Rodeo Trip YEaaah !!!

What:              HOUSTON RODEO!  See real cowboys and cowgirls!  Hear Texas music!  Eat Texas grub!  Visit the carnival! Shop for cowpoke goods!

                                               

                         See the website at www.hlsr.com

When:               Saturday, March 8th.

Time:                11:30 AM

Meet:                At the Hilton

Return:             Around 7:40 PM (we leave the Rodeo at 7pm)

Students:          Tickets are $5.00 (cash only).  Get LCC tickets from 118 Roy Cullen.

                For extra information send me your email , or wait until class.

And never forget : Low expectation is the key of happiness :D

                              

                                                                                    Your representative ( Oussama. )

My movie recommendation for the weekend

I wish we had time to watch it in class. It's not an international adoption, but it's close to our topic.

Abandoned in Guatemala

"The Paradox of Choice," by Barry Schwartz

Preparation for the midterm listening exam

The exam will consist of two separate parts.

In the first part, you will watch a 20-minute documentary related to international adoption. Before the exam, you should have listened to the Raise the Issues NPR broadcast (we did it in class AND I posted it on the blog if you missed it) and the 30-minute radio show (LISTENING #6 on the blog). You should also have read the article which we discussed yesterday in 6D and 6F (sorry 6E--you're on your own).

In the second part of the test, you will watch a new 20-minute TED lecture. You will take notes and then I will give you some questions to answer. At least one of the questions will ask you to compare the main idea of this new lecture with the main idea of Gladwell's lecture on happiness and spaghetti sauce (which you were supposed to have listened to and commented on last week).

So... for those of you who have been keeping up with the listening work, you should be ready for tomorrow's listening test :D

For those of you who have not been keeping up with the listening work, GOOD LUCK.

Midterm Grammar Test

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-rIza1967iVekpzSkxmWmgtNGs/edit?pli=1

Extra Listening Practice: Adopting a Baby from China

Holly's Video: Overview of Clauses and Introduction to Noun Clauses

This could be valuable to all of you, not just 6E.

Part 1

http://youtu.be/P_V1vSAwA-c

Part 2

http://youtu.be/Ch3Sw-sKfnc

Please comment if you find the videos useful.

6E: Grammar #9:Direct (quoted) and Indirect (reported) Speech (due Wednesday)

Part 1:

Watch the following video.
(It is from a very old comedy show (one of the first ever) called "I Love Lucy." The show is about the relationship between Lucy, who is American, and Ricky, who is from Cuba. As you can see in this video, couples on t.v. didn't use to sleep in the same bed. My oh my, how far we've come in this regard!)

http://www.schooltube.com/video/8d94448e0ba3a3f756b9/

Write 5 sentences that you hear in quoted speech. There are many ways to do this. Please vary your style and word choice to make it interesting. In other words, do not write all of the quotes in the same format. Be careful with your punctuation. You may not use the same line as your classmates!

For instance,

"I heard you the first time," Ricky said to Lucy, "but what language is it?"

Part 2:

Reply to your own comment. WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO  is to rewrite your original sentence in reported (indirect) speech.

For instance,

Ricky told Lucy that he had heard her the first time but that he didn't know what language it was.

Powerpoint Presentation: Reported Speech

Reportedspeech hc from holly_cin

6E: A Grammar Note on Noun Clauses Beginning with THAT

Today in class (and in my powerpoint) we looked at THAT-clauses as subjects of the sentence. I said that the use of a THAT-clause as the subject is formal.

Here are three ways to say the same thing:
1. That Kemal makes it to class before 9 a.m. is amazing.
2. The fact that Kemal makes it to class before 9 a.m. is amazing.
But more commonly...
3. It is amazing that Kemal makes it to class before 9 a.m.

And another example:
1. That Tarek can't stay awake without his morning coffee is obvious to all of us.
2. The fact that Tarek can't stay awake without his morning coffee is obvious to all of us.
But more commonly...
3. It is obvious to all of us that Tarek can't stay awake without his morning coffee.

And yet another:
1. That my class is a lot of fun is undeniable.
2. The fact that my class is a lot of fun is undeniable.
But more commonly...
3. It is undeniable that my class is a lot of fun.

And finally:
1. That I work very hard is clear.
2. The fact that I work very hard is clear.
3. It is a fact that I work very hard.

Tipping Point Vocabulary Slides

Tipping pointslideschapter1 from holly_cin

Today's listening

Powerpoint Presentation: Noun Clauses

Nounclauses from holly_cin

Listening #7: International Adoptions (due Thursday (updated))

This is a 30-minute radio show on the topic of international adoptions. I know that its long, but I think its worthwhile to listen to because it recycles a lot of the language and terms involved with this topic.






After you listen, answer the following question:

According to what you hear, why do Americans seek adoptions abroad? List at least two reasons.

Also, any comments you'd like to make are welcome.

Cinpassivecombinations from holly_cin

These might be helpful for you to review now that we are studying gerunds (which follow prepositions). 

Gerundslides from holly_cin

This powerpoint presentation was made by my students last year to help remember some of the preposition combinations as well as some of the special gerund combinations. You can download it.

Enjoy the weekend :D

Wow! Another amazing week with 6DEF! I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful and thought-provoking presentations on your country. Although its not pleasant to talk about our country's problems, I think that in order to deal with our problems we first have to acknowledge them. So again thank you for sharing your countries with us. At the LCC, we all learn so much more than English. It's like being on a trip around the world EVERY SINGLE DAY, which is why I LOVE MY JOB!

We also had a lot of fun at NASA and Kemah yesterday. For that, the thank yous go to Hope because not only was it her idea but it was also her coordination and organization that made the day happen.

Looking ahead, who can believe we're nearing mid-term? Time really flies.

So this week we'll have a listening test on Tuesday based on the presentations given in each of your classes. We will also have a listening midterm test--probably on Friday. I will give you more information on that next week.

In 6E, we'll be having a grammar midterm in the Call Lab on Thursday at our regular time. I already explained how the test will be. Please go back and look at my comments and corrections on your grammar on the blog and ask me any questions if the lessons aren't clear. We'll continue with noun clauses and reported speech next week.

I hope you enjoy the AMAZING WEATHER. I'm headed out on my bike right now!
Yours,
HC

Powerpoint Presentation: Hope and Thong and Wish :D

Listening #6: "Spaghetti Sauce and Happiness" (due Friday)

After listening to the lecture, explain the main idea and tell us what you learned. Take notes while you listen because you'll need them next week in class.

6E: Grammar #8: Wish (due Thursday)

Answer the following questions:

1. Where do you wish you were right now? What do you wish you were doing?

2. What do you wish were different about Houston?

3. Assume that you have a good job. If your boss told you to do something that you think is wrong, would you do it? Why or why not? (You understand that if you don't do it, you will lose your job.)

4. If you had to choose among perfect health, a loving family, and wealth (and you could have only one of the three during the rest of your life), which would you choose? Why?

6DEF Singers: Valentine's Day Edition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZIubnSDpS0&feature=youtu.be

Have a great weekend!

Today was a lot of fun. Thanks to (nearly) all of the teams for putting together a story, song, or poem to illustrate love in your language. I think today was very memorable :D

Regarding the finale, I think I will tell the LCC Singers to move over and allow the 6DEF Singers to perform at the graduation :D

I think we had a very productive week this week with debates and the start of presentations, and I look forward to more high-quality (and lively) presentations next week. Check the updated presentation schedule for your day. Remember that you must have two classmates (from D, E, or F) listen and give you feedback (with my forms) before you present in front of the class. Please bring those feedback forms in on the day of your presentation.

If you are in 6E, please complete the blog work on real and unreal conditions. If you had completed the work when you were supposed to, then I wouldn't be reminding you right now!
 
Finally, I hope you enjoyed the listening test today. If you haven't listened to the Yale lecture, shame on you. There is no excuse as you had plenty of time. Still, I recommend that you go back and listen to it and think about how the categories apply to the movies you saw. I am posting their links here, in case you want to see them again.

Green Card
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1084948761/

Pretty Woman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvd3TjJaf3c

Harry and Sally

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnierMA90D4

Elderly couples (from When Harry Met Sally)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guinBnWWuKE

Hope Springs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s22_Mvikl8 

My Best Friend's Wedding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF8Kly68x_U

ATTN 6E

Each semester, a class representative is chosen from each class to serve on the LCC student committee. This committee meets to discuss activities and disseminate information to each class. They usually meet once a week from 12:30-1:30. The first meeting is actually tomorrow.

If you are interested in being our class rep, please post a comment!

6E: Grammar #7: Unreal conditionals (due Sunday, 2/16)

Complete the following sentences with unreal conditional statements.

1. I don't have a lot of money. However,...
2. I like/don't like surprises (choose one), but...
3. I haven't done all of the blog work this semester, but...
4. I'm not the leader of my country, but...
5. If I could instantly change one thing about myself,...
6. I agree/disagree that single sex schools are better than co-education, but...
7. My English isn't perfect yet, but...
8. I'm in favor/not in favor (choose one) of legalizing marijuana, but...
9. If I could spend a day with one person in the world--alive, dead, or fictional--...
10. We do/don't have Valentines Day in my country, but...

Listening Test Tomorrow

For tomorrow's listening test, you will need to have listened and taken notes on the lecture on love from Yale University. You can use your notes for the test.

6E: Grammar #6: In the Call Lab

As a comment, post two different yes/no questions to two different classmates. At least one of the questions should be a past tense question (which means it could be present perfect).
Also ask me one question.

Listening #5: Follow up to the debates (due Friday, 2/14)

Your First Presentations

6D:
1. Bandar:

2. Doroty:

3. Ahmet:

http://youtu.be/NZ_HRB2GSoU

4. Christian:
http://youtu.be/fkfxiQL4Zkc

5. Sofia:

6.  Orlando:

7. Tiehao:http://youtu.be/pORCo9FWPGc

8. Sarah:

9. Xiaowu: http://youtu.be/Tse5ztCXgrE

10. Doris:http://youtu.be/Qyb4wQIicGM

11. Yann:http://youtu.be/PljiqZo8p38


6E:

1. Tarek:

http://youtu.be/wmTUqq-NJMo

2. Chi:

http://youtu.be/nwiFBp5tSss

3. Irem:

http://youtu.be/WcUkr9OwUjE

4. Johnny:

http://youtu.be/Bx3L4jzqeWg

5. Oussama:

http://youtu.be/RVipBl9V74g

6. Ray:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVwjoOjgSqM

7. Kemal:
http://youtu.be/iZwhnxtgXZo

8. Leni:
 http://youtu.be/1VCg5HzJ0QU

9:  Melsy:
http://youtu.be/GRA_nbu4Jm0

10:  Ozgur:
http://www.4shared.com/video/fwcQuQfIce/IMG_3848.html

11:  Uyen:
 http://youtu.be/_afLNFSMd4o



6F:

1. Caglar1:

http://youtu.be/YKQLxBQ5fCM

2. Rafael:

http://youtu.be/KtxeynSg2OQ

3. Haw:
http://youtu.be/ZYyhAJLc4V4

4. Ariane:
http://youtu.be/978NGHxg6ag

5. Evangelos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVZrT2br4BE

6. Arnold:
http://youtu.be/OeTqfGFx-jk

7. Saud: 
 http://youtu.be/eMJ3FJ_ehZE

8. Hatim:

9. Nahary:http://youtu.be/8iIQvKEeQYw

10. Belen

 

Your debates

Final debate scores:

1. Johnny, Chi, and Ozgur (73)
Tarek, Melsy, and Leni (69)

2. Ray and Oussama (78)
Uyen and Kamal (75)

3. Belen, Nahary, and Hatim (74)
Ariane, Haw, and Rafael (66)

4. Evangelos and Saud (58)
Caglar and Arnold (74.25)

5. Bandar, Doroty, and Tiehao (76.25)
Ahmet, Sarah, and Xiaowu (75)

6. Orlando and Doris (78.5)
Yann and Sofia (76)


Kemal/Uyen/Ray/Oussama 1
http://youtu.be/904mFQ3Gg7o

Kemal/Uyen/Ray/Oussama 2
http://youtu.be/q7Qbax2_hWg

Belen/Nahary/Hatim/Ariane/Haw/Rafael 1
http://youtu.be/nKxJI3BUStc

Belen/Nahary/Hatim/Ariane/Haw/Rafael 2
http://youtu.be/MyMTJY_rGjw

Orlando/Doris/Yann/Sofia
http://youtu.be/4HZVYc8X8V4

Evangelos/Saud/Caglar/Arnold
http://youtu.be/w-v29vElJd8

Ahmet/Sarah/Xiaowu/Tiehao/Doroty/Bandar


Melsy/Tarek/Leni/Ozgur/Johnny/Chi 3
http://youtu.be/O3o0eNuYkAY

Melsy/Tarek/Leni/Ozgur/Johnny/Chi 2
http://youtu.be/9gq_XxeWAOQ

Melsy/Tarek/Leni/Ozgur/Johnny/Chi 1
http://youtu.be/kPGtFUlmSzE

Musical Lesson: Unreal conditionals

The song is a little silly, but it illustrates our lesson :D

6E: Grammar #5: Real Conditions (due Friday, 2/14)

Somebody wants to marry you. However, you have some conditions which must be met in order for the engagement to happen. Here is what you say:

1. I will marry you if .........................................
2. I won't marry you if ......................................
3. I will marry you unless .................................
4. I won't marry you unless ..............................
5. I will marry you only if ................................
6. Only if...........................................................
7. I will marry you even if ...............................
8. I will marry you whether or not ...................

Some tips for your debates

I think that the debates in 6E and 6F went very well today. The debaters were generally well prepared and had a lot to say. However, sometimes the focus of the argument wasn't clear because they got distracted or tried to cover too many points broadly rather than fewer points more deeply.

I think that it's important for each person on the team to focus on just one (or maximum two, but with three on a team, one should be enough) important point that you want to explain and support with evidence. You should use as much evidence as you can to back up your point. That evidence can be based on studies (and you have a number of them to quote at your disposal) but it can also be based on logical reasoning (for example, adolescent boys and girls can be a distraction to each other in class because they're focusing on each other rather than on their studies, which is why they're supposed to be in school).

I think if you concentrate on developing your one issue, your focus will be clear and it will be easier for both the debaters and the judges to follow the debate.

Think of the debate as an essay. The topic and the argument (thesis) is stated by me in my introduction. You guys are the body paragraphs. Each paragraph must do its job to support that thesis. Then each paragraph has the opportunity to challenge/refute opposing points of view. Finally, you have the conclusion, which is your concluding statement in the debate.That's a summary of your points in support of your issue.

If you'd like to add to what I've written, please comment.

Debate Format

A coin will be flipped to see which side of the debate goes first.

Part I:
1. First constructive argument from Team A. (2.5 minutes)
2. First constructive argument from Team B. (2.5 minutes)
3. Second constructive argument from Team A. (2.5 minutes)
4. Second constructive argument from Team B. (2.5 minutes)
5. Third constructive argument from Team A. (2.5 minutes)
6. Third constructive argument from Team B. (2.5 minutes)

(1 minute) for both sides to discuss strategy for rebuttal.

Part II:
Crossfire/Rebuttal:
During this period, participants challenge and rebut the points made by the opposition. They may ask and answer questions during this time. This is an open format but all debaters must be respectful to each other. (8 minutes)

(1 minute) to prepare the closing statement.

Part III:
Closing statement: One person from each team summarizes their position on the debate (1.5 minute each side).

Friday Fun Day: Valentine's Day Edition (updated)

Hi Guys,

This Friday we're going to have a special Fun Day activity for the last 90 minutes to celebrate Valentine's Day. The theme of the Fun Day will be love.

Here's what I'd like you to do. I want you to get together with your classmates from 6D, 6E, and 6F who are from your country or speak your language (Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Turkish). I want you to make a presentation about love to perform in front of your classmates. The presentation should be between 5-10 minutes.

Your performance can be a skit (acting), a song, a poem, a love story, or a love game. The main thing is that everyone participates and you teach us something from your culture. You can sing it or perform it in your language, but then you'll have to translate it for us. I welcome your creativity!

We can talk about this some more in class, but I just wanted to give you the "heads up" to start thinking about it.

Here are the teams:
Arabic: Tarek (Captain), Sarah, Saud, Oussama, Bandar, and Hatim
Portuguese: Nahary (Captain), Doroty, and Leni
French: Ariane (Captain), Doris, Arnold, and Yann
Turkish: Kemal (Captain), Caglar, Iram, Ahmet, and Ozgur
Spanish: Belen (Captain), Orlando, Sofia, Evangelos, Ray, Rafael, Melsy
Vietnamese: Uyen and Chi (co-captains)
Chinese: Haw (Captain), Johnny, Tiehao, and Xiaowu

Oussama can go with the French group, the Arabic group, or both :D

Listening # 4: Love and its Permutations (due Wednesday, Feb. 12)

This lecture is from the Open University at Yale. So for this lecture, consider yourselves students of Yale, one of the finest universities in the world.

Our subject this week is love, in honor of Valentine's Day.

The song that he quotes in the lecture, if you're interested is "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad," by Meatloaf:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5hWWe-ts2s

For this post, I want you to write something that you find surprising or troubling in Professor Salovey's lecture. If nothing surprises or troubles you, then write what you find interesting.

Your presentation topics

They are due no later than Monday.
Please post them as comments here.

Listening #3: Synthesizing two opinion pieces (due Tuesday, Feb. 11)

Go to p. 32 of RI.

1. For each of the four topics listed in part A, explain how the opinions of Ferguson the commentator and Kaminer the essayist differ.

2. Which opinions do you agree or disagree with? What experiences have led you to these opinions. Explain.

My lecture on plagiarism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lp7cPtb35Ec#!

This is an earlier version of the lecture I gave on Friday. Since then, I have updated the lecture with pertinent information regarding global, patchwork, and incremental plagiarism (which you will find in the handout I gave before the lecture) as well as other issues related to plagiarism (such as, translation). However, listening to this lecture will give you the general idea.

So, if you missed the lecture on Friday, you are expected to listen to this lecture in order to prepare for the listening test this week. You can take notes and use those notes for the test.

Schedule for presentations (UPDATED)

I want your topics no later than this Monday. Write your topic as a comment to this post.

Wednesday:
6E: Ray
6D: DEBATE
6F: DEBATE

Thursday:
6E: Kemal
6F: Ariane, Haw
6D: Bandar, Doroty

Monday:
6E: Tarek, Oussama, Johnny
6F: Caglar, Rafael, Xiaowu
6D: Ahmet, Tiehao

Tuesday:
6E: Iram, Chi
6F: Arnold, Belen
6D: Christian and Tiehao

Wednesday:
6D: Orlando and Sofia
6F:  Hatim and Evangelos
6E: Melsy, Ozgur

Friday:
6D: Yann, Sarah, and Doris
6F: Saud and Nahary
6E: Leni and Uyen

Instructions for your presentations

Attention 6E

I want to tell you that I've responded to everything written in Grammar 1, 2, and 3 so you can go back and look at my comments and respond if you wish. I look forward to reading 4.

I also want to tell you that I have really been enjoying reading your writing. Keep up the good work. As the saying goes: "Practice makes perfect." Actually, you don't need perfect. Just close :D

Finally, I think we will start a skydiving team in 6E with Tarek as our captain.

ATTN 6DEF: Excellent website to review grammar

If you'd like to review and practice verb tenses, this website is great. Scroll down to the bottom of each page and you will find exercises and a final test. We worked on the final test in 6E today in the Call Lab. I'm telling you that it's worth looking at!

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html

6E: Grammar #4: Future Tense (due Friday, Feb. 7)

Tell me what you think the world will be like in 2020. What will have happened that has not happened yet? What new technology will be invented by then? Use FUTURE PROGRESSIVE and FUTURE PERFECT (at least once). Be creative (of course). Extra points if you make me smile.

Online help: Future perfect and future perfect progressive

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html

This site is a great way to review what we've learned so far. As you know, you will find practice tests if you scroll down to the bottom.

By the time class is over Friday, you will have mastered all of the verb tenses. In addition, by this time Friday, you will have been studying grammar with me for exactly 3 weeks.

Debate Information (Updated)

We'll begin the debates on Monday. We'll have one debate on Monday and then the other one on Tuesday. I will flip a coin in class tomorrow to see which debate goes first.

 I will update this post during the week with the information necessary to prepare the debates.

Also, I will post articles that I think you will find useful:

Reading:
1. http://www.singlesexschools.org/advantages-forboys.htm
2. http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/defining-your-ideal/1139-single-sex-education-the-pros-and-cons.gs?page=all
3. http://www.nea.org/home/17276.htm
4. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/02/coed.aspx

Listening:
1.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129084347

2.
http://www.npr.org/2013/02/12/171806323/boys-are-at-the-back-of-the-class


Debate Teams:

Pro-single sex education for boys:
6E:  Ozgur, Chi, Johnny (Tuesday)
6F: Belen, Nahary and Hatim (Monday)
6D: Tiehao, Doroty, and Bandar (Tuesday)

Anti-single sex education for boys:
6E:  Tarek, Leni, Melsy (Tuesday)
6F: Haw, Ariane and Rafael (Monday)
6D: Ahmet, Sarah, and Xiaowu (Tuesday)

Pro-single sex education for girls: 
6E:   Kemal and Uyen (Monday)
6F:  Caglar and Arnold (Tuesday)
6D: Orlando and Doris (Wednesday)

Anti-single sex education for girls:
6E:  Iram, Ray and Oussama (Monday)
6F: Evangelos and Saud (Tuesday)
6D: Sofia and Yann (Wednesday)

Powerpoint Presentation: Present Perfect and Present Perfect Progressive

Presentperfectprogressive from holly_cin

Online help for present perfect/progressive

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfect.html

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfectcontinuous.html

These pages explain everything you need to know about present perfect and present perfect progressive IN GREAT DETAIL. You will notice, however, that their "use 1" is my "case 2" and their "use 2" is my "case 1" for the present perfect.

Go to the exercises at the bottom of the page. They're excellent.

Summary from RI, p. 20 (due Monday, Feb. 3)

Post a 4-5 summary of the issue raised in the reading (which I read today in class) on p. 20.
You should post one summary per group.

Some differences between P.P. and P.P.P.

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE	PRESENT PERFECT
1) Recent activity: to emphasize the recency of a past activity.  We often use “lately” or “recently.” Example: She's been working hard recently. 2) Emphasis on the duration or length of an activity Example: Jack has been painting for 4 hours (and he’s still painting). 3) Recently finished activity with a present result Example: I've been working in the garden, that's why my hands are so dirty. 4) No difference in meaning. Often the present perfect progressive and the present perfect can have the same meaning. This is often the case with verbs of living, occupation, or vocation) Example: I've been living in Dallas for 3 years. OR     I've lived in Dallas for 3 years	1) Indefinite time in the past (experience). Emphasis is on the completed action at an indefinite time in the past. Example: Susan's written 3 books (in her life). 2) Emphasis on QUANTITY Example: I've read 300 pages of Tom Smith's latest book. 3) Duration from past to present (see #4 of present perfect progressive) Example: Peter has worked for that company for 5 years.

Here are some examples of the difference between the two forms when referring to duration of an activity as compared to quantity: 

1. He's been driving for 6 hours.  He's driven 320 miles.
2. The civil war in Syria has been going on for two years. Over 100,000 people have died.
3. We have been learning grammar since class began. We have covered 3 chapters in the book.

6E: Grammar #3: Present Perfect and Simple Past (due Tuesday, Feb. 4)

Answer the following questions:

1. What are some interesting experiences you have had in your lifetime?

2. What are some things you have not yet done in your lifetime but would like to do?

3. What are some of the places you have visited in the world or in your country, and when did you visit them?

Listening #2: The 3 A's of Awesome (due Tuesday, February 4)

Listen to the following TED talk. After listening, all you have to do is post a comment responding to something he said that "spoke" to you.