Tuesday's assignment, November 29, 2016

Tuesday's assignment

                                                          Myth or fact

The idea that cold weather causes a cold or flu is a common myth. Many people believe it, but it is not in fact true. Write a short email to a friend or a family member telling him/her other examples of common beliefs about health that have been proven to be untrue.

Ask one of your peers to check your writing before publishing.

Hi Tom,

I am glad to write email to you. Hope everything is going well. I had a class conversation about myth yesterday. It was very interesting. 

Sometimes, different culture have different myth. Do you remember we have ever talk about the myth of shooting star. In my hometown, the bad thing will happen when you see the shooting star fly over the sky. It is different from some other culture, like west world. People would like make a good wish when they see the shooting star. Ha! what should I do? 

So we should learn the native myth to void misunderstand when you come to another country.  

Best   Rds
Cheng

Second  version

Hi Tom,

I am glad to write this email to you. Hope everything is going well. I had a conversation class about heath myths yesterday. It was very interesting. 

Sometimes, different culture has different myths. Do you remember when we used to talk about the myth of shooting stars. In my hometown, the bad thing will happen when you see the shooting star fly over the sky. It is different from some other culture, like the West. People would like to make a good wish when they see the shooting star. Ha! What should I do? 

So we should learn the cultural myth to void misunderstanding when you move to another country.  

Best regards,
Cheng

Wednesday's assignment, November 23, 2016

Wednesday's assignment

Let's do the follow-up activity. Click on that link and role-play this dialogue with one of your peers.

Friends: Cocktail, Gala, Potluck - cheatsheet!

CLB 6 L: Listen and respond to a friend’s reason for cancelling a dinner date.

A: So, we’ll be seeing you at this Friday’s cocktail party? B: Oh, I didn’t tell you. We cancelled. A: That’s a surprise. How come? B: We didn’t know earlier, but the Jameses are going. A: And how’s that a problem? B: They just seem so snobbish, always trying to keep up appearances. A: Maybe they’re just nouveau riche and trying to adjust. B: I don’t know. They’re too much like FOBs, and they talk funny. A: Look who’s snobbish here. B: Hey, whose side are you on? A: Maybe we could reach out to them and see if we could help them become more socially integrated. B: Whatever! We just can’t stand elitists and hypocrites!

A: Let’s wrap up the conversation at the Strachans’ annual white-tie gala ok? B: Sorry, but we’ve decided to decline the invite. A: You didn’t! Really? B: We just didn’t want to have to talk to the Buchanans. A: Seriously? What seems to be the problem? B: They’re kind of standoffish in my book. A: I wouldn’t be so quick to judge. It is not hard to commit a faux pas of formal etiquette in a new country. B: I’d say so, in their case! A: Ooh, look who’s all about high culture now? B: Are you mocking me now? A: Why don’t you be nice for a change? B: Look who’s trying to be a saint!

A: You’ll be at the charity potluck this evening, won’t you? B: I don’t think so. We turned down the invitation. A: What? You didn’t. B: We had no choice once we found out that the Mendezes would be there. A: What’s your beef with them? B: They’re all about keeping up with the Joneses. A: Maybe they’re just trying to fit in. B: It’s obvious they’re splurging bigtime on bling in order to impress others. A: When did you become so cultured all of a sudden? B: Hey, I resent that! I was just being honest. A: People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. B: Nice of you. A friend in need is a friend, indeed!

Suki and Cheng

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1pglcxGA8Rd

Thursday'a assignment, November 17, 2016

Thursday'a assignment

Good morning everyone,

We have been attending JSW for two days so far. Now, you need to use the SAR strategy to apologize to a co-worker for a mistake made. Click on this link to record your answer. 

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1KI6C8sEn0o

Wednesday's assignment, November 16, 2016

Wednesday's assignment

Good morning everyone,

Today we will start with a different speaking task. Read the following dialogue once and then click on this link and follow the following steps: 

First, record yourself reading the following dialogue without looking up any words.

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0HoqqTTJ6Si

Second, find out the meaning of the underlined words and use each one in a sentence.

snobbish, having the character of a snob
I don't like snobbish people. I used to stay away them.

keep up appearances
Many nouveau riches like to spend money to keep up appearances.
nouveau riche, a person who is newly rich

FOBs, a recent immigrant
Many FOBs like landing on Toronto when they immigrant to Canada.


integrated
These applications should be combined for a integrated software.

elitists
he is a elitist in computer fields.

hypocrites
Somebody considered that the new president was a dangerous hypocrite.

Third, record a second time reading the same dialogue.

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0dWHG8WW3f4

Fourth, copy both links to your blog for your teacher’s feedback.

A: So, we’ll be seeing you at this Friday’s cocktail party?

B: Oh, I didn’t tell you.We cancelled.

A: That’s a surprise. How come?

B: We didn’t know earlier, but the Jameses are going.

A: And how’s that a problem?

B: They just seem so snobbish, always trying to keep up appearances.

A: Maybe they’re just nouveau riche and trying to adjust.

B: I don’t know. They’re too much like FOBs, and they talk funny.

A: Look who’s snobbish here.

B: Hey, whose side are you on?

A: Maybe we could reach out to them and see if we could help them become more 

socially integrated.

B: Whatever! We just can’t stand elitists and hypocrites!

Suki

http://vocaroo.com/i/s06ZSQlkdl7z

rosie

http://vocaroo.com/i/s18kcnLe8Xyh

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1u4jl1m26gK

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1quEzgTGMd2

Wednesday's assignment, November 9, 2016

Wednesday's assignment

Task 1:

The following words/phrases come from the radio show you will listen to. Write down what you think the phrases mean. Then listen for the phrases in the recording and revise your definitions based on what you hear.

• create rapport
to make relationship, to know each other.
I am brand new. I wanna create rapport with my colleagues.

• interaction
to effect each other
The friendly relationship used to be a kind of interaction.

• no-no’s
It is impossible. something you can't talk about.
Tom said, "No-no's. I can't talk about it."

• casual friends
general friends
Tom and me are casual friends.

• break the ice
break the silence. the condition is better than before.
After cold war in two days, they break the ice.

• robotic
bored, not flexible.
Tom is robotic. he don't have much more friends.

• engage in (a conversation)
join
He engaged in a Halloween party even though he did't like it.

• colleagues
people who work with you.
My colleagues organized a basketball team. I considered to join them.

Task 2:

Listen to a radio show guest talk about small talk. Underline true or false below.

1. Small talk is mainly used to get things done and to provide information. T F

2. When someone asks, How are you? they are asking for information about your health. T F

3. In Canada, people always expect you to ask about their family. T F

4. People use small talk in the workplace to keep their work relationships friendly. T F

5. An example of small talk is giving a compliment to someone. T F

6. Couples who have been together for a long time often engage in small talk. T F

7. People in Canada talk about the weather all the time because they love it so much. T F

Monday's assignment, November 7, 2016

Monday's assignment

Good morning everybody,

This week, we will try to know ourselves better to be able to decide our career goals and our next steps in Canada.

Task 1:

About me: Write a short autobiography about yourself.

Express what your first language is, you former country, professional background, things that you like or dislike to do, your hobbies, and why you need to learn English.

I'm Cheng. I came from China Beijing. I have been in Canada for ten years. My first language is Chinese. I graduated from Beijing Normal University. My profession is fundamental mathematics. I have been a teacher, a multimedia designer, and a system administrator in China. I did some labor job after I came to Canada. I like sport and video game. I am interested in computer fields. Nowadays, I want to improve my English skills in order to find a good job or go to a trade school.

Task 2:

Read this short inspiration story about goals and prepare a short example of a time you have used the strategy mentioned in the story to share it with your peers. Click here for the full story.

I have been a project manager. If my team should finish the whole project in a limited time. We used to set up many timelines. Every timeline is a short term goal. The advantage is that you can easy to control your project, avoid unexpected risk, and adjust undeserved plan. We always gets the benefits by this way.