Au Revoir! But see you at our new location!

Hello folks,

I'm sorry but we can't go on with this blog.

Blogger won't let me upload any more photos, sadly. We've maxed out the quota for pictures.

But thanks for three amazing years of blogging on this spot!

So, people, let's go over to this other location. See you there!

Field Trip Friday: CBC Sounds of the Season

Our annual visit to CBC's Sounds of the Season open house event happens this Friday. It's not something you'd want to miss. The all-day program includes choir, instrumental, and solo performances by famous musicians.

We will be leaving in two groups:

1. Those leaving from Don Mills at 9 a.m. should look out for Peter.
2. Those leaving from Sheppard Yonge at 9:30 should look out for me.

We should get off the subway at St. Andrew or Union. For a map, type this into the address bar: http://goo.gl/maps/albSo



View Larger Map

Want to drop off a food donation? You can visit us at the CBC Broadcasting Centre in Toronto and drop off a food donation in the bins located at each of our entrances (250 Front St. West, 25 John St, or 205 Wellington Street West).

What are the most needed food items?

• Baby formula & food
• Beans & lentils
• Canned fruits & vegetables
• Canned fish & meat
• Cans of soup or hearty stew
• Dried pasta & tomato sauce
• Macaroni & cheese
• Peanut butter
• Rice
• Canned, powdered or Tetra Pak cartons of milk

Delay, Debouch, and Delight

Jenny, Miao Ying, Di, Helena, Yan, Mindy, Daniel, Diana, Terry, Reza, Katie, Radwa, and her mom and daughter made up the number!

An hourlong delay on the TTC line due to a signal problem resulted in our having to make a quick dash from Bloor Station to the Ontario Legislative Building.

The never-ending ride afforded opportunities to get to know one another.

Leaving out Yorkville and U of T from our itinerary, we managed to hit some major landmarks on Bloor Street before hightailing south, through the cold and the flurries, to the Pink Palace.

Quick breather at classy Holt Renfrew

It was brisk walking all the way!

What a prorogued provincial parliament looks like!

Our guide, Adrian, let us watch a video of the real session!

So, how did it go? Did everybody enjoy themselves? Where did you go for lunch? Did anyone go shopping? Be sure to write up your experiences and reflections on your blogs! And feel free to comment on each other's blogs, too.

Field Trip Wednesday: Queen's Park

WEATHER UPDATE: Bundle up, especially if you're coming with kids or seniors! It's getting colder throughout the day, and there's nothing we can do to prorogue it. If you don't bundle up, we might have to get to Queen's Park via the PATH underground city instead.

We're leaving (what tense is that?) Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. on the Southbound Platform of Sheppard Yonge Station for a field trip downtown.

The train leaves at 10:34 a.m. (what's the tense?) Don't be late. We're covering possibly Yorkville and Bloor, Philosopher's Walk, and the University of Toronto, before participating in a guided tour of Queen's Park at 12 noon.

Bring good walking shoes, some water and snacks, and a camera. Watch the weather forecast for the day. We should be done by 1:30 p.m. Let's have a merry good time!

Monday's Assignment

Welcome to a week of banking and field trips (Wednesday and Friday)!

1. Field Trip Research and Blog Writing: Google for Images and Videos on Queens Park. Write three things you’re curious about, and include relevant videos and pictures.
2. Vocabulary and Roleplay: Types of Bank Accounts 
3. Listening: First Mountain Bank 
4. Blog writing: Compare the features and fees between PC Financial and ING Direct.

Gates, Gould, and God

As the fog lifted, we emerged from St. Clair Station and began a walking tour of Toronto's historic Deer Park neighbourhood.

First on the list was Upper Canada College, a gated institution catering to students from SK through Grade 12. As we traversed west from Yonge, the houses got bigger and better, signalling the ascendant prestige of the area. Lovely nosebleeds!

And then it was over to Glenn Gould Park and his apartment building, at 110 St. Clair West. At least, speaking for myself at least, he was like the rest of us slobs, the apartment cleanup after his death taking more than a week, the first week alone consisting of putting his vinyl records back in their sleeves. At the park, Katie gave a good talk about Gould's techniques and antics, plus his chair!

And then it was over to the free concert over at Yorkminster, where Sarah Svendsen pulled out the stops for Liszt's rendering of Bach's Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, or "What God does, that is done well." A fitting end to a lovely visit to this exclusive neighbourhood.

Click below for videos ...

Wednesday's Field Trip to Deer Park

On Wednesday, our class is on a field trip to Toronto's Deer Park unique neighbourhood.



Please meet at 10:45 a.m. sharp on the Southbound Platform of Sheppard-Yonge Subway Station. From St. Clair Station, we'll begin a walking tour that will take us through various places to Yorkminster Baptist Church for a free organ concert at 12:30 p.m. Sarah Svendson, Assistant Organist, Metropolitan United Church, Toronto, will be performing.

Please have a good breakfast, bring a camera if you like, and wear good walking shoes. You may wish to buy some new shoes from that area, on the other hand.

Monday's Assignment

Welcome to a fresh week on the theme of Job Interviews!

Can you guess the question to this answer?

1. Using the Editing Checklist, make corrections to blog entries.
2. Reading and Vocabulary: Different Work Styles 
3. Listening Comprehension and Role Play, from ESL Corner at Settlement.org

Ever Get Mad AT/FOR All Those Prepositions?

So, how did I arrive to/at this preposition chart? Would you like to copy it down/up? What can you do for/with it? Do prepositions drive you over/up the wall?

Here are some basic meanings of/for prepositions that you need to know in/for starters:


Were there any prepositions that were new against/to you?

Answers to the eight prepositional pairs in this post:

Friday's Assignment

TGIF!

1. Using the Editing Checklist, clean up your blogs today!
2. Listening and Role Play: Assigning Blame in an Accident
3. Reading Comprehension: Car Accident 

Some of you asked about the Santa Claus Parade on Sunday--here's the link!

Wednesday's Assignment

We continue on our theme of car insurance today as well as have a preview of our field trip next week:

1. Writing Activity: Do a Google Web, Maps, Images, and Video Search for Glenn Gould and the park that is named after him, and put the information on your blog.

1. Locate Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Upper Canada College, St. Clair Station, Glenn Gould Park, Deer Park, and Forest Hill. Create a walking tour and embed it on your blog.
2. Find out what's happening at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church next Wednesday. Feel free to include any videos or pictures.
3. List at least three things you'd like to see or discover on our field trip. You could mention photo opportunities, lunch places, street interviews, shopping interests, or anything else!
2. Research Skills: Find the best quote for your car (real or imagined) using http://www.kanetix.ca/ and insurancehotline.com
3. Listening and Role Play: Buying Car Insurance 

Monday's Assignment

Welcome to a week on the theme of car insurance in Ontario!



Your tasks are the following:

1. Check your blogs using the editing points you learnt from Kathleen this morning. Feel free to mutually check with a partner.
2. Take notes from this information site and list 5 things you learnt on your blog. 
3. Listening and Role Play: Handling a Traffic Stop 

Good Morning, Boys and Girls, It's Time for Dictation!

Ready with a half-sheet of paper?

Here goes ... listen to the following question as many times as you wish, and write out what it says.

Then post your dictated question under Comments below.

Remembrance Day Ceremonies 2012 and Friday's Assignment

UPDATE: Meanwhile, over in England, Prince Philip lays a cross (check out the video).

  
Feel free to take in a little of the atmosphere in Toronto this Sunday!

LINC 4 - 5 participants at Remembrance Day celebrations in North York last year

This Sunday, November 11, is Remembrance Day, and you may find yourself stopped at 11 a.m. for two minutes' silence if you're out shopping.

However, if you'd like to participate intentionally in a Remembrance Day ceremony, here are some options:

Jobs at Target

The American retail chain Target is taking over what used to be Zellers stores.

Those of you interested in retail and supply-chain management positions should definitely check out Target's entry to Canada.

According to a Facebook ad, they're hiring!


Click here to look at the jobs offered.

Thursday's Field Trip and Wednesday's Assignment

On Thursday, we're going to the Ontario Science Centre as a school.

Those leaving from Don Mills Station should meet Tanya at 9:15 a.m. inside the station near the Coffee Shop.

The meeting time at Ontario Science Centre is 10 a.m., and the fee is $2 per adult. Please do not be late.

Monday's Assignment

This week we prepare ourselves for Remembrance Day, on Sunday, November 11.



Here are your tasks:

1. Reading: In Flanders Fields 
2. Learn the lyrics to the song, then watch and sing it using this video.  
3. Explore and discuss the Ontario Science Centre online with a partner.

Three Toronto Sun Contests

Hey guys, I just got this in my email.

Perhaps you'd like to try your hand at them and maybe win a top prize!

Here's an example of some of the great prizes to be won at TorontoSun.com

IIHF Women's Gold Medal game	Be the First to ride the ZIPLINE	VIP trip for 2 to Daytona 500®
Grand Prize Roundtrip business class transportation for 2 aboard VIA Rail from Toronto to Ottawa from April 8 to April 10, 2013 3 days/2 nights accommodation in Ottawa based on double occupancy 2013 IIHF Women’s World Championship Gold Medal Game on April 9, 2013 at Scotiabank Place Plus 10 Secondary Prize Packages	Grand Prize Winner & guest will be the first to ride the tallest urban zipline in North America Tickets to the Big Game Nov 25 Second Prize Fast track access for you and a friend	Grand Prize 2 Suite Packages to the 2012 DAYTONA 500® and 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race at Daytona International Speedway® two (2) Pre-race Passes for the 2013 DAYTONA 500®  Round trip air fare for 2  3 nights accommodation
Contest closes Nov 6, 2012	Contest closes Nov 11, 2012	Contest closes Nov 19, 2012

Why not make the most of our newspaper reading times in class and win a trip or two?

Friday's Assignment

 

TGIF! Here's our assignment for today:

1. Make all corrections based on Peter's Writing Workshop.
2. Publish a blog post on our visit to the Halloween Spooktacular at Roy Thomson Hall. Feel free to steal my pictures. Those who attended the circus can describe the experience.
3. Listening & Role Play: Questions about a Product 

Bachahahaha ... What a Spirited Performance

Those who made it to Roy Thomson Hall were not deathly disappointed, including Roya, Firouzeh, Reza, Yan, Helena, Diana, Jenny, Di, Jeff, and Edward (did I miss out anybody?). Thanks to Peter, most came with him on the subway in the moaning, but some groan-ups came on their own.

Organist Christian Lane unearthed his sometimes grave, sometimes shrieking, repertoire of vital organ sounds that kept all souls fastened throughout the entertombment. When we finally departed for the ghoul, drizzly outdoors, I bereave many would agree it was an exhumely phantasmic concert.

See you tomb morrow! More pictures below: