TO ALL MY ESL STUDENTS and TODAY, to YOU, someone NEW! !

You are all invited to join in and be pro-active! This blog also belongs to you.

Here are some of the ways you can participate:

* COMMENT (even if you make mistakes) C'est pas grave!
You will get better and better! You cannot GO BACK!
PLEASE leave a COMMENT (click on comment at the bottom of post and follow instructions)

* SHARE INFORMATION with your classmates, they will surely appreciate your findings:
New ESL sites, stories, anecdotes, jokes, games ...
* WRITE what's on your mind! How you feel about your learning process.
You are not alone! Group 'therapy'!!!

HAVE a dose of FUN!!!
* LET me KNOW that you are there to encourage... ME TOO (inside joke)!

LISTEN to this INTRODUCTION VIDEO:

NOTE TO THE READER:
- CLICK on Ctrl and +++ to enlarge TEXT
- anything UNDERLINED ia a link to click on



Friday, March 29, 2013

PUBLISHING MY STUDENTS' WORKS


HELLO!
I’m back again but today I will NOT be writing and posting,
I am publishing one of my very talented students' work.
This session is coming to an end, 
I can’t believe how time flies,
and in the next few weeks you will be reading
their texts and much improved writing skills.
I LOVE IT!!!

Think of them as little Easter eggs 

that will be popping 'out'  every once in a while
 during the days to come!
So here is the first one of a series.
It was handed in by Hélène Parent, advanced level
.
I hope you ENJOY all of them and
think of all the hard work that has been put
into getting to where they are NOW!
And, trust me, the best (benefits) is yet to come!
HOOORAY for all of them!!
PLEASE leave them a short comment
to acknowledge their efforts!!


I’m Proud of …

What am I the most proud of in my life?  A great question.  Three things came to mind when I had thought over the question.  First, I am proud of my family, specifically of my two sons.  Then I thought about the work I had done  at school for thirty-four years; I think I did a good job.  And last, the specific project I realized five years ago : going to Compostelle (see note) for the Arthritis Society fund raiser.

To start, I am proud of succeeding to pass on good values to my two sons.  They are well-balanced young adults and hard workers.  They take good care of their children, giving them love and attention, helping them to improve themselves.  And even if they were like cats and dogs when they were young, now they get along splendidly, always ready to help each other.

Secondly, considering my career, I had fun teaching: reading, writing, maths, and I am particularly proud of all the projects I prepared for my pupils : green or winter camps; a mid-evil themed project with a special banquet at the end where two knights came for a show; a play (theatre) entirely prepared by the kindergarten pupils and many other ones.  I realize that teaching academic subjects is important but if you want to motivate the pupils, you have to do more and help students to improve all their skills.  When I stumble upon former students at the library or somewhere else, they are happy to remember projects we created together. So I know that it made a difference! I consider that I was lucky to love my job and to work with such dedicated colleagues and school principals.  Now, volunteering at school and lending board games to the families is a way for me to give back to the community.

The third one, my trek to Compostelle was a kind of challenge.  Indeed, even if I have always been an energetic person until my retirement, I had never been very active, just a bit of walking or snowshoeing.   So I had to train more seriously in order to succeed.  I was very motivated because I decided to walk in honour of my colleague who has suffered an arthritis condition.   So many people and merchants showed me their confidence and  encouraged me by their donations to the Arthritis Society. I didn’t want to let them down. In the end, I found it quite easy to walk all the way long towards Compostelle even if I had torn a ligament in my right leg just before leaving.  Fortunately I got no blisters or other injuries during the trip.  I lived a unique experience and I met many interesting people.

Definitely being proud of things we accomplish 
helps make life worth living.
                                              ---  Hélène Parent (gr03)

NOTE: 
COMPOSTELLE is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried.  --- SOURCE: Wikipedia



Sunday, March 17, 2013

The Irish in Québec



Do you recognize these names?


La Bolduc   Pat Burns   Jean Charest   Jim Corcoran   
Georges Dor   Daniel Johnson, Sr.   Daniel Johnson, Jr.   
 Pierre-Marc Johnson   Paul Martin   Thomas Mulcair   
Brian Mulroney      Kevin Tierney   Georges Vanier
  Emile Nelligan   Patrick Roy   Robert Guy Scully 

WHO ARE THESE PERSONS?
and Who do they represent?
Follow this link and find the answers. 

HAPPY SAINT-PATRCK'S DAY TO YOU!!!
The sun is out, it's kinda chilly
but a great day for a parade!!

Here is a popular saying:
"Kiss me I'm Irish!"
SOOO ... how about you??
Do you have Irish blood also?
Let me know!
SUZANNE    



Thursday, March 14, 2013

DO NOT TRANSLATE!

DO NOT TRANSLATE 
because you are asking for trouble!!
Seems that my message is sinking in!
Here are some examples that were sent to me from Natalie B.
To be fair they are extreme , of course,
 but they do make a point!!


  

  



As a teacher I have adopted this MANTRA of 
OMMMM ... DO NOT TRANLATE!
You have heard it many times and
when you speak and stop and think 
and hesitate and then give up!
It is often because you are translating!!
When this happens try to change the way 
in which you want to express the idea.


TIP #1   the idea expressed is better than 
THE INDIVIDUAL WORD
TIP #2  Also learn your VOCABULARY in context,
never or very rarely A WORD!!!
TIP #3  Make your lists considering these differences
*** Remember the idioms, expressions and phrasal verbs!
There is always more than one word to the meaning.
 and finally an important step,
TIP #4 Remember to write an example 
to anchor the meaning!!



The moral of this story is: 

When people laugh it is often because 
of the result of the translation (out of context)
more than laughing at you.
They are not "paying your head" ! 
BAD, BAD translation! Do you see what I mean!!

SUZANNE 
P.S. I am obsessed with authentic translation today,
 I'm starting my translating contract.
Here's an excellent link for translating:





Sunday, March 3, 2013

DIFFERENCES offered to YOU, the curious, by the ENGLISH LANGUAGE

TODAY a little English spelling lesson!!
And a lesson on on DIFFERENCES that some of you 
are CURIOUS about  and want to know. 
These are differences that you might have observed
while reading an English text. For example, this word:
Some British English and American English words have the
same meaning and pronunciation but different spellings.
Good to know! So Here are seven common groups.
 If you are not sure about a spelling, 
it's best to look it up in a British or 
American dictionary as appropriate.


The following information is from English Club 
and the topic : Seven British/American Spellings.

1. ogue/og
BrE: analogue, catalogue, dialogue
AmE: analog, catalog, dialog
2. our/or
BrE: colour, favourite, honour
AmE: color, favorite, honor
3. ence/ense
Bre: defence, licence
AmE: defense, license
4. s/z
BrE: analyse, criticise, organisation (but z is also used)
AmE: analyze, criticize, organization
5. l/ll
BrE: enrolment, fulfil, skilful
AmE: enrollment, fulfill, skillful
6. re/er
BrE: centre, theatre, metre
AmE: center, theater, meter
7. miscellaneous
BrE: jewellery, programme, practise, pyjamas
AmE: jewelry, program, practice, pajamas
NB1: in BrE program is used when talking about computers
NB2: in BrE practise is a verb and practice is a noun

For more : 
Your teacher is back!!
Missed you ... SUZANNE


Saturday, March 2, 2013

TIME for HUMORISTIC COMPREHENSION!!


HUMOUR!  

It’s time for some humour! Here is a text I received from a student. THANKS! Manon D. I liked it enough to post it here and have more of you read it! It’s titled Life’s Demerit* System *a mark/point given for choices … and it is indented to enlighten us about a female’s point system!! And of course, made into a joke about men’s behaviour. SORRY! Guys …just need to refresh you on the point system and ladies to test your sense of humour!

All married men will attest to some real wisdom
In the world of romance, one single rule applies: 
MAKE THE WOMAN HAPPY!
Do something she likes, and you get points.
Do something she dislikes, and points are subtracted.
You don't get any points for doing something she expects. 

Sorry, that's the way the game is played.
 
Here is a non-exhaustive guide to the point system:

SIMPLE DUTIES 

You make the bed. (+1) 
You make the bed, but forget the decorative pillows. (-10) 
You throw the bedspread over rumpled sheets. (-3) 

You go out to buy her what she wants (+5) in the rain (+8) 
But return with a six-pack of beer. (-5) 

PROTECTIVE DUTIES 

You check out a suspicious noise at night. (+1) 

You check out a suspicious noise, and it is nothing. (0) 
You check out a suspicious noise, and it is something. (+5) 
You pummel it with an iron rod. (+10) It's her pet Schnauzer. (-20) 



SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS 
You stay by her side for the entire party. (+1) 

You stay by her side for a while, then leave to chat with an old school friend. (-2) Named Tina (-10) Tina is a dancer. (-10) and Tina has breast implants. (-40) 



HER BIRTHDAY 
You take her out to dinner. (+2) 
You take her out to dinner, and it's not a sports bar. (+3) 
Okay, it's a sports bar. (-2) And its all-you-can-eat night. (-3) , AND, your face is painted the colors of your favourite team. (-10) 



A NIGHT OUT 
You take her to a movie she likes. (+5) 
You take her to a movie you hate. (+10) 
You take her to a movie you like. (-2) 
It's called 'Death Cop.' (-3) 
You lied and said it was a foreign film about orphans. (-15) 


YOUR PHYSIQUE 

You develop a noticeable potbelly. (-15) 
but you exercise to get rid of it. (+10) 
You develop a noticeable potbelly and resort to baggy jeans and baggy Hawaiian shirts. (-30) 
You say, "It doesn't matter, you have one too." (-80) 



THE FATAL QUESTION 
She asks, "Do I look fat?" (-5) 
(Of course you lose points no matter what you say!) 

You hesitate in responding. (-10) 
You reply, "Where?" (-35) 
You give any other response. (-20) 


COMMUNICATION 

When she wants to talk about a problem, you listen, displaying what looks like a concerned expression. (+2) 
You listen, for over 30 minutes (+50) 

for more than 30 minutes without looking at the TV. (+500) 
She realizes this is because you have fallen asleep. (-4000) 

That's all, Folks!!!