This week we discussed stages of life, comparing perspectives, drawbacks and advantages of being an infant, toddler, child, teen, adult, middle aged or senior.

Don't forget that Friday November 13th and Friday November 20th I am offering make-up classes for those who have missed sessions since the beginning of the schoolyear! Please get in touch to make sure you have a spot!

Listening:
Learners can try an activity from Six Minute English about the Teenage Brain.  For something more challenging check out a listening comprehension task about Senior Citizens.

For original version listening, try a podcast episode from Freakonomics called Think Like a Child or an episode from This American Life such as Return to Childhood or Kid Logic.

Reading:
Learners can try reading a text from Breaking News English about the imminent challenges of an aging population.

For original version, check out an article about how brain functioning morphs with age or an article from the BBC about the Benefits of Getting Older.

Writing:
This week for writing, write an essay comparing different ages of life.  How have you, your beliefs and your habits changed from a child, teen, adult, or into middle age? How do you imagine yourself when you are older?

Best,
Kelly

  This week we used the fantastic website Atlas Obscura to explore the world virtually.  From their website:

We are a global community of explorers, who have together created a comprehensive database of the world’s most wondrous places and foods —21,711 of them contributed by our community so far, and more every day, from a secret apartment atop the Eiffel Tower to bridges built out of living roots, from a temple shaped like a chicken to an island ruled by cats, from a fruit that tastes like chocolate pudding to a spicy chutney made out of red ants.


Listening:
Learners can try an easy activity about sightseeing tours, or one of the many activities at ESL Video aboutTravel and Adventure | ESL Video
For original version listening, try any of the wonderful videos available for viewing at Atlas Obscura:

• These Grandmothers Are Preserving Ukraine’s Folk Music Traditions
• How a Border Village Keeps the Memories of Divided Families Alive
• On the Hunt for Signtronix Signs in Greater Boston
• Meet the Man Who Built North Dakota’s Enchanted Highway

 
 Reading:
Learners can try reading
Travel guide | LearnEnglish Teens - British Council
or Where Would you go if...?

For original version, please read any of the articles over in the Stories section at Atlas Obscura.

Writing:
This week for writing, please compose your own article about a place that you feel should be included in the Atlas Obscura compendium of places of wonder.  What sets it apart? How did you discover it?

One last thing!  I am offering make up session on Friday November 13th and Friday November 20th for anyone who has missed sessions in September or October.  If you need to make up classes, please get in touch to schedule a session.

Best,
Kelly

  Everything is different in 2020, the year of the pandemic, but in class we kept our yearly tradition of honoring Halloween by turning off the lights, lighting the candles and telling creepy stories.  Happy Halloween everybody!

Listening:
Learners can check out Scary Ouija Board Stories, or try a listening comprehension activity about Horror Films from the British Counci. For something more involved, you can listen to the Terror of Blue John Gap.

For original version listening, try some creepy podcasts to get you in the Halloween vibe:

• Family Ghosts
• The NoSleep Podcast
• Strange Phenomenon
• Haunted Places

Reading:
Learners can try reading some classic ghost stories, such as The Yellow Ribbon, Babysitter, The Hook,  The Viper. Or you can try a reading comprehension activity about Halloween and its origins.

For original version, you could read an article about how Halloween looks different this year. Across the U.S., cities and towns have gotten creative to celebrate the holiday during the covid-19 pandemic.

Writing:
This week for writing, try to get creative by writing a composition that starts with "I don't believe in the paranormal, but one day..."

Best,
Kelly

 The US Election is just a few short weeks away! As I was busy readying my absentee ballot, we took the chance to discuss the ins and outs of the American electoral system and the 2020 elections: the process, the issues, the possible future scenarios.

Listening:
Learners can try a couple of activities from BBC Learning English: Hacking Help for US Elections or Can You Trust the Polls? Another option is US Elections: How Does it Work?

For original version listening, try some videos from The Guardian: Georgia, Civil Rights and QAnon or What If Trump Doesn't Concede the Election?

Reading:
Learners can try a reading comprehension activity about the Presidential Election or any of the election coverage from VOA English.

For original version, try some articles about the issues: Where Does Trump Stand on the Issues? and What Does Joe Biden Want to Do?  Another take is from El Pais in English: United States is an Imperfect Democracy from its Founding.

Writing:
This week for writing, please write a report on the upcoming US Elections detailing the process, the issues, and what is unique about the 2020 elections.  Finally, go ahead and make a prediction on what you believe the outcome will be and why.

Best,
Kelly

 This week is a holiday in the United States (Columbus Day), and we took this as a chance to discuss the topic of explorers: looking at the famous voyages of explorers such as Columbus, Magellan, Shackleton and others.  This is a great chance to practice your mastery of the past tense! Now, on to the homework.

Listening:
Learners can try an article (with audio) from VOA English about the current controversy around Columbus statues. For something else, try an episode of Six Minute English about Scott and the Antarctic.

For original version listening, try out the documentary Columbus in America, which depicts some of the dark sides of discovery for indigenous people.

Reading:
Learners can try their hand at an article about Amazing Aventures from British Council.

For original version, try an article from PBS about why some people are celebrating Indigenous People's Day instead of Columbus Day.  Do you sympathize with this effort?

Writing
Choose one of the world's famous explorers (check this link for ideas) and write a text outlining what their exploration entailed and what they discovered.    How are their achievements viewed today? Be especially careful with the past tense!

Best,
Kelly

Now that we have gotten back into our English routine, we got down to tackling a specific topic of conversation.  This week we discussed the art of conversation, and in class we covered small talk, taboo subjects, those who are talkative or quiet, public speaking and much more.  

Now, it's time to try to extend your work at home.  Try some of the following activities!

Listening:
Learners should try an exercise about small talk from ESL flow, or an activity about conversation starters.  For something a little harder, try listening to dialogues.

For original version listening, I recommend listening to some podcasts or videos with people who are the masters at conversation!  Choose one interview from Terry Gross to listen to.

Reading:
Learners can try an article that discusses how to start a conversation, or how to start and MAINTAIN a conversation in English. For something more challenging, try the article, "Are We Losing the Art of Conversation?"

For original version, I recommend an article that lays out all the ways to be the best conversationalist.

Writing:
This week for writing, I would like you to write a dialogue.  It could be about one of the following topics:

• an awkward conversation
• small talk
• catching up
• trying to get someone to open up
• a typical conversation in your life.

Best,
Kelly

Welcome back, everybody!

It was great to see you guys again and start the new school year, it feels great to get back to a routine despite the crazy times.  Although times are tough, I think this is a great opportunity to dedicate a little more time to English and to enjoy the social component of our conversation groups, both online and in person.  

This week we talked about our goals for English for this school year, and also about the challenges and benefits of remote learning that we have discovered in the last months.  

The main objective this week is to get back to an English practice, increasing your contact with the language as much as possible.  We talked about many different ideas in class, so now it's time to put them into action!

Listening:

Learners should take a look at some of my favorite resources for practicing listening online:

• Your favorite streaming service with subtitles (Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, etc.).  Don't forget to try watching some fragments without subtitles or with English subtitles.
• BBC Learning English
• VOA English
• ESL Video
• British Council Learning
• Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab
• LyricsTraining
• All Ears English
• Info Squares -- English with Movie Trailers

For original version, I recommend:

• Streaming services (Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, etc.)
• BBC
• NPR
• TED Talks (also available as TED Radio Hour)
• Frontline Documentaries
• StoryCorps
• Podcasts
•  

Reading:
Learners should try to choose some resources that they enjoy to practice reading on a regular basis.

• Study Zone (first select level, then reading)
• Breaking News English
• VOA
• El País in English

For original version, I recommend regularly reading the news:

• New York Times
• Vox (Explains the News)
• The Guardian
• BBC

Also consider following original version sources in your social media feed.

Writing:
This week for writing, I would like you to write a composition about your goals for English this year and how you will adapt your daily habits to achieve these goals.  Think about how your daily routine is different at this time compared to other years, how can you take advantage of this moment to further advance your progress in English?

Best,
Kelly