Category Archives: Advanced

These are lessons for more advanced students who should be keeping their own journals

June 1, Int. Adv.

1. Purpose of this lesson

Have you ever forgotten to buy something at the store? Have you ever forgotten a birthday or a meeting? Do you ever forget a words or phrases you had once learned in English?

Very few people can remember everything they have ever seen, done or read. These special people are said to have eidetic memories, and they are very rare. For the rest of us, it’s important to study and practice. Brain researchers tell us that if you study, wait a few days, then review you are more likely to remember what you have learned. So, let’s do that!

If you don’t study English during the summer months when school’s out, you will forget many of the words, phrases and grammar points you need to know. In this lesson we will look at many easy digital technologies you can use to study during the summer break or right now if you like!

In this lesson we will:

  1. Find out about a lot of resources you can use to practice English during the summer.
  2. Go to Find Schoology, sign in with your SSO and try your first, easy test!

2. Listen, read, and speak- Summer Practice Video Resources

If you have children, you can help them learn to read while you practice your English with the two websites I will give you below. Even if you don’t have children, it’s good practice to try listening to, reading and watching these stories because the words are easy.

Click on this link and click “For Children” at the top.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/

You will see “Stories for Children.” Click a story. Listen. What was it about? Did you understand all the words?

These websites are from England, so the speaker has a little bit of a British accent. That means he sounds different than me, your teacher. It’s good to practice listening to different people speak English.

Another good place to find children’s stories is the fable cottage. You can listen, watch or read the stories. To practice English, listen to audio only, then read the story. Or read the story first, then watch the video. Try different ways to study until you know how to say, read, understand and spell the words.

Click the picture or click the link below.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is fairy-tale-BBC-collection-june-1-bl.jpg

https://www.thefablecottage.com/

Instructional videos for adults.

If you don’t like children’s stories but you still want to watch video, try the “Putting English to Work” series. There are many different levels of these videos, and they are very useful. Here is a link to level 2 videos, but if you want level 3 videos, find the link on the right hand side of the page and click it.

https://www.wearedace.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1728350&type=d&pREC_ID=1851870

3. Pronunciation

Do you need practice speaking? Let’s go back to the BBC English website. Click below. Now click “Pronunciation” and “the sounds of English (basic+)“. Click the first picture you see. Listen to the first video. It’s very good! Explore more of the videos over the summer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/

4. Reading and writing practice

Many of you have asked me what to read for practice. One place to look for good stories is Newslea. The articles are interesting to adults, and there are different levels you can try. When we go back to school in the fall, I will send you articles from Newslea. Click this link to read free information.

https://newsela.com/

Are the words too difficult? You can make the words easier. Click on a story. Click on the AP . Max means hard. Click a lower number to read the story with easy words.

5. Take control of your learning!

Now you have an SSO. You need to sign in here. Just click and put in your email and new password.

Dace.schoology.com

Look for FSI Northridge advanced: 928 if you go to Northridge Middle School for classes. Click the picture.

Go to FSI Panorama Adv 727:727 if you go to Panorama City Elementary school classes. Click the picture.

Click the page that says “HELLO STUDENT!” Your homework for this week is in the new folder! Good luck!

May 26, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced:Everybody

1. Read the story.

Do you like computers? Do you like your cell phone? Maybe you don’t like these things, but you need to use them. Computers, cell phones, TV and video games are digital technologies. In the future you will need digital technologies for many things:

  1. For money and services from the government
  2. To get a job
  3. To get help from a doctor
  4. To get an apartment or house
  5. For school

The government, businesses, doctors, real estate companies and schools don’t like to pay a lot of secretaries. It is easy for them to work with you on the computer. They want you to use the computer and the internet to do things with them.

In the fall, you will need to use the computer to stay in school. Your new English classes will start August 17, 2020. To register for classes, you need to use a computer. You need to get an email address and a password. You need to sign into a computer program called Schoology.

This lesson will help you.

2. Learn the new words.

bl-computer-terms-1

3. Read the instructions. I will help you get your email and password.

First, you need to get an email and password from the school. The school wrote an email address for you. You cannot use an old email. You cannot use the email of your child, wife, husband or friend. You need to use the new email from the school. I will send you the email from the school by the computer program REMIND. Write your email on paper!

I will send you your email and id number and code on remind.
I will send you your email on remind.

Second you need your student ID number. If you have an identification card, the student ID number is on the card. If you have your registration form, the student ID number is on the registration form. I will send you your student ID number by Remind. Write your student ID number on paper.

Third you need your pin number or passcode. This is a number from your school. You use it to get schoology. You do not use it every day. I will send you your pin number in Remind. Write your pin number on paper.

Fourth you need to think of a password. A password has 10 letters, numbers and symbols. A good password is not a name. A good password has BIG LETTERS and small letters. It has symbols. ! ? # $ % & * are symbols.

This is a good password. Aj552X?&$b It has BIG LETTERS, small letters, numbers and symbols. No one can guess it.

This is a bad password jadiaz1999 It uses a name. It doesn’t have a BIG LETTER. It only has one number. There is no symbol. Bad!

Think of a password you like. Write the password. Keep the password.


Now, on your paper do you have an email address, a student id number, a passcode/pin number and a password? Good! Now you can register your SSO in the school.

Jane Diaz has an email, student ID number, pin number and password. She is ready!

4. Read this.

Now you will get your SSO. SSO is single sign on. Single means 1. Sign on means go to or get in. Your SSO is 1 email and password to get in to many things. Your SSO (single sign on) is good! You will use your SSO to go to school and take English class on August 17.

You need your SSO to get free computer programs to write, read and listen to English.

You need a SSO to take classes and use a computer program called “Schoology.”

4. Watch the video. The first one is in English. The second is in Spanish.

English
Mismo en espanol.

5. Get your single sign on (SSO).

Do you understand? Can you get do it? For more help, look at this picture.

4. Did you get your SSO?

Good work!

Okay!

Write your email and password on paper. Keep it! Don’t lose it! Don’t show it to friends.

5. Now, get Schoology. Use your SSO.

You can use your email and Password (SSO) to get Schoology. Schoology is a computer program.

With Schoology you can see your grades, you can see your homework, you can see your tests, you can talk to the teacher and you can see when we have school and when we have a day off for festivals and vacations.

If you have a computer, you can get Schoology on your computer.

If you only have a smartphone or ipad, or tablet you can get the Schoology application or app. An app is a computer program for your tablet or phone. (A smartphone is a phone with the internet.)

A. Sign on Schoology on your computer

Click this link below. Then write your email and password. Click sign in.

http://dace.schoology.org

You did it! You are in schoology!

Now you can see your class. Click the name of your class. Read your work!

B. Or, get the Schoology app on your phone.

Do you want to use Schoology as an app on your phone? Ok!

First, you need to download the computer program – app – to your phone. Download means get from the internet.

Click on the place where you get apps for your phone. Get apps for iPhones on the app store. Get apps for other phones at the Google play store.

Download-schoology

Good job!!!!

Now, write the name of your school.

Panorama City Elementary school class: You get your classes from North Valley Occupational Center. Write North Valley Occupational Center. Click it.

Van Nuys Adult school and Northridge Elementary School class: You get your classes from West Valley Occupational Center. Write West Valley Occupational Center. Click it.

Write your new email and password.

find-your-school-on-schoology

Do you see your class? Click the = three lines to look for your class. Click different pictures to see new things.

6. Good work!!!!

You got a new email, a password and Schoology. You learned many words. Congratulations!