TODAY JUST FOR FUN ... A LITTLE JOKE

Hello!!!
 Today,  let's laugh a little.

But first, I have to explain the new "language" that has been created by e-mailing and especially texting.

What does  LOL mean! 

Well, if you look at each letter 

you have an 'L' for laugh; 

then you have an "O" for the word out 

and finally the second "L" for loud. 

Put them all together and you get

 LAUGHING OUT LOUD.

So when you are writing an instant message (instant messaging) you are using words or a shortcut for the words in your text. You are letting the person you are writing to know that you are having an emotional reaction, that you may be "in stiches", not just smiling! Now here's the joke:

Unobtainable number

Customer: 

"I've been ringing your call centre on 0700 2300 for two days and can't get through to enquiries, can you help?"
Operator: 

"Where did you get that number from, sir?"
Customer:

 "It was on the door to the travel centre." 
Operator:

 "Sir, they are our opening hours."

P.S. Did you CLICK on the title?

If not ... you can do it NOW!

Here is an interesting link that Huguette found:

http://www.englishclub.com/esl-jokes/1~index.htm

AND if you don't get it,

I can help!!!

ENJOY!

DO YOU HAVE A BIRTHDAY? For the new readers, don't forget TO CLICK on the title!

Today is someone special's birthday.

I don't usually " go public" with my wishes 

but this time I'll make an exception.

This person has put time and effort in learning English. 

She has worked hard over the years 

and has always shown real determination and commitment. 

Above all that's what I would like to honor

So, having said that, here's wishing you

 a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

HUGUETTE  MARTEL

Here are my specific wishes,

And I quote …

May your coming year be filled

with magic and dreams

and good madness.

I hope you read some fine books

and kiss someone who thinks

you are wonderful,

and don’t forget to make some art,

write or draw or build

or sing or live as only you can.

And I hope somewhere in the next year

you surprise yourself.

                                - Neil Gaiman

Huguette,   

A special THANK YOU for being such a committed

and dedicated 

 FOLLOWER,

making it worthwhile to maintain this blog

THANKS for your support!

Suzanne

WELCOME TO YOUR ESL CLASS

Hello! And Welcome!

to your English class

My name is Suzanne Lord and

I’m going to be your English teacher and coach!

I’ve been teaching for 44 years and I LOVE it!

   So … my job is to make learning English                           EASY and FUN             

In this short introduction I will tell you about my views and what I think is important for you to know as a student or learner of English as a second language (ESL).

Let’s start with the question “WHY … English?” Well as everyone knows, nowadays the world is becoming smaller and smaller because of technology and the accessibility of travel. Communication with our ‘fellow earthlings’ is as easy as pie! And a touch away with the internet, the world wide web WWW.

First, just let me say this: you need TIME and PATIENCE. You cannot be rushed. TAKE IT EASY!

Second, you need words to make this happen! Your knowledge of VOCABULARY is the most important thing at the beginning. You must start with a strong foundation or base, and slowly build on it, DAY BY DAY. It must become a part of your life.

Third, PRACTICE. Ever heard of the word COMMITMENT … and the expression, “Practice makes perfect!” Daily practice is so very important just like it is with your physical needs. Do not worry about making mistakes, the more you make them the more you learn from them. It just like riding a bicycle: sometimes you fall off the bike … so what do you do next, you get right back on and try again!

Fourth, do not look at English as just another school subject! Your ATTITUDE towards English and how you view the learning process will decide how well you progress and learn.

“No pain; no gain.”

Fifth is CONFIDENCE! You will get there! Practice every day and be confident. You will find that the more you use English, the better your use of the language will become, and the more confident you will become then, the more you will want to use it! Make it a rule to tell yourself: « I CAN DO IT! »

Not just once or twice, but every time you speak!

Learning English should and can be FUN!

I hope that you discover how much fun it can be!

And as a teacher, I hope I can communicate to you

how much fun it is also for me to show you!

Let’s make it a pleasurable and enjoyable experience

for both, you and I. 

WELCOME back to class!

                       

P.S.  Questions anyone???

ONE WEEK TO GO!!

A warm HELLO to all of you and 
a warm WELCOME to all the new students!!!

Just a second and I will get my thesaurus and find a synonym for those two warm's ...

An AFFECTIONATE greeting to all the 'old' friends and students!

YES! Summer's over and for me it's out of the woods and back to the city. It's also a return to the classroom and seeing old familiar faces and a bunch of new ones! I'm really looking forward to meeting new people and getting the ESL classes started.

One is ending and the other will start!

One is sad and the other is exciting!

On one hand, this week, I'm packing up the last of the items that were very useful for me this past season at the summer camp and on the other hand, I'm getting things organized here in the city for this autumn's classes. So right now, I'm in a bit of a two-world situation here!

Before I go for today, I would like to tell you a little about the summer immersion vacation at the cottage at Lac Quesnel. This first experience has been a really good one! I think that all the participants were satisfied and thoroughly enjoyed their time in an English environment.

We had fun!

The weather was great and 

Boy'o Boy can we talk! 

And laugh! And eat! And ...!

When we get back to class we will here from a few of the participants.

I will also share with you a letter that I received from one of the ladies in my next communication.

In the meantime I want to say that I had such a wonderful summer and that I also know I'm going to have a wonderful time seeing you this coming fall!

Until we meet again!

Regards,

Suzanne

ON HOLIDAYS!

Helooooooo .... from deep in the woods!

Why such silence?

Well I'm on holidays, taking life as it comes and breathing in the pure air of the mountains and the wonderful scents of the deep woods 

and a gorgeous pristine lake for my eyes ... Ahhhhhh!

What a lovely time I'm having. 

This week I will write another 'chapter' in the life of a teacher and relay to you my first experience of English immersion summer camp.

Last week I had four great ladies with me by the Lake and even the birds stopped chirping for a while listening to our English conversation! No kidding! 

It went swimmingly as we say in English,

no pun inmtended.

Have a great summer and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

HAPPY SUMMER HOLIDAYS with family and friends!

Suzanne

FRIENDSHIP --- this is friendship week !!

FRIENDSHIP WEEK … 
this year will be celebrated from May 16 through Saturday, May 22.

This annual event, started by Dr. Jan Yager in 1997, 

begins each year on the Sunday after Mother's Day for one week.

A week to celebrate (and reconnect) with old friends and new friends and to remember how vital friends -- casual, close, and best -- are for our emotional and physical well-being and even our school, professional, or career success. "Friendshifts" (to shift) is the word coined by author and sociologist Jan Yager, Ph.D. to denote the way our ideas about friendship, and sometimes even who are friends are, may change as we go through the different stages in life. Have you questioned why some friends have stayed andd some have gone ... Well, we do change! But at every stage, friendship is crucial, for boys, for girls, for men, for women, children, young adults, new mothers, the middle-aged, and especially for those who are older and retired or widowed.

Have you thought about doing something special with your friends?

A reunion, if possible, especially if you do not see eachother often, 

might be a joyful way to reconnect.

But if you or your friend are unable to spend time together, face to face, there are other ways you could let your friend or friends know that each friendship is valuable to you. Here are just a few suggestions: Sending a card, talking by phone, writing a letter, exchanging gifts, communicating via e-mail, sharing memories as you build new ones, reading the same book, or going to see the same movie, and discussing your reactions to it. What are some ways of celebrating, in person or from a distance, that you are planning for your newer and older friendships?

Of course it's important to remember and celebrate our close or best friends (and even our casual friends) all year round, but this annual event just helps remind us all how we should never take our old friends for granted or stop developing or cultivating new friends.

At all ages and stages of our lives, friends are the glue that holds us together. Give thanks for your old friends, celebrate your new friends and make time for all them this week.

You can CLICK on the title of this blog and 
it will LINK you to a classic 'frienship song', 

JUST SING ALONG!!

And have a GREAT FRIENDSHIP WEEK !!!

Here are the lyrics of the song 

That's What Friends Are For

by Dionne Warwick and Friends!

Can you identify them (the friends) ?

"And I never thought I'd feel this way
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you

And if I should ever go away
Well, then close your eyes and try to feel
The way we do today
And then if you can remember

Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowin' you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

Well, you came and opened me
And now there's so much more I see
And so by the way I thank you

Whoa, and then for the times when we're apart
Well, then close your eyes and know
These words are comin' from my heart
And then if you can remember, oh!

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times, in bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
Oh, that's what friends are for

Whoa... oh... oh... keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowin' you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowin' you can always count on me, oh, for sure
'Cause I tell you that's what friends are for
For good times and for bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for (That's what friends are for)

On me, for sure
That's what friends are for
Keep smilin', keep shinin' "