Attention Teachers & Tutors

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

Each month the paper comes with an extra page of Learning Activities and instant activities are included in each issue. 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. We feature a Teachers' Corner with information for or by teachers.

Stories from Literacy Tutors - May 2010 issue

(Editor’s note: Adult Literacy Tutor Colleen Merickel sent this essay along with the following note. "My student Salomon Serrato and his wife moved from Mexico to Sonoma County, California, about two years ago. They are raising two young daughters and both Salomon and his wife are participating in the Sonoma County Library Adult Literacy Program so that they will be able to help their daughters in school, become better informed citizens, and increase their opportunities here. Salomon and I read Easy English Times each month and enjoy it greatly.")

My first visit to the ocean
by Salomon Serrato

A long time ago, when I was about twelve years old, it finally happened. My father came to us with the most amazing surprise. "We are going on vacation," he said, "and we are going to the beach." Everybody in the family was very excited because we had never been to the sea before. I remember that once or twice I had asked my mother if she had been on the beach, and how big the ocean was, but she just answered that my grandparents never had the resources to take them on vacations. Nevertheless, it was a great opportunity for all of us to enjoy our very first vacation as a family.

The next couple of days, I spent talking about this with my parents, my sister, and with my best friend, Toño. He had never been at the sea either because Toño’s family was even poorer than my family. So I started asking my parents for permission to take Toño with us and they agreed. Shortly after, my parents went to talk with my friend’s parents, and they were very happy to let him go with us.

The next day, at one in the morning, we departed on our way to the beach. On our way, I asked my dad the name of the place that we would visit. "Nayarit," he said. "And how far is it?" I asked. "It is going to take about twelve hours to get there, son, so you had better go back to sleep," he said. I remember that nobody slept the whole trip and we were watching all the towns, the lights, the mountains, the trees, the rivers, and the fields of agave on the mountains of Jalisco. We were absolutely amazed with the scenic views and all the beauty of the great state.

Later, after eleven hours of traveling, we got to the hotel. All the people there were very friendly. The hotel wasn’t too big but it was very comfortable, with a lot of mango and banana trees and a perfect view to the sea. Everything was amazing and we had lots of fun for the next six days. We also went to visit lots of beaches on the coast, beautiful places like Los Cocos, San Blas, Paseo de la Tobara, Puerto Vallarta, Las Islitas, and others. The food was all delicious, but my favorite plate was Pescado Sarandeado. It was so yummy that just thinking of it melts my mouth. That vacation is one of the most valuable of my memories and I really would like to go back to Nayarit again.

 

Tutor sends story

(Editor’s note: Nona Traverso sent her student’s writing along with this note: " I am a tutor with the Ukiah Literacy Alliance in Ukiah, California. We are a group of citizens who work individually with adults who are interested in improving their English skills. We also have a casual conversation group that meets weekly and chats over a cup of coffee, or goes on field trips to museums, banks, grocery stores, etc. I came across your newspaper a year ago and introduced it to our group. Many of us use it regularly and are so appreciative of the work you put into the publication!")

My life story
by Ming Xia Bai

My name is Ming Xia Bai. I’m from China. My family are farmers. When I lived in China I worked at many jobs. I sewed warm jackets, pants and shoes. I crocheted and knitted different things.

In 1991 Dharma Master Hsuan Hua arranged for my father to come to the United States to learn Buddhism. My father worked in the restaurant at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah, California and he also trimmed trees. He was a very good and hard worker. In 1992 my father became sick and saw the doctor. The doctor said that my father had cancer. On May 9, 1992, I came with my youngest daughter to the USA to take care of my father. On November 11, 1992 my oldest daughter and second daughter finally came to the United States.

The last time my father went to the hospital Dharma Master Hsuan Hua called and asked me why he was there. I told him that the doctors were giving him morphine for his pain. Dharma Master advised me not to let them give him such strong medicine, because if he slept all the time he wouldn’t be able to say Buddha’s name. I played a tape recording of Buddha’s name for my father...I kept it right by his ear.

I was very tired because I hadn’t been able to sleep well for three days. My friend asked me if I had been eating and I said, "I’m not hungry." He brought two bowls of noodles over, one for him and one for me. When I finished breakfast, I was still so tired. But, I remembered that when a person is about to pass away it helps them to hear Buddha’s name. So, I went to the hospital and started the tape recording again for my father. Soon, he passed away very peacefully.

Right now I deliver the newspaper every day and I clean the post office every week. I also go to adult school to study English. When I came to the USA it changed my life. I am very glad to be here!

VOCABULARY HELP*

crocheted - made sweaters, scarves etc. with a hooked needle and thread or yarn
knitted - made clothes by connecting loops of yarn with two long needles
trimmed - cut off, especially the outer section of something

 

From Editor Lorraine Ruston
I'm an ESL teacher (adults) and also the editor of Easy English Times. I use the newspaper in every class I teach. I usually choose one or two articles to start my class with. I read the story aloud and ask the students to underline a key word or phrase in each sentence. ( I choose the words as we go along.) I make sure they understand what the words mean. (My students all speak Spanish so they translate for each other or I help them a bit.) Then I read the story again, asking them to read the words they have underlined. I listen to their pronunciation. Sometimes I make up a simple comprehension quiz about what we just read.
     We do the crossword puzzle in class together and talk about the words that go into the puzzle.
     I assign the scanning questions on the Learning Activities page for homework. Sometimes we do the 'more careful reading' questions in class as a jigsaw reading activity. Sometimes I assign them for homework.
     I always ask my students to write something themselves based on some of the other student writing pieces.
     I hope this helps you and that you enjoy our newspaper!

 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

Here is a "bonus" Instant Activity
(Posted June 2009)
Ohio teachers share lessons on economics

(Editor’s note: Marilyn McLaughlin sent us some of the handouts that she and a fellow teacher made before taking their classes on a field trip to a federal reserve bank. They teach in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.)

Here are some common words and phrases to talk about problems in the economy.

Credit crunch:
Banks lend money to customers in the form of loans (such as car loans or personal loans) or in the form of mortgages to buy houses. However, right now there appears to be a credit crunch. This means that borrowing money from banks is becoming harder to do and more expensive.
Sub-prime mortgages:
These mortgages were sold to people with poor credit ratings. It is a combination of this type of risky lending, falling house prices and high interest rates which led to defaults on mortgage payments and foreclosures. This in turn started the global financial crisis.

VOCABULARY HELP (Sources: BBC, federalreserveeducation.org, Encarta World English Dictionary)
credit crunch - The situation created when banks hugely reduce their lending to each other because they are uncertain about how much money they have and whether the institution they lend to will be able to pay it back. This in turn results in more expensive loans and mortgages for ordinary people.
credit rating - an assessment of the financial status and creditworthiness of a company or an individual default - Failure to meet the terms of a credit agreement.
foreclosure - The legal process used to force the payment of debt secured by collateral (such as a house) whereby the property is sold to satisfy the debt. Usually means a family needs to leave their house because they cannot pay their mortgage.
Sub-prime mortgages - Home loans offered to people who have had financial problems or who have low or unpredictable incomes. These loans often had high interest or interest rates that went up after a certain number of payments.

Instant Activity:
Here are some phrases that have to do with the economy. Match the definition to the phrase.

1. weather the storm

2. be in good shape

3. live beyond your means

4. pay the price

5. foot the bill

6. at rock bottom

7. in free fall

a. not have enough money for your spending

b. to be so low you cannot go any further down

c. pay for someone else

d. survive bad times

e. keep falling without anything stopping the fall

f. to be strong

g. pay for your mistakes

Answers:

1. d 2. f 3. a 4. g 5. c 6. b 7. e

 

Below are items of interest to teachers and tutors from past issues.

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.

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