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Tags: Critical Thinking, Just Plain Helpful, Listening, Reflective Teaching, Useful Information // Add Comment »

4th of July Fireworks in Richmond, VA

Posted on July 2nd, 2010 by Debra

The activities are family/child oriented, and there is usually a wide variety of things to do and see. You can show up early for the party, or you can just attend the fireworks display (which is what I usually do).

This is a good list of fireworks locations in Richmond to find a display near you. In case the link breaks:

DOGWOOD DELL: July 4th at 5 p.m. - Byrd Park Carillon area – free.
FIREWORKS AT THE DIAMOND: Fireworks: July 1st, 3rd, and July 4th. Game at 7 p.m., fireworks after. You can watch the fireworks without going to the game.
BRANDERMILL FIREWORKS: July 3rd - Fireworks – Sunday Park at the Swift Creek Mill Reservoir: 9:15 p.m. Free.
THEME PARK FIREWORKS: Kings Dominion – July 3 and July 4. Busch Gardens – July 2 through July 4.
POWHATAN FIREWORKS: Hugenot Fire Department – July 3rd. Gates open at 5 p.m.
CHESTERFIELD FIREWORKS: July 4th – Gates open at 5 p.m., fireworks after dark.
FORT LEE FIREWORKS: July 4 - Gates open at 2 p.m. Fireworks: around 9:35 p.m.
COLONIAL HEIGHTS FIREWORKS: July 4 at 9:15 p.m.
RACETRACK FIREWORKS: July 4th.

For fireworks information near Midlothian, try this link.

Richmond.com also has a detailed list which tells more of what to expect.

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Tags: Summer Activities, Useful Information // Add Comment »

Better Ways to Understand English Speakers

Posted on June 3rd, 2010 by Debra

Often, students’ first response to hearing a phrase or a sentence that they don’t understand is to ask the speaker, “Can you repeat that?” The English learner hopes that by hearing the phrase again, they will understand it. Not only is this technique ineffective (most of the time), it is also usually not the phrase that a native English speaker would use when they can’t understand another English speaker.

Usually the problem of understanding comes from speed, vocabulary knowledge, expressions and idioms knowledge, or missing a key grammar component (such as verb tense, subject, or quantity). This list of phrases identifies the origin of the error, so you can find a more appropriate phrase to use during your next conversation.

Is it a speed problem? If so, say,

“Can you speak a little slower please?”
“Would you mind speaking a little slower please?”
“A little slower, please.”
“Can you repeat that more slowly?”

Is it a loudness problem (a noisy room/party/social situation)? If so, say,

I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you. What did you say?
Can you say that again? I couldn’t hear.
I couldn’t hear what you said.

Is it a phrase problem? If so, say,

What does (___) mean?
Did you say (___)?
I’m not sure I know what (___) means.
Can you explain what a (___) is?

If it’s a key grammar component, consider using who, what, and how many in your request for more information. Put the stress on those question words when you use them:

You went to the mall with who?
Who did you go to the mall with?
You bought a what?
What did you buy?
What was it?
You bought how many pairs of shoes?

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Tags: Critical Thinking, How To, Speaking in General, esl expressions // Add Comment »

Language Learning: What should you do in Stage II?

Posted on May 18th, 2010 by Debra

In early stages of English learning, your job is to get the basics of the grammar, learn a few phrases to get by, and pick up some everyday vocabulary. You’re not really expected to say much at first. Just listen and study. However, it’s really tempting to stay in this stage of learning.

Why not? There are so many benefits:

You don’t really have to do much work to listen
Your teachers and classmates are still speaking slowly and clearly
If there’s a word you don’t know, you always have your electronic dictionary to translate

There is a limit, though. Some people stay at this level, and never move up. If you are in the first stage for more than 3-5 months, it’s time to think about moving on to the next stage where you start producing short sentences.

Don’t worry about perfection!

Students want to produce perfect sentences with grammatical accuracy. When you do, you actually make communication worse!

Here’s a tip:

When someone asks what you did this weekend, don’t spend 5 minutes in silence creating the perfect sentence. To really communicate, have a quick, common response so your listener will know you’re engaged. Your only job is to show interest in communicating…and you do this by responding.

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Tags: Speaking in General // Add Comment »

Puzzling Plurals: Animals

Posted on May 17th, 2010 by Debra

When you are referring to animals as food, use a non-count noun.

Example: We are having chicken tonight.

When you are referring to animals as adorable creatures, use a plural noun if there is more than one.

Example: How many chickens does your mom have?

Sheep, deer, and fish are irregular, so don’t add an -s even if there is more than one.

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Read this website for more ideas!

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Happy Earth Day!

Posted on April 22nd, 2010 by Debra

April 22 is Earth Day! If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint in Central Virginia, and you’d like to start recycling, it’s easy! Click here for a list of all the drop-off recycling locations in the area.

Here’s a list of other things you can do to help protect our planet:

plant a tree
use less water
walk or use your bike
throw trash in appropriate receptacles
recycle glass, aluminum, and cardboard
reuse plastic bags and bottles
use a computer to take notes
carpool
buy used furniture and other goods

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Tags: Critical Thinking, Just Plain Helpful, Reading, Summer Activities // Add Comment »

Gaming towards a better world

Posted on April 22nd, 2010 by Debra

I didn’t believe that gaming could make a better world, either, that is, until I watched this TED presentation by Jane McGonigal. She can explain how teaching the skills necessary for an “epic win” in gaming, successful social strategy, and achievement in science and technology lead to cohesion of our common goals and solutions of our world’s biggest problems so much better than I can. So watch…

For a while, it seemed possible. In fact, I still love this presentation and have listened to it several times. I enjoy her reference to “+1 intelligence” (the relationship between actual level and potential) that occurs frequently in games, seldom in real life, and what we always try to get our students to meet.

Shortly after watching this video and geared up with a dose of “urgent optimism”, I glimpsed (in this South Park clip) the reality of getting to where we need to be from where we are today.

So the first step to creating a sustainable future through gaming is…? I’ve always been a big fan of goal setting…maybe these can become your goals:

define what skills you’re learning by gaming
meet 3 new people you can network with during this session
accept challenges from other gaming characters
trust others

Jane McGonigal’s idea doesn’t sound impossible, now, does it? Isn’t this what we are trying to achieve in our classrooms anyway?

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Tags: Critical Thinking, Reflective Teaching, Technology // Add Comment »

Philosophy in the Second Grade

Posted on April 22nd, 2010 by Debra

Abby Goodnough (New York Times) writes about the Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence in Springfield Massachusetts which started a program to encourage philosophical debate among 2nd graders about issues brought up in children’s literature.

Ms. Runquist’s students managed to fit philosophy in between writing and science. This was their sixth lesson of the year, and by now they knew the drill: deciding whether or not they agreed with each question; thinking about why or why not; explaining why or why not; and respecting what their classmates said.

The project was initiated by Prof. Thomas E. Wartenberg from Mount Holyoke College, who lists some of the benefits as:

improving reading comprehension
critical thinking
understanding and asking some of the world’s most basic questions
learning right from wrong
developing abstract thought
filling gaps across curricular subjects
express and support opinions
showing courtesy to classmates

It seems like these would be good skills for any student, maybe even in ESL conversation classes.

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Tags: Critical Thinking, Reading, Reflective Teaching, Teaching Tips // Add Comment »

Puzzling Plurals: Manners

Posted on April 19th, 2010 by Debra

When using the word “manners” meaning etiquette, it is plural. Some expressions you might see “manners” in context are:

He has good/bad manners.
Children are taught manners when they go to restaurants.
a person with good manners
someone with bad manners
It’s important to use good manners at a table.
Good manners are different in different countries.

Have a discussion about different acceptable manners in your ESL classes. The cultural differences among countries and regions are great conversation topics.

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