Happy New Year!

Listening - Podcast New Year's Resolution

Reading/Vocabulary New Year's Quiz

New Year's Eve Phrasal Verbs

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?

It's raining, it's pouring...

 

It's pouring today... a perfect day to stay inside and study English on the ELSA 4 blog!

Listen to this podcast to learn expressions to talk about rainy weather. Getting Caught in the Rain

Time flies when you're having fun!

 

Time idioms 

Do you feel that time flies?

Or do you have too much time on your hands?

Follow this link to learn some Time idioms. Try the quiz at the bottom of the page.

Store Returns - Listening

"The first time I washed and dried it, the thing shrank at least 5 sizes!"

Is this is a good reason to return a sweater? Do you think this man should get a refund?

Listening Practise -  Click here to listen  Store Returns

Field Trip to Capilano River Hatchery

 Morning Students - Monday

Please arrive at school promptly at 9:00. We are leaving at 9:05. We will take the Skytrain, the seabus and then a bus to get to the hatchery.

If you wish to meet us at Waterfront Station, you can meet us at 9:15 in front of Starbucks.

If you are meeting us at the hatchery, please click the link below for directions:

Capilano River Hatchery website

Afternoon Students - Tuesday

We will leave the school at 1:05. Please arrive on time.

Opinions

Listen again to the conversation. If you ask me...

Cranberries - A North American Super Fruit

Click here for more listening practise:

Cranberries

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Collocations

Thanksgiving Podcast

How to Cook a Turkey

Click here for the How to Cook a Turkey video

Indirect Questions

1. Follow the link below. On this website, first click number 4
2. Then, click Unit 3  Friends and Family.

3. Choose the first activity: Raising Children

4. Choose the second activity: Indirect WH Questions

Raising Children Crossword and Indirect Wh- Questions

Sleepover Party

 

 Sleepover Party - idioms

 The Sleepover Party - Listening

Listening: I've got to get going

Listen to the conversation between Ling and Ramon. Write down their conversation.

I've got to get going

School Procedures - Listening

Listen to an interview with a school secretary about School Procedures

The Raven's Call

 

Watch this animation of The Raven's Call, a short story that Bill Reid wrote and left purposely unfinished.

The Raven's Call

How do you think the story ends?