Thanks!

Thanks for all the wonderful comments. I really appreciate what you wrote about me :)

See you in Spring Quarter!

Lisa

Reminder about Vocabulary and TellMeMore!

Hello students. I am reminding all of you that by Sunday, March 27th you must email Olga your 200 vocabulary words and also make sure you have at least 56 hours in TellMeMore.

If you do not do these two things, you will fail the lab portion of this class. Please, do your best to get these things done!

Thanks,

Lisa Barrett

Marketing Survey

Hello students. Every student needs to fill out one of these surveys. Raj Patel from the Marketing department at CSI is asking all students to fill it out. It is important because CSI needs to know your likes/dislikes in order to create programs that are suitable for you. Please, everyone fill this out as soon as possible. Don't forget to fill out your full name (first and last) so that the Marketing department knows you participated in the survey.

Here is the link to the survey!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ESLMarketing

Once you have filled it out, please comment on this post that you have done it. Thanks,

Lisa :)

Advanced Assignment Due February 28, 2011

Read the following quotes. Which one to you agree the most with? Did you ever have to deal with a hassle while traveling? Do you ever regret going on a vacation or staying at a certain hotel? Talk about travel decisions you regret.
"I'd rather regret the things I have done than the things that I haven't ." Lucille Ball
"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
Alexander Graham Bell

"I have no regrets. I wouldn't have lived my life the way I did if I was going to worry about what people were going to say." Ingrid Bergman"Forget regret, or life is yours to miss." Jonathan Larson

"Make it a rule in life never to regret and never look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it is good only for wallowing in."
Katherine Mansfield

IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT MIDTERM PROJECTS!!!

Students,

It is very important that your Midterm Projects be done and handed in to me no later than Wednesday, February 23rd.

I must give Olga Midterm grades by Sunday, February 27th. If you do not hand in your Midterm Projects by Wednesday, I will be forced to give you a failing grade for my project class. PLEASE PLEASE make sure you are attending school this week (February 21st & February 23rd). If I don't have a project in my hand for you, I will be forced to tell Olga that you did not complete your assignment and thus you will have a failing Midterm grade in my class.

Let's make this a great midterm! Please, if you have any questions, email me or call me!

Your Favorite Holiday Intermediate Due 2/16/11

We all have holidays that we like the most, but what makes them special? I would like you to write about your favorite holiday and make it personal! Don't tell me you like Christmas because you get presents. Tell me you like Christmas because your mother used to bake a certain cake, or your father used to sing a certain song.  I am interested in hearing why holidays are your favorite, or about one specific holiday that meant a lot to you.

This holiday can be from your country, or an American holiday. The best answers will be the ones that people don't know much about, so be creative when answering the question.

Fears and Phobias Due Wednesday February 16th, 2010

All of us have things that we are fearful about. Many people say they are scared to die, and even some people are afraid of speaking in front of other people.  Think about your fears. What are you afraid of?
Some may be serious, and some may be silly, but it always helps to think about our fears.

So, after you think about it, write about them. I would like you to tell me what you are afraid of and why you think you are afraid of these things.

After you write, lookup some of these phobias and find out what they are. Can you believe that some people are afraid of these things?

Ablutophobia
Caligynephobia
Dromophobia
Hylophobia
Mycophobia
Rhytiphobia
Xenophobia

Advanced Assignment Due 2/14/11

Today we are talking about suspicious claims. Click on the following links to look at products. For each product write if you think it is a suspicious claim, or a reasonable claim. How can you tell? Would you buy the product? Why or why not? Make sure you write down the product name and the reasons why you find it suspicious or not.

Product #1
product #1 webpage

Product #2
product #2 webpage

Product #3
product #3 webpage

Product #4
product #4 webpage

Product #5
product #5 webpage

Product #6
product #6 webpage

Product#7
product #7 webpage

Product #8
product #8 webpage

Product #9
product #9 webpage

Product #10
product #10 webpage

Intermediate Assignment Due 2/14/11

Today we are discussing how to ask about the customs of another culture. Today's assignment is simple: just come up with five questions about culture.

Since today is Valentine's Day, you might want to consider asking questions about dating, love, and marriage, or you may come up with any questions you'd like. I simply want you to type the questions. We will discuss the answers to those questions next class.

Vote for Teacher's Midterm Project

I will be doing a presentation for Midterm Project just like you. Post your vote here. What would you like me to present?

Intermediate Assignment Due Wednesday February 9th, 2011

A famous holiday named Mardi Gras is coming up. As a comment below, post the answers to the following questions:

1. What does Mardi Gras mean?
2. Where is Mardi Gras celebrated?
3. Why do people celebrate Mardi Gras?
4. When is Mardi Gras?
5. How is Mardi Gras celebrated? What do people do to celebrate?

Advanced Assignment Due Wednesday February 9th, 2011

Hello students. Today we are talking about superstitions. What are some famous superstitions from your country? Do you believe them? Which superstitions do you believe, or not believe?

Write a few sentences presenting your views on superstitions. Why do you think people believe in superstitions?

Quarter Project Topics & Group Assignments Due Feb 7, 2011

Hello everyone! As you all know, every quarter CSI students prepare a quarter project. This quarter's project is named "Living in the United States."  For this project you will get into groups of 3-4 students, choose a topic, and create either an essay and poster, or a PowerPoint Presentation.

Step one:  Form groups. Please post a comment below as to who is in your group by today, February 7th, 2011. If students do not post which students they want to work with, then I will assign students to groups. So, if you will be missing class, I suggest you post to the blog who you'd like to work with.

Step two: Choose a topic. Once you have determined who is in your group, your group must choose a topic. Topics cannot be chosen twice, so any group who chooses a topic first will have that topic. Please see the topics below. Please note, you may choose a different topic not listed as long as you confirm it with me. 

Important: If your group decides to write an essay, the requirements are 2 pages, double spaced, with references. We will be talking about this later in class, but this means getting information from sources and including a references page at the end of the paper.  If your group decides to do a PowerPoint Presentation, the requirements are 20 slides, including a title slide, adequate combination of text and pictures, and a works cited slide at the end showing the sources you used. Please note: Direct quotations should be kept at a minimum. I am limiting the use of direct quotes to 2 per project, so information gained from sources must be changed into your own words.

Project Living in the United States

Topics:

1. First Steps – General Information

1.1  Money and Banks (cash/debit card/credit cards/ATM machines/ local and regional banks, hours of operation, saving and checking accounts)

1.2  Food (typical American meals, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, salads, cole slaw, corn, donuts, bagel, cereal, French toast, Pancakes, waffles, snacks, “junk food”, fast food)

1.3  Restaurants (Family Restaurants, cafeterias, steak houses, cafes, coffee shops, sandwich shops, delis, truck stops) What should you know about the American Restaurants (Smoking rules, menus in the window, “specials”, “doggie bag”, “tips”, meals tax, bus boys, “wait to be seated” signs, question at the restaurants, bar, breweries or pubs, need to be 21 to drink)

1.4  Drinking and Smoking Rules (show ID to prove you are 21, cannot sell tobacco to minors, open bottle in the car, smoking rules, drink and drive rules)

1.5  Hotels (motels, inns, hotels, check in/out, Wi-Fi, smoking/non-smoking rooms, overnight laundry service, telephone usage, “bell-hops’), youth hotels and YMCAs, Hostel Guide and Handbook, Bed and Breakfast or B and B.

1.6  Telephone (Yellow Pages, Cell phones, pay phones, collect calls, phone cards, calling cards, “touch-tone” phone, 800 number, three digit area codes, directory assistance, 911, four time zones)

1.7  Mail, Telegrams, Faxes, and Email (Post offices, red, white, and blue mailboxes, c/o General Delivery, Main Post Office, mailing address, zip code, sending packages, UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL, telegrams, fax, email, Skype, social networking Facebook and Twitter.

1.8  Transportation (Air travel, “shuttle”, make reservations on-line, Amtrak, Grey Hound bus, Interstate Highway System, toll roads, EZ Pass, FastTrack, etc., traffic signs and regulations, rent a car, taxi/cab, subway, Metra, parking meters, public transportation system, hitchhiking)

1.9  Shopping ( retail stores, shopping centers, malls, supermarkets, specialty shops, chain stores, department stores, factory outlets, convenience stores, gas stations, Triple A (AAA), Drug Stores, sales taxes)

1.10          Health, Medical Care, and Safety (medical care and insurance system, outpatient clinics, hospitals, etc.)

1.11          Electricity and Electronics (volts, AC, adaptors)

1.12          Tipping ( rules of tipping, who we need to tip and how much)

1.13          Measures ( Linear Measurements, Liquid Measurements, Dry Measurements, Weights, Formulas for Approximate Conversions, Temperature, Clothing Sizes)

2. Customs and Values

2.1 Greetings and Leave-taking (Hello, Howdy, what’s up, etc.)

2.2 Names and Titles (Ambassador, Senator, Governor, Father, Rabbi, Imam, Mr., Ms., Miss, Mrs.)

2.3 Conversation Topics

2.4 Friendship

2.5 Invitations (what to do if you are invited to the party, R.S.V.P.,

2.6 Personal Space and Privacy

2.7 Time (being on time, etc)

2.8 Equality

2.9 Independence (personal independence and self-reliance, individualism)

2.10 Eating Customs (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack)

2.11 Family Life (Marriage, bring in up children, divorce, single parents, family pet, family values, senior citizens)

2.12 Leisure (Sports, jogging, skateboarding, fishing, exercise groups, sports clubs, television, video games, gardening, etc)

2.13 Holidays (National holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas), Special holiday celebrations and traditions: Valentine’s Day, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa)

2.14 Environment (Conscious of the natural environment, recycle, littering, green peace, etc.)

2.15 Business Etiquette (dress code, being on time for meeting, telephone ahead to cancel the meeting, handshake, “small talk”, business lunches)

3. Country Facts

3.1 History (First inhabitants, British colonies, Revolutionary War, declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, US Constitution, slavery, Civil War, Native American Indian Tribes, World War I, The Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, Vietnam War, terrorism, global warming)

3.2 Noteworthy American Presidents (George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin DelanoRoosevelt, John Kennedy)

3.3 Noteworthy American Prophets (Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr)

3.4 Political Map (50 states)

3.5 Land and People (Regions: New England, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, South, Pacific and West Coast), land (geography), climate, population, largest cities, language, ethnic groups)

3.6 Government (federal government, executive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch, state governments, local government)

3.7 Economy (free enterprise, natural resources, services, manufacturing)

3.8 Religion (freedom of religion)

3.9 Education (public/private/parochial schools, elementary, middle and high schools, undergraduate, graduate schools. 

Class Cancelled Wednesday February 2nd

Hello Everybody. Class is cancelled for today. Have fun in the snow, but stay safe :)

Midterm Project Proposals Due Monday February 7th

For Midterm Project I am letting all of you choose your own projects. You must write a PROPOSAL (about a paragraph) telling me what you would like to do. I will approve your project and you may begin to work on it as soon as I approve it. Here is an example of a proposal:

Name: Lisa Barrett

Type of Project: PowerPoint Presentation

Topic: History of Chicago

Description: For my midterm project, I will present interesting facts about the history of Chicago. I will have about 15 slides of information, including pictures and references from websites that I used.

Visual Aid: I will also be creating a poster to hang in the class of the most important information in my presentation.

Please remember that you must do your own work. I will not accept copied information from websites. You must put it into YOUR OWN WORDS. Please, post your proposals to the blog by Monday 2/7/11.  You may choose to do a presentation, write an essay, do a demonstration, or anything else you might think is interesting. If you have questions, please talk to me.

Basic Assignment Due Monday 1/31/11

What are simple machines? What do we use them for? What are some examples of simple machines?

Please post your answers below.

Intermediate Assignment Due Monday 1/31/11

For today's project we will be writing a short personal statement. Personal statements are very important, especially when you are trying to get into a college or graduate program. First, let's look at an example of a personal statement:

       One of the principles of my religion, The Bahá’í Faith, is service. Therefore, after high school and before I started college, I traveled to Ecuador to do a year of service through the Bahá’í Faith. Through this experience, when I entered college I felt a few years older than the average freshman because I had gained a great deal of the knowledge, life experience, ability to deal with difficult situations, and the ability to live alone in another country. I owe much of my success in college to that year of my life.

       Now that my undergraduate education is coming to a close, I explored the idea of going to another country again. Then I realized how much service was also needed in the United States. I realized that I could use my skills of a second language, Spanish, my teaching experience, my love for math and science, and my drive to serve and make a difference right here in my own country. Skills are only of benefit if you put them to use to help all of humanity. I would love to join Teach For America to put into practice my skills and help to motivate and inspire the same thirst for knowledge that was instilled in me through my parents from the time I was born.

What would make you an effective corps member?

       I strongly believe that one of the most important elements for the academic success of any child comes directly from the involvement and enthusiasm of the parents. In San Joaquin, Ecuador, I taught Virtues Classes at a school of all boys from grades kindergarten through 7th grade for 9 months. During this time I not only had to learn a completely new language, but I also had to use it to teach coherently in a short period of time.

       As part of my work, my teaching partner and I developed a program for the parents of the children in our classes. We invited all the parents to learn about the principles we were teaching their children such as honesty, generosity, justice, and kindness. I gained a great deal of experience dealing with uninvolved or upset parents. Based on these experiences, I believe I would be most useful in an area with a high Latino population because of my ability to communicate directly with the parents in either English or Spanish.

       I am a very outgoing and self-motivated person and have no trouble stepping into difficult situations to help mediate them. I believe that we need to give children of every race, cultural, and socioeconomic background the opportunity to grow up with an education. I promote the need to value education and put energy into making it fun. I welcome the opportunity to facilitate a positive learning environment and communicate with students and parents in two languages. As I graduate college, the best way for me to put into practice the principles that I uphold is to serve as a teacher in the Teach for America program.

As you can see, this person is discussing his or her skills, qualifications, and abilities and WHY this person is a good candidate for the Teach for America program. Every person should have a personal statement that describes them to the best possible manner. Now, let's read some tips on how to write a personal statement:
Writing the Personal Statement: Top 10 Rules

1. Strive for depth rather than breadth. Narrow focus to one or two key themes, ideas or experiences
2. Try to tell the reader something that no other applicant will be able to say
3. Provide the reader with insight into what drives you
4. Be yourself, not the 'ideal' applicant
5. Get creative and imaginative in the opening remarks, but make sure it's something that no one else could write
6. Address the school's unique features that interest you
7. Focus on the affirmative in the personal statement; consider an addendum to explain deficiencies or blemishes
8. Evaluate experiences, rather than describe them
9. Proofread carefully for grammar, syntax, punctuation, word usage, and style
10. Use readable fonts, typeface, and conventional spacing and margins

Writing the Personal Statement: Top 10 Pitfalls

1. Do not submit an expository resume; avoid repeating information found elsewhere on the application
2. Do not complain or whine about the "system" or circumstances in your life
3. Do not preach to your reader. You can express opinions, but do not come across as fanatical or extreme
4. Do not talk about money as a motivator
5. Do not discuss your minority status or disadvantaged background unless you have a compelling and unique story that relates to it
6. Do not remind the school of its rankings or tell them how good they are
7. Do not use boring clichéd intros or conclusions
   • "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is..."
   • "This question asks me to discuss..."
   • "I would like to thank the admissions committee for considering my application."
   • "It is my sincere hope that you will grant me the opportunity to attend your fine school."
   • "In sum, there are three reasons why you should admit me..."
8. Do not use unconventional and gimmicky formats and packages
9. Do not submit supplemental materials unless they are requested
10. Do not get the name of the school wrong
11. Do not incorporate technical language or very uncommon words

So for today's project, you will write a short personal statement. What is your career path? What do you want to study? What makes you a good candidate for a career in that field? If you are not sure what career you want to study, then make one up. The point of this exercise is to write about your qualifications, skills, and abilities.

Short Personal Statement by a Student Applying to the Teach for America Program

Why do you seek to join Teach For America?

Advanced Assignment Due Monday 1/31/11

ANGER MANAGEMENT!!!! 

We all can get angry sometimes, but how we handle our anger can be important, especially in front of an important person, like a teacher or a boss at our job.

When you get angry about a situation, how do you deal with it? What do you say to the person who angers you? Do you stop to think before you act? What are some positive ways to manage anger?

Below, describe the ways YOU manage YOUR anger, both positively and negatively. How can you be more positive in dealing with your anger?

Advanced Assignment Due Wednesday 1/26/11

Let's face it! Stress is a part of all of our lives. Many things can stress people out. In a comment below, please type one thing stresses you out. This could be work, school, your family, or something else.

Next, how do you manage that stress? After the first comment, please type what things you do to "destress" yourself. 

My example:

Traffic really stresses me out. I work almost everyday and I do a lot of traveling. Sometimes traffic makes me late for work, or late for something important. I hate sitting in traffic and I get very stressed out while driving my car. In order to avoid becoming stressed out, I often listen to dance music while I drive.  Sometimes this helps me to relax, but not always. Also, when my car is clean I tend to be less stressed while I drive.

Basic Assignment Due Wednesday 1/26/11

Sometimes machines break and that can be a big pain in the butt!  I am sure you have expressed frustration and anger if a machine doesn't work. Has your computer ever broken? What about your car?

Below, write about a time when a machine made you really mad! How did you solve the problem?

My Example:

I was so mad the other day when my cell phone wouldn't work. Everytime I tried to call my sister, my cell phone would say "Call Dropped." It was really making me angry. I got so angry that I wanted to throw my cellphone out the window. In the end, I realized that my phone cost a lot of money, so I took a deep breath and relaxed. I hope AT&T fixes their service so my phone doesn't drop a call anymore. 

Intermediate Assignment Due 1/26/11

A regret is to feel sorrow or remorse for (an act, fault, disappointment, etc.). We have all done things in life that we regret. Maybe you failed a big test, or missed an important appointment, or forgot your best friend's birthday.

Below, write a comment about something that you regret. When did it happen? Why did it happen? Did you ever try to make amends (solve the problem)? If you could do it over again, what would you do differently?

My Example:

One of my biggest regrets has to do with my Dad. He died in February of 2007. I never had a perfect relationship with my Dad, but I did love him very much. I don't think I told him enough how much he meant to me while he was alive, and I regret that very much. If I could do things differently, I would go back in time to when he was alive and tell him how much he meant to me in my life and how much he had taught me. Today, when I think of my Dad, I always have that regret in my mind.

Midterm Project- Everyone Read!

This is your chance to tell me what YOU want to do for midterm project. Please write a comment below telling me what type of thing you'd like to work on. Do you want to do a PowerPoint presentation? Do you want to write an essay? Do you want to make a poster?

Also, what kind of topic would you like to work on? Something about geography? History? Favorite movies? Favorite foods?

The point of this post is to see what the majority of students want to do. Please, give me some interesting suggestions!

Thanks!

Advanced Class Assignment due Monday 1/24/11

Hello Advanced class!  For your first assignment, you will describe your shortcomings. In literature, a shortcoming of a character is called a character flaw. A character flaw is "a limitation, imperfection, problem, phobia, or deficiency present in a character who may be otherwise very functional." To start, look at the bottom of page 39 in your Summit 2 book. Then, once you've reflected on your possible shortcomings, reply to this post as a comment and write 2 or 3 of your shortcomings by Monday 1/24/11. We will then use these shortcomings to complete our first project on Monday. For more information about Character Flaws, please click the link below. It will open on the same page. To get back to the blog, simply click the browser's back button. 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_flaw

Intermediate Class Assignment Due 1/24/11

Hello Intermediate class. By Monday, please post the name of a person you haven't seen or talked to in a while. On Monday you will be writing a short, friendly letter to this person. Please click the www.englishpractice link below to review personal letter writing tips. This link will open in the same page. To get back to the blog, simply click the back arrow button on the browser. Don't forget to hit the comment button under this post and write the name of the person you have chosen by Monday 1/24/11.

http://www.englishpractice.com/letter/personal-letter-writing-tips-samples/

Basic Class Assignment Due Monday 1/24/11

Hello Basic class! By Monday please choose a MACHINE to research. Please look at page 43 in your Top Notch book for examples. When you have chosen a machine, click on comment and tell me which machine you have chosen.

Introductions

Assignment #1 Directions:

Post a comment below describing yourself. Please include your full name, country of origin, fun facts about yourself and your future academic plans. What do you expect from this class? What kinds of activities would you like to see in this class? How can your teachers help you achieve your goals? At the end of your comment, please post one clear MEASURABLE goal for our 10 week class session. A measurable goal is a goal that I can check and make sure you've achieved. Examples of goals are: write an essay in English, read one book in English and write a summary, watch 3 movies in English and write a review of each, etc. If you are having trouble thinking of a goal, please see me and I will help you figure one out!