CE-II Autumn 2013: Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone:
Today we are going to learn about Christmas in various cultures. First, let's look at a Christmas video card I made in 2010.



In the past, there were Twelve Days of Christmas. This period was known as Christmastide, or Yuletide. The twelve days of Christmas started on Christmas day and ended on or before the feast of the Epiphany (the 6th of January). In some cultures, gifts were given on each of the twelve days of Christmas. This tradition is rarely practiced now, but a song about it is still sung, "The Twelve Days of Christmas". Now let's watch another video. This is a Canadian version of the popular song. List the twelve gifts in the Canadian version. What kinds of gifts would you give in your own Japanese version?

That's all, have a safe and happy holiday. See you next year!

Integrated English 2 Autumn 2013 Happy Christmas!

Hello everyone, It's Christmas Eve. Happy Christmas. Today we are going to finish reading the Sign of Four, and then we'll talk about Sherlock Holmes and Christmas. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four Vocabulary.

OK, let's listen to a Sherlock Holmes story set during Christmas time. This story is called The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle. Let's listen to the story, then answer some questions about it.



Well then, how do you think the diamond got into the goose's stomach, and who do you think stole Lady Morcar's diamond? We'll find out...next time.

Finally, Sherlock Holmes is what we call an iconic character (偶像視される［に祭り上げられる］役). This means that he is such a well known and well loved character that he is like an idol, and he represents the "ideal detective". Therefore, Sherlock Holmes has appeared as a character in many stories, even science fiction. Sherlock Holmes has even appeared in the popular British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. In last year's Doctor Who Christmas Special, the Doctor disguised himself as Sherlock Holmes. You can see a clip from the programme below.  Enjoy, and have a safe and happy winter holiday!

Integrated English 2 Autumn 2013 Sherlock Holmes - the Sign of Four, Chapters 7 -10

Hello everyone, Today we are going to read chapters 7,8,9,10 of Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four Vocabulary Flash Cards. Below is the last part of the animated version of Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four. By the way, the voice of Sherlock Holmes was played by Peter O'Toole, who passed away last Saturday. Watch the video and do the quiz. Enjoy!

CE-II Autumn 2013 Week 11: First Flight of the Wright Flyer

First flight of the Wright Flyer

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to read about the Wright Brothers. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 2.

The Wright brothers successfully flew a independently powered airplane in 1903. Flight technology has improved rapidly and soon space tourism will be possible.




Let's watch a TED talk by Burt Rutan and learn about the future of human flight. Click the link to watch the video.

Integrated English 2 Autumn 2013 Sherlock Holmes - the Sign of Four, Chapters 5 & 6

Hello everyone, Today we are going to review chapters 5 & 6. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of four Vocabulary. Now let's watch part 3 of The Sign of Four.After you've watched the video, please answer the questions. Enjoy!

CE-II Autumn 2013 Week 10: Electric cars

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to talk about cars. Our reading is about electric cars, and the video below is about hydrogen cars. First, let's learn some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 2 Vocabulary.

Integrated English 2 Autumn 2013: Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four Chapters 3 & 4 Review

Hello everyone, Today we are going to review chapters 3 and 4. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four Vocabulary Flashcards. Now let's watch Part 2 of the animated version of Sherlock Homes: The Sign of Four. While you watch the video. Please answer the questions.

For homework, please read chapters 5 and 6 and answer the questions on pages 36.37,42 and 43. Enjoy!

CE-II Autumn 2013 Week 9: The Fast Track

German ICE train

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to talk about high speed trains, also known as bullet trains. In Japan we call these trains 新幹線 shinkansen. Germany, France, China and some other countries also have high speed trains. Look at the picture on the left. In the picture on the left you can see a German Inner City Express (ICE) train. I took the picture when I was travelling in Germany.

Before we begin reading, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 2 Vocabulary Flashcards.

Presentation 1 Autumn 2013 Week 8 Final Presentation Part 2

Hello everyone,
Today is the last class! Today we will edit our presentation scripts, make our slides and start to rehearse our final presentations. You will do your final presentations during the exam week from 16 December - 20 December. The day and time of your final presentations will be the same day and time of your class, so the Tuesday 5th period class will do their presentations on Tuesday 17 December during 5th period, and the Wednesday 3rd period class will do their presentations on Wednesday 18 December during 3rd period.
OK, let's get started preparing for the final presentations.
Enjoy!

Integrated English 2 Autumn 2013: Introduction to Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to start a new detective story, Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Conan Doyle was born in Edinburg Scotland on 22 May 1859. He was a doctor and a writer. He is perhaps the most famous writer of detective fiction ever. He is even well known in Japan. The popular Japanese fictional Detective Conan  (名探偵コナン) was named after Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 

The Sign of Four is the second novel written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It was written in 1890. The story is set in 1888. The plot is complex. It involves events that take place in India, the Andaman Islands, and England. 

Let's learn some new vocabulary. Please click the link: Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four Vocabulary Flashcards.


OK, now let's read chapters 1 and 2. For homework please read chapters 3 and 4. Also please answer the questions on pages 20,21,28 and 29.
Enjoy!

CE-II Autumn 2013 Week 8: Free Bike Programs

Hello everyone, Last week we talked about trash. Look at the picture on the left. These are abandoned bicycles. Often, abandoned bicycles become trash in Japan. Many of the bicycles are in good shape, and they are still ridable. What a waste? In other cities, abandoned bicycles are reused. Throwing away perfectly good bicycles is a terrible waste and bad for the environment too, don't you think so? Free bike programmes are one example of how abandoned bicycles can be reused. Today we are going to read about a free bike programme in San Francisco.

Bixi, a bicycle sharing programme was developed in Montreal, Canada. Bixi has spread all over the world now. There is a Bixi system in my hometown, Toronto. If you visit Toronto you can get around the city on a Bixi bicycle. The cost is low. It's good exercise, and it's good for the environment.






Are there any environmentally friendly programmes in Japan to reuse abandoned bicycles? Do a Google search. Use these keywords for your search: abandoned, bicycles, Japan, programmes, reuse.
After that, post a comment here. Tell us about the programmes you found.
See ya!

Presentation 2 Autumn 2013 Week 7: Project 2

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to  finish working on our first project and start working on our second project.
First, let's do some speaking practice using English Central.
Now let's finish sharing our first Voicethread presentations with our Tsukubadai Presentation II Autumn 2013 Group, After that, please watch 3 of your classmates' presentations and post 3 comments on each. That's a total of 9 comments.



Next, let's share our presentations with a new group called Gifu and Tsukuba. My friend Clair Taylor has agreed to show your Voicethread presentations to her students at Gifu Shōtoku Gakuen University, and they will post some comments and questions for you too. So please check your Voicethread presentations from time to time to see if you have any new comments.

OK, here are the instructions for our next project:

Your second project is a group project. You should work in groups of four. You will present a text related to your major. I have prepared some texts for you. Here are the steps in the project:

1.     Read the texts

2.     Choose a text related to your major from the choices provided

3.     Listen to the recording and mark the stressed words, the pauses and the full stops. Look at the example below.

4.     Show your paper to the members of your group. Your papers should be the same.

5.     Make slides for the text – 2 slides for each group member

6.     Upload your Powerpoint to Voicethread.

7.     Share your presentation with your group members:

• Go to your My Voice Page
• Click on the gear menu icon in the corner of your Voicethread presentation thumb nail
• Click Share
• Selection our Tsukuba Dai Group
• Scroll down to find the members of your group
• Click the pencil icon to make it turn gold.

  
 8.  Record your presentations

Please finish your presentations by next class.

Enjoy!

Presentation 1 Autumn 2013 Week 7: Final Presentation Part 1

Hello everyone,
Some of the greatest inventions ever were invented by Japanese, instant ramen for example. For final your presentation, you will invent something, and present it. Today we are going to write the script. Please click the link: Final Presentation worksheet.

Please write your presentation scripts and deposit them in my mailbox outside the 4th floor lecturers' room by Monday 25th November.

Enjoy!

Integrated English 2 Autumn 2013: Chapter 6: The story ends and we discover whodunit!

Hello everyone.
Well, we have come to the end of our story. Today we will review the final chapter, and then do the quiz.

First, let's review some vocabulary. Please click the link: Death on U Street Chapter 6 Vocabulary.



Next week we are going to start a new story. Our next story is Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four. Let's watch a cartoon version of  The Sign of Four. Please click the link: The Sign of Four Part 1. Please study the Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four Vocabulary List.

See you next week!

CE-II Autumn 2013 Week 7: Down in the dumps

Hello everyone, Last week we talked about endangered and extinct species. Let''s review. Please click the link: CE-II Autumn 2013 Week 6.

Today we are going to read about the largest garbage dump in the Middle East. You can see a picture of Hiriya below. Hiriya is in Israel.

Downloaded from wikipedia

First let's study some vocabulary. Please click this link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 2.

You can read more about Hiriya here: Garbage to Green: 10 landfills turned into nature preserves, and here: Trashy Travel: Isreal's new recycling park.

There is a park in Toronto that was once a garbage dump. It's called Centennial Park. You can see a picture of the ski hill in Centennial Park below. 

Uploaded to Flickr by Boblink

So, how do Japanese deal with garbage? According to the New York Times, over 80% of garbage in Japan is incinerated. Click here to see an interesting story about garbage in Japan by the New York Times: Trash in Japan - 44 types of garbage. 

What do you think of the way Japan deals with garbage? What do you think about sorting garbage? Please leave a comment below.

Presentation 2 Autumn 2013 Week 6: Introduction to Voicethread 2

Hello everyone, Today we are going to upload our Powerpoint slides to Voicethread. Look at the image below. Click the tap called "Create". Then click "Upload".

Next, click "My Computer". After that, select your powerpoint file and wait for it to be uploaded.

 When the upload is complete, please record your presentation. You record your presentation the same way that you commented on a presentation. First make a text comment. Copy and paste your text into the comment. Then comment again . This time make a voice recording. When you are finished, share your presentation. Go to your "My Voice" page. Then, drag and drop your presentation into our Tsukuba Dai group. Look at the image below.

Next week we will watch our classmates presentations and comment on them.
Enjoy!

Presentation I Autumn 2013 Week 6: The Comparative Presentation

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to do our comparative presentations. Then we'll start working on our final presentations. Today we'll talk about introductions.
Please click the link to download your final presentation worksheet.


Next week we will talk about the body and the conclusion.


See you!

Integrated English 2 Autumn 2013: Chapter 5 Review

Illustration by Yuji Tachikawa. Copyright 201０　Abax

Hi everyone,
Today we are going to review Chapter 5. After that, we will do the Chapter 5 quiz.

Let's start by reviewing some vocabulary. Please click the link: Death on U Street Chapter 5 Vocabulary.

Next week we will finally find out whodunit.
Enjoy!

CE-II Autumn 2013 Week 6: Going, going, gone

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to talk about endangered and extinct species. Can you name 10 or more extinct species? For example, Tyrannosaurus Rex is an extinct species. Can you name 10 endangered species? For example, the common chimpanzee is an endangered species.

Now let's study some vocabulary. Cross Cultural Awareness and English 2.



Now let's watch another interesting TED Talk. In this talk, Stewart Brand tells us that we now have the technology to bring some extinct species back to life. In other words, the movie Jurassic Park may not be science fiction anymore, but rather "science fact". What do you think? Is "de-extinction" a good idea? Should we bring extinct species back to life? What could be some of the consequences? Post your answer as a comment on this blog.

Presentation 2 Autumn 2013 Week 5: Introduction to Voicethread

Hello everyone,
Today we are finally ready to start making our Voicethread presentations, but first we need to register for VoiceThread. Please click the link: Register a new account. After you have registered please watch this video: What's a Voicethread Anyway?

I have created a group for us on Voicethread. Please click the link to join the group: Tsukuba Dai Presentation II Autumn 2013.

Now, lets learn how to comment. Please watch the Voicethread presentation below. After that please make a comment and ask a question on each slide. To make a comment, first type out your comment using a word processor such as Microsoft Word. Then click "Comment", and then click type. Copy and pate your comment into the text box. After that, click "Record". Read your comment out loud, and record it. Listen to your recording. If you like it, move on to the next slide. If you don't like it, re-record your comment.



Now class we will upload our slides to Voicethread.
See you!

CE-II Autumn 2013 Week 5: A Trapper's Life

Public domain image downloaded from wikipedia

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to finish our discussion of overfishing, and then we'll talk about animal trapping. You can download the answers to the questions about the Jeremy Jackson TED Talk by clicking the link.

Animal trapping is a controversial topic. Organisations including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) campaign against animal trapping. A Japanese celebrity, Aya Sugimoto has participated in PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked anti-fur campaign. On the other hand, some people depend on animal trapping.



Before we read about trapping, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 2 Vocabulary Flashcards .

What do you think of animal trapping? Post your answer as a comment. Click the link to learn how to post a comment on this blog.

See you next week!

Presentation 2 Autumn 2013 Week 4: Making Storyboards and Making Slides

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to storyboard our first presentation.

Let's watch a video by a great presenter called Garr Reynolds.

Take out some loose leaf paper.

While you are watching the video, take notes and answer the questions below.



Part 1: Preparation

1. What are the 3 parts of a presentation?
2. What are the 3 Zen principles that Reynolds relates to presentations?
3. What is a "slideument", and why should we avoid it?
4. What are the 6 key elements of "stickiness"?
5. What are the 3 parts in the process of preparing a presentation?

Part 2: Design

1. What three Japanese words does Reynolds relate to design?
2. What is the 1-7-7 rule? Is it a good rule, why/why not?
3. What is the "rule of thirds"
4. What are the 7 design concepts?

OK, now it's your turn. Start storyboarding your presentation. You should have at least 14 slides, so your storyboard should have at least 14 panels.

Please click the link to download your storyboard worksheet. After that we will edit and rewrite our script.

Next, please click the link to download the Writing Error Codes handout. Look at the writing error codes and comments on your script. Correct your errors and rewrite your script.

Now let's talk about slides. Below you can see some examples of really good slides. The slides were made by Garr Reynolds. You can get some great FREE tips from Garr Reynolds' website too.

OK, let's make some great slides now! Please use your own photos and images, or if you don't have your own photos and images please use only photos and images with a Creative Commons licence. You can read about Creative Commons licences here: クリエイティブ・コモンズ. You can find Creative Commons Images on Flickr, or by doing an advanced search in Google.
 

Sample slides by Garr Reynolds from garr

Bring your slides with you on a USB flash drive next week. Enjoy!

Presentation 1 Autumn 2013 Week 5: The Visual Message

Death by Powerpoint (and how to fight it)

Hello everyone,
Well, we have finished learning about the physical message. Now it's time to learn about the visual message. Today we will start to learn how to make good slides.
So many presenters make very bad slides that we have a new expression in English: "Death by Powerpoint". Click the link to read a Japanese blog post about Death by Powerpoint.

If you want to read a really good book about making presentations, I recommend Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds. You can get some great FREE tips from his website too.

OK, let's make some great slides now!

Intergrated English 2 Autumn 2013 Chapter 4 Review and Quiz

Hello everyone, Well we are getting very close to solving this murder. Let's review some vocabulary. Please click the link: Death on U Street Chapter 4.

Now let's talk about the suspects. Click the link to see a mind map of the suspects in this case.

Look at the mind map. Use the information in the mind map to make notes in your detective's notebook. Add more facts to your notes using information from the tasks on pages 125 and 129.

OK, now tell us who you think killed Terry Sweet. Post your answer as a comment. Click the link to learn how to post a comment on this blog.
That's all for today. See you next week!

CE-II Autumn 2013 Week 4: Give a man a fish...

Hello everyone,
For the first 3 weeks of this course we have been talking about water. Now we are going to talk about the things that live in water, and how we interact with those things. Those things are...fish!

I have been fishing a few times in my life. I have gone fishing in Japan, in Tokyo Bay. I managed to catch one fish. Can you guess what kind of fish I caught? It's one of my favourite fish to eat. I eat this fish about once a week. Many people in Japan eat this fish, but in Canada, this fish isn't popular. It is used mainly for pet food. Can you believe it?!

Have you ever gone fishing? If you have, where did you go? What did you catch? Did you eat the fish that you caught?

The title of the first reading in this unit comes from an English proverb, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." What do you think this proverb means?

Next, let's learn some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 2.


Now watch the video above and answer the questions below.

1. What does Jeremy Jackson do?
2. What does Jackson say is interesting about the photo of the coral reef in Jamaica?
3. What happened to the coral reef in Jamaica? Why did it happen?
4. Why are coral reefs unable to recover from natural disasters such as hurricanes?
5. How do we know that the cod fishery was important?
6. When did the cod fishery collapse?
7. How many people lost their jobs when the cod fishery collapsed?
8. What's the difference between the "trophy fish" sports fisherman catch now and the "trophy fish" that sports fisherman caught in the 1950s? Why is this difference interesting?
9. What is trawling?
10. Why is trawling bad for the ocean?
11. What is biological pollution?
12. What is red tide?
13. Why is red tide bad?
14. What are some effects of climate change?
15. What happened in 1998 because of El Niño
16. What does Jackson say we must change?

Have a great week. See you next Monday.

Presentation 2 Autumn 2013 Week 3: Writing a presentation script

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to continue working on our first presentation.
First, if you were absent last class, please sign up for English Central. Please click the link for our class: Presentation II Autumn 2013 Thursday 1st.  After you have signed up for English Central, choose a video and practice speaking. If you have already signed up for English Central, please watch a video and practice speaking now.

Next, please click the link to download the task sheet for your first presentation, if you don't already have it.

Now we are going to write the first draught of our script. Your first draught is due on Monday 28th October at 3 pm. Please deposit your first script in my mailbox on the 4th floor of the Foreign Language Centre, just outside the teachers room. You can see a picture of my mailbox on the left. I will check your scripts, and show you where you have made mistakes. You can use our Writing Error Codes handout to help you understand the corrections I will make.

See you next week!

Presentation 1 Autumn 2013 Week 4: The Demonstration Presentation

Hello everyone,
Today, after you do your layout presentations, we will learn about voice inflection. After that, we will prepare for our next presentation, the demonstration presentation.
Let's watch a demonstration of how to make ramen.



Now it's your turn. Please prepare a demonstration presentation of your favourite dish.
See you next week!

Intergrated English 2 Autumn 2013 Chapter 3 Review and Quiz

Image adapted from an illustration by Yuji Tachikawa. (cc) 2010 ABAX

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to review Chapter 3,  and then we are going to do the Chapter 3 Quiz

First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click this link: Death on U Street Chapter 1 & 2 Vocabulary Test

Now please review the Death on U Street Chapter 3 Vocabulary.





Next, look at the timeline below. The timeline shows the important events in the story in chronological order (発生順に、時系列で).

Check your detective's notebook. Be sure you have noted all the important events in the story.
So, who do you think is the murderer? Please post your answer as a comment below. To learn how to post a comment on this blog please click the link.

CE-II Autumn 2013 Week 3

Hello everyone,

Last time I asked you to watch The Story of Bottled Water and answer some questions, relating what you saw in the video with what you have read in your textbook. Here's is an example of a good answer to the first question:

Question 1:According to the Story of Bottled Water, "Municipal water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which does frequent testing, as do local authorities." However, according to How Safe is Your Water?, "...there are no requirements for daily, or even weekly, tests for chemicals, lead or pesticides." Do you think water safety should be more regulated in the United States? Why? Why not?



Possible answers :

Yes, I think water safety should be more regulated in the United States because if water safety were more regulated in the United States, people would not feel the need to buy bottled water. Bottled water is both expensive and wasteful (The Story of Water p. 1,2; par. 7). Also, even if you buy bottled water, you can not be sure it is safe. (How Safe is Your Water? p. 32; par. 6).

No, I don't think water safety should be more regulated in the United States because the water in the United States is already safe. According to The Story of Water: The federal Safe Drinking Water Act empowers EPA to require water testing by certified laboratories and that violations be reported within a specified time frame. Public water systems must also provide reports to customers about their water, noting its source, evidence of contaminants and compliance with regulations. (P. 1; Footnote 3)

Now let's look at the other 4 questions before we move on to today's reading.

Today's reading is called Waste not, want not. In Japanese we have a similar saying,  勿体無い (Mottainai), which expresses regret concerning waste. Mottainai is an important part of Japanese culture. You can see "mottainai" written in many places in Japan including on Pizza Hut boxes.

However, despite the importance of mottainai in Japanese culture, there is a lot of waste, especially food waste. 


According to the Japan Times, about 23 million tons of food were discarded in 2007, which was worth about ¥11 trillion ($120 billion).  Japan's annual agricultural output is worth about ¥11 trillion too. So that means that Japan wasted as much food as it produced. Furthermore, it cost ¥2 trillion ($21 billion) to process that waste. What do you think of that? 

Another thing that is wasted all over the world is water. 
Today we are going to read about reclaimed water.
First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 2 Vocabulary.

Now let's read the article and answer the questions.




Finally, please post a comment. Do you waste a lot of things? Is Mottainai important to you? How do you practice Mottainai?
See you next week!

CE-II Autumn 2013 Week 2

Hello everyone,

I hope you stayed inside, stayed safe, and had a nice relaxing "Typhoon Day" yesterday.
Today we are going to review the homework about Michael Pritchard and his Life Saver bottle.

First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 2 Vocabulary.

Next, let's review last week's homework.

Our next topic is tap water. Do you think tap water is safe? Do you drink tap water, or do you drink bottled water because you think it is safer? Do you think that bottled water is more delicious than tap water? Let's watch an interesting video: The Story of Bottled Water. You can download the annotated script for this video too.

Watch the video and read the annotated script then answer the questions on the worksheet. You can download the worksheet here: Bottled Water vs. Tap Water.

For homework please read Waste not, Want not on pp. 37-39. Answer the questions on pp. 38 and 39.
See you next week!

Presentation 1 Autumn 2013 Week 3: The Layout Presentation

Hello everyone,
Today you are going to make your first presentations. Your presentations will be assessed according to how well you can use the skills we have practiced so far: posture, eye content, and voice volume. The content of your presentation will be assessed as well.

After that we will work some more on gestures and then we'll start our next presentation - the layout presentation.

Intergrated English 2 Autumn 2013 Chapter 2 Review and Quiz

Image adapted from an illustration by Yuji Tachikawa. (cc) 2010 ABAX

Hello everyone. Today we are going to review chapter 2. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link and study the vocabulary on Quizlet.

Death on U Street Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Death on U Street Chapter 2 Vocabulary

So, who do you think murdered the victim? Post your answer as a comment. To learn how to post a comment on this blog please click the link.

Presentation 2 Autumn 2013 Week 2: Introduction to English Central

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to sign up for English Central. Please click the link for your class:

Presentation II Autumn 2013 Thursday 1st


After you have signed up for English Central, choose a video and practice speaking. after you have finished using English Central, click the link and download the task sheet for your first presentation.



Now let's start preparing for our first presentations.

Presentation 1 Autumn 2013 Week 2: The Informative Presentation

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to learn about gestures and we are going to start to prepare for our first presentation.

Your first presentation will be an informative presentation.
Your presentation must be 1 minute.


Only your posture, eye content, voice and the content of your presentation will be tested, so this presentation won't be too difficult. You should practice with a partner.

You will give your presentation next week, so don't be absent and don't be late!

Integrated English 2 Autumn 2013: Chapter 1 review and quiz

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to review Chapter 1: The Victim, and take our first quiz of the second semester. Look at the image below. The image is a mind map (マインドマップ). Mind maps are a great way to take notes. The mind map below is about the scene of the crime.
Open your Detective's notebook to p. 10. Fill in the crime report. Use the information in the mind map to help you.



OK, now let's review some vocabulary. Click this link: Death on U Street Chapter 1.
Now turn to p. 92. Do the Police Briefing. After that we'll take the first quiz.

Now let's do the pre-reading on p. 94.
Finally, for homework please read Chapter 2 and do the tasks.
By the way, you can learn more about learning English with mind maps by reading my friend Chris Foskett's book: マインドマップ英語勉強法.

CE-II Autumn 2013 - Welcome back!

Hello everyone, welcome back!

Today we are going to start our next unit of study. We are going to study....water.
First, lets study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 2.
Now click the link to download this semester's course outline.

Finally, let's watch a video. Please click the link. The video is a TED Talk. The TED Talk is by a man called Michael Pritchard. Michael Pritchard has invented an amazing water bottle. Watch the video and answer the questions below:

1. Why did Pritchard invent the Lifesaver bottle?
2. Why is the filter in the lifesaver bottle so good?
3. What is the benefit of processing water at the source?
4. How much money is needed to make water safe for everyone in the world?

That's all for today.

See you next week!