Useful Expressions for Presentation (Cont'd)

More of the expressions are to be discussed in class!
They are provided in the order below:

1. Introducing the topic
2. Giving an overview
3. Finishing a section
4. Starting a new section
5. Analyzing a point and giving recommendations
6. Giving examples
7. Summarizing and concluding
8. Paraphrasing and clarifying
9. Inviting others to discuss/ask questions

Find the expressions HERE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/talkingbusiness/unit3presentations/expert.shtml

(Major reference: BBC Talking Business [Online])

Reminder: Topics 1-15!

The following presents a list of all the topics (Topics 1-15) discussed in class!

• People - Age & Build
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-people.htm)
• Personality Types
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-personality.htm) 
• Technology - Computers & the Internet
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-computers.htm) 
• Education - Learning Languages
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-language.htm)
• Relationship - Dating & Marriage
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-love.htm)
• Business - Jobs & Workplace
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-workplace.htm)
• Entertainment -
  (1) Movies (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-theater.htm)
  (2) (More to be discovered on the website, 20-min ESL Lessons)
• Super heroes & superpower (especially the introduction and the types of powers)
  (http://powerlisting.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Supernatural_Powers_and_Abilities)
• Transportation
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-trans.htm)
• Weather
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-weather.htm)
• Art - Architecture
• Behavior
• Food
• Nature
• Pop Culture

Note that our final exam will cover Topics 1-15.

Useful Expressions (4): Superpower (DUE on 12/8)

If you were one of the superheroes, what kind of superpower would you have?
Get ideas from some movie trailers online and come back here to share with us!
Also try consulting the list of supernatural powers and abilities offered on the website recommended below.
(http://powerlisting.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Supernatural_Powers_and_Abilities)

Note that EACH student will have to post your comment before the due date (12/8).
Each comment should be at least one paragraph (with 5-6 sentences in it)!

Reminder: Outside Reading from Topic Talk 1

Outside readings for your weekend! 
ALL the outside readings shared by the groups during their topic talks!

Note that there will be exercises based on the readings on 12/3!

12/17, 12/24 Group Topic Talk 2

The following shows WHEN you have to give the second group topic talk.

12/17 Group Topic Talk 2
 Group 2 (12/4: Scuba Divers in the Deep Blue Sea)
 Group 3 (12/11: Coffee as a Work of Art)
 Group 4 (12/16-17: Planets of the Lakes)
 Group 6 (12/18: The Happiness of Giving)
12/24 Group Topic Talk 2
 Group 5 (12/20: Invasion Earth)
 Group 1 (12/22: Have you Gotcha Gachapon?)
 Group 8 (12/2-3: Brad Pitt)
 Group 7 (12/29: That Darn Cat)

Note: Topic Talk 1 (40%) + Topic Talk 2 (60%)

Reminder: Group Meeting for Group Topic Talk 1

GROUP MEETINGS will be held (15 min each) before your topic talk!
The dates are shown as follows. 
1. 11/12 (15:00-15:15) - Group 1
2. 11/12 (15:15-15:30) - Group 8
3. 11/12 (15:30-15:45) - Group 5
4. 11/12 (15:45-16:00) - Group 7

5. 11/19 (12:10-12:25) - Group 4
6. 11/19 (12:25-12:40) - Group 3
7. 11/19 (12:40-12:55) - Group 2
8. 11/19 (12:55-13:10) - Group 6

Notes:
(1) You have to show up in a group on time.
(2) Your hard copy of the draft outline is required!

Reminder: MIDTERM Preparation

Our midterm is coming! 
Please note that the midterm will take place on 11/12!

Also remember that the midterm will
(1) cover both October magazine (10/1-31) and November magazine (11/1-15) and
(2) include both listening and reading comprehension questions (4 question types each, similar to our pretest, though only 25 questions in total).

• Listening: picture description (2 questions), question and response (5), short conversation (3), short talk (2)
• Reading: sentence completion (6 questions), reading comprehension (2), text completion (5), Chinese-to-English translation (EXTRA 5 for a total of 10 bonus points)

For more information, please check our announcement made earlier.
(Click the link here: http://ncuefreshmanenglishwed.blogspot.tw/2014/09/course-syllabus.html)

Useful Expressions (3): Food & Culture

This time, let's learn more about food and culture, our topic of the week!
Just search the websites below!

1. 20-Minute ESL Lessons - Gourmet Cooking
   (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-cooking.htm)
2. English Central
   (http://www.englishcentral.com/video)
   *MUST-READ: A Halloween Candy Buffet*
3. POPSUGAR - Food
   (http://www.popsugar.com/food)
   *MUST-READ: This isn't a Trick: How to Pair Wine with Halloween Candy*
4. Taiwan Tourism Bureau - Tastes of Taiwan
   (http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNO=0000206) 

For more information about POCKY, please click the weblink: http://pocky.glico.com/history/!

11/19, 11/26 Group Topic Talk 1 (Draft Outline! Group Meeting!)

The following shows WHEN you have to give the group topic talk.
Remember that there will be a group meeting held on 11/5 before your topic talk!
11/19
 Group 1 (11/8: Problem)
 Group 8 (11/19: American Woman Follows God to Africa)
 Group 5 (11/11-12: Antoni Gaudi)
 Group 7 (11/10: Sporting Goods Store)
11/26
 Group 3 (11/6: The Day of the Dead)
 Group 2 (11/25: Robots and Humans are Closer than ever)
 Group 4 (11/4-5: Leaving on a Jet Plane)
 Group 6 (11/15: Eat Street 3)

Useful Expressions (2): Relationship (DUE on 10/13)

To help you discover more about relationship, our topic of the week, please follow the instructions.
(1) Search the websites below.

• 20-Minute ESL Lessons - Dating and Marriage
  (http://www.esl-lab.com/vocab/v-love.htm)
• BBC The English We Speak
  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/)
• EZ Slang - Dating and Romance
  (http://www.ezslang.com/friendfinder-1.htm)
• (Even better ones that you'd like to share with us!)

(2) Select 3-5 idioms/phrases (e.g. blind date) that you find interesting and would like to share with us.
(3) Look them up in search engines, like Google for authentic sentences (namely, sentences used in actual English texts, such as magazine articles and news stories)
(4) Come back here to post a GROUP comment (at least one from each group) that include all your idioms/phrases, together with at least one example sentence for each. (Check the format below.)

Group X

1. blind date (n phr) - In order to be successfully matched up on a blind date, you have to take steps that will ensure you're only going out with people who actually have potential.
   (From: Cosmopolitan [Online])
2. ...
3. ...
4. ...
5. ...

(5) Contact the teacher (at wendychangnchu@gmail.com) if you have questions.

More about Your Group Report: Useful Expressions for Presentation (1)

Please check out the web sites below for more useful expressions.

• BBC Business Language to Go (esp. Part 4: Presentations)
• BBC Talking Business (esp. Presentations)
• Speak Speak: Business English Vocabulary and Resources (esp. Making Presentations)

Feel free to post your own comments below to share more resources with us!

10/1 Group Report: Digital Learner Resources

Please share your ideas and thoughts (in a group) using the following format: 

Name of the site: ...
Webpage address (if any): ...

What Group X think...
(1) ...
(2) ...
(3) ...

What our group (Group Y) think...
(1) ...
(2) ...
(3) ...

Remember that 
(1) your posts are DUE on 10/6 and revised group PowerPoint, DUE on 10/13! 
     (No late submission will be accepted.)
(2) you do not have to attach any file, but simply post a COMMENT instead!
     (Find your teacher's sample comment below.)
(3) you might need to create a Google account before you post a comment!
     (Feel free to contact your teacher at: wendychangnchu@gmail.com.)

Course Syllabus

Objective
     This course aims to advance integrated language skills and develop cultural awareness through topic discussion. Structured opportunities are provided for individual and group-based practice. Student participation is further encouraged in exploring multimedia learning resources, such as songs, websites, newsreels, and movie clips. After completion of the course, students are expected to (1) use English more effectively for study purposes, (2) employ practical strategies to tackle test questions, (3) think critically on complex global issues, and (4) develop self-study skills that enable them to continue learning English independently.

Text Material

1. Ivy League Enjoy English (October - December 2014)
2. Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab - 20-Minute ESL Lessons [Online]

Class Schedule
WK 1   20-Minute ESL Lessons (Topics overview)
WK 2   (Pretest)
WK 3   Enjoy English (Oct: WK 1)
WK 4   Enjoy English (Oct: WK 2)
WK 5   Enjoy English (Oct: WK 3)
WK 6   Enjoy English (Oct: WK 4)
WK 7   20-Minute ESL Lessons (Related topics 1-5)
WK 8   Enjoy English (Nov: WK 1)
WK 9  (Midterm: Enjoy English Oct: WK 1-4, Nov: WK 1-2)
WK 10  Enjoy English (Nov: WK 3)
WK 11  Enjoy English (Nov: WK 4)
WK 12  20-Minute ESL Lessons (Related topics 6-10)
WK 13  Enjoy English (Dec: WK 1)
WK 14  Enjoy English (Dec: WK 2)
WK 15  Enjoy English (Dec: WK 3)
WK 16  Enjoy English (Dec: WK 4)
              20-Minute ESL Lessons (Related topics 11-15)
WK 17  (Posttest)
WK 18  (Final: Enjoy English Oct - Dec, 20-Minute ESL Lessons Topics 1-15)

Note: The syllabus is subject to change to accommodate student need and interest.