Reminder: 1/9 Quiz on Topics 1-10!

Useful Expressions (5): YOUR OWN TOPIC! (DUE on 12/28! Revisions DUE on 1/11!)

What do you think is one topic that we should add to our vocabulary word list?
Any topic will do as long as you find it interesting and worthy to be discussed!
(DO NOT just copy and paste words and example sentences from websites!)
(You will have to hand in your revised word list by making a new post below BEFORE 1/11 if you miss the deadline or create a wrong list.)

Right before you share your list here, please note that we have already mentioned Topics 1 to 10 in class. (No overlap!)

• People - Age & Build
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-people.htm)
• Personality Types
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-personality.htm) 
• Technology - Computers & the Internet
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-computers.htm) 
• Education - Learning Languages
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-language.htm)
• Relationship - Dating & Marriage
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-love.htm)
• Business - Jobs & Workplace
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-workplace.htm)
• Entertainment -
  (1) Movies (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-theater.htm)
  (2) (More to be announced for your reference)
• Super heroes & superpower (especially the introduction and types of powers)
  (http://powerlisting.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Supernatural_Powers_and_Abilities)
• Transportation
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-trans.htm)
• Weather
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-trans.htm)

Please find BELOW another 5 word lists.

• Biology (from 啟豪)
• Buildings (from 旻欣)
• Environment (from 門翰)
• Festival (from 照清), Holiday (from 艾音)
• Health (from 軒安)
• Landscape (from 凱仁)
• Nature (from 其哲)
• Physics (from 弈倫)
• Table games (from 子竹)
• Tools for chores (from 于竣)

Also note that your list has to be presented in the format below.
     Name:
     Date:
     Topic:
     Reason why you chose the topic:
     15-20 words/phrases & example sentences* (at least one complete sentence for each):
     (*For more ideas about how to make your own sentences, please check the websites below.)

• BBC Words in the News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/)
• CNN Student News (http://edition.cnn.com/studentnews/)
• VOA Special English (http://learningenglish.voanews.com/) 
• Taipei Times - Bilingual Pages (http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang)
• The China Post (http://www.chinapost.com.tw/)

(Remember that you will be asked to revise your list if you do not perfectly meet the requirements above.)
          

Reminder: Topic Talk 2 Outlines from Groups 4, 5, 6

12/19's group meetings have been cancelled, but groups 4, 5, and 6 have to hand in your outlines by email before 12/21.

Note that the teacher can be reached at wendychangnchu@gmail.com!

Useful Expressions (4): Superpower (DUE on 12/10)

If you were one of the superheroes, what kind of superpower would you have?
Get ideas from some movie trailers online and come back here to share with us!
Also try consulting the list of supernatural powers and abilities offered on the website recommended below.
(http://powerlisting.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Supernatural_Powers_and_Abilities)

Note that EACH student will have to post your comment before the due date (12/10).
Each comment should be at least one paragraph (with 5-6 sentences in it)!

Reminder: Outside Reading from Topic Talk 1

Outside readings for your weekend! 

ALL the outside readings shared by the groups during their topic talks!

Note that there will be exercises based on the readings on 12/5!

12/19, 12/26 Group Topic Talk 2

The following shows WHEN you have to give the second group topic talk.

12/19 Group Topic Talk 2
 Group 7 (12/18: The Happiness of Giving)
 Group 2 (12/25: It's Candylicious!)
 Group 3 (12/9-10: The World in Architecture)
 Group 1 (12/20: Invasion Earth)
12/26 Group Topic Talk 2
 Group 6 (12/23-24: North to the Future)
 Group 4 (12/31: Insta-Fabulous)
 Group 5 (12/29: That Darn Cat)

Note: Topic Talk 1 (40%) + Topic Talk 2 (60%)

Reminder: MIDTERM Preparation

Our midterm is coming! 
Please note that the midterm will take place on 11/14!

Also remember that the midterm will
(1) cover both October magazine (10/1-31) and November magazine (11/1-15) and
(2) include both listening and reading comprehension questions (4 question types each, similar to our pretest, though only 25 questions in total).

• Listening: picture description (2 questions), question and response (5), short conversation (3), short talk (2)
• Reading: sentence completion (6 questions), reading comprehension (2), text completion (5), Chinese-to-English translation (EXTRA 5 for a total of 10 bonus points)

For more information, please check our announcement made earlier.
(Click the link here: http://ncuefreshmanenglishfri.blogspot.tw/2014/09/course-syllabus.html)

Class Cancellation: NO CLASS on 11/7!

Our class on 11/7 is cancelled!
Group meetings will be held instead to make up the missed lesson!

For more information about the meetings, please click the link below.
(http://ncuefreshmanenglishfri.blogspot.tw/2014/10/1121-1128-group-topic-talk-1-draft.html)

Useful Expressions (3): Food & Culture

This time, let's learn more about food and culture, our topic of the week!
Just search the websites below!

1. 20-Minute ESL Lessons - Gourmet Cooking
   (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-cooking.htm)
2. English Central
   (http://www.englishcentral.com/video)
   *MUST-READ: A Halloween Candy Buffet*
3. POPSUGAR - Food
   (http://www.popsugar.com/food)
   *MUST-READ: This isn't a Trick: How to Pair Wine with Halloween Candy*
4. Taiwan Tourism Bureau - Tastes of Taiwan
   (http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNO=0000206) 

For more information about POCKY, please click the weblink: http://pocky.glico.com/history/!

11/21, 11/28 Group Topic Talk 1 (Draft Outline! Group Meeting!)

The following shows WHEN you have to give the group topic talk.
11/21 Group Topic Talk 1
 Group 7 (11/27: Grains of Talent)
 Group 2 (11/20: Cirque du Soleil)
 Group 1 (11/12: Antoni Gaudi)
 Group 5 (1115: Eat Street 3)
11/28 Group Topic Talk 1
 Group 6 (11/25: Robots and Humans are Closer than Ever)
 Group 4 (11/6: The Day of the Dead)
 Group 3 (11/21: Oversleeping)

GROUP MEETINGS will be held (15 min each) before your topic talk!
Please choose from the dates below.
1. 11/05 (12:00-12:15) - Group 4
2. 11/05 (12:15-12:30) - Group 7
3. 11/05 (12:30-12:45) - Group 6
4. 11/05 (12:45-13:00) - Group 2
5. 11/12 (12:00-12:15) - Group 3
6. 11/12 (12:15-12:30) - Group 1
7. 11/12 (12:30-12:45) - Group 5
Notes: 
(1) You have to show up in a group on time.
(2) Your hard copy of the draft outline is required!

Useful Expressions (2): Relationship (DUE on 10/22)

Here are readings of the week: Ivy Enjoy English Magazine (Pages 30-40)!

As for the group task below, it is DUE on 10/22!
To help you discover more about relationship, our topic of the week, please follow the instructions.
(1) Search the websites below.

• 20-Minute ESL Lessons - Dating and Marriage
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-love.htm)
• BBC The English We Speak
  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/)
• EZ Slang - Dating and Romance
  (http://www.ezslang.com/friendfinder-1.htm)
• (Even better ones that you'd like to share with us!)

(2) Select 3-5 idioms/phrases (e.g. blind date) that you find interesting and would like to share with us.
(3) Look them up in search engines, like Google for authentic sentences (namely, sentences used in actual English texts, such as magazine articles and news stories)
(4) Come back here to post a GROUP comment (at least one from each group) that include all your idioms/phrases, together with at least one example sentence for each. (Check the format below.)

Group X

1. blind date (n phr) - In order to be successfully matched up on a blind date, you have to take steps that will ensure you're only going out with people who actually have potential. 
   (From: Cosmopolitan [Online])
2. ...
3. ...
4. ...
5. ...

(5) Contact the teacher (at wendychangnchu@gmail.com) if you have questions.

More about Your Group Report: Useful Expressions for Presentation (1)

Please check out the web sites below for more useful expressions.

• BBC Business Language to Go (esp. Part 4: Presentations)
• BBC Talking Business (esp. Presentations)
• Speak Speak: Business English Vocabulary and Resources (esp. Making Presentations)

Feel free to post your own comments below to share more resources with us!

10/3 Group Report: Digital Learner Resources

Please share your ideas and thoughts (in a group) using the following format: 

Name of the site: ...
Webpage address (if any): ...

What Group X think...
(1) ...
(2) ...
(3) ...

What our group (Group Y) think...
(1) ...
(2) ...
(3) ...

Remember that 
(1) your posts are DUE on 10/8 (revised group PowerPoint ALSO DUE on 10/8)! 
     (No late submission will be accepted.)
(2) you do not have to attach any file, but simply post a COMMENT instead!
     (Find your teacher's sample comment below.)
(3) you might need to create a Google account before you post a comment!
     (Feel free to contact your teacher at: wendychangnchu@gmail.com.)

Course Syllabus

Objective
     This course aims to advance integrated language skills and develop cultural awareness through topic discussion. Structured opportunities are provided for individual and group-based practice. Student participation is further encouraged in exploring multimedia learning resources, such as songs, websites, newsreels, and movie clips. After completion of the course, students are expected to (1) use English more effectively for study purposes, (2) employ practical strategies to tackle test questions, (3) think critically on complex global issues, and (4) develop self-study skills that enable them to continue learning English independently.

Text Material

1. Ivy League Enjoy English (October - December 2014)
2. Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab - 20-Minute ESL Lessons [Online]

Class Schedule
WK 1   20-Minute ESL Lessons (Topics overview)
WK 2   (Pretest)
WK 3   Enjoy English (Oct: WK 1)
WK 4   Enjoy English (Oct: WK 2)
WK 5   Enjoy English (Oct: WK 3)
WK 6   Enjoy English (Oct: WK 4)
WK 7   20-Minute ESL Lessons (Related topics 1-5)
WK 8   Enjoy English (Nov: WK 1)
WK 9  (Midterm: Enjoy English Oct: WK 1-4, Nov: WK 1-2)
WK 10  Enjoy English (Nov: WK 3)
WK 11  Enjoy English (Nov: WK 4)
WK 12  20-Minute ESL Lessons (Related topics 6-10)
WK 13  Enjoy English (Dec: WK 1)
WK 14  Enjoy English (Dec: WK 2)
WK 15  Enjoy English (Dec: WK 3)
WK 16  Enjoy English (Dec: WK 4)
              20-Minute ESL Lessons (Related topics 11-15)
WK 17  (Posttest)
WK 18  (Final: Enjoy English Oct - Dec, 20-Minute ESL Lessons Topics 1-15)

Note: The syllabus is subject to change to accommodate student need and interest.