Free ESL Presentations at Prezi!

This one's pretty interesting--for pronunciation help:

ESL Phonics on Prezi

Check them out at this website, and identify 2 of your favourite Prezis on your blogs.

Submit Your Articles for NewsLINC by March 9

The Spring Season edition of NewsLINC is on the theme of "Seasonal," and you're encouraged to submit your entries on your blog by March 9 so that you can edit and submit it before office deadline of March 16.



Here is what you can write about:

Category	Description / Idea Prompts
Activity	Activities appropriate for ESL and multicultural learners. ·         Jokes or riddles ·         Word games ·         Word of the day
Arts	Submissions related to the arts (visual arts, crafts, design, dance, film, literature, music, theatre). ·         Write a short story or poem. ·         Share your artistic talent. ·         Provide a review of your favourite book / movie / artist / etc.
Bio	Student profiles that exclude information about birth date or age.
Canada	Submissions which highlight Canada. ·         How do you describe Canada to your friends or family living abroad? ·         What do you like about living in Canada? ·         Write about a famous Canadian personality, landmark, historical event, etc. ·         Recommend places to visit or day trips in Ontario / Canada
Celebration	Student success stories or special life events. ·         Share a personal success story (big or small) ·         Write about a special life event (wedding, birth, anniversary, etc.) ·         Write about a traditional celebration
General	If the submission does not fit with any of the other categories.
Heritage	Student reflections about their homeland or ethnic origins. ·         What do you miss the most about your homeland? ·         Describe a custom from your homeland ·         Write about where you came from
Recipe	Special recipes that have not been reproduced from the web or a book.
Seasonal	Submissions related to seasonal themes.  Suggestions for the spring edition: ·         Easter ·         Victoria Day ·         What is your favourite spring flower? ·         What do you like the most about spring? ·         How do you feel about rain? ·         Spring cleaning ·         Spring gardening
Settlement	Student settlement stories. ·         Share a funny story about settling in Canada ·         What has surprised you the most? ·         What are some of the challenges you have faced? ·         What or who has helped you to adjust?
Skills	Tips, challenges and experiences related to finding work, working or learning in Canada. ·         Workplace culture ·         Looking for work / networking / volunteering ·         Studying / learning new skills

So do write away right away! I'd be so glad to see you all published in English!

What did the judge sentence this man to?

Listen, and list your answers:


1. stop by _____________________
2. get _____________________
3. get _____________________
4. get _____________________
5. go _____________________
6. _____________________ Red Lobster
7. _____________________ bowling
8. sit down and _____________________ counselling


Complete the blanks, and post your answers either in the Comments below or on your blog.

IEP Conference, Feb 10, 2012

Those living in or around the Greater Toronto Area are encouraged to consider visiting the Internationally Educated Professionals Conference in Downtown Toronto.



Let me know if you're going! Maybe we could meet there.

Merry Christmas, Happy Boxing Day, and It's Intonation Time!

Now that the stores have been raided, the turkey dinners digested, and the presents unwrapped, how about a bit of English-speaking exercise before the New Year?

Speaking English involves not just mouthing the right consonants and vowels in succession, which is hard enough, but also singing it right, making the sounds go up and down, fast or slow, and pausing at the right time.



Listen to this video, read this article, and then do the following:

1. Play the video, but instead of trying to follow her words, aim to follow the pitch of each syllable by saying "chee chee, chee Chee chee chee ...." Do it twice.
2. Type out the transcript of what she is saying (checking the article could help), underlining where the pitch goes up, and putting in a slash mark (/) where there is a pause. Check the transcript against the video to make sure the it's correct. E.g. “It wouldn’t be fair / for all the girls to buy princesses / and all the boys (price) / to buy superheroes!”
3. Read the transcript silently, then aloud, with the video. Then read it without the video, slowly at first, and more quickly the next few times.

Feel free to videotape your reading and post it to Youtube! Have fun! Don't forget to post your results!

They'll Be Home for Christmas ... Awwww.

Christmas time (Yuletide) is a time for much nostalgia, warm-and-fuzzy feelings, and happy memories, and this Toronto Star series captures some of the mood of the season.

Sure, go ahead and cry a little.

You may miss your classmates over the next two weeks, but we'll see you back on Tuesday, January 10, in the new year.

Whither Housing Prices?

With real estate prices on the climb over the last decade, what do you think about the latest announcement about mortgage rates rising?

Will house prices go up or down with the change?

Comment on it on your blog and let's talk about it!