This week's topic was communication, specifically the way we correspond with folks via whatsapp, email, and snail mail!  This was an excuse to practice the grammar point of Reported Speech (check the grammar and your comprehension here).

Listening:
Learners can check out a listening comprehension activity from Randall's Listening Lab: Mail Service or Texting and Driving.

For original version listening, listen to the episode of This American Life called My Pen Pal (audio and transcript available). You can also check out the Youtube Channel of the Post Museum.

Reading:
Learners can read some examples of informal and formal emails which are great preparation for some writing practice.  For a more conventional reading comprehension activity, try the activity about Foreign Exchange Emails.

For original version, check out some articles form the Post Museum, such as Victorian's Secret Ways of Keeping in Touch. Or read the article from the Indpendent: Greatest Letters Ever Written.

Writing:
This week, you have two different options!  You can try writing a letter or email in English. You choose it!  To a potential employer, to a friend, to a crush, it's up to you!

Or, practice reported speech by relaying what happened in a communication exchange.

Best,
Kelly

This week we practiced giving advice, further putting into practice grammar structures such as ought to, she had better, I suggest + ing, etc.

Listening:
Learners try an article from the British Council about getting advice. Do the listening comprehension activities, too!

For original version listening, try an episode from the advice column Dear Prudence from Slate. Recent episodes involve a listener getting too close to a work husband, a fiancee wanting three dogs (a pet the listener finds needy and expensive), and an acquaintance sending an inappropriate photo to a listener's teenage daughter.

Reading:
Learners can read a short article giving advice about learning English. For some more in depth topics, check out How to be a good language learner, How to be a better listener
How to be a better speaker, How to give a good speech.

For original version, read an article from Bored Panda about people who share online some of the worst advice they've ever gotten.

Writing:
This week, write an email to response to our advice seekers!  Listen again to one of these audios from my friends Jill, Dawn and Libby, and write them a thoughtful response.

Best,
Kelly

This week we got back to in person learning! It was great to see your faces again.  Once again, I would like to thank you for your flexibility during this period of restrictions!  As we are back to the classroom, we are back to frequent ventilation, so make sure you bundle up.

Our topic this week was relationships -- family, work, friendships, romantic relationships.

Listening:
Learners have several different listening comprehension activities available to them, such as the easy exercise Family Relationships.  Something a little more difficult could be Healthy and Happy Relationships or Love is in the Air (Intermediate).

For original version listening, try an episode from the podcast Death Sex and Money such as Your One Night Stand Stories or Stuck Apart, And Falling In Love.

Reading:
Learners can read one of several articles about relationships from British Council, such as Long Distance Love or Communication: A Thing of the Past?

For original version, check out the archive of the relationship advice column Dear Sugar.

Writing:
This week, please write a report about how the COVID 19 pandemic has taken a toll on a variety of types of relationships: dating, friendship, and familiy bonds.

Best,
Kelly

This week we used the Experiments section of the fantastic website Google Arts and Culture.  We spent a fair amount of time with the activity Which Came First? to talk about dates, history, and cultural relevance of different inventions, artworks and celebrities.

Listening:
Learners can try any one of a series of listening activities form the British Council Word on the Street, Art Scene. There are several episodes available with transcript and activities.  Or for something different you can try the listening activity, History of Architecture.

For original version listening, try some of the videos available on Google Arts & Culture Youtube Channel.  There is tons to explore here!

Reading:
Learners can read an article from Breaking News English about which came first, the chicken or the egg.  Or, in line with our cultural commentary, how about a reading exercise about architecture, New skin for Buildings.

For original version, choose from the massive variety of content available at Google Arts & Culture, such as Gianfranco Ferré A Neverending Journey, or about Vivienne Westwood, Politics and Fashion, or maybe Appearances Can Be Deceiving which explores Frida Kahlo's wardrobe.

Writing:
This week, please choose ONE piece of content from Google Arts and Culture.  It could be a painting, an exhibit, an artifact, whatever you want.  There are tons of options! Then write an article about the importance of this cultural artifact.

Best,
Kelly

Don't forget about this week's extra activities: an online fermentation workshop on Friday February 12th at 19:00 which is open to the general public and Saturday February 13th film club discussing the movie Moonlight.  Email me to sign up for events!

Now, on to the homework.  As an antidote to last week's news class, we used David Byrne's website Reasons to be Cheerful as a conversation starter.

Listening:
Learners can try listening to some positive news stories from VOA learning English such as Science Develops Way to Grow Wood in a Lab, or Gazans Turn Old Cars into a Profit.  There are also options from the BBC such as Greenest summer ever for UK.

For original version listening, try listening to a talk David Byrne gave about Reasons to be Cheerful at the New School.

Reading:
Learners can try reading a positive news story from Breaking News English such as Fans get inside space bubbles for rock concert or Free dumplings for motorists stranded in snow.

For original version, try any of the NUMEROUS fascinating articles from the Reasons to Be Cheerful Website, such as: Vancouver Gave Homeless People $5,800. It Changed Their Lives. or The World Is Changing — So Can We.  Another option is It’s a New Day for LGBT Health.

Writing:
This week, please write your OWN newspaper article about some piece of positive news, something that we should be cheerful about. Remember to try to use the formal style used in journalistic reporting.

Best,
Kelly

We are continuing online this week and have added more activities to our calendar!  In addition to our yoga class this Sunday February 7th at 18, I am offering an online fermentation workshop on Friday February 12th at 19:00 which is open to the general public.  Email me to sign up for events!

Now, on to the homework.  This week we talked about news, newspapers, and headlines as the basis of our conversation.

Listening:
Learners can try listening to some news adapted for English learners, such as VOA News which is updated regularly or BBC Learning English News Review.

For original version listening, try some content from National Public Radio, the BBC, or The Guardian.

Reading:
Learners can try reading news online using Breaking News English which as numerous articles available to read and listen to at a variety of levels.

For original version, try online news outlets titans such as BBC, New York Times .For Spanish news, El País has an English edition.

Writing:
This week, please choose one section of the newspaper (front page, police blotter, obituaries) and write an article for that section. Be careful crafting the headline, as we saw in class that many times they omit some verbs, articles, etcetera.

Best,
Kelly

First off, I want to thank you guys for your flexibility this week adapting to the new classes online!  For those who have decided to take a break this month, feel free to keep up with the emails and send me homework.

I also wanted to let you know, that this weekend I am going to organize an extra activity online for those who are bored at home!  On Sunday January 31st at 18:30 we will connect to Happy Hour Trivia Night. If you would like to connect, just let me know!

Now, on to the homework.  This week we focused on pronunciation, specifically practicing the different pronunciations of the letter S, particularly in plurals and third person verbs.

Listening:
Learners can try a B1 level listening exercise called My Favorite Things from The British Council.

For original version listening, check out any of the many videos on Amoeba's youtube channel featuring What's In My Bag?

Reading:
Learners can try a reading activity from British Council (page 2 of this PDF). Can you find the instances where the letter S is pronounced /z/?

For original version, check out one of the many articles from The Verge's series What's in Your Bag? such as

• What’s in your bag, Anne-Marie? Scrunchies. A lot of scrunchies.
• What’s in your bag, Marlon James? Pens, paper, and turmeric tea

Writing:
This week, please describe the articles you have in your bag, your fridge, or your trunk.  The trick, though, is to be descriptive and also to explain the personal significance of some of these items for you!

Best,
Kelly

This week we used NPR's podcast series Life Kit as the basis of our conversation, talking about some important life skills to have such as:

• how to save money
• how to sleep better
• how to cut back on screen time
• how to throw together a meal

and lots of other ideas!


Listening:
Learners can try some listening comprehension activities about some of the topics that we discussed in class: how to get a good night's sleep, how to improve your memory  or parenting, 

For original version listening, peruse the Life Kit Archive!  Here are some recommendations:How White Parents Can Talk To Their Kids About Race, How To Invest — Even During A Pandemic ,  Here's How Tech Experts Recommend Organizing Your Photos .

Reading:
Learners can try a short reading activity about How to Save Money, or about how to lose weight. 

For original version, try reading the accompanying articles that go with the NPR Life Kit podcasts: How to Break Up with Someone,  What to Say to Kids When the News is Scary or How To Read More Books. 

Writing:
This week, please write an article for NPR Life Kit about how to achieve and cultivate an important life skill!  To get an idea, think about different skills you need for personal finance, health, habits, education, parenting, work, or travel.

Best,
Kelly

Welcome back!  This week we kicked off 2021 with a conversation about change: cultural change, lifestyle changes, trends, personal change, etc.  It was a great opportunity to practice a variety of verb tenses such as "used to" and the third conditional.

Listening:
Learners can try an activity from from BBC about changes throughout one Londener's life, or about environmental change. For something a little more challenging, try this activity about lifestyle changes in the pandemic.

For original version listening, try a clip from BBC entitled Change for the Better or an episode from Malcolm Gladwell's podcast Revisionist History

Reading:
Learners can try a short reading activity called Changes in Town, or Adapting to Change.

For original version, try reading an article form the Guardian's series, One Change That Worked, about lifestyle tweaks that brought about welcome changes.

Writing:
This week, please write an essay about one major change, in society, in your city, or in your life.  Be careful about the grammar you use to describe the way things used to be and how things could have been different!

Best,
Kelly

This was our last class before the holidays!  We will be taking a break to celebrate Christmas and most importantly to celebrate the end of 2021!  I wish you all a restful and pleasant break.  Thank you for help making 2020 a successful year despite all odds!

Enjoy the holiday and see in January.  Classes resume January 11th. 

Merry Christmas!
Kelly

P.S. If you want to do some homework, check out the general resources or back archive of past homework on the blog.