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



Monday, March 23, 2015

The feeling of being OVERWHELMED ..


OVERWHELMED/OVERWHELMING
 The word "overwhelmed" is commonly used in English conversations related to learning, studying and life experiences that involved intense experiences.
For example, after a tough day learning English vocabulary,
a student in an advanced ESL class might say:
 
         "I am overwhelmed by the amount of words
          we learned today, I don't think I can possibly
          remember all of them." 

To help you see through all of these feelings, here are a few suggestions to help you come back to the reality of learning!

Re-visit your Priorities:
When your priorities are clear, is much easier to make decisions. Quick and assertive decisions help you feel less overwhelmed because you can laser cut through obstacles and distractions and get to your prioritized ”to do” lists faster and more efficiently. Don’t underestimate this one!

Stick to a Morning Routine:
This is key! Creating a calm morning routine helps so immensely. I’m not always able to do this, however, I have felt amazing results when I put it in practice. It doesn’t need to be a long extended routine, if all you have is 15 minutes that will do it. Tell your family about it, so they will learn to respect that time for you. Some ideas of what you can do: read, listen to some soft music,, drink lemon water, write, go for a walk, exercise or garden. You can even just BREATHE!!

Keep going, GET STARTED!
The secret of how to get things done and not procrastinate or not end up doing something else is to GET STARTED!. When you are ready to sit down to start that project, put yourself in a space where there is no distractions (even though they are still going to show up) when a distraction comes along notice it but consciously be very strong to stay focus on starting your task.

Stay in the moment:
Don’t think about how you won’t be able to finish it, and how you are going to need something else to finish it, just GET STARTED. Once you start is on! Keep observing your thoughts to convince you to stop, don’t engage with them. The perfect analogy/comparison for this is the “getting yourself to the gym” one. Your mind will do all in it’s power to convince you not to go, once you are there you will get it done and the best part is that you’ll never regret you went.

 If you are still here reading along (thanks for staying) and
you would want to try to implement these,
I suggest you start with two of them only and
 keep doing them throughout the month.

If you have other methods you use
when feeling overwhelmed,  please share with us!
I use these methods too because I am
the greatest procrastinator on the earth!! REALLY!!!
SUZANNE

 

Saturday, February 14, 2015

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

 
 
To all of you
exceptional and
 

+ LY students
 
 
Today I would like to share with you
my appreciation and admiration
for your commitment and determination.
But most of all a great big
for making me feel like
I am the best English teacher in the world!!!
 
I love you,
I love teaching
I love teaching English!!!
 
SUZANNE
 


Sunday, December 14, 2014

On the SECOND DAY of Christmas ...


On the second day of Christmas,
My teacher sent to me ....
GIVES another meaning to Noël and balls !!!
__________________________________________
GOOD SUNDAY MORNING TO YOU!!!
How are you doing?
"Got your Chritmas tree decorated?"
Have you done your Christmas shopping yet?
Have you wrapped your Christmas gifts yet?
Did you go out for a pre-Christmas meal
 with family or friends?
Did some Christmas cooking/baking yesterday?
 
I baked some Christmas cookies last night.
Every Christmas I make my own gifts and
wrap them with Christmas paper and ribbons.
I also sent my Christmas cards
to my family and friends abroad.
 
So there is today's lesson using  the word
CHRISTMAS!
This WORD is used often because it represents
a period of time! The HOLIDAYS!!!
YES!!! It isn't used only for December 25,
which is  Christmas day!
 Attached you will find a list of words and
expressions used to represent everything "Christmassy"
USING the word CHRISTMAS or Xmas
Christmas  > proper noun
Christmas spirit> adjective
XMAS> abbreviation (writing only), used as informal
Christmassy> adjective> related to Christmas
SEE YOU AGAIN tomorrow!!!
       Suzanne
NOTE to the reader:
If you wish to receive the Christmas vocabulary list,
DROP ME A LINE!!! Use the comment just below!


On the FIRST DAY of Christmas ....


 


 
As Santa is getting ready for Christmas,
maybe today you are putting up your Christmas tree also...
 
Officially today, December 13,
 there are 12 days left before THEEEE DAY!!!

Have you EVER heard of the song
A good practice of the -ING words,
don’t you agree? 
Well this year, I'm going to be
your twelve days of CHRISTMAS!
AS the song's lyrics go,
WELLLLL ..... 
I'm going to change it around a little bit
 
TO> 'On the first day of Christmas',
        'MY TEACHER SENT TO ME ...!
 And you thought that your English classes
were over for this session!
NO! No! NOOOO! I'm still here!
REMEMBER ...You answered when I asked  
that it was OK with you and
that I could send you emails, right?
I wasn't kidding! HERE I AM!!! 
 I'm officially your 12 days of XMAS!
 
I just want to have fun and allow you
to experience the joy and the vocabulary
that is used around Christmas time.
 
HAVE A GREAT DAY
and if you are decorating ..
.
Be CAREFUL when you go up the ladder!
See you tomorrow!  
          SUZANNE  
NOTE to the reader: this is the attached TEXT:
Well it’s Christmas time again! YES!
And this year we have the snow to prove it.
People always appreciate a bit of
 the white ’stuff’ for the HOLIDAYS.
You’ve heard of the expression
 WHITE CHRISTMAS as in Bing Crosby’s
 very popular song, haven’t you?
 Well… maybe not! Listen to it here:
This is just a start, for the next 12 days,  
as in another Xmas song,
 will be sending you a daily ‘something’
(story, joke, cartoon, song, video…) 
 about Christmas and the Holidays.
A challenge for me, some vocabulary for you. 
     Consider this as my Xmas gift for you all! And ...
I’ll be with you right up to the 25th!!!  SUZANNE

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Letters between Student and Teacher


NOTE to the reader: This email was written by a student after receiving a letter from her teacher: "Words of Support". You can read this letter BELOW (posted below).

 From :  (STUDENT) Sylvie F.
To: (TEACHER) Suzanne Lord

 Hi Suzanne,

I think that you read in my mind. Last Wednesday, I was a little bit discouraged about my progress in English. I think that I did few steps but I must do many many steps to speak without mistakes and fluently.
I read the letter you sent us, this letter helped me. I'll keep in mind my personal objectives, it's not easy because I'm hurry. I would like to tell you thank you for the link "prepositions". I began to read the document, it’s very interesting...

 *  This is my answer:  
From : Suzanne Lord
To : Sylvie F.

HELLO there... SYLVIE! 

Thanks for your feedback!
As you said:” I read (rèd) your mind.”
In a way it’s true but I must admit
that over the years I have observed
my students' learning curve.
So from my observations and experience
I knew that it was the time to send this letter. 

I think that you are a great student!
I'm sure something will happen soon
and you will be really surprised!!

Keep up your great work!!
Your proud teacher,

SUZANNE

 

Monday, November 10, 2014

Words of SUPPORT

Words of SUPPORT ... Because it's just the right time!

 This morning I woke up and I felt inspired to have a little ‘chat’ with you just as an English speaking friend and of course, as a teacher also.I know that some of you at this point in the ESL classes and lessons, might feel a bit or a lot overwhelmed. Some of you might feel discouraged but then…. Some of you are OK and are feeling quite confident.
As human beings we are all naturally unique and certainly have different personalities… this is an obvious fact. But then, we are all similar in a certain way especially when we start learning or are challenged and we are out of our comfort zone. So my message to you right now is one of reassurance, hope and support!! Remember I’m your №1 cheerleader and I’m also the best coach you can find!!!       HERE GOES!!!

AFRAID ABOUT MAKING MISTAKES …
Native English speakers DO NOT CARE
if you make a mistake when you are speaking.
 I repeat THEY DON’T CARE!!!
In fact, only English teachers care… WHY?
The answer is obvious: YOU ARE LEARNING!!!
You’ll never learn to speak fluently if you are
constantly afraid and worried of making mistakes.
I know that you WORRY about making mistakes
when you speak English… I KNOW! I KNOW!!!        
But here’s the thing: NOBODY CARES!
AGAIN… NOBODY CARES!!

You are talking to some Canadian, American or Australian, they don’t care if you make a grammar mistake; they absolutely don’t mind! They are talking to you as a human being. They just want to communicate to you and with you. People don’t worry about your grammar or your accent! Other people are NOT ENGLISH TEACHERS!!! They are not ‘grading’ you or checking your verb tenses. The world isn’t filled with ESL teachers ;)
The worst thing you can do is worry about mistakes,
BECAUSE:
it prevents you from talking naturally to other people
it prevents you from the whole purpose of learning
which is TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE!
You want to communicate with them,
you want to share ideas and opinions,
you might even make new friends!!! RIGHT!!?
 SOOOO…. DO IT THE BEST WAY YOU CAN:
Speak simply
Speak directly
Speak slowly
Speak as clearly as you can!
It’s fine! It’s OK!

If the other person doesn’t understand you… You will know! Because you will observe it and see it in their body language – their face will tell you! Just like mine does in class! ;)  It can be intimidating butttt… please, don’t let that stop you!!! They can also ask you to repeat OR say: “WHAT? I’M SORRY! I didn’t understand.
It’s not a big deal! NO BIG DEAL!!!
because my teacher loves me!!!
Have a nice weekend!   SUZANNE
________________________________________
P.S. Here are another teacher’s words of encouragement:
 ESl teacher, DAVE SCONDA   "Straight from the horse's mouth" (idiom)
«Be courageous with language Learning-
don't let any fear/bad feeling get in your way
you're learning, mistakes are good, keep moving forward!»