End of Semester - Today and Thursday
Mood:  hug me
Topic: Class Tasks
Hey you guys!

We are coming to the end of the semester - Please don't cry!! So you need to finish your blogs so they refect you and what you want to say to the world. They also will reflect your grade, (A+,A,B,C,D!!) of course ;-)

Before Friday Jan 20:
1) Post at least once telling us about your New Year. Please tell as much as possible - lots and lots of information!
2) Visit your classmates' blogs and leave comments.
3) Answer any new comments on your blogs.
4) Write any posts you missed!
5) Do the Netiquette quiz to test your web manners! Did you learn good netiquette in this class?
6) Review your performance in this class here
7) Write a good-bye post on your blog. Tell us what you thought about this course.

That's all folks! We have class scheduled on Thursday. If you want to talk to me about your grade, or need any help to finish your blog, then please come to class then. You can also meet my kids who are coming to class too! If you finish everything and don't need to talk to me, it is not necessary to attend class. You choose! :-)

Week 12: Still Very Merry Christmassing
Mood:  happy
Topic: Class Tasks
Today is still Christmas so I am not too happy about being at school! But I am happy about Christmas so... all in all, happy happy!

Today, Let's just have some fun, catch up, visit each other's blogs and leave comments etc etc etc.

1) Here are some links for Christmas games. The pages might be busy but have a go. Tell us which game or activity you like best on your blog.

Lots of links to Christmas games

More Christmas Games

Christmas games, puzzles and other activities


2) Next please visit your classmate's blogs and leave comments. Also check your pages for comments and write replies.

3) Finally tell us what you wll do at New Year on your blog. Don't just write "Nothing". It's impossible to do nothing, so details details please!

Week 11: Merry Christmas Ho Ho HO
Mood:  party time!
Today you are going to look at the Christmas celebrations in different countries around the world.

Task: You are going to post information about Christmas traditions in one other country on your blog. You should answer the questions:

- Who brings the presents?
- What do people eat?
- What other customs are there?
- How do they say "Happy Christmas"?
- Any other interesting points.

DO NOT COPY CHUNKS OF TEXT FROM THE WEBPAGE! Please read and write down the key words and then make your own simple, short SVO sentences. And make your writing interesting, don't just answer the questions!!

Here are the links for each country.

Sweden
Swedish customs
Christmas in Sweden
Christmas food and more information
Use Google's image search
to find pictures of Swedish holiday food.

Mexico
Mexican customs
Making merry in Mexico
Christmas food and more information
Use Google's image search
to find pictures of Mexican holiday food.

Italy
Italian customs
History of Italian Christmas
Lots and lots of information
Use Google's image search
to find pictures of Italian Christmas food.

Australia
Australian customs
Traditional/modern food and customs
Lots and lots of information
Use Google's image search
to find pictures of Australian Christmas food.

England
Australian customs
Christian roots of Christmas
Lots and lots of information
Use Google's image search
to find pictures of England Christmas food.

Week 10
Mood:  cool
Topic: Class Tasks
Hi

This week let's take a look at fashion. First I want you to buy yourself two new outfits: one smart, one casual. Don't worry about the money, it's all free today!! Go shopping and then tell us on your blog, what you bought and why.

1) Buy 2 outfits: one smart, one casual

Let's start on the high street with my favorite UK clothes stores:

Next is a leading high street store. It offers a good choice of classic but fashionable clothes at a good price. It's probably the shop I use most and there is a Next store in Nanba!

Paul Smith is a bit cooler and a bit more expensive.

French Connection is the store I bought my favorite trousers ever and my first suit for work.

Jigsaw has nothing for men - sorry - but some great things for women. Boys, buy something for your girlfriend or your sister or even your mum!

2) Now let's review what will be hitting us next year. Check out the following British designers Spring 2006 collections and tell us which you like the best and why!
Stella McCartney
Paul Smith again!
Vivienne Westwood
Jasper Conran

Which do you like best? Why? Please blog it to us now!

If you have any time over, check out your favorite stores or designers and tell us about them too! Please include URLs (links).

Week 9: Christmas Shopping
Mood:  incredulous
Today I am a little late because my daughter's kindergarten lost her!! Can you believe it?! Now she has been found and is going home on the school bus!!

Anyway, today you are going to go Christmas shopping. You'll find details of your task at my other homepage. You should downlaod and do the paper task and then write a summary of what you bought on your blog. Have fun!

Week 8
Mood:  silly
Topic: Class Tasks
Hi

Today I'd like you to write a longer piece on your blog about something you like. You can find details of this activity at:

my old homepage

First, answer the questions and email me your answers. Then write your piece. You should write more than one paragraph and it should tell us something that is interesting, unique and IN YOUR OWN WORDS!!

Week 7
Mood:  lyrical
Topic: Class Tasks
Today's lesson is to start your own radio station.

Go to:
Yahoo's Launch!
Start your station by clicking "create my station".
Of course you should post a summary of your station and a link on your blog.

Example:

Check out my radio station.

Week 6
Mood:  lazy
Topic: Class Tasks
Hi!


Let's try some pronunciation practice on the Internet! Today you should:


1) Visit the pronunciation website below (but read this first!).
2) Choose a lesson (something that is difficult for you!) and do all the activities.
3) When you have recorded, ask me to come over and listen.
4) Do this again for two more lessons (or more!).

5) Tell us about your experiences on your blog. Was it easy/difficult? What do you like/not like about studying English? What is difficult? Do you have any tips for learning English sucessfully? Tell us on your blog!

Here's the website!

Let me know if you have any problems! If you finish early, you can visit your classmates' blogs or post soemthing new and exciting on your blog or try some more pron practice at:

here or here!

Let's do it!

Week 5
Mood:  d'oh
So many people didn't come last week! Where were you? You now have 2 weeks to catch up - start at week 3 - and this week's class to do too! Can you finish today? I think you'll need to do some work before next class.

So today's class...

Today you can visit the top six amusement parks in the world. Which one would you like to visit? Or do you have another idea?

1) Look at all the amusement parks and tell us which one you want to visit and why on your blog.
2) Also tell us about a time you visited an amusement park. What did you do? What was the best part? If you can, include a URL too.

Adventure World Australia
Canada's Wonderland
Gold Reef City Johannesburg
Orlando's Islands of Adventure
Busch Gardens, US
Ocean Park, Hong Kong

Have fun!!

My favorite Amusement Park
Mood:  chatty
My favorite amusement park is Himeji's Central Park. This is such a cool park. It may not be as big or have as many attractions as other big parks but it has lots to do, a beautiful setting and there are no so many people there, so we don't have to wait in lines all day!

First there is the safari park. The safari park is a great day out. You can drive through in your own car or ride a bus. It has lions and bears and giraffes and elephants. Then you can walk through the park (or next to the park) and feed the elephants and the giraffes and so on. It's great for kids but adults can have a good time too.

Next there is the amusement park. There are lots of rides for kids and older people and if you buy a "free pass" you can ride on everything lots of times. Even during summer vacation, you don't need to wait, so it's really good value. We like the main roller coaster and the little caterpillar coaster the best.

Finally in the summer, you can go swimming in the Aqua area. It's a great pool area, with lots of different pools and slides, and again it's not crowded even in August. We alsways go to central Park several times during the summer. As my husband works for Kobe Steel we can usually get discount tickets too. Although DisneyLand and USJ are great parks, for a relaxing day out, I really recommend Himeji's Central Park. Does anyone know if there is a homepage? Also has anyone ever been ice skating? We have never been.