6/22/2022 0 Comments March Week FourLast week we talked about the world of plants: from gardening, to harvesting medicinal plants and everything in between!
Listening: Learners can try an activity about how plants defend themselves, or about gardening. For original version listening, try an episode from TTBOOK called plants as persons. Reading: Learners can try a reading comprehension activity about choosing houseplants or about plants making intelligent decisions. For original version, check out one of the following articles:“Returning the Gift” by Robin Wall Kimmerer “Go Ask the Plants” by Aya Yamamoto “Grounded” by Aubrey Streit Krug “Healing Sacred Earth” by Curt Meine “A Tree of One’s Own” by Claire Hamlett “Give Me Urban Prairie, Give Me My Home” by Benjamin Vogt Writing: This week for writing, write an essay about how plants are important to us (think about plants as food, medicine, decoration, beauty). Best, Kelly
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6/22/2022 0 Comments March Week ThreeHappy Spring, everybody! This week we discussed topics related to springtime -- rites and festival of spring as well as the debate about Daylight Savings Time.
Listening: Learners can try an activity called Spring cleaning from 6 Minute English or an activity from Randalls about the seasons. For original version listening, listen to an episode from NPRs 1A about the the Daylight Savings Time Debate. Reading: Learners can try a reading comprehension activity about Easter traditions in the U.K. For original version, read an article from the New Yorker about The Underrated Art of Eating Flowers. Writing: This week please write a report about the debate about Daylight Savings Time. What are the different sides of the discussion? What would your recommendations be? Best, Kelly 6/22/2022 0 Comments March Week TwoThis week's topic was house and home -- everything from the characteristics we adore about our homes, to renovations and home improvement projects, to dream homes.
Listening: Learners can try a listening comprehension activity from 6 Minute English about Living in a tiny space or House swap . For original version listening, listen to an episode from To The Best of Our Knowledge about Making A Home , or an episode from This American Life called No Place Like Home . Reading: Learners can try a reading comprehension activity about moving house. or about different properties. For original version, try an article from the New Yorker: Britain’s Idyllic Country Houses Reveal a Darker History, A House Is Not a Home or Pilgrim’s Progress. Writing: This week you have a couple options for writing. You could write a descriptive ad for your home (imagine that you are going to post it on Airbnb or try to sell it), talking up all its strong points. Another option is to write a formal letter requesting a quote for renovations of your home. What are the changes you would like to make? Best, Kelly 6/22/2022 0 Comments March Week OneThis week in honor of International Women's Day we talked about the women who made us: ancestors, mothers, grandmothers, female artists, authors, scientists and activists. Happy Women's Day to everyone!
Listening: Learners can try a listening comprehension activity from British Council about Breaking the Bias. For original version listening, check out the fantastic podcast series from Scene on Radio about sexism and the patriarchy: Men. Also of interest is an episode called Everybody Knows Somebody from Throughline. Reading: Learners can try a reading comprehension activity about the history of International Women's Day. For original version, read the essay Confessions of a Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay (also available with audio at various speeds). Other notable essays include Rebecca Solnit: How Change Happens, or “What No One Else Will Tell You About Feminism” – Lindy West. Writing: This week for writing, you could write about one of the women who has most influenced you in your life. Or consider one of the following topics about women and society:
Best, Kelly 6/22/2022 0 Comments February Week FourThis week we used a few different resources including the WikiTrivia Quiz to talk about history (and also to practice the third conditional!).
Listening: Learners can try a listening activity with the third conditional from British Council. Or you can try a listening comprehension activity about Rome: Rise and fall of an Empire. For original version listening, check out some of my favorite history podcasts: Throughline, Revisionist History, You are Dead to Me. Reading: Learners can try a reading comprehension activity: 7 women who changed the world, Maya Civilization, A Brief History of the Vikings, A Short History of Slavery. For original version, check out some of my favorite history websites: History.Com, or World History Encyclopedia. Writing: This week for writing, I would like you to continue your work with the third conditional. Take a key moment in history and imagine what would have happened if it hadn't come to be. Best, Kelly 6/22/2022 0 Comments February Week ThreeThis week coincides with Valentine's Day and I make a confession that I the TV programme First Dates is a guilty pleasure of mine. We took the chance to talk about dating in general and dating customs in Spain.
Listening: Learners can try something from Six Minute English about Dating apps. For original version listening watch episodes of First Dates! You can watch on Channel Four's Website, or on their Youtube Channel which also includes Best of First Dates Ireland 🇮🇪or Best of First Dates Australia 🇦🇺. Reading: Learners can try an article from Breaking News English about Romantic Love or a reading comprehension challenge about online dating. For original version, check out the Guardian Series Blind Dates. Writing: Write an essay about online dating versus traditional dating, which one wins? Or imagine that you would like to nominate yourself or a close friend to go on the TV show First Dates! Write a letter describing their personality and what they are looking for in love! Best, Kelly 6/22/2022 0 Comments February Week TwoThis week we talked about Mount Washington in New Hampshire, home of some of the craziest weather in the world and an important observatory. We also talked about other incredible mountains around the world.
Listening: Learners can try an exercise called Mountain Climbing Weekend, or an activity about The Canadian Rockies. For original version listening watch some videos about Mt. Washington: Mt. Washington State Park or Extreme Mount Washington. Reading: Learners can try an article from Breaking News English about Mount Everest. For original version, try The Mountain and Mother Nature or The 10 Most Dangerous Hikes in America: Mt Washington, NH. Writing: Write an essay about a mountain that you have visited or hiked. What makes it unique? What would you recommend to potential daytrippers? Best, Kelly |
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