October Week One

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