Lunch at East Side Marios

Friday's Assignment

Quantifiers

So, in order to better practice for the use of quantifiers, click on this link and follow the instructions.

Wednesday's Assignment

Good morning everyone,

Goal-Setting Model

A mentee must formulate goals to travel the road to success. The SMART guidelines can help to set effective goals. 

SMART

S-Specific -- A goal of graduating from high school is too general. Specify how this will be accomplished. (Study more in order to receive better grades.)  

M-Measurable -- Establish criteria for how a goal is to be achieved. Measurable does not refer to a timeline; it means determining a way to measure the mentee's success in completing the long-range goal.

A-Action-oriented -- Be proactive in taking action that will result in reaching the desired goal.

R-Realistic -- Strive for attainable goals, considering the resources and constraints relative to the situation.

T-Timely -- Allow reasonable time to complete each goal, but not so much time the mentee loses focus or motivation.

Here is a great list of adjectives that you can use to describe your abilities and your goals.

Open this link and use this vocabulary to follow the next tasks:

1. Write a short paragraph to portray your skills, abilities, and goals.
2. Present it to one or two of your peers, and then ask for their feedback.
3. Lastly, add the feedback on your blog.

Monday's Assignment

Good morning everyone,

Here are some of the vocabulary, expressions and idioms that were used in the last two days workshops.

First task for you is to fill in the following table and add any vocabulary/expressions/idioms if you have more to share:

Vocabulary/Expressions	Meaning	Vocabulary	Idiom	Expression	Use in Sentence
Shortcoming
On your feet
Bump into somebody
Blown away
Just overwhelmed
Babbler
Take the temperature of the interview periodically
Auditor
Compliance
Hold people accountable
I made it
Feeling fortunate
Have second chance(s)
In a nut shell
Call upon them
Build a rapport
To have something under your belt
Spin doctor
Go over and beyond for ...
Chances are null

Second task for you is knowing and analysing ourselves.

Here are two links that will be helpful for you to know yourself. First, click on this one and that one. Take these tests and after you are done, please share your results on your blog.

Monday's Assignment

Good morning everyone,

Debating is an important skill that we need to practice. It helps our critical thinking, speaking, listening, and negotiation skills. Below is the topic that we need to debate on, read it, research for some points to support your side, and then use the expressions and transitions below to help you paraphrase your thoughts.

Topic is ‘’Is gender role important in our today’s life?”

 Useful Expressions and Transitions for Debating

Agreeing and Disagreeing

•That doesn’t take away from the fact that... 

•That’s beside the point.

•With all due respect...

•I agree with you there.

•I agree with ---- (name).

•I see your point, but...

•That may be true, but...

•We’re going to have to agree to disagree. 

•I get/see where you’re coming from, but... 

•I’m afraid I disagree entirely.

•I’m afraid I’d have to disagree. 

•I agree to some extent, but...

•I disagree with you there. 

•Pardon me for disagreeing, but …

Interrupting/Asking to Contribute

•I hate to interrupt, but...

•If I may come in here...

•I’d like to add something.

•Would you like to contribute something? 

•I’d like to raise a point.

•If I could speak for a moment... 

•I’d like to cut in here.

•You haven’t answered my question.

Persuading

•Can you see where I’m coming from?

•I challenge you to give this a try/chance. 

•I want you to see it my way.

•Put yourself in my shoes.

•Am I getting through to you?

Expressing an Opinion

•In my honest opinion... 

•It is my belief that... 

•From my experience... 

•From where I look at it... 

•From my point of view…

Clarifying/Rephrasing

•Let’s be clear here...

•I think you misunderstood what I said. What I said was... (repeat a point that was misunderstood or confused)

•What I meant to say was... (rephrase something in a way that is clearer)

•In other words...

•What I was trying to say before I was interrupted is that…

Summarizing/Concluding

•So let me get this straight, you think... 

•To conclude...

•I’d just like to summarize by saying... 

•Finally, I’d like to reiterate that...

•It’s time to take stock of what we’ve heard today. 

•Both sides have some valid points.

•The stronger argument/team today is...

Modified from: www.esllibrary.com

Next Week's Assignment

LEST WE FORGET J

• Just a quick reminder for everyone that we will have a Culture Show on Monday. Bring any authentic item/dish/costume/picture/story ... etc to present it to the rest of our class.  
• Next Friday is our Book Presentation Day! Pick up any book that you will enjoy reading (preferable a chapter book) and write a short summary of the portion you have read to present it to your peers on Friday. J

Friday afternoon's Assignment

Tenses Practice

Today, we have worked on the past simple and progressive tenses and in order for us to master them, we need to further practice. Open this link and answer the worksheet on it, then write down the answers on your blog and finally check your answers. 

Friday Morning's Assignment

Good morning everyone,

Thanks to Raja, we had a great day at Tommy Thompson Park; here are the links and the new vocabulary that she has provided us.

New Vocabulary:

Wetland

Embayment

Tern (Common Tern)

Cormorant (Double-crested Cormorant)

Warbler (Yellow Warbler)

Swallow (Tree Swallow and Barn Swallow)

Great Egret

Mute Swan and Trumpeter Swan

Nest Box (this is what the Tree Swallows were sitting on)

Mist Net (this is the name of the net the bird researchers use)

Dragonfly

Cattail

Carp Gate

Goldenrod Gall Fly

Larva

Binocular

Peninsula

Links

Tommy Thompson Park

Website: www.tommythompsonpark.ca (this is where information about guided activities can be found)

Twitter: www.twitter.com/TRCA_TTP

The Bird Research Station

Website: www.ttpbrs.ca

Twitter: www.twitter.com/TorontoBirds

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TTPBRS

The Learn to Fish program

http://www.ontario.ca/travel-and-recreation/learn-fish

www.trcastewardshipevents.ca (This one is to register for the program at TRCA parks including Tommy Thompson Park)

FLAP (we talked about this at the Bird Research Station)

http://www.flap.org/   They can always use volunteers to help patrol!

 After reviewing all that, please take a few minutes to write a quick report on it. Make sure to include all the new vocabulary that you have learned, things that you have liked, and things that you wish that you could have done (for future events).

For the ones who took some photos, please try to upload them as well, so we all share the benefit.

Thursday's Field Trip

Tomorrow we will be going to Tommy Thompson Park. The meeting time is at 9 am in the lobby downstairs. We will be provided with a FREE transportation to and from our destination together with a guided tour as well.
Make sure to bring litter-less lunch with you, water, hands sanitizers, and maybe a little jacket too.