28-Mar: Today's News!

Dear students,

We are almost by the half of the semester. I'll be more demanding. So, please, consider the following guideline for improving your assignments at home. I'm not pleased with the effort from some of you.

I)  Guideline for homework

1. I'm not accepting more late assignments (unless you were absent under true-well founded reasons).

2. In other words, hand in your homework on the advised date.

3. Write your name, date and the title of the homework on the top.

4. Handwritten or done by hand, in other words: do not make your assignment on your computer.

5. I want neat writing. I'm not wasting my time figuring messy writing.

6. Do no use cursive or joint-writing! (specially Juan Carlos and Roberto)

7. Do not use red pen.

8. Explain your reasoning. Provide broad (extensive) answers to open-ended questions.

9. Poor assignment will be considered as incomplete. Is up to you to decide if you want to make it again and improve the grade.

10. Finally and not least, my advice is to keep your homework. In the end, I may have a mistake but I need your evidence.

II) Homework (due date: 4-Apr)

You will perform as a CRITIC. Write a 1 page Book or Movie Review. You will share your opinion to the class.

III) Quiz #5: Study the following vocabulary from the lesson Today's News (you already have the meanings on the worksheets I gave)

Gossip columnist

Commentator

Cub reporter

Correspondent or on-the-scene reporter

Metereologist 'the weatherman'

Anchor or nNewscaster 

Sporstcaster: a sports commentator

Editor

Paparazzi

Badge: an emblem of honor worn on one's clothing (eg: a decoration or medal) to show that you are a member of a team. The boy scout earn 3 badges for his skills and spirit of service.

Research: an investigation

broadcast: the transmission of a radio or television program.

erosion: the natural process of dissolution, abrasion, or corrosion: acids erode certain metals.

Important! The bonus section of this quiz will be the missing exercises from Activity 11A (Listening). Bring these worksheets again.

IV) Special task

Last class, some of you refused to participate or made a poor effort to achieve the activities: Jasid Del Val, Antonio González, Ingrid López, Ana Luisa Zavala, Roberto Navarrio, Raúl Morales, Monserrat Alvarez, and Juan Carlos Reyna.

This is the last time I allow this type of faults and misbehaviors. Next time I'm just asking you to leave my class. 

In turn,  your duty is to make the following task (besides the homework):

Write a 1 page story using the vocabulary from Crazy Relationships and the Personality Traits List. I want at least 15 words between both lessons.

If you don't bring both assignments complete, you WILL NOT earn the chance to take the quiz.

Assignments with short sentences or senseless content will be banned and considered by the teacher as not delivered.

regards,

Jaime

Mar. 27: Comments on your up to date performance...

Dear students,

Last week, I've only received homework from 8 people... Emilia, Natalia, Juan Carlos, Marcos, Roberto, Jorge Arturo, Ana Karina, and Jasid.

What happened to the others?

I decided not to accept late homeworks, unless you had a mistake or were absent.

My advice is to take your time to check what's the homework, some people are handing in things that does not correspond to the tasks. PEOPLE LISTEN AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!!!

An additional advice... Quiz #4 will be difficult. STUDY HARD, review also personality traits as I saw that some of you did not understand the difference between a cheerful, deceptive, reliable, etc.

And lastly, DO NOT FORGET to bring the homework.

Regards,

Jim

Mar. 21: Crazy Relationships

Hi people. These are the tasks for our next class:

Quiz #4 based on:

1) Study the vocabulary from Crazy Relationships (Rihanna and Chris Brown)

1. glitter: Brilliant or sparkling.
   
2. attorney: a lawyer
   
3. debate: a discussion; to fight or quarrel:
   
4. alibi: an excuse: My friend is cheating on his wife and I am his alibi. When he’s with his undercover girl, he’s telling his wife that he’s with me.
   
5. nix: to reject or cancel: She couldn’t buy the dress because her credit card was nixed.
   
6. former: past or previous: George W. Bush, the former president of the United States of America
   
7. outgoing: friendly; sociable to others: People like him; he has an outgoing personality.
   
8. deceptive: dishonest or misleading.
   
9. thoughtless: careless
   
10. allegedly: according to someone’s allegation: The suspect was allegedly involved in the robbery, but his alibi placed him in another state at the time.
    
11. allegation: A statement asserting something without proof
    
12. unscathed: She was at the accident were her friends resulted injured, but fortunately she came out unscathed.
    
13. rough up: Beat up; subject to physical abuse: He was rough up by a bunch of cowboys.
    
14. bruise: an injure caused by a hit.
    
15. book: To record charges against (a person) on a police blotter.
    

2) Review the personal traits.

3) Answer to the following questions:

a) How would you define a healthy relationship? Provide several examples and explain.

b) Should people in a relationship be jealous? Why or why not? Explain.

c) Is fighting a normal part of a relationship? Why or why not? Explain.

d) In a relationship, what is violence? What is not?

e) Should someone ever use violence?

HANDWRITTEN

Regards,

Jaime

Mar. 14, 2009: Desert Island Survival

Pay attention, the homework for next week is:

1) Write a 1 page essay about a list of 8 inventions that you think are the most importat to humankind. EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING ON EACH.

2) QUIZ #3: Study the vocabulary from "Desert Island Survival" (below) besides "Charity Appeals", "Thirst", and "An annoying experience".... YES, AGAIN!

scarcity, commodity, privatization, World Bank, profit, income, loan, bill, wealthy, charity, widow-er, rag, heritage, Wall Street, spoil, annoyance, disturbance, tip, oversee, outcome.

**Remember, not only to review the vocabulary but to recall as much as possible of what we discussed during the class. As you see, I'll start to make questions about the topics to verify if you are paying attention!

Desert Island Survival vocabulary

• dew: tiny drops of water coming from the air as it cools at night: My car is wet with dew during the mornings.
• lush: green and fertile.
• personality traits: traits are distinguishing qualities or characteristics of a person.
• sextant:  navigational instrument used for measuring the altitudes of celestial bodies to determine latitude and longitude.
• stranded: 1. left helpless or abandoned: He was left stranded in Nepal without money or passport. 2. stucked: The ship was stranded on the rocks.
• wreck: something in a very bad condition; to destroy or damage: The ship was wrecked during the storm.

My teacher gave too much homework for this weekend! He wrecked my plans.

• Bonfire: a large FIRE built outdoors, as for signaling or in celebration of an event.
• Trap: a device for catching animals.
• Bait: food that you use to catch animals, fish, etc.

Personality Trait List: You're not required to memorize them, but to understand their meaning, synonym or opposite.

reliable, dependable, responsible vs. irresponsible, unrealiable, deceptive

well-organized vs. disorganized, messy

good self-control vs uncontrolled, spoilt

high achiever, performer

cautious vs careless, thoughtless

conscientious vs unconscious, unaware

independent vs. dependent

self-confident vs uncertain

serious vs cheerful, humorous

patient vs impatient

diligent, active, hard-working vs. lazy, sluggish or slow moving

outgoing, friendly, amiable, sociable, extrovert vs. introvert, shy and quiet

a negotiator vs. a people pleaser

easygoing, relaxed, calm, even-tempered vs. demanding, bossy, moody, temperamental

generous vs stingy, selfish

a leader vs a follower

a peace-maker

creative, original

March 07: "Famous Firsts" and "The best shopping street in the world"

Hi people.

The vocabulary from "Famous Firsts" and "The best shopping street in the world":

race: a competition

purse: a handbag

coat: an outdoor garment usually forming the top part of a suit

belt: worn around the waist to support clothing

ring : wear it in a finger

earring: a piece of jewelry attached to the ear.

necklace :string of jewels, beads, etc worn around the neck. DO NOT confuse with a pendant.

pendant: the ornament hung from a necklace.

bracelet: worn arounf the wrist or arm. DO NOT confuse a bracelet with a watch.

bargain: to argue about or discuss the price of something to buy it cheaply.

However, there are other words are well that I will include in the quiz and are not shown above.

Rememer that I've asked if you understand the meaning of certain words and you all agreed. I suppose its easy and you're taking notes.

No excuses!

March 07: ALL THE TASKS

People, pay special attention to the tasks for our next class (Mar. 14)

1. Answer the "Unknown Presidents" worksheets 

2. Study for our Quiz #2, vocabulary from "Charity Appeals",  "Thirst", and "An annoying experience".

Include: "Famous Firsts" and "The best shopping street in the world" 

3. Prepare and bring a meal with green ingredients, we're celebrating St. Patrick's Day. (To share with 4 to 6 people). Snacks or beverages (sprite, ruffles queso, etc.) does NOT count 

4. DO NOT wear any black outfit, make an effort to wear green colors in your outfit.

Información para los papás: Nuevamente, estoy reiterando lo siguiente.

¿Cuáles son las fechas para presentar el exámen del CIDEB? (si mi hijo quiere ingresar a esta prepa)
Las fechas vienen en el calendario que se les entregó: MAYO 23: Examen TOEFL y JUNIO 6: Examen de Conocimientos. Recuerden que el examen de admisión consta de dos partes.
Para más información, es necesario que pasen por el Tríptico Informativo aquí en las instalaciones, de lunes a viernes de 8 a 3 P.M.

¿Qué puntaje requiere para ser admitido?

Son 550 pts del TOEFL más 480 de Conocimientos

550 + 1030 = 1030 pts necesarios para ingresar a esta preparatoria.

Sin embargo, sólo ingresan los primeros 500, los cuales suelen ser de 1300 o 1400 para abajo.

Para más información, favor de acudir a las oficinas y/o recoger el Tríptico Informativo.

Quiz #2 on March 6th

Dear Students,

Besides our hw on "An annoying experience" we're are having our 2nd quiz, based on the vocabulary from the following lessons:

1) Thirst, the quarrel for water: scarcity, commodity, privatization, World Bank, profit, income, loan, bills.

2) Charity Appeals: wealthy, charity, widow/widower, ragged, heritage, Wall Street, spoil.

3) An annoying experience: annoyance, disturbance, tip, oversee, outcome

My advice is not only to learn the meanings but to know how to apply them. This quiz will not be a simple match the word with its meaning.

Questions regarding the vocabulary? Search the meanings in our blog, review your notes or get a dictionary.

Jim

Feb. 28: An annoying experience

Hi people.

I wan't more effort on your performances and role plays. This activity intends to make you aware about annoying behaviors!

Please answer to the following questions, I don't wan't YES/NO or short answers!!!!!!!!

1) Choose one of the role plays from your classmates (except yours).

2) Answer to the following questions:

a. Explain in your own words what is portrayed (shown) in the play.

b. What are some other annoying experiences in {restaurants/with neighbors/movie theaters/meeting with friends} ...remember to choose one, except yours.

c. How will you deal with an annoying experience in {restaurants/with neighbors/movie theaters/meeting with friends} ...remember to choose one, except yours.

d.Have you ever performed an annoying character? Where? How?

e. Where you aware that you were irritating with the people around you?

f. What was the outcome (result) of your annoying behavior?

Vocabulary

disturbance: a noisy or disordely happening: 

Emilia was watching the soccer game and causing disturbance at the restaurant.

Jasid and Annie had to deal with the disturbance from the annoying people around.

tip: money given in exchange for a personal service: A gave a generous tip to the waiter because the food at the restaurant was awesome!

customer: a client or person that buys from a shop: Monserrat likes chocolate cakes, she's a regular customer from Delicias del Contry.

oversee: to watch or supervise someone: Manager Natalia oversees the service of Paola the waitress with the clients. She's also in charge of keeping order in the restaurant.

outcome: a result: They didn't know how to perform their role play, and the outcome was a dissaster.

KEEP CHECKING THE BLOG FOR ANY FURTHER NOTICES. WE MAY HAVE A QUIZ ON NEXT CLASS.