11th October 2024
Night has fallen in Asia, the start of Yom Kippur, a day of atonement and repentance.
At this time, I hope for compassion, understanding and respect for all people, all races, all religions.
Ignorance, prejudice, falsehoods and hate are the Four Horseman.
Let us try talking, and committing to peace. The past is out of our control but we can control the future, our future.
We have tried violence; it just does not work
Shalom – peace be with you all
22nd August 2024
Today, we will learn how to write a review.
A review is what you think about a film, book, comic, video game, theatre piece, concert etc.
Your review will be in two parts:
Part One will have information, Part Two will have your opinions – what YOU think.
First, let’s watch a short clip from the film ‘Oliver’.
Here are the facts:
Film Name: Oliver Year: 1968 Country: UK
Director: Carol Reed Oliver Actor: Mark Lester
Genre: Musical
Now, write about the film:
How old is Oliver ? Where does he live ? Is his room comfortable or dirty ?
What does he do ? What does he see ? What are the people outside doing.
Remember to use lots of amazing adjectives, long sentences, and excellent expressions.
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.
19th August 2024
How to turn some wonderful writing to a perfect piece of prose!
First, we need to arrange the text into paragraphs
Paragraph 1 – introduction
Paragraph 2 – first idea (what Princess L likes doing)
Paragraph 3 – second idea (what she wants to do in the future)
Paragraph 4 – conclusion (a short ending)
Second, we need to correct the grammar and alter any mistakes.
So, without any further ado … get to work!
Today, I introduce and tell you about what I like to do and my favorite job in the future. I like to play the piano and read comic books because is helps me relax and when I do this I’m over the moon. My favorite song to play the piano is baby shark and happy birthday song. But I want to play proud of you song however is very difficult. I always play the piano with my sister and my cousin.
I can play a lot of song I like because I always practises the piano every day should when I do this song is piece of cake. And in the future I want to be a piano teacher because I want children can play a lot of song like me. Because in my opinion, the piano is a best and easy instruments for everyone want to play. It the end and what you like to do and what job you would like to be in the future. Goodbye!
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.
18th August 2024
The test results are in, Midichlorian counts checked and rechecked, and we have some new Jedi Masters, Jedi Knights and Padawans.
Here is one great example which I print verbatim, no corrections or additions. Welcome to the Jedi Council, Princess L.
Tell me what you like to do, and what job you would like in the future
Today, I introduce and tell you about what I like to do and my favorite job in the future. I like to play the piano and read comic books because is helps me relax and when I do this I’m over the moon. My favorite song to play the piano is baby shark and happy birthday song. But I want to play proud of you song however is very difficult. I always play the piano with my sister and my cousin.
I can play a lot of song I like because I always practises the piano every day should when I do this song is piece of cake. And in the future I want to be a piano teacher because I want children can play a lot of song like me. Because in my opinion, the piano is a best and easy instruments for everyone want to play. It the end and what you like to do and what job you would like to be in the future. Goodbye!
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.
17th August 2024
92%+ DISTINCTION
88% Jedi Master
75% – 87% Jedi Knight
60% – 74% Padawan
40% – 59% More study at the Jedi temple
20% – 39% Tempted by the Dark Side
Less than 20% Sith Lord
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.
10th August 2024
Students around the ages of 10 or 11 move up to a higher level, and a harder book. To ensure that the students are able to deal with these increased demands, I’ve prepared a short test.
Most of the questions are based on work covered in the previous blocks, along with some extra questions based on grammar and vocabulary that I have taught.
Students will sit apart. Anyone caught cheating will receive a ZERO score. I am serious.
Best of British !
1) Tell me three things you can see in the night sky
2) Use present continuous (verb + ing)
EXAMPLE: I read / I am reading
You eat // He plays // She watches //
3) Tell me something you:
always do
sometimes do
never do
4) Name the instrument AND write a sentence in the simple past (Verb 2) g______ / (guitar)
c_____ / d______ / f_____ / p_______
EXAMPLE: I played guitar last week.
5) Use adverbs of manner. Turn the adjective into an adverb:
The children spoke (quiet) // The drummers banged (loud)
6) If you write a review of a book, show or film, what information do you use ?
7) What is simple past (Verb 2) for these Verbs ?
eat / give / go / have / make / put / see
8) Write three questions with ‘wh’ words [where / what / why etc]
9) Tell me something a penguin can do and something a penguin can’t do.
10) Object pronouns
EXAMPLE: Can you help (I) = Can you help me
Nobody saw (he) // Did you see (we) // He couldn’t talk to (she)
11) Use these adjectives in amazing sentences:
interesting // gruesome // xenophobic // popular // important
12) Tell me what you like to do, and what job you would like in the future
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.
21st June 2024
The power of one:
The power of two:
The power of many:
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.
14th June 2024
The Greeks and Romans had their Gods and heroes, Marvel and DC comics have their superheroes … but what about Vietnam ?
I present a follow up to a previous blog: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/12/13/captain-viet-nam-superheroes-by-super-kids/
First up is from the wonderful Ms Cherry.
Moving on, we have the equally excellent, Ms Gemma.
Finally from this weekend class, the amazing Ms Natalie.
Turning now to a weekday group, Captain Leah chose her fellow classmate as Captain Vietnam.
2nd April 2024
I begin by eliciting class rules then a good old STB, replacing ‘bus’ with ‘taxi’. What do they know about UK ?
This leads to …
Try the birthday horseshoe game: here, one part of the room represents January, the opposite, December. The students must stand in a horse-shoe shape, according to when their birthday falls.
This leads to …
A run & write activity. I write incorrect sentences on the board. Split class into teams), and one member must rewrite the sentence correctly:
What are your name ?
I eats fruit
How old is you ?
What is your hobbies
He like swim
What you do think
There isn’t a chocolate
Why is your friend
Today’s theme is Free Time. The warm-ups should review previous lessons and
This lead to …
Word Bomb – Hobbies – what do they do in their free time ?
Listen out for mistakes, encourage full sentences and drill collocations
(Play sports / do homework / make models / go swimming)
Students can mime an activity, and drill full collocation:
play piano play table tennis listen to music read a book go swimming
Then use the Mingle – interview sheet. This will get the class up and active before break time, and after sitting through book work and listening exercises. The exercise can also encourage students to introduce themselves:
Find 3 people who:
Name
Hobby
| Play an instrument | |||
| Draw or paint | |||
| Read books | |||
| Watch films | |||
| Learn English | |||
| Have a pet What pet ? |
Pronunciation – phonemes
ɑ ɔː əʊ
Point to the correct phoneme
In teams, read out:
model disco show on door go walk
Players must identify the correct phoneme
Pre-teaching: Match the words with the meanings
describe planned, in order, not a mess
imagine having to do too many things
typical feeling you have too much work
pressure normal, usual
organised to tell what something looks or like
community to think about something
stressed the place or area where you live
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.
22nd March 2024
Let us start with a quick welcome; students can be put in pairs and spend 3 or 4 minutes asking each other questions (names, age, likes and dislikes). Then they introduce their partners to the class.
I follow by asking the students where they think I am from, and in one class I heard, “Australia.” Couldn’t be further away. Sounds of laughter and of ice-breaking. One of the younger students recognised the British accent, then London was pinpointed as my hometown.
This leads to …
First activity: stop the bus (STB) about the UK.
What is the second biggest city ?
Name of the famous clock. Name of our King.
Name of 007 (also a way to drill the notoriously absent final-s of James),
Traditional food (“fish & chips,”; again -s drill).
This combines ice-breaking games with some pronunciation and grammar drills.
This lead to …
Partner work. I show four different examples of British food and four titles. Students had to match the title and image, with some pre-teaching. The activity:
English food
Toad in the hole Sunday roast
Full English breakfast Fish and chips
Describing the food: can they name the dishes ?
What do they think of them ? (elicit adjectives)
Are they healthy ? if not, why not ?
Encourage all students to contribute, feel relaxed and comfortable, and confident to demonstrate their knowledge.
Phrasal verbs pertaining to eating
eating out
dig in
check out or check it out
pick up the cheque / bill
Vocabulary
unusual for instance partly attracted ingredients typical
Then using these in sentences:
What do you need to make pho ? (noodles, meat, vegetables, stock, herbs)
Those are the ingredients.
What do you do every day ? (go to school or work, exercise, do homework, clean the house)
That is a typical day.
Viet Nam has great food, for instance pho, bun bo Hue, Mi Quang. What is the most unusual food you know ?
Today will be partly cloudy. The smell of the cooking attracted the young lady.
There has to be a lot of time for the students to speak with each other. Sometimes working in pairs, sometimes in small groups. Make sure the students have the vocabulary to do the activity, know what they have to do and feel motivated.
Grammar: present simple and present continuous
I live in HCM or I am living in HCM
What is the difference ? Why do we use one but not the other ? (This will be covered in other blogs)
Pronunciation: the stress on negative words
I like tea, she doesn’t like coffee.
Intonation: rising voice on questions
Does she like tea ? Do you like British food ?
And finally ... students can ask their partner about things that they like: food, music, films, places etc
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 