EF Atlanta Blog: 2013

Thursday, April 4, 2013

B2-2 Unit 3: Tech ads iLab

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Wizard of Oz Resources

Useful resources for your AY Project!

Online copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz for free!:

http://www.enotes.com/wonderful-wizard-text/

When writing your essays, here's the MLA format:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

Make sure you're not plagiarizing! Check the Oglethorpe Honor Code!

http://www.oglethorpe.edu/campus_life/resources/writing_center/honor_code.asp

Articles on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz:

B2+ level students, an article on the Wizard of Oz and business success:
http://www.findyourpeak.com/finding-your-peak/life-and-business-lessons-from-the-wizard-of-oz

B2+ levels: The allegory of the Wizard of Oz
http://www.amphigory.com/oz.htm

Quick biography of the author:
http://www.enotes.com/wonderful-wizard/author-biography

Information on adaptations of the story:

The Wizard of Oz (1939)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/

Wicked: (1995)
http://www.wickedthemusical.com/

The Wiz: (1978)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078504/

Oz, the Great and Powerful: (2013)
http://disney.go.com/thewizard/

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Art inspired by books:

Michelangelo's Sistene Chapel was inspired by the story of creation, in the book of Genesis in the Bible. The figures are Michelangelo's representation of Adam, the first man, and God.

What other art do you know of that's inspired by books?

Here is some art inspired by The Alchemist:

1) What themes are represented?

2) What moment in the story is represented?

Monday, February 18, 2013

Making predictions- Creative Writing

Making predictions:

Link to worksheet: Easy predictions writing worksheet

A. What do you think will happen next?
Talk to a partner about your prediction.

4) Before

After

10)

11)

12)

13) http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?title=Making_Predictions&video_id=46432

14) What happens next? quiz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-UhE3qOYJU

15) Mr. Bean video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VumrpkL6RS0

B. Real life predictions. Choose one.

What do you think will happen...
16) In Syria?
17) To the price of oil?
18) To the Chinese economy?
19) To the Greek economy?
20) To the health care system in America?

C. Discussion.
1. Are your predictions usually correct?
2. How do you make a prediction?
3. When is a time you've been surprised?
4. Think of an example of a movie, book, or TV show that was predictable. Why?
5. Think of an example of a movie, book, or TV show that was UNpredictable. Why?

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Prefixes and Suffixes

Link to list of prefixes and suffixes and roots:
http://www.prefixsuffix.com/rootchart.php

Friday, February 1, 2013

AY Project: Essay feedback

AY Projects Class: Writing a Better Essay

I. Sending a document to a teacher:

1. If you have a crazy email that is nothing like your name, make sure your real name is in the body of the email. If your teacher receives an email from papichulo@gmail.com , or saudiprince3105@yahoo.com , or 詹潔妤@qq.com, she has no idea who you are! A solution would be to write in the text of your email:

“Hi, Emily. This is Ricardo. My AY essay 1 is attached. Have a good day!”

2. Your essay should be attached-- NOT in the body of the email. You can attach a Word document, or send a link to a Google document. You may access Word in the Oglethorpe library and computer labs.

3. Name your document in such a way that you know what the document contains! essay.docx or joseph.doc are not good names, and when you look for it on your computer later, you won’t be able to find it!

Solution: Include your name and the name of the assignment. Some ideas:

AYProject1-Justin.docx, AY1-Kimberly.doc. , Johnny-AlchemistEssay1.docx

II. Common Errors

With a partner, try to correct this common error:

1. I’m agree with the quote…

2. Santiago is the protagonist in The Alqimist.

****Less than half of you spelled the title correctly on your essays!

 III. For future AY essays, use MLA format.

  A. Headings go on the top left of the first page.

  Heading includes student name, teacher name, class and level, and date.

Here's an example of a proper heading:

Anita Chan

  George de Man

  AY Projects Level C1-2

  27 January 2013

  B. Font and Spacing in MLA style

1. Font:

a. Use an easy to read font.

Examples: Which fonts are ok?

Comic sans? Braggadocio? Times? Curlz? Brush Script? Georgia? Bauhaus?

b. Times New Roman is recommended. Size 12 font only.

c. In Microsoft Word go to format, then font to change.

2. Spacing:

a. Double space (2.0) your essay.

b. In Microsoft Word go to format, then paragraph to change.

C. Paragraphs

1. Indent paragraphs with the tab button on your keyboard

2. Do not add extra space between paragraphs.

  D. For more details, check out this website from Purdue University:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

II. The Writing Process: http://pinterest.com/pin/220606081719043126/

A. Brainstorming checklist

1. _____ Do I understand the assignment?

2. _____ What are my ideas?

3. _____ What do I need to do to turn my best idea into an assignment?

B. Draft checklist

1. ____ Have I put my idea on paper?

2. ____ Do I have enough information and examples?

(Revising and drafting are a cycle that continues until you’re satisfied!)

C. Revising checklist

1. _____ Do I have an introduction?

2. _____ Are my body paragraphs organized?

3. _____ Do I connect my ideas?

4. _____ Does my essay have a point?

5. _____ Do I give examples, support, evidence, etc.?

6. _____ Do I have a conclusion?

7. _____ If I make an argument, is it logical?

8. _____ Does my essay make sense?

D. Reviewing checklist

1. _____ Have I critiqued my work?

2. _____ Have I shared my work with someone?

3. _____ Have I checked that my work is consistent with the assignment I was given?

4. _____ Have I left anything out? If so, go back to drafting!

E. Polishing checklist

1. _____ Have I used spell check?

2. _____ Have I followed MLA format?

3. _____ Have I read over my work again for mistakes?

4. _____ Is my paper the correct length? 2 pages? Longer?

F. Publishing checklist

1. _____ Is my work finished?

2. _____ Did I turn in my work in the proper way? (i.e. electronic copy emailed, printed copy given to teacher, etc.)

3. _____ Did I turn in my work on time?

G. After the teacher reviews my work…

1. ____ Have I read her feedback?

2. ____ Have I asked questions if I didn't understand the feedback?

3. ____ Have I asked questions if I didn’t understand why I got the grade I got?

4. ____ Do I know how to improve in the future?

IV. More problems to avoid:

A. An essay should be in paragraph form. Don’t make a list.

B. Don’t use labels or headings except for a title.

C. Imagine the reader of the essay doesn’t know what the questions were. Make the questions apparent in your writing.

D. Don’t quote the questions.

V. Locate the problems in this essay. (Besides the fact that it’s too short!) Refer to the problems in IV.

Learning on the Journey

The Alchemist is a book about a journey a boy goes on and what he learns along the way. The boy learns many life lessons on his trip from Spain to Egypt.

What are some of the things Santiago learned through action? Santiago learns to not be so trusting in the book when the thieves steal from him. He also learns to follow his dreams no matter the cost. Even though his father wanted him to be a priest, he knew his personal legend was to travel to the pyramids.

Yes, I agree. I learned English through action. For example, before I came to Atlanta, I studied English in school but didn’t use it every day. When I came here is when I really started to learn because practicing it makes you remember more than reading it in a book.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the old man was right. Everything you need to learn you learn in the journey of life. Santiago’s story was proof, and in my life I have experience learning through action as well.