FOR SALE! Complete handbook for this blog and its resources

I have recently compiled an Adobe pdf version of this entire Blog site plus some additional materials. The book is 580 pages in length and approx 7.5 Mb in file transfer size. The book spans 2008 - 2012 and covers various aspects of teaching ESL and EFL classes as well as mainstream English. It includes lesson plans, resource links, work sheets, student examples, Exam links (IGSE / IB etc).  I a presently taking pre-orders at € 10 each. The book is printable therefore the resources and examples can be used in your classes. It covers age groups Key Stage 3 -5 / US Grades 8 - 12 as well as college and University under graduate levels. This is a valuable resource for teachers and student teachers.

For more information and how to order your copy please write to me at the below link Thank you

ORDER HERE / More Information

Shakespeare Study Guides – (Cummings)

For everyone who is interested in excellent Shakespeare guides and materials I really recommend Cummings Study Guides. We have recommended these materials in the past and are pleased to pass along that there have been many major updates and expansions to the original materials.

In their own words……

Plays, Sonnets, Poems

Play Summaries and Analysis: Plot summaries of all the plays, including those of doubtful or joint authorship, such as Edward III, The Two Noble Kinsmen, Sir Thomas More (partly written by Shakespeare), and Cardenio (probably partly written by Shakespeare). Criticism, sources, settings, dates, themes, and other information. 
Sonnet Summaries and Analysis: Definition, origin, and development of the sonnet form. Comparison of the Shakespearean sonnet with the Petrarchan sonnet. Analysis of the rhyme scheme of the Shakespearean sonnet. Common sonnet themes. Discussion of the "young man," "the dark lady," and the "rival poet" referred to in the sonnets. Sonnets and sexuality. 
Narrative and Complaint Poems: Background information, themes, style, and summaries of Shakespeare's long narrative poems—Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece—and the complaint poem, A Lover's Complaint (with an annotated text). Analysis of The Phoenix and the Turtle.

This is a

A Free Resource Posted by Michael J. Cummings (mcum.mings@mail.com)
Recommended as a Shakespeare Resource by The New York Times

Year End Paperwork

 

The last day of school will be FRIDAY JUNE 6th, 2008

REPORT cards will be issued on FRIDAY JUNE 13th, 2008 and should be collected by students on that date.

 

SUMMER SCHOOL: students will be advised who 'should' attend summer school during the next 2 weeks. Summer school will be held between MONDAY 9th of June and FRIDAY 20th of June between the hours of 09:00 and 12:00 - Monday - Friday only.

Second Semester English Project: Amarildo Y 11

Amarildo takes us to his home town of Shkoder in Northern Albania. Shkoder has a rich historic past and continues to thrive as one of Albania's largest cities. Located near to the Montenegro Border and sitting on the shores of the Shkoder Lake, Amarildo takes us through the rich history that has left its indelible mark on his birthplace.

Amarildo needs to refine his English considerably, however he has made a solid attempt at creating an interesting multi-media project to share with his class. Amarildo brings to his presentation a passion for his family and history. These are difficult emotions to transfer into a second language, yet Amarildo has managed to share with us his feelings. Well done.

(Project Grade: 4)

Second Semester English Project - Silvester Y 11

Silvester looked at the money market. 'Money makes the world go around' - or at least it makes Silvester's go smoothly! This project is full of colour and life and explains how our world works with different currencies.

Project well done.

Second Semester English Project: Dejvis Y 11

Dejvis undertook to make a public health statement about the adverse affects of smoking. Smoking is the number one pastime in Albania, everyone seems to do it even when sitting under the No Smoking Signs in the cafe's and restaurants.

Summer Reading - MIST Recommendation: Pre Junior: (Going into Y 11)

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Directions: Read the book listed below during the summer. You will be tested on the book in English class when you return to school. To prepare yourself, take good notes on the book. Be sure to take notes on minor and major characters, the settings of the story, and plot events.

British Literature

Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier

Honors British Literature

David Copperfield by Charles DickensProject Gutenberg eBook

Additional Summer Reading Lists

A LIST OF GREAT LISTS!

Summer Reading List 2007These lists of titles have been compiled by librarians at member schools of the Houston Area Independent Schools Library Network (HAISLN). The lists include both fiction and nonfiction books by some of the best authors for children and young adults. Lists presented for PreK-12.

Summer Reading ListsCharlottesville (Virginia) Catholic School presents these lists or required and suggested reading. Separate lists for each grade K to 8.

Summer Reading for KidsThese books have been selected by Vermont public school librarians and are recommended for summer reading for children and young adults. Published on the Vermont Education Association's Web page, Summer Reading offers separate lists for students in grades K through 4, 5 through 8, and 9 through 12.

Summer Reading ListsThese lists, from the Mountain Brook City Schools in Birmingham, Alabama, recommend books for students in grades 1 through 3, 4, 5, 6, junior high school (grades 7 through 9), and high school.

Summer Reading ListsMiddlesex Middle School in Darien, Connecticut, provides reading lists for social studies and science, as well as English.

Summer Fun Reading ListThese lists include books for students in K through 5. Book lists are divided by grade levels of students entering grades K and 1, 2 and 3, and 4 and 5, as well as into such categories as poetry, picture books, and classic fiction to read aloud to the whole family.

Elementary Summer Reading ListThis list from the Wayland (Massachusetts) Public Schools includes fiction titles for beginning readers, students in grades 2 and 3, and students in grades 4 and 5, as well as lists of books of poetry, books of fairy tales, biographies, books for families to read aloud, and more.

Boulder (Colorado) Public Library Booklists for KidsThis list of lists from the BPL includes summer reading chapter books and summer reading picture books.

Fairfax County Public Library Books for School-Age ChildrenThough not specifically created as summer reading lists, these lengthy lists include great summer reading ideas. Individual lists are offered for students in grades 1 to 6.

Summer Reading ListsThis resource from Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools includes four separate lists -- for students going into grades 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, and 11 and 12.

Boston Public Schools Summer Reading ListsFour lengthy book lists -- for students in grades K through 3, 4 and 5, 6 through 8, and 9 through 12 -- offer titles sorted by genre. These lists, created in association with the Boston Public Library, include titles in Spanish for students in grade K through 8.

ADDITIONAL SUMMER READING RESOURCES

Summer Reading Tips for ParentsAccording to the LD Online Web site, "Studies show that most students experience a loss of reading skills over the summer months, but children who continue to read actually gain skills." This site offers tips that encourage parents to help children sustain reading skills during the summer. Although directed to parents of children with learning disabilities, any teacher might include these tips in an end-of-year newsletter as a reminder to parents.

Choices BooklistEach year the International Reading Association (IRA) invites 10,000 schoolchildren to read and vote for the best newly published books. This site provides the children's list as well as a list of teachers' picks for the best books.

Publish Your Book ReviewsHave children publish their book reviews on Web sites that offer readers the opportunity to share their opinions about books. This issue of Barbara Feldman's Surfing the Net with Kids newsletter offers links to a handful of such opportunities!

Summer Reading Lists

Every year around the world schools give their recommendations for the books students should read during the summer. These lists are as varied as there are schools. Here are some links to the top recommended reading lists from around the globe. Try reading some of the books on these lists. Later we will post the books we recommend for our MIST students.

One key to children's reading success is making their reading experience entertaining, relaxing, and enjoyable. Allow children to choose their own reading materials and be aware of what their reading interests are. Help them find books that pique their interests. Below are information about and links to many reading lists that identify high-quality titles and serve many different audiences and purposes.

Notable Children's Books An annual list compiled by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA.

Top Ten Lists of "All-Time Classics" ALSC created this list of classics that parents and children can read together for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America for national KidsDay (August 2001). There is one list for preschool to age 8 and one list for ages 8-12.

100 best paperbacks A list created by ALSC for Reading is Fundamental (RIF).

Newbery Award Books. Each year, ALSC chooses the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children from books released in the previous year.

Caldecott Award Books. Each year, ALSC chooses the most distinguished American picture book for children released in the previous year.

Pura Belpré Award Books. Each year, ALSC chooses two works (one for narrative and one for illustration) that best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

Coretta Scott King Award Books Each year, the Coretta Scott King Task Force of the ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table chooses two distinguished books, one by an author of African descent and one from an illustrator of African descent, that promote an understanding and appreciation of the "American Dream."

Robert F. Sibert Award Books. Each year, ALSC chooses the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year.

Mildred Batchelder Award Books. Each year, ALSC honors an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.

Booklist Editor's Choice Lists including "Books for Youth" compiled by editors of ALA's review magazine, Booklist; with grade levels suggested.

The Teen Read Week website includes a list of resources for materials of interest to teens.
An extensive list of all of the high-school-age reading lists compiled by members of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of (ALA).

Outstanding Books for the College Bound
There are also numerous published lists. A recent one is The New Books Kids Like, edited by Sharon Deeds and Catherine Chastain, Prepared for the Association for Library Service to Children (Chicago: ALA, 2001). This organizes frequently requested materials around 44 topics and indicates grade levels within those topics.

Finally, there are numerous web resources available through Great Web Sites for Kids. See entries under "Literature and Language"

IGCSE English as a Second Language

 

This course is designed for students who have English as their second or additional language. It is a full IGCSE course that is accepted at A-Level and Universities around the world as a valid English Language qualification.

The IGCSE ESL is a skills based course that aims to enable students to do the following:

• To develop the ability to use English effectively for the purpose of practical communication in a variety of situations.
• To form a sound base for the skills required for further study and employment using English as the medium.
• To develop an awareness of the nature of language and language learning skills along with skills of a more general application, (e.g. writing for specific purposes, analysing and synthesizing material).

Students are examined on Reading and Writing for 2 hours and on Listening Skills for 40 minutes. There is also a 15-minute oral examination.

All students are currently required to take the English Language (First Language) exam – which takes place in May at the end of Year 11. The IGCSE ESL exam is therefore taken in November, soon after students enter Year 11 and offers students an additional English language qualification.

What are the advantages of taking IGCSE ESL ?

• No long coursework assignments – improve your speaking confidence with the 15-minute oral assessment.
• Better English Language reading and writing skills that are useful in all subjects.
• Improved general knowledge and vocabulary from exposure to newspapers and magazines.
• Exposure to radio and television excerpts to enhance listening skills.
• Developing Oral confidence and speaking skills through short group discussions, presentations and speeches.
• Summarizing, skimming, scanning and note-taking skills.
• Writing in different registers, both formal and informal. Writing for specific purposes - reports, business letters, letters of complaint, persuasion, transactions, arguments etc.
• Less examination pressure in May, because you take this one in November. Lots more time after November in Year 11 to work on improving subject coursework in other subjects and developing revision and study skills.
• Two useful English Language GCSE grades – IGCSE ESL and the English as a First Language.

 

For Further Information :

Please see Dr. Rod

TOEFL Practice Essay - Week 1 - Silvester Y11

1. Your government has announced that it wishes to build a military base near your community. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new influence on your community. Do you support or oppose the military base.

I would personally support the idea that a military base is due to build in my community. The military base would have many advantages for the local community. One reason why I think the military base should be build is because it will provide jobs and revenue to the local residence. Second, we may get a sense of identity that reaches far beyond the community. This are some reasons why I believe the military base must be build in my community.

The military base will provide jobs and increase our community’s revenue. This means that there will be less jobless people and that there will be a higher sense of security in the region. The military base would be available at all times in case of an emergency providing us with the protection we need. This is one reason as to why I support the construction of a military base in my community.

Another reason why I support the construction of a military in my community is because we may get a sense of identity which shall reach far beyond the community. The base may have an important role and achieve an accomplishment which may give us a sense of identity and even a place in history. Many military bases such as the Mexican military base have achieved victories in history. This is another reason why I support the construction of the base.

Finally, the military base shall provide our community with jobs and maybe a place in history. So why should we not give it a try and help our community to achieve a victory on our economic and our vanity?

Merchant of Venice - Iris Y 11

Iris created her PowerPoint presentation on the main characters and them of 'Merchant of Venice'. Click on the photo to go to Google Docs and see the slideshow presentation.

TOEFL Practice Essay - Week 2 - Iris Y. 11

15. Neighbours are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbour? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

In our traditional culture neighbours are the people who can help you when you don't have sugar or watch the house when you leave. I love my neighbours and I would never change them for anything.

Its not always such a perfect relationship. Sometimes when you want to be alone and relax there is a knock on the door and a neighbour feels lonely. You want to sleep and they are loud. You want to have a party and again a knock on the door saying you can't. Yet in times when you need them they are there to help you, feed you, watch you and hopefully if they are smart neighbours give you advice.

Never underestimate the power of neighbours. Never undervalue their strength. Keep a close relationship, say hello and you will all have a healthy relationship. In my personal experience I have always loved my neighbours. They helped me when I needed them, stayed with me when I was alone and fed me when there was nothing to eat. Of course like all neighbours she gossiped about those who she didn't like, sometimes she would not like the way I dressed or the friends I had.

Even though your neighbours might not be on the same page as you, they are still in the same book. 'Good fences make good neighbours', I absolutely disagree.

Year 11 Vocabulary Answers:

Iris is the first to make it back to me with the Dictionary.com 'Word of the Day' words for the past 5 days:

miasma	A noxious atmosphere or influence
objurgate	To reproach or denounce vehemently
roister	To act in a swaggering boisterous manner
inveigle	To persuade by ingenuity or flattery
lambaste	To give a thrashing to; to beat severely

TOEFL practice essay Week 2 ~ Irene Y11

15. Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

Neighbours are some people that you cannot really avoid having unless you live in the middle of the countryside or on a desert island. You cannot choose them and of course you have to have a good relationship with them, because one day you may be alone and need someones help. The can be there for you, just because they are very close to you. If your neighbours are good, you are very lucky, but if the do not you may suffer.

Most neighbours are very annoying, because they have nothing else to do than gossip and judge everything you do and have, especially if they are old ladies that do not have any other interesting activities. For example in my case, my neighbour is a lady who always sees and examines us from head to toe. She knows our schedule and if one day we don't follow it she starts asking us different strange questions that most of the times frustrate us and drive us crazy, but we try to be calm because we have to keep good relations with our neighbours and every malignant person.

Sometimes bad neighbours cause you a lot of trouble without even thinking about the consequences of their actions. In my previous apartment in Greece, I used to have the best neighbours anyone can have and I strongly believe and support them. They were the most benign people I have ever met. They were a family with two children, a boy my brother's age and a girl my age. We were very close to them, exactly like we were siblings. Every single hour we were together. The doors of our houses were never closed so that we could enter each other's homes very quickly and without ringing the bell.

We used to share everything, our toys, our clothes, our food, everything from the smallest thing to the most important one. Nora, my neighbour, was definitely my best friend, but I actually felt like was my sister. We have grown up together and as a result we have the same style, the same haircut, the same tastes. We will never forget each other no matter where we live or with whom, we will always be a part of each other's life.

As a conclusion, we can say that our neighbours may become part of our lives. But they have to fulfill some qualities, like offering love, and help. By this you can both be happy and not afraid of the people living next door.

TOEFL practice essay ~ Irene Y11

Topic: How does advertising influence people’s behavior? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answers.

Scientists and many other people believe that advertising has revolutionized our technology, but I personally am in a dilemma, because I strongly believe and can support that advertising has both advantages as well as many disadvantages.

The role of the advertisement is supposed to be to inform people of new products or services and their functions. They helps people become aware of what is available. But, unfortunately for us advertising is full of half truths and lies. In order to make people buy their products, firms use different ways.

First of all, people buy things that they don’t really need, just because they advertise them it doesn’t mean that they are better than products that are not being advertised and these products may be better and are obviously cheaper. Advertising influences our psychology and it affects us all day every day. We try to spend as much as we can afford and this leads to over consuming.

Advertising attracts more children and women because they are more flexible and vulnerable and in the case of children innocent, and they stay more hours at home watching TV. Children watch the new toys; they get excited and they want to have them without looking at the other toys. In the case of women, they watch the new machines that theoretically help them to do their housework and they think that these can make their life easier, so as a result the buy them.

Secondly, advertisements are very annoying to me, because they interrupt you while you are watching your program and most of the times they last more than the program itself. Advertising is also full of sexist stereotypes, because instead of focusing on the product, they use women as objects to draw attention.

According to me advertising is a great advantage for a company that wants to promote it’s products and of course competition between companies. In my opinion, we should have other aims in our lives from buying whatever we see, because in this way we are going to suffer from over consuming. But, of course we should never forget that advertisements carry advantages too.

TOEFL Practice essay - Franklie Y 11

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: 'Universities should give the same amount of money to their student;s sports activities as they give to their university libraries. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

It is my dream to go to college and get a sport scholarship as a soccer player. Today the importance of sports has reached high levels compared to the years before. I believe that sport is knowledge just like reading. Colleges have to give the same amount of money not only to a library but also to sports.

Sport has evolved with humans. Its importance is not minimal; vice versa it is more than entertainment. It is a culture that makes each state be accentuated in the eyes of the world. There is no objection that books are what make us understand the past and the present. They are what make us smart. They are truly important.

I prefer sports and hope that one day the same amount of money given to the library would be given for sports.

This is Franklie's first attempt at a TOEFL essay.

TOEFL practice essay ~ Iris 11

4. It has been said, "Not all learning takes place in the classroom." Compare and contrast knowledge gained from personal experience with knowledge gained from classroom instruction. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why?

It is in my humble understanding, that all learning definitely does not take place in the classrom.It is like everything else, just an opinion but it is mine and it is of course based upon my understanding.

Those who are more educated than us take the responsibility to prepare their students, even though they may have not so much to give, they still share. We are free to take all that we want and need but of course this is only the beggining. The teacher does not teach you how to distinguish wrong from right. They teach you the consequnces. They dont teach us how to behave they show us the ethics.We cannot learn in a classrom how to run a firm but we can know how it functions. They cant make us write a best seller but they can teach us the example of those before.

School is just the step towards your life. It is only the end of the beggining. It is all that you need to get all that you can. Grab knowledge, embrace intelligence from all those who are able to give it. Listen a lot but dont talk as much. Open your eyes but not your mouth. Succeed and one day people will look up to the knowledge you have.

Merchant of Venice - Besarta / Irene Y 11

Besarta and Irene have produced their version of the facts from Merchant of Venice. Over their 17 slides they look into the plot, characters and setting in detail, drawing on resources online, through books as well as personal experiences through reading the original play and watching the 2006 movie.

Project well done!

TOEFL practice essay ~ Erdi 11

4. It has been said, "Not all learning takes place in the classroom." Compare and contrast knowledge gained from personal experience with knowledge gained from classroom instruction. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why?


I agree very much with that. I think in the classroom you learn only 30% at most. The other things you learn in real life. In school you learn only the stuff you need to be successful in the future. However in order to be called a wise man and a person who knows about life you have to base it upon personal experiences. Also learning in school is easier than living your life in the 'real world'.


Outside the school there is a whole new world waiting for you - sometimes good, sometimes not so good. You have to be strong and calm. By living your life you will get to know all the things necessary. However the road to achieving success is not by suffering. You have to go ahead but also you have to look around. You have to enjoy everything you do but at the same time you have to work.


It is statistically proved that 90% of people who graduate from prestigious schools such as Harvard, Yale and Princeton etc are more subject to phobias and frights related to their graduating subject and to their jobs. At this point they are not successful in their jobs but after some time they begin to get used to it and become successful.


In my opinion and according to the facts class is not everything independent to which school you are going. You have to get out of school and start everything from the beginning only this time you have ideas on which you can base your plans and ideas.


Erdi has tried to answer the question, however he has made several 'claims' in which he quotes statistics but does not give sources. In the original there were no paragraphs and the mechanics of the essay were lacking.