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