Englishpage.com provides a good explanation of how to use the simple future and some exercises that you can practice with.
Because you can often use "will" or "be going to" to mean a similar idea, the rules can be a little confusing and teachers may have slightly different ways of explaining it. The most important idea to remember is that "will" is used with a promise or an offer to help and "be going to" is often used with a plan.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
English with Jennifer
Jennifer Lebedev is an English instructor who has compiled a website and youtube channel to help students learn English. She makes her own videos and activities, which are easy to understand and cover a wide range of topics. She discusses basic grammar, advanced grammar, vocabulary, slang, pronunciation, and much more!
Nouns - Count, Noncount, & Modifiers
Here is a great resource that will tell you everything that you ever wanted to know about nouns. :)
This is a very helpful explanation of how to use "much" or "many" as well as some other quantifiers in front of count and noncount nouns.
A, An, & The
Use these links to practice the definite and indefinite articles (The/A/An).
This video was created by a professor at Miramar, and it will help you understand when to use a, an, or the.
Prepositions
This website has some good examples of how to use prepositions.
Here is a good explanation of how to use in, on, and at.
Here is a good explanation of how to use on, onto, to, in, into.
Here is a good explantion of the relationship between objects.
Here is a good practice activity with prepositions.
Here is a good explanation of how to use in, on, and at.
Here is a good explanation of how to use on, onto, to, in, into.
Here is a good explantion of the relationship between objects.
Here is a good practice activity with prepositions.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
More About Modals!
English Club has some great explanations and quizzes that you can use for practice. There is also this modal quiz that you can try. :)
Modal Tutorial
Here is a modal tutorial with an explanation and several quizzes to help you practice the differences between the modals. There are many modals and some have multiple meanings, so it will take some time to feel comfortable with all of them. Just keep practicing! :)
More About Imperatives
Remember that to make an imperative statement, the subject "you" is implied and not directly said. An example of an imperative is "Sit down." Negative imperative statements often have "don't" in them: "Don't forget to wear your seatbelt!" We know who the speaker is talking to even though the subject is not directly mentioned. You can practice making imperative statements here.
Imperatives
This website contains a good explantion of how to form/use an imperative.
Here is a video that will show you additional ways that we use imperatives. (This is also a good example of how the British use adjectives differently than Americans. The British host says "politer," but Americans say "more polite." Also, he makes a mistake with the superlative in the middle of the video by saying "more shorter." Did you hear how he corrected himself?)
Here is a video that will show you additional ways that we use imperatives. (This is also a good example of how the British use adjectives differently than Americans. The British host says "politer," but Americans say "more polite." Also, he makes a mistake with the superlative in the middle of the video by saying "more shorter." Did you hear how he corrected himself?)
TED Talks
"TED Talks" is a small non-profit agency. They "believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world" and the site is dedicated to "ideas worth spreading." Their site offers "free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other."
The great thing about this website is that the subtitles are available in up to 50 languages!
The great thing about this website is that the subtitles are available in up to 50 languages!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Spelling of -ed and -ing verbs
First, review the spelling paper that is included in your midterm review (G-10) or review the spelling -ed and -ing spelling rules on this website.
Then, try this quiz.
Then, try this quiz.
Past Continuous
EnglishPage offers a great explanation of all the ways that we use the past continuous tense.
You can also practice when to use the simple past and when to use the past continuous with these activities:
Activity #1
Activity #2
Here is another activity that you can try:
Activity #3
You can also practice when to use the simple past and when to use the past continuous with these activities:
Activity #1
Activity #2
Here is another activity that you can try:
Activity #3
Thursday, September 29, 2011
ADVANCED: Citing Sources
A few people were asking me about how to include a source in their writing. If you take anything from the internet, you MUST give credit to the original author. You have a few ways that you can do this.
You can write the information in YOUR OWN words and then give the source at the bottom of the page like this...Source: "The Name of the Article." www.thenameofthewebsite.com
Or, you can use information directly from the article. Then, you must put it in quotation marks:
Mark Twain wrote that, "give the quote here and use quotation marks on each side of it," (name of book or article).
This is advanced, and it is NOT a requirement for ESOL 20, but if you are interested you can begin practicing now. You may use this in ESOL 40, and you will DEFINITELY use this in English 49. :)
You can write the information in YOUR OWN words and then give the source at the bottom of the page like this...Source: "The Name of the Article." www.thenameofthewebsite.com
Or, you can use information directly from the article. Then, you must put it in quotation marks:
Mark Twain wrote that, "give the quote here and use quotation marks on each side of it," (name of book or article).
This is advanced, and it is NOT a requirement for ESOL 20, but if you are interested you can begin practicing now. You may use this in ESOL 40, and you will DEFINITELY use this in English 49. :)
Bilingual Quizzes!!
Hi Everyone!
Check out this website! They offer bilingual quizzes so that you can improve your vocabulry. For examples, quizzes are offered in Persian, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Spanish & MANY other languages too! Enjoy!
Check out this website! They offer bilingual quizzes so that you can improve your vocabulry. For examples, quizzes are offered in Persian, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Spanish & MANY other languages too! Enjoy!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Update and Reminders
Hi Everyone!
As I am sure that you can see, the assignments for ESOL 20 are becoming more difficult and there is more homework than there was at the beginning of the class. To do well in this course, you should plan to spend about 6-10 hours each week studying outside of class. You might even need to study more than this. Alex and I will help you as much as possible. :)
For Thursday, 9/22 you should finish pages 24-27 in your grammar book about the simple past & WRITE your description of what you did during the blackout in the box on your G-8. When you come to class on Tuesday, we will do a review together of comparatives/superlatives & also the simple past. You should be prepared to discuss both of these topics.
For Tuesday, 9/27 you should begin writing your C-3 (paragraph about your place). And, you should start revising your C-2 (college education/advantages of California) paragraph if you choose to do it. You will also have more grammar homework during the weekend so don't wait to start on your paragraphs.
I can see that many people are preparing very carefully for their assignments, which is wonderful! 21 out of the 25 students who took the quiz last night got an A, B, or C on the quiz. :) I will give them back to you tomorrow night and you can use them to help you study. If you didn't pass, this will show you what you need to review more carefullly.
If you went to the workshop yesterday in the lab, please write your paragraph about what you learned and give it to me as soon as possible. You will earn 5 points of extra credit for doing this. You should answer these questions: 1) What did you do during the workshop? 2) What did you learn? 3) How will this help you to become a better writer/student?
The lab's next workshops are:
Topic: Annotation (Becoming an Active Reader) When: Wednesday, September 28th 9:00-10:00 a.m. Where: The Lab (I-122)
Topic: Formatting a Compelling Paragraph When: Monday, October 3rd 3:00-4:00 p.m. Where: The Lab (I-122)
If you can't attend the workshops in the lab, there are some workshops on the internet that you can sign up for. These workshops that are taught by teachers at the PLACe. You can also get extra credit for attending these. I will give you five points for these too if you write the paragraph about what you did and what you learned. You can do these online workshops at home! :) You must email the teacher to sign up.
Here is the schedule for the online workshops for this semester:
Topic: Words we Confuse When: Saturday, Sept 24th, 12:00-1:00pm
Sign Up: email Mathew: matwhite1@gmail.com
Topic: Revision Workshop When: Saturday, Oct 1st, 12:00-1:00pm
Sign Up: email Mathew: matwhite1@gmail.com
Topic: Predicting Essay Questions When: Saturday, October 15th, 12:00-1:00pm
Sign Up: email Mathew: matwhite1@gmail.com
Have a great day, and I will see you on Thursday!
Best Wishes,
Kristin
As I am sure that you can see, the assignments for ESOL 20 are becoming more difficult and there is more homework than there was at the beginning of the class. To do well in this course, you should plan to spend about 6-10 hours each week studying outside of class. You might even need to study more than this. Alex and I will help you as much as possible. :)
For Thursday, 9/22 you should finish pages 24-27 in your grammar book about the simple past & WRITE your description of what you did during the blackout in the box on your G-8. When you come to class on Tuesday, we will do a review together of comparatives/superlatives & also the simple past. You should be prepared to discuss both of these topics.
For Tuesday, 9/27 you should begin writing your C-3 (paragraph about your place). And, you should start revising your C-2 (college education/advantages of California) paragraph if you choose to do it. You will also have more grammar homework during the weekend so don't wait to start on your paragraphs.
I can see that many people are preparing very carefully for their assignments, which is wonderful! 21 out of the 25 students who took the quiz last night got an A, B, or C on the quiz. :) I will give them back to you tomorrow night and you can use them to help you study. If you didn't pass, this will show you what you need to review more carefullly.
If you went to the workshop yesterday in the lab, please write your paragraph about what you learned and give it to me as soon as possible. You will earn 5 points of extra credit for doing this. You should answer these questions: 1) What did you do during the workshop? 2) What did you learn? 3) How will this help you to become a better writer/student?
The lab's next workshops are:
Topic: Annotation (Becoming an Active Reader) When: Wednesday, September 28th 9:00-10:00 a.m. Where: The Lab (I-122)
Topic: Formatting a Compelling Paragraph When: Monday, October 3rd 3:00-4:00 p.m. Where: The Lab (I-122)
If you can't attend the workshops in the lab, there are some workshops on the internet that you can sign up for. These workshops that are taught by teachers at the PLACe. You can also get extra credit for attending these. I will give you five points for these too if you write the paragraph about what you did and what you learned. You can do these online workshops at home! :) You must email the teacher to sign up.
Here is the schedule for the online workshops for this semester:
Topic: Words we Confuse When: Saturday, Sept 24th, 12:00-1:00pm
Sign Up: email Mathew: matwhite1@gmail.com
Topic: Revision Workshop When: Saturday, Oct 1st, 12:00-1:00pm
Sign Up: email Mathew: matwhite1@gmail.com
Topic: Predicting Essay Questions When: Saturday, October 15th, 12:00-1:00pm
Sign Up: email Mathew: matwhite1@gmail.com
Have a great day, and I will see you on Thursday!
Best Wishes,
Kristin
Descriptive Writing Tips
A writer named Virginia Hamilton offers advice to students about writing. On the Scholastic website, she says:
1. Write a little each day. Practicing regularly helps you become more observant and confident.
2. Try to write at the same time every day. When writing becomes a routine, the words will flow more easily. You'll begin to feel committed to your journal.
3. Carry a notebook with you at all times. That way you'll never miss an important moment.
4. Keep a sharp eye on every aspect of your daily life. Even the most routine events are worth observing. Whenever possible, make quick notes of what you observe. Later, you can refer to these notes when writing your finished work.
5. Look very carefully at what's happening around you. Take note of "who," "what," "when," "where," "how," and "why."
6. Write simply. Say exactly what you see, feel, hear, and so on. Be specific when you write. For example, instead of tree, say what kind of tree.
7. Good descriptive writing depends heavily on observing and recollecting vivid moments. As you observe an event, jot down everything that you observed. Push yourself to remember as many details as you can. It may help to close your eyes and bring yourself back to that earlier moment.
8. Remember, you are the writer who observes — you see the people and the scenes. You have the power of the word and can shape the images that you present. Draw upon your knowledge of facts, your memories, and your imagination. I think of these three as "The Known," "The Remembered," and "The Imagined."
1. Write a little each day. Practicing regularly helps you become more observant and confident.
2. Try to write at the same time every day. When writing becomes a routine, the words will flow more easily. You'll begin to feel committed to your journal.
3. Carry a notebook with you at all times. That way you'll never miss an important moment.
4. Keep a sharp eye on every aspect of your daily life. Even the most routine events are worth observing. Whenever possible, make quick notes of what you observe. Later, you can refer to these notes when writing your finished work.
5. Look very carefully at what's happening around you. Take note of "who," "what," "when," "where," "how," and "why."
6. Write simply. Say exactly what you see, feel, hear, and so on. Be specific when you write. For example, instead of tree, say what kind of tree.
7. Good descriptive writing depends heavily on observing and recollecting vivid moments. As you observe an event, jot down everything that you observed. Push yourself to remember as many details as you can. It may help to close your eyes and bring yourself back to that earlier moment.
8. Remember, you are the writer who observes — you see the people and the scenes. You have the power of the word and can shape the images that you present. Draw upon your knowledge of facts, your memories, and your imagination. I think of these three as "The Known," "The Remembered," and "The Imagined."
Simple Past Tense
EnglishPage offers a good description of all the ways that we use the simple past tense in English.
Comparatives and Superlatives
More Simple Present and Present Continuous
Want more practice with the simple present and present continuous? Click the links below for more online quizzes!
1. Simple Present
2. Present Continuous
1. Simple Present
2. Present Continuous
Listening, Speaking, and Vocabulary Website!
English Central is a fun website that let's you practice listening to real English! This is a great way to learn vocabulary! You can pick words by subject, and the program will give you time to listen and learn the vocabulary, and then practice speaking it. Come into the lab and we can show you how it works!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Updates and Reminders
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to give you some information about Tuesday's class. At the beginning of class, you will have a quiz. The quiz will take 20 minutes. If you are late, you will NOT be given extra time, so make sure that you arrive on time or a few minutes early. If you are absent, you will NOT be able to take the quiz at a later time.
You should review:
1) Chapter 1 of your writing book (look specifically at the review at the end of the chapter)
2) Practice 1-8 (pages 2-17) of your grammar book & pages 56-57 (adjective homework)
3) ALL of your G (grammar) notes
4) ALL of your W (writing) notes
5) The blog activities that are posted
After the quiz, we will review your "5 Hot Spots." You will get homework credit for this assignment, so it is very important that you complete it. You should have a drawing AND a description for each place that you choose.
You will get your next paragraph assignment in class tomorrow night, and Alex and I will give you some time to begin planning your paragraph. Think about the places that you discussed in your "5 Hot Spots" and which one would make a good paragraph.
TO SUMMARIZE... For class tomorrow night, you must complete pages 56-57 in your grammar book, completely finish your "5 Hot Spots" assignment, and study for your quiz. Please let me know if you have any questions. Best Wishes, Kristin
I wanted to give you some information about Tuesday's class. At the beginning of class, you will have a quiz. The quiz will take 20 minutes. If you are late, you will NOT be given extra time, so make sure that you arrive on time or a few minutes early. If you are absent, you will NOT be able to take the quiz at a later time.
You should review:
1) Chapter 1 of your writing book (look specifically at the review at the end of the chapter)
2) Practice 1-8 (pages 2-17) of your grammar book & pages 56-57 (adjective homework)
3) ALL of your G (grammar) notes
4) ALL of your W (writing) notes
5) The blog activities that are posted
After the quiz, we will review your "5 Hot Spots." You will get homework credit for this assignment, so it is very important that you complete it. You should have a drawing AND a description for each place that you choose.
You will get your next paragraph assignment in class tomorrow night, and Alex and I will give you some time to begin planning your paragraph. Think about the places that you discussed in your "5 Hot Spots" and which one would make a good paragraph.
TO SUMMARIZE... For class tomorrow night, you must complete pages 56-57 in your grammar book, completely finish your "5 Hot Spots" assignment, and study for your quiz. Please let me know if you have any questions. Best Wishes, Kristin
Extra Credit for Attending Workshops
Hi Everyone!
I hope you're having a good day! I wanted to let you know about some special, free classes (workshops) that we are offering in the tutoring lab. There is a workshop each week from now until the end of the semester. Each workshop is one hour long.
I will give you extra credit if you go to the workshops. I will give you 5 points for each workshop that you attend if you write a paragraph about it and turn it in to me. In the paragraph, you should discuss:
1) What did you do during the workshop?
2) What did you learn?
3) How will this help you become a better writer/student?
You must write AT LEAST 1/2 page. There are 8 workshops total, so if you go to every one, you can earn 40 points of extra credit!!! :)
If you can't go to the workshops because the times are not convenient for you, you can still earn extra credit. If you go to the lab for 10 OR MORE hours during the semester, I will give you 10 points of extra credit for your grade. You must go for at least 10 hours to get these points.
This is a total of 50 points of extra credit!!!! If you have any questions, please let me know.
Here is the schedule for the workshops: https://sites.google.com/site/miramarbasicskillslab/workshops
I hope you're having a good day! I wanted to let you know about some special, free classes (workshops) that we are offering in the tutoring lab. There is a workshop each week from now until the end of the semester. Each workshop is one hour long.
I will give you extra credit if you go to the workshops. I will give you 5 points for each workshop that you attend if you write a paragraph about it and turn it in to me. In the paragraph, you should discuss:
1) What did you do during the workshop?
2) What did you learn?
3) How will this help you become a better writer/student?
You must write AT LEAST 1/2 page. There are 8 workshops total, so if you go to every one, you can earn 40 points of extra credit!!! :)
If you can't go to the workshops because the times are not convenient for you, you can still earn extra credit. If you go to the lab for 10 OR MORE hours during the semester, I will give you 10 points of extra credit for your grade. You must go for at least 10 hours to get these points.
This is a total of 50 points of extra credit!!!! If you have any questions, please let me know.
Here is the schedule for the workshops: https://sites.google.com/site/miramarbasicskillslab/workshops
Paragraph Organization
This is a great resource about paragraph structure and organization. It explains topics sentences, supporting sentences, details, conclusion, and formal language.
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