Intermediate: Lab 9 (Personality vocabulary)

This week’s lab is about the vocabulary we use to describe personality: what people are like, not in physical appearance, but in the way they naturally think and act.

1. Esl-lab.com has a short quiz here:

Personality Types

Take the quiz. Open an email and type “Personality Types quiz” and your quiz answers into the body of the email. Do not send the email yet.

Were any of the answers words you did not know before? Which ones? Tell me in the email.

2. Now take a personality “test” about yourself! But first, check the vocabulary list. Look up any words you don’t know.

fault
thorough
reserved
quarrel
tense
enthusiasm
assertive
aloof
persevere
moody
outgoing
(to) follow through
self-esteeem
(to be) on bad terms with (someone)

3. Now take the “test.”

Big Five Personality Test

There are no correct or incorrect answers; you are just answering about yourself. You only need to answer the 48 questions; you do not need to answer the optional questions at the end.

4. After you answer the 48 questions, go to the bottom of the page and click Submit. On the next page, read your results. Print them if you want to (optional). Find the html code in a white box near the bottom of the page. Copy this code and paste it into the email you already have open. This will be your proof that you completed the test.

5. Also, please write two or three sentences in response to the results. Were you surprised? Not surprised? Is there anything about the test you don’t understand?

6. Send your email to me with the subject line: Lab 9 from [your name]. I will not use your answers for any purpose other than to give you credit for completing the lab assignment.

(7. Optional ) There is different personality test (with different descriptors) on the BBC website here: What Am I Like . If you’re interested, you can take this one as well. The questions require higher reading skill, but the results are simpler to understand, in my opinion.

REMEMBER: Your email should contain several things:

• The answers to your Personality Types quiz (10 words)
• The words from the Personality Types quiz that were new to you
• The html code from your Big Five Personality Test
• Your response to the Big Five Personality Test

Holiday: Easter resources

This Sunday, many Americans will be celebrating Easter. If you are unfamiliar with this holiday and how it is celebrated in the United States, here are some resources to look at:

Video: The History of Easter

Video: Dyeing Easter eggs

The Traditions of Easter – an article about the history and traditions of the holiday

Whyeaster.com’s articles about Easter Sunday, Eggs & Chicks, Bunnies, Rabbits and Lambs, Easter Foods and Easter Flowers

Worldwide Easter celebrations

Comprehension questions:

• What are some Christian religious traditions and symbols of Easter?
• What are some modern cultural (non-religious) traditions and symbols of Easter?
• Which modern Easter traditions and symbols came from pagan (non-Christian) beginnings?
• Name some foods people  traditionally eat for the Easter holiday.

Intermediate: Lab 8 (Advice Letters)

For this lab, you will be writing and answering “advice letters” like the ones people write to columns like “Dear Abby” and “Ask Amy.”

1. Look in your textbook (Interchange 2) pages 104 and 105 for examples.

2. Write a short letter about an imaginary problem you have.

Address the letter to “Dear Wiki”

Describe the problem (not a real problem you have).

Ask for advice using at least one past tense modal.

3. Post the letter by going to the Wiki page Wiki Work > Advice Letters and clicking on Start a New Thread. This part of the lab is due Thursday.

4. After the students letters are posted, read the letters and reply to one of the letters, giving some advice to the person about his or her problem. Use advice language and past modals where you can. Do not reply if another student has already posted a reply. Reply by clicking Post Reply for the letter you want to reply to. This part of the lab is due Sunday.

Holiday: St. Patrick’s Day resources

You may have noticed that we have a holiday coming up: St. Patrick’s Day. This is a traditional festival or celebration, but not a holiday from work or school. Here are some resources if you would like to learn more about the holiday and its traditions.

History.com’s St. Patrick’s Day mini-site – includes links to the articles “Who Was St. Patrick?” and “History of the Holiday.”

Video: The History of St. Patrick’s Day

The St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Ireland – includes a nice video showing Ireland and the parade there.

The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade – in Hot Springs!

Comprehension questions:

• What country and culture does St. Patrick’s day celebrate?
• When did St. Patrick live? What is he famous for?
• On which date is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated? Why was this date chosen?
• Name a modern St. Patrick’s Day tradition related to…

1. – Clothing
2. – Drink
3. – A plant
4. – Public celebrations

Intermediate: Lab 7 (movies)

Due Friday, March 14

This is an internet vocabulary lab. You may do it at any computer that allows you to listen to audio.

1. Go to http://www.esl-lab.com.

2. Under 20-minute ESL Vocabulary Lessons, click on “Movies and DVD Rentals.”

Introduction: Read the instructions carefully and follow them. The last part of the instructions says,

“Write a sample sentence for each word to learn how it is used in context. You can use the Internet to find such sentences.”

You do not need to write a sentence for every word. Choose three words you don’t know and write sentences using those words.

3. Follow the instructions in part II, Practice. You may listen as many times as you want.

4. Click “Final Score. Print the page with your quiz results.

5. Do not do Part III, Follow Up. Instead, go to the Rotten Tomatoes movie review website.

6. Use the search bar to look up a movie you have seen recently. Read one review. Then answer the following questions.

What is the title of the movie?

What is the genre of the movie?

What is the name of the reviewer whose review you read?

What is the reviewer’s main opinion of the movie? (good, bad, mixed) Why does he or she feel this way?

Do you agree with the reviewer? Why or why not?

7. On Friday, bring to class three things:

• Your 3 vocabulary sentences
• Your printed quiz
• Your answers to the questions in #6