Christmas Dinner

This year, my contribution to our family Christmas dinner is the roast turkey. It's been a while since I've cooked one, so I checked the Canadian Living website for the instructions. 

Follow this link to find out how to cook a turkey, then fill in the blanks below.

How to cook a turkey - Canadian Living

Happy Holidays!

Here are some links to keep practising English over the holidays.



ESL Lab Listening - The Christmas Gift

Song - Happy Christmas

Reading (easy) Lovely Winter

Vocabulary (easy) Christmas Vocabulary

Reading Christmas Shopping  and Christmas Shopping Gap Fill

Reading Christmas by the numbers

Podcast Christmas Decorating

Tricky adjectives

Some adjectives can be confusing. Would you rather be bored or boring? Here's some more practise: 
Adjectives with -ed / -ing

Would you like to come over?

Review the language we use for extending, accepting and declining invitations.

 Invitations
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Here are some useful expressions you can use for making, accepting and refusing invitations.

Inviting

- We're having a few people over. We'd like you to join us.
- I was wondering if you'd like to come over.
- We're having a small get-together. Would you like to come?
- Would you like to come over?
- I'd like to invite you to my house.
- I hope you can make it.
- I'd like to invite you over for coffee.

Accepting Invitations

- We'd love to come.
- That's really nice. I'm sure my husband would like that. We'd love to come.
- I appreciate the invitation. What can I bring?
- That sounds great! Thanks for inviting me.
- I'm looking forward to it.
- Can I bring anything?
- What time should I be there?
- Let me know if I can bring anything.

Declining Invitations

- Sorry, I'd love to come, but I'm busy.
- I'd love to come, but I can't make it.
- I'd like to, but I have a meeting that day.
- I wish I could come, but I have an appointment.
- Thanks for thinking of me, but I'm afraid I have other plans that day.

Hesitating

- Thanks, but I have to check my calendar. Can I get back to you?
- I'm not sure what my plans are. Can I let you know?

Newcomer Newsletter

This newsletter looks like interesting reading.

Wondering how you're going to deal with winter in Canada? Got a difficult neighbour you don't know how to handle? Need something delicious in your life?

Read on! Click here for the Newcomer Newsletter

Untold Stories Exhibit - Museum of Vancouver

Video 1

This is a video about an immigrant who came to Canada as a refugee. Listen to Fawad's story and answer the questions.

1. Where is Fawad from?
2. Why did he have to leave his country?
3. How long did he stay in the refugee camp in Pakistan?
4. How was life there?
5. What did he study when he was living there?
6. How many people applied to Canadian universities from Pakistan?
7. What city in Canada did he come to study in university at?
8. Did he finish his Bachelor's degree there?
9.Who did he re-connect with in Toronto?
10. Where does he work now?
11. What would he like to get involved in one day?
12. Why does he like to do community work?

Video 2

This is a video about an immigrant who came to Toronto as a worker. Listen to the video and answer the questions.

1. Is it easy or difficult to start a new life in a new country?
2. Where is Steven from?
3. Did he expect to find a good job?
4. How many resumes did he send out?
5. What did everyone keep telling him he didn't have?
6. What job did he apply for at the Steam Whistle Brewery?
7. What job did they give him?
8. How long has he worked there?
9. What does Steven think brings success?