Introducing … the Blue Star.

12th January 2014

I have a red and black marker system for class management: the red is a happy face, awarded for leading the students in repeating class rules, for interesting and imaginative answers, for exceptional work.

The black is for breaking the class rules, disrespect, noise etc. Two or three Black Stars result in the student being sent to Student Care.

Today I will introduce a new star:

the Blue Star

which will be given to students who speak too much, too loudly, or for interrupting the teacher.

Should a student get three Blue Stars, they will have to conjugate ten verbs during breaktime or for homework.

To kick off, conjugate these verbs:

allow // become // believe // change // create //

decide // follow // grow // help // leave // make

pass // provide // remember // return // show

spend // suggest // tell // think // walk // work

To everything, there is a season.

A time to play, and a time to work.

A time to talk, and a time to listen.

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Young Teens: “I’ve just seen a face I can’t forget …”

6th October 2023

Let’s kick the speaking exercises into overdrive !

A surefire way to get that A+ is to speak in long sentences, with adjectives, linking words and some basic expressions.

Let’s practise – look at these photos, then describe what you see. As simple as that.

Then, add your own ideas about how the subject feels and what they are doing.

Let’s go to work

Always start with the subject

Never start with a pronoun

In Picture 1 start with the woman; what does she look like ? What do you think is her personality ?

Next, where is she and what is she doing ?

We need our vocabulary toolbox

First some adjectives about appearance:

amazing / Asian / beautiful / chubby / cute / healthy / middle-aged / old / short / tall / ugly / young / wealthy /

Then some adjectives about personality:

caring / friendly / greedy / hard-working / intelligent / kind / lazy / messy / nervous / outgoing / popular / quick / rude / selfish / talented / talkative /

EXAMPLE

The young Asian woman has long, straight, black hair. She is wearing a blue coat and holding a large, pink book. I think she is very intelligent and hard-working. She looks very happy. In my opinion she is waiting for a friend and they will go for a coffee.

Now … your turn

Summer Project: make a toy theatre

3rd August 2023

Extending the concept of recycling, and phasing out plastic, this project shows how to turn old cardboard boxes into toy theatres with just scissors, sellotape, colour paper, wooden sticks … and imagination.

The subject was King Arthur, and my manager printed out some great colour pictures.

An introduction to the King Arthur story, myth or legend may be accessed here: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2022/04/20/young-teens-king-arthur-the-sword-in-the-stone/

Without further ado, let’s build some theatres.

The first theatre was made from a large box, and I just cut out a central square and a side panel. I found some old yellow material in my house, so the students could make curtains or a backdrop.

The middle theatre is my first attempt (I am hopeless at art and crafts, as you can see). The box was not ideal, being oblong, so the theatre is tall and thin, but it at least gives an idea how an old box can be transformed.

Now, this is how I turned an old electric toothbrush box into a palace of dreams and fantasy.

{many instructional videos can be found on YouTube}

First, I flattened the box, and cut away the flaps. Then I made a stage by folding and taping down the front panel.

The side panels form the frames for the sides and roof.

Next, decorate with paper. I used adverts from a free newspaper with large areas of bright colour. I selected a picture for a backdrop, an impression of Arthur’s Camelot.

Finally, just cover all remaining areas with paper. Cut out the characters and attach them to wooden sticks.

Our Summer Class, working in teams, produced these dioramas of drama:

I want 100 Adjectives !

2nd August 2023

To improve your simple sentences, to develop skills to form amazing answers and remarkable responses, you need a large vocabulary.

Let’s continue with our mission to learn 100 adjectives.

The following 50 were suggested by one level 4 class:

[Write down any that you do not know and ask for translations, if needed]

1) amazing 2) angry 3) awesome 4) awful

5) bad 6) beautiful 7) big 8) brave 9) brilliant

10) clean 11) clear 12) clever 13) cheap

14) colourful 15) crunchy 16) cute

17) dangerous 18) deaf 19) deep 20) delicious

21) difficult 22) different 23) dirty 24) disgusting

25) electric 26) energetic 27) excited

28) fantastic 29) fast 30) funny (haha)

31) funny (strange) 32) fat 33) furry

34) generous 35) genius 36) good 37) great

38) hairy 39) happy 40) hard 41) heavy 42) high

43) hilarious 44) healthy 45) hollow 46) horrific

47) hot 48) hungry 49) hygienic 50) expensive

Whew ! Are you exhausted ? OK, Take 5,

“Take a break, Driver 8.”

Ready ? Now, let’s practise:

Give me a sentence using the adjective ‘hilarious‘.

EXAMPLE: Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin are hilarious.

Now … Your Turn

Task 1: Write sentences using:

hollow / expensive / generous / horrific / disgusting / crunchy

Task 2: Give me another word – a synonym – for:

a) very clean b) many colours c) terrible

d) very dirty e) smart f) not tired

Task 3: Write a short story using as many new adjectives as you can. Try these pictures to help:

One day, I was in a …

Task 4: Write your own story. I want at least 6 amazing adjectives. Good luck !

Summer Project: Make an Amazon River fact chart

26th July 2023

A companion blog may be accessed here: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2020/10/19/young-learners-level-5-amazon-rain-forest-quiz-and-comparisons/

Worksheets for this lesson may be found at the end of the blog

TASK 1:

Draw the Amazon River. Where can you find this information ? Also, write the names of the countries.

TASK 2:

In teams, write the many animals you would find in the Amazon Rainforest.

Animals In The Amazon Rainforest: Pictures, Info & Facts

Let’s delve deeper (let’s learn more)

Use comparatives and superlatives:

A jaguar is a big cat BUT not as big as a lion. A lion is not as big as a tiger.

A lion is bigger than a jaguar but a tiger is the biggest.

A capybara is a rodent (like a mouse or rat).

A rat is _______________ than a mouse but a capybara is the ____________ rodent.

What is wrong with this sentence ?

Black Caiman — A caiman – a type of alligator.

A caiman is big but an alligator is more big and a crocodile is most big.

A caiman is a reptile – it is _______________ dangerous reptile in the Amazon. Reptiles have thick or scaly skin. They can live in hot weather and salt water.

A frog is amphibian – amphibians need water to live and only have soft delicate skin. They cannot live in saltwater (like the sea). If you see frogs or toads, it can mean that the water is good.

TASK 3:

Next put these animals in order of danger, first, second and third then write a sentence using a comparative and the superlative

The answers

Why We Should All Care About the Amazon Rainforest - ethical.net

Number 3: bullet ant

Number 2: jaguar

Number 1: poison dart frog

Did you know ?

A jaguar has ___ _____ powerful bite. A jaguar bite is _____ powerful than a lion.

A bullet ant has _____ _____ painful insect sting. The sting is 30 times ______ painful than a bee sting.

The poison dart frog has different colours. The golden poison dart frog is ____ _____ poisonous.

NOW … time to learn more:

QUIZ

Where is the Amazon Rain Forest ?

How many countries does it spread across ?

It is known as the lungs of the planet … why ?

How many different types of fish are there ?

Name 3 deadly creatures.

What is the loudest creature ?

The Salto Angel waterfall is the ___________________ in the world

How To Visit Venezuela's Beautiful Angel Falls - TravelAwaits

Answers:

South America // 9 // it produces 20% of the world’s oxygen // 3 000 // poison dart frogs, jaguars, snakes, spiders, piranhas // a toucan // largest at 979 metres.

TASK 4:
Cut and and glue onto your Amazon chart some of the animals that can be found in the Rainforest.

Make a fact chart – write down any information that you find fascinating

Worksheets

Amazing Amazon Rainforest facts

Young Learners, Level 4. Introducing yourself

5th June 2023

The Korean actress Shin Min-an from the film ‘A Bittersweet Life’

Today’s task is to introduce yourself to your classmates. First give some basic information, then tell us what you like doing. Finally, what you would like to do in the future.

EXAMPLE

Hello, my name is John and I’m from Australia. I’m an English teacher, and I have been in Vietnam for about 2 years.

My hobbies are reading books, watching films and listening to music.

In Vietnam, I have been to Ha Noi and Hue. I was blown away by all the old buildings.

I really want to visit Hoi An and Halong Bay.

{Photo from Google Images}

Maybe you want to study abroad, in London, or the US ?

about: with time. I have been studying English for about 6 months.

really: adverbs I am happy / I am really happy [stronger and more interesting]

continuous verbs: I like to read / I like reading /

Remember to use our expressions:

over the moon / I am [was] blown away

it cheers [cheered] me up

Boost your English speaking !

23rd May 2023

For speaking tests, students need to be able to speak at length, using long sentences with adjectives, linking words and maybe an expression or two … and it’s never too soon to start.

Higher Kindergarten classes can answer in short sentences, instead of single word answers. They can expand by using adjectives.

For example, a teacher will ask, “What is it ?”

The answer must be in the form of a sentence, “It’s a car.” Then we can expand … “It’s a red car,” “It’s a fast, red car.”

At higher levels, students need to feel confident to speak longer, and here’s a tip. This is a mind map with one main idea, then different ideas that students can speak about.

OK, as they say in Cinema, “Show, don’t tell.”

Some expressions:

I’m over the moon (I’m very, very happy)

I was blown away (I was very impressed by someone or something)

It cheers me up (Verb 1) cheered me up (Verb 2) (made me happy after I was sad)

Don’t forget to use the linking words

because // also // so // however // as well as

EXAMPLE:

My favourite sports are football and swimming because they are fun, exciting as well as healthy.

I play football at school with my classmates. My friend John is very good. He is better than me. I also play on weekends. However, I can’t play football alone.

I really enjoy swimming. I can swim alone. I often swim at weekends at a sports centre.

Sports can cheer me up when I am sad. If my teams win, I am over the moon.

NOW … your turn.

Make a mind map for:

Free time

Movies

School

Food

See you soon.

Young learners, Starter & Beginners. The verb ‘to be’

24th April 2023

We start to learn English grammar.

First, the verb to be

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.”

Young Learners, Level 1 & 2. The verb ‘to like’

21st April 2023

What do you like? Learn food vocabulary | English Lesson 11 - YouTube

Today we use the verb ‘like’

I like ice cream and I like fruit.

To make your sentences longer:

I like strawberry or chocolate ice cream.

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 _________ .

Young Learners, levels 3 & 4. I had a bad day … guess why.

7th April 2023

We have heard the story, Morning Glory: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2023/03/24/whats-the-story-morning-glory-remastered/

Written about a bad student who becomes a rich businessperson: https://thaypaulsnotes.com/2023/03/31/young-learners-levels-3-4-tell-me-a-story/

Now it’s time to write about ourselves

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 !