From April 2006 issue:

Teachers’ Corner 
Grant-funded ESL lesson with environmental information
"The Family Car" is a lesson about the recycling of used motor oil and filters, designed to communicate specific how-to information to adult ESL learners. The lesson can be taught in a single class session. Free materials and a teacher stipend are available for adult ESL classes in designated counties in Northern California, through a state grant. Lesson plan materials include a story and vocabulary for beginning or intermediate students; a variety of teaching aids, games and exercises to use in the classroom; and take-home handouts.

For more information, contact Bonnie Petty, C2 Alternative Services. E-mail: bonnie@c2alts.net or phone toll-free: (877) 606-6263.

 

Former ESL student designs card games
by Betty Malmgren

Sergio Limon lives in Santa Barbara, California. He was born in Santa Barbara but went to live in Mexico when he was 4 years old. He graduated from the University of Guadalajara with a degree in engineering. When he returned to the U.S. nine years ago, he worked as a gardener and then he worked in a hotel. When he went to work at Santa Barbara City College as a custodian, he says it gave him a chance to study English. He earned a certificate in CAD/drafting and became a tutor in the drafting department.

Because he was an ESL student, he wants to help others who are learning English as a second language. Sergio developed card games to help ESL students. One is called "100 Irregular Verbs Present and Past Tense," and the other game is "The Wave." It is to help children develop math skills. He says the math card games are his favorites. He has invented more than 20 card games. The instructions of the card games are available in both Spanish and English.

Sergio is taking a business plan class at Santa Barbara City College’s Adult Education program to help his business. His teacher Mike Kauffman is proud of him. Sergio appreciates the help Mr. Kauffman has given him. He has redesigned his card games. "I am starting this new adventure to sell my card games seriously," Sergio says. He says it is important to make a business plan before you start any business.

(Editor’s note: For more information on buying his card games, you can e-mail Sergio at serglimon@yahoo.com.)

 

Reading for Pleasure
by Karen Batchelor

The young Brazilian woman raised her fist in the air and shouted "Go Jade! I love that part!" The class cheered.

This is one of the reactions an ESL student at City College of San Francisco had after reading Murder at Ocean View College. Other comments include, "I couldn’t stop" and "I had to find out the murderer."

For years I tried to find material that was both linguistically accessible to my students, and interesting enough to hold their interest. Difficult. After trying several novels with my classes, I decided that they really needed something that did not yet exist. So, I started writing an ESL novel. (It is also appropriate for remedial and reluctant readers.) It took me several years, and I used my own students as guinea pigs. When I finally had a draft complete, I asked other teachers to try it with their students. I got very positive feedback.

The story: Jade Lee and Danny Soto are students training to become police officers. One morning, Jade finds a dead English teacher on the seventh floor of Peterson Hall. As they pursue the killer, against direct orders, they face a jealous woman, a cheating football coach, and parents who are opposed to their romance--as well as an angry man with a gun.

The intended audience is high school and community college students. The reading level is approximately sixth grade.

(Published by Houghton Mifflin Publishers. ISBN: 0-618-76947. For more information about Houghton Mifflin products, services, or examination copy requests: Consult the College Division at college.hmco.com. Call or fax the Faculty Services Center: Tel 800-733-1717 · Fax: 800-733-1810 Contact your Custom Publishing Editor, Mary McGibbons: 866-856-8654)

 

Attention Teachers & Tutors

Easy English Times is used in classrooms and workplace and library literacy projects.

Each month the paper comes with an extra page of Learning Activities. You can walk into your classroom and start teaching from the newspaper.  Literacy tutors find the paper useful in individual or group settings. It can also be used for home study.

Teachers say:

  • "Once the papers come, we have to stop everything to read them. My students love these newspapers."
    - Inger Shiffler
  • "It's great. I save every issue to use again and again."
    - June Chan
  • "My students love your fine newspaper! It is the high point of our ESL program. Thank you."  - Margaret Pillsbury

Students say:

  • "I want to read and write. The newspaper helps me understand English."
    - Hoa Mai Nguyen
  • "This paper helps me. It is my idea to get citizenship."
    - Phien Pheauboonma

Holiday gift certificates are available! Email us at easyenglish@aol.com for information on gift certificates. A perfect gift for someone learning English!

Wanted: Please nominate someone for our series on "Immigrant Success Stories." We also welcome ideas for stories and student writing. Please email us at easyenglish@aol.com