week 14-Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a unique American holiday when we celebrate the first Europeans (called pilgrims) who came to America. They worked hard to live and survive here so that they could have freedoms they didn't have before. In 1621, the Pilgrims decided to have a big feast of food and invite the Native American Indians who had helped them so much. Each year we get together with our families to give thanks. This week's question is to tell us what you are thankful for. I'm thankful for my husband, kids, family and friends who I'm on this journey through life with and enjoying every minute of it.

Week 13

What interesting holidays you all have in your countries. I hope that you enjoy our next holiday here, Thanksgiving. For this week's paragraph topic, tell us about one interest that you have and where that interest came from. For example, you all know that I love to play tennis and compete on tennis teams. That interest came from my childhood. Both of my parents played tennis, and I enjoyed learning to play and then being able to play with them. I have a competitive spirit from my Dad, so tennis is a way I can continue to compete even as an adult.

Week 12 Question

Thanks for all your recommendations about things to see in your countries. I hope to visit them all! This week I want you to write a paragraph describing a custom or holiday from your culture that is probably unfamiliar to someone from America.

Week 9 question

Thank you returning students for your words of encouragement and offer of help for the new students! I'm sure the new students will enjoy reading them. This week we are continuing with good paragraph structure. I would like for you to answer this question. If I have one day to spend in your country, what should I see? Begin with a topic sentence that names the place and makes a general statement about it. Discuss 2 or 3 reasons to support your choice. End with a concluding sentence that summarizes or makes a final comment about your choice.

week 8

I smiled a lot while reading the detailed descriptions of your favorite childhood toys. Some of my kids' favorite toys are the most simple ones or ones they make themselves. As you know, we will be welcoming new students next week and saying a sad goodbye to some of our classmates. Please write a brief message to our new students that they can read next week and feel welcome in our class and at SAL.

week 7

We are beginning descriptive paragraphs. Describe for us one of your favorite childhood toys.
Here is the link for Ben's wiki: http://bensd2wcfall09.pbworks.com/

week 6

I enjoyed reading about your ideal day! Time with friends seemed to be a common factor. For this week, please share with us how your chose what career you want to have in the future? If you haven't chosen your career or field of study yet, what steps do you plan to take to do so? I chose teaching ESL because my husband and I have moved around a lot. We've lived in South America and the Caribbean. We would love to live abroad again. This field of work gives me the opportunity to find a job where ever we are living because it is in high demand. I like the field of teaching and training, especially with adults. I put that together with my international studies education in college and found ESL as a perfect fit for me!

Week 5 question

This week, I would like for you to describe your ideal day. For me, it would be to sleep in. My 7 and 9 year old kids like to get up at 6:30am, so I love a chance to sleep in. I would have a cup of strong coffee and read the paper which I rarely get to do. The rest of the day would include riding bikes with my kids and husband, playing tennis and moving at a slow pace all day. My life feels very busy and rushed most of the time. I would like to move at my pace for a day. My ideal day wouldn't be complete without a dinner cooked by my husband. Our friends would come over to join us. We have friends that live in this area who we have known for 18 years. Of course, I wouldn't have to clean up after dinner either. What about you? What would your ideal day look like?

Week 4

This week we are working on narrative paragraphs. Tell me about something you brought with you from your country and why you brought that with you. Why is that item special to you?

Week 3

It was so interesting for me to read about the surprising things you found about living here and interacting with Americans. I'm glad that most of them have been surprising in a good way and not a bad way! Our next paragraph will be a narrative paragraph. That's a paragraph that tells a story. For this week, tell us a short story about something that happened to you the first or second day that you were in the United States.

Week 2

I think everyone was able to get connected. I enjoyed reading your introduction paragraphs. You have a variety of interests and backgrounds. Before you came to the United States, you probably had some impressions of Americans from the movies or from things you had read or heard. Now that you live here, write a paragraph about one or two things that have surprised you. These would be things that are different from what you had expected.

Week 1

Let me know that you are connected. I would enjoy hearing about your plans for the future and how improving your English writing will help you in the future. I'll post one question a week for you to respond to. Remember this is an academic writing class, so please consider your format and grammar when you respond. I look forward to getting to know you and working with you. Laura