Week #4 - Xreading; also ESL Online Presentations

Good afternoon, everyone! I hope you are ready to present ESL Online sites. I also hope you are checking ESL on TikTok and Instagram to prepare for next week.

I would like to suggest in your writing that you explain the meaning of one word that you learned (in English and Japanese). See the April 20 blog post below (How to write about vocabulary) for examples.

Today's topic is Xreading. Kevin will talk about it in class. Like the other topics so far, you will find something to read, write a paragraph and present it in class - May 19 (Thurs); May 24 (Tues).

Xreading is an ESL way to read online books. Graded reader have levels, so you can find the level that suits you best. Ideally, you want to choose a book where most of the words are known, but some words are new to you so you can learn new vocabulary. There are many books, so it should be easy to find a book that is interesting and at your level.

Read one or more graded readers on your cell phone, tablet or PC. Use your Xreading account. The service is provided by Tsurumi University. It's free to you now. After you graduate, if you want to continue to use it, it costs 2000 yen per year.

Last year, students had trouble writing about Xreading. You need to write about the features of Xreading.

What are the features?

• online books
• various levels
• search functions (search by genre, title, level, publisher)
• audio
• ability to change text size
• ability to change audio speed
• automatic bookmarking
• student reviews of books
• quizzes to check understanding
• can use on smart phone, tablet or PC
• keeps a record of your reading

When you write about Xreading, you need to mention some or all of these features. If you can't do that, then you are not doing the assignment.

Your first blog post is due May 26 (Thursday classes) May 31 (Tuesday classes).

Grammar Practice
Conditional Sentences I - statements

To review, Tuesday class, you have 3 things to write (3 assignments):

1. ESL on TikTok & Instagram paragraph; send to Kevin by email two days before your class! - before May 12 (Thurs); May 17 (Tues)
2. Xreading paragraph; send to Kevin by email (before May 19 (Thurs); May 24 (Tues)
3. Blog post #1 - May 26 (Thurs); May 31 Tues)

There is no class on Tuesday, May 3;  or Thursday, May 5 - Golden Week!

Week #3 - ESL on TikTok and Instagram

Have you been using ESL Online websites every day? Have you tried a few different sites? Can you understand how to use the sites? Be ready to talk about what you've tried so far in class.

Continue to check ESL Online sites and write about your experience this week.

Next: ESL on TikTok & Instagram

Question: Is it better to use materials that are all English, or do you prefer materials that have some Japanese translations and advice?

Kevin will present ESL on TikTok & Instagram
* The sample paragraphs on the website also include YouTube. This year YouTube will be a separate topic, so please don't write about YouTube yet.

* Some people may not want to use TikTok for some reason. You can just write about Instagram if you like. However, if you don't mind trying Tik Tok, you'll have more to write about.

If you know of any good ESL sites on TikTok or Instagram, please introduce them.

You have 3 assignments now:

1. ESL Online - April 28 (Thurs); May 10 (Tues)
2. ESL on TikTok & Instagram  - May 12 (Thurs); May 17 (Tues)
3. Blog Post #1 posting & presentation - May 24 (Thurs); May 29 (Tues)

Grammar Practice (Tues class first, then Thurs)
Conditional Sentences I - statements

Is your Bibliography up to date? Be sure you have a bibliography entry for every item you write about! You need URLs!

Some bibliography entries for TikTok and Instagram look like this:

TikTok (2020). https://www.tiktok.com/

hannari_hannah (2020). On TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@hannari_hannah?u_code=d31858m15f5bf9&preview_pb=0&language=en&timestamp=1585382473&utm_medium=ios&app=musically&tt_from=more&user_id=66195105076595 91685&utm_source=more&utm_campaign=client_share&source=h5_m

hannari_hannah (2020). “3Cs” on TikTok,  https://www.tiktok.com/@hannari_hannah/video/6821109324199234817?u_code=d31858m15f5bf9&preview_pb=0&language=en&timestamp=1585382473&utm_medium=ios&app=musically&tt_from =more&user_id=6619510507659591685&utm_source=more&utm_campaign=client_share&source=h5_m

[Notice: the top URL is the TikTok URL. The 2nd one is a Tik Tok uploader's account (hannah). The bottom one is a single video on Tik Tok by hannah.]

Instagram (2020). https://www.instagram.com

akane.iiiii (2020). On Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/akane.iiiii/

akane.iiiii (2020). "up to" On Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/p/CK5w2iGFEXf/

[Notice: the top URL is the Instagram URL. The 2nd one is an Instagram uploader's account (akane.iiiii). The bottom one is a single video on Instagram by akane.iiiii.]

The date is the date the video or post was published. If you can't find it, put the date you found it.

How to write about vocabulary

How to write about vocabulary you learned.

• Explain the meaning of the word in English and Japanese.
• To find a good definition of the word in English, use Google's dictionary function. For example, imagine you learned the word 'annoyance.' In the Google search box, type:   define: annoyance
  The explanation is: "the feeling or state of being annoyed; irritation" You can then copy that and paste it in your writing.
• Be careful to find the correct definition. Also, please be brief. Too many words is not good.
• No more than 2 vocabulary words each week, please. One is OK.

Here are some student examples from previous years.

• I learned a few words from these two sites. The first is "manager." This means "a person responsible for managing an organization." The meaning in Japanese is "支配人,管理者." 

• I learned a new word on these ESL online websites, First, I learned “packrat." The word's original meaning is a kind of rat but in this situation, the word is used to mean  “a person who stores a lot of things at home (家に物をたくさん溜め込む人)." “Packrat” is a word that means the opposite of a minimalist. Second, I learned “impactful." It means “having a powerful effect on a person or situation (影響力のある)."

• There are some other new words I've learned by looking at various categories. I'll introduce one. It is "annoying." The meaning in Japanese is「うるさい、迷惑な」and the meaning in English is "irritating." 

• I found some new words. First is "popsicle", it means ice cream or frozen flavored juice on a small wooden stick, and "棒付きアイスキャンデー" in Japanese. Second is "saucer." It means "a small shallow dish for holding a cup at the table" and "受け皿" in Japanese.

• I learned some words. The first word is “brave." It means “勇敢な” in Japanese, and “intrepid” in English. The second world is “affectionate." It means “愛情深い” in Japanese, and “loving deeply” in English. 

• I learned new vocabulary. The first word is ‘‘relive." It means ‘‘再び経験する’’ in Japanese and ‘‘to remember or imagine something that happened in the past so clearly that you experience the same emotions again’’ in English. Second I learned ‘‘extremely." It means ‘‘極端に’’ in Japanese and ‘‘to a very great degree’’ in English.

How to make a new blog

Short video on how to make a Google Blogger blog.

Week #2 - ESL Online and Bibliography

Good afternoon, everyone. Did you do last week's homework?

Today's topic: ESL Online

Let's talk for a while about how you first learned Englsih.

For your homework, you will use the links on the website for ESL Online.

Please DO NOT use YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or Lyrics Training, as they will be a separate topic.

1) Choose some of the ESL Online sites on the Lifelong English website and use them as much as possible for the next two weeks. Try to understand how to use the sites and all of their functions. These sites work best on a PC, but you can try them on a smart phone too.

2) Write about your experience. Think about questions like these (but not only these!): Did you find a new or helpful site for English study? What site did you find? Could you choose the level? Did you mainly study vocabulary, grammar, listening, reading or something else? What new vocabulary or grammar point did you learn? How will this activity help you learn English in the future? Write as much as possible and be specific!

*Be sure to record the URLs for each site you use and also for each page of a website. These URLs will be sources in your Bibliography. (More on Bibliography below)

3) Your paragraphs should be at least 200 words. More is OK, but please don't make it really long. Check your sentences after you write and delete sentences that repeat or that don't add useful information.

4) Writing is due two days before your presentation class. Send it to Kevin in a regular email. You don't have to send a Google Doc.

5) Kevin will correct your writing and post it on the website. Other people will see what you wrote. If you write something good, it will appear in your graduation thesis. Your writing is due in two weeks (see dates below).

You have 2 assignments now:

• ESL Online paragraph & presentation - April 28 (Thurs); May 10 (Tues)
• Blog Post #1 posting & presentation - May 24 (Thurs); May 29 (Tues)

You will get a new assignment each week. Please keep up or you risk failing this class.

Tsurumi Review 51

Tsurumi Review 50

Make a Google Doc for your Bibliography!

Bibliography (参考文献)

Elllo.org (2021). http://elllo.org/

Elllo.org (2021). “Meet the Teachers", http://elllo.org/english/grammar/L1-01-AimeeTodd-Intros-BeVerb.htm

Elllo.org (2021). “One Minute English!”, “Christina / Germany 1500", http://elllo.org/video/1451/1500-Christina-Learn-English.html

Elllo.org (2021). “One Minute English!”, “Erina / Japan 1496”, http://elllo.org/video/1451/1496-Ernina-Regret.html

Elllo.org (2021). “SixPix#74Vietnam”, http://elllo.org/english/Games/G075-Vietnam.htm

English Central (2021). https://ja.englishcentral.com/browse/videos

English Grammar Online - Phrasal Verbs (2021). https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/phrasal-verbs

Learning Chocolate (2021). https://www.learningchocolate.com/

Learning Chocolate (2021).“Shopping Trip", https://www.learningchocolate.com/content/shopping-trip

Learning Chocolate (2021). “Season- Summer”, https://www.learningchocolate.com/content/seasons-summer

How to share a Google Drive document

1) Make a Google document in your Google Drive.

2) Give your document a title (top left of document).

3) When you're ready to send, go to File, Share.

4) Change the setting to "Anyone on the internet with this link can view" (under "Get link")

5) Click on Copy link and click Done.

6) Make a Gmail message to Kevin and paste the link in the message. Include your name in the email.

7) Send Kevin the email.

If there is a problem, I will contact you. Please check your mail from time to time.

(If you don't do it this way, I will have to ask you for permission to open the document, and if you don't check your mail, I will have to wait.)

Useful Classroom English

 

Please speak in English and use these questions every time!

Class #1 - Lifelong English Seminar

Welcome to Kevin's Lifelong English Seminar.

Fly Station in Chiba; March 2022

The website for this seminar is: lifelongenglish.weebly.com

You have two big goals for this year:

1. Find interesting ways to bring English into your life now and in the future
2. Write a graduation report; due in November

The point of this class is to find new ways to study and learn English on your own. Every week, we will explore a new way to learn English.

You will write (almost) every week. The paragraphs you write will be used in your graduation report. You will also make presentations about what you write.

Advice from last year's seminar students. Please listen to their advice! 

Your blogging will continue. You can use the same blog and topic or make a new one. You only have to write 3 blog posts this year. The first blog post is due May 24 (about 7 weeks). Thursday students can continue to write about movies or start a new blog theme. If you start a new blog, send me the URL. By the way, what do you think your blog theme will be?

* A few writing and typing points:

1. Make one space (only 1!) after a sentence.

2. Write in paragraphs (段落). Several sentences on the same topic should be in the same paragraph. Don't use the 'Enter' key after each sentence. Just keep typing, with one space after each sentence.

3. For the purpose of blogging and commenting, we will NOT indent (字下げしない). After each paragraph, Hit 'Enter' twice to make a line space between paragraphs, as in the sample below.

4. Did you read the 3 points above? Then please do it!

Schedule (Thurs & Tues)

Grading Policy

Review

• Capitalization rules

Please take a short quiz on capitalization. Type your answers in the box. (Thursday class quiz / Tuesday class quiz)

Typing Practice:  https://www.typing.com/student/lessons

The read content of this class will start next week. Please don't be absent!

Graduation Seminar 2022

Hi everyone!

I hope you are staying healthy, and I hope your family is healthy, too! Gambatte, and get the vaccine!

Anyway, this is the blog for the Lifelong English Seminar. Please save the URL (http://lifelong-english.blogspot.com/) in your Favorites.

There is also a website for the seminar. The URL is (https://lifelongenglish.weebly.com/). If you save the blog, you can find the link to the website on the blog, so you only need one bookmark (favorite).

All new information each week will appear on the blog. Information that doesn't change each week will be on the website. Links to your blogs will appear on the website, too. This is like last year in the blogging seminar where I had two sites, a blog and a website.

We will continue blogging this year. Please tell me if you will use the same blog URL as last year or make a new blog theme and URL. Students in last year's Movie Zemi especially should consider a new blog theme.

OK, I'll talk to you soon! - Kevin

Thursday Schedule - Lifelong English Seminar 2022

Lifelong English Seminar Schedule 2022 (Thursday class)

Rm. 301         Thursdays 3rd Period (13:00~14:30)          30 classes

      April 7           Intro; schedule; policies Gmail; blogs; blog post #1 assigned; FlipGrid

      April 14         ESL Online; bibliographies

      April 21         ESL on Tik Tok & Instagram; bibliographies

      April 28         Xreading; ESL Online presentations; quotation marks, titles

✪ Golden Week! - May 5 no classes!

      May 12          E-reading; ESL on Tik Tok & Instagram presentations

      May 19          ESL on YouTube; Xreading presentations

      May 26          Blog Post #1 due ↩; blog presentations; Movies, TV, Videos & Trailers

      June 2           Search Skills; Key Commands; E-reading presentations

      June 9           Streaming TV News; ESL on YouTube presentations

     June 16          Streaming Radio; Movies, TV, Videos & Trailers presentations

     June 23          Reddit; Streaming Radio; Streaming TV News presentations

     June 30          Blog Post #2 due ↩; blog presentations

     July 7             Lyrics Training; Streaming Radio presentations

     July 14           Reddit presentations; bibliographies

     July 21           Final spring presentations; blog revisions; Lyrics Training activity

✪ Summer Break!

     Sept. 15         Authentic vs ESL Materials

     Sept. 22         Blog Post #3 due ↩; blog presentations; Online Comics

     Sept. 29         Input Hypothesis; Thesaurus; Collocations

     Oct. 6             Presentations - Online Comics

     Oct. 13           Merits of Blogging

     Oct. 20           Intro to Graduation Reports

     Oct. 27           Organizing graduation reports; writing introductions

✪ Holiday! - Nov. 3; No classes! (Culture Day)

     Nov. 10           Formatting, bibliographies; conclusions due

     Nov. 17          (1st Draft Graduation Report)

     Nov. 24          1st Draft Graduation Report ↩; TOEIC & TOEFL

     Dec. 1            Voice Recognition & Search

     Dec. 8            StoryCorps

     Dec. 15          MOOCs

     Dec. 22          Final Graduation Reports due ↩

✪ Winter Break – Dec. 29, Jan. 5

     Jan. 12            Review; feedback; submit grad. report; Top Expressions

↩ = homework due

10 absences = FAIL; 7-9 absences = likely FAIL