In class Thursday:
1.  Review - Coming to Arizona
 

The Final Exam is on Tuesday, December 14, from 5:00 to 6:50 PM.  The time is different from  the usual class time.

If you were absent from class and did not get the study guide, click here for it.

In class Tuesday:

    1.  Share the last homework paragraph (happy memory).

    2.  Practice writing sentences in the simple past.
    3.  Read the story on page 40 - Sandals

In class Thursday:

1.  Read the 2 stories on page 32, and then answer the questions on page 33.

2.  Write 4-5 sentences in your textbook on the bottom of page 33, but write in the past tense, not the present.  Write about a sport or activity that you liked when you were in elementary or secondary school.

Past tense study cards      Present tense study cards

For your last homework assignment, due Tuesday, 12/7, write a story about a happy memory from your past.  Read the example paragraphs on pages 32,43, and 53 of your textbook.  f you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.
 

In class Tuesday, we'll review page 75, the handout, and then read the story on page 17.

For Graded Homework #9 due Thursday, 12/2 titled "First Days", please write two paragraphs about your feelings on two different first days:  the first few days you were in the United States and the first day you attended school in the United States. What did you do?  What did you see?  What did you think or feel about what you saw?  Did anything surprise, confuse, excite, or disappoint you?   Read the example paragraphs on pages 17 and 74 of your textbook.

If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

In class Tuesday, we'll read the story on page 74 of the textbook, and then complete the questions on page 75.  and write 4-5 sentences on the lines provided at the bottom of page 75 about your own experiences and feelings after you came to the United States for the first time.

We'll also look at the example sentences on the handout, "Some Feelings about New Things".  Following the example sentence structures, write 1-2 sentences about your own feelings when you first arrived in the United States.     If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

In class on Thursday, we'll read the story on page 71 and then answer the questions on page 72.  At the bottom of page 72, write 4-5 sentences to describe when, how (by plane, car, bus, foot) and who you traveled to the United States with.

For homework due Tuesday 11/23, (graded homework assignment #8), please put the information you wrote in your book at the bottom of pages 69 and 72 on a separate piece of paper and add any other information you need to tell the story of why, when, and how you came to the United States.  Title this assignment, "Coming to the United States".   If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

In class on Tuesday, we'll discuss the past tense.  Then, we'll read the story on page 68 and answer questions on page 69.  At the bottom of page 69, you'll write 4-5 sentences to explain why you came to the United States and how you felt about this decision.

For homework due Thursday:

 Study the regular and irregular past tense verb forms on the handout that we discussed in class. 

If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

Test on Tuesday 11/9! 

Stay home on Thursday and relax! It's a holiday and the college is closed.

Reminder:  Test on Tuesday 11/9! 

On the test, you need to write 3 paragraphs of 7-8 sentences each to describe a holiday, a typical day in your life, and a typical day in one other person's life.   Study what you wrote for your homework assignments and in your book!  You can write the same information on the test.  Also review the example stories in your textbook on the pages listed on the Test Review Study guide (click here if you were absent and didn't get it).

In class Tuesday, 11/2:   
We'll discuss pages 90-92 in the textbook.
 

For Homework due Thursday, 11/4:

For graded homework #7, please write two paragraphs to describe a typical day in your life AND a typical day in the life of someone you know (a friend or family member).

 If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.  Click here for a handout with another example (in addition to the examples in the book).

In class Thursday, 11/4:   
We'll share the homework paragraphs

In class Tuesday, 10/26: 

We'll review the grammatical structures on the handout "Celebrations and Holidays".  Write some example sentences on the second side of the handout for practice.   If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

We will start continue reading stories about holidays and celebrations, including Honduran Independence Day on page 56.

For Homework due Thursday, 10/28:

1.  Please write one or two paragraphs (100-120 words total) to describe your favorite holiday (from your native country or the United States) or celebration (such as a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or graduation).   Explain when the holiday or celebration is, where and why it is celebrated, and what people usually eat, say, and do on that day.  Look at the example paragraphs in the book about Chinese New Year, Ethiopian New Year, Honduran Independence Day, and Mother's Day.

 If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

In class Thursday, 10/28: 

We'll read the story "Life in Cuba" on page 65.  Then, write some sentences to describe what typical life in your native country is like.  What is the weather usually like?  What kind of clothes do people usually wear?  What time do people usually get up?  How do people typically get to work (car, bus, subway, bicycle, horse)?  What do people typically eat or drink? What types of houses or apartments do most people live in?  Write about anything that describes typical, normal, daily life in your hometown.  Then, write some sentences that describe what life is like in the city you live in now in Arizona.

In class Tuesday, 10/19:  Test 2 tonight!  Good luck! 
If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

In class Thursday, 10/14:

1.  Practice sentences describing hobbies.
2.  Share homework paragraphs.

3.   Review for Test 2

In class Tuesday, 10/12:

1.  Discuss using commas with lists.
2.  Share homework paragraphs.

3.   Read the story on page 37.
 

For Homework due Tuesday, 10/12:
1.  Please write two paragraphs of 5-7 sentences each to describe favorite activities.  In the first paragraph, write about hobbies, sports, or other activities that you like to do in your free time.  In the second paragraph, write about the hobbies, sports, or other activities that someone you know likes to do in her or his free time.  For example, what does your friend do for fun?  Look at the example paragraphs on the handout Diane gave you in class on Tuesday.   If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

2.  Study the handout "Hobbies, Sports, and Leisure Activities".
 

Important Note:  Test 2 has been changed to Tuesday, 10/19.
                                The test will not be on Thursday, 10/14.

In class Tuesday, 10/5:

1.  Review describing people & describing clothing

In class Thursday, 10/7:

1.  Read the story on page 37.

For Homework due Tuesday, 10/12:

Write a paragraph of 100-120 words to describe one of your favorite foods.  Include information about when you eat this food (any time?  only on a certain holiday?), where you eat this food (your home? a restaurant?  another person's home?), who eats this food (only you?  your family?  is it a popular food in your native country or in the United States?), what ingredients are used to prepare the food, and why you like this food.  Please study the examples in your textbook on page 37 and on the handout Diane gave you in class on Monday before you start writing.

  If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

In class Thursday, 9/30:

1.  Review the story on page 20 and answer questions on page 21.

2.  Discuss page 22 and the handout Using Be and Have to Describe People.

3.  Read the story on page 23.

4.  Discuss grammar/vocabulary for describing clothing.

For Homework due Tuesday, 10/5:

1.  Answer the questions on page 24. 

2.  On a separate piece of paper, write a paragraph of 10 sentences or 100 words minimum to describe one of your friends.   Include information about what your friend looks like (height, weight, hair, eyes), your friend's personality, what kind of clothes your friend likes to wear, where you first met, what you like to do and talk about together, where your friend lives now, and any other information you would like to share.  Y
 

Extra Practice on Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling:

Choosing the verb Have or Has - http://www.geocities.com/pccprep/havehas.htm

Choosing the verb Have, Has, Doesn't Have, or Don't Have - http://www.geocities.com/pccprep/haveneg.htm

Writing with forms of Have - http://www.geocities.com/pccprep/haveneg2.htm

Choosing forms of Be (am, is, are) - http://www.eslpartyland.com/quiz%20center/bepresent.htm

Tutorial on using There + Be (is, are) - http://www.virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/lumanr/902_stuff/there_be_files/frame.htm

Choosing A or An - http://a4esl.org/q/h/9801/cg-a_an.html

Tutorial on Possessive Adjectives - http://www.virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/lumanr/902_stuff/possess_adject_files/frame.htm

Possessive Adjective Practice - http://a4esl.org/q/h/fb005-bp.html

Age, Height, Weight Listen & Spell - http://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/stonebrink/ESL013/Description/speak1.swf

Hair Picture Sentence Matching - http://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/stonebrink/ESL013/Hair/HairpicMC.htm

Hair Picture Phrase Matching - http://www.quia.com/mc/695354.html

Hair Listen & Spell - http://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/stonebrink/ESL013/Hair/speak1.swf

Hair - Listen & Match - http://www.elllo.org/yeartwo/march20th/main_hair.htm

Clothing - Complete the sentence - http://esl.vcc.ca/eslvoc/ESLWEB/clo1jbc.htm

Clothing - Read a story & answer questions - http://esl.vcc.ca/eslvoc/ESLWEB/readclth.htm

Clothing Quiz - Read a question & choose grammatical answer - http://www.geocities.com/pccprep/jillq2.html

Using Commas in a Series (List) http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=ABC301

Handwriting handouts - Describing People and  Describing Clothing

In class Tuesday, 9/28

1.  Discuss the handout There Is/Are and Has/Have.  If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

2.  Read the story on page 20 of your textbook and then answer the questions on page 21.  On the bottom part of page 21, write 5-6 sentences to describe Estrella Mountain Community College.
 

Homework due Thursday, 9/30:

1.  If you received a score of 8.9/10 or lower on any of your test 1 paragraphs, please look at the mistakes Diane marked, and then write the paragraph again on a separate piece of paper to correct the mistakes.  If your score was 9/10 or higher, you do not need to write the paragraph again.

2.  Read the story on page 20 of your textbook and then answer the questions on page 21.  On the bottom part of page 21, write 5-6 sentences to describe Estrella Mountain Community College.
 

Extra practice with vocabulary, spelling, and handwriting:  college vocabulary and classroom vocabulary

In class Tuesday, 9/21:
 

1.  Finish exercises on pages 9-11  in the textbook.

2.  Discuss the handout "Writing Practice - Simple Present Tense".    If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

Homework due Thursday, 9/23:

You will have a test on Thursday, September 23.  On the test, you need to write 3 paragraphs of 7-8 sentences each.  One paragraph is about your family, one is about another person's family (you choose who - it can be a neighbor, friend, sister, brother, etc.), and one paragraph is about your street and neighborhood.  Study what you wrote for your homework assignments and in your book!  You can write the same information on the test.

Extra practice for spelling:  http://www.spellingcity.com/stonebrink/

In class:

1.  Discuss the handout "Singular, Plural, and Possessive Nouns" and check the sentences on 3rd and 4th pages.    If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

2.  Discuss pages 5-9 in the textbook.

3.  Discuss "Prepositions of Place" and write in answers where it asks you to.

 If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.  Here's the powerpoint show of the same material.

Homework due Thursday, 9/16:

1.  Study the information on the handouts showing the subject verb agreement for the Be, Have, and Work verbs. 

2.  Write a paragraph of 100-120 words (10 sentences minimum) to describe your street and neighborhood.

 If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

In class Thursday, 9/9

1.  Review information on the handouts "Where are you from?  Where were you born?",  "Using the verb Be with Age - How old...?", and "Writing Dates - Rules" . 

2.  Orally tell your "My Family" paragraph to other students.

3.  Discuss the handout "Singular, Plural, and Possessive Nouns" and start the sentences on 3rd and 4th pages.    If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

Homework due Tuesday, 9/14:

1.  Finish the 3rd and 4th sentences on the "Singular, Plural, and Possessive Nouns" handout.

In class Tuesday, 9/7:

1.  Review answers on page 4 of the textbook.

2.  Review information on the handouts "Where are you from?  Where were you born?",  "Using the verb Be with Age - How old...?", and "Writing Dates - Rules" . 

3.  Discuss the handout "Singular, Plural, and Possessive Nouns" and start the sentences on 3rd and 4th pages.    If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

Homework due Thursday, September 9:

1.  Write a paragraph of 100-120 words (minimum 10 sentences) to describe your family on a separate piece of lined 81/2 by 11 inch paper.  Be sure to use the American academic style of writing.  Follow the directions on the handout, "Homework Assignment 1 - About My Family".  If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

Optional Extra Practice:
Listen & Write - Listen to the story "My Family" and type in the missing words: http://members.iinet.net.au/~adelegc/listening/my_family/my_family.html
Listen & Write - Listen to "Ying Jie's Story" and type in the missing words:  http://members.iinet.net.au/~adelegc/listening/ying_jies_story/ying_jies_story.html
Listen & Write - Listen to "Min's Story" and type in the missing words:  http://members.iinet.net.au/~adelegc/listening/min/min.html
Listen & Write - Listen to "Ima's Story" and type in the missing words: http://members.iinet.net.au/~adelegc/listening/imas_story/imas_story.html
Quiz - Capitalizing Proper Nouns:  http://www.dowlingcentral.com/MrsD/quizzes/grammar/cap.htm
Quiz - Countries, Nationalities, Languages:  http://a4esl.org/q/j/ck/fb2-nationalities.html
Quiz - Identifying Singular, Plural, and Possessive Nouns:  http://www.quia.com/quiz/826719.html
Tutorial and Quiz - Possessive Rules:  http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=ABC601
Quiz - Change the Noun into a Possessive:  http://www.quia.com/quiz/826724.html
Quiz Game - Identify the correct possessive form:  http://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/stonebrink/ESL012/possessives/turtlemc3quiz.swf
Quiz Game - Type in the apostrophe where needed:  http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=ABC601a
Quiz - Identifying Correct or Incorrect Use of Possessives:  http://www.eflnet.com/grammar/possessives.php and http://www.better-english.com/grammar/possplu.htm

In class:

1.  Check answers to the orange handout "A Few Basic Capitalization Rules".
2.  Complete page 4 in the textbook and talk about family photos.
3.  Discuss information on the handouts "Where are you from?  Where were you born?",  "Using the verb Be with Age - How old...?", and "Writing Dates - Rules" . 

Homework due Tuesday, 9/7:

1.  Study the handout "Where are you from?  Where were you born?"   Complete the exercises on the second side.  If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

2.  Study the handout "Using the verb Be with Age - How old...?"  Complete the exercises on the second side.  If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

3.  Study the handout, "Writing Dates - Rules".  Complete the exercises on the second side   If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

Extra Handwriting & Spelling Practice:
 Introduction Words - Click here for Handout 1
 Family Member Vocabulary - Handout 1 or Handout 2

In class:

1.  Discuss information on the course syllabus.

2.  Read the story on page 3 of the textbook 
3.  Ask classmates about themselves and their family.

Homework due Thursday, 9/2:

1.  Buy the textbook "Beginning Stories from the Heart".

2.  Bring a photo of your family.  You will show it to classmates in class as you talk and write about your family.
3.  Read the story on page 3 of your textbook again and answer the questions on page 4.

4.  Study the first side of the orange handout "A Few Basic Capitalization Rules".   Complete the exercises on the second side.  If you were absent and didn't get the handout in class, click here to download it.

Course Textbook - Beginning Stories from the Heart by Ronna Magy

Click here to download Course Syllabus

Click here to watch an eight-minute movie about some of the Student Support Services at EMCC.

Your Instructor:  Diane Stonebrink
Office Location: Ocotillo Hall, office OCT151
Telephone: 623-935-8584
Email: diane.stonebrink@estrellamountain.edu