February Calendar 2011

We will meet on the following dates:



February 4
February 11
February 18
February 25

I am looking forward to meeting with you next Friday at 8:00 am and we will make Agar together. Thank you so much. I know that this is a busy time of the year and that you are making New Year's preparations. Also, good luck with your driver's exam. You have prepared well and will pass with flying colors!

For next week...

1. The links for Troublesome Words Sets 3, 4, and 5 should work now.
2. Next week's Voice of America story is about the dangers of carbon monoxide. The state of Wisconsin has passed a new law that says that carbon monoxide detectors should be in every home by February 1, 2011. We will discuss this important issue and review your sentences.

3. Next week, we will also continue working in Side by Side starting with page 33.
4. Review the conversation about grades, http://www.elllo.org/english/1001/1026-Nydja-Grades.htm

a) Audio slide show without transcript

b) Audio slide show with transcript

c) Transcript

d) Vocabulary

e) Comprehension

f) “False Praise” episode

San Diego

We just returned from our trip to San Diego. Here are just a few photos. What a beautiful place!


The beach! ....................................... The culture!


The sights! ...................................The food!



And, good friends!

Today's Tutoring Session

Thank you so much for the Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are fabulous, fantastic, awesome, and magnificent! They are so chewy, tasty, and delicious!! I think they may be the best Chocolate Chip Cookies that I have ever eaten. You are such a wonderful cook!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Homework

Phuong

1. Review for the Driver’s Manual test.

2. Continue to practice Minimal Pairs and Troublesome Words.

3. Listen to Voice of America episode and write five sentences. "Anxious Students Gain on Tests by Writing about Fears" link is here.

4. If you have time, click on the “Conversation about Grades.” This is a very good exercise for listening practice. The link is here and on the sidebar of the blog.

Debbie

1. Check out the link for Troublesome Words, set #3.

2. Add more Troublesome Words videos.

3. Prepare 3x5 study cards using the review questions in the back of the Driver’s Manual.

4. Review and comment on your essay, "The Vietnamese Education System."

Will see you next Friday. Stay warm!

Today's Objectives

Objectives: Driver’s License Written Test, listening, speaking

1. Review Voice of America sentences and select new broadcast.

2. Review driver’s manual.

3. More practice with Minimal Pairs

4. Step by Step, chapter 3

5. Conversation about grades, http://www.elllo.org/english/1001/1026-Nydja-Grades.htm

a) Audio slide show without transcript

b) Audio slide show with transcript

c) Transcript

d) Vocabulary

e) Comprehension

f) “False Praise” episode

MLK Jr. Holiday

Monday is a national holiday. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an important man who helped to lead the Civil Rights Movement in America. Some businesses and government offices will be closed. Here are some events that are being held in Madison to honor him and his dream for America.

1. Friday, Jan 14: King Coalition Annual Free Community Dinner, 4:30-7:00pm at Gordon Commons University of Wisconsin.
2. Saturday, Jan 15: I Have a Dream Scholarship Ball, 6:00pm, Monona Terrace.
3. Sunday, Jan 16: Annual Urban League Guild Recognition Breakfast, 7:45am, Edgewood High School.
4. Sunday, Jan 16: Ecumenical church service, 4:00pm, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church
5. Monday, Jan 17: Annual City-County King Holiday Observance featuring Ms. Hunter-Gault as the keynote speaker, 6:00pm, Overature Center Capital Theater
6. Monday, Jan 17, Tribute and Ceremony featuring Michelle Alexander as the guest speaker, noon, Capitol Rotunda

Friday Tutoring

What an interesting program on Voice of America! Hypothermia is such an important condition and you were able to express your understanding of this condition in your writing. Our chocolate chip taste-testing was fun. You selected the traditional Toll House Semi-Sweet Morsels and Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Chips as your top chocolate chips. Have fun testing your family’s taste buds! Pronunciation practice using Side by Side and reviewing for your driver’s written exam completed our session. Pronunciation and grammar are improving. Nice "orange juice" and "grapes."

Homework

Phuong

1. Listen to Voice of America episode, "Congresswoman May Owe Life to Luck and 'Battlefield Lessons'" and write at least 5 sentences describing the program.

2. Review for driver’s exam.

3. Practice minimal pairs and troublesome words.

4. Preview Chapter 3 in Side by Side.

Debbie

1. Correct and return multiple choice driver’s written exam worksheets.

2. Develop more questions for driver’s exam.

Looking forward to seeing you next Friday!

Chocolate Chip Taste Test Tomorrow

Chocolate Chip cookies... an American tradition!

So which one will it be?
Chocolate chip taste-testing... yum!


1. Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate
2. Nestle Semi-Sweet Morsels
3. Hersheys Special Dark Chocolate
4. Sunspire Vegan Carob Chips
5. Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate

The results will be posted after tomorrow's tutoring session!

RESULTS
America's Test Kitchen... Ghirardelli Bittersweet Cocolate
Phuong... Nestle Semi-Sweet Morsels and Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate

Traffic signs

Here's an example of the traffic signs we were talking about on Friday. This is a VERY confusing intersection that is downtown on Wilson Street.

Friday's Tutoring Session

Today we talked about the holidays, clarified and corrected recipes, reviewed driver’s license worksheets, practiced troublesome words, reviewed grammar related to John Coltrane’s Voice of America episode, and touched on Side by Side (Chapter 2). Uff da! Did we ever work hard!

Homework

Phuong

1. Review for driver’s ed written exam scheduled for the first week of February.

2. If there is time, listen and watch Voice of America report about Hypothermia and America’s Test Kitchen about chocolate chip cookies.

3. Double check the recipes for Agar and Decorated Cake.

Debbie

1. Create more pronunciation videos especially those videos for troublesome words.

2. Share John Coltrane music.

3. Obtain Literacy Network Spring Schedule for English Classes.

4. Copy extra pages in Chapter 2.

5. Find answers for some of the driver’s license quiz items.

Next Week

1. Start with Side by Side, Book 2, Chapter 3.

2. Review for the written test.

3. Review homework.

4. Review minimal pairs and troublesome words.

5. If time, taste-testing activity.

And more recipes... "Agar"

"Agar"

Ingredients:
1 packet of Agar
3 liters of water
1 1/2 pounds of sugar
1 can of condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
1) In a large pot, put one packet of Agar into the water and bring to a full boil, stirring constantly. Simmer with medium low heat. Stir constantly for 30 minutes. Agar is done and should be a clear color. Turn off the heat but keep the mixture warm.
2) Place about 3 cups of the mixture in a small bowl and add the condensed milk. Stir. This is the "white" agar.
3) In a large glass pan, pour one spoonful of the clear agar. Let it stand for a few minutes and then add a little bit of the white agar. Continue until both agar mixtures are combines. It should look like floating clouds.
4) Cool for one hour.
5) Place in the refrigerator until serving.

Note: Can also use coconut milk, condensed milk, green leaves, or coffee to make layers. Phuong cut the Agar into diamond shapes and served this special dessert at her niece's birthday. Green leaves are special from Vietnam and is not the same thing as green tea.

More Recipes... "Decorated Cake"

Decorated Cake
(Using one 9" round cake pan)

Ingredients for the cake:
4 large eggs
140 g (or 5 oz) sugar
140 g (or 5 oz) flour
4 TBSP milk
4 teaspoons of melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Ingredients for the buttercream:
3 large egg whites
210 g (7.5 oz) sugar
240 g (8.5 oz) butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease one 9 inch round cake pan with butter (or shortening) and dust with flour (or cover with parchment paper).
2) In a large bowl, beat eggs on high speed for about 60 seconds and add sugar in steps (about three times). Beat until light and fluffy. Add milk and continue to mix for about 5 minutes.
3) Mix flour and vanilla with the rubber spatula or mix lightly by hand.
4) Add melted butter (or vegetable oil) and mix quickly.
5) Bake about 20-25 minutes or until done using the toothpick test.
6) Cool one hour before decorating.

Method #1 for Buttercream:
1) Put sugar in a small pot. Cover sugar with 1/2 cm of water in the pan. Use medium low heat. Bring to a boil, simmer, and then turn off the heat. Add vanilla.
2) Using a mixer, beat egg whites until fluffy. Add sugar in steps (about 3 times). Continue to beat until mixed thoroughly. Cool for one hour.
3) Cut butter into slices. Combine slices of butter with egg whites. Continue to beat at high speed until well-combined.

Method #2 for Buttercream:
1) Do not boil sugar.
2) Boil a pot of water. Using a mixer, beat egg whites for five minutes. Add sugar and then put the egg container in the boiling water and continue to beat until mixed together.
3) Cut butter into slices. Combine slices of butter with egg whitres. Continue to beat at high speed until well-combined.
4) Cool for one hour before frosting.

Note: To decorate the cake: It's up to you to make the decorating for wedding or birthday cake.

-Phuong thi Ho

January Calendar

We'll be meeting on the following Fridays:

January 7
January 14
January 21
January 28

Should be a cold and wintry month!

Tomorrow's Meeting

1. Hope you enjoyed the holidays. We’ll be checking your homework tomorrow.

2. Step by Step, book 2

3. January Calendar

4. More practice with Minimal PairsVoice of America broadcast, Slow and Gentle Are Best in Treating Hypothermia, http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/health/Slow-and-Gentle-Are-Best-in-Treating-Hypothermia--112526924.html

5. When will you be scheduling your February written driving exam?