Congratulations!

Dear class,

Congratulatons on the near end of the semester. It is an achievement (sucess), and achievements should always be celebrated! You have achieved a lot this past 2-4 months. You moved to a new country and took classes to prepare you for studying in an American university. Living in another country whose language you are learning can be a challenge. But not only have you accepted this challenge, you have also made progress on your way to reaching your dreams.

I hope the American Language Program has helped you. I especially hope that our time together in Composition class has helped to strengthen your English writing, and make you more confident about writing in English.

Good luck in your future!

Please write about the prompt. Please write 15 - 20 sentences.

Prompt: In what ways do you feel you have progressed (improved) these last 2-4 months? What are some things that you are proud of accomplishing? (In American culture, it is Ok to talk about things you are proud of.)

What challenges still await you? What are your plans for next semester, and the next year? Please share with me and the class.

Thank you for coming to the ALP. It has been a pleasure to know you. I believe that you will accomplish your dreams as you continue to work hard. Good luck!

I will see you next Wed, the 16th at 8:00 for our second final unless you have made other plans with me.
Amy

Welcome to December!

Dear class,

Today is another iBT practice day. However, today I will be strict with the time limit of 30 minutes! This is to help you practice so that you will be more prepared if & when you do take the iBT.

To help you monitor the time, I will sign in the time you start on the whiteboard, and I will let you know when the time is 1/2 over, almost finished, and when it is finished.

When you finish, I have another task for you to do. I will explain when you finish.

Today's questions is:

Some people prefer to take a position in a company and work for the company. Other people think it is better to go into business for themselves. What do you think is better? Give reasons and examples to support your response.

Please type today's response directly into your blog. Try to have a response of around 300 words. Remember you need an introduction, body (supporting paragraphs), and conclusion. You also need to use transitions to connect your paragraphs and correct grammar.

Happy Thanksgiving (a week early)

Dear class,

Today I want to have you do 2 things.

(1) Please put your process (how-to) essay on your blog. This is the essay I returned to you on Wednesday.

(2) Thanksgiving is a time in the U.S. that we stop and think about things we are thankful for. Please write about 150 words telling what you are thankful for in your life.

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving vacation!

Amy

Dream Job

Dear class,

Today, we won't do iBT practice. Instead, I have a question for you to answer. Then I want you to read and comment on 3 other peoples.

Please type this in Microsoft Word so you can check your spelling and grammar. I will count off points if you have spelling and grammar mistakes and you didn't use MS Word.

What is your dream job? Please use reasons and details to support your response. Also, please include information if you have previous work experience. What did you like about your job(s)? What did you not like?

Please type 250 - 300 words.

Remember please (1) type in MS Word. (2) read and comment on 3 other people's essays.

Thank you!

Happy November!

Dear class,

Today I want you to do 2 things:

(1) iBT TOEFL practice - You will have 30 minutes to write an essay. Use this time to plan, write, and correct your essay.

Use 30 minutes only!

Type your essay in Microsoft Word and then copy & paste it to your blog. Please tell & show me when you finish your blog.

Your blog should have a minimum of 300 words. Please remember to use spell-check and correct grammar. I will be grading you on: the length of your essay, and the supporting information. I want you to write a well-organized essay!

Your topic:

What are the characteristics of a good leader? Give reasons and examples to support your responses.

(2) Read and comment on
a) 2 classmates' advice on visiting their country (from last week's
blog)
b) 2 classmates (different ones from visiting countries) blogs about an important historical event

Happy Halloween!

Dear class,

Today I want you to do 2 things:

(1) You will work on iBT TOEFL practice again. You will have 30 minutes to write an essay. You will use this time to plan, write, and correct your essay. Use 30 minutes only! Type your essay in Microsoft Word and then copy & paste it to your blog. Please tell & show me when you finish your blog.

Your blog should have a minimum of 300 words. Please remember to use spell-check and correct grammar. I will be grading you on: the length of your essay, and the supporting information. I want you to write a well-organized essay!

Your topic:

Traveling to a different country can be both exciting and frustrating at the same time. What are the most important pieces of advice that you would give visitors coming to your country? Give reasons and details to support your response.

(2) Check and make sure your blog has all the necessary entries. If you are missing some blog posts, it lowers your grade! If you have been here from the beginning of the semester, you should have all the blogs. If you came for section B, you should have blogs since 10/23 (last week). Late blogs are due by Sunday night at 10:00!

Remember blogs are 20% of your grade, so if you don't do them, that can be really bad for your grade!

If you have any questions, please ask me! Thank you!

Amy

Friday,

Dear class,

Today I have two things for you to do.

(1) iBT TOEFL writing practice - Please read and respond to the prompt. Don't forget to include an introduction, supporting sentences, and a conclusion. Use correct grammar and specific examples.

Use 30 minutes to plan, type and correct your essay. Type it in word and then copy & paste to your blog.

What historical event in your country has had a major effect on your country? Give reasons and examples to support your response.

(2) Please write about a favorite movie. Write 10 - 12 sentences explaining the movie. You can tell who is in the movie, where does the story happen, and what is the movie's story. Also tell why you like the movie.

Thank you for your work!

Amy

Middle of the semester

Dear class -

It's here, the middle of the semester! Yeah! You've been working hard for 8 weeks, and you have 8 more weeks to go!

For today:
(1) Please read and comment on three (3) people's essays of the "Compare yourself today and yourself five years ago. In what ways are you the same, or different" essay.

(2)
Please read two (2) different people's blogs from chapter 3. Please read and comment on their blogs.

If you finish this, please let me know.

Thank you!

Amy

Friday - Oct 9th

Dear Class,

You have been doing an excellent job with your blogs. Thank you for your hard work! I am proud of you and you should be proud of yourselves.

Today, I have two things for you to do.

(1) iBT TOEFL writing practice - Please read and respond to the prompt. Don't forget to include an introduction, supporting sentences, and a conclusion. Use specific examples.

Compare yourself today and yourself five years ago. In what ways are you the same, or different

(2) Please type/copy & paste your Chapter 3 writing assignment into your blog. (The one you gave me last week and I returned to you on Wednesday with corrections.)

Than you again for your hard work. I hope you have a great weekend!

Amy

Happy Friday!

Dear Class,

Good Morning! Today I am going to ask you to practice your research and summary skills.

(1) Please choose one person (different from your person who has made a difference). Research that person and choose 2-3 websites. Then, write a summary about that person.

Requirements:
- 2-3 sources - cite your sources/copy and paste the web address onto the bottom of your blog.
- Please don't copy information. Put the information into your words. If you want to copy some information, put it in " " and tell the source. (www.jones.com)
- Write 15 - 20 sentences

(3) Please read 2 or 3 people's blogs and comment.

Thank you for your hard work!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Amy

Homework for Monday

Your homework for Monday's class is to do 3 things -
(1) email book (p. 50) "Try It Out" to me
(2) finish blog comments if you didn't finish already
(3) read and do book p. 51 - 53

Thank you for your dilligent work!

I hope you have a great weekend! I'll see you on Saturday, if you go to Disneyland! :-)

Amy

Happy Friday!

Hello class - Happy Friday!  

Today I want you to do 3 things
(1) put your "Memorable Event/Experience essays on your blog (with corrections)
(2) write a blog of 15 - 20 sentences based on the topic of your choice.  - It's free-choice blog day.   :-)
(3) please read and comment on 4 different people's blogs
      (a) two people's "Memorable Event"
      (b) two people's free-choice blogs

Please do as much as you can in class.  Everything is due by Sunday night at 10:00 PM

Thank you!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Amy

New Homework

Dear Class, 

Thank you for your work today in the computer lab.  I was really happy to see everyone working so hard! 

Your homework:

   - Please email your "Memorable Experience/Memorable Event" to me if you did not give it to me, or send it already.
 
 - Please read and do pages 38 - 42 in your book for Monday's class.

I hope you have a good weekend!

See you Monday!

Amy

Happy Friday! :-)

Today I will ask you to do 3 things on your blog.

(1) Choose one of the following and blog. (15 - 20 sentences).

A) What is something you would change about yourself if you could and why? What do you not want to change?

B) If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? What has been your favorite place to visit?

(2) Please type or copy and paste your "Person Who Has Made a Difference" composition into your blog.

(3) Read and comment on 4 people's blogs:

A) Read 2 people's blogs about something they would change or a place they would go and comment.

B) Read 2 different people's blogs about their "Person....Difference" and comment.

homework for Friday

Hello I 4 Comp students!

I apologize for not posting this yesterday. I forgot! I'll post quicker in the future.

Your homework was the writing assignment on p. 36 -
Write a rough draft about "a memorable event or memorable experience." Write 15 - 20 sentences.

Please remember that you have a quiz in class tomorrow. The quiz includes:
- fragments (p. 14), simple sentences (p. 11), and compound sentences (p. 30)
- coordinating conjunctions (p. 30)
- use of commas (p. 33)
- subject/verb agreement (p. 11)
- time order (p. 25)
- correction symbols (p. 184 only this week)

Have a good night, and I'll see you in the morning.

Thank you!

Amy

Dear students,

I re-read all of your self-introductions and the comments by your classmates. It looks like you are enjoying learning about each other and writing to each other. I am glad!

For today, I will ask you to blog about either:

1) What is something you would change about yourself if you could and why? What do you not want to change?

2) If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? What has been your favorite place to visit?

Please write a paragraph (15 - 20 sentences).

Thank you!

Welcome to our class blog!

Hello Intermediate 4 Composition students!

I'm very happy to be working with you this semester. I know that you are a hard-working and motivated class, and I'm happy to assist you with your writing. I think we will have a great semester!

This is our class blog which you will use every week as part of your class work.

Today you will create your blogs, and you have four assignments to complete on your blog! What you do not finish in class, will be homework for you.

(1) Type your self-introduction for your first blog. Please include the corrections that I made on your papers.

(2) Download (or copy and paste) your classmate introduction for your second blog. Again, please include the corrections that I made on your papers.

(3) Please read three classmates' self-introduction blogs and make a comment, or ask a question on their blog.

(4) Please read two classmate introductions and make a comment on those blogs. (You need to read different blogs than the ones you read in #3.)

Thank you for your work!

Amy