Friday Field Trip: Bluffers Park

Nasty weather predicted:

In time to welcome the summer, this Friday we're headed to Bluffers Park for a relaxing time at one of Toronto's most scenic recreational spots. Feel free to bring with you a Frisbee, soccer ball, drinking water, snacks, Rollerblades, a camera, sunglasses, umbrellas, baseball cap, bath towels, pet llama, etc.

THOSE WHO ARE NOT GOING are expected to complete the following assignment by 2:30 p.m. on Friday:

1. Do this listening lesson--after listening twice to the audio, do the quizzes on Vocabulary and Comprehension.
2. On your blog, write a short essay (no more than 200 words) about college life in the country of your origin. Use the editing checklist to correct all mistakes before clicking on Update.
3. Leave your comment on the following Voice Thread after listening to it:

THOSE WHO ARE GOING: Don't forget to bring some loose change in case you'd like to buy something on the way back, from the cookie factory and the thrift store.

We currently have the following people coming: Deepani, Jennifer and Ivy, Jenan, Rasha, Huan Yun, Noor and family, Alice and family, Run Lan, Ming, and Amani and husband and 3 daughters.


View Larger Map

Unless you have made other arrangements those who are going should meet at Don Mills Station Pick Up Point on the north side of Sheppard (in front of Fairview Mall), leaving at 9:30 a.m. Don't be late. We look forward to a super time in the great Canadian outdoors!

Wednesday's Assignment

1. Watch the video and then again with Transcript.
2. Research on whether OSAP is available for overseas studies, and post your results on your blog.
3. Listening: Online degrees
4. Post a video of Friday’s Field Trip destination on your blog.
   
   
   
   

Monday's Assignment

This week we look into the post-secondary educational options available in Ontario.

1. Complete editing and making corrections to your blog. If you have completed your work, watch this video clip and leave a comment on the website.
2. Research on the 6 post-secondary educational options available. With a partner, compare these options with those in your country of origin.
3. Listening Exercise: College Majors and College Textbooks

Scoot Around Town for 3 Hours from $15

Have you ever dreamed of zipping around Toronto on an electric scooter? Maybe you'd like this:

Green Choice Moto in Downtown Toronto offers

Three-Hour Scooter Rental for One or Two (Up to 58% Off)

The Fine Print

• Expires Nov 28, 2012
• Limit 1 per visit. Valid only for option purchased. Must be 16 or older and provide proof of age; driver's license not required. Must sign waiver. Helmet required; extra fee for helmet rental.
• 
  

Click here for more details!

Disclosure: I get 10 Groupon bucks for every referral.

Friday's Assignment

1. Role Play: Going on a Diet
2. Role Play: Performing an Intervention 
3. Perform one of your Role Plays with your partner at 1:50 p.m. for the whole class in the Workplace English classroom on the 4th floor.

Jaywalking Could be Fatal: Listening/Dictation

Listen to this mother talk about her son who died while crossing the road in Toronto.

Find 3 partners and divide the task of dictation into 4 parts: the first 30 seconds, the next 30 seconds, and then the next 30 seconds, followed by the final 18 seconds.
Put the 4 parts together in a Word document and check carefully before posting the completed work to your blogs.

Wednesday's Assignment

Welcome back! It's time to talk about the Healthy Lifestyle again!

1. Update Your Blogs on the Field Trip to the ROM and/or your Victoria Day long weekend.
2. Vocabulary and Listerning: Developing a Healthy Mind 
3. Role Play with a classmate: School Lunch
   

300? 400? 1,000? How fast can you read--in English?!

Source: Staples eReader Department

Did you break the record of 4,700 words a minute?

Who knew? Rags to Rideau ...

Like many rags-to-riches stories, these work histories in the National Post newspaper trace what jobs several Members of Parliament worked at before they became MPs in Ottawa. These politicians include NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, Liberal MP and son of a former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the Minister in charge of Immigration and our LINC program Jason Kenney. What were some of the poorly paying jobs before they got to Ottawa and very close to the Governor-General's residence at Rideau Hall?

Read this report titled "From Rags to Rideau: Politicians share stories of their lousiest jobs."

Then, under Comments, list five of the lousiest jobs mentioned and any thoughts you have about the story.

Three Good Reads for Victoria Day and Beyond

To improve one's reading skill, it's important to read not just utilitarian texts, those that have an obvious use, such as phone messages, hydro bills, and elevator messages. The reading of beautiful and moving texts is important, too, such as poetry, novels, and short stories. The Toronto Star recently ran a contest for short stories, and the results were published today.

The top three winners were announced as follows:

• 

  Toronto Star short story contest winner

  Tom McMillan takes top prize in Star short story contest with "Survivors"
• 

  Toronto Star Short Story Contest second-place winner

  "After Red" by Olivia Anastasia Arnaud won second place in the 2012 Toronto Star Short Story Contest.

• Third place winner: The Rabbit

If you're looking for an inspiring and not-too-long read this long weekend, how about picking one or more of these short stories, making a big mug of hot chocolate, and curling up on the sofa for a good time? You may be surprised how little you need to consult a dictionary!

Meeting Djed (and her ROM-mate Antjau)

Thirteen learners from our Level 4 - 5 class, with their parents and kids, combed the ROM today, some of us getting to meet Djedmaatesankh and her next-door mummy, Antjau, for the first time. Those who didn't make it to the museum are encouraged to talk to their friends Bernice, Maxwell, Ming, Jennifer, Judy, Jessie, Joan, Alice, Claire, Young, Amani, Huan Yun, and Rasha or to read their blogs.


For more pictures, please click the link below:

Friday Field Trip to the ROM

Our LINC school is headed down to the Royal Ontario Museum this Friday.

Please meet at 8:45 a.m. at Don Mills Station's subway platform and leave with your classmates at 9 a.m. You will transfer at Sheppard Yonge Station to a southbound train and get off at Yonge Bloor Station. It's a 10-minute walk west on Bloor to the museum. (Wear good walking shoes!)

The museum opens at 10 a.m. Please meet with your teacher at the entrance for tickets, attendance, and group photo. You may bring your camera. See you there!


View Larger Map

After the trip, remember to update your blogs. We may do it together next Wednesday.

The Monday following, May 21, is Victoria Day, a holiday. So there's no school then. But be back bright eyed, bushy tailed on Tuesday morning!

Happy Victoria Day (No school next Monday)

For most people, Victoria Day is an excuse to say good-bye to cold weather, hang out in the outdoors, and welcome the summer.



But what is Victoria Day all about?

According to Wikipedia, it is "a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday before May 25, in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday."

It is also an opportunity to celebrate the rule of current Head of State, Queen Elizabeth the Second. This year, her son, Prince Charles, will be visiting Toronto for Victoria Day with his wife HRM Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

What will you be doing this long weekend? Feel free to blog about it!

1. Listening Comprehension: Trying to Get through to Someone 
2. Role play: Trying to Get off the Phone
3. Watch 2 videos from Toronto Public Library
4. Listening and Role Play: On speakerphone with a partner, call the ROM line or 3-1-1 for details on opening hours or ticket prices for children or lower-income people. Post the information on your blog.
5. Writing: Leave a two-sentence comment at consumerslinc.blogspot.com.
   

MS Office 2010 Deal for Community MicroSkills D - $11

Sometimes online deals can be better than those in brick and mortar stores!

I thought you would be interested in this great deal being offered to our company. Now you can purchase Microsoft® Office Professional 2010 for your home computer for only $11.00. Just click on the link below and enter your company provided email address in the designated spot on that webpage.

Visit it now:
http://www.microsofthup.com/hupca/home.aspx?programCode=FF2ABA8835&culture=en-CA&country_id=CA

Your organization's Microsoft HUP Program Code is: FF2ABA8835

Enjoy!

Monday's Assignment

The theme for this week is Telephone, but we'll .

1. Listening and Vocabulary: Watch one of the video podcasts and then again with written transcript: Write on your blog what was most surprising fact that you learnt.
2. Check your writing thoroughly using the Editing Checklist we used this morning. When you have finished editing, have a classmate check it through again before clicking on the Publish button.
3. Listening and Vocabulary: Using the Phone
4. Listening Comprehension: Answering Machine
   

A Deal You Can Smile At!! :D

Anyone who has had dental treatment overseas will know it's not cheap having their teeth cleaned or whitened in Canada. The first question when you step into a dental office is usually, "Do you have dental insurance?" And you feel like asking back, "How many houses does this dentist own already, huh?"



O well, whatever.


Here's a deal that you won't have to escape by the skin of your teeth: Dental Cleaning, Pola Teeth-Whitening Treatment, or Both at Simply Smile Dental Hygiene Spa (Up to 74% Off). Instead of shelling out over $200 for basic cleaning, you pay $69. Or pay $99 for dental whitening. Or $140 for both treatments, a $579 value. As of 1 a.m. today, here's how many people have bought the deal:


Here are the rest of the details:

• Expires Nov 14, 2012

• Limit 1 per person, may buy unlimited additional as gifts. Limit 1 per visit. 48hr cancellation policy. Valid only for option purchased. New clients only. Option 3 must be redeemed across two visits. Must have cleaning done within 1 month prior to whitening treatment.

• See the rules that apply to all deals.

Full disclosure, I get paid for every new customer that buys. You get a great smile and a business idea! To check out the Groupon page, click here.

Djed and Death This Ascension Season

This beautiful lady Djedmaatesankh ("Djed"), my all-time favourite exhibit at the ROM, awaits our visit next Friday. Within her unopened colourful mummy case lies a mystery that has been revealed through medical scans. The case itself is too precious to saw open, adorned with symbols and figures of death and the afterlife. Nor is she alone--over in the Greece and Rome section of the museum, countless lifeless heads and busts bring up the unknown "memory" of the rich and famous.

Djed's mummy case

Canopic jars holding Djed's lungs, stomach, liver, and intestines

Poor Djed, though. There's not much left of her. First, they dug out her brains with a metal hook as they didn't think the brain, an ugly wet mess, had much use to anyone. Then her "lungs, stomach, liver, and intestines were taken out of the body, dried out separately, and placed in four canopic jars."

But there's no mummy case or bust for the person from whom we date our lives: Jesus. No body, no bones, but only written historical documents of how He predicted, as also did many prophets over the centuries, that He would die, be buried, and rise from the dead the third day. And documents that record that it happened exactly as the prophets and Jesus Himself predicted. But what happened to Jesus' body after He came back to life?

Luke, a doctor who carefully investigated the life of Jesus, relates the details:

³ He presented himself alive to [people] after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. ...⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Ancient Greece and Rome at the ROM

This event is called the Ascension (i.e. going up) of Christ, and it happened 40 days after His death, burial, and resurrection.

So, on this field trip to the ROM, I'm going to remember the Person who isn't there, who isn't here, but who's coming back in power. Djed and the Greeks and Romans did not conquer death, but Jesus did, and His body is now in heaven. Best of all, those who receive and believe in Him are, in reality, seated "with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

What better hope and joy can one have on Ascension Day (Thursday, May 18, 2012) and for all time?

Friday's Assignment

Here's today's assignment to round out our week on online shopping:

1. Listening Comprehension: Car Repairs 
2. Role Play: Store Returns 
3. Use your Editing Checklist to fix your blog posts. Mutual checking is encouraged!
4. In preparation for next Friday's field trip to the ROM, google for "djedmaatesankh" and read one or two articles about her! Feel free to post your thoughts and feelings about her on your blog.

Upcoming Business Startup Events

Have you ever dreamed of starting and running your own business?



Enterprise Toronto's series of training events continues through June with interesting sessions including:

1. Monday, June 11, 8:30 a.m. - 12 noon: How to Start a Food Business
2. Thursday, June 28, 10 - 11:30 a.m.:  Managing Cash Flow

Please indicate your interest under the Comments link below.

Wednesday's Assignment

1. Write a short paragraph (5 - 6 sentences) on your blog about some aspect of your LINC experience. You can talk about our Coordinator, the kitchen, our microwave ovens, your blog, or anything else you would like to recommend to others.
2. Compare craigslist.org, kijiji.ca, amazon.ca, tigerdirect.ca, questrade.com, and ebay.ca on free shipping, associate programs, customer reviews and ratings, seller feedback/messaging, etc. Use MS Excel to create a chart and copy it into your blog.
   
3. Listening and Role Play: Reselling for a Profit
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Monday's Assignment

Welcome to theme of this week: Shopping Online!

1. Listening and Vocabulary: Buying on the Internet
2. Listening and Role Play: Renting a Movie
3. Blog about your trip to Honest Ed's or about the pros and cons of subscribing to netflix.ca.
   
   

Pre-Summer Listening Warm-up

Summer will be here soon!

Listen to the following video on a North American outdoor cultural tradition:

1. Pick any 60-second segment to transcribe, e.g. 00:00 - 01:00 or 9:00 - 10:00.
2. Place the transcription on your blog, and invite your classmates to check it.
3. Feel free to highlight any words you can't really understand so that your classmates can help you out.
4. Include your thoughts about the event.
5. What's the name of the person going around and taking the video (he introduced himself many times)?

Honest to Goodness

One hour must surely have been too short for the party from LINC 4 - 5 at Honest Ed's. But at least it ended well with some good grub at a Korean eatery. So, "Honest to goodness," geddit? Have a look at the following video montage, and feel free to steal it as well as the still pictures to supplement your blog posting.



Thanks for the great time, Alia, Amani, Lara (who suggested going to Honest Ed's), Deepani, Huan Yun, Jennifer, Young, Claire, Maxwell (the gentleman!), Nancy, Jessie (with her mom and dad), Judy, Bernice, and the four little girls who came with their mommies!

Click on the link below to view the still pictures:

Preview of Field Trip to Honest Ed's

THE WEATHER ...

LOOKS GOOD!

This is where we're headed TODAY! Please notice that you can see the store from Bathurst Station at its Bathurst Street exit. (The other exit is on Markham Street)



They accept cash or debit cards only, I believe.

Those coming from Don Mills Station should be on the train by 9 a.m. That would give us enough time to show up for the door openers, at 10 a.m. Chance of precipitation is 80%; so bring an umbrella!


At 11:30 a.m., we'll be meeting near the entrance for a group photo. Please be on time.


As for lunch, here is the lunch special menu from Nirak Korean and Japanese Restaurant. The buffet is $14.99 for each person including rice, soup. If there are more than four people, you can get a bottle Soju for free. And every menu is including tea.

On the other hand, there's an Indian buffet promotion just catty corner from Honest Ed's:

So, what do you think?

Wednesday's Assignment

Aboriginal relations with Canada haven't always been quiet and peaceful.

1. Watch the above video, and discuss with a classmate how similar or different it is to your country of origin.
2. In preparation for our trip to Honest Ed's, read the this Wikipedia paragraph, and post on your blog what you find to be the two most surprising or important sentences.
3. Leave a nice comment on one of your classmates' blogs.
4. Complete this CBC lesson on Arctic Winter Games: Olympics of the North.
5. Listening & Vocabulary: Trail of Tears and Visiting a Museum