Thursday, August 6, 2015

Dear Students

So now that it's all over, I want to say congratulations to all of you for making progress this semester.

I want to say a special congratulations to Ana and Thao, who were chosen as outstanding students of their classes. The truth is that there were many outstanding students--many stars--in both of these very special classes and it wasn't easy to narrow that award down to just two of you.

And I want to praise Hamza for his totally memorable speech and Adam for his totally memorable solo!

Because so many of you were great students, it made my job not only easy but a lot of fun. I had some tough personal issues this term but I always looked forward to coming to class and seeing all of you. I think we had a nice chemistry between us and we had a lot of laughs. I will definitely miss you.

Having said that, of course I hope you will stay in touch with me. If you're in Houston, please drop by when you can. In general, the best way to contact me is by email (holly_cin@yahoo.com). If there's anything I can do for you (within the scope of my limited powers), please don't hesitate to ask.

The blog will remain open, so if you ever want to review your grammar, it's there for you :D

Of course, should you have any grammar questions in the future, feel free to shoot me an email. However, now that I am no longer your teacher, I am officially your friend, so I will no longer correct your mistakes when you speak or write to me, unless you specifically request for me to do so :D

As I said, I will miss you guys. Thanks for a wonderful semester and I look forward to getting together with you soon in my new and improved home :)

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Grammar Kings and Queens

Overall the grammar test scores were very good, mostly A's and B's, with a few C's.

I'd like to congratulate our highest scorers (in order):
1. Khanh
2. Nhi
3. Miguel
4. Ana
5. Thao
6. Abdulmohsen
7. Duong
8. Hussain

I don't know about you, but I'd put my money on Team Vietnam :)

Conferences and Graduation

I forgot to make a conference schedule for next Thursday for 6C, so I'm going to do it here. Please let me know if you're not planning to be there so I can adjust the schedule. The conferences will be in AH205.

Also, if you're not planning to attend your conference, you can have a friend pick up your evaluation for IF AND ONLY IF you sign the form allowing them to do so. You can get that form in the LCC office. Sign it and then ask someone to put it in my box (or Duygu's box).

You can switch times with a classmate, just let me know.

10:30:  Jose
10:40:  Mousa
10:50:  Abdul
11:00    Nhi
11:10:   Adam
11:20:  Jade
11:30: Junior
11:40: Yitang
11:50: Hussain
12:00: Ana


12:30:  All graduating students must come to AD Bruce for our graduation rehearsal.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Final Folders

Just in case we need to make an appeal for you, please bring a folder on Thursday filled with your tests and writing from the second half of the term.

If you forget to bring it on Thursday, you can find me or Duygu on Friday or Monday after the writing sample. Monday is the absolute latest time for us to receive your folder.

Scientific Evidence for the Cake Language!

Friday, July 24, 2015

Preparing for the Listening test on Monday

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-rIza1967iVei1sbHVVY0FCYzA/view?usp=sharing

Definitely read the "reading" on pp. 137-138 in order to understand the lecture.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Using WHICH to modify an entire sentence.

Example 1:
The students didn't finish their blog work on time.
It bothered me.

Remove the pronoun "it."
Substitute it with the relative pronoun "which."
Attach it to the end of the sentence after a comma.

The students didn't finish their blog work on time, WHICH bothered me.
WHICH BOTHERED ME modifies THE ENTIRE SENTENCE THAT PRECEDES IT.

Example 2:
Some students didn't write a research paper.
This means that they cannot graduate from level 6.

Remove the pronoun "this."
Substitute it with the relative pronoun "which."
Attach it to the end of the sentence with a comma.

Some students didn't write a research paper, which means that they cannot graduate from level 6.

We can go one step further. We can reduce "which means" to the -ing form "meaning."
Remove the relative pronoun which.
Change the verb to its -ing form.

So...
Some students didn't write a research paper, meaning that they cannot graduate from level 6.




Musical Lesson #11: Subject Relative Clause

"I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me," by Whitney Houston

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KhhY9iwn-w

antecedent (noun which gets modified)
adjective clause

Clock strikes upon the hour
And the sun begins to fade
Still enough time to figure out
How to chase my blues away
I've done alright up till now
It's the light of day that shows me how
And when the night falls the loneliness calls

Chorus:
Oh I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me
Oh I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me

I've been in love and lost my senses
Spinning through the town
Sooner or later the fever ends
And I wind up feeling down
I need a man who'll take a chance
On a love that burns hot enough to last
So when the night falls
My lonely heart calls
 
Chorus:
Oh I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me
Oh I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat
Yeah I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me

Somebody who somebody who
Somebody who loves me
Somebody who somebody who
To hold me in his arms oh
I need a man who'll take a chance
On a love that burns hot enough to last
So when the night falls
My lonely heart calls.

Musical Lesson #10: Object Relative Clause

"Somebody That I Used To Know," by Gotye
Noun clause
Antecedent (noun which gets modified)
Adjective clause  (blue highlight and  green highlight are adjective clauses because I can't seem to fix it!)

Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache [that] I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad it was over

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

[Kimbra:]
Now and then I think of all the times (that)  you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
But I don't want to live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know

[Gotye:]
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Online help: Adjective Clauses

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073406414/student_view0/chapter9/parts_1_and_2.html

You should try the first four quizzes.

If these are helpful, please let me know.



Adjective clause to adjective phrase quiz:
http://english-zone.com/grammar/adj-clz-34.html

Grammar #22: Adjective Clauses (due Thursday)

Please write a paragraph (6-10 sentences) about your ideal husband, wife, or friend. Use as many adjective clauses as possible. Use reduced adjective clauses whenever possible. I want a FULL PARAGRAPH.

Example: My ideal husband is someone whom I can confide in 
when I have troubles. He is the man who will stay with me forever,
even when I get old, fat, and sick.

No class after class today

I have to cancel for today.
If there is an interest, I will reschedule.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Bring your blue grammar books this week!

Powerpoint Presentation and Lecture: Adjective Phrases




Powerpoint Presentation: Identifying and Non-Identifying Adjective Clauses


Powerpoint Presentation: Introduction to Adjective Clauses

Extra class tomorrow on passive voice

Please let me know if you're planning to attend.

Dinner party at Ana's house

Okay, so we'd like a dish from each of your countries:

1. Brazil
2. Angola
3. Congo
4. Vietnam
5. Venezuela
6. Iraq
7. Saudi Arabia
8. China
9. Taiwan (unless Chinese food and Taiwanese food are nearly the same--forgive my assumptions, please)
10. Kuwait
11. I will bring something traditionally American for dessert: Apple pie a la mode!

Tell me what you're thinking of bringing and I will coordinate the menu.
We need (3?) appetizers, a main course (or 2) with (a few) side dishes, and (2-3) dessert.

Powerpoint Lesson and Lecture: Adjective Clauses with Quantity

ATTN 6C

(If I asked you) would somebody else volunteer to present on Wednesday?

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Final presentation schedule

                                           6C                                            6D

Wednesday:              Mousa, Junior                               Giselle, Richard


Thursday:                Ana, Nhi, Yitang, Hussain            Duong, Shaima, Thao

Friday:                         Abdul

Monday:            Adam, Rawan, Jose, Jade                Hamza, Sofia, Miguel, Khanh


Before your presentations, you must present in front of 2 other classmates and bring your feedback forms to your presentation.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Debate scores

[While I am] Assuming that there was no corruption among the judges, here are the scores for 6D. My kudos to all of you for delivering a good debate.

6C:
Abdul/Nhi: 75
Mousa/Jade/Jose: 83.6

6D:
Thao/Giselle: 85.83
Hamza/Duong: 78.33


Miguel/Sophia/Abdul: 80
Khanh/Richard/Shaima: 83.75

Grammar #20: Expressions of Quantity in Adjective Clauses (due Sunday for 6C; due Tuesday for 6D))

After watching my powerpoint lesson on the above topic, write 6 complex sentences with interesting details in your adjective clauses.

There are many expressions of quantity, so use a variety (some, all, none, one, two, a few, many, not many, a bunch, several, etc.).

Remember:
For people:  Whom or whose
For things:  Which or whose

Example 1:  
I have many students this semester, one of whom speaks Vietnamese, another of whom speaks Thai, two of whom come from Africa, a bunch of whom come from Venezuela, and the majority of whom come from the Middle East and speak Arabic.

Example 2:  
I have six kittens in my house, two of which are black and white, two of which are striped tabbies, one of which is all black, and one of which is grey and white.

Begin the sentences as follows:

1. I have had several teachers at the LCC,...

2. I know many interesting people,...

3. I love to do several different activities,...

4. I have had a few problems this semester,...

5.  I like many types of food,...

6. I have (#) siblings (or friends or phones or something else),...

Final Presentations

We're going to do final presentations each next week, beginning on Tuesday. This presentation will comprise a significant portion of your final speaking grade.

In this presentation you will present your research paper. Here are some questions to use as guidelines:

Why did you choose this topic?
Is this topic controversial, and if so, why?
What are the arguments in favor and against your topic?
What did you learn from your research?

Final Presentation Instructions

1. Address your topic in an interesting and informative manner in 7-10 minutes. You will then spend 2-3 minutes for questions from the audience and/or use your discussion questions to facilitate conversation. 
2.     Organize your talk into:
·      An introduction (including the background to the topic, if necessary, and the main points of your presentation).
·       A main body (including all the supporting points and any examples you think may make the meaning more clear).
·      A conclusion (in which you sum up the main ideas already presented). Include your own opinion about the topic if you wish.
3.     Be properly prepared:  Good presenters always rehearse what they are going to say.  Do this a couple of times every day starting a few days before you give the presentation.  I strongly advise that you do not memorize your research paper and stand in front of class and recite it.  That will be a very mundane presentation and your audience will be bored.  Be prepared to explain your points in more detail and show visual examples.
4.     Know your pronunciation problems: You are advised to ask your teacher how to say those words in advance.  Remember to stress key words.
5.  Use visual aids.  This is a requirement, not an option.  Select the information you choose to show wisely.  What you show us should either guide your audience and/or help illustrate your main point.  It should not be a distraction.
6.  Key/Vocabulary Words:  Be sure to prepare adequate explanations of any new, key words that you plan to use in your presentation. Choose only those vocabulary words that your classmates probably don't know, but that are essential to understand the topic and your discussion
7.  Use cues and transition words/phrases to help your audience understand the format of your presentation.
8.  Be sure to refer to your sources either during the presentation or after.  Your last slide should be your bibliography. 
9.  You may use a NOTECARD during your presentation that includes key words, but nothing else.  
10. You must prepare two discussion questions that you can ask your classmates after the presentation.  These should not be yes/no questions.  They should be thinking questions.

Audience's Instructions

1.   It is your responsibility to understand the presentation, so if you have a question, please ask.  However, it is polite to wait until the end. 
2. It is your responsibility to be a good audience which means being polite and attentive, maintaining good eye contact with the presenter, and responding to the presenter's questions.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Grammar #19: Reducing Adverb Clauses of Cause (due Sunday)

Write an excuse for the following questions, answering in a complete sentence: 
(OR)
Answering in a complete sentence, write an excuse for the following questions:

1. Why did you miss class yesterday?
2. Why are you so happy today?
3. Why did (or didn't) you do well on the last exam?
4. Why didn't you complete all of the blog work for this class?

1. First use an adverb clause beginning with AS, SINCE, or BECAUSE.
2. Second, reduce the clause to an adverb phrase.
3. Finally, reduce the phrase to an adverbial, if possible. (This can be done only with BE or GET)

Remember: In order to reduce, the subject in the adverb clause must be the same as the subject in the main clause. 

For example:
1. I missed class yesterday because I had gotten stuck in traffic for 3 hours on the way to UH!
2. Having gotten stuck in traffic for 3 hours on the way to UH, I missed class yesterday.
3. Stuck in traffic for 3 hours on the way to UH, I missed class yesterday.

Tentative Schedule for this week and next (UPDATED)

6C:
Monday: Debates/Listening test
Tuesday: Debates/Adjective Clauses (Part 2: Essential and Non-essential Clauses)
Wed: Presentations/Adjective Clause (Part 3: Adjective Clauses of Quantity and Adjective Phrases)
Thursday: Presentations
Friday: Fun Day

Monday: Presentations and Final Exam (listening part 1)
Tuesday: Compass Exam
Wednesday: Study Day
Thursday: Final Exam (listening part 2/grammar)


6D:
Monday: Listening test/Adjective clauses (Part 1: Introduction and Modifying with Quantity)
Tuesday: Adjective Clauses (Part 2: Essential and Non-essential Clauses and Part 3: Adjective Clauses of Quantity and Adjective Phrases)
Wed: Presentations (11:30-12:30 in the Call Lab for evaluations)
Thursday: Presentations/Adjective clauses
Friday: Fun Day

Monday: Presentations and Final Exam (listening part 1)
Tuesday: Compass Exam
Wednesday: Study Day
Thursday: Final Exam (listening part 2/grammar)

And Thursday night, don't forget, is the CLASS PARTY at Ana's house!
Also, Tuesday will be my extra class on PASSIVE VOICE. Let me know if you're planning to come.

Powepoint Presentation: Introduction to Adjective Clauses

Grammar #18: Causative Verbs (due Sunday)

1. What didn't your parents let you do when you were a child?
2. Will you let your children do those things?
3. Did your parents make you do certain things when you were a child?
4. What does your teacher sometimes have you do?
5. What do your classmates or friends sometimes help you (to) do?
6. What do you sometimes get your friends to do?
7. What do bosses sometimes make their employees do?

Capital punishment in the news...

http://news.yahoo.com/verdict-colorado-movie-theater-shooting-trial-gunman-james-holmes-192828613.html

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Grammar #17: Wish (due Friday)

Answer the following questions:

1. Where do you wish you were right now and what do you wish you were doing?
2. What do you wish were different about your country?
3. Tell us about something that you wish you had done as a child.
4. Tell us about something you wish would happen in your life in the near future.

Adverb Clauses/Phrases/Adverbials


Adverb Clause
Adverb Phrase
Adverbial
While I was walking to class, I ran into an old friend.
While walking to class, I ran into an old friend.
Walking to class, I ran into an old friend.
Before/after I came to class, I grabbed a cup of coffee.
Before/after coming to class, I grabbed a cup of coffee.




Since I came to the U.S., I have made a lot of new friends.
Since coming to the U.S., I have made a lot of new friends.

Because she needed some money to buy a book, Alina cashed a check.

Because I didn’t want him to feel depressed, I didn’t tell him the bad news.

Needing some money to buy a book, Alina cashed a check.
Not wanting him to feel depressed, I didn’t tell him the bad news.
Because she had already seen that movie, Zahra didn’t want to go.

Having already seen that movie, Zahra didn’t want to go.
Because she WAS unable to buy a car, Nouf bought a bike.

Because she was aware of the problem, Olivia offered to help.

Because she is unaware of the problem, she hasn’t offered to help.

Because he didn’t sleep well the night before, Yener looked tired in class yesterday.
Being unable to buy a car, Nouf bought a bike.

Being aware of the problem, Olivia offered to help.

Being unaware of the problem, Olivia hasn’t offered to help.



Unable to buy a car, Nouf bought a bike.

Aware of the problem, Olivia offered to help

Unaware of the problem, Olivia hasn’t offered to help.

Not having slept well the night before, Yener looked tired in class yesterday.

When Tiehao passed the Toefl, he bought a special present for his favorite teacher.

When you arrive late to class, you should enter the room quietly. (You--in general)

Upon/on passing the TOEFL, Tiehao bought a special present for his favorite teacher.

When arriving late to class, you should enter the room quietly.



Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Video Lesson: Hope and Wish (if you missed class today)

Musical Lesson #9: Future Wish

"I Wish It Would Rain," by Phil Collins (future wish)

http://www.mtv.com/videos/phil-collins/58766/i-wish-it-would-rain-down.jhtml

You know I never meant to see you again
and I only passed by as a friend
All this time I stayed out of sight
I started wondering why

Now I, I wish it would rain down, down on me
Yes I wish it would rain, rain down on me now

You said you didn't need me in your life
I guess you were right
Well I never meant to cause you no pain
But it looks like I did it again

Now I, I wish ....

Though your hurt is gone, mines hanging on, inside
And I know it's eating me through every night and day
I'm just waiting on your sign

'Cause I know, I know I never meant to cause you no pain
And I realize I let you down
But I know in my heart of heart of hearts
I know I'm never gonna hold you again

WISH notes (you're going to laugh--or cry)

https://gma.yahoo.com/colorado-teacher-shares-heartbreaking-notes-third-graders-190025779--abc-news-lifestyle.html 

 Not all the grammar is correct...

Powerpoint Presentation: Hope and Wish

This is for my "extra class"


Modals from holly_cin

I will add more as we go along. 

Modals chart for my "extra class"



+
--
Past
Necessity/obligation
Have to
Have got to
Must

Had to
Prohibition

Must not


Expectation
Is/are supposed to
Is/are not supposed to
Was/were not supposed to
Advice
Should
Ought to
Shouldn’t
Ought not to
Should or shouldn’t have + past participle

Ought to or
ought not to have+ part participle
Strong advice/warning with a consequence
Had better
Had better not
*
Suggestion/possibility
Could
Might
Let’s + SV
Why don’t you + SV

Could have 
+ past participle
Lack of necessity

Don’t have to
Didn’t have to