We do not have any instruments in our class (yet … later we shall make a xylophone !), but we all have voices and can sing !
Let’s start with a round. This is when some of the class sing a song, then the other students sing the same song BUT one verse later.
Listen to this children’s song called ‘London Burning.’ Listen and then we shall try to sing. Many points to the best singers.
Teacher’s Note: split the class into small groups depending on class size and motivation. Award points for the best performances.
First question – do you know any famous composers ?
M _ _ _ _ _
B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
C _ _ _ _ _
B _ _ _
P _ _ _ _ _ _ _
QUESTION RUNAROUND
Teacher’s Note: Keep class in small groups. Select one student per group to run up to the board and place – not slap – their hand on number 1,2 or 3. Blank the screen so the students can’t see the answers !
Question 1: Who wrote this music
1) BlackPink 2) Paganini 3) PinkBlack
Question 2: Is this music for
1) a birth, 2) marriage or 3) death ?
Question 3: Is this music
1) Happy and joking 2) sad 3) very angry
Play from 17:02
Question 4: This music is about a planet – which one ?
1) Venus (love) 2) Jupiter (happiness) 3) Mars (war)
Question 5: This opera is set in which country ? 1) China 2) Australia 3) Spain
Last Question: Classical music is often used in films. Was this music used in a …
1) comedy 2) animation 3) space film ?
How does the music make you feel ?
What adjectives can you use ?
excited, thrilled, scared, nervous, awe-inspired
Now it’s time to learn about the orchestra and the instruments.
The number 4 is very important in music – do you know why ?
What are the four families of instruments ?
What are the four stringed instruments ?
What are the brass instruments ?
What are the percussion instruments ?
BUT … it’s not always perfect. Take a look at these:
June 21st in Antarctica. The sun did not rise; it was night for 24 hours and the temperature was less than -50°C.
How do penguins keep warm ?
Percival Penguin couldn’t sleep, he had many penguin problems that kept him awake, so he went for a walk.
Penguins like walking some can walk up to _______ miles.
Really, Percival was in love with Heather Penguin and he wanted to find a lovely heart-shaped rock to give to her.
Why do male penguins give rocks to female penguins ?
However, he couldn’t see where he was and suddenly … he fell, and kept falling and falling, down and down.
When he stopped falling, he stood up and saw
“Oh la la ! Where am I ?” he cried. The night was gone, it was sunny and it was really, really hot, at least 12°C. However, there was a huge white monster. Percival was scared but curious.
Just then, Percival saw another amazing sight – a bird that could fly ! That was impossible !
Penguins are birds but can’t fly – why not ?
“Upon my soul, what have we here ?” said the new friend.
“My name is Percival Penguin, please to meet you. Can you tell me where am I ? I need to meet my Heather.”
Just then a new friend appeared and asked, “Does your Heather wear leather in hot weather or only feathers ?” This was Di O’Nisiss, another strange creature.
Poor Percival was perplexed, he didn’t know where he was or who these animals were. The white bird flew down next to him.
“Hello, I am Athena. I’m a snowy owl. Di O’Nisiss is a reindeer and that,” pointing with her wing, “Is Erik Polar bear.”
Penguins never meet polar bears – why not ?
“The white monster ?”
“He isn’t white, he’s brown,” corrected Di O’Nisiss
Why are white polar bears actually brown ?
“I think Percival, you are very far from home. Welcome to the Arctic. How did you get here ?”
“I’m not sure. One minute I was walking, the next I fell and fell and fell …”
“He found a teleport,” said Di O’Nisiss. “Are you hungry ?”
“Oh, yes, I would love to eat some ______ ”
What do penguins eat ?
“Shall we go for a swim ?” Percival asked Athena.
“A swim ?” replied Athena, “Are you loco ? Birds don’t swim they fly”
Percival was very confused.
“What a crazy place ! Birds fly but don’t swim, white bears are brown, night is day, cold is hot. Everything is upside down.”
“Well,” answered Athena, “Everything IS upside down. Let’s get some lunch then we will tell you all about the Arctic … and you can tell us about the Antarctic.”
NOW … your turn
Finish the story. You may write and draw a comic if you wish. How does Percival get back to the Antarctic and does he find a rock for Heather.
The Arctic region contains plains, mountains, rivers and lakes, hills, and tundra. Tundra has no trees but lots of grass and plants, so has food for animals. Antarctica is 98% ice.Â
The Arctic has many large land animals including reindeer, musk ox, lemmings, arctic hares, snowy owls, squirrels, arctic fox and polar bears. The sea has walrus, seals and some whales.
The largest land animal in the Antarctic is an insect, a wingless midge, less than 1.3cm long. There are no flying insects. Apart from penguins, there are also seals.
About 4 million people live permanently in the Arctic region. Nobody lives permanently in Antarctica.
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 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 /
Aimed at young learners, the first video is a warm up exercise for students to identify various letters, then read the animals as the letters appear one by one.
Award points for the first student(s) to spell the animals, for extra excitement !
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.
Before younglings graduate from the Superkids Level, they have to, absolutely have to, master the most basic verb in English, the verb ‘to be’ – so, let’s go to work !
Let’s go to work
BAAM ! Easy !
Now … let’s practise
Make it a game, put the class in teams
I shall read a short sentence. I want the correct Verb 1, Verb 2 & the infinite.
EXAMPLE: I say, “I is happy.”
Team 1 writes I am happy,
Team 2 I was happy
Team 3 using the helping verb ‘want’ will write I want to be happy.
OK, I dig, Man, let’s go to work !
You is sad // He am angry // She are intelligent // It is cold // Ms Huong am cute // We am hungry // They is furious.
Change the helping verb to like or need
I is better // You is taller // Ms Huong over the moon // He am a tough guy // She weres colourful // It iss rich // We to be free // They on holiday.
A writing exercise to help build narrative. We shall use signpost language, paragraphs, amazing adjectives, adverbs and linking words, as well as some new expressions.
I shall tell you about last Sunday – it was terrible and here’s why.
The plan of my day:
6.50Â Book Grab on my iPhone and leave for work.
7.40 – 9.40 Young Learners class, level 1 (24 students)Â
10.10Â Arrive homeÂ
10.11am – 2.30pm Wedding party across the streetÂ
10.30 – 12.00 Prepare work onlineÂ
5.00pm – 9.30pm Another wedding party but much louder, more karaoke singersÂ
6.00Â Go for coffee
BUT 11.30pm Barcelona win 1- 0 so ‘All’s well that ends well.’
So what were the problems ?
“Hey, where is my bike ? I am late for work !”
I only have one class; I hope they are nice and quiet. OK, they are screaming, loudly ! But now I can go home and relax. Wait a moment …
A wedding party with singing and drinking and karaoke … for four hours ! No problems, I will wear headphones, listen to my music and prepare my work online.
I give up ! This is never going to happen. However, after 2.30pm it starts to be quiet. I can work, read and at 4.45 I started to sleep … until at 5.00:
These gentlemen do not sing beautifully, they sound like cats having a fight. I decide to go out to a quiet coffee bar. The server is very friendly … but then a man walks in …
My dreadful day was nearly over. At 11.30 I watch TV and see …
Yes, my team Barcelona are playing. I am blown away by how good they are and I am over the moon because they win the game. All’s well that ends well.
NOW … your turn
Write about Mr Paul’s terrible day.
TIPS
Use a short introduction, then a new paragraph for each new event.
Use signpost language (first, next, then, afterwards, finally).
The story is in the past so you have to use simple past (Verb 2). Noun & verb agreement (he is, he was)
End with a short conclusion.
Use new adjectives and synonyms (terrible, awful, dreadful, horrendous).
I insist that you use at least one new expression (over the moon, blown away, all’s well that ends well).
Let me kick start you:
Last Sunday was absolutely dreadful.
First, I booked Grab on my iPhone but he was extremely slow and late. My manager was …
now you finish my day
Good luck with my 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.
Today I start a new class, and I’m very lucky; they are great. The class has some outstanding students who display motivation, respect and diligence.
That being said (however), they are still young, the hour is still early, so some ground rules need to be in place from Day One.
I encourage joking and having fun – the students will learn much more if they enjoy the class. But there is a time for joking and a time for working.
At the beginning of our new semester, my students will recite and sign this pledge:
I PROMISE TO BE QUIET IN CLASS AND TO LISTEN TO THE TEACHERS
No talking, shouting, animal noises, clicking of pens, stamping of feet, slamming of books, whistling etc.
You will get ONE Black Star warning. The second Black Star means you go out of the class. You will have a short meeting with the Manager. The meeting will not be fun for you.
We can not help you improve your pronunciation if there is so much noise that we can not hear you.
You signed the Pledge … now keep to your word.
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 