Wednesday 15 December 2021

WEEK 14: December 13 - 17, 2021

 


Can you find your language in this picture? 👀🔎🧐


Dear morning and afternoon students,

It's the last week of the fall semester! 

You are doing such a great job with your holiday greetings and wishes. I'm so glad we were able to practice some of them in the conversation circle. For those of you who have submitted the greetings, thank you! If you haven't, you can send them to me or Teacher Ian until Friday, December 17th at noon (12 PM).

Remember, you can record a short video (10 seconds or less) with your greeting OR you can write your sentences. Don't forget to include your name and your level. 

Teacher Ian will edit the greetings and short videos together in another video, and he will post it in the MCC Community Connections Facebook page next week (Tuesday or Wednesday). I'm looking forward to seeing you in that video.

I wish you all a restful break, a cheerful holiday and a fantastic 2022! 

Stay safe and take good care,

Teacher Ninia


NO CLASSES (Christmas Break)
🎄🎁🎅🎄December 17- December 31, 2021🎄🎆🎊🎄

Winter semester starts
  👉  Tuesday, January 4, 2022 👈 


Monday 6 December 2021

WEEK 13: December 6 - 10, 2021

 



Hello morning and afternoon students!

The weather is getting colder and winter is definitely on its way. ❄❅❆ At this time of year, colourful lights are twinkling everywhere, people are busy shopping, cookies and other treats are being baked, and carols are being played... which means that the Christmas holidays are just around the corner! It is a time to relax and spend time with your loved ones. Some people may even have plans to travel over the holidays. 

Unfortunately, because of rising COVID-19 cases in our area, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has put restrictions back in place in order to decrease the numbers and try prevent further transmission in the community. It's very important to understand these restrictions and to make sure that you are protecting yourselves and others.

Morning and afternoon students, please go through these links. Read the information and watch the videos.

1. News Release: WECHU Letter of Instruction Updated Amid Rise in Cases of COVID-19 | The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

2. BlackburnNews.com - WECHU implementing restrictions to curb COVID-19

3. Windsor-Essex health unit reinstates tougher COVID-19 measures amid surge of cases | Globalnews.ca (Please read the article and watch the video.)

4. 12,000 kids affected by COVID-19 dismissals, as Windsor-Essex hits 3rd-highest infection rate (msn.com)

5. Schools reacting quickly to COVID-19 cases but community needs to do its part, says board rep | CBC News

6. Getting Your Child Vaccinated - Kids 5 to 11 - YouTube 


We have already started discussing the reinstated restrictions in class. We will continue to use information from these articles/videos for the Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking classes. Please make sure to check your inboxes for your worksheets.

Stay safe, healthy and take good care!

Teacher Ninia

NO CLASSES (Christmas Break)
🎄🎁🎅🎄December 17- December 31, 2021🎄🎆🎊🎄

Winter semester starts
Monday, January 3, 2022

Tuesday 30 November 2021

WEEK 12: November 29 - December 3, 2021

 



Hello everyone! 
It has been a busy, productive, and successful couple of weeks. November has flown by so quickly... can you believe we are now entering the last month of the year???

November was all about illnesses, injuries, identifying symptoms and home remedies. Thank you for being so diligent in submitting your assignments and working with your groups. Congratulations to the afternoon Listening/Speaking students for completing their home remedy presentations and participating in our joint project with MCC Community Connections. The first video has been posted in the MCC Community Connections Facebook page as of Wednesday, November 24th. The second video will be posted on Wednesday, December 1st. Please check out your friends' home remedies that they shared in the videos. 

Special THANK YOU to Mr. Ian for his help and participation. Our success wouldn't have been possible without him.

This week, we will continue with individual conferencing for both the AM and PM classes. As we move into the month of December, we get closer and closer to the Christmas holidays. We are also going to continue to talk about our plans for the holidays. Please look at the activities below for practice and to prepare for your assignments. Also, check your inboxes for additional worksheets.

Reading/ Writing:

1. Check out events and what's happening in our area for the holidays. 


2. Future tense: Read the information and the examples, then do the exercises by clicking on the link ("Continue with the Exercises") at the bottom of the page.

A.  Future: “Be Going To” | Continuing Studies at UVic

B. Expressing the Future | Continuing Studies at UVic

C. Future: Forms | Continuing Studies at UVic


Speaking/ Listening:

1. Check out events and what's happening in our area for the holidays. Which activities would you like to do with your friends and/or families?



2. Watch the video at the bottom of the article to get some details about Bright Lights Windsor 2021.



I'll see you on Zoom for your individual conferencing. Please remember to log in for your scheduled time slots.

Take good care and stay warm,
Teacher Ninia





Monday 1 November 2021

WEEKS 8 and 9: November 1 - 5; 8-12, 2021

Hello November!



Hello students! I hope everyone is healthy and doing well. 

November is here! I trust that the time change will be good for everyone.

For AM and PM students: Please read! Daylight Saving Time 2021 in Canada (timeanddate.com) 

Fall is the start of cold and flu season, and because we are still in the midst of a pandemic, it's more important to be cautious, to be well and to follow government health guidelines.

For this unit, we are going to be focus on the topic of Health. I would like to hear how you keep yourselves and your families healthy. I would also like to hear you share some remedies, with me and other students, that people commonly use in your culture. I look forward to hearing them.

Please see the activities below for some practice. Keep checking your inboxes for additional worksheets for this unit. 
Teacher Ninia 😃🍂🍁


Reading & Writing:

👉Go through this material. It is interactive, so you can fill it out on your computer or phone/tablet, and save it. It should give you enough to do this week. 

https://www.teach-this.com/images/resources/coronavirus-COVID-19-facts-and-advice-interactive-worksheet.pdf

👉 Here is a sample video that shows you some home remedies. Watch the video. I'll explain in class what you need to do for your assignment.
DIY 5 NATURAL Cough, Cold and Flu remedies | HOME REMEDIES |ATTIC ANATOMY - YouTube

👉 Giving advice. Listening. worksheet (liveworksheets.com)

👉 This is a video about what most restaurants are having problems with right now. Please read the transcript and answer the questions at the bottom of the video. Outdoor dining in winter: Level 2 | CBC Learning English

👉 Grammar practice: GIVING ADVICE worksheet (liveworksheets.com)

Giving advice. Listening. worksheet (liveworksheets.com)

 --

Listening & Speaking:

👉 This activity includes short quizzes at the bottom. It's about how people feel and what activities they've done to help boost their or other people's moods during isolation.

👉 Here is a sample video that shows you some home remedies. Watch the video. I'll explain in class what you need to do for your assignment. 

👉 This is a video about what most restaurants are having problems with right now. WATCH, listen and answer the questions at the bottom of the video.








Monday 25 October 2021

WEEK 7: October 25 - 29, 2021




Hello, everyone!

I hope you all had some rest this weekend. For those who were busy doing homework and sending them to me, thank you so much! I appreciate your hard work.

Reminder that we have assessments this week:

Listening/ Speaking Class (PM)- Monday, October 25 at 1 PM

Reading/ Writing Class (AM)- Tuesday, October 26 at 9:30 AM

Please check your email for the Zoom invitations. I will also be sending you additional worksheets after the assessments. Good luck everyone!

Teacher Ninia 🎃🍂🍁




Halloween is on Sunday, October 31st
Have FUN and have a SPOOK-tacular time! BE SAFE out there!


Reading/ Writing class:  Take a look at the information below. Please check your inboxes for the exercise sheets.


👉  https://www.devonshiremall.com/events/devonshire-halloween-giveaway


** You are welcome to do the exercises for the listening/ speaking section. The last two also involves some reading and writing.

Listening/ Speaking class: 


    Pick 3 of your favourite masks for you or your children. Why did you pick those masks?










Tuesday 19 October 2021

Week 6: October 18 - 22, 2021

 Hello everyone! The weather is changing and I hope you are all enjoying the new season.

It was a successful weekend with Open Streets Windsor 2021! It was nice to see some of your faces in the crowd. I hope you enjoyed the event as much as I did. Check the updates and pictures below. We will continue to explore Life in the Community this week. Please continue to check the blog and your inboxes for new activities and assignments.

I. Reading/ Writing:

1.  Photos: Open Streets Windsor 2021 | Windsor Star 

2. PHOTOS: Open Streets Windsor Brings Fun Across The City Once Again | windsoriteDOTca News - windsor ontario's neighbourhood newspaper windsoriteDOTca News


Listening/ Speaking:

1. Open Streets Windsor 2021 - YouTube

2. Open Streets Windsor 2021 - Looking Back - YouTube 

Tuesday 12 October 2021

WEEK 5: October 12-15, 2021

Hello Students,

I hope you all had an enjoyable long weekend. 😊

We will now start a new theme: Life in the Community. We will explore various activities and issues that are part of life in a neighbourhood/ area/ block. 

Please start with the following exercises. Keep an eye on your inboxes for more information, worksheets and homework.


NOTE: Please do not send me the results of your quizzes. You are your own teacher when you run the activities.

Reading/ Writing class:

1.  History of Halloween (5minuteenglish.com) 

2.  Pre-Intermediate Reading | English Town | esl-lounge Student 

3.  Three British Columbia Festivals: Reading Comprehension | Continuing Studies at UVic

4.  READ the information about Open Streets Windsor 2021

    Open Streets Windsor 2021 – Be Part of Something Amazing! (citywindsor.ca)


Listening/ Speaking class:

1.  ELLLO Views #704 Neighbors 

    - Click on Vocab, then click on Quiz

2.  Housing Complaints - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab (esl-lab.com)

3.  Home Security - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab (esl-lab.com)

4.  WATCH and LISTEN to the video from Open Streets Windsor 2018

    Open Streets 2018 - YouTube


Have a great week everyone! See you on Zoom.

Teacher Ninia 🍂🌻





Monday 4 October 2021

Week 4: October 4-8, 2021

Listening Assessment: Monday, October 4 at 1 PM

Reading and Writing Assessment: Tuesday, October 5 at 9:30 AM

NO CLASSES: Monday, October 11- Thanksgiving 

Please make sure to check you inboxes for more information on this week's assignments and activities.

Review assessment answers and results- Wednesday, October 6th and Thursday, October 7th




Reading/ Writing class

We have the Thanksgiving holiday coming up. Click on the link to find activities that you can do over the long weekend. 

👉 Things to Do This Thanksgiving Weekend in Windsor-Essex Region | To Do Canada


Speaking/ Listening class

Watch the video and pay attention to how this family celebrates Thanksgiving. Listen to what t members of this family are thankful for.

👉 How do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving? | Easy English 36 - YouTube


🍎 NO CLASSES: Monday, October 11- Thanksgiving 🍎

ENJOY THE LONG WEEKEND!!!😁 

I wish you all a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

💕🍂🙏🍁💕

(I will be posting new material on the blog on Tuesday, October 12)




Tuesday 28 September 2021

WEEK 3: September 27 - October 1, 2021

 

This week has been named National Truth and Reconciliation Week. This year, we will have the first ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, September 30th. It is a new federal statutory holiday. The day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. There will be NO CLASSES (morning and afternoon) on Thursday, September 30th. The Multicultural Council (MCC) of Windsor and Essex County will also be CLOSED that day.


READING/ WRITING Class:

1) Click on the link and read the article:

2) Read the article to learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

3) Find out what Orange Shirt Day is and how it started. Read Phyllis's story:

4) Here is a schedule of online events that are taking place this week. Please look at the schedule. We will use this for our upcoming Reading/Writing assessment.

*Please check your inboxes for vocabulary and worksheets for the above reading assignments.


LISTENING/ SPEAKING Class:

1) Learn about Phyllis Webstad and Orange Shirt Day. Watch the video:

2) Is it a public holiday in Ontario On September 30th? Watch the video. Copy and paste the link:
👉https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/d8e59fa8-11b8-11ec-8951-0242ac110006/?jwsource=cl

3) Is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a holiday throughout Canada? Watch the video. Copy and paste the link:
👉https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/f0e5ed06-10eb-11ec-b15e-0242ac110003/?jwsource=cl

*Please check your inboxes for vocabulary sheets, worksheets and discussion sheets for the above listening assignments.


I look forward to seeing you on Zoom. I wish you all a wonderful week!

Teacher Ninia 😊

Monday 20 September 2021

WEEK 2: September 20-24, 2021

Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed the last weekend of the summer.😎🌞🌻

I hope you did not have problems with the needs assessment and goal setting (the survey I asked you to complete last week). If you have not done so yet, please do. I am still waiting for students to complete that task.

Here are activities that I would like you to work on this week.

READING & WRITING STUDENTS 👇

1) Here are some grammar activities that will allow you to review various themes you should know before entering CLB 5: Review Activities

2) Please write on paper a paragraph about how you feel about online classes and about any concerns you may have. When finished, take a picture and e-mail it to me at nsotto@themcc.com. You may also send it to me as an attachment OR send it through Messenger.

3) The federal government is holding an early election. Some people have already casted their votes through advance voting days (September 10-13) or by mail. Many others will go to the polls today, September 20th. Read the news about the federal election and its results. This is something we will discuss in class this week.


LISTENING & SPEAKING STUDENTS 👇

1) Here are some listening activities that will allow you to practice listening on themes that will hopefully be familiar to you: Listening Activities

2) Please record a voice message on how you feel about online classes and about any concerns you may have. When finished, e-mail it to me at nsotto@themcc.com. You may also send it to me as an attachment OR send it through Messenger.

3) The federal government is holding an early election. Some people have already casted their votes through advance voting days (September 10-13) or by mail. Many others will go to the polls today, September 20th. Watch and/or listen to the news about the results of the federal election. This is something we will discuss in class this week.

OPTIONAL:
- Here are some grammar activities that will allow you to review various themes you should know before entering CLB 5: Review Activities

I look forward to seeing you on Zoom this week, starting today. 

I wish you all a great week!
Teacher Ninia 😊

Thursday 16 September 2021

WELCOME to the 2021 Fall Semester!

Hello students!

Welcome back to school! And to the new students, welcome!

It was a pleasure speaking to you on the phone and introducing myself. I'm glad to hear that everyone had a good summer and that everyone is healthy. I would like to thank you for your patience as I start my tasks in teaching this class.

We will use this Blog as the place where you will find lessons and exercises for our classes: Reading/ Writing for the morning class and Listening/ Speaking for the afternoon class. I hope you will find it simple enough to access. 

To start this session, I ask that you please complete the following form based on the class you are in. If you are a full-time student, please complete both.

- Reading & Writing Students (morning): CLICK HERE

- Listening & Speaking Students (afternoon): CLICK HERE

I will post lessons/activities starting Monday next week. Please check this blog (page) during the week to find out about new things for you to do.

If you need to contact me, use my email: nsotto@themcc.com 

I hope to have a great session with all of you this fall.


Sincerely,

Teacher Ninia

Monday 21 June 2021

Classes start on Monday, September 13th, 2021

 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 


Summer of 2021 


Hello everyone,

Thank you for all your hard work this session! I know it has been hard on everyone, trying to study from home with all the extra responsibilities that the pandemic has brought.

Please visit the links on your right (->) during the summer months to practice your English skills (Teacher Carlos' Favourite Links)

I hope everyone stays safe and is able to enjoy the summer. 


Take care,

Teacher Carlos

 

1. We are celebrating National Indigenous History Month in Canada. Open the following page to learn more about it.

Click Here to access the activities 


2. This website is from the BBC (U.K.). It has exercises and lessons for all 4 skills and more!

English for Adults - BBC

 

3. And also some Reading & Listening Exercises:                                                                                     

 Click here to access the Exercises

 

4. I also recommend that you continue to access local news from the following:

CBC News - Windsor

The Windsor Star

Both news outlets have articles to practice reading and video reports to practice listening. 
 
 
5. Canadian Citizenship Test practice
 
- Discover Canada
 Learning the information - Discover Canada (choose READ ONLINE)
You can also order a free copy  (choose ORDER)
 
- Visit the APNA Toronto webpage

Various Tests - All the questions

 

- Learn by watching videos on YouTube

One is for the whole thing: 414 questions. It’s more than 3 hours long. 

The other one goes in chapters. It’s a list of videos. It might be better because you don’t have to watch the whole thing right away. 
VIDEO 2

Monday 14 June 2021

Week of June 14-18, 2021

Hello everyone,

This is the second last week of our session (April to June).

Your teacher will continue to meet with everyone of you before we enter our summer break. This will take quite a bit of time and so the work you will do will be asynchronous (we will not meet live as a group).

 

There are various things I would like our classes to work on this week:

 

1. This website is from the BBC (U.K.). It has exercises and lessons for all 4 skills and more!
(NEW!)

English for Adults - BBC

 

2. And also some Reading & Listening Exercises:                                                                                     
(NEW!)

Click here to access the Exercises

 

3. I also recommend that you continue to access local news from the following:

CBC News - Windsor

The Windsor Star

Both news outlets have articles to practice reading and video reports to practice listening. 
 
 
4. Canadian Citizenship Test practice
 
- Discover Canada
 Learning the information - Discover Canada (choose READ ONLINE)
You can also order a free copy  (choose ORDER)
 
- Visit the APNA Toronto webpage

Various Tests - All the questions

 

- Learn by watching videos on YouTube

One is for the whole thing: 414 questions. It’s more than 3 hours long. 

The other one goes in chapters. It’s a list of videos. It might be better because you don’t have to watch the whole thing right away. 
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtTXt9L1oUIdEivkgYIqGrIpXctDdghDY

Monday 7 June 2021

Week of June 7-11, 2021

 

Hello everyone,

This is the third last week of our session (April to June), and it is short one because we have a PBLA Day on Friday. Enjoy the day off!

Your teacher needs to meet with everyone of you before we enter our summer break. This will take quite a bit of time and so the work you will do will be asynchronous (we will not meet live as a group).

 

There are various things I would like our classes to work on.

 

1. There is work to do on Error Correction exercises, which are your teacher's favourite!

Error Correction Exercises

 

2. And also some Listening Exercises:

ELLLO STEP - Listening and Reading Tests 

(Exercises on the left-hand side)

CLICK ON STEP 1, STEP 2, etc. 

Access the Quiz 

 

3. I also recommend that you access local news from the following:

CBC News - Windsor

The Windsor Star

Both news outlets have articles to practice reading and video reports to practice listening. 
 
 
4. Canadian Citizenship Test practice
 
- Discover Canada
 Learning the information - Discover Canada (choose READ ONLINE)
You can also order a free copy  (choose ORDER)
 
- Visit the APNA Toronto webpage

Various Tests - All the questions

 

- Learn by watching videos on YouTube

One is for the whole thing: 414 questions. It’s more than 3 hours long. 

The other one goes in chapters. It’s a list of videos. It might be better because you don’t have to watch the whole thing right away. 
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtTXt9L1oUIdEivkgYIqGrIpXctDdghDY