Week 1

It was a great first week at Meetghouse in the English Tertulias.  We mainly talked this week about how to best learn a language, and what our past experiences have been, as well as what our current objectives are. 

For homework this week, I would like you to explore some of the resources below to find some things that work for you.  Also, you could try some writing.  A good way to start writing is with a freewriting exercise, which means writing for 10 to 20 minutes without stopping and without worrying about grammar mistakes or vocabulary problems.  JUST WRITE.  Then, correct yourself.  Another possibility is writing about what you are an expert on, or something that you're passionate about -- this is a good way for me to get to know you.

Here are some links I would like to share with you so that you can work at home.

Listening:

• Online listening (Elllo, BBC English)
• Podcasts: Some are learners, like ESLPod, or for native speakers (Radiolab and This American Life, and Stuff You Missed In History Class are some of my favorites) but there are lots of others on NPR and BBC 
  
• Vaughan Radio (online or on TDT Radio)
• Videos online (TED and Frontline Documentaries have subtitles in English)
  
• Movies, with or without subtitles in English or Spanish.
  
• Music

Reading

• The news! Either in original version (NYT, BBC, CNN) or for learners
• Original essays, short stories, articles or novels
• Your interest are on the internet (including blogs).  Do you like reading about news, film, culture, music, art, food, cooking, education, art history, science, tecnology, the economy, nature, fashion, history, museums, interior design, big ideas, sports, or architecture? There is a something for you to read somewhere.  If you need help finding things to read or listen to online about your interests, please tell me!
  

Writing
Writing can be structured or unstructured. I am happy to correct your writing and give feedback, either digitally or on paper, whatever works for you. Think about trying to:

• keep a journal/blog in English
• write a response to something you read, watched, listened to

Hopefully you can find something that works for you.  Also, if you want to make any changes to your timetable, please let me know.