SOMETHING SPECIAL TO SHARE WITH MY FELLOW ENGLISH TEACHERS TEACHING ENGLISH CAN BE FUN

Four Steps of learning a language : Listening Speaking Reading Writing

TWO MICE SAT IN THEIR HOLE WATCHING A BIG CAT LURK OUTSIDE. "I KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE CAT GO AWAY," SAID THE FIRST MOUSE. "HOW?" THE SECOND MOUSE ASKED IN SURPRISE. "WATCH & LEARN! BOW, WOW!!!" BARKED THE FIRST MOUSE. PEERING THROUGH THEIR HOLE IN THE WALL, THEY SAW THE CAT RUNNING AWAY IN FEAR. "AH, SEE THE BENEFIT OF KNOWING ANOTHER LANGUAGE!" The Benefit of Knowing a Second Language

something fun-Cultural misunderstandings [ something fun-Cultural misunderstandings [

Useful Websites (1)(a): Interesting Things for ESL students (homepage) == html html

Useful Websites (1).(b): Voice of America Special English Study  Quizzes Based On VOA's Special English Programs => Quizzes Based On VOA's Special English Programs (a) Engagements in the USAEngagements in the USA  m.htm (b) The Internet  m.htm m.htm

Useful Websites (2) : People tell me that Senator Edwards got picked for his good looks, his sex appeal, and his great hair. I say to them, 'How do you think I got the job? – Dick Cheney )Dick Cheney 2. I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer. -- Douglas AdamsDouglas Adams 3. I can resist everything except temptation. -- Oscar WildeOscar Wilde

Useful Websites (3) : om/clean_jokes.html Ex. om/bli004.html om/clean_jokes.html om/bli004.html

(1) Physics Teacher: "Isaac Newton was sitting under a tree when an apple fell on his head and he discovered gravity. Isn't that wonderful?" Student: "Yes sir, if he had been sitting in class looking at books like us, he wouldn't have discovered anything." (2) "If there are any idiots in the room, will they please stand up" said the sarcastic teacher. After a long silence, one freshman rose to his feet. "Now then mister, why do you consider yourself an idiot?" enquired the teacher with a sneer. "Well, actually I don't," said the student, "but I hate to see you standing up there all by yourself."

(3) The teacher came up with a good question. "Suppose," she asked the second-graders, “there were a dozen sheep and six of them jumped over a fence. How many would be left?" "None," answered little Norman. "None? Norman, you don't know your arithmetic." “Mrs. Jones, you don't know your sheep. When one goes, they all go!“

It is believed that extensive reading will help achieve smooth writing. We can break down the process of writing as follows: (1) idea gathering (2) outline – deciding proper topic sentences (3) free writing, brain storming (4) putting thoughts into words (5) final editing

Organizing & Outlining Topic Who Why & What How do you feel? Where & When

A Trip My best friends & I A Surprise Birthday Party; what happened Lots of fun, excited, exhausted, most unforgettable Leofoo Theme Park; last 6/11, my 18 th birthday

1. Last June 11, my best friends, Al, James, Judy, Annie and I took a trip to Leofoo Theme Park. 2. We decided to go on the trip because it was my 18 th birthday. 3. I didn’t realize that my friends had arranged a surprise party for me. 4. We had a great time that day although we were all exhausted. 5. Thanks to them for the surprise party, it is the most unforgettable trip I have ever had. I will cherish their friendship even more.

Last June 11, my best friends, Al, James, Judy, Annie and I took a trip to Leofoo Theme Park to celebrate my 18 th birthday. When we got there, there were already a lot of people there. We had to stand in line for at least 15 minutes to play each item. When we were riding roller coaster, all of us were screaming at the top of our lungs. When it finally stopped, we were very high, but we also could not stop shaking. A trip to Leofoo Theme Park (1)

When it was time for lunch, I suddenly heard my name from the radio, I was shocked because it was my friends singing “Happy Birthday “ to me on the air. And then the manager of the park came to me with a birthday cake and a bunch of roses in his hands. He told me my friends went to see him the day before, recorded the song and asked him to make all the arrangements. I was moved to tears. A trip to Leofoo Theme Park (2)

We didnot get back to Taipei until almost dark. I was so happy and I hugged each of them tight before we said goodbye to each other. That night, I had trouble falling asleep even though I was exhausted, as I could not stop my excitement. The trip to Leofoo Theme Park is the best trip I have ever had and I shall never forget it. A trip to Leofoo Theme Park (3)

1. Miss the point. 2. Not convincing. Ex. The Internet plays a crucial role in modern life. Everybody uses computer for work or homework. Take myself for example. I have made a lot of friends on line and obtained much extracurricular knowledge. But, I still think the existence of the Internet is a curse. Common Problems with Student’s Writing (1)

3. Illogically connected sentences. Ex. As everybody knows, English is the most international language. So, my mother sent me to a cram school when I was five years old. Therefore, I liked English since that time. 4. Tense. Common Problems with Student’s Writing (2)

Make Students Interested  To add some fun to English classes, we can always play some games to arouse students ’ interest.

Fun Games Add Color to English Classes (1) 1) Pigs, Flowers and Stars This game helps you to draw your students’ attention back to you! 2) Try Your Luck – (extremely exciting) When one student starts to answer, pass a small thing around to decide which student has to answer the next question.

Fun Games Add Color to English Classes (2) 3) Swat the best way to help students memorize new words 4) I Hate My Neighbors (the best way to help students learn useful sentence patterns, and memorize sayings, phrases, idioms, or sentences worth memorizing) – (explanation on the next slide)

I Hate My Neighbors The ghost: I hate my neighbors. The class: Why? The ghost : (1) Because they not only poke their nose into my business but also interfere in my mom’s business’. The ghost: (2) Because it is important that she take precautions against typhoons, but she never does. The ghost: (3) Because she always wears an awful hat lest people should recognize her.

Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper.” Robert Frost once said,

“ If you treat me as who I am, you make me worse. If you treat me as who I am capable of becoming, you help me become that” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German Author, Poet and Philosopher ( )

. By Fu-Shi Lu 盧富世 Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Senior High School 台北市立萬芳高中