HAPPY FEBRUARY! And we start our classes today!

A BIT OF HUMOUR TODAY!

Remember dear students

that next week I'm expecting a few jokes.

There's nothing like humour and some laughter

 to begin the class!

By the way, here's a new expression:

TO HUMOUR SOMEONE.

Can you find the meaning and 

the right translation into French!

GOOD LUCK in your search.

Suzanne

WHAT'S UP ?

WHAT'S UP ?

… is a modern way of asking

"What are you doing?" or "What are you up to?"

Actually it's a salutation and

 you don't necessarily have to 
answer but you CAN also,

especially if the person saying it 
is actually asking you

and is genuinely interested in knowing

"What have you been doing recently?" or

"What has been happening in your life recently?"

FOR ME, these days, I've been particularly busy with organizing the new ESL groups that will start on February 1st. It's not an easy task trying to satisfy everybody's needs. Everyone mentioned here being: YOU and ME and UTA.

Your needs as a student, what you are expecting, what you want, where you are with your basic knowledge of the language, your time or your time requirements.

As a teacher I need to pursue what I have already started with students, my pedagogical needs and getting groups to interact because of their level of English and to welcome all the new students and inquire about their backgrounds.

 And last but not least, the criteria that has been established by our regional organism of UTA; that is their requirements of a 'first come , first serve' basis. Then there is  the availability of locals and classrooms that play into the schedule.

So as you can see there is a lot going on BEHIND THE SCENE!!! And that is why today I am sharing this with you because I may not be as available as I was to write on my blog. But don’t worry, when the ball gets rolling there will be enough ‘going on’ that it will feed this blog!!

THAT IS WHAT’S UP!!!

Suzanne

AWESOME and fabulous and extraordinary !!!

Today I listened to a talk given by NEIL PASRICHA on TED.COM

(see reference to website in right column, 

under English 101, TOOLS ...

short listening with video).

He is a blogger and he created this blog-site: 

1000 Awesome Things.

Here is a short presentation of this blog 

for you to read. My source is Wikipedia.

1000 Awesome Things is a regularly updated and winning blog written by Neil Pasricha, that posts one awesome thing in life each weekday. The site was launched on June 20, 2008 with #1000 and is counting down until it hits #1. The topics covered on the blog are varied, and are of such a wide range that you'll find something YOU LIKE!

An awesome thing is posted every weekday and thus #1 will be posted on April 20, 2012. The website has a live stats counter on it and has approximately 17 million hits.

I encourage you to take the time,

maybe just once a week in the beginning,

 to read some of the topics.

 You can choose a key word called a TAG.

You will really get a sense of various 

and thematic vocabulary.

I also like these posts because 

they are POSITIVE reading.

They make you aware 

of the pleasureable things in life,

little everyday joys

 that we tend to overlook!! 

So, if you take the time today,

CLICK on the title AWESOME !!!

And listen to NEIL PASRICHA and 

how he came to create his BLOG.

SUZANNE

A GOOD laugh for today!! WOOOF! WOOOF!

* The Thief and the Parrot 

Late one night, a burglar broke into a house that he thought was empty. He stealthily crept through the lounge and was stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a loud voice clearly saying, "Jesus is watching you!"  

Silence returned to the house, so the burglar crept forward again. "Jesus is watching you," the voice rang out again.

The thief stopped dead again. He was frightened out of his wits. Frantically, he looked all around. In a dark corner, he spotted a birdcage and in the cage was a parrot.  

He asked the parrot, "Was that you who said Jesus is watching me?" "Yes," said the parrot.

The burglar breathed a heavy sigh of relief and asked the parrot: "What's your name?" 

"Moses," said the bird. 

"That's a stupid name for a parrot," sneered the burglar. "What idiot named you Moses?" 

The parrot said, "The same idiot who named the Rottweiler, Jesus."

SUZANNE

INSCRIPTIONS are coming in ...

                                                                                

Good Day! To you all

I'm as busy as a bee!THANKS for answering so promptly 

and letting me know of your intentions.

Sitting at my computer and taking note 

of your responses to my newsletter.

The pre-inscriptions for the winter session 

are coming in a steady stream!

And returning with those inscriptions, your needs as to the continuation of your personal learning. I will surely have the opportunity to honor your requests. I can say with certainty that we will have a group that will practice a lot more conversation whether it be topical or spontaneous.Some of you are ready and I believe have integrated basic grammar skills such as verb tenses. There is also a lot less translating going on ... which is excellent!

CONGRATULATIONS! You are on your way!

That's it for today and I will keep you posted.

OH! I forgot to tell you that I will be open to private classes just in case you are worried that the minimal number of ten students isn't there! For the moment I don't want to be in conflict of interest with UTA's enrolment. 

Don't worry! In the end,

IT will work out to your and my advantage.

SUZANNE

IT'S TIME! Inscriptions for the winter session is on!

TODAY, January 5, I sent you an email. 

It's all about DECISIONS.

Did you in fact,  make a New Year's resolution 

to become a better English speaker. 

Well now is the time to put it into action!

Am I going to pursue my English classes or 

Am I going to stop for the moment? 

To HELP you to make this decision, think of the time and energy you are willing to invest  in pursuing this challenge. How important is improving your knowledge of English as a second language to you? Are you really motivated or is it just 'wishful thinking'? Or maybe you just simply want to have fun, join a group and meet people ...

Both approaches are realistic because both needs, 

how different they may be, can be met.

Are you surprised to hear me say this?  ... Well! I am sincere when exposing 'both sides of the coin' because one can be as challenging as the other and one can be as valuable as the other and HURRAY! If you want to engage in both!! CHOOSE which ever fits the bill.

If you have any questions, you know where to reach me.

You can either COMMENT here on this blog or send me an EMAIL.

Looking forward to seeing you ... again!

Suzanne
FOR SOME FUN, click on TITLE of this post.

MY 'end-of-year' ASSESSMENT

Well, that's it!

I've finished for this year.  It has been a very busy year for me if I consider writing and maintaining this blog and sending regular weekly e-mails to my students. I’ve also communicated by NEWSLETTERS to former students, I think it's important to keep in touch! This has been excellent time spent writing and communicating, and, researching which I also enjoy doing! I found some very helpful internet sites which I passed along to you as ressources and also to help you hang on!

I've had a wonderful teaching year as well! Which I absolutely adore doing and through the classes I’ve met some really wonderful persons. The numbers are there: eight new groups and 70 somewhat new students. I also had some really committed individuals coming back and pursuing their learning. But I have also lost some :( That happens too! As the idiom goes: that's how the cookie crumbles! 

I've also made some important decisions concerning the content of ESL classes based on my students’ feedback. Thanks heaps!! So there will be some important changes because I need to take charge not only of content but of enrolment too.

I also experienced with four wonderful women, my first summer immersion classes. We decided on three days but after sitting down and discussing the time line, we came to the conclusion that even though you are beginners you can live easily through a FULL WEEK of English immersion. So I’m really looking forward to this coming time, between May and the end of September, to experience more immersions. WELCOME to my summer home in the forest! can you hear the birds ... and my world 'outside' of a classroom!!! There's a play-on-words, somewhere in there!

Of course I also have my personal LIFE which you are not necessarily privy too but, all in all, I’m a happy and content person. I owe it all to my CREATIVE spirit and BELIEF in my projects and the achievements that I am very proud of.

I've had a wonderful year and I am looking forward to spending more teaching time with my future and former students.  I am looking forward to reflecting on all the things I've achieved this year and I am very much looking forward to having some time over the holidays to make plans and goals for the year which lies ahead. I always create a 'story board' just like they do for the scenes and scenario of a movie.

As I move into the second year of posting here, on my blog, I hope to be able to continue to be inspired; to encourage and to help you as I lead you along my ENGLISH path and your ESL journey.  I am also looking forward to following the progress of my very talented ESL-ers!

This is the time to THANK YOU 

for your interest and for continuing to read my blog.  

You are all so wonderful and very supportive.  

This really is such a happy and positive time 

and I am so thrilled to have created this page!

                 HAPPY NEW YEAR and 
                 SEE YOU VERY SOON!

                                 Suzanne


P.S. CLICK on title if you want to see if you are in your best career or if you are really doing what you were meant to be!