2nd Reflections: Feedback

Dear Students,

Check virtual ("files" folder) for feedback on your second reflections. Be sure to check your final papers to be sure you do/did not repeat any of the same mistakes.

Have a great weekend!

Sabrina

FINAL PRESENTATIONS

Dear Students,

I'd like to clarify the contents of the final classes so you can plan accordingly:

Friday, Nov. 18th, workshop with Valeria to review U23 and see CAE contents.

Monday, Nov. 21st, FINAL PAPERS ARE DUE. Please submit all drafts and outlines.

Monday, Nov 21st, QUIZ on U23.

Wednesday, Nov. 23rd and Friday, Nov. 25th. Presentations on final projects.

Friday, Nov. 25th workhop with Valeria--opportunity to develop strategies for CAE testing.

Subjunctive in English...really.

Did you guys know that the subjunctive IS used in English? It's not nearly as common as in Spanish, but still, you should be aware that certain verbs do require the subjunctive. To learn more, click below:

SUBJUNCTIVE

The reason I mention this, in your writings I'm coming across instances when you need it.

Now, please do NOT memorize the list on the above link. Instead, build your awareness (increase your opportunities for language acquisition) by looking for examples of the subjunctive while you read, listen to discourses, etc. See if you can identify the use of the subjuntive IN CONTEXT.

Footnotes & Citations

Class, here are some links that may be of interest to you:

how to do citations

when to do citations

how to do footnotes

Friday, Nov. 11

Dear Students,

Today we will not be able to have class as I understand it. I hope you all are able to participate in and thoroughly enjoy your R&R opportunity today!

On the subject of LVIII, please remember that to sign the list on Monday, you need to arrive on time with your completed Final project rough draft. You should also bring your outline (adapted or modified as necessary) and a dictionary to make peer editing as valuable as possible.

With regards to lessons on Taboos, please continue to work on lesson 23. You can move forward with the reading and tackle exercises 3 and 4 on page 135 if you'd like to get ahead. If you're very short on time, at the very least, please study page 133 "No sooner had...than...".

Take care,

Sabrina

Final exam!

Dear Students,

Please review the Virtual calendar to see when your final LVIII exam and interviews will be held.

On the note of CAE review, I'd like to remind you of and/or clarify the following:

1) A communicative language approach prepares students for International test.

2) Your interest should be to familiarize yourselves with the kinds of tasks the CAE requires. This helps to reduce anxiety and increase your comfort level. The need to be familiar with HOW skills and competences will be assessed is not unique to an international, standardized test. Students should always have prior practice with a task before confronting it on a marked assessment.

3) For the purposes of number 2, you can make use of internet sites to gain experience with Cambridge-type tasks. Your assistant, Valeria, can also help you. She's covering some material on CAE in workshops.

4) For the purpose of learning English (content!) and doing well on ANY standardized test, you should just continue to go to class and workshops, do homework, study, etc.

5) Use this experience to improve your teaching in the future. If/When the time comes to prepare your students for standardized tests, avoid the temptation to put communicative teaching aside in favor of "

Final Papers

Dear Students,

ANNOUNCEMENT:

After talking to you guys (and gals) about the deadlines of your other papers (for other subjects), I think we can extend the deadline for the first draft of your final project to Monday, Nov. 14th. We will spend part of class on that day peer editing and working on the papers, in general. Be sure you arrive on time with your paper completed and printed.