Assignment due Friday September 27

Answer the following question: if you could live in community in the world, which one would it be and why? Write at least 10 sentences, use your vocabulary words and some of the expressions from the textbook to get full marks. 

Monday's homework

Parts of Speech

Take 5 of your 20 self-selected vocabulary words.

Change the part of speech for each. For example, if it's a noun make it an adjective.

Use the new word in a sentence. Add some detail to your sentences for full marks.

Example: placid (adjective) = placidly (adverb)

"The moon rose placidly over the ocean, making the beach glow with it's silver light."

Weekend homework Sept. 21- 22

Dear class,

In case you've forgotten, your homework for this weekend was to take a few pictures of your community, upload them to your blog, and discuss in 2-3 paragraphs. Tell me how the photos represent your community and also some things you like and dislike about where you live. 

Try to have some fun with it, and remember every assignment is being graded.

Important reminder!

This is just a friendly reminder.

DO NOT copy-paste from Internet websites for ANY assignment unless I say otherwise. 

This is a form of plagiarism and will get you a big fat 0 on the assignment.

If you plan on attending University be in the habit of never doing this because if they catch you usually they expel you.

Idiom assignment September 19

Idioms

An idiom is a phrase where the meaning is different than what the words mean literally. For example, we say "break a leg" sometimes to wish someone good luck. You are not REALLY telling someone to go break their leg. People used to say this because they believed little fairies were hiding everywhere and if they heard you say something about your hopes or plans for the future they would try to sabotage them. So saying "break a leg" was a way of ensuring that if there were fairies listening, they would only stop you from breaking your leg. If you've ever seen someone say "knock wood" and then knock on wood with their hand, it's for the same reason (we don't want the fairies to hear!)

Most people don't know why we used these phrases but they are VERY common in every day speech and even in writing (formal and informal). So it is beneficial for you as advanced English students to know some of them.

The Assignment

Choose 1 idiom.

Tell me the non-literal meaning.

Tell me the story behind it (they're often very interesting and knowing this is a way of helping you remember the idiom).

Write a 4 line dialogue using the idiom.

Some websites you can check out:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Spanish/Idioms shows the similarity between several common Spanish and English idioms.

http://idiomorigins.net/ has lots of idioms with their meaning, origin and history

http://www.phrases.org.uk/ list of thousands of phrase (some of them I'd never heard before)

http://www.bachelorsdegree.org/2011/01/30/30-common-english-idioms-and-the-history-behind-them/

http://www.womansday.com/life/the-origins-of-12-common-idioms-83098

These last two are lists of common idioms with origins.

Any questions, let me know!

Assignment September 18

In your blog, post a recommendation from your community (for example a restaurant, cafe, landmark, activity etc.) Extra points for being original (don't tell me to go to Xel ha or Tulum or Xcaret or Mandala or any other place that I've probably already heard of). Try to use some vocabulary from page 23 and makes sure it's at least 6 sentences. "Go here cuz it's really fun" is not acceptable.

Dear Students,

This is a reminder that you still have until Tuesday to submit any unfinished homework. If you cannot post it to your blog, send it to my email: ryan_oconnor@colegioinglesplaya.com or give it to me tomorrow. Hope you're having a good weekend and I will see you this Wednesday!

Challenge journal

Challenge journal (due Thursday Sept. 5)

What is the most daunting challenge you have ever faced? How did you overcome it? Answer in 2 to 3 paragraphs and remember to incorporate some of your new vocabulary words. Have a nice afternoon!

Homework so far

Dear class,

Here is a recap of the blog assignments you should have completed so far:

1. Success-failure quote
2. 20 new words with sentences
3. Read & recommend
4. Challenge journal (due Thursday)
5. References a& connotations

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.