Topic 4/28/2022: News and Current Events Part 2

 

Please prepare this for our class:

Pick a news report from your country.

Tell us about it:

What is the news?

How does it make you feel?

Where did you get the news?

You will talk about these and more questions in the small groups.

We will also talk about the following things:

What do you see?

 

Today’s Words

free press

independent press

news report

opinion

opinion news

social network

Small Group Questions

1. Tell us about a news report from your country. What happened? 

2. Where did you get the news report? How does it make you feel?

3. When do you get your news during the day? 

4. In the U.S., we have a free press. What is free press?

5. Do you think a free press is important? Why?

6. Does your home country have a free press? Why or why not?

7. Tell us about a good news report you saw recently. 

8. Give an example of a bad news story. What happened? 

9. Do you read or watch opinion news? If yes, what?

Topic 4/26/2022: News and Current Events Part 1

Today’s Words

news outlet / media outlet

follow the news

social media

accurate news

trust the news

reporter / journalist

Small Group Questions

1. Where do you get your news? Newspaper, TV, radio, YouTube?

2. There are many types of news. Name one.  

3. What types of news do you follow? Why?

4. What news do you follow about your home country? Why? 

5. What news do you follow about the U.S. or Seattle?

6. Is there a current event in the news you are concerned about?

7. How do you know if a news report is accurate? 

8. Is there a news outlet that you trust? Don’t trust?

9. Is there a reporter you trust and follow? Who, and why?

10. Have you heard the phrase, “It’s news to me!”? What does it mean?

04/21/2022: Topic - Sorting Garbage & Recycling Part 2

 Play a Game

“Where does it go?”

Please bring one piece of garbage to class for this game

Today’s Words

garbage

landfill

recycle 

compost 

fine 

waste

litter

Small Group Questions

1. Why do some cities have bans on plastic bags and plastic straws?

2. Who pays for garbage collection at your house? You or your landlord?

3. What happens if you don’t recycle and compost? Is there a fine?

4. What can you use compost for? Have you ever used compost for gardening?

5. What things do you recycle in your home?

6. Do you think recycling and composting are a good idea? Why? (saving money, protecting the environment, saving natural resources)

7. What does Reduce , Reuse and Recycle mean? Have you adopted any “zero waste” practices like reusing food containers and cups or avoiding plastic?

8. Do you repair and reuse any items in your home?

9. Garbage on the street is called litter. Is litter a problem in your neighborhood?

10. Have you heard the phrase “Talk Trash”? What does it mean?

4/19/2022 Topic - Sorting Garbage & Recycling Part 1

 Quick guide to recycling:

http://seattle.gov/documents/Departments/SPU/Services/Recycling/EnglishRecyclingDoDont.pdf

Today’s Words

garbage / trash

garbage bin 

garbage materials: paper, metal, glass, plastic, food, yard waste, wood

sort garbage 

garbage collector

landfill

recycle / recycling / recycling bin

compost

Small Group Questions

1. Let’s talk about sorting garbage. We sort garbage into 3 bins - what are they?

2. Do you have a recycling bin at home? What things do you put in it? 

3. Do you have a compost bin at home? What do you put in it?

4. What is difficult about sorting garbage? What is easy? 

5. How are people sorting the garbage in your home country?

6. If you don’t know where a piece of garbage goes, what do you do?

7. A garbage collector is an essential worker. What are the skills for this job?

8. What day of the week is your garbage picked up? 

9. What do you do if the garbage is not picked up?

 10. Where does Seattle’s garbage go?

4/14/2022 - Topic: Getting to know your classmates

 Today’s Words

favorite

famous

admire 

job / occupation

hobby

Small Group Questions

1. What is your favorite meal of the day? Tell us why.

2. Tell us about your family. Are you married? Do you have children?

3. Do you live in a house or apartment? Who do you live with?

4. Do you speak English at home with your family? Why or why not?

5. Do you watch TV shows or news in English? Why or why not?

6. When did you come to Seattle? Why did you come? 

7. What do you like about living in Seattle? 

8. Did you have a job in your home country? If yes, what was it?

9. Do you have a job in Seattle? Are you looking for a job?

10. Do you have a hobby? What is it?

 4/12/2022 - Topic: Getting started in Conversation Class

Today’s Words:

conversation

listen / speak / read / write

syllabus

class rules

goal / personal goal 

class blog

Small Group Questions:

1. What did you do on Spring Break?

2. What classes are you taking in Spring quarter?

3. What days and times do your classes meet?

4. Conversation class is in Zoom. Are you comfortable using Zoom?

5. Is there something more you want to learn about Zoom? 

6. Name two personal goals you have for Conversation Class.

7. What is easy about learning English? What is hard?

8. In conversation class, we talk in small groups. What makes conversation good?

9. When you don’t understand what someone says, what can you do?

10. If you cannot come to class, what do you do?

 

Welcome to Spring Quarter!

Welcome to Spring Quarter. I am excited to take over Cynthia's class for this quarter and can't wait to meet you all :-)! 

Conversation Class begins on Tuesday, April 12 at 9am. Please read the Class Syllabus, Goals and Rules below.

Conversation Class Schedule

 

Dates:                    April 12 – June 16, 2022

Days:                     Tuesdays and Thursdays

Time:                     9:00am to 10:15am

Free Talk Time:     8:45am to 9:00am

 

Teacher:      Jutta Maas

Volunteers: Anne, Christine, Ian, Julie F., Parvin, Steve and Valerie

Use this link to join the class. Or, click on the Zoom box to the right on this page.

Join Zoom Class -  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86349256414?pwd=SDhENEVhTUNtNWFhamJ6RHRIZW5lZz09

Morning Conversation Class Goals and Rules

Welcome to Morning Conversation Class!

Class Goals

You will be able to:

1. Listen to and speak English

2. Understand English when someone speaks to you

3. Ask for help when speaking English

4. Get to know your teachers and classmates

Class Rules

1. Come to class on time at 9:00am

2. Call or email if you cannot come to class 

    Phone: 206-419-5581  or   Email: jmaas1986@gmail.com

3. Find information on the class blog. https://lsconvoam.blogspot.com/

Classroom Guidelines

*    We are here to learn and practice English. We are a learning community. 

*    We have different speaking abilities. We will be patient with each other. 

*    Ask questions when you do not understand.

*    Do not interrupt when someone is talking.

*    Please put yourself on mute when you are not speaking. 

*    You may leave class to take emergency calls, to pray or use the bathroom anytime.

When you don't understand, what can you say?

1. I don’t understand. Can you say it again?

2. Can you speak slowly?

3. I don’t understand. Can you explain what?

4. I didn’t hear you. Can you speak louder?

5. Can you give an example?

What makes a good conversation?

Everyone takes turns talking.

Ask your classmates questions.

Express your feelings and opinions.

Respect different opinions.

Help each other.