System Downtime

Hey guys,
Sorry if you didn't get Internet service this weekend. I was checking your writing this morning when suddenly the system went dead--confirmed after repeated attempts to raise the dead:

Think of the things you can do during a downtime ... in English, of course!

So, we'll just have to do what we always do--redeem the time!--and learn English through the gathering of idioms, writing and editing on our blogs, accessing More ESL Goodies at the top of this page, reading the news and listening to the radio, and talking to friends and family!

Have a great weekend!

Fall Issue of Our NewsLINC Student Magazine + Conversation Class

The fall edition of NewsLINC (Click here to see) is out. Unfortunately, not too many of your classmates got published this time. But there's the next edition coming up, for winter. So do write up your articles, publish them on your blog, and let's start sharpening them up for submission to the next NewsLINC issue!

Another important announcement concerns the availability of Conversation Class for November through December 2014. In addition to their weekly LINC Home Study class, Conversation Class students get another call to learn and practise speaking with a dedicated conversation teacher. If interested, please email me before October 26.

Congratulations to Four of Our Own!

Congratulations to Atif, Haein, Neil, and Olga for getting their articles published! Please feel free to check out all the student publications in LINC Home Study:

• Summer edition of NewsLINC has been published!
• Articles that were not published have been posted on the forum.

Keep up the good work! It's time to get back on your blogs to draft a new article for the next NewsLINC issue.

Brrr, Bigness, Beaches, and Bitumen

Where can you find North America's strongest current?
Or some 250 billion barrels of oil?
Or 10% of the world's forests?

Make a good guess for each, and then check out this pictorial article. Enjoy the reading exercise!

Enjoy Your Canada Day WEEK Vacation

No calls this week!

See you next week!

But do a bit of homework if you can!

Time to Dust off the Old Keyboard for NewsLINC!

Our class submission deadline for the next edition of NEWSLINC is August 12, 2014. Make sure to update your blogs with summer-fresh stories and articles before that date, and we'll work on polishing them up for publication!



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.

Bios 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 Occasions or events that result in celebration!
 Share a personal success story (big or small)
 Write about a special/milestone 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. Some ideas for fall:
 Write a poem about fall in Canada.
 Describe your first Thanksgiving dinner.
 Compare summer and fall.
 What is your favourite fall activity?
 Share a memory about your child’s first day of school.
 What does fall look, smell, sound, taste and feel like?

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

Becoming a Canadian Citizen

Have you ever thought of becoming a Canadian citizen? How different would your life be as a citizen? Would anything change at all?

Welcome to the lovely topic of Canadian citizenship!

  

1. Read this passage and, on your blog, make sentences with 3 - 5 of the new vocabulary words.
2. Listen to random parts of this Citizenship audio, and make an audio recording on audioboo.com of 3 - 5 new lessons or terms you learned. Post that audio link on your blog.
3. Listen to this video, and then listen again, following the transcript.