American Regional Accents

This article includes 22 maps that show how American accents differ regionally:

http://www.businessinsider.com/22-maps-that-show-the-deepest-linguistic-conflicts-in-america-2013-6

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2013; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Ron Paul's Farewell to Congress

On November 14, 2012, Texas Representative (and former presidential candidate), Ron Paul, gave his farewell address to the House of Representatives.  Here are links to a video and a transcript of the speech:

Video

Transcript

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2013; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

President Barack Obama's 2012 General Election Acceptance Speech

Here is a video of Barack Obama's 2012 General Election Acceptance Speech [New York Times via YouTube (accessible for all Android devices)].  This speech took place in the early morning hours (~1:00 a.m.) of Wednesday, November 8th.

And here is the transcript (Washington Post) for the speech.

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

"Clothings Styles" Listening Activity

This is a beginner - lower-intermediate level listening activity on clothing styles from the ESL Listening Lab (esl-lab.com):

1. "Clothing Styles" Listening Activity (with multiple-choice quiz)
2. The Script
3. Vocabulary Quiz
4. Scrambled Sentences
5. Vocabulary Matching Exercise

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

DuoLingo

Here is a new collaborative web site for learning different languages.  You can register for free to learn English for speakers of Spanish.  It is mostly based on translation.

You can also follow the progress of other people.  I am currently using the site to improve my Spanish.  You can "follow" me to see my progress, and I can follow you to see your progress.  Look me up.  My user name is "lukecrawford."

Here is the site: DuoLingo

I hope to see you on there!



© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

English Sayings & Expressions

Here is a long list of English Sayings & Expressions


© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

"Daily Schedule" Beginner Listening Activity

Here is a beginner listening activity involving times and personal schedules:

"Daily Schedule" (esl-lab.com)

Here is the SCRIPT.


© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Leadership I

All of the following links about leadership (with a focus on business applications) come from the same website, biz/ed:

Here is a link to a Power Point presentation on "Leadership" (bized.co.uk).

This "Leadership Mind Map" (bized.co.uk) goes with the Power Point presentation.

And here is a "Leadership Activity" (bized.co.uk) to do in small groups after the presentation.

*********************************************************************************


For the teacher, here is a "Leadership" Lesson Plan (bized.co.uk) to go with the above material.



© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Mexican Slang / Idioms

Here's an article by Sarah Menkedick: "A Quick and Dirty Phrasebook of Mexican Slang" (matadornetwork.com)
 
Here is an article by Nancy Seelay: "Mexican Slang 101" (www.adip.info)

Here's a nice list of Mexican Slang (www.mexicoguru.com) with examples.

Another list of "Mexican Slang Words and Phrases" (www.learn-spanish.com.mx)



© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

"Enhancing Students' Motivation" - Advanced Reading

This is an advanced-level article by Annick M. Brennen about different theories of motivation:

"Enhancing Students' Motivation" (soencouragement.org)



© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

"Business Communication" - Beginner ESL Listening Activity

These links are for a beginner listening activity:

"Business Communication" (esl-lab.com)

Text Completion Exercise


© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Beginner Listening Activity - "Answering Machine"

Here are links to a short listening activity for beginners:

"Answering Machine" (esl-lab.com) with script

Listening Quiz without script


© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Intermediate - Advanced Reading

Here is a link to an article on how to get better sleep:

"Sleep Tips" (helpguide.org)


© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Advanced Listening Activity: The 2000 Elections

Read and listen to the Voice of America's (Learning English) story on the confusing 2000 presidential elections in the USA:

American History: The 2000 Elections

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Advanced Reading - "The Benefits of Bilingualism"

If you need another reason to learn another language, here it is: "The Benefits of Bilingualism" - NY Times

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Online "Prepositions" Activities / Games

Here are links to online activities/games that have to do with "Prepositions":

1. Learn Prepositions with a Little Mouse
2. "Penalty Shootout" (Soccer) - Prepositions
3. "Teacher Invaders - Prepositions of Place II"
4. Basketball - Prepositions
5. Concentration / Memory / Matching - Prepositions
6. "Preposition Desert"
7. "Tidy Up Your Room" - Prepositional Phrases of Location
8. Hangman - Prepositions
9. "The Anteater Game" - Prepositions
10. Quiz - Prepositions

 © Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

The Steve Jobs Speech

• Watch Steve Job's 2005 Stanford University Commencement Speech

• Read the transcript here.

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Travel Vocabulary & Conversation Questions

This is an extensive "At the Airport" Travel Vocabulary List - English-Spanish for Spanish-speaking students.

Here is a Travel Question List (iteslj.org) for classroom discussion.



© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

False Cognates

"Cognates" are words that look quite similar between two languages and have the same roots.  English and Spanish share many cognates that come originally from Latin, for instance.  However, there exist many "false cognates" - words that share the same root but have different meanings.

For example, "compromise" in English and "compromiso" in Spanish:

A "compromise" is essentially a negociation or a "deal," whereas "compromiso" is a committment - quite different meanings for words of the same root.

Here is a nice, long list of false cognates between English and Spanish:

"Falso Amigos" (eLearnSpanishLanguage.com)

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Advanced Reading - Mardi Gras in New Orleans!

Here are some links for reading about Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana - "the biggest free party on Earth"!

NewOrleansOnline.com - Mardi Gras History

CNN - "Mardi Gras Beyond Bare Breasts" - parade tips

New York Times - "Wookie Invasion at New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade "

NOLA.com - Mardi Gras 2012 - pictures, videos, route maps, etc.

MardiGrasNewOrleans.com - parade schedules, etc.

Parade Cam - Live streaming video from St. Charles Avenue


© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Personality Test

Take this popular test to see what kind of person you are and what kinds of occupations might fit well with your personality:

The Jung Typology Test

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Advanced Health Article

This is a great read for advanced adult students:
"16 Health Tips and Healthy Habits from the Doctors" - Prevention.com

Make sure they know to click on "next" at the bottom of each page until the article reaches its end.

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

More Listening Activities

The following is a link to some listening activities:

American Society and Culture

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Advanced Listening Activity - "A University Degree"

Here is a link to an advanced listening activity: A University Degree

Exercises for "A University Degree"

• Fill in the Blanks
• Scrambled Sentences
• Vocabulary Matching

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Travel Links

U.S. Department of State - travel website

Travel Listening Activities

Travel Conversation Questions

Video Lesson about Prepositions used to Talk about Travel

Video Lesson about Talking about Travel Plans







© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Advanced Listening Activity

Here is a link to an advanced listening activity:

72-Hour Emergency Kit

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

United States 2012 Presidential Primary Elections

1. You can find out more information about the active candidates in the Republican Primary race for USA president, 2012, at this link:  Roaring Republican

2. On this site, you can find the debate schedule: 2012 Presidential Election News - Debate Schedule

3. This article explains some of what comedian Stephen Colbert has done in South Carolina.
Hermain Cain & Stephen Colbert Story

4.  Here is a bizarre campain ad from Hermain Cain:  Hermain Cain Ad

5. Here is Stephen Colbert's satirical take on the ad: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/01/17/stephen-colberts-super-pac-vote-for-herman-cain/ (This was a real ad on T.V. in South Carolina.)

6. Here is another Colbert ad against Mitt Romney: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/mitt-romney-serial-killer  (To really understand this, I suggest researching the January, 2010, U.S. Supreme Court decision "Citizens United vs. the Federal Election Commission).)

lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

New Games

1. Football - Prepositions
2. Football - Comparatives and Superlatives
3. Football - Future Tense
4. Basketball - Action Verbs
5. Basketball - Questions
6. Space Invadors - Prepositions of Place
7. Walk the Plank Game - Conjunctions

Three More English Games

1. Number Hunt
2. Frog Verbs - Irregular Past Tense
3. Frog Verbs 2 - Irregular Past Tense

Asking for and Giving Directions

Top Notch Fundamentals A, Unit 3

Asking for and Giving Directions

"Places in the City"

Top Notch 2, Unit 5 Review

1. Top Notch 2, Unit 5 Companion Website
2. Some vs. Any
3. Some vs. Any # 2
4. Some vs. Any # 3
5. Some, Any, & No
6. Count & Non-count Nouns

Top Notch Fundamentals Unit 1 Practice

1. "To Be" (am, is, are) Quiz
2. "To Be" Quiz # 2
3. Plural Nouns "Billionaire" Game

The VARK Questionnaire

Take the VARK Questionnaire to find out your personal learning style:

• VARK Questionnaire in English
• VARK Questionnaire in Spanish

VARK = Visual (V), Aural (A), Read/Write (R), + Kinesthetic (K)

Listening Practice

These are all links to websites that are for ESL/EFL students to practice listening:

1. ESL Lab - listening activities & quizes
2. Many Things - listening activities
3. English Central - Videos
4. Voice of America News - Special English - Videos & Audio
5. Voice of America - Special English - Activities
6. Voice of America - Special English - Video Series
7. English Daily - Various text & audio activities
8. ESL Listening - listening activities

Top Notch 2 Companion Website

Here is the link to the Top Notch 2 Companion Website.  Find your current unit number at the top of the page:

Top Notch 2 Companion Website

More Games

1. Golf Game - Present Perfect
2. Basket Ball Game - Prepositions
3. Basketball Game - Verbs
4. Basket Ball Game - Comparisons

More Present Perfect Games & Activities

1. Walk the Plank Game
2. Snakes & Ladders Game
3. Past Tense Spelling Game
4. Irregular Past Spelling Game
5. Spin the Wheel Game
6. Still - Yet - Already Activity
7. Past Tense Sequencing Game 

Simple Present Tense Games

For my Beeline 4 students:

These are all links to games to practice the Simple Present Tense:

1. "Starship English" Games
2. Gap-Fill Game
3. Golf Game
4. "Mark's English School" Games

Present Perfect Games

Please show me your results on these three present perfect games:

1. Basketball Game # 1 - Past Tense
2. Basketball Game # 2 - Verb Tenses
3. Present Perfect Game

 lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com

Top Notch Fundamentals Websites

Saturday TN Fundamentals students - click on # 1 below, and do the exercises and crossword puzzles for Units 1-5 to review for the TN Fundamentals A final exam.  If you have extra time, you can try some of the activities in #s 2 (for adults) and 3 (for teenagers).

1. Top Notch Fundamentals Companion Website
2. Longman Adult Student Online Activity Archive
3. Longman Teen Student Online Activity Archive

"Enough" vs. "Too"

These are all practice for the Unit 10 exam, which will include questions on the difference between "enough" and "too."  Please show me your result for each quiz before moving on to the next one.

1. Top Notch 1, Unit 10
2. Enough vs. Too Quiz 1
3. Enough vs. Too Quiz 2
4. Enough vs. Too Quiz 3
5. Enough vs. Too Quiz 4
6. Enough vs. Too Quiz 5
7. Enough vs. Too Quiz 6

Irregular Past Tense Verbs Practice

Here is a good list of irregular verbs.  Most of them are on there.

1. List of 211 Common Irregular Verbs

Games & Activities to practice irregular verbs:

1. Jeopardy Game - Irregular Verbs - 1 or 2 Players (quia.com)
2. Concentration / Memory Game - Irregular Past Verbs ( quia.com)
3. Fill-in-the-Blank Quiz (English-Zone.com)
4. Crossword Puzzle - Irregular Verbs (Capital Community College)
5. Fill-in-the-Blank Exercise (Capital Community College)
6. Concentration / Memory Game (Bradley's English School)
7. Another Concentration / Memory Game from Bradley's English School
8. Concentration / Memory Game (Better-English.com)
9. Another Concentration / Memory Game from Better-English.com
10. Speed Word Game - Irregular Past Tense Verbs (ManyThings.org)
11. Fill-in-the-Blank Activity (ChompChomp.com)

© Luke Sanford Crawford, 2012; lukesanfordcrawford@yahoo.com