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.
Don’t take my word for it; here are some stills from a Korean film:
The film is ‘House of Hummingbird’ from 2019
So, do you want to be a house-owner or a housemaid ?
Roll up your sleeves, put your nose to the grindstone, burn the midnight oil, burn the candle at both ends, turn over a new leaf, hit the books, get down to it.
At every opportunity, read, speak, write English. Then, after you graduate, you can party !
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.
Another one of my favourite Korean films, another film about two young people in love fated only to share a short time together.
The track is based solely on one chord, Em11, played in two different positions. The first position is on the 5th fret, the second on the 10th.
Both intro guitar riffs are based on the notes of the 5th fret position. The bass plays variations on the notes of the chord.
The mood changes as the tempo slows and guitar arpeggios replace the riffs. The chord moves to the 10th fret position.
The third section has thrashing chords and a faster tempo, along with drums and a more atonal bass, hinting at the unhappiness after the ‘happy’ ending.
The film stars Kang Hye-jung & Cho Seung-woo
The music is non-profit, and I hope to introduce more audiences to Korean cinema and culture. All films are credited in the video. As such, I hope I may claim ‘Fair Use’, the video being for non-commercial artistic and educational purposes.
The next section is just for my own records and will be of no interest to anyone except maybe low-fi recording geeks.
The track is in the Key of Em
Tempo at drum section 187
Garageband sequence
Track 1 Chorus Shimmer (processed Guitar amp)
1st Riff on top 3 strings:
E – A note B – G & E notes G – D note
Track 2 Cool Jazz Combo Guitar amp
2nd Riff: notes of the Em11 chord (5th fret position) on E & Bstrings.
Tracks 3 & 4 Sparkling Clean Guitar amp
Arpeggios of Em11 chord, 10th fret position.
D, A & E strings, then B, G & D strings.
Track 3 plays the chords, Track 4 uses fingerpicking
Track 5 Alchemy Synth: Mallets, Atlantean Bells
Setting 1: Warm Ring (Chorus at 7 o’clock, Reverb 1) Setting 2: Wooden Mallets
The track is based around a simple guitar riff, augmented by two chords (Am & Gmaj7). An upright bass (synth) plays a variation of the main riff. The song develops into a conflict between grand piano and fuzz guitar, representing the two conflicting characters in the film.
I added some dreamy synth mallet sounds for atmosphere and colour, as well as including some dialogue between the two girls.
The music is non-profit, and I hope to introduce more audiences to Korean cinema and culture. All films are credited in the video. As such, I hope I may claim ‘Fair Use’, the video being for non-commercial artistic and educational purposes.
The next section is just for my own records and will be of no interest to anyone except maybe low-fi recording geeks.
I am // you are // he is // she is // it is // Ms Jane is // we are // they are
Now … let’s speak !
We use the verb ‘to be’ + the adjective ‘happy‘
I am happy // you are happy //
he is happy // she is happy //
it is happy // Ms Jane is happy //
we are happy // they are happy
I am happy // you are happy //
he is happy // she is happy //
it is happy // Ms Jane is happy
we are happy // they are happy
Now … the adjective: hungry
I am hungry / you _____ hungry
he ____ hungry // she ____ hungry
it ____ hungry // Ms Jane ___ hungry
we ____ hungry // they ____ hungry
Now … let’s practise with a song.
Are you ready ?
“We are the robots.”
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.
I like all fruit. My favourites are apples and bananas.
Now … Your Turn
Ask your friends or tell me: What do you like ?
I like …
Match the answers with the pictures:
swimming
milk tea
toys
movies
cakes
Now make your sentences longer:
I + like + verbing + noun
I like buying toys / I like eating cakes /
I like ___________ milk tea.
Do you go alone or with friends ?
I like going shopping with my sister.
I like drinking milk tea with my ______ .
I like swimming with my _________ .
I like eating cakes with my _____ .
Finally, tell we where you like to do these things ?
I like to drink milk tea with my friends in the mall.
I like to go shopping with my mum at the market.
I like to buy toys at the _______ (where ?)
I like to eat cakes with my _______ at the _________ .
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.
Can you see how the verb ‘have’ changes ?Sometimes we use ‘have’, sometimes we use ‘has’.
I have you have he has she has Mr John has we have // they have
Tôi có / bạn có / anh ấy có /
Cô bé có / Ông John có
chúng ta có / họ có
Now … your turn. We will use beach items, food and clothes.
First, at the beach …
I have a beach ball and I have an ice cream.
You ___ a beach ball and you ____ an ice cream.
He ___ a beach ball and he ____ an ice cream.
She ___ a beach ball and she ____ an ice cream.
Mr John ___ a beach ball and Mr John (he) ____ an ice cream.
We ___ a beach ball and we ____ an ice cream.
They ___ a beach ball and they ____ an ice cream.
NOW .. a new verb … ‘eat’
I eat delicious pizza
He eats a delicious doughnut (donut in USA)
Now … your turn
I eat delicious pizza.
You _____ delicious pizza.
He ____ delicious pizza.
She ____ delicious pizza.
Mr John _____ delicious pizza.
We _____ delicious pizza.
They _____ delicious pizza.
NOW .. a new verb … ‘wear’
I wear a blue shirt and I wear a colourful tie.
She wears a blue police uniform and she wears a black hat.
Now … your turn
I wear a school uniform.
You ____ a school uniform.
He ____ a school uniform.
She ____ a school uniform.
Mr John ____ a school uniform.
We _____ a school uniform.
They _____ a school uniform.
Now … for Top Cats – tell me about these pictures:
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 opening track on the new EP ‘Life in a Korean Movie’ has just been uploaded to YouTube:
The first track is a sound montage of western and Asian scales mixed with ambient sounds of the Seoul subway, some live K-pop bands addressing their fans, and audio clips from some recent Korean films.
I wanted a feeling of alienation among familiar aspects of city life; subways are similar yet the different languages and customs can be disconcerting.
Sounds appear, grab our attention then vanish, or are replaced by new audio experiences.
The music is non-profit, and I hope to introduce more audiences to Korean cinema and culture. All films are credited in the video. As such, I hope I may claim ‘Fair Use’, the video being for non-commercial artistic and educational purposes.
The next section is just for my own records and will be of no interest to anyone except maybe low-fi recording geeks.
We have talked and written about perfect cities, and used our imagination. Now let’s talk about cities of the future.
(I use Present Simple, Verb 1, not future tense due to the class ability and level)
What do they look like ?
How are they different ?
Look at this picture and then read my description.
In the future the city has many tall buildings called skyscrapers. People live high in the sky. They can see all the city from their apartment.
The city has a lot of shops. The shops are open all day and all night. They sell food, toys and new phones.
My city is very colourful with many beautiful lights at night. Nobody is allowed to smoke and all cars are electric so there is less pollution.
The buildings have shops, hospitals, cinemas, schools and sports centers. People do not need to go outside if it is raining.
Some buildings are old fashioned but most are very modern.
Now … your turn
Write about a future city. Remember to use adjectives:
clean / expensive / futuristic / high / interesting / modern / old fashioned
Check your grammar – I want it to be perfect !
From Fritz Lang’s ‘Metropolis’ 1927
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 are the problems … and what are the solutions (the answers) ? For example, in Singapore, if someone litters (throws rubbish on the street), they have to pay a fine, pay money to the police.
Now … your turn:
Write about what you want in YOUR city and why. Use amazing adjectives, and tell me why you would like these things.
Also, tell me what you DO NOT want, and why. How would you punish people who broke rules ?
You may also draw, but do the writing first.
Good luck and have fun !
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.
I shall tell you about last Sunday – it was terrible and here’s why … but can you guess just by the pictures ?
(Grab is a taxi service accessed by phone app, similar to Uber)
(In Vietnam, wedding parties often have singers and then an open karaoke system)
Allow me to give you the plan of my day:
6.50 leave for work. Book Grab on my iPhone
7.40 – 9.40 Young Learners class, level 1 (21 students)
10.10 arrive home
10.11 – 14.30 wedding party across the street
10.30 – 12.00 prepare work online
17.00 – 21.30 another wedding party but much louder, more karaoke singers
18.00 go for coffee
BUT 23.30 Manchester United win 1- 0 so ‘All’s well that ends well.’
Now … your turn. Tell me about a terrible day. Remember to use amazing adjectives to explain how you felt and what was so awful.
To help you, maybe:
Good luck with your bad day !
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 