Michelle's independent resources for ESL Students at Vancouver Community College

This is a Canadian ESL blog for Intermediate and Advanced Students who want to learn and improve their English. Each PAGE above contains thousands of free English lessons, tutorials and practice exercises to help you learn and improve your English grammar, reading, listening, pronunciation, speaking, writing and editing. Some of the resources are Canadian. Others are from around the world.

The resources on this Canadian blog are all free, and I spend a lot of my time working on it, so please consider becoming a SUPPORTER. I appreciate all the support I get. It is the fuel that keeps me going.

Membership is FREE.

NOTE: To leave a comment, click on the word "comment" at the bottom of the page. A comment page will pop up.


Saturday, December 13, 2014

ESL Christmas Vocabulary, Reading, Grammar and Games

How many words do you know about Christmas? 

It's important to know some Christmas  vocabulary if you want to understand  some of the symbols and traditions of Christmas. 

Understanding some of the most common vocabulary will also help you enjoy the Christmas carols you listen to and sing along to during the holidays.

Here are a few vocabulary flashcards, quizzes, games and activities to help you learn and remember some of the important Christmas words you should know. 

This first item is actually a reading, but it is an interesting one that I hope you will enjoy. 

  • Mistletoe, the kiss of Christmas"It's a vintage year for the legendary mistletoe berries..
    In Britain’s mistletoe-growing regions, a branch would be brought inside at Christmas to protect the house. Any woman walking underneath
    could not refuse to be kissed, or she would remain an old maid. After a kiss, she would pick a berry from the branch."
    (telegraph.co.uk)

 Easy Quizzes 

 Christmas Reading Activities  


 (by learningenglishwithmichelle)

  • Christmas and New Year's Vocabulary Vocabulary ( BBC) A  lot of Christmas vocabulary can be used with or without the word ‘Christmas’ in front of it. For example we can talk about ‘Christmas crackers’ or just ‘crackers’:   lot of Christmas vocabulary can be used with or without the word ‘Christmas’ in front of it. For example we can talk about ‘Christmas crackers’ or just ‘crackers’: 
    - with a QUIZ

INTERACTIVE games : 
Presents for Xmas (and the rest of the year!)

Matching - Flashcards (Java / non-Java) - Concentration - Word Search
  • - with a list of terms used in these activities (with pictures)
  • Activities created by: Renée Maufroid



    Share the love ! 
    If you enjoyed this post, invite your friends and family to join in the fun, or post this to Facebook or any other social site you belong to    



    Posted by at   

    Labels: , , 

    Reactions: 

    No comments:


    Post a Comment

    If you do not have a web site, or a Google account, click on Name/URL and simply leave your name. You do NOT need to be a member to leave a comment.


    Posted by at No comments:
    Labels: , ,

    Wednesday, December 3, 2014

    ESL How The Grinch Stole Christmas 2014 Listening/Speaking Activities

    One of the most loved North American Christmas stories of all time  is the story How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  

     Although Dr. Seuss, a well-known children's writer, originally wrote the story for children, it has messages for young and old. 

     The story and the animated video ,now shown on television every year  at Christmas time, continues to delight millions of of people whether they are watching it for the first time, or the 30th time. 

    Now that we have officially entered the Christmas season, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to watch an important  piece of North American culture.  

     It doesn't matter if you live in Australia, Europe, Asia or  the Middle East, you will still enjoy learning a little about a series of Christmas messages that apply to every culture or religion. 

    If you plan to live in North America, or if you already live here, it is even more important  that you know about this  story by Dr. Seuss. If you can mention any aspect of the How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or of Who ville  in casual conversation, people will think you are  a true American or Canada, and really "get us." 

     This is also a way you can get your children involved. 

    Activity 1#

     Pre-listening: 
    Read and go through the following power point on your own, or with your children

    Power Point Explaining the Basic Story and characters in the Grinch Who Stole Christmas

    Listening: 

     Watch the video as many times as you need to know and answer the comprehension questions below. 


    1.  Listen to the song without  looking at the gap fill. Try to write down all the negative
         words that describe Mr. Grinch. 

    2.  Listen as many times as you need and fill in the gaps. 

    3.  Sing-along . This is a great song to practice enunciating. Make sure you open your 
         mouth as wide as you can in order to let your tongue get to the right place. Sing as 
         slowly as the singer. 



       Activity #3: Speaking and Writing Questions: 

    1. Dr. Seuss wrote How the Grinch Stole Christmas to [point out how the media and 
        marketing  have created a holiday focused on spending money to buy things.  

       Discuss how has the media changed holidays such as Christmas, New Years, Chinese 
       New Year, Valentine's Day, Mother;s Day etc.   and how they are celebrated. 

    2. What role does Cindy Lou play in the story. What does she do to change the Grinch? 

    3. The Grinch has a serious character flaw. He experiences a crisis and then changes for
         the better. Describe the Grinch's character flaw at the beginning of the story. What crisis 
         changes him? How did he change? 

    4. What is the message of the story? 

    5.  Would you write a different ending to the story? Explain why or why not. If yes, how 
         would you end it? 

    6.   Do you know anyone who had some bad personality characteristics, but who  became a 
         better person after something happened to him or her. This could be you, or anyone 
         you know. Tell what happened, and why this person changed. 
    Check back Tomorrow  when I will include more activities you can do with the How the Grinch Stole Christmas Part 2 Story with friends, your classmates or your children. 








    Posted by at No comments:
    Labels: , , ,

    Tuesday, November 11, 2014

    Remembrance Day Song Quizzes

    Enjoy the following Remembrance Day Songs.

     A Pittance of Time 

    On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the stores PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

    Terry was impressed with the stores leadership role in adopting the Legions two minutes of silence initiative. He felt that the stores contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

    When eleven oclock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the two minutes of silence to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

    Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the stores clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into the following song called  work called, A Pittance of Time. 




    A Soldier Cries 

    Posted by at 2 comments:
    Labels: ,

    Monday, November 10, 2014

    25th Anniversary of Fall of the Berlin Wall



     More than a million Germans and people from around the world gathered in Berlin on the weekend to celebrate the the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

    The celebrations included the release of 7,000 illuminated helium balloons strung along a 15 kilometer (9 mile)  section of the former wall, which had served as a border between East and West Germany until November 9th, 1989 when the walls came tumbling down. 


    Berlin Wall Built (1961) 
    In August 1961, East German troops began to build a wall to create a border between East and West Berlin.  The 12 foot high wall eventually continued for 66 miles along with an extra 41 miles of barbed wire  fence. It separated families and towns that had always been part of a unified Germany. 
    No one one either side of the wall was allowed to cross to the other side without the permission of the East German government.  Armed guards along the wall prevented any East Germans from escaping over the wall. Over the years  many people died while they were trying to cross the wall.  




     Fall of the Berlin  Wall 
    In 1989, more than 13,000 people in East Germany managed to escape through Hungary. They later went to West Germany and protested against the East German government. That sparked a protest within East Germany, known as “The Peaceful Revolution.” 
    After several weeks of civil unrest, on November 9th, 1989, the the East German government announced that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto  the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory
    atmosphere.



    25th Anniversary Celebrations
    At the 25th anniversary ceremony, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the fall of the Berlin Wall sent, “a message of hope and that dreams can come true. Nothing has to stay as it is, even if it’s difficult.”

    Most of the wall is now gone, but 2.2 kilometres of it still stands  as a monument in Germany. Some parts of the wall were sent to other countries, such as the United Nations in New York, as a monument.


    Divisions still exist
    But 25 years after the Berlin Wall crumbled, divisions between countries persist and there are fears of new psychological barriers replacing the physical ones. 




    Watch the video as many times as you need to. Then, answer the following questions


    Comprehension Questions  


    1. What happened in  East Germany after the fall of the Berlin wall? 2. What happened in   
         the Soviet Union? 
    3. How many people lined up at McDonalds?  
    4. What happened after the final euphoria died down?  How were things different?  
    5. What could America have done? What did it do? 
    6. What caused increasing distrust of the west? 
    7. What was the disapproval rating of the U.S. in 1991?     What is it now? Why?
    8. What  is replacing the sale of American t shirts and sweatshirts in Moscow these days?  Why? 
    9. What new "barriers" may be built soon?


    To learn more about the story of the Berlin wall watch the following videos: 




    <
    Posted by at 1 comment:
    Labels: , ,

    Monday, November 3, 2014

    Remembrance Day: Why the Poppy?


    In Flanders Field 

     by John McCrae

    In Flanders fields the poppies blow
    between the crosses, row on row  

    that mark our places, and in the sky 
    the larks, still bravely singing, fly
    Scarce heard  amid the guns below.

    We are the Dead. Short days ago 
    we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    loved and were loved, and now we lie
    in Flanders fields .  


    Take up our quarrel with the foe:
    To you from failing hands we throw
    the torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die.
    we shall not sleep 
      though poppies grow 
    in Flanders fields.

    Why the Poppy? 
    For almost 100 years, people from Canada, Britain, France, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries have worn the red poppy as a symbol of Remembrance Day.

    This simple red flower continues to be one of most visible ways  people can show that they remember and thank the millions of men and women who gave up their lives for their countries in World War 1, World War 11 and all other wars. 

    The association between the poppy and war dead goes back to the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s  when  soldiers noticed that poppies seemed to thrive on the graves of soldiers who had died in battle in Flanders, a region of northern France and Belgium.

    In 1915, Colonel John McCrae, a medical officer serving in Belgium, made the same connection between the fields of poppies and  the young soldiers who had been killed in battle.  This inspired him to write In Flanders Field during a break from working with the wounded. 

    The poem, one that almost every Canadian, British, Australian and New Zealand  child can recite from memory, reflects what McCrae saw and heard while working to save dying and injured soldiers during a deadly battle. 

    The Story Behind the Poem 

    On April 22, 1915, the Germans used deadly chlorine gas against Allied troops  in a desperate attempt to create movement on one side or the other. Although they were suffering from the terrible effects of gas, the Canadian soldiers continued to fight and hold the line for another 16 days.
        
    In the trenches where he was caring for hundreds of wounded and dying soldiers, McCrae was so deeply affected that  wrote a letter to his mother. 

    The letter to his mother 
    "The general impression in my mind is a nightmare. We have been in the most bitter of fights. For seventeen days and seventeen nights none of us have had our clothes off, nor our boots, except occasionally. 

    "In all that time while I was awake, gunfire and rifle fire never ceased for sixty seconds...And behind if all was the constant background of the sights of the dead, the wounded, the maimed, and a terrible anxiety lest the line should give way," he wrote. 

    The day before he wrote the poem, one of McCrae's best friends was killed in the fighting and buried in a grave with a simple wooden cross. 

    Wild poppies were already beginning to bloom between the crosses  marking the many graves. Although he couldn't help his friend, or any of the others who had died, McCrae spoke for them in this poem.  It was the second last poem he was to write. 


    Listen to In Flanders Field being read out loud. Follow along, or read it at the same time - slowly and solemnly as it is meant to be read


    How the Poppy Became an Official Symbol 

    In November 1918 as the armistice ended World War 1, Moina Michael, an American teacher working at the YMCA Overseas War Headquarters read McCrae's appeal   "to keep faith with the dead" and vowed that she would always wear a poppy as a sign of  remembrance. Following her two year campaign to have the United States adopt the poppy as a national symbol, the U.S proclaimed it as its national emblem of Remembrance. 

    The following year, Anna Guerin,  a Frenchwoman, sold millions of poppies  to raise funds for rehabilitation in areas of France. She also sent women to London to sell poppies and persuaded Earl Haig to adopt  it as a memorial symbol for the British Legion.

    In 1921 the Canadian Legion joined its British counterpart and officially adapted the poppy as its symbol of Remembrance. 

    Why Should You Wear A Poppy? 

    First, wearing a poppy is one very visible way to show respect and admiration for the men and women who  sacrificed their lives in order to help us retain the freedom and rights we take for granted.

     Also  when you buy and wear a poppy, you will be helping military families, and veterans in need and their families. 

    Where does the money go in Britain? 

    Last year the poppy campaign in Britain raised more than  £40 m ( that's about about $70 million Canadian).  The Royal British Legion said it spends £1.7m a week on care and support for military families, including grants, employment advice and funding, emotional support, tribunal and inquest advice, care homes and family breaks. This includes  the families of veterans returning from Afghanistan. or any other area of conflict.
    Where does the money go in Canada? 
    Last year, the sale of poppies raised about $16.5 million in Canada. 
      
    The legion distributes about 18 million poppies a year via its members, veterans, military cadets and through direct mailings. Assuming all are given out to Canadians, it amounts to average donations of less than a dollar per available poppy.

    The basic purpose of Poppy Funds is to provide immediate assistance to ex-servicemen and women in need. This may include food, shelter or medical attention for them or their families. Also, education bursaries are granted to children and grandchildren of ex-service personnel.  

    Poppy funds can be used for low-rental housing and care facilities, community medical appliances and medical research, drop-in centres, meals-on-wheels, transportation and related services for veterans their dependents. Facilities and services are often extended to the elderly or disabled in the community as may be available. 


    Is the poppy relevant to the veterans of today? 

    The recent role of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, and the creation of the Highway of Heroes Highway of Heroes as a sign of respect Canadians have shown for the families of the more than 160 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan would seem to indicate that the poppy is still relevant. 
    WHAT DO YOU THINK?  

    Write your answer in he comment box below 

    1.   Do YOU think it is still important to wear a poppy?  Why or why not? 
    2.   What else should people do instead?  Explain 


    Posted by at 2 comments:
    Labels: , , , , ,

    Wednesday, October 29, 2014

    Halloween in TV Comedies Listening Quizzes

    The Big Bang Theory characters wearing "Flash" costumes.
    Many regular television situation comedies  have a complete Halloween episode where the whole story revolves around some kind of Halloween theme. Sometimes they are funny. Sometimes they are meant to be spooky, but they are usually entertaining . 

    Thanks to the advent of long running series you can watch, enjoy and and practice your English with listening quizzes from The Big Bang Theory , Modern Family , How I Met Your Mother,    Friends and Frasier .  All of these TV shows have something to offer in helping you to improve your listening skills - especially if you watch short clips several times to get used to  the "fast English" real English speakers actually use.  

     Tune in tomorrow for more clips from another Friends episode, the Simpsons, Glee, Family Guy and Buffy. 

    Watch as often as you need to. Then try the quizzes to see how well you understood.  


    The Big Bang Theory 
    The characters in the Big Bang Theory love Halloween because of the parties, the "tricks" they can play on each other, and simply because it is an excuse for "dressing up. One of the most popular television situation comedies in the U.S. The Big Bang Theory is a pleasure to watch because even if you don't understand everything, you understand enough to have a good laugh.  For more information on the what the show is about, and its characters go to The Big Bang Theory  
     
    Modern Family 
    In this Modern Family episode, the whole family plans to frighten children who come
     trick or treating with many creatures. Watch and see how much you understand. For more information on  the show and its characters go to Modern Family 

    CLICK HERE FOR THE OTHER QUIZZES AND LIST
    Posted by at 1 comment:
    Labels: , , , , , ,

    Tuesday, October 28, 2014

    10 Great Halloween Song Activities


    Halloween is coming up fast on October 31st. But, celebrations are already well underway here in Vancouver, and anywhere else in North America. 

    People take Halloween seriously here with some people even preferring it to Christmas. As a result  both adults and children start celebrating it with a variety of events and activities for the whole family well before the "big day" itself. 
    Although there are many TV specials and Halloween movies  aimed at children. There are just as many "classic" horror horror movies and spooky, scary songs that delight adults of every age. 

    Many of these songs have been around for more than 25 years, but they are some of the most popular songs in North America during the Halloween season. 

    From classics such as " Ghostbusters"  and Monster Mash to  "Marilyn Mason's  scary "This is Halloween"   to very singable Werewolves  of London,  time, there are plenty of songs out there to make the holiday both scary and memorable. 

    Make sure you prepare those zombie  moves for Michael Jackson's Thriller. This is MUST if you want to celebrate Halloween.     

    Here are  ten of the most popular Halloween songs for you to practice your listening to.  
    There is a LOT of useful scary vocabulary in all of these songs, so be prepared.

    In the next day or two I will post a list of scary Halloween vocabulary along with some practice activities.



    Listen to all of the songs. Try the listening activities.Then discuss them with your friends or classmates
    • Which one was the easiest to understand? Why? : 
    • Which one did you like best? Why? 
    • Which one did you like least? Why? 
    • Which one had the best video and graphics? Why? 
    • Which one told a real story? 
    • Which one will still be played in 20 years? Why?  

     # 1 :   This is Halloween
    This is Halloween by Marilyn Manson is one of the few songs with the word Halloween in it.
    It has become extremely popular at Halloween even though it was originally written for a movie about a Christmas Nightmare.  




    CLICK HERE FOR THE OTHER QUIZZES AND LIST
    Posted by at No comments:
    Labels: ,
    Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)