Choice Task complete Task 3 (Skills 3-4)


In the Longman Textbook:
4.) Read "Appendix A3: Use Transition Expressions" and complete Appendix Exercise A3 pp.503-505

Internet Activity:
5.) Complete Internet Activity #14 posted below

Internet Activity 14: Female Saudi Journalist, interviewed.





In light of our discussion on Tuesday, watch this two-part interview with Suzan Zawawi, an English-speaking Saudi female journalist (one of few), who works from her home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the video she gives a tour of her home, and speaks of her daily routines and the role of women in Saudi society. (Note: In video 2, time = 4:20, they interview a different woman, a gynecologist)

The black covering she wears is called an abaya.

Take notes as if you were writing a journalistic story based on this interview.

What would you ask the woman, and how would you follow up on some of her responses?

Think critically about her responses, and prepare to discuss the interview in class on Thursday.

Lab 21

For Wednesday, 07/1/09

We will be taking a Mini-Test today in Class.


In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 3: Plan the Paired-Choice Response" pp. 197-198

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Independent Tasks>Paired-Choice Task complete Task 1 (Skills 3-4)

3.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Independent Tasks>Paired-Choice Task complete Task 2 (Skills 3-4)


In the Longman Textbook:
4.) Read "Appendix C13" and complete Appendix Exercise C13 p.530

Lab 20

For Tuesday, 06/31/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Speaking Skill 2: Make the Free-Choice Response" pp. 196-197

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Independent Tasks>Free-Choice Task complete Task 3 (Skills 1-2)


In the Longman Textbook:
5.) Read "Appendix C12" and complete Appendix Exercise C12 p.528

Lab 19

For Monday, 06/29/09

Note: Now that we are starting the Speaking section, the lab room might be a little noisy. That is okay. I want you to a.) focus your attention on organizing you talking points on your scratch paper and b.) become comfortable with speaking into the microphone with lots of people in the room. Remember to save your recording and send your data when you are finished. Also, the CD-ROM speaking tasks give you great example notes and recordings. DON'T IGNORE THESE EXAMPLES!!!!


In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Speaking Overview" pp. 189-191
2.) Read "Speaking Skill 1: Plan the Free-Choice Response" pp. 192-193

3.) Complete Speaking Exercise 1: Write a plan/outline for questions #1 and #2 on p.193 Keep all your plans for the questions on page 193-195. You will use them again on Tuesday.

On the Longman CD-ROM:
3.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Independent Tasks>Free-Choice Task complete Task 1 (Skills 1-2)

4.) Go to Skills>Speaking>Independent Tasks>Free-Choice Task complete Task 2 (Skills 1-2)


In the Longman Textbook:
5.) Read "Appendix C11" and complete Appendix Exercise C11 pp.527-528

Internet Activity:
6.) Complete Internet Activity #13 posted below

Internet Activity 13: NPR's Scott Simon, How to tell a good story



Assignment: Watch the short video and take note of some tips for telling a good story. What does Scott Simon recommend we include and avoid in telling a story?

Lab 18

For Friday, 06/26/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Listening Skill 6: Understand Relationships" pp. 168-169

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Listening>Connecting Information complete Passage 2 (Skills 5-6)

3.) Go to Skills>Listening>Connecting Information complete Passage 3 (Skills 1-6)


In the Longman Textbook:
4.) Read "Appendix C10" and complete Appendix Exercise C10 pp.525-526

Internet Activity:
5.) Do Internet Activity #12 posted below

Internet Activity #12: Dan Dennett: Cute, sexy, sweet, funny




Assignment: Write a brief response. In you own words, what is the gist of this short talk? What is the "take-home" point?

Lab 17

For Thursday, 06/25/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Listening Skill 5: Understand the Organization" pp. 160-163

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Listening>Connecting Information complete Passage 1 (Skills 5-6)


In the Longman Textbook:
3.) Read "Appendix C8" and complete Appendix Exercise C8 p.524
4.) Read "Appendix C9" and complete Appendix Exercise C9 pp.524-525

Lab 16

For Wednesday, 06/24/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Listening Skill 4: Understand the Speaker's Stance" pp. 139-142

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Listening>Pragmatic Understanding complete Passage 2 (Skills 3-4)

3.) Go to Skills>Listening>Pragmatic Understanding complete Passage 3 (Skills 1-4)

In the Longman Textbook:
4.) Read "Verb Forms Appendix C7" and complete Appendix Exercise C7 p.522-523

Internet Activity
5.) Do Internet Activity 11 posted below.

Internet Activity 11: Jan Chipchase on our Mobile Phones


Jan Chipchase is researcher with Nokia. He travels the world researching how people actually use and, often, innovate upon existing technologies. In this talk, he discusses "street up" innovation; that is, how people from poor communities (in developing countries) distribute, re-engineer, and develop technological strategies to suit their specific needs.


Assignment:

Listen and take notes on the talk. We will play a game in class, so make sure you are familiar with the material.
Here is the link to the interactive transcript.

Here is a link to his fascinating blog, Future Perfect. Chipchase makes daily observations and photographs spaces and designs that can either reflect or inhibit particular human behaviors.

Lab 15

For Tuesday, 06/23/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Listening Skill 3: Understand the Function" pp. 139-142

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Listening>Pragmatic Understanding complete Passage 1 (Skills 3-4)

In the Longman Textbook:
3.) Read "Appendix C6" and complete Appendix Exercise C6 p.521
4.) Complete "Appendix Review Exercise C1-C6" p. 522

Internet Activity:
5.) Do Internet Activity 10 posted below

Internet Activity 10: Mae West and Suggestive Language "Come up and see me some time."


Take a look at Hollywood legend Mae West delivering one of her most famous, of many, suggestive lines. Watch the video here.

Mae west was a Hollywood starlet and sex symbol. Her character shtik was witty, risque, and notoriously suggestive. What does she mean exactly when she says, "Come up and see me some time"? Think about the context of their conversation and the way she says it. As we start Pragmatic Understanding, in the Listening section, we see that it is important to pay attention to the unstated context of the speakers and the manner in which they are speaking.

We will go over some other examples in class. Perhaps, you can think of a few sentences whose meaning is completely dependent upon their context.

Lab 14

For Monday, 06/22/09

1.) Finish all Friday Assignments!

In the Longman Textbook:
2.) Read "Appendix C4" and complete Appendix Exercise C4 pp. 518-519
3.) Read "Comparatives and Superlatives & Appendix C5" and complete Appendix Exercise C5 pp. 519-520

Lab 13

For Friday, 06/19/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Listening Skill 2: Understand the Details" pp. 130-132

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Listening>Basic Comprehension complete Passage 2 (Skills 1-2)

3.) Go to Skills>Listening>Basic Comprehension complete Passage 3 (Skills 1-2)

In the Longman Textbook:
4.) Read "Appendix C2" and complete Appendix Exercise C2 pp. 515-516
5.) Read " Parallel Structure and Appendix C3" and complete Appendix Exercise C3 pp. 516-518

Internet Activity:
6.) Do Internet Activity 9 posted below

Internet Activity 9: "Indian Mangoes--Now in America"




Assignment: Follow the link and listen to the audio story.
Indian Mangoes

1.) Use your web dictionary to help explain the following words in the context of the audio story.

"mango détente"
"undocumented mangoes"
smuggle
forlorn
"King's ransom"

2.) According to the speaker, about how many varieties of mangoes are in India?
3.) What is the name of the Indian mango the chef tries in California?
4.) What is the gist of the audio story?

Lab 12

For Thursday, 06/18/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Listening Skill 1: Understand the Gist " pp. 125-127

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Listening>Basic Comprehension complete Passage 1 (Skills 1-2)


In the Longman Textbook:
3.) Read "Appendix C1" and complete Appendix Exercise C1 pp. 514-515

Internet Activity:
4.) If you haven't finished defining the words in Internet Activity 8: Malcom Gladwell, please complete the assignment. We will discuss his talk in class.

NEW APPENDIX EXERCISES!

In the Reading sections we practiced skills for comprehension and analysis of text. Now, we will now start to practice skills for producing written and spoken responses. The appendices of the Longman text on pp. 499-550 are helpful for practicing cohesion (the "flow" from one idea to the next), and reviewing sentence structure and grammar. So, we will be adding a daily Appendix assignment to your lab work.

We will complete the listening exercises in the book during class (because you do not have the audio. I do!!). You will be doing only a few Listening exercises on the CD-ROM during lab. The remainder of the time you will complete Appendix exercises and the Internet Activity.

Leave a comment and let me know if you have any questions about the lab assignments.

Lab 11

For Wednesday, 06/17/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Complete Reading Post-Test p. 111-116 (Time yourself for 30 minutes, do not leave or answer the phone, or do anything online. Pretend you are taking the real test.)
2.) Read "Listening Overview" pp. 123-124

Make sure you have the CD-ROM for class!!

Lab 10

For Tuesday, 06/16/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Reading Skill 10: Complete Schematic Tables " pp. 98-100
2.) Complete Passage One and Two pp. 101-102

On the Longman CD-ROM:
3.) Go to Skills>Reading>Reading to Learn complete Passage 2 (Skills 9-10)

4.) Go to Skills>Reading>Reading to Learn complete Passage 3 (Skills 1-10)


Internet Activity:
4.) Do the Internet Activity 8 posted below.

Internet Activity 8: "Malcom Gladwell on spaghetti sauce"





Have you walked down the aisles of an American grocery store and wondered why there are sometimes 3-10 varieties of the same brand? Take Cheerios, for example, there are: Honey Nut Cheerios, Multi-Grain Cheerios, Banana Nut Cheerios, Berry Burst Cheerios, Frosted Cheerios, etc. In this TED talk, Malcom Gladwell discusses the history of marketing research and the work of one man who changed the way food scientists and marketers think about the idea of consumer preference.

Assignment:

1.) This talk is 17 minutes. Pay attention and take careful notes. Go to the website and use the interactive transcript to find new vocabulary words in the speech.

2.) Using the context of the speech and your web dictionary define the following words and terms:

aspartame
straightforward
plot
bell curve
dismayed
"educated guess"
placated
adherence
"focus group"
"horizontal segmentation"
"culturally authentic"
universals or "universal principles"
variability

In Class: Pictures of Stats

Think about Chris Jordan's art and presentation in light of Thursday's discussion of the rhetorical appeals (Logos, Pathos, Ethos).

Activity: Get into small groups, make notes and discuss the following.

1.) How does Chris Jordan employ logos and pathos to affect the viewer?
2.) Write a TOEFL question based on your group's discussion. (Reading Skill 8:Infer Rhetorical Purpose p. 76)
3.) What is Jordan's primary purpose, i.e. what is he hoping to convince the audience? Use the interactive text to summarize the information into 3-4 bullet points.

Lab 9

For Monday, 06/15/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Reading Skill 9: Select Summary Information " pp. 91-93
2.) Complete Passage One and Two pp. 94-95

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Reading>Reading to Learn complete Passage 1 (Skills 9-10)


Internet Activity:
4.) Do the Internet Activity 7 posted below.

Internet Activity 7: " Chris Jordan pictures some shocking stats"



Your assignment is to take notes!
I will be asking to see your notes, so make sure you actually do it. We are going to start the TOEFL Listening section this week and this is the most important skill to practice.
Also remember that you can go to this video on the website to use the interactive transcript, which is located to the left of the video. (Click on "Open Interactive Transcript" )

Lab 8: Review

For Friday, 06/12/09

1.) Use your notes from class and text book to answer the following:

What are the 8 Reading questions types we've practiced so far?
What are the best strategies you use for answering each type?


___Question Type__________Best Strategies______________
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

On the Longman CD-ROM:

2.) Go to Skills>Reading>Details complete Passage 3 (Skills 1-6)
3.) Go to Skills>Reading>Inferences complete Passage 2 (Skills 7-8)
4.) Go to Skills>Reading>Inferences complete Passage 3 (Skills 1-8)

Lab 7

For Thursday, 06/11/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Reading Skill 8: Infer Rhetorical Purpose" pp. 76-77
2.) Complete Passage One and Two pp. 78-80
3.) Complete Reading Exercise (Skills 7-8): "Ella Deloria" pp. 83-86

On the Longman CD-ROM:

4.) Go to Skills>Reading>Inferences complete Passage 1 (Skills 7-8)
5.) Go to Skills>Reading>Details complete Passage 2 (Skills 5-6)

Lab 6

For Wednesday, 06/10/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Complete Review Exercises (Skills 1-6): "Caretaker Speech" pp.66-69
2.) Read "Reading Skill 7: Make Inferences from Stated Facts " pp. 70-72
3.) Complete Passage One and Two pp. 72-73

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Reading>Inferences complete Passage 1 (Skills 7-8)


Internet Activity:
4.) Do the Internet Activity 6 posted below.

Internet Activity 6: We Feel Fine



Take whatever time you have left in lab and explore this interactive website. We Feel Fine Be sure to click on "OPEN We Feel Fine" in the upper right-hand corner.

Jot down your questions or your impressions. We will look at it in class.

Consider the following:
How do you use the internet to share your life?
Do you feel connected to the world at large, or do you feel smaller, or less heard in all "the noise"?
Do you think there is a such a thing as sharing too much of yourself online?
What do you think of this project? Is it inspiring? Is it information art?
Be prepared to speak upon these topics.

Internet Activity 5: "Don't eat the marshmallow, yet!"




Now watch this. Remember to take notes.



Next, read the passage below selected from the New Yorker article about the marshmallow experiment.

"Mischel and his colleagues continued to track the subjects into their late thirties—Ozlem Ayduk, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley, found that low-delaying adults have a significantly higher body-mass index and are more likely to have had problems with drugs—but it was frustrating to have to rely on self-reports. “There’s often a gap between what people are willing to tell you and how they behave in the real world,” he explains. And so, last year, Mischel, who is now a professor at Columbia, and a team of collaborators began asking the original Bing subjects to travel to Stanford for a few days of experiments in an fMRI machine...
The scientists are hoping to identify the particular brain regions that allow some people to delay gratification and control their temper. They’re also conducting a variety of genetic tests, as they search for the hereditary characteristics that influence the ability to wait for a second marshmallow.

If Mischel and his team succeed, they will have outlined the neural circuitry of self-control. For decades, psychologists have focused on raw intelligence as the most important variable when it comes to predicting success in life. Mischel argues that intelligence is largely at the mercy of self-control: even the smartest kids still need to do their homework. “What we’re really measuring with the marshmallows isn’t will power or self-control,” Mischel says. “It’s much more important than that. This task forces kids to find a way to make the situation work for them. They want the second marshmallow, but how can they get it? We can’t control the world, but we can control how we think about it.”



ASSIGNMENT:
On the subject of delaying gratification, self-control, and success, prepare a brief response based on what you've seen, read, and your personal experience. Make sure you specifically address, in your own words, what is the meaning the bold italic statement above.

Lab 5

For Tuesday, 06/09/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Reading Skill 5: Find Factual Information " pp. 49-50
2.) Complete Passage One p. 51
3.) Read "Reading Skill 6: Understand Negative Facts" pp. 56-58
4.) Complete Passage One and Two pp. 59-60

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Reading>Details complete Passage 1 (Skills 5-6)


Internet Activity:
4.) Do the Internet Activity 5 posted below.

Lab 4

For Monday, 06/08/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Reading Skill 4: Insert Sentences into the Passage " pp. 35-36
2.) Complete Passage One and Two pp. 37-38

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Reading>Sentences complete Passage 1 and 2 (Skills 3-4)


Internet Activity:
4.) Do the Internet Activity 4 posted below.

Internet Activity 4: "The Big Picture: 2009 Swine Flu Outbreak"



Go to the Big Picture: 2009 Swine Flu Outbreak. Read the supporting introduction and all captions for the photographs.

Now prepare a free response to the following questions:

I Were you concerned about your health during the Swine Flu outbreak? Draw on your personal experiences and knowledge to explain why you were or were not concerned.

II
Based on the images and information in the news story, do you think the authorities, from the countries represented in the article, took appropriate precautions or do you think their response was out-of-proportion to the actual threat. Use supporting details to explain your position.

**tip: Read Longman pp. 192-193 about how to plan your free response.

Lab 3

For Friday, 06/05/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Reading Skill 3: Simplify Meaning of Sentences" pp. 26-27
2.) Complete Passage One and Two pp. 28-29

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Reading>Vocabulary complete Passage 2 and 3 (Skills 1-2)

Internet Activity:
4.) Do the Internet Activity 3 posted below.

Internet Activity 3: "Jay Walker on the world 's English Mania"




Your only task in this activity is TO TAKE NOTES!


After Watching:

Once you've watched it, consider what was said and what you noted.

Here is an example of my notes:

mania = Beatles, sports, religious
can be good, alarming, or deadly.
Chinese students huge groups
2 billion trying to learn Eng.

China = largest Eng. speaking country by 2009 = 3rd grade start Eng. = by law
opportunity
they study many hours a day
80 million take a test, 25% is in Eng
drill and repeat the teacher
tsunami? take over other languages? No, its 2nd language.
Universal languages = music for emotions, math for science, now English for problem-solving

main point = English mania is a "turning point"
global/common problems, global conversation, in English.

Lab 2

For Thursday, 06/04/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Read "Reading Skill 2: Recognize Referents" p. 17-19

On the Longman CD-ROM:
2.) Go to Skills>Reading>Vocabulary complete Passage 1 (Skills 1-2)

***NOTE: On the Skills exercises you can check and review your answer. Definitely use those features.

***ALSO: Remember that you should be jotting down new words and homographs in your vocabulary notebook.

Internet Activity:
4.) Do the Internet Activity 2 posted below.

Internet Activity 2: "Chinese County Encourages Smoking"



Read instructions 1-4 before you begin this Activity:

1.) Go here to the Public Radio International site and listen to the audio story.

2.) Just as you would in the Listening Section of the TOEFL, take notes on the main points, significant details, cause and effect relationships, important words or technical terms.

3.) Listen to the audio as many times as you need, but remember that you only have one chance on the test.

4.) Next read the transcript of the interview provided. Do not read the transcript as you listen. Note the important things that you didn't catch while listening to the interview. Jot down new words in your notes.

Think About:

a.) How well did you understand the speakers during the audio piece?
b.) How well do you understand the interview after reading the text?


Using only your notes and your memory, try to answer the following questions:

1.) What is the main reason the local government, in this Chinese county, has ordered its citizens to smoke?

2.) Does it matter which brand of cigarettes the citizens smoke?

3.) Give an example of the cigarette quota. For instance, where are quotas being implemented or what are some of the quota figures.

Using the text, answer the following questions:

4.)When the reporter says "Well, they’re encouraging schools as a whole to go through cigarettes" Does she mean that children are encouraged to smoke?

5.) What does the reporter mean when she says "they try to trade up"?

6.) What does "itself"refer to when the interviewer says "So it seems like there is some kind of inherent tension between the local and central government. How is that expressing itself there?"

7.) Finally, why do you think the the interviewer mentions a statistic about men and women smokers in America at the very end of the audio piece?

WORDS IN CONTEXT GAME!

GO TO THE GAME!

English is full of words that have the same spelling but have different meanings, and even different pronunciations. They are sometimes called heteronyms (or homographs). In this game, you must choose the correct meaning of the word based on the way it is used in the sentence. (Note: both of the given definitions are true, but there is only one way to use it correctly)

context = the way the word is used in the sentence.

clue
= a detail that can help explain something.

context clues = other words in the sentence that help explain the meaning of the word.

Example: The word "live" has multiple meanings:

as a verb ---> I would prefer to live a life with many challenges, rather than to die with many regrets.

clue = to live rather than to die. to die is the opposite of to live.

as an adjective ---> I went to see Madonna live in concert.

clue = in concert. How will you see Madonna? On a big TV? On a box of cereal? No, she will be performing live (she will actually be there).

Lab 1

For Wednesday, 06/03/09

In the Longman Textbook:
1.) Do the Reading Pre-Test p. 2-7
2.) Read the "Strategies for Reading" p. 8-9 (Note: What are the 7 question types for the Reading Section?)
3.) Read the "Reading Skill 1: Understand Vocabulary from Context" p. 10-12

Internet Activity:
4.) Do the Internet Activity 1 posted below.

Internet Activity 1: "A Vision of Students Today"



Think about the ideas and "statistics" presented in the video.

For class:

1.) Prepare a written statement for the following questions:


What can you infer from the video about the filmmaker's opinion about the use of technology in university classrooms?

2.) Be prepared to give a short spoken response to the following questions:

What are your "tech" habits in your daily life? Would you be in support of the use of digital, internet tools in the classroom? Why or why not? And, describe one way the internet can be used in the classroom?