Welcome back from spring break! I hope you enjoyed the rest from English class. Time to get back to our study routine. This week we talked about recycling, waste, and up cycling different products.

Listening:
Learners can try listen to an article about China's ban of recycled materials from around the world and how it affects Western countries including the United States in Europe. Or try a listening activity called a Greener world.

For original version, watch a video from the BBC entitled how will we deal with the world's rubbish?

Reading:
Learners can try reading an article about Adidas andatheir attempt to make a recycled shoe.

For original version, check out any of the many articles from the guardians website about recycling.

Writing:
In class this week we talked about the life cycle of a plastic bag. Think about another material that you have used this week and write out the story of his life. Where was it born? How was it used? What will happen to it when you throw it away?

Best,
Kelly

This week we used played a couple of different fun conversation games to wrap up the days before the holidays.   Don't forget, there is no class next week! The first day back is Monday April 29th.

However, I recommend you come join us for our extra activity Sunday April 27th in the evening! A family friend of mind from the United States will be joining us.  Please email or text if you would like to come! Happy Easter!  I am giving you holidays from your English homework, but if you want to keep working I recommend catching up on old emails or checking out my study resources online.

Best,
Kelly

 This week we used an online activity called the Seven Digital Deady Sins to talk about our lives online: envy, pride, wrath, lust, gluttony, sloth and greed.

Listening:
Learners can try an activity from ESL Lab about Cyberbullying or about online safety.

For original version, check out any of the many videos that are part of the Seven Deadly Digital Sins interactive or any of the fantastic podcast episodes from Reply All by Gimlet Media.

Reading:
Learners can try any of the many articles about Technology Lessons: from Breaking News English


For original version, check out any of the fascinating articles about tech and internet from the New Yorker website.

Writing:
This week please write an essay about one of the following topics:1. Is Social Media Making Us More Narcissistic?
2. Are You the Same Person on Social Media as You Are in Real Life?
3. How Young Is Too Young to Use Social Media?
4. What Advice Do You Have for Younger Kids About Navigating Social Media?
5. How Do You Use Facebook?
6. What Is Your Facebook Persona?
7. How Real Are You on Social Media?
8. What Memorable Experiences Have You Had on Facebook?
9. Does Facebook Ever Make You Feel Bad?
10. Does Facebook Need a ‘Dislike’ Button?
11. Has Facebook Lost Its Edge?
12. Would You Consider Deleting Your Facebook Account?
13. Would You Quit Social Media?
14. Do You Have ‘Instagram Envy’?
15. Who Is Your Favorite Social Media Star?
16. What’s So Great About YouTube?
17. What Has YouTube Taught You?
18. What Are Your Favorite Viral Videos?
19. What Are Your Favorite Internet Spoofs?
20. What Would You Teach the World in an Online Video?
21. Do You Ever Seek Advice on the Internet?
22. Would You Share an Embarrassing Story Online?
23. Do You Use Twitter?
24. Is Snapchat a Revolutionary Form of Social Media?
25. Why Do You Share Photos?
26. How Do You Archive Your Life?
27. What Ordinary Moments Would You Include in a Video About Your Life?
28. Are Digital Photographs Too Plentiful to Be Meaningful?
29. Do You Worry We Are Filming Too Much?
30. Have You Ever Posted, Emailed or Texted Something You Wish You Could Take Back?
31. Would You Want Your Photo or Video to Go Viral?
32. Do You Worry Colleges or Employers Might Read Your Social Media Posts Someday?
33. Will Social Media Help or Hurt Your College and Career Goals?
34. Should What You Say on Facebook Be Grounds for Getting Fired?
35. Are Anonymous Social Media Networks Dangerous?
36. Should People Be Allowed to Obscure Their Identities Online?
37. Are Parents Violating Their Children’s Privacy When They Share Photos and Videos of Them Online?
38. Would You Mind if Your Parents Blogged About You?

Best,
Kelly

 This week we discussed animals! Pets, dogs, cats, puppies, creepy crawlies, charismatic megafauna... All of the ins and out of the animal kingdom.

Listening:
Learners can try an activity from the British Council about Wild animals or an article from Breaking News English about Animal Rights.

For original version, try a TED Talk related to the animal kingdom: Hooked on Octopus or the Emergent Genius of Ant Colonies. Or try the episode from Radiolab, Animal Minds.

Reading:
Learners can try a reading comprehension activity about pets, or about the domestication of cats.  Finally, try an article about protecting the giant panda.

For original version, read about a Japanese dog's encounter with Google Street View.  Or try one of the following excellent essays:

The Squid Hunter by David Grann There was no land for hundreds of miles, yet the mast rattled and the hull shuddered, as if the vessel had run aground…

The Truth About Lions by Abigail Tucker The world’s foremost lion expert reveals the brutal, secret world of the king of beasts.

Dining With the Snakes by Jared Diamond Watching a python eat rat is not a spectacle for the squeamish. But it is a lesson in some prodigious feats of physiology.

Riding the Rays by Douglas Adams Heading out on a Bond-style submarine moped in search of a giant manta ray to surf. (Yes, it is nonfiction).

Writing:
This week please write an essay about one of the following topics:Some people think that zoos should be closed. Do you agree? Write about:

1. living conditions for the animals
2. conservation
3. … (your own idea)

Is it better to keep cats just in the home or to let them go outside? Write about:

1. the natural way for cats to live
2. cats’ effect on wildlife
3. … (your own idea)

Best,
Kelly

  This week we we tried to kill two birds with one stone.  Firstly, we used the Google Arts & Culture application to discuss art and describe different pieces of art.  Secondly, in doing this, we made a special effort to correcly pronounce the fricative "s" sound in plurals and in he/she/it verbs.

Listening:
Learners can try an activity from Breaking News English about Art Galleries, about North Ireland's Street Art, or an activity about famed artist Bansky.

For original version, check out videos from Google Arts & Culture Youtube Channel or watch John Berger's classic Ways of Seeing.  For those who really want to get into art, why not doing an online course from Coursera?  Modern Art & Ideas, and Seeing Through Photographs both look fascinating.

Reading:
Learners can try reading some online biographies of famous artists such as
Fernando Botero
Georgia O'Keeffe
Pablo Picasso

For original version try reading something from Longform.org such asKarl Lagerfeld, Boy Prince of Fashion,Once It Comes Time, or Shutter Madness.
 
Writing:
This week please start by choosing a piece of art from the Google Arts & Culture website.  Write a text giving your description and analysis of the work.  Then, record yourself reading your text aloud paying special attention to the fricative s pronunciation!
Best,
Kelly

 
This week we continued our talk about money but this time tried to apply some common expressions and phrasal verbs to our conversation . You can practice with an online quiz here.

Listening:
Learners can try an ELLLO Mixer about Saving Money or another activity about bank services. You could try an activity from BBC about haggling in English.

For original version, try an episode from the Death, Sex and Money podcast, or Money Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer life.

Reading:
Learners can try a reading comprehension activity from Breaking News English about Money Worries or about debt.

For original version try perusing some personal finance websites that have good trips tips for frugal living and saving consistently such as WiseBread or CashMoneyLife.com.

Writing:
This week try the following task:
 
You see this announcement on an English-language website.
 
Articles wanted
A charity event to remember
What is the most unusual way you've raised money for charity? How did you do it? What did you have to do? Was the event a success? Would you do it again?
Write us an article answering these questions.
We will publish the best articles on our website.

Write your article in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Best,
Kelly 

This week we talked money!  Savings, salaries, expenses, utilities.  We used an interactive to talk out some of the most common expenses we have and where our money goes.

Listening:
Learners can try one of several activities from Randall's Listening Lab:Spending Money (easy), A Student Credit Card (medium), or ABCs of Money Matters (difficult).

For original version, try any of the Ideas about Money from TED or try an episode from the podcast Planet Money.

Reading:
Learners can try a reading comprehension text about teenagers in the UK and how they manage their money from British Council or from Breaking News English: Money and Happiness

For original version try some of the recommended articles from Longform, asuch as "Until I Was 44, I Never Even Had a Savings Account" by Anthony Bourdain or Beyond the Bitcoin Bubble from the New Yorker.
 
Writing:
This week try responding to one or two of the following prompts about money:
1. Describe your relationship with money in five words or less.
2. What was your money story growing up?
3. What does it mean to you to have “not enough” money?
4. What does it mean to you to have “too much” money?
5. What, to you, is the purpose of money?
6. How do you feel about money today?
7. How would you like to feel about money?
8. What is your biggest fear in relation to money?
9. How does money bring you joy?
10. When have you felt at your richest?
11. What is the largest sum of money you’ve ever received?
12. What, in your opinion, is a “good” amount of money to earn?
13. What is the most money you’ve ever spent on something?
14. Imagine you inherited $5000 from a distant relative with the condition you had to spend it on something other than yourself. What would you do with the money?
15. What would you do if you ran out of money tomorrow?
16. What is the best or most helpful piece of advice you’ve heard about money?
17. What is the worst or least helpful piece of advice?
18. How do you talk about money with friends and family? (Do you?)
19. What would you like your financial life to look like in 10 years’ time?
20. What is one thing you could do today to improve your financial life?

Best,
Kelly

 In commemoration of International Women's Day on March 8th, we discussed women who we admire and who have made a positive impact in our lives.  In some classes, we also used the Equality Wheel to discuss equality in relationships and how to reach gender balance.

Listening:
Learners can try an activity about US Citizenship Podcast: ESL Lessons for Women's History Month  or some What it Takes Episodes from influential women such as What It Takes - Sally Ride, or What It Takes - Nora Ephron.

For original version, try Women's History Timeline with audio.  Or try a fascinating podcast about consent called In the No Part 1 and In the No Part 2 .

Reading:
Learners can try a reading comprehension activity about International Women's Day - 5 Minute English or Seven Women Who Made History .

For original version read an article by Arlie Hochschild: Housework Isn't 'Emotional Labor' from The Atlantic or some relevant articles from the Guardian.
 
Writing:
This week for writing, please write an essay using one of the following prompts:

• How much do you and your friends adhere to gender norms?  What would happen if one of you broke a big norm (such as a boy wearing a dress or a girl getting a buzz-cut)?
• Do people who break gender norms get treated differently from people who adhere to them?  Why or why not?
• What would the world look like if there were true gender equality?  How would that differ from today’s world?
• How do gender norms contribute to gender inequality?  Give an example and explain.
• Historically, some cultures in the world operated as matriarchies.  Do you think a matriarchal society would be better than a patriarchal society?  Why or why not?

Best,
Kelly