Sài Gòn … then and now.

3rd May 2023

We have a project to write about our city or town. How has it changed ?

Remember, when we write about the past we use Verb 2 (simple past) but when we write about today, we use Verb 1 (simple present).

Word Bank:

In the past there was or In the past there were …

There wasn’t … or There weren’t …

These days there is or These days there are …

Today or Nowadays …

Example: In the past, the city was called Sài Gòn. Today, the city is called Ho Chi Minh City.

Let’s set the scene – we need some old time music.

To help you, compare and contrast these photos. First, we have the General Post Office in Quận 1 (District 1, downtown or city centre).

Post offices were mainly for sending letters. Do people send letters these days ?

If people could not write, what did they do ?

Today, the Post Office has many shops inside, and many tourists visit to take photos.

How about street life ?

Sài Gòn 1960s (above), and Ho Chi Minh City today

Of course, Sài Gòn is famous for street food.

Some food is traditional, but nowadays there are a lot of fast food restaurants.

Finally, we need some modern music. Do you know this song ? The video was filmed in Quận 7

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All the world’s a stage … and my students shall play their parts

1st May 2023

As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7

Recently, we have focused on writing, using new vocabulary and making sure the grammar is perfect. Now it’s time to apply the same creativity to speaking. Are you good to go ?

All right, all right, all right !

Let us write a short piece and then perform it for the class. We shall write about what happens in an English lesson.

First, we need four characters:

a teacher // a TA (teaching assistant) // the Manager // a student

Next, build up the character

Is the teacher strict, friendly, happy, angry ?

Is the TA helpful, funny, polite, lazy ?

Is the Manager scary, rude, kind, elegant ?

Is the student hard-working or lazy, polite or disrespectful ?

Finally, we need a situation

What happens ? Is the student very good, or very naughty ? Is the manager proud or angry ? Does the TA listen to the teacher or play on a phone ?

Word bank:

over the moon / body language / strict / furious / hard-working / thoughtless / screaming

Work in groups of four. If you only have three, you can leave out the TA or Manager.

Example

Teacher is Ms Jane / TA is Mr Khanh / Manager is Ms Mi and the student is Graham.

Ms Jane: Mr Khanh, what is Graham doing ?

Mr Khanh: I think he is sleeping. Graham, Wake up !

Graham: I am awake.

Ms Jane: Look at his body language. You must respect teachers. You should be more hard-working, like Larry.

Graham: Larry is stupid !

Mr Khanh: Say, “Sorry !” You are so rude and lazy.

Ms Jane: If you don’t say sorry, you will go to the Manager.

Graham: I’m not scared.

Ms Jane: Ms Mi will be furious. She will scream at you.

Mr Khanh: I will send her a message … now.

Ms Mi enters

Ms Mi: Where is the impolite boy ? Come here. You must always respect teachers and do as they say.

Graham: Yes, Ms Mi. I promise.

Ms Mi: Apologise to the teachers.

Graham: I’m sorry. I will work hard now.

Mr Khanh: Good. Now sit down and do the lesson.

Ms Mi starts to leave

Ms Jane: Everybody say, “Goodbye, Ms Mi.”

Ms Mi: When I see everybody working hard, I am over the moon. Keep studying.

SCENE

Now … your turn

Learn English … or else !

1st May 2023

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 !

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 _________ .

Beginners’ English. Basic verb conjugation.

20th April 2023

I have a brown guitar.

You have many big books.

He has a new laptop.

She has a big teddy bear.

Mr John has an intelligent elephant.

We have a fun class.

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:

Young Learners, levels 3 & 4. Imagination AND grammar !

17th April 2023

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

Young Learners, Levels 3 & 4. What is your perfect city ?

11th April 2023

Singapore, Seattle or Shanghai ?

Today, you will write about your perfect city.

What would you like in your city ?

What don’t you like ?

First, the positives (the good things). Guess what these buildings are:

parks / shops / museums / sports centres / schools / hospitals / interesting buildings / transportation /

However, not everything in a city is fantastic:

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.