Unit 4 January 13: Downtown

1. Unit 3 quiz - workbook p.87-88
2. Discuss Unit 4 objectives, textbook p.43
3. Practical conversations, textbook p.44 A-C; listen to CD
4. Homework: Practical conversations, workbook p.25 exercises 1-2
5. Optional: esl-lab.com "Hotel Reservations" (easy)

Unit 3 January 3: Broad Rock

Did you watch the fireworks in Richmond on New Year's Eve?

1. Review Unit 2 quiz results
2. Discuss Unit 3 objectives, textbook p.29
3. Practical conversations, textbook p.30 A-C; listen to CD
4. Crossroads Cafe "No Vacancy" video final part (if time permits)
5. Homework: Practical conversations, workbook p.17 exercises 1-2
6. Optional: listen and answer esl-lab.com "Traffic Ticket" (medium difficulty)

Unit 2 December 20: Broad Rock

I hope Santa is good to you next week!

1. Homework review: workbook p.15, exercise 15
2. Quiz: Unit 2 The community, workbook p.85-86
3. Video: Crossroads Cafe "No Vacancy" Cultural Clip and Part Two
4. Happy Holidays! Return Saturday January 3, 2009

Unit 3 December 18: Downtown

1. Enjoy your field trip to LeMaire
2. Please leave comments and reviews on this blog or on your own blog if you have one
3. Have a wonderful holiday break
4. Return Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Unit 3 December 16: Downtown

above: blogger Jason Guard in a Richmond magazine food article

1. Homework review: Authentic practice, workbook p.24, exercise 17
2. Guest speaker: Jason Guard , writer of Carmelized OpiNIONS blog
3. Homework: write one paragraph based on the information in Jason's Guard's presentation

Unit 2 December 15: Broad Rock

1. Homework review: workbook p.14, exercise 14
2. Authentic practice: textbook p.23, exercises F & G
3. Video: Crossroads Cafe "No Vacancy"
4. Homework: workbook p.15, exercise 15
5. Optional: Watch a video story about housing discrimination online!

Unit 2 December 13: Broad Rock class

pictured above: a deadbolt lock for better security

1. Homework review: Authentic practice workbook p.14, exercise 13
2. Authentic practice - Tips for apartment hunters, textbook p.22 Listen to CD and answer exercise E
3. Class discussion: local maps, neighborhoods and apartment rental advertisements
4. Homework: workbook p.14, exercise 14
5. Laptops will be available for students to sign up for free email accounts!

Unit 3 December 11: Downtown class

pictured: the Golden Rule

1. Homework review: Authentic practice, workbook p.24, exercise 16
2. Idiom: "Put the pedal to the metal" to accelerate a vehicle rapidly. example: The bank robber jumped in her car and put the pedal to the metal.
3. Driving by the Golden Rule - textbook p.38, Listen to CD, do exercises A-C
4. Homework: Authentic practice, workbook p.24, exercise 17

Unit 3 December 9: Downtown class

above: a look under the hood of a car

1. Homework review: Authentic practice, workbook p.23, exercises 14-15
2. Idiom: "to blow your top" to become angry, to lose your temper. example: Don't blow your top if someone tailgates you on the highway. Keep cool instead.
3. Do it yourself! textbook p.37, exercises A-C
4. Homework: Authentic practice, workbook p.24, exercise 16
5. Optional: Check out the following Richmond blog with restaurant reviews as you prepare for next week's trip to Le Maire! Carmelized OpiNIONS

Unit 2 December 8: Broad Rock class

1. Alphabet review: spelling with a partner (we will decide what to spell and pronounce together in class)
2. Authentic practice - Tips for apartment hunters, textbook p.22 Listen to CD and answer
3. Homework - Authentic practice workbook p.14, exercise 13
4. Optional homework "Apartments for Rent"

Unit 2 December 6: Adam's Broad Rock Library class

1. This Saturday I will bring laptop computers.
2. We will go online and everyone will get a free email address
3. We will go to blogger.com and register in order to use richmondelcivics.blogspot.com (this blog)
4. You will be able to study and communicate with us when you cannot come to class!

Unit 3 December 4: Clay's downtown class

1. Homework review: Authentic practice, workbook p.22-23 exercises 12-13
2. Idiom: "to go ballistic" to very quickly and unexpectedly become very angry example: The driver went ballistic and yelled at the driver in front of him for going too slow.
3. Listen to Authentic Practice - Aggressive driving and road rage, textbook p.36 D Vocabulary, then try exercise E Discussion
4. Homework: Authentic practice, workbook p.23, exercises 14-15
5. Optional: Read the ESL blog post and comments about "Dangerous Teenage Drivers"

Unit 3 December 2: Clay's downtown class

above: Are you an aggressive driver?

1. Homework review: Authentic practice, workbook p.21 exercises 10-11
2. Idiom: "to cut off" to drive a vehicle unexpectedly into the path of another driver. example: The truck cut off the motorcycle in traffic, resulting in a bad case of road rage.
3. Listen to Authentic Practice - Aggressive driving and road rage, textbook p.36, then try exercises A-C
4. Homework: Authentic practice, workbook p.22-23, exercises 12-13
5. Optional: ESL Radio "Thanksgiving and American food culture" podcast