October Week One

Do your Homework!
Make your English teacher happy!

Welcome back to the new school year and a big welcome to all the new students this year! 
This week we talked about how to study English.  Your main task for this week is to familiarize yourself with the general resources that I include below and find some that you like. Bookmark them so that you can revisit them throughout the year!

LISTENING

There are plenty of websites out there both for learners and in original version that you can use to practice listening.  The ones that I recommend (by section) are:

Online listening activities adapted for learners:

• Randall's Listening Lab
• English Listening
• BBC English
• English Central
• British Council Listen and Watch
• Elllo
• Voice of America Special English
• Vaughan Radio (also available on TDT Radio)

Podcasts for learners:

• ESLPod
• The Bob and Rob Show

Learning with music:

• Lyrics Training
• Tune into English Karaoke
• Lyricsgaps

Learning with movies:

• Learn English Through Movies
• Ororo

Original Version Resources:

• BBC
• NPR
• TED Talks (also available as TED Radio Hour)
• Frontline Documentaries
• StoryCorps
• This American Life
• Radiolab
• Favorite Poems Project
• University courses and lectures at Coursera

READING
Just as is the case of listening, there are many resources that you can revisit throughout the year.  Try both the adapted reading sites as well as the ones in original version!

Adapted reading for learners:

• Study Zone (first select level, then reading)
• Time for Kids
• Breaking News English
• VOA

Original version reading:

• New York Times
• The Guardian
• Magatopia
• The Feature (essays)

Original version blogs and websites: Blogs are a fantastic way to explore your interests and study English at the same time.  There are blogs about everything: culture, TV and film, music, cooking,science, the possibilities are endless!  If you need help finding websites about your interest, please let me know!


WRITING

This week's writing assignment is to make a study plan for the year! What are your objectives? What resources will you use to achieve them? What skills do you need to improve on?  If you are a new student, please write about your past experiences with English and what you would like to change and improve.


GRAMMAR
I do recommend that you study a bit of grammar at home.  Even the most advanced students could use a review! So please take a look at some of these resources to study grammar:

• Grammar Quizzes
• Self-study Grammar Quizzes
• Use of English Grammar Test
• EnglishGrammar

VOCABULARY
This year I suggest you study vocabulary with theQuizlet sets that I have prepared, so take a look and consider downloading the app onto your phone or tablet, so if you are interested, please register online.  Other resources are:

• Words in the News
• Self-Study Vocabulary Quizzes
• English Vocabulary Level Test

PRONUNCIATION
Last, but certainly not least, there are websites that you can use to practice pronunciation:

• BBC Pronunciation
• Listen and Repeat: Daily Pronunciation Practice
• Ship or Sheep
• Perfect Pronunciation
• Pronunciation Course
• English Central Pronunciation

As you can see there are plenty of resources to help you with your progress this year.  Try to find a few that you think you will use and continue to revisit them throughout the year.

Have a good week!
Best,
Kelly