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.
Can girls play drums ? Yes, they can or no, they can’t.
The amazing, incredible Senri Kawaguchi from Japan
Can boys dance ? Yes, they can or no, they can’t?
Madu Mmesoma Anthony from Nigeria
Can you eat a huge sandwich ?
Can you wiggle your ears ?
Finally, can anybody walk on water ?
Yes they can or no, they can’t ?
The brilliant magician Dynamo from the U.K.
Bye bye from the big brown friendly bear
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 tribute to singer-songwriter Phil Ochs, born on December 19th 1940. Phil wrote many political and protest songs against events of the 1960s and 70s such as the war in Vietnam, racial segregation and capital punishment.
Throughout the 70s and early 80s, British viewers were able to watch ‘The Monkees’ TV show, laugh at the zany adventures, sing along with the catchy pop songs.
The members were distinct: the charismatic and diminutive singer (Davy), the wacky drummer (Micky), the innocent, slightly simple blonde (Pete) and the serious, beanie-wearing musician, Mike.
The show was a success but short-lived lasting just two seasons, September 1966 – March 1968.
The guys were actors, they had auditioned for a TV comedy about musicians yet when the public learnt they didn’t play their instruments on recordings, there was a violent backlash.
Mike Nesmith actually was a musician, and The Monkees demanded to be allowed to prove that they could play, and wanted to be taken seriously.
From 1969 Mike began planning a solo career which including writing, performing, producing and pioneering early music videos.
Here’s my favourite Monkees song, ‘Daydream Believer’ with Mike on acoustic guitar.
Mike Nesmith December 30th 1942 – December 10th 2021
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.
Outside of the classroom, students will often be using English with other non-native speakers. Therefore, it is good practice to listen to people speaking English to see how much, or how little, you understand.
With that in mind, here’s a short video on extending your vocabulary, learning ‘low-frequency words’, or better words. However, the instructor is from India and has an accent. To test your understanding, try listening first, then look to check if you are correct:
New Vocabulary
Instead of using ‘very’ + adjective (I am very tired), use a single word:
Try to use ‘sagacious’, ‘exquisite’, ‘colossal’ and ‘spacious’ EXAMPLES:
The classrooms in Block D are ……….. (big, plenty of room)
The furnishings are perfect, they are ………. (very tasteful)
Building an underground train network is a ………… undertaking (very big, challenging)
The old man was ………. People came to him for advice. (very clever, wise)
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 lesson chockablock with phrases, slang and expressions on the subject of traffic.
THEME: Traffic
rush hour / ring road / congested / blind spot / flyover / motorway Metro or Subway/ U-Bahn (Germany) / the Tube (London) / roundabout
road rage / one-way street / traffic jam / chockablock / cutting in / cut me off / hit every red light !
Discuss any words you don’t know with your teacher or look online
What are the issues facing you when you travel around your town or city? [what problems do you have ?]
This is an opinion question, so start your answer with:
In my opinion // In my experience // For me // I believe // I think / It seems to me
First, think of the positives:
Is it easy to travel around ?
Is petrol or gas cheap ? Are there many petrol stations ?
Can anyone attain a driver’s licence ?
What about public transport ? Cheap, reliable, clean, safe ?
Conversely, think of the negatives such as the time spent travelling.
Accidents and costs: insurance, petrol, maintenance
Dangers: pollution, other drivers, road etiquette
Condition of roads
Is traffic getting worse in your home city ? Why do you think so ?
What can be done to ease this situation ?
Finally, what is your conclusion ?
What is happening here ?
What do you think will happen to the driver of the bus ?
Taking a Viet driving test
The second clip is from ‘Top Gear’ (UK). The boys came to Vietnam, in 2008. They had a challenge: to buy a car then drive from HCM City to Hanoi.
What could possibly go wrong ?
Note down any new expressions, then practice … and practice … and practice
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.
How many times does 4 go into 100 ? What goes into 100 4 times ?
Practice – how would you say these:
25 + 30 =
12 x 10 =
95 – 35 =
39 ÷ 13 =
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.
The English language, despite having a multitude of idioms, slang, vernacular, dialects, neologisms etc, can be easier to learn than other languages when it comes to the definite article. I am referring to the word ‘the’.
English nouns have no gender; the language doesn’t have the complex German structure of declension when the word ‘the’ changes depending if the noun is the subject, object or indirect object.
However, it’s not all plain sailing. English speakers employ declension when it comes to pronouns. Please allow me to illustrate:
A cuckoo clock, invented in Germany (not Switzerland, as is often believed).
I bought this clock from a friend so it now belongs to me. It is my clock, it is mine.
However, with the wrong declension:
Me bought this clock from a friend so it now belongs to mine. It is I clock, it is my.
Last night, a level 6 class (aged around 10) were having a lesson on conservation. The examples were all in the second person (your), and the students were having problems changing the pronoun. Hence, this blog:
Let’s go to work
Let’s keep it simple. There are three cases:
the subject, the object and the possessive
I, Me, Mine
In our example I bought this clock from my friend, the first noun is ‘I’ (subject)
so it now belongs to me. (object)
It is my clock, it is mine. (possessive)
Now … let’s practice
I // me // my or mine
you // you // your or yours
he // him // his
she // her // her or hers
we // us // our or ours
they // them // their or theirs
EXAMPLE: What can you do to stay healthy ?
I can exercise. Being healthy is important to me. These are my weights. They are mine.
How about changing the pronoun ? Tell me about this man:
He is very funny. Many people like him. It is his dog. The dog is his.
Tell me about this lady
— is very happy. I can not beat — in a game. — racket (bat) is very expensive. It is —-.
Let’s use ‘you’
— can wash your hair. I will buy some cologne for — . It is —- cologne, it is —– .
Tell me about these people
—- are American. If you go to the USA, maybe you will meet —-. This is —– flag, it is ——.
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.
Yes it, isn’t. i is hoping these answered you questions ,
When someone is learning a new language basic communication, making oneself understood, is the main factor.
However as one develops, the rules of grammar become increasingly important especially if students sit tests and are graded according to their command of the language.
Here, then, are some incorrect sentences that the students can correct. For online classes, students can type in their Chat Box, and that way, everyone is kept busy and productive.
Let’s start with a Level 1 Class
The students have just been introduced to basic sentences, so the aim is to get them using multiple words, not just shouting out single word answers.
Game 1
EXAMPLE: What is it ?
It is a yellow banana.
It’s a yellow banana.
First letter is BIG (a capital letter).
Use an adjective before the noun.
End with a full stop (.)
NOW … Your turn
Write the answers in your Chat Box
Number 1
Number 2
Number 3
Number 4
Game 2
EXAMPLE: Who’s this ?
this me grondfather … NO
This is my grandmother.
NOW … Your turn
Write the answers in your Chat Box
Number 1
this is my Brotherr
Number 2
this is m grandFATHr ?
Number 3
th is is me mother
Game 3
EXAMPLE: I like … I don’t like
I like chicken I no like fish … NO
I like chicken. I don’t like fish.
NOW … Your turn
i liek pizzza i do no like chicen
I like iceream i like cake no
I like breadd I like don’t ricee
Game 4
EXAMPLE: What can you see ?
I can see a dog. I can see a happy black dog.
I can see 2 dogs
NOW … Your turn
Bye bye, see you soon.
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.
Recent online classes have revealed a distressing lack of ability using basic verbs in the past tense or Verb 2 as they are called in my neck of the woods.
In Vietnamese, the past tense is formed differently.
The verb remains the same but other words are added to indicate the tense. Alternately, time indicators are employed. Very briefly, a literal translation from the Vietnamese could be:
Yesterday I eat rice
Therefore a language teacher needs to be aware of the linguistic differences. Be that as it may let’s Get Back to basics.
Activity 1
What is the past tense (Verb 2) of these verbs:
eat / drink / do / play / see / go
Activity 2
help / visit / work / ride / talk
Activity 3
‘to be’:
I am / I was
you are / you were
he is / he was
she is / she was
Let’s use past tense (verb 2) with an adjective
Tell me what is the sentence if we use verb 2
EXAMPLE: I am happy. = I was happy.
NOW … YOUR TURN
You are sad = You ______ sad.
He is tired = He _______ tired.
She is funny = She _______ funny.
I am shy = I ______ shy.
He is small = He ______ small.
She is big = She _____ big.
You are young = You ______ young.
Activity 4
What did you do today ?
Each student takes a turn. Use these photos to help you.
Extra practice:
buy / drink / surf the internet / help parents / cook / do homework / wake up
Present tense ——– Past tense
act —— acted
go —- went
learn —— learned OR learnt
play — played
read —– read (pronounced ‘red)
ride —— rode
sleep —– slept
watch —- watched (pronounced ‘watch -t‘)
win —- won
What is the past tense (Verb 2) ?
I act in a film. Last week I ______ in a film.
I go to London. Last year I _______________ to London.
I ride an elephant. Last month I ___________ an elephant.
I learn English. Last Saturday, we ___________ English with Mr Paul.
The monkey plays piano.
Last night, the monkey _________ piano.
She reads a book. Last Sunday she _____ a book.
He sleeps all day. Yesterday he _______ all day.
I watch the amazing Spiderman.
Last week I ______ the amazing Spiderman.
Put these verbs into the past tense, then complete the sentences:
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.
While school lockdown continues, an opportunity for higher level students to practise their writing skills as well as learning about some classic literature. I am referring to ‘The Arabian Nights’ otherwise known as ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ which was compiled in the Middles Ages.
The collection features stories from the Middle East and Indian, though the exact time of writing, and by whom, is still uncertain. As with Classical mythology, many characters are still referenced in modern life, characters such as Sinbad, Ali Baba, Aladdin and Scheherazade.
Writing exercise
Painting by Ferdinand keller ‘Scheherazade und Sultan Schariar’ (1880).
1001 Nights
The main frame story concerns Shahryār ruling in “India and China”. He is shocked to learn that his brother’s wife is unfaithful; discovering that his own wife’s infidelity has been even more flagrant, he has her killed.
In his bitterness and grief, he decides that all women are the same. Shahryār begins to marry a succession of virgins only to execute each one the next morning, before she has a chance to dishonour him.
Eventually the vizier, whose duty it is to provide them, cannot find any more virgins. Scheherazade the vizier’s daughter, offers herself as the next bride and her father reluctantly agrees.
On the night of their marriage, Scheherazade begins to tell the king a tale, but does not end it. The king, curious about how the story ends, is thus forced to postpone her execution in order to hear the conclusion. The next night, as soon as she finishes the tale, she begins (and only begins) a new one, and the king, eager to hear the conclusion of this tale, postpones her execution once again. This goes on for 1,001 nights.
This is quite a long introduction; how could you reduce it to three sentences ?
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.
Thay Paul's Notes 