Local Color

Conversation & writing activity

Do you think it’s important to keep traditions? Why (not)? Should cultural identities be discarded or ignored when people move to another country? Why (not)? What are the big holidays in your country? How is a typical wedding ceremony?  What is a customary greeting where you come from? Do people kiss, shake hands, or other? What are some customs for eating in your country? Is there a national dish, dessert, drink, etc.? Which traditions would you definitely maintain if you moved abroad? Should people hold on to their language, religion, dressing habits and the like when they emigrate? Why (not)? Which of your traditions do you value most? Have you adopted traditions from another culture? Which ones?

Group Activity: Make a group list with all the traditions in your country that reflect your cultural identity.

 

Writing: Write and essay, reflecting your point of view on the topic of Cultural Diversity.

1.Create an original title to attract the reader. You can also do it at the end when you have finished. 2.Write an introduction that explains the topic and include information or examples that will transition the reader to the argument you are presenting. 3.Write the body and present your point of view with support information or examples.  4. Write the conclusion to reassert your argument and persuade the audience to support your view.

Lazy Jane by Shell Silvertein

Poem/ Reading, discussion & writing activity

Shel Silverstein (1930-1999) was a poet and musician known for children’s books such as The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends and the poetry collection A Light in the Attic.  His poems are known by most American children and adults, because they are strange and funny. His books include drawings by him.

A)Reading the poem

“Lazy Jane” is a poem from his most famous book, Where the Sidewalk Ends.

How is the idea of “lazy” developed in the poem? What can you see and infer?

 

Lazy

lazy

lazy

lazy

lazy

lazy

Jane,

she

wants

a

drink

of

water

so

she

waits

and

waits

and

waits

and

waits

and

waits

for

it

to

rain.

This is a poem in the Calligram form. The term comes from the Greek calli and gamma which mean "beautiful writing".

Now. observe the original visual of this poem. It is more than words on a page.

What does it represent to you?

B)Writing a Poem

Think about the word LAZY and write down a few ideas, synonyms, metaphores, associations... and combine them in a visual poem.

You can chose any other words or concepts that you like best.

Answers here!

The History Behind “World Oceans Day“

Gap-filling, vocabulary & writing activity

1.Use the words in the box to complete the text.

achieve  -  boost  -  capitalize  -  challenges  - community -  connection   conservation  - coordinate  -   depend  -  importance -  increasing  - involved   officially - online  -  petition -  result  - step  -    strive  -   together  -  urging

The concept for a “World Ocean Day” was first proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. As a (1).......................  of a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed in December 2008, World Oceans Day is now (2)...........................   recognized by the UN as June 8th each year. Since 2002, The Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network have helped to promote and (3)......................  World Oceans Day events worldwide with aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organizations, universities, schools, and businesses. Each year an (4).......................... number of countries and organizations have been marking June 8th as an opportunity to celebrate our world ocean and our personal (5)......................... to the sea. Together, we also developed and widely circulated a (6)........................  to the United Nations (7)..........................  them to officially recognize World Oceans Day. With help from our Partner organizations, tens of thousands of people from all parts of the world signed (8)..................... or paper copies of the petition. Congratulations to all for helping to make this happen! Designation of World Oceans Day provides an important (9).......................... to those organizations and individuals who have been deeply committed to ocean (10)........................ Official UN designation is another important (11)............................ toward improving the health of our world’s ocean. Now we need to (12)........................... on this fresh momentum! We hope you will be (13)..........................  in planning or participating in a World Oceans Day celebration near you! Please visit the rest of the World Oceans Day website to list your event, get celebration ideas, access the media and outreach kit, and more. People around the world (14)......................... on a healthy, clean ocean in order to survive and thrive. World Oceans Day is the official UN-designated international day of ocean celebration. On June 8th each year, we celebrate the ocean, its (15).........................  in our lives, and how we can protect it. WorldOceansDay.org aims to help you make a difference in your life, (16).........................., and world by taking action to protect our ocean—for present and future generations. Despite the huge (17).........................  facing the world’s ocean, by working together we can (18)...........................  a healthy ocean that provides for the billions of humans, plants and animals which depend on it every day. The two-year theme for 2013 and 2014 is (19)........................  we have the power to protect the ocean!  For the next two years we ask you to celebrate the ocean and (20)..........................  to protect it. Connect with your family, friends, community, and the entire planet on World Oceans Day to take action and create the future you want.

Text source : WorldOceansDay.org

 2.Use at least TEN words from the box in exercise 1 to create a poster or brochure for a campaign to help protect the oceans. Use a dictionary to further clarify meanings and usage.

Answers here!

Telling the Future

 Song, Vocabulary and Writing Activity

Fortune Teller by Maroon 5

Fill in the blanks of the first part of the song with one verb from the box.

roll  turn  predict   brings  try   stay  end   leave   mean

“I'm not a fortune teller I won't be bringing news of what tomorrow .... I'll .... that up to you I'm not a fortune teller Don't have a crystal ball I can't ....  the future Can't see nothing at all It doesn't .... I'm afraid of all the things that you say But I just think we should .... Stuck in the moment today And as the seasons .... by No matter how hard I .... Summer will .... and the leaves will ....  again.”

Fill in the blanks for the rest of the song with a verb form – only one word. Base your choice on the context and the theme.

“I don't know why you're ... like this I don't know why you .... to do it again Why'd you have to go and .... the night Don't .... about tomorrow's mess. I never know how the future will .... I don't know what to .... you, I'm not a fortune teller I never ...., but I want you to .... I don't know what to .... you, I'm not a fortune teller. I don't like .... TV I don't know what that all .... And your American dream, baby it just .... in me I know that what I'm ...., may not be on your mind I know the song I'm ...., it's not your favorite kind It doesn't mean I'm afraid of all the things that you .... But I just think we should .... Stuck in the moment today And as the seasons ... by No matter how hard I .... Summer will .... and the leaves will .... again. This feeling, keeps ...., these rivers keep .... How can I have answers when you .... me in questions.”

Check your work with the clip.

Discuss the questions below:

Do you worry about the future? Is it possible to predict it? Do you believe that some people can actually predict the future? What are some ways used to tell fortunes? Fortune-telling or divination is the practice of predicting the future through mystical means. Would you consult with a fortune teller? Why (not)? What would you like to know about the future and what wouldn’t you like to know? Why (not)?

Read the following comments and give your opinion. Afterwards, choose one and expand the idea in writing.

Answers here!

How can I write business emails easily? - The Readers' Issue 1

INTRODUCTION

 Who you address the email and how you close it:

1. You do not know the person’s name :   Dear Sir ... Sincerely

        Dear Madam ... Sincerely

2. You do not know if it is a man or a woman : Dear Sir or Madam ... Sincerely

3. You know the person’s name:   Dear Mr Hanson ... Sincerely / Best wishes/Best regards

4. You are writing to a colleague:     Dear Jack ... Best wishes/Best regards

5. You address a whole department, company or institution :   Dear Sirs ... Best regards

Referencing

 With reference to... your advertisement.
         ...your letter of 23 rd March
         ...your phone call today

Thank you for your letter of March 5 th .

Purpose

I am writing to enquire about...
        ... to apologize for
        ...to confirm

 10 great phrases to start an email:

With reference to your letter of 8 June, I ...

I am writing to enquire about ...

After having seen your advertisement in ... , I would like ...

After having received your address from ... , I ...

I received your address from ... and would like ...

We/I recently wrote to you about ...

Thank you for your letter of 8 May.

Thank you for your letter regarding ...

Thank you for your letter/e-mail about ...

In reply to your letter of 8 May, ...

EMAIL BODY

Requests

Could you possibly ( + infinitive ....) ?
I would be grateful if you could...

Accepting Requests

I would be delighted to...
It would be a pleasure to...

Rejecting Requests

Unfortunately I/ we will not be able to ...
I am afraid that...

Enclosing Documents

I am enclosing...
Please find enclosed...
Enclosed you will find...

FINAL PART

Closing the message

Thank you for your help
Please contact us again if we can help in any way.
        ... if there are any problems.
        ... if you have any questions.

Reference to Future Contact

I look forward to ...  hearing from you soon.
        ...to meeting you next Tuesday.
        ...to seeing you next Thursday.

 5 great phrases to close a message:

If you require any further information, feel free to contact me.

I look forward to your reply /  to hearing from you.

Please advise as necessary.

We look forward to a successful working relationship in the future.

I would appreciate your immediate attention to this matter.