#1045 Fifteen Formal Words

Speaking of wordia.com, here is a good lesson to practice 15 formal words with Sarah. I love her voice. Practice at home or somewhere/anywhere with your laptop.

Lesson 7 - Reported Speech (Intro) - English Grammar

Globalers, we will listen to Jennifer briefly on Monday as an introduction to Unit 25: Reported Speech in FOG.

#686 I Saw You In The Park Yesterday

This is a great way to practice slow speech and then fast--and for pronunciation. I have used it with students before and have had them repeat this with the same rhythm as Sara's speech. A few students were a little embarrassed, but they liked this idea a lot. Try it!

CIA seeks to broaden foreign language skills - Politics AP - MiamiHerald.com

Hi Globalers. Below is a link to good article about the importance of knowing a foreign language. In fact, many of you in my classes are speakers of the critical languages needed by the CIA. I call you English Language Agents in my classes for a good reason: I think, in order to maximize the degree of English acquisition and acculturation you would need to practice our class code is LOE--Listen and Observe Everything. In a sense, then, you are spies collecting linguistic evidence in English and American culture practices, so to say. In addition, I really want to emphasise the value of training and disciplining yourself to think in English. Moreover, you need to "eavesdrop" around Americans, for example in restaurants, just like a spy would do and try to analyse and understand what English speaking Americans are saying. Do the same thing when you are watching News, TV, on the Internet, on planes, trains, ships, boats etc. Then, too, don't forget watch me too! I am kind of a typical American, an image which I suppose has changed over the years...In essence, though, I encourage you to train your ears to listen to and observe everything including what you are not looking for--just as a spy would do, and in the event that you discover any idioms and strange vocabulary you don't understand text them or record them on your cells or iphones or blackberries or other e-devices---or memorise them and then ask a friendly native speaker--including your English teachers--to explain them to you. Afterwards, use the words and idioms in real-time over and over and over and over again until they belong to you and not just the Americans who so casually express them with ease and linguistic confidence....Okay, I am starting to "bird walk"..I better sign off...seaya on Monday ELAs!

CIA seeks to broaden foreign language skills - Politics AP - MiamiHerald.com

More mysteries of Easter Island - BBC

This is the clip we will see tomorrow

YouTube - STS 125 Successful Hubble Mission Lands

This is as good as it gets! Bravo!!
YouTube - STS 125 Successful Hubble Mission Lands

WortSchieber: Das Wort-Quiz im Internet

Hey, Globalers--here is a site to practice vocabulary--in serveral languages. See what you think!

WortSchieber: Das Wort-Quiz im Internet

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | German 'Venus' may be oldest yet

We will use this link this week--old mysteries...

BBC NEWS Science & Environment German 'Venus' may be oldest yet

1000 Most Common Words

One globaler asked about common American words--here are some--but you have to make them real for you...you have to internalize them through usage and get to a point of Zinn--that's fluency...seaya

1000 Most Common Words

Recommended reading for incoming freshmen | Life | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

I would also recommend these books for my international students who are seeking admission to American universities...

Recommended reading for incoming freshmen Life Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

YouTube - Lesson 15 - BULLS - English Vocabulary

We will also use this site for pronunciation...

YouTube - Lesson 15 - BULLS - English Vocabulary

pastiche - a work of art that imitates the style of another artist or period

Gloablers at Rice--we will use wordia.com as a model for our "Spoken Word" presentations--coming up soon--so check this site out!

pastiche - a work of art that imitates the style of another artist or period

Beatles 1-Create Your Own Worksheets for "With A Little Help From My Friends"

Speaking og friends, let's sing this Monday...sea-u

Beatles 1-Create Your Own Worksheets for "With A Little Help From My Friends"

THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art

Okay, one more site for ancient Greek mythology.


THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art

Ancient Greece - The British Museum

This is another good site when we get to the unit on ancient mysteries.

Ancient Greece - The British Museum

Greek Mythology

We will use this site when we study ancient mysteries.

Greek Mythology

USATODAY.com feature

Awesome...

USATODAY.com feature

Op-Ed Columnist - Genius - The Modern View - NYTimes.com

Slow practice--and sustained effort, I would argue--may also help foster language acquisition. Check this article out...It is not a new theory, in my view, but it is interesting...

Op-Ed Columnist - Genius - The Modern View - NYTimes.com