Tuesday's Assignment

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this week is ''Know Yourself''. Based on that, we need to know our strengths and weaknesses in order to better evaluate ourselves and set our goals.

Task 1:

Read the list below and answer these questions:

1. Do you know all the nine essential skills?
2. Underline which one best describe you better:  expert - good - intermediate - beginner -  no knowledge
3. Which of these skills you need to work on the most?

Essential Skills refer to the nine skills and abilities that are essential to success in Canadian occupations. The Government of Canada has compiled detailed lists, called Essential Skills Profiles (ESPs), of how workers in hundreds of jobs use these nine skills.

Nine Essential Skills:

• Reading Text

• Document Use

• Numeracy

• Writing

• Oral Communication

• Work with Others

• Thinking Skills

• Computer Use

• Continuous Learning

Task 2:

Complete an Essential Skills self-assessment:

Strengths: I am confident that I can ...
1.
2.
3.
Areas for Improvement: I would like to improve my ability to/on …
1.
2.
3.

Monday's Assignment

Good afternoon everyone,

Task 1:

Listen to this audio and answer the following questions afterwards:

1. Where did the chef learn to cook?
A. at a cooking school
B. at a family member's home
C. in a friend's kitchen

2. What is special about the chef's cookies?
A. He makes them by following a healthy recipe.
B. He prepares them by using inexpensive ingredients.
C. He sells them at many local stores.

3. Which ingredient does the chef NOT use to make his cookies?
A. baking powder
B. flour
C. sugar

4. At what temperature should you bake the cookies?
A. at 305 degrees
B. at 315 degrees
C. at 350 degrees

5. What is the topic of the next cooking program?
A. fun cookies for teenagers
B. inexpensive meals
C. tips for cleaning your kitchen

Word	Definition	Sentence
endure (verb)	change
switch (verb)	complete or whole
entire (adjective):	keep doing something unpleasant or difficult
ingredients (noun)	a small amount
pinch (noun)	a group of similar things, used also with baking cookies
preheat (verb)	materials for cooking
batch (noun)	heat an oven or stove before you start cooking something

Task 2:

In addition to cookies, what traditional sweets are common in your area? What are the ingredients to prepare them? Are there any ingredients that are unique to your area that people in other countries might not include in the recipe?

Task 3:

Imagine you are hosting a party at your house, and you have a variety of people attending. You are considering the option of either buying cookies online or making your own. Use the Internet to complete two tasks: (1) find at least one online service where you can order cookies and have them delivered to you (and identify the costs and quality of such a service), and (2) find at least one cookie recipe online that is easy to prepare and healthy to eat.

Friday's Assignment

Since this is the last day on this batch, I wish that each one of you has enjoyed our course and has learned something new.

Task 1:

Write a quick reflection on your experience throughout the last three months; include the following points in your reflection:

• List of the things that all you have learned from this course
• Which skill(s) have improved the most?
• Which skill(s) still need to work on?
• The most enjoyable part(s) was/were ...............
• The easy parts were .........................
• The difficult parts were ...............................
• The things/topics I need to work more on are ........................
• Ideas for the new batch for improvement 

Wednesday's Assignment

IT’S A WONDER WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AT ALL!

By Mark Benner

Do you hear me? Think how many times you’ve heard someone use that phrase out of anger or frustration. Maybe it was a parent upset at their child. Perhaps it was a boss at work, trying to emphasize or re-emphasize a certain point. Now try to think of just one time when that phrase actually improved understanding of the issue at hand. Chances are you can’t do it. Chances are it only made things worse. That’s because in everyday conversation, the actual words that come out of someone’s mouth often have very little to do with the message that is received. Communication breakdowns happen constantly, and for a wide variety of reasons. We misinterpret intentions because words can only do so much to promote understanding. If words aren't accompanied by a shared understanding of other areas such as culture, life experience, and personal style – or, at an absolute minimum, awareness on both sides that these differences can exist and will themselves have an impact – then the result can be a communication catastrophe. In some cultures, silence means disapproval; depending on the social position of the speakers, it would be far too rude to disagree or turn down a request in public. Yet in other cultures silence can be taken as assent. It’s assumed that if someone didn't like what was happening, they’d let you know. When these two cultures clash, it’s no wonder there are misunderstandings! Each culture has its own communication conventions or rules: about how often we make eye contact, how we express politeness, how loudly we speak, how we interpret silence, how directly or indirectly we make a request or let someone know what we want, how close we stand when speaking to one another, how much information we share, how we motivate others, how we argue or how we complain. Some cultures may perceive indirectness as dishonest; others may perceive it as polite. As a result, someone who makes requests directly (Please write this report today) may be annoyed by someone who uses indirect requests (This report needs to be written today). Paying attention to body language and seeking clarification can help overcome some of these misunderstandings. Gender can also influence how we communicate. Author John Gray suggests men and women think differently, have different emotional needs and express these needs differently … so much that they can seem like they are from different planets (hence one of his book titles, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.) Gray claims that when talking about problems or frustrations, women will listen and empathize while men will offer solutions. Similarly, author Deborah Tannen claims that the language between women is mostly “rapport talk,” used to build bonds of friendship, trust and understanding. Language between men is “report talk” – used to provide information to get something accomplished. While these generalizations about gender and cultural influences are helpful, they are only generalizations. In other words, when it comes down to a particular phone conversation, a chance encounter on the street or an office meeting, making assumptions can be risky. Putting too much stock in generalizations can lead to stereotyping … and at that point the roadblocks to understanding start piling on top of each other. But awareness of differences is only a precondition for understanding, not a guarantee it will happen. When that awareness of differences is accompanied by a commitment to explain and clarify your intentions, and to request the same of others, you’re getting somewhere. Arriving at a shared understanding is not an easy process, but well worth the effort!!

Task 1:

Below are words from the article. Write the correct letter on each line to match the words with their meanings.

1. intention	a. to explain, make clear
2. assume	b. to give a wrong meaning to; misunderstand
3. empathize	c. to call attention to; make important
4. disapproval	d. lack of approval
5. misinterpret	e. to understand another’s feelings or motives
6. emphasize	f. a general rule or idea that is inferred from particular facts or examples
7. clarify	g. accepted to be true without proof
8. rapport	h. an oversimplified mental picture of a group of people
9. stereotype	i. to help something happen
10. claim	j. a harmonious relationship with someone
11. promote	k. to maintain; say as a fact
12. generalization	l. the purpose behind an action or statement

Task 2:

Write a noun for each of the verbs below. Use either the noun or the verb form in sentences.

VERB	NOUN
perceive	perception
assume
empathize
disapprove
misinterpret
emphasize
clarify
generalize

Tuesday's Assignment

Today's task is a listening activity; click on this link and then answer the following questions.

Task 1:

Match the words with their meanings and then put each in a sentence of your own:

WORDS	DEFINITION	SENTENCES
1.     Scrub (v)	a)     to remove small pieces of dirt
2.     Dust (v)	b)    to clean a floor by using a broom or brush to collect dirt
3.     Baseboards (n)	c)     clean thoroughly by rubbing hard
4.     Sweep (v)	d)  to gather with a garden tool with a row of plastic or metal teeth at the head
5.     Rake (v)	e)     a piece of wood or molding attached along the bottom of a wall where it touches the floor

Task 2:

1. What does the boy want to do at the beginning of the conversation?
A. go play outside
B. watch TV
C. play video games

2. What is one thing the boy is NOT assigned to do around the house?
A. clean the garage
B. vacuum the floors
C. wash the walls

3. What does the boy have to do in his bedroom?
A. put away his books
B. make his bed
C. pick up his dirty clothes

4. What is the father going to do while the boy is doing his household chores?
A. wash the car
B. paint the house
C. work in the yard

5. Where will the father and son go after the housework is done?
A. to a movie
B. out to eat
C. to a ball game

Task 3:

Read the following questions and write one to two paragraphs as a response to the questions from your own point of view.

What are the different roles men and women play in carrying out housework? What do men usually do? And women? How have things changed or remained the same during the past thirty years or so in your country? Are children assigned chores to do around the house? Do everyday people hire housekeepers to do such housework?

Monday's Assignment

Good morning everyone,

Welcome back to the class after your March break. Hope that each one has enjoyed his/her time off to the max.

Today's task is a reading task. Read the following passage and then answer the following questions. Make sure to record your answers for class discussion afterwards.

HOCKEY’S $124 MILLION MAN

 When Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin became the National Hockey League’s first $100-million man early in 2008, it was hard to find anyone in the hockey world who didn’t believe he was worth every penny. But how can this be possible? Is any hockey player truly worth that much money? It doesn’t take a Wall Street accountant to figure out what was in it for the player known as ‘Alexander the Great.’ Ovechkin’s 13-year, $124-million contract averages out to just over $9.5 million a season, giving him financial security for life. Even so, Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis believes the deal is also good for his hockey team. At the time, Leonsis admitted that making a decade-long commitment to a 22-year-old in just his third NHL season wasn’t an ordinary thing. But if Ovechkin has proven anything by his goal-scoring rampage since his rookie season in 2005–06, it’s that he’s no ordinary player. All the awards and accolades – Calder Trophy as top rookie in 2006, Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal-scorer and Hart Trophy as NHL’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and 2009, plus four straight first-team all-star selections – only begin to tell the story. It’s Ovechkin’s once-in-a-generation combination of skill, size, brute physical strength and relentless passion that sets him apart and draws fans to the arena. That’s the package that Leonsis is paying for. “I’m a risk-taker,” Leonsis said at the time. “And if you’re going to make a long-term investment, who else would you do it with?” Ovechkin said the contract wouldn’t change the way he approaches the game. “I know it’s extra pressure, but I have to play the same,” he said. “If you think of the pressure, it’s hard for you. I have to play the same way – play more, play better.”

Questions:

A- For each of the following underlined words from the article, choose the right meaning. Try to guess the meaning of the words without using a dictionary.

1. A rookie is someone who

a. is just starting his career

b. is controversial

c. generates a lot of profit for a company or organization

2. When someone receives accolades, they get

a. bad reviews in the press

b. praise and recognition

c. big sums of money

3. “Goal-scoring rampage” refers to

a. going after other players to try to score goals

b. scoring goals from a ramp

c. scoring lots of goals

4. When we say Ovechkin’s passion is relentless, we mean that

a. it pays off

b. it never stops

c. it can hurt others

5. A long-term investment is

a. something you will be paying for in the next few years

b. something you will pay for a long time

c. something that will pay off (or bring you profit) after many years of investment

6. Ovechkin’s combination of skill and passion sets him apart means

a. it distinguishes him from others

b. it makes him feel distant

c. it makes him independent

B- Read the article and choose true or false. Find the fragments of the text that confirm your answer.

1. Most people associated with hockey agree that Ovechkin is worth such a large amount of money. T F

2. Ovechkin is famous for his fair play. That’s why he attracts so many fans. T F

3. Leonsis feels paying Ovechkin so much money is a risk he is willing to take. T F

4. Ovechkin started his career in NHL hockey in 2008. T F

5. Signing the biggest contract in NHL history will make Ovechkin change his style of playing hockey. T F

6. It was obvious only to Wall Street accountants how much financial security Ovechkin has with this contract. T F