That important little space between words

How would you like your business to be called Teacher Stalking, Children Swear, or Chooses Pain?*

Or even worse names? Much, much worse names!

Witness how important it is to avoid the possibility of misunderstanding through a misplaced space or a poorly worded URL in this article. Then post your comments below.


* Instead of Teachers Talking, Children's Wear, and Choose Spain

What do you think happened?

A strange sight was seen at the Art Gallery of Ontario today, looking out of the glass walls of the building:



Any idea what it was all about?

Write your thoughts in the Comment section below!

Après Canada Day

How was Canada Day for you? Do update your blogs on your thoughts and activities this long weekend.

The newspapers have certainly not been quiet!

1. There's this poll trying to identify what Canadians are like today: 15 things you should know about Canadian identity.
2. And then there are a couple of quizzes: a mock citizenship quiz and a brutally difficult Canada Day Quiz.
3. Once you've survived the above, kick back and enjoy Jared Pot singing our national anthem.

Singalong the Canadian CANthem and Take a Quiz

O CANada ...



Write your Comments below!

Then, how Canadian are you--or, how Ontarian are you? Take this fun Canada Day quiz and tell us your identity!

NewsLINC Topics for the Fall Issue

Good news, folks. The topics for our seasonal NewsLINC magazine are now available. Please send me the first draft by mid-August! And best wishes on getting published!

Category

Description / Idea Prompts

Activity

Submissions reflecting sports and leisure activities.

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/hobby.

·     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 fall edition:

·     Thanksgiving

·     Halloween

·     Remembrance Day

·     Back to school

·     Fall colours

·     Fall harvest

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

Help! I'm in Starbucks!

Toronto seems to have endless choices for coffee places: Tim Hortons, Second Cup, Country Style, Starbucks, Lettieri, Timothy World's, you name it!

Sometimes, ordering at a coffee shop can be scarier than being in a fine restaurant--at least there you don't have a crowd behind you snickering at your ignorance, and the server has incentive to be nice to earn the tip. But trying to order at a Starbucks can be a nightmare.

Here are some resources to help you out:

• How to Order Coffee (Basic)
• 10 Tips on How to Order at Starbucks
• How to Order a Regular Coffee
• How to Order and Behave at Tim Hortons
• Video (Transcription Exercise): Tim Hortons

Did you have fun?

Here are some conversations that you might like to practise at a fast-food restaurant:

1. http://www.eslfast.com/robot/topics/restaurant/restaurant16.htm--I like this one because you can say everything 3 ways!
2. learning videos:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12epxkmKhrI&feature=relmfu, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG9ISJYAsvE&feature=fvwrel, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIXPSykQ5fk&feature=related, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZDD5IjPhak&feature=fvwrel, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFuGw6IMIRU&feature=fvwrel
3. Podcast--listening:  http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=1342507, http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=3967459, http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=5071132

1812 and Why Canadians Are Not Americans

A Canadian view of the War

An American view of the War

This year is the bicentennial (200th anniversary) of the War of 1812, one of Canada's most formative events that "helped establish our path toward becoming an independent and free country, united under the Crown with a respect for linguistic and ethnic diversity." And the summer months are the most celebrated in memory of this war. Why do you think this is?
 
The War of 1812 also shows why Canada is different and separate from its neighbour to the south. Here are some resources and exercises that you may enjoy doing and learning from:

1. Listening: Find all the VOA lessons on the War of 1812 from the American point of view.
2. Reading Comprehension: American Invasion Repulsed 
3. Research and take the Quiz: Causes of the War 
4. Map Reading: American, British, and Native Troops
5. Watch these documentaries on the War of 1812 from the American and the Canadian perspective.