This week we practiced our bad attitude and focused on gripes and complaints, and how to express them politely!

Listening:
For learners, try an article about The Answering Machine Complaint, Complaining from the British Council, or Housing Complaints from ESL Listening Lab.

For original version, listen to a brilliant response to listener's complaints about vocalfry.

Reading:
Learners can try reading about how to write effective letters of complaint.

For something in original version, try 16 Hilarious Consumer Complaints, or How to Complain to Get What You Want (Without Being a Huge Asshole)

Writing:
This week, please write a letter of complaint.  You can choose your own topic (be creative -- a letter of complaint to your neighbor who listens to music too loud? To your mother in law for buying you tasteless pyjamas?) or respond to the prompt below:
1. You have recently ordered an item through the Internet, but are not happy with the purchase. Write to the company. In your letter/email:
- describe what you purchased
- explain why you are not happy with the purchase
- tell them what you would like them to do about the situation
2. You have seen a commercial on your local television station which appeared during a children's programme. You feel that an advertisement of this type is not suitable for showing on children's TV. Write a letter/email of complaint to the television company, explaining why you object to it and what you would like them to do about it.
3. You have just returned from a trip to Florida. You flew there and back with “Ocean Air”. You decide to write to the airline to complain about your flight and ask for some money back.

Best,
Kelly

Welcome back after spring break!  This week we used the recent Science March as a springboard for our conversation about science, discovery and research.

Listening:
For learners, try a listening article about new inventions, or any of the activities about Science and Technology from English Guide.  Or try an article from 6-Minute English, Can Science Fiction Change the World?

For original version, listen to an audio SciShow youtube channel or Numberphile Youtube Channel.  Or try any episodes from the podcast Science Vs.  

Reading:
Learners can try any of the articles about Science in the News from over at VOA English.

For something in original version, try Scientific American's Fact or Fiction series or any article from the science section over at NPR.

Writing:
For writing this week, please write an essay responding to the following prompt:

“Climate changes is a serious problem facing our world today”. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Best,
Kelly

This week we start spring break!  That means we don't have class next week, the first day back to class is Monday April 24th.

In the meantime, spring break is a great time to review some of the general resources from my website, catch up on past week's emails and homework or keep working on pronunciation, such as from BBC Pronunciation, Listen and Repeat: Daily Pronunciation Practice,Minimal Pairs Practice, Learn By Doing (Pronunciation), Ship or Sheep, Perfect Pronunciation, Pronunciation Course, English Central Pronunciation, Speaking English Activities.

Happy Easter! Best,
Kelly