MRW, The Corner Store, P.387

Master’s Reading and Writing, The Corner Store, P.387

1.       To rise up from something: to go from the bottom up into the sky; for example, a large tower rises up from the ground into the sky.

        Obscurity: the state of being unknown

 Tangible: something you can touch or feel

 Enchantment: a feeling of wonder; amazement

 To lure (someone): to draw them closer; attract them

  Contemplate: think deeply about something

  Make up your mind: make a decision about something

  To plunge: to go deep into something

 To hurry (one) off: to get someone to leave a place quickly

 To make certain: to check something over to be sure about it

 Pre-Reading Activity:

1.                            People like amusement parks like Disney World because of the _______________________in                these places.

A.      Enchantment   B. hurry off   C. obscurity   D. tangible

Before you leave, please _____________________you have all your things and didn’t leave anything behind.

A.      Enchantment   B. hurry off  C. make certain   D. obscurity

  A city with a good economy ___________________people to move there for job opportunities.

A.      Enchantment   B. hurry off   C. lures    D. plunges

 When it is hot, I like to go to a swimming pool and ______________________into the water.

A.      Enchantment    B. hurry off   C. plunge   D. tangible

 Before you buy a new house, you must ____________________if this is the best place to live.

A.      Contemplate   B. enchantment   C. hurry off   D. obscurity

 I like living in the middle of nowhere because I want to live in ______________________.  I don’t want people to know where I am.

A.      Contemplate   B. enchantment   C. hurry off   D. obscurity

 When the school day ends, many students ___________________to get out of the building.

A.      Contemplate   B. enchantment   C. hurry off  D. obscurity

 To pay me back for my services, don’t just say thank you.  Give me something ________________like a new car to show your appreciation.

A.      Contemplate   B. enchantment   C. obscurity   D. tangible

 

Reading: What is the dominant impression of the Corner Store in Eudora Welty’s “Corner Store?” What gives you that impression?  Is it a nice place?  A friendly place?  A place with good memories or bad memories?  Discuss. 

MLS Humanities, P.4 Vocab.

 Examples: 

*I enthusiastically believe we need to have a good education  

*I sincerely support the idea of students being active in their schools and societies.  

*I strongly encourage you to travel to different parts of the United States while you are still here 

Discussion Questions:

*What is something you strongly believe? 

*What is something you utterly oppose?

*What is something that is undoubtedly true about ELS?

*What is something you enthusiastically do in your life?

*What is something you totally need to do?

Class Activity: 

*We will watch an episode of the Amazing World of Gumball.  Try to use the intensifiers from P.4 to describe Gumball in these shows.  

Example: In the first episode, Gumball and Darwin strongly want to find a new friend for themselves.  However, they utterly oppose some of the creatures they meet because they are so strange.

Weekend Assignment:

1.       You can summarize the Amazing World of Gumball with intensifiers

2.      You can summarize another show you like with intensifiers

3.      You can summarize your weekend with intensifiers

Crime and Punishment

1. Weekend assignment: Use vocabulary and/or expressions from class in sentences, or in a small paragraph. Use the following words:

*absurd 

*bribe 

*convict 

*corrupt 

*get off scot free

*reprehensible 

*take the rap 

*face the consequences of our actions 

Examples:

*The teacher steals money from the students wallets.  This is reprehensible behavior. 

*I stole money from Mr. John’s office, but Mr. Nate took the rap for me because he didn’t want me to get kicked out of school.  But, maybe next time I should face the consequences of my actions. 

*Mr. Nate dressed like gumball for the class.  It was kind of absurd when he did that. 

2. We will watch a couple of more episodes of Gumball today and have a discussion afterwards. 

Discussion Questions:

*Did anyone ever save your life?  If so, how did you try to repay them?  If not, did you save anyone’s life? 

*Did your friendship with someone ever get stale and you tried to find new friends?  Was that easy or hard?

*Is it easy to find new friends? 

*Did anyone ever try to be helpful to you, but actually they were really annoying to you?

MLS Humanities, Vocabulary and Listening

 

                                               MLS Humanities, Practice and Listening

Complete the sentences with the words below.

adherence   amass    craft   elite    idealize   inculcated   oligarchs  

portrayed    pursuits    sliced bread    virtue   upheaval

1.       Ivy league schools, such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Penn, plus the ELS language center are considered ___________________institutions of higher learning. 

 

2      Many older people tend to ________________________their youth as a perfect time even though it had many problems like today.

 

3.       Hopefully in this class you will ______________________a lot of knowledge and information.

 

4.       The actor in the movie _______________________the President as a strong leader with a lot of knowledge 

 

5.       There is a lot of _______________________or instability in many parts of the world.  

 

6.       Wealthy and powerful _____________________run many countries, or have great influence.

 

7.       Whatever your _____________________in life are, I hope you achieve what you want.

 

8.       All religions teach people to live a life of ______________________, or good deeds. 

 

9.       I have to ______________________effective lessons for the students to learn more. 

 

10.   My parents ______________________me to work hard.  They insisted I work hard all of the time. 

 

11.   Anyone who has blind _______________________to anything just do what they are told to do without thinking about it. 

 

12.   This class is the greatest thing since _______________________.

 

Listening Comprehension.

1.       Describe Socrates relationship with the political leaders at that time.

A.     He advised them on many tough issues

B.      He was a trusted colleague of theirs

C.      They saw his ideas as a threat to their rule

D.     He was optimistic about their ability to lead

 

2.       According to Plato, how did Socrates view education?

A.     It was a way to get a lot of knowledge and information

B.      It was a way to get knowledge but also become an active citizen in the world

C.      It was a way to get an elite position in the country

D.     It was a way to become financially successful

 

3.       How does the professor feel about Plato’s influence on contemporary education?

A.     It still can be felt in how we learn things today

B.      It has lost the influence it once had

C.      It was never really important to begin with

D.     It isn’t as important as people claim it is

 

4.       How did Plato feel about the citizen’s role in their country?

A.     It was their duty to follow their leaders ideas all of the time

B.      It was important for them to make a lot of money for the country

C.      They needed to stay safe and avoid trouble

D.     They needed to be active in many parts of the society

 

5.       Why did Plato feel bad things happened to some people?

A.     Because they were wicked and evil

B.      Because they didn’t respect others around them

C.      Because they didn’t deal with certain situations in the appropriate way?

D.     Because their family didn’t raise them in the proper way

 

For discussion: How do you feel about Plato’s ideas on education?  Do you think it is necessary for schools to create good citizens for their country?  Do you believe the well-being of your country depends on a well-educated, well-informed citizenry?

 

Group Activity: You are going to prepare a curriculum for students that you believe will bring out the best in them.  What subjects will you focus on?  Why? Be prepared to explain this to the class. 

Master's Reading and Writing, Descriptive Essay, The Library

 By Nate Feldman

The Library 

When I was young, the public library was one of my favorite places to visit.  Unfortunately, the last time I went, the place was in a state of complete ruin.  The windows on the outside were covered with dust, so you couldn’t see anything on the inside.  There were even some of them with small cracks.  The paint on the walls was chipping away, and you could see little white flakes on the ground.  Then, when I went inside, it got worse.  It was the middle of the day, but it felt like it was almost night because of the poor lighting system.  There was only a dim glow from the lamps above.  It was so quiet because almost no one was in there, so I could hear the loud stomping of my feet as I went around the place.  Most of the books were old.  Some even had brown stains on the pages.  I don’t know why people let this treasured part of our town become like this, but it showed why we must continue to update things before that happens.  

Vocabulary:

1. A state of: something’s condition 

2. Ruin: something destroyed or in a very bad condition 

3. Covered with: on top of something 

4. Dust: particles of dirt 

5. Cracks: lines forming on walls or windows

6. Chipping away: when paint begins to fall off

7. Flakes: little pieces of something that floats in the air 

8. Dim: light that is very low 

9. Stomping: loud sound of walking 

10. Stains: a dirt mark on something 

11. Treasured: something very valuable 

12. Update: make something modern 

Questions:

1. How does the writer describe the library?  What is the dominant impression you have of his library?  What words does the writer use to describe this?

This lobby is paradise on Earth.  The lobby of this hotel is so gorgeous, it’s like you are walking through the halls of an amazing palace.  The bright chandeliers glow across the room, making everything as bright as the sun.  The beautiful, marble floors are as white as fresh snow on the ground.  There is a beautiful, white light slanting through the windows. 

 

Alumni hall is a dark dungeon (metaphor)

The rooms in Alumni hall are as dark as night (simile)

 

I went to the LTC room.  The computers are ancient relics.  They are as old as the pyramids and as slow as a turtle.  It’s very dark in there.  It’s as dark as the night.  The LTC is a black hole. 

Crime and Punishment, The Amazing World of Gumball

Vocabulary:

absurd    bribed   convicted    corrupt   got off scot free 

1. If I dress as a clown or class, it may seem __________________to many students. 

2. The student wanted a better grade on the test, so they ___________________the teacher with $100 to change the score.

3. The government is really ____________________in my city.  They take money from rich people and change laws to help them.

4. The teacher hit the student in class, but they were back teaching the next day, so they ________________________.

5. The jury ______________________the defendant of the crime, and that person went to prison for 5-10 years.

*We'll watch episodes of "The Amazing World of Gumball" in class.  Here are some questions to consider:

*Who should be punished for what happened while Gumball was babysitting his sister?

*What kind of punishment do people receive for returning things late?  

*When we do something bad, should we tell the truth and face the consequences of our actions like Darwin tells Gumball?

Master's Reading and Writing, Descriptive Essay

 

Master’s Reading and Writing: Descriptive Essay

An Old Cabin

One of the things I enjoy most is entering an old wooden cabin in the woods.  These are the kind of cabins people often use for camping.  When you enter one, the door makes a creaking sound as you pull it open.  As you enter, your feet make a large thumping sound as you walk along the floor.  This reminds you of how empty the place.  If the cabin hasn’t been used for a while, you can see little particles of dust floating around in the air.  Whether it is sunny or rainy outside, the interior is dark and the only light you see are what slants through the window.  The cabin often has a musty smell of old wood that has been around for a long time.

 In spite of this, I feel incredibly relaxed here.  Perhaps it is the serenity of the surrounding nature.  In the woods outside, you can hear the chirping of the birds in all directions.  If you are near a stream or creek, you may even get the trickling sound of flowing water.  These type of cabins are located in places completely isolated from humanity, one of the reasons we seek them out.

Or maybe the relaxation I feel is more to do with nostalgia.  It reminds me of old vacations with the family.  Perhaps we spent summer evenings in a cabin like this.  I can still recall the excitement of being outside, away from the comfort of my bedroom for a night or two.  There is something heartwarming about this. 

Regardless of what makes me enjoy visiting an old cabin in the woods, it is something I seek to do when I wish to escape the daily hassle of life in the “civilized world.”

Other Examples:

A dominant impression: The main idea the writer is trying to describe

*I know a person.  His hair is all over the place and never combed.  He doesn’t tuck his shirt in.  He stains all over it.  (messy person) 

*I know another person.  His hair is always neatly combed and shiny.  He wears very nice, clean pants and shirts.  (neat person)

*When I went outside, the cars whooshed by on the street.  I could hear the sounds of the motors whirring as they passed.  A woman was hollering at someone on her phone.  The mild temperature warmed me up, and I felt I didn’t need my jacket.

MLS Humanities

 *How does the culture of the ancients affect our education today?

*What do you think is essential for education to teach all of us?

*For those in Film and Discussion last month, as promised, we can finish High School Musical and we can watch an episode of the Amazing World of Gumball. 

*Are there any insights from the past which we can apply to our lives today?

>>After eight months of living in the USA, you have more insights about our culture than you did when you first arrived.

*How does the culture of the ancients influence education today?

*What subjects should be studied to make an education complete?

 

*What does it mean “we’re all in this together?”  What are they talking about? 

 

*Is it OK to have many talents/interests, or should you just focus on one thing?

 

 

Elite: The top of level of something

>>Harvard and Yale are elite universities. 

Idealize: to imagine a perfect world or person

>>High School Musical idealizes high school life

Amass: gather large amounts of something

>>Here at ELS, students amass knowledge of English

Upheaval: a situation where there is chaos and no order

Oligarch: a powerful business person with a lot of political influence

Pursuit: a goal or something you want to accomplish

*Becoming a professional tennis player is a pursuit

Virtue: a positive characteristic

Craft: to make something

I am trying to craft an interesting lesson for you

Inculcate: our parents and teachers inculcate us with good ways to behave

Adherence: In the United States, many people have an adherence to the Christian religion.  In Italy, they have adherence to the Roman Catholic church.  Most Japanese have adherence to the Shinto traditions. 

Platitude: a saying or statement that is said so often it is no longer useful or interesting

Aphorism: a statement that has a general truth about life

Bad things don’t happen to bad people.  Bad things happen to good people who are incapable of dealing with certain situations. 

*Do you think education’s job is to teach facts, or like Plato, are we trying to teach people to be active in our country’s/society’s affairs?

Master's Level SEC, Crime and Punishment

By Nate Feldman

Kyle is talking to Jocelyn about someone who got away with a crime.

Kyle: Hey Jocelyn.  What’s going on with you these days?

Jocelyn: Oh nothing much.  I’m good.  What’s new with you?

Kyle: Well, I’ve been reading this news story.  It’s really absurd and has me really upset.

Jocelyn: Why?  What happened? 

Kyle: So, there is this politician on the city council who has been taking all of these illegal donations from people and giving them all kinds of deals throughout town. 

Jocelyn: OK.  Sounds pretty corrupt.

Kyle: Absolutely.  But that’s not the worst part.  During his trial, he got off scot free.  And people think it’s because either he, or his supporters or both, somehow bribed people to not convict him.

Jocelyn: Seriously? That’s unbelievable.  I thought our society was fairer than that and that all people were treated equally by the law.

Kyle: So did I. I guess you could say that justice isn’t blind after all!

 

For discussion:

*What do you think the expression “justice is blind” means?  Do you believe that is accurate? 

*What kind of activities or behaviors are absurd in your opinion? 

*Where do you see a lot of corrupt activities?

*Do you think a lot of criminals get off scot free? 

*How do people bribe others?

*P.S. For those in my Film and Discussion class last month, we can finish "High School Musical" 

 

 accept   basis    convinced   ensure    publicity   remind   self-defense   violence   

1. I must ___________________you that tomorrow is the final exam.

2. I went to this university because my father ____________________me to.

3. Getting a good job can ___________________success for your family.

4. I did not __________________the job offer because it was too far from home and didn't pay enough.  

5. Many people learn martial arts for _______________________.

6. People post things on social media for ______________________for themselves or their business.  

7. There is a lot of __________________in American cities with too many shootings.  

8. Going to a university is the __________________for me trying to improve my English.

New Vocabulary:

1.      Serpent = a snake

2.      Aborigines = people living in Australia before the Europeans

3.      Sites = places that are used for a particular purpose

4.      Spirits = supernatural beings; forces within people that are believed to give their bodies life

5.      Outback = the part of Australia that is far from towns and cities

Reading and Writing Petra, Passive Voice Review

 

When I got home after work, dinner was being cooked (cook) in the kitchen at that time, so I had to wait until it was finished (finish)

 

When I passed by the office, you were being yelled at by the manager.  What happened?

 

When I passed the classroom, the students _________________(give) the exams by the teacher.

A.       Is given

B.      Were given

C.      Were being given

 

Takes place = happens

*Thanksgiving takes place on the fourth Thursday in November. 

Artificial = not real

Replacement = something that takes the place of something else

*Mr. Nate left the class, so Jose will be my replacement. 

*There is no replacement for you in my life. 

Seeking = looking for

Experimental = something you do to see if something can work or not

*I wanted to see what a class with Sulaiman as teacher looked like.  It was not an actual class, it was experimental. 

Inventive = creative

*You always have new ideas for things.  You are so inventive. 

Breakthrough = an event that leads to something bigger

*The invention of the car was a breakthrough in how we are able to go from place to place. 

Decline = less of something

*There has been a decline in gas prices

Survival = staying alive; not dying (especially with bad events)

Reject = do not accept

 

 

The assignment has been completed (present perfect)

The assignment was completed (simple past)

The assignment was being completed (past continuous)

The assignment is completed (simple present)

The assignment is being completed (present continuous)

The assignment will be/is going to be completed (simple future)

 

What is something that has been done to you lately?

*I have been given lessons by Mr. Nate for the past month

*I have been taught how to use passive

*I have been helped by a nice person

*I have been assisted by the staff at ELS

*The missing child has been found after being away for the past two months

*I have been told many negative things about Philly (they are wrong for most of them)