Learn with Your Kids

Do you have kids?
If you have kids - or if you don't! - check out Between the Lions.

It's a great show that helps kids learn to read.
It can help you, too. It can help you learn to read and pronounce English! The show uses phonics to help kids learn. What is phonics? Phonics is all about connecting the sounds of English with the English alphabet. And that's not easy, right? Right!
Improve your English reading, writing, and pronunciation with Between the Lions.

And have a little fun, too.

New Registration Fee for Adult School Classes

As we all know, there has been an economic crisis in California , the US , and the world.

The Adult School , like many schools and social programs, was hit by this. Funding was cut by 20% and the way the Adult School is funded was changed as well.

What is San Mateo Adult School doing about that?

Some classes were cut and we had a longer break this summer.

Now the Adult School has a new plan:

Charging a small registration fee to take classes will help keep the doors open to many classes.

What is a fee? A fee is small amount of money that you pay for a service.

How will that work?

Each program - ESL, Parent Ed, and the GED/ABE - will charge 30 dollars per semester.

If you pay 30 dollars for the ESL program, then you can take any class in the ESL program, including Distance Learning, for the whole semester. You can take as many classes as you want in the semester for the 30 dollar fee.

The only program that will be different is the Fifty Plus program. (For more information about the Fifty Plus program, visit the Fifty Plus section of the school website.)

How will paying the fee work?

If you are a new student on-site at the Adult School (789 E. Poplar), you can pay in the SMART Center (the big red building) when you register.

If you are a continuing student at the Adult School (789 E. Poplar), someone will come to your class and you can pay them.

If you take a class off-site (for example, in Foster City or San Bruno), someone from the Adult School will come at the beginning of the semester and collect the money from you. If you join the class later in the semester, you will pay the money directly to the teacher.

When will this start?

In January, at the start of the semester. The first day of classes is January 4, 2010.

Is there anything else I should know?

Yes! Keep your receipt! Your receipt shows that you paid. This is important.

You can read more about the new policy in this article from the San Francisco Examiner.

Wonderful New Website!

How are your listening skills?

Do they need some improvement?

Check out http://www.englishspeak.com - it's an amazing website!

Another Survey For You

Many of you told us that you are interested in new materials that you can listen to on MP3 players, computers or CDs.

If we make new materials, what subject matters are you interest in?

You can tell us here in this new survey:

Click Here to take survey

We're Here For You!

The Adult School and Distance Learning are back in session and ready to help you improve your listening, speaking, reading, writing in English skills.

If you are new to Distance Learning or if you have not come in for a long time, give us a call - 650 - 558 - 2128 or drop by - Room 28 - to register and make an appointment.

We have appointments available.

This is your chance to develop the skills you need to get the life you want!

Summer Break

The San Mateo Adult School will be on Summer Break from August 8 to September 7.

Fall classes begin Tuesday September 8.

During the break, you can continue to improve your English at www.usalearns.org
and the other sites listed on this page and on the San Mateo Adult School student blog.

See you in September!

Learn to Type or Improve Your Typing

Keyboarding (also called typing) is very important in today's culture. It's all about computers, emails, texting, and twittering. If you can't type or you type slowly, it's harder to get a job or succeed at work.

You can learn to type or improve your typing here:
http://sense-lang.org/index.html

Survey about Listening Programs

Here is a survey to find out if you are interested in listening programs.

Please take the survey here:

Click Here to take survey

Would You Be Interested in Listening Lessons?

Technology changes fast!

Twenty years ago, CDs were the new thing. Now it is MP3 players.

And now MP3 players are pretty cheap.

(What does cheap mean? It means inexpensive.)

You can buy them for $20 or $30 dollars.

Many people have them.

Question: Would you be interested in English lessons for your MP3 player?

Please tell us if you are interested.

Maybe we can provide lessons like this for you in the future.

You can tell us your opinion about this in the comment section or you can tell us when you see us in Room 28 at the Adult School.

Does Spelling Drive You Crazy?

English spelling is hard!
American children study spelling for five years. It is not easy!
American adults use Spellcheck and other programs to help them with spelling.

If you want help with English spelling and reading, check out:
www.starfall.com

By the way, what does drive you crazy mean?
It is an idiom that means something makes you feel terrible, confused... crazy!

Don't let English spelling drive you crazy. Check out starfall.

USA Learns

Do you want more English practice?

Check out www.usalearns.org

U.S.A. Learns is a free Web site funded by the U.S. Department of Education to support immigrants who want to learn or improve their English skills as they become part of American society.

First English Course: a 20-unit, video-based beginner-level course
Second English Course: a 17-unit, video-based intermediate-level course
Practice English and Reading: 42 intermediate-level stories and activities

The introduction is available in English or Spanish.

Your Friend: The Public Library

Do you need a place to relax? To learn about the world? To take your children so that they can have happy and successful lives?

For free?

If you answered "yes," then I have good news. We have a place like that. It's called your local public library.

At the library, you can borrow books for you and your children, magazines, books in other languages, movies, music, and more. You can use a computer. You can bring your child to storytime. You can listen to speakers and watch special movies and programs. You can meet with friends and use a study room or study area to practice English or study for your Driver's exam or other tests. And at the San Mateo Public Library, you can even go to the cafe and drink coffee and eat pastries!

Public Libraries also have Distance Learning programs that you can borrow, including Crossroads Cafe.

You can learn more about the Peninsula Library System here: http://www.plsinfo.org/

The library has many branches. Check the website for the locations and hours.


San Mateo Public Library http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/dept/library/
650 – 522 – 7800 -- 55 West 3rd Avenue, San Mateo, CA, 94402
Mon & Tues: 12 to 9 pm *** Wed & Thurs: 10 am – 6 p *** Fri: 10 am to 5 pm *** Sat: 10 am – 5 pm *** Sun: 1 – 5 pm

San Bruno Public Library
701 Angus Ave W, San Bruno, CA 94066 (650) 616-7078
Mon-Thurs – 10 am – 9 pm *** Fri: 10 – 6 pm *** Sat: 10 – 5 pm *** Sun: closed

Foster City Library (650) 574-4842
Monday – Thursday 10 am – 9 pm, Friday 10 am – 6 pm, Sat 10 – 5 pm, Sun 1 – 5 pm
1000 E Hillsdale Blvd, Foster City

Burlingame Public Library 650 – 558 - 7400
480 Primrose Road, Burlingame, 94010 (near Burlingame Ave, not far from Caltrain)
Mon – Thurs 10 am – 9 pm, Friday 10 am – 7 pm
Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm

May 25 - Memorial Day - School Holiday

Monday, May 25th, is Memorial Day, and a school holiday.

The school will be closed on this day.

On Memorial Day, we honor and remember the people who died in the service of their country.

In the service of their country means when they were in the Armed Services - the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, etc.

You can click here to read and learn more about Memorial Day.

How Can You Learn English Faster?

Many students who come to Distance Learning are very busy. They have jobs, families, and many responsibilities.

Are you busy? Is it difficult for you to learn English?

How can you learn English faster?

When we give time to something it gets bigger.

I know! You don't have time!

So how can you use your time in a good way to learn faster?


Here are some ideas that can help:

1. Use a notebook or binder

2. When you watch the DVD at home, write down new words or idioms that you learn. If you are confused about something, write down a question for your teacher.

3. When you meet with your teacher, write down what you learn. Corrections, new words, grammar information - write it down!

Why should you write everything down?

When we use our bodies we remember things better. We use our arms and hands to write. Using our arms and hands helps us remember.

4. Once a week, look at your notebook. Review the material.

Why should you review the material?

When we look at or use something again and again, we remember it better.

Do you remember tv commercials that you see over and over and over? Yes! You must study English like it is a tv commercial. Watch it over and over.

5. Think about how you learn. Do you learn by listening? By watching? By speaking? By reading? Everyone is different. Everyone has a best way. Talk to your teacher about how you learn. Ask your teacher for advice about learning English the best way for you.

Be smart. Use your time in a strong and good way to learn English faster.

Changes Are Coming to Distance Learning

As you know, these are difficult economic times. The State Legislature, when it voted for the new budget, had to make difficult choices. One of the choices was less money for schools.

Now we - the Adult School - must make difficult choices. We must make some cutbacks.
What are "cutbacks"?

A cutback is a noun. It means to make something smaller.

Starting in May, we will no longer have Distance Learning on Saturdays or off-site at other campuses.

Distance Learning will continue at the Adult School Main Campus 789 E. Poplar.
We will be ready to help you there! But we won't be able to offer Distance Learning at the other times and places after April.

We hope that in the future, when the economy improves, that the State Legislature will be able to give all schools more money and we will be able to expand the program again.

Until then, we will do our best to help you learn Englsh with Distance Learning and all our other great classes.

School Closed for Spring Break

The Adult School will be closed from Saturday April 4 until Sunday April 11.

School will be open again on Monday April 12.

We look forward to seeing you then and helping you with your English.

Happy Spring1

No School on Saturday Feb 14 or Monday Feb 16

The Adult School will be closed on Saturday February 14 and Monday February 16 because it is Presidents Day Weekend. On Presidents Day we remember President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln.

George Washington was the first president of the United States. His birthday was February 22, 1732. He was a general in the Revolutionary War. The U.S. fought the Revolutionary War against the British. The U.S. won the war. This was the beginning of the United States. Sometimes Washington is known as the Father of our Country.

Abraham Lincoln was the president during the Civil War. His birthday was February
12, 1809. He freed the slaves. Some people think he was the greatest president we have ever had. He grew up poor and suffered from depression. He had many hardships in his life. He was assassinated during his second term as president.



Click here to read the full post!





What does "assassinate" mean? It means to kill a leader. Sometimes we say that to assassinate someone is cut the head off the snake. Without the head, the snake cannot live. Without a great leader, sometimes a country does not move forward.

Both these men had great love for their country. February 14 is a day we celebrate love of all kinds, especially romantic love. Do you know the name of this holiday?
Yes, that's right: Valentine's Day!

Who and what do you love?
Who and what inspires you to do great things for others?
And what does "inspire" mean?

What is a verb?

Here's a fun way to learn about verbs:



This was on TV in the 1970s. At that time there were many animated lessons for children about grammar, US government, and math.

No Distance Learning on Saturday January 17th

The Adult School will be closed on Saturday January 17th and Monday 19th in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King.

If you want to learn more about Dr. King and practice your English reading skills, you can try this webQuest on Dr. King.