Christmas

VOCAB

Quizlet Christmas

LISTENING

ELLLO (Conversation)

1. Basic Xmas Traditions

2. Xmas Traditions Part 2

3. Xmas in Canada

4. Xmas trees in Switzerland

5. Xmas in Wales

Lyrics Training (music)

Christmas Songs 

Make a Google Earth Tour

Click here to share your tour. (Also, add a link to your blog)

Make a Google Earth Tour with at Least 4 Parts

* The first part should show the location by "flying" from Okayama to the location.

* Show the local area ("bird's eye view")

* Show the area close up from several angles.
  -press "ctrl" and spin the wheel on the mouse.
  -press "shift" and spin the wheel on the mouse.

* Add at least one photo of the area (copy photo URL - right-click on a photo to copy)

* Add written descriptions (from your blog) for each photo.

* If possible, add street view image. (drag the man to a road)

* Steps
1. Download Google Earth 
   -  Search Google Earth
   - Click download, but you must click "advanced search" and unclick the middle two buttons.
2. Make your tour spots (目印を作成　-　see above)
3. Record your tour 
  - click the camera button on the top 
  - click the red record button on the bottom to start recording
  - go through the spots (click the info you saved on the left > click the blue link to show the description you wrote > close the pop-up window > click on the next spot's info)
  - click the red record button to stop
  - click the save button (the disc icon)
4. Save the tour to your computer
  - Make sure you are logged in
  - Right click on your tour > save to computer
5. Share here 
  (Google Earth Community › Members' Open Area › Experimental and Temporary > Okadai Students' Tours) 
  - Click Reply > Write your student ID, paste the info you wrote from your blog, and upload your file (kmz)

Shimanami Cycling Route (Project example)

project description here

Background Information
The Shimanami Cycling Route mostly follows the Nishiseto Expressway from Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari in Ehime. The route is about 70 kilometers in total and includes 6 bridges and bike routes along 6 islands. Before passengers and drivers could only access the island by ferries, so the project helped locals and also attracted tourists.

Construction, design, engineering 

The route includes 6 major bridges. The Tatara Bridge is one impressive example (see photo below, left with my family). It is a cable-stayed bridge, so a large anchorage was needed. The steel towers, shaped liked the letter "Y" inverted, are each 220 meters. The center span is nearly 900 meters. Construction took 6 years and was free of accidents. Other bridges are suspension bridges (right).











While the bridges are along the expressway and separated from traffic, around the islands the route is just a blue marked lines along the local roads (below right - with friends). Linking the bridges and local roads are impressive curved ramps (below left). They are supported by steel and concrete pillars. The ramps and bridges offer spectacular views of the Seto Sea and island. The whole line opened in 1999.

Current and Future Use

Thousands of cyclists from around Japan and even the world, come to cycle the route. Tourism is increasing in the two cities because of the popularity with cyclists. A major bicycle-themed hotel, with shops, and fine restaurants was opened in a former port-side dock building in Onomichi to further capitalize on the route's popularity. With international press and such tourist infrastructure growing, more and more tourists are expected. 

Sources
- CNN
- Onomichi City www.city.onomichi.hiroshima.jp
- Wikipedia (English)

Design a bridge!

You will design and test a bridge using the game Cargo Bridge II.



1. Go to Cargo Bridge II

2. The first few 4 projects are your training. Experiment with different bridge structures. Here is a list of different bridge types.

3. The fifth project is your big project! You need to transport the elephant 3 times across the bridge to test its strength and durability. If you fail, try again.

4. Describe your project on Google Docs. Group A  Group B  Group C  Group D

Describing construction engineering -- Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (listening)

Describing construction engineering -- Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (reading)

Read about the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and answer the following questions.

Design Quiz

Engineering, Architecture, Design

Project to Introduce a Structure (due in mid- December)

1. Choose an Amazing Man-made Structure (examples are here).
building, towers, bridges, monuments, roads, rail lines, etc.

2. Research the following
background information (where? when? why?)
construction, design, engineering
current use
future (optional)

3. In 2 or 3 weeks, we will write on a blog and make an online presentation

Spell and grammar check (this is a graded project)
Copying sentences from other sources equals an F!
List your sources.


First, to prepare we will:
Study Vocablary

World Structures Quiz

Sports Unit Project (graded)

Check the Sports Reports of the people in your group.>>>

Write a comment.
* Did you know about this person, sport, or team?
* If yes, do you like it  / him / her?
* If no, do you want to try to watch or play?

Explain:

HOMEWORK: Due November 13th.

Introduce a player, team, sport (or game), or key event (an amazing play or game).

Cite two sources (at least one in English)
- Wikipedia  Simple Wikipedia  Google Advanced Search
Write on your blog. No copying from the internet or using translation software!! Copying = F!!


- a player
Overview (The main point; Why is he/she famous?)
Background (Hometown / Experience)
Skills/Ability/Style (use words from this list)
Key Accomplishments (records, awards, championships, amazing performances)

- a team
Overview (league, reputation)
History / Key Moments (good seasons, championships, amazing performances)
Style/Key Players 


- a sport
The rules
The field / court, etc. and the equipment
The players/ positions
Famous teams or players
Needed skills  (use words from this list)

- an amazing event
Overview (The main point; Why is the event famous?)
Background (The history before the event and the situation)
The action (What happened?)

Example:
Overview
Damian Lillard is a basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA.  He is known as being a great player and also very clutch. He hit many game-winning shots, including one of the most famous shots in the NBA last year (see video).

History
Lillard is from a tough neighborhood in Oakland, California, like many NBA point guards. He went to a small college, so it was unusual  that he was chosen to join the NBA. In the first year, he was rookie of the year, and the second year he was chosen to be an all-star.

Skills
Lillard is a very good 3 point shooter and broke the number of threes for rookies.Though Lillard is short for an NBA player (6 feet -- 185 cm), he can also attack the basket and dunk. He was even in the dunk contest last year. He is also a pretty good passer. However, the most special thing about Lillard is his toughness and clutch ability. In the most important part of the games when other players get nervous, Lillard is confident and often hits key shots.

Source:
Wikipedia
Nba.com







Grading

Highlights

Describing Games

Review Activity

Describing a season or game

Play Rock Paper Scissors against a computer. Report about your game below using at least 4 of the words in bold below.

WLWLWL
>> At the beginning, the games went back and forth. We were tied.

WLWWWLWWLWW

>> I had a hot streak.  I was on fire!  I was leading/winning/ahead by 5. I won 8 of the last 11. I was unstoppable! It looked like it was going to be a blowout.

LLLLLLL

>> But then I was in a slump. I lost seven straight / consecutive / in a row.  I was trailing/losing/behind by 2.

WLWLWWLWWLWWWLW

>> It was a close game in the end, but I pulled out the come from behind victory.


* I won 20 to 18. I beat / defeated my opponent 20 to 18.
( I won my opponent.  XX　＞　win +名詞 )
* I was lucky.  
* I tried my best. I gave 110%. I fought hard. I stayed focused.
* I kicked butt / ass.

* I lost.  I was beaten / defeated.
* I was unlucky.
* I gave up. I lost focus.

Sports listening

1. Review sports vocab

2. Sports listening

ELLLO sports - listen to people around the world talk about sports

EnglishCentral sports - videos about sports

TED sports - lectures about sports  (with Japanese subtitles)

Sports survey

Sports

One of the topics many students want to study is sports. Even if you don't like sports, it is useful to study about the topic in English because we often use sports-related vocabulary in other contexts: games, contests, politics, health, engineering, etc. Also, Americans and Europeans love to talk about sports, so it is a good conversation topic.

1. Please write about sports as much as you can. 

Watching
Do you like to watch sports? Why or why not? What is your favorite sport to watch? What team(s) do you root for? Who is your favorite player? Why? How often do you watch sports in the stadium or on tv?

Playing
Do you like to play sports? Are you good at sports? What are your strong and weak points? Have you ever done any good performances? Do you practice? Do you work out?

2. Let's practice sports vocabuary

Your Blog URL

What kind of class do you want?

PLEASE TAKE THIS SURVEY. I will use the results to design an effective class for you.

Syllabus

OBJECTIVES
This class aims to increase students’ English proficiency through the use of computers. Studies will focus particularly on the learners’ vocabulary level and listening fluency, though the class also involves reading & writing skills. Students’ language learning strategies and computer skills should also greatly improve.

COURSE OVERVIEW
Part of each class will involve the teacher leading the class in language studies on particular high-interest topics (movies, technology, music, food, travel, economics, etc.), by focusing on vocabulary, listening, reading, and a final writing activity (or quiz). We may also do group projects, depending on our needs. The teacher will introduce effective sites for learning and also discuss learning strategies.

This plan will be adjusted based on the results of the class survey.

Organization
4-5 weeks units will be organized around topics like food, technology, movies, travel, music, global issues, news, etc. 

Each unit will have the following cycle: 
week 1: vocabulary games and survey 
weeks 2 and 3: listening and reading activities about the topic 
week 4: online writing project and/or quiz

Text:
None: Sites used in class include Quizlet, English Central, ELLLO, and authentic web sites (e.g. National Geographic Kids Video, GeoBeats). 

Communicating on Facebook and other SNSs

Much communication is done these days on SNSs

1. Take a survey on Facebook

2. Short presentation on using Facebook.

3. Post-presentation survey

4. You post on your blog
     - Post about your summer vacation plans, your tests, etc.

---and/or, for extra points:
     - Make and post a meme (choose one):
           about something that sometimes confuses you ("Not sure if...") (examples)
           about something small the frustrates you (examples)
           about something small that makes you happy (examples)
           about something that you think is stupid - post sarcastic remark (examples)

* Note: It is more funny if you post something that other people have thought about, but don't normally talk about.

5.  Make comments on each others posts.

6. Class survey and evaluation
  
           

Your activities

electrical-appliances    home appliances

sports   baseball  baseball2  baseball3  baseball4 soccer  soccer2  cricket

broadcasting   medicine   jobs

physics    organic chemistry   organic-chemistry2   chemistry3  biology   elements

solar system   cave

travel  travel2  travel3   books

muscle  allergies

Japanese Food    cooking    world-food

Halloween  free time  events

Your activities!

My Lesson: Chinese Food

1. My topic is _________________. I chose this topic because ____________.  Please enjoy my activities.



2. Vocabulary



3. Survey + Quiz!  






4. Try this activity on ELLLO

5. Read this article
   Which kind of Chinese food looks the most delicious?
   Which kind of Chinese food is the spiciest?

Final Project: Make a Lesson

We have studied 3 topics using computers (movies, tech, music). Now, it is your chance to make a lesson for a topic!

Goals: 
* learn new language concerning topics you like or need
* learn how to study independently in the future.

Steps: 1. Explain your topic and why you chose it. (Choose a topic that is interesting for you. You can do this with a partner or alone.) 

2. Make a vocabulary list of key words on Quizlet
(solo work: 15 words / pair work: 25 words)
* Add useful words (not too easy, not too technical)
* It's okay to use other words lists
* Add photos?

3. Make a survey on Google Drive
(solo work: 5 questions / pair work: 8 questions)
* Make interesting questions
* Use the questions to review key vocabulary

4. Make links to Listening activities ELLLO, EngishCentral, TED, YouTube
(solo work: 1 link / pair work: 2 links)

5. Link to (or embed) some interesting article or reviews (2) to read. Add a task or questions. (optional)
(solo work: 1 link / pair work: 2 links)

6. Make an interesting writing task.
(e.g. Please comment below. What is your favorite...?)

Quiz

Click here to take the quiz

July 1st

* Check each other's music reviews and make comments. 
Do you know this album? 
-- If yes, do you agree with the classmate's review? Why? 
-- If not, are you interested? Why

* Review for quiz. Next week, there will be a review quiz for movie, music, and technology.

* Make audio presentation

1. Choose one of your three reviews
2. Sign up at Prezi
3. Click new prezi and choose the design
4. Add at least 3 Frames
   - Background (plot summary, product basics, album description)
   - Good Points
   - Weak Points
5. Copy & paste your review into the needed place
6. Only add key words! 
The design is attractive and sleek, even though my model is outdated. 
 >> Attractive, sleek, but outdated
7. Insert at least 1 image
8. Record an audio file for each frame
  - Use the computer audio recorder to record what you wrote before
  - Save the audio file to your computer
  - In Prezi, click on the number of the frame and click Insert > Add Voice-over 
 9. Share
   - Click Share Prezi > Make Public
   - Exit
   - Click Embed, and copy
   - On your blog, change to HTML and paste
   - Save on your blog

Music (class 3)

Check each other's blogs about Western music artists/groups. 
Make some comments. Do you know this artist/group? If so, do you like them? If you don't know them, are you interested?


Album Review (Graded project - due next week)

Choose a music artist or group.  Write a review of one album by the artist (first write on Microsoft Word to check spelling and grammar)
  >> give background about the group and album

  >> explain the album style and quality (be critical: say good and bad things)
  >> include 2+ vocabulary words we studied

Studying English through Lyrics

Studying a song (class activity, not a grade project)

1. First choose a song: LyricsTraining

* Songs with interesting lyrics: 
Note: These are links are to YouTube (YT) and LyricsTraining (LT)

 Pop:  Ironic: (YT) (LT) / Luka (YT) (LT) / Man in the Mirror (YT)  (LT)
 Folk/Pop: Fast Car (YT) (LT)
 Hip hop: The Best Day (YT)  (not on LT) / Same Love (YT) (LT)

* Or, you can choose another song (search YouTube or google.com: "(song name) lyrics".)

2. Listen and enjoy.

3. Focus on the lyrics:

- Play the game on LyricsTraining?
- Look up difficult words or slang

- Focus on the chorus for the main point (you don't need to understand the whole song)

On your blog, write:
1. The artist & song title.

2. The main message or theme of the song

3. Your feelings

- Are the lyrics deep, shallow, romantic, depressing, poetic, etc.?

- Do you agree with the song's message?

4. Note 2-3 vocabulary words or phrases. (Write the word and the meaning).

5. You can post the YouTube video (optional).

EXPLORE A WESTERN MUSIC GROUP OR ARTIST

1. Choose one western musician or group that you DON'T know.

2. Search the web & find the following things some key information

Search & explore:

-Last.fm (summary and shouts)

-YouTube.com

-Wikipedia or Simple English Wikipedia

Find SOME of the following:

-Background information (hometown, history, key members, instruments)

-Musical style (genre and their "sound")

-Key albums or hit songs

-Lyrics: themes & lyrical style

-Other (fashion style, dance, influences or similar artists, etc.)

3. Write a short paragraph of 4-5 sentences.

-Try to use at least 2 vocabulary words.

-Do not copy from the internet. If you do, use quotations and say where you got the information.

4. Post a picture of the musician or group and/or embed a video from YouTube

Music Day 2 (July 17th)

Project due in two weeks:
1. Choose a music artist or group.  Write a review of one album by the artist (first write on Microsoft Word to check spelling & grammar)
  >> give back ground about the group and album

  >> explain the album style and quality (be critical: say good and bad things)
  >> include 2+ vocabulary words we studied

Reading about music #1: Guess the Japanese artist/group

Reading about music #2: Research about a western music artist/group

(later, refresh the page to see it.)

Review Tech, Start Music Unit (June 10th)

1. Check the Tech Review of Classmates

- Read the reviews by students in your group & make comments.

Do you have this?  If so, do you agree with the review?  If not, do you want it? Explain.


2. Starting the music unit.

Write 4+ sentences about music.  What kind do you like? Who is your favorite singer/group? Describe them. Do you often go to concerts? How do you listen to music? etc.

3. Music survey 

4. Music vocabulary

5. Listening
a. ELLLO
  * Six people talk about their musical tastes: who are you most like?
 * People talk about bands they like: Easy - Pretty Easy - Medium - Medium 2
b. English Central Music

Also, in 3 weeks, we will share a album review, so think about what album you want to write about.

Reading User Reviews

Link: Amazon Kindle Tablet 

Kickstarter: 3 cool products being developed

1. Review the assignment, due next week!

2. New products being developed

iFind link (in new tab)   MagicPhoneLink       Clever Pet Link

Tech Unit: Project Prototype and Reviews

Activity 2

Activity 3

Reading & Listening to Tech Reviews 

a. Choose one review to share, summarize, and respond to:

1st- On your Blog, write the product name and link to the review

2nd- in Japanese, summarize the product: the basics (the maker, the release date, past versions/models), its parts & features, its use, etc.

3rd- in Japanese, summarize the review. Does the writer like it? Explain. (design, use, function, performance, cost etc.)

4th- in English, give your opinion (2-4 sentences). Do you want it? Do you think it is cool? Why or why not?

b. Later, we will read and respond to what classmates' shared.

Tech - class two

Review your Movie Review assignment and your next assignment (due in 2 weeks)

1. Vocabulary Review -  Survey

2. Reading and/or Listening to Reviews
    (post will be published soon) 

Technology

1. Project (due June 10th): write a review of a new product
(app, program, communication technology, device)

Paragraph one: summarize the product basics (the maker, the release date, past versions/models), its parts & features, its use, etc.

Paragraph two: your use, your opinion (attractive design? user friendly? useful? affordable? etc.)

Grading Points: follow the above model, be critical (say good and weak points), try to use vocabulary we studied

My example:

___________________________________________________________

Hewlett Packard (HP) has released many TouchSmart computers since 2007.  The TouchSmart was one of the first desktops to use the touch screen. Since it has a touch screen and the hard drive is built into the screen, it is kind of like a giant tablet. However, like a desktop, you can use the (wireless) mouse and keyboard, and it has a bigger screen (my version is about 50cm wide). Its operating system uses Windows, but it features some HP interface and apps, a television tuner, and a camera.

I bought my version of the desktop in 2009, and I've used it ever since for work and for my daily needs such as web surfing, watching videos, and editing family photos. Even though my Touchsmart is old and some of the programs are obsolete, it is still working wonderfully. I've never had any major problems or last any data. Since I have my research and family photos saved on it, this is extremely important and valuable or me.  Another great thing is that the screen is so huge that I don't even need a tv. Because of this and because there is no external hard drive, I can save a lot of space in my house. The design is attractive and sleek, even though my model is outdated. There are a few weak points; the HP apps are pretty useless and mouse quickly runs out of batteries. However, overall I very happy I decided to buy my HP Touchsmart.

______________________________________________________________

2. Vocabulary for describing technology

3. Choose one:
 - Technology objects game

 - ELLLO Technology (conversations about technology)

 - EnglishCentral Technology

- TED Lectures/Speeches- Technology
Try turning off subtitles first > Check English > Check Japanese

May 20th

1. Share your movie review
- read the reviews from the students in your group
- write a comment (Have you seen this? If so, do you agree ? If not, do you want to see? Explain.

2. Start unit on technology

Find the mistakes

I edited the following plot summary from Common Sense about the movie Frozen. Find the MISTAKE!

(If you can't guess and/or don't know the movie, read the plot on Japanese Wikipedia.)

"In a Scandinavian-like kingdom, elder sister Elsa has magical power to make ice, so she creates a winter wonderland for her adoring little sister, Anna. But when Elsa accidentally hurts Anna with her magic, their royal parents decide to hide Elsa away from the kingdom. The sisters grow up separate from society -- and each other. Years later after the king and queen die in a shipwreck, Elsa must be crowned queen. During the festivities, Anna falls in love with Prince Hans who immediately proposes marriage. But when they ask Elsa for her blessing, she gets angry, loses control of her powers, runs up a mountain, and sends the kingdom into an eternal summer. Anna sets out to find Elsa with the help of her new friends -- a ice harvester and his reindeer...."

The answer (highlight to see) >>> winter >>> summer

Assignment:
1. Find a famous movie on Common Sense
2. Copy & paste the plot (Click "What's the story?).
3. Change one thing from the plot. (Change something that classmates might guess.)
4. Say "I edited the following review from Common Sense. Find the mistakes"
5. You can write the answer (change it to white font OR write it in the comments section)
Optional: If you have time, make a link to Japanese Wikipedia and add the movie poster.

Later, check other blogs' in your group and guess the mistakes.