Pre-University: Lab 12 (Poetry)

1. Go to one or more of the following poetry websites:

• Poets.org ( http://www.poets.org/audio.php )
• BBC Arts – Poetry Out Loud ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/poetry/outloud/ )
• Plagiarist.com – (http://plagiarist.com/poetry/poets/ )
• Poetry X – ( http://poetry.poetryx.com/ )

You may also use other poetry resources you know of: books or other websites.

2. Browse. Read or listen to some poems.

3. Choose one poem you like. (Please do not choose song lyrics.) Print it out.

The poem does not need to be originally written in English, but if it isn’t, you need to provide a translation.

Also remember to include the poet’s name (the author of the poem).

4. Write a paragraph describing why you like the poem. Use detail and examples!

Do you like it because of…

• the subject matter? (does it remind you of something?)
• the message/meaning?
• the way it sounds? (rhythm, rhyme, alliteration)

5. Bring the poem and your paragraph to class Thursday (not Friday). If we have time, you will have a chance to share your poem with the class.

Foundations: Lab 12 (Postage Stamp)

Due THURSDAY, May 3, 2007

This is an internet listening lab. You may do it at home if you have a computer and Real Player.

1. Go to http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4622966

2. “…born Isadora Hoffburg in ________ _________ in 1898. He got the nickname ‘Yipsel,’ Yiddish for ‘_____________,’ because he never seemed to run out of energy.

3. “The new stamp has the face of Yip Harburg with a _________________ in the background and the words ‘Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are ____________.’”

There are two ways you can see the stamp. What are they?

4. The first way:

a) Visit Yip Harburg’s mother

b) Go to NPR’s website and look at the picture

c) Look for the advertisement in TIME magazine

5. The second way:

a) Go to your local post office and buy a stamp

b) Watch the evening news on TV

c) Go to NPR’s website and look at the picture

6. Look at the stamp on the NPR webpage. Who is the man pictured on the stamp?

7. How do you think he feels in the picture?

8. What sound is playing in the background while the reporter is reading this story?

Foundations: Lab 11 (Earth Facts)

Due April 27, 2007 

Saturday (April 22) is Earth Day! This is a special day when we celebrate the earth and learn how to take care of it.

The teacher will give you a page with ten or eleven facts about the Earth. Each student will have different facts. You can read the whole article here: 101 Amazing Earth Facts.

Read and learn your facts. If you need help, use a dictionary, talk to your friends, or visit the teacher during office hours.

In class Friday, there will be a quiz. Some questions will come from your reading page, others will come from other students’ pages. You can help each other on the quiz! But if you don’t know the information on your page, the other students might get that question wrong, too. This is TEAMWORK.

Foundations: Verb practice

Simple Past explanations (http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/blwhatdid.htm)

Am/Is/Are quiz (http://www.usingenglish.com/handouts/37.html)

Don’t/Doesn’t quiz (http://www.usingenglish.com/handouts/335.html)

Was/Were quiz (http://www.usingenglish.com/handouts/77.html)

Verb choice quiz (http://www.englishmedialab.com/Quizzes/beginners/verb%20choice%20beginners.htm)

General grammar review quizzes: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

Pre-University: Lab 9 (Me Talk Pretty)

This week’s lab assignment is to read an humorous essay by writer David Sedaris. If you like his writing or you would like some listening practice, there is a list of audio stories and essays here:

David Sedaris on NPR

Foundations: Lab 9 (Tongue Twisters)

Tongue Twisters for the ESL/EFL Classroom

Instructions for the lab assignment are on the paper I will give you Monday. Have fun!