End of Semester Holiday Extravaganza!

We are now in the midst of what is commonly called "the Holiday Season" in the U.S. There are several winter holidays celebrated during the months of December and January including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and New Year's. 

During today's class, we will spend some time talking about each of these celebrations, sharing information about traditional celebrations associated with holidays in the U.S. and Russia and enjoying some fun activities and holiday music! I've included the activity links below. 

Class Links

I. Warm-Up

How are you? How are things? What's new? How was your weekend? What's going on this week? Are you busy? Are you looking forward to the holidays? What will you do? Do you have any questions for me? 

II. Holiday Potluck

Let's enjoy some food during today's class :) Be sure to thank your classmates that were generous enough to bring something to share! 

III. White Elephant Gift Exchange

In order to decide who will go first, we will have a short, improvised "Spelling Bee". In groups of three, you will have 30 seconds to correctly spell the word. The winners will move on. The losers will not. WHO WILL WIN (and get to pick the first gift?!)

IV. Games! 

I hope we can enjoy the last day of class together with a few games including: 

1. Categories (here)
2. Find Someone Who... (here)
3. Hangman 

V. Resources

I hope this is not the end of our time together! I've really enjoyed working with all of you! You've really been one of my all time favorite classes to work with! But, just in case our paths do not cross again, I wanted to leave you with a few links to resources you can consult in the future. They include: 

1. The American Center - Moscow
2. American English
3. "Shaping the Way We Teach English" Webinar Series
4. Conversation Club/Reading Group (for next semester)

VI. Holiday Activities

If there is some extra time, we can do one or two or the following activities. I was thinking that numbers 1, 3 and 13 would be fun! 

1. Holiday Discussion Questions
2. Winter Holiday Presentation 
3. Holiday Bingo
4. Holiday Vocabulary
5. New Year's Reading
6. Christmas Reading
7. "Twas the Night Before Christmas" Video
8. The History of New Year's Video
9. The History of New Year's Discussion Questions
10. "The Gift of the Magi" (short story by O. Henry)
11. "The Gift of the Magi" Discussion Questions
12. "The Gift of the Magi" video interpretation
13. New Year's Resolutions
14. Holiday Music

VII. Final Comments & Certificates

That's it (for now) my friends! Thank you for the opportunity to get to know and work with each one of you. As I mentioned earlier, working with you has been a very positive experience (one of my best). I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors. Please stay in touch (via email or in person). I sincerely hope we'll get the chance to work together next semester! 

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

We're almost at the end and that means I would like to take some time to look back... kind of ironic, I know. You have all proven yourself to be effective communicators in both written and spoken English. Today's class is designed to help you to further increase your accuracy in written communication in English. To do this, we will focus on a common issues that I have noticed popping up repeatedly over the course of the last two months. Hopefully, you'll find this review useful! An outline for today's class can be found below.

Reflection & Focus on Accuracy

Objectives: Students will be able to...

1. explain the importance of accuracy in written communication
2. engage in some focused practice designed to improve their writing skills in three target areas
3. explain the importance of reflection to the writing/learning process
4. engage in personal reflection about their writing and any growth they've noticed in their writing over the course of this semester

I. Warm-Up 

How are you? How is everything going? Did you have a nice weekend? How are your other classes going? Are you excited for the end of the semester?!

II. Final Vocabulary Quiz

I hope you're ready (insert evil laugh). But wait, there's a surprise...

III. Homework Review

Let's take a look at the homework you did on "Critical Thinking"

IV. Focus on Accuracy Workshop 

Much of our work these last two months has been focused on developing proficiency. I've wanted you to write as much as possible so I could give you some feedback and you could get used to producing a lot of different writing in preparation for the CAE exam (hopefully, you will also be able to apply some of what we've talked about to your other writing, too). 

Today, we are going to do some more work focused on developing accuracy. Based on the writing you've done, I want to focus on the following areas: 

1. Consistently Formal Tone
2. Promoting Cohesion in Your Writing 
3. Identifying Countable/Uncountable Nouns 
4. Proper Article Use

We'll be using this series of activities. If there is extra time, we will focus on these activities for promoting cohesion in your writing.

Homework for Next Monday (Our Last Class :(   )

Course Reflection Assignment: Your final writing assignment is a comprehensive reflection essay designed to help you engage in some critical introspection about the topics we've covered this semester and the ways you've grown as a writer. 

Get Your "White Elephant" Gift: We're going to do a small gift exchange called "White Elephant". The directions can be found here. Participation is optional, but if you want to participate, you need to bring a small gift. The gift can be 1). something you make, 2). something you already own and want to "re-gift" or something you buy (no more than 200 RUB). Here is a short video overview of how to play! 

Sign-up to Bring Something for the Potluck: You can do that here. 

Critical Thinking

The ancient greek philosopher Socrates is quoted as saying, "the unexamined life is not worth living". What does that statement mean? You will have a chance to decipher the enigma as part of this week's discussion post. This week, we will be discussing the importance of critical thinking (in general, as part of communication and in writing). An outline for today's class can be found below.

Critical Thinking

Objectives: Students will be able to...

1. Provide a general definition of the term"critical thinking"
2. Explain and exemplify various terms associated with critical thinking
3. Explain the importance of thinking critically
4. Develop a strategy for improving their critical thinking skills

I. Warm-Up

How are you? How are things? How was your weekend? What's new? How are your other classes? Are you getting excited for the end of the semester? Any plans? Any questions from this class? 

II. Vocabulary Quiz

Any questions? Speak now or forever hold your peace! 

III. Critical Thinking Discussion

Using the almighty GROUP RANDOMIZER you will be divided into groups of three. Once in your groups, you will be tasked with discussing the questions about critical thinking found here. After, we will discuss these ideas with a PowerPoint presentation. 

IV. Critical Thinking Reading

Now, let's explore the concept a little deeper. We will do this using a "jig-saw" reading activity. The steps for the activity are as follows...

Step One: You will be given a number between 1-3. Based on your number, you will read one section of an article on critical thinking. The sections can be found below: 

1. Critical Thinking Reading - Part One
2. Critical Thinking Reading - Part Two
3. Critical Thinking Reading - Part Three

Step Two: You will get into groups of five (everyone with the same number) and discuss what you consider to be the major points of your section using this organizer.

Step Three: Now you will get into groups of three with one '1', one '2' and one '3'. Each 'topic expert' will present the major points of his/her section to the other group members who will take notes. 

Step Four: Finally, you will get into new groups of three and come up with answers to the comprehension questions found here. Once everyone has finished, we will discuss the answers as a class. 

V. Critical Thinking Practice

 Depending on how much time we have left, here are a few (short) activities designed to help develop your critical thinking skills.

1. Fact or Opinion?
2. Logical Fallacies: Missing Premise and Hasty Generalizations (practice)

Homework

1). Writing a Letter: The writing assignment for this week is a letter. I think the concept of a letter should be pretty familiar to you all by now. Just in case it is not, I have attached an example. There are also some critical thinking questions about how question to approach this assignment. You need to answer these questions as well. Please submit your work by Friday, December 12th, 2014 at 11:55pm. 

2). Discussion Post: There is a new discussion posting related to critical thinking due by Friday, December 12th, 2014 at 11:55pm. 

3). Final Vocabulary Quiz of 2014!!!! Oh my goodness! The last quiz! But there's a catch! It's cumulative! So you better start studying now!!! The word list can be found here (among other places). 

4). Sign-up for the "Holiday Potluck" (last day of class) here. 

Color Test Results

Below I've included pictures of your color test masterpieces. Do you remember which picture belongs to which group? Can you tell by looking at the artistic representations of each "color"? While I do agree with the comments made in class about no person being all one color, it was interesting to watch various elements of your primary colors manifest themselves during our class!

Report Writing

As some of you will remember, we began our discussion of academic writing by writing reports on the environment. Today we will continue our exploration of report writing. An outline for today's class can be found below: 

Report Writing

Objectives: Students will be able to...

1. Identify the basic features of a CAE-style report
2. Understand and be able to use various formulaic expressions as lexical signposts in their CAE-style report writing
3. Use this knowledge to produce their own CAE-style report based on a class activity on personality styles 

I. Warm-Up 

How was your weekend? How are things in general? Is everything going well in your other classes? Do you have any questions about this class? If people are feeling a little tired (like I was last week) than we can start class with a few more tongue twisters!

II. Vocabulary Quiz

"Time to pay the piper!" I hope you studied ;) 

III. Personality Testing 

For homework, you will be asked to write a report on the results an experiment we will be conducting in class today. We will conduct the experiment, discuss the results and then review the structural conventions of a CAE-style report. 

Step One: Brainstorming personality adjectives (both positive and negative). If you need help, check out this list: 

Step Two: Personality Testing: Which Color Are You? 

This process has three steps, which are outlined below. Remember: 4 is the Most Like You (3 is kind of like you, 2 isn't really like and 1 is not like you at all). You need to put a number for each option! 

• Complete the COLOR QUESTIONNAIRE
• Review and rank (1-4) the "Color DESCRIPTIONS"
• Review and rank (1-4) the "Color IMAGES"

Once you finish these three tasks, you need to calculate your high score. You score will indicate which COLOR your personality is :) Once you have this information, we can proceed to Step Three...

Step Three: Preparing Personality Presentations (to be explained in class) 

Step Four: Delivering Personality Presentations (self-explanatory :)   )

Step Five: Reviewing the Results (in-class discussion... I will link the materials after we've talked about them together). 

--------> Materials from the COLOR TEST

1. Colors and Personality Results PPT
2. Personality Colors Article

IV. CAE Report Structure

To begin, discuss these questions with a partner. Then, we'll discuss them as a class. Finally, we will review a basic outline of the structure of a CAE-style report (as well as a few useful phrases). 

Homework 

1). Prepare for a vocabulary quiz on these words 

2). Write a report based on our in-class activity. Use these guidelines. I will send each one of you a Google Doc to write your response in. Your response is due by Friday, December 5th at 11:55pm. 

3). Prepare a discuss post response to this prompt by Friday, December 5th at 11:55pm. 

4). Start thinking about what you'll bring to our "End of the Semester Holiday Potluck Extravaganza" on the last day of class (Monday, December 22nd, 2014). 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today people are celebrating Thanksgiving all across the U.S. So what is Thanksgiving? The first link below takes you to a reading explores this American tradition. It also includes a glossary with lots of related vocabulary related to the holiday and the music and lyrics for a traditional Thanksgiving song! I've also included a link to "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" (yet another Charlie Brown video that takes a fun look at unique American traditions). Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Reading

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Writing Reviews

Today we will be talking about how to write reviews. As with all writing, developing skill in this particular genre requires patience, practice and awareness about the expectations placed on the writer by the audience and fellow reviewers. Bonus points to any one who can name the two gentlemen in the picture above!

An outline for today's class can be found below...

Review Writing

Objectives: Students will be able to...

1. Explain several features common to all forms of review writing
2. Explain common differences between reviews
3. Demonstrate understanding of the structure of a movie and/or book review
4. Use key vocabulary in describing the features of a story
5. Write a short review of their own

I. Warm-Up 
How are you? How was your weekend? How are things going in your other classes? Any questions about anything from this class?

II. Vocabulary Quiz
I hope you studied!

III. Housekeeping Details and Homework Review
Including the returning of the previous week's vocabulary quiz and reviewing the homework (done in pairs) on academic style.

IV. Writing Reviews
To begin, read this review of "The Dark Knight Rises", the third and final chapter of the most recent Batman trilogy. After you read the review, find a partner and discuss these questions:

1. What kind of writing is review writing? Description? Analysis? Persuasion? Essay writing? 
2. What is the purpose? Who is the audience? 
3. What kind of information is included in the review? 
4. What are the different sections/parts of the review?
5. How would you describe the language of a review?

After we've had a chance to discuss these questions as a whole group, we will review the information found in this short presentation. I will also provide you with a handout that outlines important information on the kind of language necessary to use in your review.

*CAE Tips*

In order to write a good review on the CAE exam, remember that...

1. Keep the content of your review relevant 
2. Be sure to completely answer the question (or questions)
3. Strive to express yourself clearly
4. Follow a clear pattern of organization (Hook -> Summary -> Pros/Cons -> Final Recommendation)
5. Have fun! Take some chances, use some descriptive expressions, show enthusiasm (lack thereof). Remember, a review is your opinion of something, so don't be afraid to express yourself. 

V. Example Reviews

Below you will find a few example reviews. Take a look and analyze them carefully for 1). similarities and differences (based on the subject matter) and 2). interesting linguistic conventions, phrases and/or expressions. (These websites (and more) can also be found inside the 

Music Reviews: Pitchfork

Movie Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes

Restaurant Reviews: Zagat

Travel Stops: Trip Advisor

VI. Practice

Now, let's do a little practice in class. We will watch a short film called "Alma". The Spanish speakers in class can provide the translation of that. It is written and directed by Rodrigo Blaas and came out in 2011. 

As we watch, be sure to take notes. After, I will put you into groups of three and you will work together to write a short review of the film. Remember the steps...

1. Hook
2. Synopsis
3. Pros/Cons
4. Recommendation

If there is time, I will ask for volunteers to share their reviews. If not, I will collect them and give you feedback for next week. 

Homework for Monday, December 1st, 2014

1). Prepare for a new vocabulary quiz on these words

2). Post to the discussion board for this week. The directions have changed so be sure to note the changes. As always, you posts are due by 11:55pm on Friday night (Nov. 28th). 

3). Write a review of the short animated film "Alma" by Rodrigo Blaas. I've sent you a link via Google Drive. Due to some confusion, you have until Sunday, November 30th at 11:55 pm to finish your review. Thanks!