Gayle's Ferris Reading and Writing Class Blog

More COOL websites

2005-12-15T18:48:00.000+09:00

Today you are going to check out some fun sites to help you with your English...(should you want to study on your own.) So we're going to have some fun ... give some reviews of the sites I've listed below. If you know of some other sites that might be useful to your classmates, please share them.

Visit the links I have listed below and give them a try. Play around and then come back and tell us all what you like or dislike about them. You don't have to visit all of them, but you do have to visit some of them.

You will share your thoughts here.

Here they are:

This site is developed by students for students. Some of it might be 'high' level, but I think you can understand it. There are even tapescripts to follow as you listen. (My personal favorite is 'The Ultimate of All Sports' because I played this sport in college! If you search my name, you will see what I looked like in college.)

http://www.youthradio.org/indexx.shtml

This next site comes to us from the UK. It looks like a train map. When you click on a 'station' it takes you to that page.

http://www.britishcouncil.it/students/rome/

This is an online magazine for ESL students at Arizona Western University, but we can check it out too. The students wrote the articles themselves. (Hmmmmm, maybe we can post our magazine online...)

http://www.azwestern.edu/modern_lang/esl/cjones/mag/index.htm

Here's another online magazine by and for ESL students. I especially like the 'Special Memories of Christmas' link...'tis the season to be jolly. ;-) Students from all over the world write about their memories of Christmas. There's lots of stuff to play with.

http://www.topics-mag.com/Electronic/Magazine.html

This link comes from Canada. It has video too! There are lessons you can do on your own and the topics are interesting.

http://www.cbc.ca/ottawa/esl/lessons.html

ELLLO means English Language Listening Lab Online. Here's the link:

http://www.elllo.org/

Lots of stuff at this site, from games to grammar to reading to podcasts to ... you name it! My Keio students liked this one!

http://www.manythings.org/

You have a lot to check out.

Share it with others!

g

Week 12 Question December 13~December 20

2005-12-13T20:09:00.000+09:00

Here's this week's question:

What image or images of Japanese culture would an Inuit, Ladakhi or American, etc., see if he or she watched Japanese TV?

I look forward to reading your thoughts!

Gayle

Week 11 Question December 6 ~ December 13

2005-12-06T20:52:00.000+09:00

So today we read about TV and movies from Western cultures 'invading' a small village in India. This kind of media seems to have had a negative influence on the village.

Are you influenced by foreign TV, foreign movies, and advertisements? Explain why or why not. (For example, if you watch a commercial with Brad Pitt wearing jeans, do you want to buy a pair of those jeans, or see boys in those jeans?)

I look forward to reading your comments. If you have any questions or don't understand the question, please email me, I'll be happy to help you.

g

Week 10 November 29 - December 6

2005-11-29T09:51:00.000+09:00

This week we read about Wireless Wearables, that is, wearing clothes that have high-tech devices in them which allow us to connect to the Internet, email, and so on.

Some people say high-tech devices are interfering with traditional face-to-face interaction. Do you agree? Why or why not? Do you think society will benefit from the introduction of high-tech wearable devices? Why or why not?

I look forward to reading your thoughts and opinions.

Week 9 Question of November 22 - November 29

2005-11-25T11:33:00.000+09:00

This week we read about the use of cell phones to help a small rickshaw business in Cambodia.

Do you think the invention of the cell phone is a good thing for society? Explain your answer with examples.

I look forward to reading your thoughts. Please respond to others too. ;)

Gayle

Take a break

2005-11-16T06:35:00.000+09:00

Take a break from the class blog this week and work on your papers.

(Keep blogging in your personal blogs. :-)

See you Friday.

g

Week 7 Question Nov. 8 - Nov. 15

2005-11-08T22:05:00.000+09:00

Today we read about beauty.

Please share your ideas for this week's question.

What do you think about when you hear the word beauty? Why? Give reasons.

I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Gayle

If you are interested in practising your LISTENING skills...

2005-11-03T08:32:00.000+09:00

Hi cool chicks,

I finally found that program about the environment I was telling you about last class.

It may be difficult to understand all of it, but if you want to try and listen to the program, it can be found here:

http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2005/04/20050414_a_main.asp

Good luck.

g

Week 5 Question 5 November 1 ~ November 8

2005-11-01T23:28:00.000+09:00

Today we talked some more about our shopping habits.

Are you going to change your shopping habits to become more environmently friendly? If so, how? If not, why not? Please explain.

I look forward to your thoughts and ideas!!!

Gayle

Week 4, Question Oct. 18~Oct. 25

2005-10-26T06:58:00.000+09:00

This week we read about Japanese housewives organizing co-ops and shopping and how their choices can help the environment.

What are some other ways we can think globally by acting locally?

I look forward to your ideas. :-)

g

I've invited some friends to join our party!

2005-10-22T11:05:00.000+09:00

Hi girlies, ;-)

I've invited some friends to join our group! They are really cool. MaryAnn is from New Orleans but lives in Saipan. I went to Pepperdine University with her and we had a great time together. She is working at Northern Marianas College and is also teaching Sonia. Sonia is from Korea and currently living in Saipan. If you want to check out her life in Saipan, please visit her blog.

http://soniahome.blogspot.com/

Please welcome our new friends and ask lots of questions.

Your crazy teacher,

elyaG

(read that backwards) hee hee hee

BLog names

2005-10-14T11:03:00.000+09:00

Please post your member name here.

Week 3 Question

2005-10-11T20:37:00.000+09:00

Here is the question for week October 11 - October 25. (Remember, we don't have class on Tuesday, you have some religious lectures instead.)

Do you think you are a monochronic or polychronic person. Please give reasons or examples why you think are one or both type/s.

Don't forget to respond to comments your classmates have posted as well. :-)

Peace, love and happiness.

Gayle

Some Fun Links

2005-10-10T13:29:00.000+09:00

On Friday I shared with you a couple of websites that can help you with your reading and writing.

http://dictionary.reference.com/

The link above takes you to an online dictionary. Just type in the word and you will get the meaning...in ENGLISH. :-)

http://www.word-detective.com/

This link will take you to the Word Detective's webpage. Check out his archive and learn where certain words and phrases originate. We did 'frisbee' in class.

Enjoy!

Gayle

Week 2 - TIME

2005-10-04T22:42:00.000+09:00

We talked about 'time' in class this week.

Do you ever wish you had more time?

What if the day had 25 hours? ...or 23 hours? What would you do?

Please post your comments here. Don't forget to read and respond to comments your classmates have written.

Take your time. ;-)

Gayle

Welcome!

2005-09-30T13:53:00.000+09:00

Welcome to our class blog!!!

Please check here at least once a week to comment and respond to comments.

I look forward to our online discussions.

Gayle

Question 1

2005-09-30T03:41:00.000+09:00

Please read and respond to the question for this week.

Why should we know how to read and write?

Please use the comments button to respond with your ideas. Read the ideas of your classmates and respond to 2 or 3 of them.

See you in cyberspace!

Gayle