Pictures..

Here are some photographs from the lovely party you threw me for my birthday! Thank you all! I'll post more as I get them! :D

Scary movie anyone???

Hey guys!! I have some 'scary' movies that you guys can watch in English!
 They are about 45 minutes, so you can watch it in the open hour of CALL lab or at home!



 In 1995, a beast dubbed "El Chupacabra," Spanish for "The Goatsucker," was first sighted and accused of killing and draining the blood of hundreds of farm animals in Puerto Rico. Eyewitnesses describe it as a two-legged reptile-like beast with sharp claws and sharper fangs. But another rash of sightings, and killings, in Texas last year produced eyewitness descriptions of a creature that looked very different. This episode will go on the hunt for the Texas chupacabra. And for first time on television, DNA tests will be performed on evidence from both the Puerto Rico and Texas sightings in effort to scientifically prove just what these mystery beasts could be. From History.com






Here is another:

'In 1967, a giant winged monster reportedly terrorized the skies over a small town in West Virginia, ending in a tragic bridge collapse that claimed forty-six lives. Since then the Mothman, as the beast was known, has become an omen of doom and death. With new sightings across America today, this creature may be returning. In a search for answers, MonsterQuest will use night time surveillance, perception tests and forensic sketching to determine if the beast is myth or frightening reality.' From History.com

UPDATE:

Here is the History Channel website that has many short video clips about Halloween... Enjoy!

COMPASS information...

  COMPASS ESL STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENT                                     FALL 2012       

In Week 11 of the Fall term, you will take the COMPASS ESL test, a computer-adaptive test of listening, reading, and grammar skills. The question types are similar to those used on tests in your classes. If you would like to learn more about the COMPASS ESL and to see sample questions, please go to http://www.act.org/compass/tests/esl.html

The COMPASS ESL will be used along with the Writing Sample and teacher evaluation to make promotion decisions as follows:

COMPASS ESL 50%

Writing Sample 25%

Teacher Evaluation 25%

Schedule:

MON. Nov. 26	TUES. Nov. 27	WED. Nov. 28	THUS. Nov. 29	FRI. Nov. 30
4E/4F 9:00-11:30	3A/3B 9:00-11:30	2E/2F 9:00-11:30	1A/1B 8:30-11:00	Levels 5 and 6 will be given individual test tickets. Starting times will be at the following times or ranges: 5A: 8:30 5B: 8:30 5C: 8:30-9:30 5D: 9:30-9:45 5E: 10:00-10:25 5F: 10:40 6A: 10:55-11:10 6B: 1:30pm 6C: 1:30pm
4A/4B 12:30-3:00	3C/3D 12:30-3:00	2A/2B 12:30-3:00	1C 11:00-1:30
4C/4D 3:00-5:30	3E/3F 3:00-5:30	2C/2D 3:00-5:30

IMPORTANT DATES. Students must take all tests in order to complete the term.

1.     COMPASS ESL: WEEK 11: (in the CALL Lab)

2.     FINALS: DECEMBER 4 AND 6 (in your classes)

3.     WRITING SAMPLE: DECEMBER 10 (in Roy Cullen Building)

Halloween....

So guys.... Blog topic...


What are your expectations for Halloween? Do you expect everyone to dress up? What kind of games do you think people play on Halloween? How much fun do you expect to have??? Use the future tense!!

Also this weekend...

This weekend there is an American football game!!! The LCC conversation club is going, so it may be something you want to check out! on Saturday, the club will meet at the fountain (outside the LCC office) at 2:00 pm to go to the game. If you have your UH student ID- it's FREE!! There will be a 'tailgate party'. This is a party before the game where there are food and drinks! The game starts at 3:30... don't forget to wear RED!!! Go Coogs!!

FURTHERMORE:

It is also Texas RenFest season! The LCC will be going on the third of November, but there are MANY more weekends where you can go and enjoy the fair with your friends! Every weekend has a different theme and THIS weekend, it is HALLOWEEN! Check out the website for more information:
http://texrenfest.com/

Culture Bump #4!

Culture Bump: Steve, Frank, Jeremiah, and Amandine!

Haunted Houston....

Hey guys and gals! Here are some of the Halloween attractions in Houston for you to check out whilst on your long weekend break!


Phobia:
Tori's boyfriend said this one was pretty cool!

http://www.darke.com

Nightmare on the Bayou:
This is suppose to be one of the best 'haunted' attractions in Houston!

http://www.nightmareonthebayou.com

Scream World:
Houston Press and the Houston Chronicle have voted this to be #1 quite a few times!

http://www.screamworld.com


If you're NOT too into being scared or have children... these may be a better option:

http://houston.about.com/od/eventsfestivals/tp/Houston-Hay-Rides-And-Corn-Mazes.htm



Whatever you decide to do, have fun! You have worked hard and deserve something fun!

#3- 'Team Venezuela'

The self titled 'Team Venezuela'!

Video #2

Hey, guys! I can't embed this video, but here is another culture bump video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVnsXKgGF7M&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Culture Bump Video #1

Hey guys.... what do you think???

Week 5 blog

Most people have a place where they feel comfortable and relaxed. Think of a place where you feel comfortable and relaxed. Picture it in your mind. Now, using the strategies we looked at in your writing book, choose good vocabulary and describe this place for your classmates so they can imagine what it is like and how you feel there..... but there is a catch! 

You can't say where your place is! When someone posts, the next person to post has to guess and then put their description in. Then the next person to post gets to guess and so on. It's a game!!! It would look like this:

Katey: Description, description, description.

Carol: I know! Your place is the beach! Description description description.

Jennifer: I know! Carol's place is a farm in West Texas! Description description description.

See? It's gonna be a lot of fun! 

Conversation with Native Speakers??

Hey, guys! I got this e-mail from another teacher- and I want to share it with you! I think you will be excited!!

Dear teachers,

25% of our students told us they want it! Now they can have it--conversation with native English speakers!

Who: All LCC students on a first-come, first-serve basis
What: Conversation Club- a drop in program where students engage in conversation facilitated by a native speaker (UH undergraduate students and alums, including Fulbright applicants & English majors)
When: 12:30-1:30, every Monday and Wednesday, starting on Monday, October 15 and ending Wednesday, October 28 (Weeks 5-11)
Where: Oberholtzer 2nd floor
Why: to practice speaking and listening

The conversation guides will also be inviting students to participate in some fun group social activities, such as attending a football game together, having lunch or dinner together, etc.  We'll be advertising these events to all students via the bulletin board and Facebook....so stay tuned.

This is a drop in program, so there is no need to sign students up. Students will be grouped by levels (ie 1&2, 3&4, and 5&6), and themes and questions for each group will be level-appropriate. We are maxing conversation groups at 10 students/guide, so our students can experience an authentic conversation. There will be 6 guides (PAs), so we can accommodate the first 60 students that show up.

Please tell your students about the program and that it starts on Monday. Students that attend 5 or more sessions will receive a certificate.

What do you think? Get going!!

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to Abdullah! The new Student Rep for 3E!

I wish I knew more about.....

The blog topic for this week is 'I wish I knew more about...' and what you wish you knew more about. Try to make it about culture. So you could say 'I wish I knew more about the Moon Festival in China.' Then, your Chinese classmates can reply and tell you more about the holiday (or any other topic). Remember to be respectful! Cultures are different just like people!


Due: 10/10/12

From Lissi

Lissi wants to share something with all of you!


I want to share with you about "Failure".  Yesterday, when I saw the grammar's test results, almost I died! Too many bad answers!!! Suddenly I remembered a Nike's commercial TV with Michael Jordan.  So I would like to share this message to other students that felt like me...

 Thanks, Lissi, for sharing such an important message with ALL of us!

Remember: Thomas Edison, the man who created the light bulb, failed OVER 3,000 TIMES before he made one that worked! Guess what he said? "I didn't fail 3,000 times. I found 3,000 ways how not to create a light bulb."

What do you guys think?

Pronunciation

Hey, guys! I have a question: are any of you interested in an extra pronunciation class? This is a semester long class, and if you begin to go, you MUST attend every pronunciation session. If you are interested, send me an e-mail BY TONIGHT!!


Pronunciation Tutoring Groups with Donna will begin on Tuesday, October 16, of Week 5 and end on Wednesday, November 28 of Week 11. 

For afternoon students, there will be a session from 10:30-12:30. Students will be assigned to go to pronunciation 1 day a week for a 2-hour session on either Tuesday OR Wednesday.