Intermediate High ESL, Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Rm. 21,

January 6 – June 11, 2014 Instructor: Alisa Kuhns

Class Website: www.chino.k12.ca.us/Page/5493

1. Sign-in on the attendance sheet on the purple clipboard everyday.

2. Each day’s activities will be listed on the left side of the white board. Please get the books and handouts you need and begin the first assignment when you arrive. If you miss a day of class, you can get the papers that you missed from the tray in the back of the class next to the sign-in sheet.

3. Please keep all your papers in a folder and bring them to class daily. We will often use handouts and notes for review.

4. I recommend that you bring a sweater or jacket to class as it is often cold.

5. You should buy your own books to bring to class, make notes in and study at home. I recommend www.amazon.com, www.half.com, www.textbooks.com or Barnes & Noble. We will use the following books most days in class:

a. All Star 3, Second Edition

i. Textbook ISBN: 978-0-07-719712-4

ii. Workbook ISBN 978-0-07-719723-0

b. Side by Side 3, Third Edition

i. Textbook ISBN-13: 978-0-13-240256-9

ii. Workbook ISBN: 0-13-026875-5

6. If you choose not to buy your books, you can use class books when they’re available. If we don’t have enough, you will have to share with other students. Do not take books out of class.

7. DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BOOKS THAT ARE SCHOOL PROPERTY. Also, do not copy the book. When we do an activity, write the ANSWERS ONLY on a sheet of paper. If you love the book, then buy one so you don’t have to waste class time copying.

8. Daily Homework: What we learn in class is only a small part of your daily English education. The skills you need to practice the most are listening and speaking.

a. Spend at least 30 minutes listening to English radio (89.7 or 94.7 FM) or watching TV in English. I recommend news programs, children’s programs or DVDs with English subtitles. Write down new words or phrases you hear.

b. Learn and use 1-5 new vocabulary words in conversation. Talk to everyone you can who speaks English.

c. Practice English pronunciation by repeating difficult sounds and words 20-50 times.

d. “Talk to yourself” in English about all your observations and thoughts to help you “think in English”.

e. Tell or teach someone what you learned in school.

9. Please remember to put the chairs on top of the desks after class on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

10. Please set your cell phones and pagers to vibrate or silent mode. If you must take a call, please leave the classroom and speak outside.

11. Please use the electric pencil sharpener only when no one is speaking. This is a loud interruption.

12. Conversation class is offered Mon. and Wed. 12-2:00 pm in Rm. 21, followed by Computer Lab 2-3:30 pm in Room B to practice listening, pronunciation and vocabulary skills. We have beginning and advanced conversation lessons that include a lot of speaking, listening, role plays, vocabulary and idioms. You are welcome to join any time you want to improve your English skills. You can stay as long as you wish and leave when you want. Bring your friends!

13. I am here to help you learn. So please ask questions! The only stupid question is the one you DON’T ask. If you want to know something, there are probably many other students who also want to know. So ASK!

14. YOU CANNOT SIT NEXT TO SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE.

15. IN THIS CLASS YOU MUST SPEAK ENGLISH ONLY! YOU WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH SKILLS BY SPEAKING YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE!

Thank you for respecting our learning environment by including students from all countries.

Welcome to English as a Second Language! Let’s enjoy learning together!
THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED YOUR CLASSWORK AND YOU’RE WAITING:

· Review vocabulary aloud with a partner

· Teach your partner something from your class notes and handouts from class

· Have conversation (in English) with other students who are also finished

· Read a book or magazine in English

· Look at the Oxford Picture Dictionary

***Use your valuable time wisely. Your education is priceless!***

READING COMPREHENSION AND TEST -TAKING STRATEGIES

When you have to answer questions about something you read, use these strategies:

1. Read the questions first.

2. Look for the key (important) words.

3. Read the answer choices.

4. Read quickly through the paragraph(s) to find the key words.

5. Do not use a dictionary or translator. Read the whole sentence or paragraph to try to understand the general meaning or idea, not every word.

6. Read again to clarify meaning.

7. Eliminate incorrect answer choices.

8. Sometimes the answer to a question is not stated directly. You must make a guess based on reasoning from facts.

9. When you finish, check your answers again.

MATERIALS TO BRING TO CLASS

1. 3-ring binder with paper for taking notes and for keeping handouts from class

2. Pens or pencils

3. Highlighters (at least 2 different colors)

4. All Star 3 textbook and workbook

5. Side by Side 3 textbook and workbook

6. Dictionary or thesaurus

IMPORTANT DATES

Jan 6, 2014 First Day of School

Jan 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (school closed)

Feb 10 Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (school closed)

Feb 17 George Washington’s birthday (school closed)

Mar 31- Apr 4 Spring Break (school closed)

May 26 Memorial Day (school closed)

Jun 11 Last Day of School

July 7 First day of first semester (2014-2015 school year)