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| WHAT'S ON MARCH 17 TH ? |
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It's St. Patrick's Day!
Who was St. Patrick?
The person who was to become St. Patrick was born in Wales and he wasn't a saint. Until he reached his middle teens he considered himself to be a pagan. At the age of 16 he was sold into slavery by a group of Irishmen who raided his Welsh village. They took him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity.
During this time he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and far away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to Christianity for comfort and dreamed of converting others.
After six years of slavery Patrick had a dream telling him to leave Ireland . He walked nearly 200 miles to the Irish coast and escaped to England where he studied to become a priest. Soon after, he had a dream telling him to return to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He set up schools and churches that would help him to convert the people.
Folklore says that Patrick raised people from the dead. Another story says he drove all the snakes from Ireland . The traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. It is said that he used it to explain the Christian Trinity. St. Patrick's followers wear the shamrock on March 17th to celebrate his feast day.
Although St. Patrick's Day was originally a Catholic holiday, it has become a day for all the descendants of Ireland to sing, dance and wear the shamrock.
Here is a printable ESL Crossword puzzle about St. Patricks Day
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Man Machines |
THANKS! |
Intermediate ESL Activity
The expression to 'get one's thinking cap on' has just taken on a new and quite literal meaning. Scientists have invented a device that can allow human thoughts to control a computer's actions. Four volunteers wore a special cap, containing 64 electrodes that were ultra-sensitive to brainwave activity and brain signals. The machine interpreted the volunteers' thoughts "to control rapid and accurate movement of a [computer] cursor in two dimensions", according to researchers Jonathan Wolpaw and Dennis McFarland of the New York State Department of Health and State University. Not quite Hollywood-style robotics ... yet, but getting there.
The researchers say Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) "can provide communication and control to people who are totally paralyzed." The whole procedure is completely non-invasive, needing no surgery. It opens up a whole world of possibilities and hope in its application, especially for people disabled with spinal cord injuries and severe motor disabilities. Brain power may soon be able to control motorized wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs. The age of the Bionic Man and cyborgs may come sooner than we think. This is truly a major breakthrough in neuroscience, and may even pave the way for a Nobel Prize for the researchers.
2-MINUTE DEBATES: Students face each other in pairs and engage in the following ( for-fun ) 2-minute debates. Students A are assigned the first argument, students B the second. Rotate pairs to ensure a lively pace and noise level is kept:
(a) Robots will control us one day. vs. Impossible.
(b) Aliens will control us one day. vs No way.
(c) With this new technology we will have superhuman strength. vs. Our body is still limited.
(d) This technology is dangerous in the wrong hands. vs. It's just science.
(e) One day we won't need to learn English, just 'download it into our brains. Vs. You've watched Matrix too many times.
(f) One day we will be able to record and watch our dreams - in Stereovision. vs. I hope not.
(g) This technology will help police and the court system to read the minds of suspects. Vs. That's Big Brother (an invasion of privacy)
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Many thanks to BREAKING ENGLISH NEWS for this great activity. |
Got an Idea? |
Let us know -- send your article or idea, feedback, suggestions to
brian@efl-esl.com |
| NEW! |
Be sure and visit our NEW Photo Gallery -- Includes pictures from Brazil, Kiev, the Czech Republic, Spain and Budapest.
Photo Gallery >>> |
| A TRIP TO CANADA |
 Summary:
You have just had an exciting phone call! You are the winner of a contest sponsored by Air Canada! You have won a free flight to any point in Canada, return, two weeks' free car rental, and $1000.00 towards your expenses.
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ESL for Kids! |
Don't forget to visit our new site ESL Storybooks --
http://www. esl-storybooks.com
ESL Storybooks carries a complete line of ESL textbooks for Children aged 8 - 12. Featuring adventure themes, each storybook set includes a Teachers Guide, Student Storybook, and Creative Writing Workbook. |
| LEWL goes to Tibet! |
ACTIVITIES |
The Multi-Education Center in McLeod Ganj, Northern India have invited LEWL to consult on creating culturally sensitive adult ESL curriculum.
When the Chinese occupied Tibet in 1959, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and his government fled to Dharamsala, an abandoned colonial hill station nestled in the foothills of the western Himalayas. The Tibetans rebuilt their government and culture-in-exile in Dharamsala and in the nearby village of McLeod Ganj (named after a colonial Governor).
Daisy and George will visit McLeod Ganj for one month, teaching with the LEWL curriculum, and sitting down with monks, nuns and teachers to adapt the LEWL adult series of textbooks to Tibetan culture.
George says, "The Principal of the Multi-Education Center has been very kind to extend this invitation and we are delighted. This give us a chance to adapt our curriculum to another culture, Tibet. Our specialty is creating culturally sensitive curriculum, which we have done for many different cultures. The Tibetans are particularly interested in articles and ESL lessons about people who have promoted peace in the world. This is a fascinating new project for us."
While in McLeod Ganj, LEWL will visit the Children's village nearby. Daisy continues, "We will be visiting the Children's village to discuss children's ESL curriculum. The Children's village is a residential facility for children with parents in Tibet. Students at the children's village are required to learn Tibetan, Chinese, and English."
The Multi-Education Center's mission statement is very closely aligned with the LEWL philosophy. Daisy and George agree it is a perfect fit for our materials. The Multi-Education centers mission statement --
"We provide learning opportunities for the most marginalised
students in our community in a resourceful and coherent learning framework. We are teaching languages for
vocational use while nurturing the dignity and sense
of self-worth of all our students.
We empower people to achieve their goals
and overcome their inhibitions. "
Visit the Multi-Education Center online at -- http://www.tibetmec.org
Daisy and George will be leaving mid-March and returning to Canada in mid-April. Watch for more news and photos in our photo gallery!
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The Windfall
Summary:
Lou Wilson, the meanest man in town left all of his estate, approximately $950,000, to the city. The will said that the city was to spend the money in "some lasting way for the betterment of the citizens."
That was when all the fun began! Everyone wants to spend the money differently.
Students debate how to spend the money!
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| CONNECT! |
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| BINGO! |
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This article has been moved here >>>
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| FREE BINGO |
BINGO is a long time favorite of ESL students and teachers. If you haven't tried it, here is your chance for FREE!
You receive:
- Exercises using comparatives such as the slowest, the hungriest, faster than Variations include Question and Answer Bingo Bonus written exercise using comparatives
- Bonus word order exercise
MORE>>>
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| MORE BINGO! |
 Adverb Bingo
Vocabulary exercises using adverbs such as courteously, actively, thankfully.
Vocabulary exercises using frequency adverbs such as, often, sometimes, not at all
Variations include Question and Answer Bingo
Bonuses (no extra charge)
Extra exercises using EVER
Extra exercises using frequency adverbs
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Comparatives Bingo
Vocabulary exercises using comparatives such as the slowest, the hungriest, faster than
Variations include Question and Answer Bingo
Bonuses (no extra charge)
Bonus written exercise using comparatives
Bonus word order exercise
MORE
>>>
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Past Tense Bingo
Vocabulary exercises using verbs in the past tense such as to cry, cried, to give, gave
Variations include Question and Answer Bingo
Bonus Activity (no extra charge)
Bonus past tense question and answer conversation activity for the whole class or teams with complete instructions
MORE >>> |
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| FREE STUFF ! |
FREE IDIOMS by Email for ESL STUDENTS
If you are an ESL Student, here is a great way to learn idioms for FREE. Receive an idiom every week by email including exercises, examples, and more! Sign up >>> |
| Favorite Sites |
How Many? |
English to Go
HUGE library of teaching resources. Fun, engaging, up-to-date resources based on Reuters® news articles
Got a favorite site? Let us know !
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 Summary:
Questions cards and corresponding picture cards for practicing SOME/ANY, and HOW MANY.
Includes:
Some/Any Activity
How Many Activity
Example questions:
Q: How many hamburgers do you have?
A: I have two hamburgers
Q: Do you have some cups?
A: No. I don't have any cups .
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| VOCABULARY ACTIVITIES |
The Bathroom
Oral vocabulary enrichment activity for Small Groups
Students are divided into small groups. Each group is given a picture of a bathroom and a set of questions. Students ask each other the questions and compare the answers with the answers provided. After they have finished, each group swaps pictures with another group, until each group has answered all the questions from each of the four kitchen pictures provided.
Includes:
- Complete instructions for the teacher
- Kitchen vocabulary list
- Vocabulary lists for each kitchen picture
- List of questions
- Answers to all questions
Example questions:
Q: Where is the bathmat?
A: The bathmat is on the bathtub.
Q: Where is the soap?
A: The soap is on the side of the bathtub.
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The Bedroom
Oral vocabulary enrichment activity for Small Groups
Students are divided into small groups. Each group is given a picture of a bedroom and a set of questions. Students ask each other the questions and compare the answers with the answers provided. After they have finished, each group swaps pictures with another group, until each group has answered all the questions from each of the four bedroom pictures provided.
Includes:
- Complete instructions for the teacher
- Kitchen vocabulary list
- Vocabulary lists for each kitchen picture
- List of questions
- Answers to all questions
Example questions:
Q: Where are the pillows?
A: The pillows are on the bed.
Q: Is there a bedside table?
A: No there isn't a bedside table.
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