Hi everyone, 

It's definitely getting colder.  Make sure you bundle up so that you don't catch a cold.  

Interactions:
In today's interactions, we learned expressions for checking understanding.  

For group leaders, make sure your check your group's understanding after each skills activity:

Main Ideas:
Did you have trouble with any sections of the video?  

Details:  Were there any words you couldn’t catch?

For group members, when you are watching the video, note down the time of parts that you didn't understand.  After, ask your group leader for help. 

• I didn’t catch the phrase/words at the ….mark.
  
• I didn’t catch the phrase at the 30 second mark.

• I didn’t hear what was said at the …mark.
• I didn’t hear what was said a the 1 minute:10 second mark. 

Homework:
1.  Interactions (last one!)
2.  Listening Report #4 (last one!)
3.  Blog Comment #7
4.  slide presentation

Blog Comment #7

We are coming to the end of our course - just four more lessons.  

1. What is the most important thing you have learned during this entire year?
2. How has your English improved during our course? (give examples)

• Write 8-10 sentences.
• Use capitalization, punctuation & spelling correctly.
• Submit by Wednesday, November 27 by 6:00pm.

Hi everyone,

We were very busy in today's class with our first round of discussions!

Group Discussions:
You did a good job with your discussions in today's class.  Most of used opinion giving expressions and involved all of your group members.  Great work! 

However, remember these points to improve your discussions next week:

1. Do not read your summary and/or your oppion.  Make sure you practice before class so that you know the information without your notes.
2. When you give your summary, present it step-by-step.  If you rush, your group members won't understand.  Use this pattern to give your summary:

• Explain 2-3 sentences
• pause
• check your group's understanding (e.g. Is this clear? / Are there any questions?)
• Repeat until you have finished your summary.

Quiz #1:
I returned your quizzes at the end of class.  Most of you did really well.  For our next quiz, make sure you review expressions for opinion giving and expressions for leading a discussion.

Homework:
1.  Discussion preparation (see schedule)
2.  Blog posting #3
3.  Study for Quiz #2

Enjoy your Golden Week!

We don't have classes on May 2.  
Remember to come back to class on May 9.

Blog Question #3:

Agree or disagree with the following statement:

I think the Japanese government should build more nuclear power stations.   

• Remember to use an agree/disagree expressions and give a reasons and/or example. 
• Write 8-10 sentences.
• Use capitalization, punctuation & spelling correctly.
• Submit by Wednesday, May 8 by 6:00pm.