Welcome to Fall Quarter!

Conversation Class begins on Tuesday, October 4 at 9am. Please read the Class Schedule and Welcome Letter. We look forward to seeing you soon.

 

Conversation Class Schedule

 

Dates:                    October 4 – December 15, 2022

Days:                     Tuesdays and Thursdays

Time:                     9:00am to 10:15am

Free Talk Time:     8:45am to 9:00am

 

Teachers:    Cynthia Putnam (Tuesdays) and Patty Hansen (Thursdays)

Volunteers: Anne, Carol, Christine, Haley, Ian, Linda M., Linda P., Liz, Mary, Parvin, and Yvonne

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/85703019197

 

Welcome Letter

Read the letter. Answer the questions.

Dear Conversation Class students,

We hope everyone had a relaxing break. A break is good for our health. 

Did you do something fun or different on the break? Think about something to share with us about your break. 

On the break, there was an important American holiday on September 5. The name of the holiday is Labor Day. We will talk about Labor Day in our first class. To help you get started, read about Labor Day below. 

Your teachers in Fall quarter are Cynthia Putnam and Patty Hansen. Read about them.

Teachers: Cynthia and Patty

Cynthia

Cynthia lives in Seattle. The name of her neighborhood is Capitol Hill. She was born in Lawrence, Kansas. Her language is English, and a little French. She is married and she has no children or pets. Her hobbies are hiking, swimming and watching birds.

Patty

Patty lives in Kirkland, WA. The name of her neighborhood is Norkirk. She was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her language is English, and a little Spanish. She is married and has 4 children and one dog. Her hobbies are walking with friends and family, biking and reading. She enjoyed teaching the citizenship class and helping with ESOL 2/3. She’s excited to join the Conversation class this fall. 

This is the end of our welcome letter. We look forward to seeing you on October 4.

Sincerely,  Cynthia and Patty

Labor means work. The American Labor Day holiday celebrates workers in our country. Workers do many things to make a good quality of life for Americans. For example, to grow food, to build homes and businesses, to teach children and adults, to have a democratic government, and to take care of the natural environment. This work helps make America strong, healthy and prosperous.

 

On June 28, 1894, the U.S. Congress passed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a Labor Day holiday.

 

Americans celebrate in many ways. The most popular way is to have an outdoor picnic with family and friends. Some cities have a Labor Day parade. Banks, post offices and schools are closed. Many stores have Labor Day sales – 50% discounts!

 

Questions:

1.     What is the name of the holiday that happened on break? What was the date?

2.    What does the holiday celebrate?

3.    How do Americans celebrate it? How did you celebrate it?

4.    Look at the picture. What jobs do you see?

5.    Is there a Labor Day holiday in your home country? How do people celebrate?

Class Evaluation

Due 9/2/2022

Read the class evaluation form. Answer the questions. Your answers will help us improve the class. Thank you!

Click here: https://forms.gle/ihk5YGJjf2tpcLYG6

 

Thursday’s Class (9/1/2022)

Tell us about your hobby.

1.     Show us a picture or an example.

2.    What tools or equipment do you need?

3.    Who taught you?

4.    How often do you work on your hobby?

 

EXAMPLE #1:

    1.     My hobby is cooking. Here is a picture of a salad I made.

    2.    The ingredients are oranges, red cabbage, avocado, salmon, carrots.

    3.    To make the salad, I need a bowl, a knife, and a cutting board.

    4.    My father taught me to cook.

    5.    I make salad 5 times a week.

EXAMPLE #2:

1.     My hobby is hiking. Here is a picture of me hiking in Montana.

2.    I need a backpack, boots, water, snacks, and a walking stick.

3.    My brother taught me to hike.

4.    I hike one day a week.

9/1/2022 – Topic: Our Hobbies – part 2

Today’s Words

 

choose (verb)

Meaning: To select something you like or want

EXAMPLE: Steve can walk to school or take the bus. He chooses to walk.

 

choice / choices

Meaning: Something you choose.

EXAMPLE: Bob has two choices for lunch. He can eat pizza or a hamburger. His choice is pizza.

 

true / false

Vocabulary for Hobbies (listening practice)

https://www.learningchocolate.com/content/leisure-activities-0

https://www.learningchocolate.com/content/instruments-and-musicians

https://www.learningchocolate.com/content/hobbies-6

Small Group Questions

 

1.    Tell us a game you like to play. Who do you play it with?

2.   How did you learn it? Why do you like it?

3.   On Tuesday, we talked about our hobbies. Please show us an example of your hobby.

4.   What tools or equipment do need?

5.   Who taught you?

6.   How often do you work on your hobby? Every day? Every week?

7.   Is there a new hobby you would like to learn? 

8.   Let’s talk about “choices.” A choice is something you choose to do. For example, I have 2 choices for a hot drink – coffee and tea. I choose tea.

9.   Listen to the question. Tell us your choice. Tell us why.

Would you rather:

·        Eat pizza or eat a hamburger? Why?

·        Study English by Zoom or in-person? Why?

·        Spend time indoors or outdoors? Why?

·        Listen to music or play a musical instrument?

·        Watch a sport or play the sport yourself?

·        Have free time alone or with others?

·        Drink coffee or drink tea?