General Notes about my English lessons and life in Viet Nam.
Author: Thay Paul's notes
London-born English teacher, now living and working in Sai Gon, Viet Nam.
I want to use this site to post lesson notes, extra work, helpful links as well as general notes about my time in SE Asia and Viet Nam. I also want to give real classroom experiences and how to deal with real classes of noisy, unmotivated and resistant students. Additionally, I'll be posting links to films, publishing plays and stories, and introducing friends who work in the arts.
A version of the Grammarians game but this time aimed at younger students.
The teacher could give points for individual answers or use the Monopoly board template. Place students in teams, and make sure every member takes part, writing and speaking.
Without further ado … the game:
Grammar:
What is the correct grammar ?
EXAMPLE:
I to be sad … NO !
I am sad.
I to be hungry
You am happy
He to be tired
She are angry
ms huong am beautiful
WE is to be quiet
They to be loud
Adjectives: What is the opposite ?
EXAMPLE: hot and cold
fast and ______
young and _______
big and ______
tall and ______
beautiful and ______
Animals:
Tell me two animals that are fast
Tell me two animals that are slow
Tell me two animals that are big
Tell me two animals that are small
Tell me three animals that can fly
Tell me three animals that can swim
Sentences
EXAMPLE:
I like dogs but I don’t like cats.
I like cats but I __________________
I like dolphins but I __________________
I like birds but I __________________
I like cats but I __________________
I like cake but I __________________
I like pizza but I __________________
I like chicken but I __________________
I like tomatoes but I __________________
Dancing
Who can dance like Starlord ?
Happy New Year one and all
Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.
Viewers of ‘The Crown’ will know the story of Princess Margaret falling in love with war hero Peter Townsend, and how the establishment forbade the marriage.
Niall wrote this song based on a doomed love affair, two people from different worlds who can never be together.
As the band Butterfly Decal, Niall and I try to do something a little different, often using spoken word and sound effects as opposed to conventional singing.
The first demo has the narrative too low in the mix, so we will be re-recording the song. Additionally, we decided to add a female voice in some sections. Here are the lyrics:
When In Rome
Well, it was never likely to work, was it?
He was a famous musician, a guitarist of some renown,
American, he had settled over here to escape the petty prejudices of his own country.
As if we have none.
Still, better here at least; some acceptance.
He was loaded, money meaningless with so many noughts in his account,
Far richer than she, despite her royal blood.
A princess, only a short hop, skip and abdication from the throne.
She’d always been the flighty one,
A little rebellious,
Safe in the security of her family, her position, her fame, her history.
They met at a charity gala,
The classic ‘eyes across a crowded room’ deal.
They knew of each other, naturally,
And had each secretly fantasised and fetishised the other.
Unbeknownst; hidden; covert.
They had made a big play of outbidding each other in their bizarre mating ritual.
The charity being the clear winner in this elaborate and ostentatious courtship.
A secret rendezvous was arranged that night,
When their imaginations gave way to wonderful reality.
Love – real and deep love – followed.
The fires burned brightly until an indiscrete confession to an ambitious maid
Forced a decision.
Well, it was never likely to work, was it?
A scene from ‘La Dolce Vita’ (1960) by Federico Fellini. The film, which shows the decadence of the rich and famous in Rome, was a forerunner of the ‘Swinging Sixties.’
Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.
What is different about helping verbs can and like & want ?
Can uses verb 1, but like & want use infinite (to + verb 1)
Now … Your turn
Write 3 sentences using can, like & want.
Remember:
can + verb 1 // like + infinite // want + infinite
Only good grammar can defeat Thanos …
Good Luck !
Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.
Arrange class into small teams. Each team can roll the die, highest number goes first. Start on the top left square.
Every time a team completes a turn around the board, they collect £200. However, the top right space is the jail. If they land on the bottom left space, the team goes to jail and misses a turn.
A correct answer means the team can choose a Christmas item, or they can buy one for £300
The red stops are vocabulary
Stop 1: Give me three words for food
Stop 2: Give me three words for family
Stop 3: Give me five words for Christmas
The yellow stops are speaking
Stop 1: Tell me a sport you like and why
Stop 2: Tell me a film or TV show you like and why
Stop 3: Tell me why you like learning English. I want TWO reasons.
The green stops are writing
Stop 1: Write a sentence about a present you would like.
Stop 2: Write a sentence about a present you would not like.
Stop 3: Write about a present you would give to your English teacher !
The dark blue stops are listening. Repeat what I say
Stop 1: Apples, oranges, chocolate, mince pies and Christmas log.
So here it is, Merry Christmas Everybody’s having fun Look to the future now It’s only just begun
The Orange spaces are free speaking. Remember to speak for as long as possible.
Stop 1: Tell me things you like and don’t like about your city
Stop 2: Tell me what you like to do in your free time
Stop 3: tell me what job you would like to do when you are older.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, HAPPY HANUKKAH
Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.
A useful template for classroom activities. The teacher can add various instructions on the squares to suit the abilities of the students. The game is, of course, Monopoly.
An online die and some markers are all that is needed.
I shall add some sample questions based on the text books at my centre in the next blog(s).
The mission is to use all your English skills to find Neo, meet Morpheus, learn English, beat Mr Smith and save Morpheus, then come back to the classroom safely.
First, we need two teams RED & BLUE. Next we need to find Neo and his friends.
Task 1 describe these people. Use lots of adjectives.
Task 2 You will need grammar to enter the Matrix. Conjugate these sentences. All team members must speak.
I like to eat oranges
I don’t want to do homework
I have a new laptop
Task 3 Time to meet Morpheus. Tell me about his house.
Next tell me about three favourite things in your house and why you like them.
EXAMPLE: I love my sofa because I can watch TV and play games on it. Also I can sit or sleep because it is very comfortable.
Task 4 Now it’s time to fight Agent Smith. He knows so many words … can you beat him ?
Write down 7 colours
Write down 10 animals
Write down 5 healthy food items
Tell me your favourite sport and why
EXAMPLE: I really love football because it is exciting and fun.
TASK 5 At the board correct these sentences:
I very loves to going fish
You is goes to homes
Hes having a coat red
Seh don’t liking to red boooks
It are rain twoday
Neo are a hundsame men
We is happy wen we win the games
They is drink any milk
Task 6 You can rescue Morpheus if you can tell me about your home.
How many rooms do you have ?
What do you have in the rooms ?
What are the colours ?
What is your favourite room and why ?
Task 7 Time to return to the class. Choose the best actor in your team; they have to say this:
“Unfortunately no one can be told what the matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.”
(The clip starts at 1:00 – 1:13)
Now you have entered the Matrix. Keep learning English or Agent Smith will chase you.
Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.
So far we have our Jazz-inspired EP ‘Red Ribbon in Long Hair.’ The EP has four tracks, two spoken word with Jazz background, and two instrumental pieces.
The tracks are:
1) Red Ribbon – A Short Story
2) Red Ribbon Suite
3) Swing, Princess, Swing
4) Miles et Juliette
The final track tells the story of the doomed love affair between Jazz legend Miles Davis and French singer Juliette Greco, while the opening cut is a narrative about a man down on his luck who falls for a mysterious lady who wears a red ribbon in her hair …
The EP is for sale at 3 GBP, or you can buy individual tracks for 1 GBP each.
Videos for all four tracks are available on YouTube, and here is a link to ‘Miles et Juliette’:
Yesterday, before work, I finally opened a Bandcamp account for my solo project Jingo Harleyman.
I am really not tech-minded, so completing anything online is a minor victory for me. I still need to add a photo and a bio but at least I have uploaded six tracks, and hope to add more today.
Meanwhile, I need to learn more about Bandcamp and make the dashboard more appealing. Any help, tips or advice will be gratefully appreciated.
Furthermore my band Butterfly Decal also need a Bandcamp page, as we have a number of tracks already completed.
I’m working with my old friend Niall Keohane in this band, and Niall’s technical expertise elevates the low-fi music; he makes it sound professional and epic !
Niall’s also a multi-instrumentalist, and regularly plays gigs and makes recordings.
In case you haven’t heard anything from Butterfly Decal (there are several videos on YouTube), here’s one from Niall, about the love affair between Jazz legend Miles Davis and French singer Juliette Greco:
Today we shall focus on story-telling, using nouns, adjectives, verbs (in the past tense or Verb 2) and linking words.
Students can also practise intonation and pronunciation when they make their presentation.
Quite simply the class, in small teams, are going to retell the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. We have covered this myth several times already, but here’s a quick reminder curtsey of the good people at Lego:
If the class works in small groups, it could be a good idea to give them some large paper in order for some to draw, while others write. However, every member of the team must write something, and speak during the presentation.
First, a quick recap:
Every year, the King of Athens has to send 12 children to Crete to feed the Minotaur. The King’s son, Theseus, said he will go and kill the monster.
When Theseus and the children arrive in Crete, Princess Ariadne sees Theseus and falls in love. She says she will help him.
The Minotaur lives in a labyrinth, or maze, and it is very hard to get out. However, the Princess gives Theseus some string, so he can find the exit.
Soon, the Minotaur smells the Greek hero and they fight but Theseus wins and the Minotaur is dead. The children are safe.
Theseus and Ariadne sail away from Crete back to Greece.
Now … your turn
Write and draw this story. First you, like Theseus, need some weapons, only your weapons will be words:
NOUNS Greek / hero / Prince / Princess / labyrinth / sword / string or thread
VERBS fight / sail / defeat / fall in love / smell /
LINKING WORDS and / as well as / but / however / because / also /
Naturally, they lived happily ever after … well, not really, but that’s another set of stories.
Titian (1506 – 1576) Bacchus and Ariadne 1521 – 1523 in London’s National Gallery
Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.
Butterfly Decal is our band’s name, and the members are Niall Keohane, in Birmingham, UK, and Paul Pacifico in Sai Gon, Vietnam although we are hoping to have a guest vocalist soon.
Here’s a new demo, guitar and clip track only, of a new track with the working title ‘Roses for Daisy, daisies for Rosie.’
The demo was recorded on Apple’s Garageband app, on an iPhone 7, so it’s very low-fi.
The purpose of a demo is to show other band members a possible song structure, and to allow the lyricist to fit words to the chords, and create a melody.
Once the song has been written, we arrange the instrumentation, and Niall makes a professional production in his home studio.
Niall also has an online radio show, ‘Flatwound Sounds.’ In his most recent broadcast, he played a track by Butterfly Decal, and I introduced the concept behind the band. The broadcast may be accessed here:
Thay Paul's Notes 