Thursday, Nov 28, 2016

Dear Anna,

I've just received your email and I 'd like to congratulate that you are a mother now. What a beautiful girl! I so envy you. Being a mother is kind of the most tough job in the world. 

You asked me if it's necessary to stay at home one month without taking a shower. I'd like to say having a rest is necessary for you. But  the idea that take a shower causes illness is a common myth. Many people believe it, but it is not in fact true.  New mothers are especially vulnerable to suffering illness not because of taking a shower, but because they sweater a lot and the high moister level make germs have a greater opportunity can thrive. 

Best Regard,

Yucho  

Wednesday, Nov 23, 2016

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1e0whTsGfwC

Friends: Cocktail, Gala, Potluck - cheat sheet!

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!

Monday, Nov 21, 2016

Listen to this talk and answer the following questions:

Why did the presenter mention “My fair lady”? 

Because she would like to share the viewpoints of the author that talk about weather and health to avoid offensive. 

What is the percentage of youth the speaker has mentioned? How many text they send? How often? 

The speaker has mentioned a third of youth sent hundred text per day.

What are the ten advice the speaker mentioned to have a great conversation? 

Don't multitask.

Don't be pontificate.

Use open question.Use open-ended questions

Go with flow.Go with the flow.

If you don't know say you don't know.If you don't know, say that you don't know.

Don't equit your experience in case.Don't equate your experience with theirs

Try up your  Try not to repeat yourself. 

Stay out of the weeds

 Be brief.

Now, complete the table and add as many words or phrases that you have learned from the talk.
Word/phrase --Meaning --Sentence 

Compromise

Competence

Pontificate

Push back

Pundits

Conservative

Liberal 

Go with the flow

Brag about

Promotion

Condescending

Rephrasing

Miniskirt 

to see a show of hands /anti-vaxxing  /to devolve into an argument  /the most trivial of issues

polarized / conversational competence / the single most overlooked skill / 

to hone their interpersonal communications skills / to sustain coherent, confident conversation

allow pundits on my show /  food stamps /  Dick Cheney / sensing this acceptance

open up the inner recesses of his or her mind / take a cue from journalists / Err on the side of caution.

keep rephrasing it over and over / hey care about what you're like, what you have in common

paraphrasing/  I can bolster my own identity./ boils down to the same basic concept

Most of us don't listen with the intent to understand. We listen with the intent to reply."

[A good conversation is like a miniskirt; short enough to retain interest, but long enough to cover the subject. -- My Sister]

Friday, Nov 18, 2016

don't beat around the bush--be direct in your communication
I would like to understand, please don't beat around the bush.
do your own thing--do what you want or think is best
I might do it differently, but I know you will do your own things.
many hands make light work
We have got a big job to do, but many hands make light work.
out of the running
steep learning curve
Understanding business culture and communication patterns in the Canadian workplace can involve a steep learning curve for many new immigrants.
take you under their wing
the early bird catches the worm
there is no time like the present
time flies
I understand how time flies. I wonder what she meant by time flies?
time is money
the apple of one's eye
the Big Apple
as blind as a bat
as white as a ghost
look like a skeleton
a jack of all trades--can fix anything.
mask one's feelings

Not offered a paid job.
Work too slowly.
Came late.
Didn't talk to others. Never talked in meetings. Never talked with team members.
Waited to be told what to do. Always sat alone.
Afraid. Not confident. Not ready to work in her occupation.
Told management his way was better. Wanted to go faster and do more as soon as starting his placement.
Not willing and able to learn.

Thursday, Nov 17, 2016

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. 

Wednesday, Nov 16, 2016

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.

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

Third, record a second time reading the same dialogue.

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!

Sally & Yucho

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0MkmW2lEqzL

Friday, Nov 11, 2016

Friday Nov. 11: Field Trip to Remembrance Day Ceremony at the  Queen's Park
Remembrance Day is a special time for all Canadians, and this year's ceremony venue of choice for us is the provincial capital at Queen's Park.
Those leaving from Don Mills can feel free to avail yourselves of this map.

Let's meet at 10.30 am next to King Edward VII in full military regalia

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

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   relationship

I’d like create rapport with my new neighbors.

• interaction        interplay

In the concern the singer did lots of interaction with audiences.  

• no-no’s             the topic isn’t suitable for the small talk

There are no-no’s questions in the conversation and makes me uncomfortable.

• casual friends    not close and unimportant friends

They are just my casual friend.

• break the ice      first step between the two people

He spoke a joke to break the ice.

• robotic               the people who is like a robot

He acted as a robotic machine.

• engage in (a conversation)  show you’re interesting in  

He did not engage the conversation because he fall into the sleep.

• colleagues         the people you  work with

I work with my colleagues.

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, November 7, 2016

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.

Yucho, she was a nurse before she immigrated in Canada. She has a bachelor degree of the Science of Nurse and had worked as a registered nurse for twenty-four years. After she came here, she applied the program of Nurse in Seneca College and was fail to pass the exam. So she decided to find a job and improved her English level by herself. She got a job in a restaurant as a waitress. She couldn't answer the phone efficiently and fluently and complained by the customers. So the owner changed her job to be a chef helper. At the rush hour, she sometimes got mistakes because the chef spoke so fast. She kept silence because nobody talks to her except give her some works. She quieted the job and went back to the school. She dislikes the people treat her like a machine.   

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.

We have a long term goal—survive in Canada and have a happy life in the future. First of all, we need survival job to support our family. Secondly, one of us need overcome the langue barrier and try to deal with all of house chores. 

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Good afternoon everyone,

We are still talking about how to have or maintain healthy diet. Go on this link, listen to the listening task, answer the questions, and then check your answers.

Monday, October 31, 2016 Halloween