As I mentioned in class today, I'd like you to work on two essay assignments.

The first assignment is to take the team essay you worked on in the Call Lab and revise it to turn in for a grade. In other words, what you wrote in the Call Lab is your first draft and what I want you to do now is a second draft. The first draft you wrote as a team. The second draft you should write as individuals. This essay is due next by Thursday. I want your essay either in class on Thursday or emailed to me to print before Thursday's class.

Note:  Some of you were absent on Wednesday. If so, you must take one of the thesis statements in chapter five and develop it into a process essay (if you're unclear, you can ask a classmate who was there). Basically, you have two complete essays to write--the one your classmates did in Call Lab, and the next one which is explained below. The only difference between them is that only one essay will be peer edited (not this one).

The second assignment is to write a completely new process essay. I want you to find out how something is done or made. You can read about the process or watch a video about it to learn the steps or stages. Then, in your own words, I want you to write an essay explaining that process. You must provide me with your sources for the information (books, websites, etc.) Here are some possible ideas, but feel free to email me other ideas if you have them: 
How ___________________ is made:
Cheese
Wine
Beer
a tortilla
a dental cavity
a leader
an architectural model
a business
a law
a piece of clothing
a cigarette


or...
How ___________________ works:
how the heart pumps blood
how cancer cells spread
how babies are made
how diseases spread
how photosynthesis works
how a camera takes a picture
how videos are made

All of these ideas describe PROCESSES which could be explained in steps or stages.

Using what you have learned in chapter 5 of the writing book, write a logical and coherent essay with an INTERESTING introduction that ends with a thesis statement which indicates PROCESS. I gave you my brownie essay example and you can look at all of the thesis statements in that chapter.

If you want to select a topic that is not listed here, send me your topic and your thesis statement for approval.

Okay, so selecting your topic is the first step in this process. Once you have selected your topic and written your thesis, you must divide the process into steps. Prepare an outline. Each step should be a paragraph of the body. Remember that a developed paragraph should contain roughly 8-10 sentences. If you don't give me 8-10 sentences per paragraph (excluding the conclusion, which could be 2-3 sentences), I will ask you to rewrite the paper!

The next step is to write your first draft. Bring your first draft to class on Tuesday. You will exchange papers for peer editing on Tuesday. If you're absent on Tuesday, you must find a peer editor outside of class.

Finally, after having your paper reviewed by your peer, revise and correct it for your second draft. On Thursday, I will collect your outline, your first and second drafts, and the peer and self editing worksheets (as usual).

That's the process for writing this essay!

LOOKING FOR TJ!!!!

Who knows WHERE TJ IS?  He didn't come to class today. I left a message for him, but no response yet. He told me THAT HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF  LUIGI while I'm gone.

I wonder WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.
I wonder IF HE GOT COLD FEET (that means you change your mind, like the day before you get married you decide not to do it).
I wonder IF HE WILL HELP ME!!!

Noun clause work we did in class today (6/28)

If you want to review...

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-rIza1967iVTnVhOTBiaUYxU00

Mashari and Christian's Assignment

In college, most final grades are based in different factors in order to get a good score this is what must
 be done.

I.                    There are 3 steps to get a high grade, you have to attend class every day, participate in class and study hard.

1.       Attendance
a.       Go to class, your chances of earning a high grade are greater when the instructor can remember you had a good attendance.
b.      Also some instructors put a small percentage of the overall term grade to class attendance.

2.       Participation
a.       Similar to attendance, if a student regularly participates in class, the instructor might help the student if his grades are low during the term.

3.       Studying
a.       When it comes the time of the test be prepared
b.      Remember instructors love “how” and “why” questions, study with an anticipation week prior to the
exam and you’ll get a grade that will set you apart from the rest.

The first step to thriving in class, is attend classes every day. There are many students who just don’t do
it and with more than 10 absences and they still can’t understand why they don’t do well. Other good
 thing is to show your instructor that you care about your education and that you show some respect for
 your instructor, at the end of the term if he sees that you missed more than 10 classes he will assume
 that you obviously don’t care  and if you don’t, why should they care? And this will affect your grade . If
 you attend class, you don’t have to rely on someone else to get notes and you get to hear it all directly
 from the instructor, ask him if you have questions  or something you don’t understand and you can’t do
it if you miss classes.

Step two is Participation , if a student regularly participates in class , the instructor might help the
 student if his grades are low during the term by doing his homework or anything that will impress your
 teacher. Some students think that participating is the best way to pass the class, but they have to know
 that participating is one of the ways to pass the class. Student must do their assignments such as essays
 or anything that teacher gave you because doing the assignments is the best way to improve and make a
 good progress in the class. In these steps, you will make a good progress and have a good grades.

Third step is study hard, good studying at home begins with good notes taken in class. just as everyone
 has a different learning style,  you should concentrate on understanding what you are learning in the
 class. If you have a question or something comes to your mind you have two choices: You can contribute
 to the class discussion by asking your question or making your comment. Don’t wait until the last
 minute to review for a test. Use the night before a test wisely and prepare for a test by taking time to
review what you have already studied. If you have a paper to write or any assignment, begin it as soon as
 possible, don't give the teacher any late assignment.

College is a big step into the real world and achieve succes at it you must be dedicated, putting your
college work before everything else it's a proof that you are being a successful student.

Petra and Gabriel

How to Overcome our Fears

Overcoming our fears is not easy as it seems for outsiders. Sometimes people don’t look for help because they are afraid of facing the truth, the reality. There are two steps to overcoming our fears in order to solve our problems: accepting our fears and fighting them.

The first step of overcoming our fears is acceptance which is a psychological process of finding a self-confident and therefore you can overcome fear. First of all, we have to accept our personality in order to figure out who really we are and find our place among others. This step mentally strengthens self-confidence. That one which is fundamental to start pushing the fear away, so that you self-esteem is going to be tighten which is boost your personality then.

To do this, it is very important to focus on what you think your qualities are, even though you haven’t made any great achievements through them yet.  Then, you have to put bad thoughts away from you in order to keep your keep a good humor whatever events that happening into your life. By keeping your mind up no matter what is happening, you should be able to get willpower which is as essential as the self-acceptance because each of them are basic to face fear and overcome it. To summarize, the first step of fear overcoming is the self-acceptance that leads to get more-confidant about ourselves.

The second step in overcoming our fears is fighting them. This means finding the strength within ourselves to fight our fears, it means having the will to solve our problems. One way this can be done is with a therapy group. Therapy group is where people with similar problems get together in a circle to talk about the problems.  It helps us to see the problem in different shades. When we talk in therapy groups we take from our shoulders a burden that let us fill better, that let us to finally analyze every detail from the problem, therefore we are able to control and have different perceptions from our problems.

In conclusion, overcoming our problems is a long journey; we have to get a solid and really strong support that helps us finding a better way to solve our problems. And following this steps we can have a susscessfull result. 

Yang AND Diem

Outline

How to celebrate Chinese New Year

I. Introduction: Process to celebrate Chinese New Year

A.        Clean and decorate house:

1. Sweep the house – Sweep bad luck

2. Decorate with red objects

B.        Prepare some traditional foods:

C.        Celebrate party:

How to Celebrate A Chinese New Year

Celebrating a Chinese New Year includes cleaning and decorating the house, preparing some traditional food, and celebrating the party.

The first step to begin Chinese New Year is to clean and decorate the house. Many people believe that it’s best not to sweep again for a few days after New Year’s Day, so as not to sweep away the good luck. People sweep everywhere in the house, even the ceiling. They clean from the top to the bottom to get rid of bad luck of the previous year. After the house is clean, people start decorating. Doors and window panes are also often painted red, considered to be a lucky color. Red banners with messages of good luck decorate the main entrance of your house. Also, people decorate the living room with flowers, which means wealth and high position.

THE SECOND(WE HAVEN'T DONE YET) 

           Finally, you need to celebrate party. If you want to have a successful party,   you had better invite people, like your friends, classmates and neighbors. So, before the party, you can call them and tell them that you will hold the party at your home. And then, you can pick up some wine to help add to the fun of your party, and don’t care about the age of drinking alcohol, China don’t have law to restrict the age of drinking. On the other hand, China is different from Western countries, at the party, people rarely sing or dance, after the foods, they probably like playing Poker or Mahjong (it is Chinese chess) , so you need to prepare for some poker and mahjong.  In addition, if there are some children at your party, you may let them to play some games or watch movies.

Blog Writing #17: Process Essays (Call Lab)

Please post your process essays which were done in class today as comments.  Make sure you indicate the team authors.

Blog Writing #16: Noun Clauses (due Friday 6/29)

Here is a chance for you to ask me a personal question, but you have to use a noun clause.

You can start it like this:
Holly, I'd like to know what your middle name is.

Or...
Holly, could you tell me what your middle name is?

Or... if you have another way to ask the question using a noun clause, TERRIFIC.

I'm not sure WHICH QUESTIONS I'LL ANSWER yet. Let's see what you come up with!

Ask me two questions.

Noun Clause Song Contest

Think of the English songs that you love. Do any of them have good noun clauses? A prize will be awarded (by yours truly) to the best suggestion. You have until Friday to submit your ideas.

Musical Lesson: Noun Clauses

"I Want to Know What Love Is," by Foreigner

"what love is" is a noun clause. It is the object of the verb "know."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnsuaCU5igg

I gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I('d) better read between the lines
In case I need it when I'm older
Aaaah woah-ah-aah

Now this mountain I must climb
Feels like a world upon my shoulders
And through the clouds I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder

In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
Aaaah woah-oh-ooh

I'm gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me, oooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh oooh
I've got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me

In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
I can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
And I wanna feel, I want to feel what love is
And I know, I know you can show me

Let's talk about love
(I wanna know what love is) the love that you feel inside
(I want you to show me) I'm feeling so much love
(I wanna feel what love is) no, you just cannot hide
(I know you can show me) yeah, woah-oh-ooh
I wanna know what love is, let's talk about love
(I want you to show me) I wanna feel it too
(I wanna feel what love is) I wanna feel it too
And I know, and I know, I know you can show me
Show me what is real, woah (woah), yeah I know
(I wanna know what love is) hey I wanna know what love
(I want you to show me), I wanna know, I wanna know, want know
(I wanna feel what love is), hey I wanna feel, love
I know you can show me, yeah

Website to review noun clauses

http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/nounclausesum.html

Hi Everybody!

I hope you all had a good and restful break. If you did anything worth mentioning, please post it as a comment. I hope you did something to escape this brutal, suffocating heat. It would have been a great weekend to go tubing!

Just to give you the heads up, tomorrow we're going to combine classes. Greg will teach first, and while he's teaching, I'll be holding conferences with the students from 5E (I will pull you out of Greg's class, one by one). Then I will teach the second class while Greg conferences with 5F.

On Wednesday, we'll be combining classes again. For the first two hours, I will teach in the Call Lab (since we missed out Call Lab hours today). Then for the last two hours, Greg will teach in his room.

We have 2 new students in each class--from China, Ecuador, Thailand, and France--so please introduce yourselves to them and make them feel comfortable.

I look forward to seeing you guys tomorrow.  Really.

HC

Hey guys! As i promised i wanted to show you the real dance Kuduro from Angola here are some videos you can check out, i'm sorry if is a little too obscene. Misael and Sal does this have something to do with ''Danza Kuduro'' from ''Don Omar''?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE7oG0RefrU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjbk_Bdsy48&feature=related

Our Kizomba/Tarraxinha its something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IelPNwvLQcs&feature=related... It's a little exaggerated. XD

Homework for the weekend...

WAE, p. 76, practice 8. Read the essay on p. 58-59 and fill in the outline on pp. 76-77. The outlines which were turned in with this last essay were either non-existent or insufficient in quality. This exercise will give you a good idea of what I expect for future essays.

UUEG, chapter 6 on subject-verb agreement.  Do as many exercises as you can. I expect you to know this grammar even though I won't be reviewing it with you. Of course, if you have questions, I will asnwer them.

UUEG, chapter 16 on coordinating conjunctions. As above, do as many exercises as you can.

Midterm Schedule for Tomorrow

Classes WILL BE COMBINED tomorrow. Greg's tests WILL BE GIVEN first. Greg's class WILL probably BE FINISHED (or finish--both are correct) around 10 a.m. You will then have a 15 minute break.

Next is my class. Your questions WILL BE ANSWERED during the first 15 minutes (if you have any) and then my test will begin at 10:30. The writing test WILL BE GIVEN first. You WILL BE GIVEN 45 minutes to write a classifcation essay (the topic WILL BE DISCLOSED tomorrow). After the essay, you will be given a short break, after which the grammar test WILL BE GIVEN. You will be free to leave after the grammar test IS COMPLETED.

Questions SHOULD BE POSTED as comments below!

Luigi is back

Good news. Luigi is back safe and sound. My neighbor had taken him when they saw him in their back yard last night. They didn't know he was mine. So you see, just when I was about to give up hope, there was a knock at the door. There was Luigi in a cage being held by my neighbors. I would have been very very depressed if the ending had been different.

As an aside, you should try to picture me when I was calling for Luigi. I was just like Maz Jobrani's father when he came to pick up Maz at the park.  I was saying, "LUIGI!  IT'S TIME TO COME HOME!  COME HOME!!!!!!!!!!"

Websites to Practice Participial Adjectivies

http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/prtcplsnj.html

Blog Writing #15: Passive Modals (due Friday 6/22)

Think about ONE problem that exists in your country. In your opinion, what should be done to correct it? What shouldn't be done? What could or could not be done? What must or must not be done? Try to use a variety of passive modals when describing the solutions to your problem.

Blog Writing #14: Passive Voice (Rules) (due Thursday, 6/21)

As you know, there are some rules in the class which are explicit, such as students who miss forty hours of class WILL BE DROPPED (by me). You know this, because you remember my world-famous song which IS ENTITLED (by me), "I'll be dropping you."

For this post, I want you to write one rule which IS UNWRITTEN (by me), yet clearly UNDERSTOOD (by you). Please write the rule in both active and passive voice, if possible. If you are inspired (by this assignment) to write more rules, feel free, but only one IS REQUIRED (by me).

For example:
Sleeping is not allowed in class.
Students must not sleep in class.

Homework should be turned in on time.
Students should turn in homework on time.

RULES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY STATED (BY YOUR CLASSMATES) MAY NOT BE USED AS A RESPONSE (BY YOU)

Musical Lesson: Passive Modals

Another song from the Beatles, which is my special gift to Khalid and to all of you.

You can find this song OR this song CAN BE FOUND at the following address:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtS4ef0vqhU&feature=related

Quizzes on Passive and Passive Modals

http://utminers.utep.edu/micontreras/passive.html
http://www.esl-classroom.com/grammar/passive6.html

More on modals
http://www3.telus.net/linguisticsissues/Modals.htm#may

Information on "get"
http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/passive2.html

Maz Jobani Videos (past habit: would)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT3HGwtCkts

Also, I showed these videos for laughs:
Arabs vs. Persians:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6qZ-PYBrMw

And this one:
Men don't cry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIQzlnbaSDo&feature=relmfu

This one I didn't show, but its also funny to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mjVEvBjpTU&feature=related

Musical Lesson: May and Might (Modals of Certainty)

"You May Be Right," by Billy Joel
This is an old song but I think all Americans over 35 years old are familiar with it.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie5-LrulBGk

(The lyrics are on the video.)

Musical Lesson: I'd Rather

This is an American classic...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pHhItkhc7o


LA proved too much for the man
(Too much for a man, he couldn't take it)
He couldnt make it, so he's leaving a life he's come to know
(He said he's going)
He said he's going back to find
(Going back to find)
What's left of his world
The world he left behind not so long ago

He's leaving
(Leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train)
Said he's going back
(Going back to find)
To find a simpler place and time
(Whenever he takes that ride, guess who's gonna be right by his side)
I'll be with him
(I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia, woo woo)
I'd rather live in his world,
(Live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(World, world, is his and hers alone)

He kept dreaming
(Dreaming)
That some day he'd be a star
(A superstar, but he didn't get far)
But he sure found out the hard way,
That dreams don't always come true
(Dreams don't always gome true, uh huh, no, uh huh)
So he pawned all his hopes
(Ooh, ooh, ooh ooh)
And even sold his old car
(Woo, woo, woo)
For a one way ticket back to the life he once knew
Oh yes he did, he said he would

He's leaving
(Leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train)
Yeah, said he's going back to find
(Going back to find)
A simpler place and time
(Whenever he takes that ride, guess who's gonna be right by his side)
I'm gonna be with him
(I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia, woo woo)
I'd rather live in his world,
(Live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(World, world, it's his and hers alone)

He's leaving
(Leaving)
On the midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on the midnight train to)
Said he's going back to find
(Going back to find)
A simpler place and time
(Whenever he takes that ride, guess who's gonna be right by his side)
I've got to be with him
(I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia, woo woo)
I'd rather live in his world,
(Live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(World, world it's his, his and hers alone)

My love, gonna board the midnight train to Georgia (x3)

My world, his world, our world, mine and his alone (x2)

I've got to go (x5)

My world, his world, my man, his girl

Blog Writing #13: I'd rather (CALL LAB)

Somebody asks you to do something that you ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO DO. What do you say?

Example:  I'd rather die than go out on a date with you!

Blog Lesson: Would rather (Call lab)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xw2APshJCY

Pay attention to how she introduces her lesson with a hook. Then she leads you with her cues from one part to the next. Then she summarizes what she has done in her presentation.

Blog Writing #11: Hindsight Advice to Yourself (due Monday 6/18)

Write about on embarrassing incident in your life. What could, should, or might you have done to avoid it?

Dear Students...

First, I want to wish you all a good weekend in a cool place. I also want to let you know that I have tried to respond to all of your blog posts through 8.1.

Your first draft of your logical division essay is due on Monday. This essay should have a thoughtful introduction, a clear thesis statement that identifies its parts at the end of the introduction, a minimum of three body paragraphs that clearly relate to the thesis, and a conclusion. In addition to this, you have to make an outline to show me the structure of your ideas. This is EXACTLY what I showed you in class.

The final packet which you will turn in will include the following:
1.  First draft
2.  Second draft
3.  Self-editing worksheet
4.  Peer-editing worksheet
5.  Typed outline on separate page.

At the top of the paper, please type your name and whether the paper is first or second draft.

Also, please complete the grammar test you took home today and also finish up the work on the blog. This coming week is midterm already (hard to believe that we just completed our one month anniversary together), so I need to have  your work in in order to give you a grade.

For midterms tests, I will give you a grammar test on modals and passive voice (which we'll cover next week) and I will also give you an in-class writing test, which I will prepare you for.

Okay, now that business is over, let's talk pleasure (how do you like my transition between ideas?)

I have invited all of you to a party at my house beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday. If you haven't received the "evite," please check your email, and if its not there, check the spam. If you still have no idea what I"m talking about, shoot me an email. Also, if you have any questions or concerns, you can email me about those as well. I certainly hope that you'll be able to come and I look forward to hanging out with you and possibly learning some dance moves from Hilal and Nadyeska. Feel free to bring music. You don't have to bring food; I will provide that. I am just asking everybody to contribute $5-7 to help me with the cost. Also, if you want to come early to help out, you are welcome to do so. Just let me know whether to expect you early or not.

Blog Writing #12: Modals of Past Certainty (due Monday)

Sal and Moe were absent from class today. What an interesting coincidence. I wonder where they were.  Can you guess with some degree of certainty?

Ex.
They might have been playing video games together.

Blog Writing #8.6: Letter of Advice from a Teacher (due Monday 6/18)

Dear Students,

I need your help...That's why I'm writing to you for advice.

I have some challenging problems this semester and I'm not sure what to do. Let me tell you about my classes.

First, there are several guys who even in week 4 still think that the class--which is supposed to meet every day--meets only 3x/week. I'm not sure if this is a listening problem, a reading problem, or some other problem, but if I don't know the cause, its hard to imagine the solution.

Then, there are several students who totally ignore the homework assignments which are there only for their benefit, not mine. I wish I could just download everything directly from my head into theirs, but alas, that's not how it works with real minds, only virtual ones.

Another problem with this bunch is an apparent lack of resources.  Some students come to class without their books. I don't want to mention names or countries, but suffice it to say that several of these students come from one of the wealthiest countries on the planet. It's almost an embarrassment to their government that these poor students cannot afford to buy the books for their classes. Perhaps the other students should contribute money to help them out. What do you think?

Finally, some of the students--even when they are physically present in the class--appear to be absent minded. I could be talking about something that is important for them to know, but their mind is just elsewhere. I try very hard to make subjects like punctuation exciting, but in the end, there is only so much I can do with such a dry topic!

Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading this and taking the time to respond.

Yours Truly,
Unhappy Holly :(

Writing Introductions

The other day when I was at the mechanic's shop, I was reading a magazine article about health. I was really struck by the interesting introduction, so I want to share it with you:

Dr. Oz's 24 Hours to a Longer Life

Reduce stress, help prevent heart disease and cancer, even look younger — in just one day!

by: Mehmet Oz, M.D. | from: AARP The Magazine | Dec. 2011/Jan. 2012 issue

The secret to living longer might be found in East Patchogue, New York, where there's a little 1966 Volvo that has clocked more than 2.9 million miles, a Guinness world record.

How can a car run for almost 50 years and still look as sharp as the day it rolled off the lot? The answer is simple: proper maintenance. If the tires wear out, they're replaced. If the oil needs changing, it's changed. Not surprisingly, maintenance is also the secret to a long and healthy life for humans. Think of your cells as anti-aging mechanics. If you treat them right, by eating well and exercising, they will tune you up on a daily basis. If you don't take care of them, they will go on strike, and you will age faster. You're in the driver's seat. You have the power to slow down the aging process, and I have the plan. All you need is 24 hours! 

 

This article goes on to divide the day into parts (classification essay) and tells us what we should do at different times in the day to help fight aging.

Musical Lesson: Past Form of Should

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P7P728pjLA

I have always loved The Beatles!

I should have known better with a girl like you
That I would love everything that you do
And I do, hey, hey, hey, and I do.
Whoa, whoa, I never realized what a kiss could be
This could only happen to me;
Can't you see, can't you see?
That when I tell you that I love you, oh,
You're gonna say you love me too, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, oh,
And when I ask you to be mine,
You're gonna say you love me too.

So, I should have realized a lot of things before
If this is love you've gotta give me more
Give me more, hey hey hey, give me more
Whoa, whoa, I never realized what a kiss could be
This could only happen to me
Can't you see, can't you see?
That when I tell you that I love you, oh
You're gonna say you love me too, oh
And when I ask you to be mine,
You're gonna say you love me too,
You love me too
You love me too

Blog Writing #10: Hindsight Advice (due Thursday 6/14)

Write what you think the people in the following situations SHOULD HAVE DONE, OUGHT TO HAVE DONE or SHOULD'NT HAVE DONE.  You MUST respond to all four situations.

1.  Misael and his wife, Misaela, had good jobs as professionals in Sao Paolo. Misael was offered a full scholarship at the LCC, which he immediately accepted. Misaela was shocked when Misael came home that evening and told her the news. She liked her job and the people she worked with, and did not want to move to a foreign country where the weather was unbearable and the people didn't know how to dance.

2. Nadyeska agreed to meet her friend Hassan at the library to help him with his English homework. On the way, she stopped at a cafe where her boyfriend (who looked like Brad Pitt) worked. Her boyfriend told her that he could get off work early that night, so the two of them decided to go to a movie. Nadyeska didn't cancel her plans with Hassan, so Hassan waited three hours for her at the library.

3. For three years, Keemz had been saving his money for a trip to Houston. His brother, Jeemz, had a good job, but spent all of his money on expensive cars, clothes, and entertainment. Suddenly, Jeemz was fired from his job and had no money to support himself while he looked for another one. Keemz lent him nearly all of his savings, and within three weeks Jeemz spent it all on his car, more clothes, and expensive restaurants.

4. Diem often exaggerated and once told a co-worker that she was fluent in French, even though she had studied only a little and could not really communicate in the language. A few days later, Diem's boss asked her to come to his office to interpret a meeting with a French businessman who had just arrived from Paris to negotiate a major contract with the company. After an embarrassed silence, Diem told her boss that she was feeling ill and had to go home immediately.

Blog Writing #9: Modals of Advice (due Thursday, 6/14)

I'm planning to visit your country at the end of this summer and I need your advice. Please tell me what I need to know in order to have a safe and enjoyable visit.

Use several of the modals/expressions for advice and suggestions that we've practiced so far: should, shouldn't, had better (not), must (not), ought to, (not) supposed to, could, why don't you, don't have to, and have to.

Your response should be in paragraph form. You can start your response like this:

Holly, I'm so excited that you've decided to come visit my country. In order for you to have a safe and enjoyable visit in (Vietnam, Angola, KSA, China, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil), here is what you should know. First, ... Second, ... Third,... and Lastly,...

Website to review modals

http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/modal1.html
http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/modalquiz.html 

Let me know what you think. Are these websites useful to review what we've been learning (lately)?

Top Ten Phrases Not Heard in My House This Week

10. Get off him!
9. I don't know. Ask your father.
8. Get off me!
7. Keep your hands to yourself.
6. Don't bounce the ball in the house.
5. The kitchen is closed. If you're hungry, there's cereal.
4. Yes, you have to brush your teeth EVERY DAY!
3. Leave him alone!
2. I said NO BALL IN THE HOUSE!
1. STOP IT! ("IT" = kicking, hitting, screaming, repeating everything I say...)

LCC News and Information

1.  SOCCER MEETING

There will be an organizational meeting for the LCC soccer team this Thursday, June 14th at 12:30. Meet in the hall by the LCC main office.  For those who miss or cannot come at this time, there will be another meeting at 5:30. Meet in the hall by the LCC office. The tournament is indoor. We plan to have two teams. We also hope to set up some times just to play for fun if enough students are interested. Games start in Summer II. Schedules will be posted on the LCC bulletin board.


2.  LCC CLASS PHOTO AND SPORTS TOURNAMENT

The LCC Class Photo and Sports Tournament will be this Wednesday, June 13 as is noted on your calendars. We will meet outside by the fountains at 1:00 PM for the Class Photo. At 1:30 we will go to the UC Games Room for the Sports Tournament.

Blog Writing #8.5 (Responding to 8.4) (due Wednesday 6/13)

Go to Blog Writing #8.4 and REPLY to the person whose post comes before yours. Write a PARAGRAPH giving 3 pieces of advice for the problem.

DO NOT RESPOND HERE!

Blog Writing #8.4: Modals of advice (due Tuesday 6/12)

Write a letter to an advice columnist in a newspaper. Make up a personal problem for the columnist to solve. Use a variety of modals and describe the problem as fully as possible.

Do not write the response to the letter, just the letter explaining the problem and asking for advice.

Here is an example:

Dear Abby,
I've suspected that my husband has been fooling around, and when confronted with the evidence, he denied everything - and said it would never happen again. I've been married for 10 years and I don't want to get a divorce. What should I do? - Tess

Here are some more real letters for you to look at:
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070618/LIFE/706180307

Blog Writing #8.3 (Responding to blog 8.2)

Copy the problem from 8.2 of the person whose post comes before yours. Then write a PARAGRAPH giving 3 pieces of advice for the problem.

Blog Writing #8.2: Modals of Advice 1 (Call lab)

For this post, ask for advice for a physical or mental problem that you have.

For example:  I have had the hiccups for the past three days and I cannot get rid of them. Please tell me what I should do!

Blog Writing #8.1: Your weekend (warmup writing in the Call Lab)

Please write a united and coherent paragraph about your weekend. Start with a topic sentence that will control the direction of the paragraph. Make sure you repeat the key words and use transitions to make the paragraph flow smoothly.

Here are some examples of topic sentences you could choose, or you can make up your own.
1.  I had the best time of my life this weekend.
2.  This weekend was very ordinary/extraordinary/unusual/boring.
3.  My weekend had some good elements and some bad elements.

Example:

My weekend got off to a very unusual start. After I came home on Friday, I ordered a sandwich from a nearby restaurant. When I was ready to pick it up, my car wouldn't start, so I called AAA roadside assistance. As soon as the "guy" tried to start the car, it started without a problem (which made me feel a little embarrassed). He then proceeded to test the battery. He told me that he thought the problem was with the alternator and that I had better get it fixed immediately or else I could get stuck again soon. This was not good news for my weekend, especially since my husband is out of town and I don't have a cell phone, so after I picked up my sandwich, I headed straight to the mechanic. I forgot to mention that I had to show my driver's license to the AAA man and I had forgotten to put it back in my wallet after he left.

So I went to the mechanic, and fortunately, the problem was not with the alternator, which would have cost about $500, but just with a minor part which was interfering with the battery's connection (this was only a $45 repair). While I was discussing the issue with the mechanic, we both noticed that the inspection sticker on the car was out of date, and not just out of date by a few days, but by nearly a year! I could not believe that neither I nor my husband had noticed it all this time (of course I'm thankful that the cops hadn't noticed it either).

So the mechanic sent me to another place just up the road to get my car inspected. At the end of the inspection, the inspector told me that my car didn't pass (that's because my car didn't study for the test LOL). He then asked me if I had done anything with the car battery recently, and I told him that the mechanic had just tinkered with it. The inspector was surprised because the mechanic should have known that my car wouldn't pass due to some emissions issue with the battery. What I needed to do was drive about 75 miles and then return to take the test again; well, I didn't have any plans to drive 75 miles so soon.

After the failed inspection, I headed to the bank, which was just about to close, so I could get some cash for the weekend, because my husband, who usually goes to the bank, didn't have time before leaving for Chicago. Most of the time I don't even carry much cash; I just needed the money to pay my housekeeper. Well, since I didn't have my license, and since I'm not a regular customer at the bank, the bank teller wouldn't give me any money. After some "back and forth" with the manager, they finally decided to give me $100; however, I was then informed that there was a problem with the account (the problem was that it was overdrawn) and that they would have to speak with my husband to authorize a transfer from his business operating account, even though I'm a co-signer. Still, they had mercy on me and gave me the 100 bucks.

So then I came home and I had to pay my housekeeper but I only had $100, which was not enough. Where could I go for some good cash? My son's wallet! So I borrowed some money from him and placed it in an envelope for my housekeeper. After that, I got a little distracted. When my housekeeper came to pick up the envelope, I couldn't find it. It had just disappeared. I couldn't find her cash and now I couldn't get any more cash because the bank didn't like me anymore!

As you can see, my weekend got off to a highly unusual start. One more unusual event happened yesterday. Possibly for the first time in my life, I actually locked myself out of the house, which meant I had to break in to my house through the window!

Here are some photos of Luigi, the newest (and cutest) member of my family.

The Cat in the Hat

Friday Fun Day (UPDATED)

As I told you in class, this Friday will be our first Friday Fun Day. We'll have regular class for the first two hours (one hour with me; one hour with Greg and then switch) and then the last two hours we'll be together for some interactive ice-breakers and games.

What do you think about prolonging the fun by going together to the UC to shoot pool and go bowling after class, perhaps from 1-3?

If you're in, post a comment.

SINCE NOT TOO MANY OF YOU CAN GO TO THE UC TOMORROW AFTER CLASS, SHOULD WE POSTPONE IT UNTIL MONDAY?  I'M HAPPY TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH JUST CHRISTIAN, HILAL, AND MISHARI, BUT IF MORE PEOPLE WILL COME NEXT WEEK, MAYBE THAT'S BETTER...???

Updated homework for this week

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OnM0N2C1566pz5zAsY9l77Wq00RneRH_vP_cj5eRIVs/edit

This shows the updated schedule for the week. I will also place it under "weekly schedules."

An article for you to read about conversations in the texting age (optional)

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/texting-ruining-art-conversation-125038901.html

I think you will enjoy reading this, and I'd love for you to post responses as comments, but its not required.

A Website to Help you with Typing

http://www.typingweb.com/tutor/

If you're not a quick typist or if you're not comfortable with the English keyboard, this is an excellent website to help you develop proficiency. While you don't need to type fast for the purpose of this class, good typing is an essential life skill.

Blog Writing #7: Future Tenses (due Wednesday, 6/6)

Look at UUEG, p. 75, ex. 27.  Read the instructions.  Choose 3 of the possible topics listed to write about on this blog post. Use future perfect and/or future perfect progressive at least twice in your discussion.

Blog Writing #6: Future tense (due Wednesday)

Tell the class about your plans after you finish taking classes at the LCC.

Blog #5 (Call Lab): Your weekend

Tell us what you did this weekend. Give details.

Website to review future/future progressive/future perfect

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html

This site is a great way to review what we've learned so far. As you know, you will find practice tests if you scroll down to the bottom.

If all goes according to plan (because, as the saying goes, "Man plans and G-d laughs"--but I digress!), we will cover future progressive, future perfect, and my all time favorite--future perfect progressive tomorrow in class.

In other words, by the time class is over tomorrow, you will have learned all of the future tenses. In addition, by this time tomorrow, you will have been studying grammar with me for exactly 2 weeks!

Musical Lesson: Future Time Clause

"When I'm 64," by the Beatles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGtSpsYURAQ

When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now
Will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
If I'd been out 'til quarter to three, would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

You'll be older too
Ah, and if you say the word, I could stay with you

I could be handy, mending a fuse when your lights have gone
You can knit a sweater by the fireside, Sunday mornings, go for a ride
Doing the garden, digging the weeds, who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight if it's not to, dear
We shall scrimp and save
Ah, grandchildren on your knee, Vera, Chuck and Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say, yours sincerely wasting away
Give me your answer, fill in a form, mine forever more
Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

Good news (I think)

I was talking about the level 5 situation in my first class today.  Here is the news:  Everyone who is in 5E or 5F will stay in 5E or 5F.  The only change is that we will be receiving some new immigrants in the class next week from 5B.

I hope this news makes you happy. I'm thrilled.

Homework for the weekend

Although I am a few days behind the schedule in 5F, I still want you to do the work I'm assigning here.

In WAE, if you are in 5F, read and do exercises 1-7, pp. 18-32.
In WAE, if you are in 5E, do exercises 3-7, pp. 24-32 (we did the others in class).

In 5E, we completed the grammar through chapter 4-4. On Monday I will cover the rest of the chapter (future progressive, future perfect, and future perfect progressive).


In 5F, we completed the grammar through chapter 3. We did not begin on chapter 4. Nevertheless, I'd like you to do the homework of chapter 4-4 and I will discuss it in class on Monday with you before moving on to the advanced parts of the chapter (future prog, future perf., and future perf prog).

So... both classes should finish the homework associated with everything from chapter 2 through chapter 4-4.

Chapter 5 is an excellent review of everything we've learned so far, so do the exercises that I wrote on the schedule.

On Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, I will give you a test on chapters 2-5. If you have been doing the work step by step, you should be ready for the test. If you have not been doing the work step by step, today is a good day to reverse the course of your ship. Otherwise, just like the Titanic, you will be headed toward the iceberg! The iceberg in my class begins and ends with the letter F...