Hi everyone,
We finished our last group of debates, so we have now done with all the requirements of our course. In next week's lesson, we'll have a fun lesson about using slang in English. Speed Discussion Vocabulary: Coming-of-Age Day catch the flu / catch a cold New Year's resolution Debate Feedback: I noticed in your debates last week and this week that there are two types of pairs: those students who are very well prepared and those who didn't prepare enough for their debates. When you have presentations in Oral English 2 next year, it's important to speak loudly. This shows that you are confident in your opinion. Also, you need to make eye contact with both the audience and your group. You have to practice both the content of your presentation, and how you will present (e.g. body language and voice inflection). If you don't practice your content enough before the lesson, it will be difficult to focus on your body language because you need to use your notes too often. Homework:
Blog Question #10: In today's speed discussion, we learned the expression "New Year's resolution." What are two resolutions that you have this year? Why do you have them? * Write 12-15 sentences. * Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly. * Submit by Monday, January 18 by 6:00pm.
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Hi everyone,
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great vacation. We started with our second round of debates in our first class of the new year. Debate Feedback: This week, there was an improvement in debate skills, especially with using opinion and refuting expressions. I noticed that more debaters were better prepared for this debate. For next week's debates, remember these points:
Homework:
Blog Question #9: If you were a presenter, answer this question: Do you think you improved for your second debate (e.g. worksheet and performance)? Why or why not? If you were an audience member, answer this question: Give your opinion on one of the topics you listened to in today’s lesson. Remember to choose a position (for or against), give a reason and an example for your opinion. * Write 12-15 sentences. * Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly. * Submit by Monday, January 11 by 6:00pm. Hi everyone,
In today's lesson, we had a special Christmas lesson. We got to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas and we learned about Christmas traditions in the U.S./Canada. You learned a lot of new vocabulary while you watched the movie, remember to write down the vocabulary in the Presentation section of your notebook, and an example sentence. Movie Vocabulary: string up lights (v) trim the tree (v) hang up decorations (v) You're a grinch. (idiom) go carolling (v) chimney (n) wreath (n) sleigh (n) Homework:
Blog Question #8: What are your plans for the Christmas and New Year's holidays? * Write 12-15 sentences. * Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly. * Submit by Monday, December 14 by 6:00pm. Hi everyone,
Once again, we had debates in today's lesson. Everyone has now done one debate. Debate Feedback: This week, there was an improvement in debate skills, especially with using opinion and refuting expressions. I noticed that more debaters were better prepared for this debate. For debate #2, remember these points:
Blog Question #7: What did you think about today's debates? * Write 12-15 sentences. * Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly. * Submit by Monday, December 7 by 6:00pm. Hi everyone,
We had our first group of debates today! Vocabulary Notebooks: At the beginning of our lesson, I returned your vocabulary notebooks. I checked your vocabulary sections and the opinion homework. The next time I collect your notebooks will be before the Christmas holidays. Debate Procedure: Before our debates, we went through the steps for your debate. They include:
Debate Feedback: Overall, everyone did a good god with your debates. You prepared well, and knew your topic. However, remember these points for your next debate:
Homework:
Blog Question #6: What did you think about our first debates? * Write 12-15 sentences. * Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly. * Submit by Monday, November 30 by 6:00pm. Hi everyone,
We're starting our debates from now, and you will do two debates by the end of our course. Opinion and Refuting Expressions: After speed discussion, we reviewed expressions for opinion giving and refuting. For your debates, you will have to use these expressions. Opinion giving: If you ask me, ... In my opinion, ... As I see it, ... Refuting: That's not important. That's not relevant. That's easy to solve. That's not true. That's not always true. That's not necessarily true. Debate Research: For both debate topics, you can find information about the "for" and "against" positions in the Discussion Skills --> debate topics section. If you need more information to complete your worksheet, you can do your own research. This is a useful website with additional information for your debates: http://www.procon.org Debate Structure: For your debates, you will use two types of structures: opinions and attacks. Each debater will give two reasons for his/her position. However, each debater will have to attack the reason (=disagree) of his/her partner. Homework:
No blog comment this week! Hi everyone,
We're almost half way through the semester. From now on, we'll be working on debate presentations. Opinon Presentation Feedback: We finished our last group of opinion presentations. Most of you did a good job at using conversational style in the discussion section. When you present your presentation, remember these points. You will have to do the same for your debates: a. speak loud enough b. use voice inflection c. do not read your presentation. Practice your presentation before our lesson so that you don't need to use your notes very often Partners and Topics for Debate: At the end of our lesson, you chose your second debate topic. You also got the following information about your debates: a. Debate Schedule b. Debate Sample c. Debate Worksheet If you need to change the date of your debates, please ask another group to switch with you, and then send me a message/email about the change. If next week's lesson, we are going to learn how to prepare your debates. Make sure you download the articles for your topics from the website: Debate Topics If you would like to do more research on your topic, you can use this website: ProCon Homework:
In next week's lesson, I am going to collect your vocabulary notebooks. Hi everyone,
We had a busy lesson today. We reviewed refuting opinions, had our group presentations and then chose our debate topics! How to Disagree (Refuting Opinions: At the beginning of today's lesson, we reviewed expressions to refute opinions. Please makes sure to review these because you will need them for your pair debates in November. When it is not true, you choose one of these three ways to show disagreement: a. This is not true because... b. This is not always true because... c. This is not necessarily true because... When the opinion is not important, you can choose one of these three ways to express your disagreement: a. This is not relvant because... b. This is not significant because... c. This is easy to solve because... Partners and Topics for Debate: At the end of our lesson, you chose your partner for your pair debate presentation. After, you also chose your first topic. In our lesson on November 10, you'll choose your second topic. Homework:
Blog Question #5: Read the opinions below. Choose two and disagree with it.
* Write 12-15 sentences. * Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly. * Submit by Monday, November 2 by 6:00pm. Hi everyone,
Wow! Can you believe this is our fourth lesson already! One month has already passed! I hope everyone is enjoying the semester. How to Disagree (Refuting Opinions) At the beginning of today's lesson, we learned different ways to disagree with opinions. When you hear an opinion, and you want to diagree, there are two ways you can diagree. You can say the opinion is not true or it is not important. When it is not true, you choose one of these three ways to show disagreement: a. This is not true because... b. This is not always true because... c. This is not necessarily true because... When the opinion is not important, you can choose one of these three ways to express your disagreement: a. This is not relvant because... b. This is not significant because... c. This is easy to solve because... In next week's lesson, we'll review these expressions. You'll be using these a lot when we start our debates in November/December. Homework:
Blog Question #4: When you were a child, what was your dream? Has your dream changed? (If yes, what is your dream now?) * Write 12-15 sentences. * Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly. * Submit by Monday, October 26 by 6:00pm. Hi everyone,
We started our opinion presentations today. I was really impressed with today's group leaders and your preparation! Conversational Style: At the beginning of our lesson, we had some discussion activities to review conversational style. When we have a discussion remember these points: a. volunteer your opinions and comments b. don't wait to give your opinion c. agree or disagree with speakers d. ask questions e. give your personal experience as examples Discussion Leading: We also reviewed how to lead a discussion. At the beginning of your discussion, remember to introduce the topic (e.g. Today, I'm going to talk about...) Please learn the expressions for checking understanding, summarising and concluding your discussion. In this way, you won't need this worksheet when you give your opinion presentation. I have uploaded the slide presentation from our lesson in the Discussion Skills Lesson Materials section of the website. Homework:
(Today's group leaders don't have to do homework #3 and #5). Blog Question #3: Answer the question. Use an opinion giving expression, and give a reason and TWO examples to support your opinion. You receive 100, 000 yen. What do you think is the best way to use this money? * Write 12-15 sentences. * Use capital letters, punctuation and spelling correctly. * Submit by Monday, October 19 by 6:00pm. |