San Mateo Adult School Distance Learning

We're Here and Ready to Help You!

2010-09-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

Too busy to come to school?

Working too much to attend class every day?

Taking care of young children?

Or maybe you come to class every day but you want more?

We have the answer for you: Study at home with Distance Learning!

Watch a dvd and do homework in the comfort of your home, then bring your homework to school for correction, advice and practice with your teacher once every week or two weeks.

If you are already enrolled in an ESL class at San Mateo Adult School, Distance Learning is free.

If Distance Learning is your only class, the fee is $30 per semester.

Interested?

Call 650 - 558 - 2128 to make an appointment to get started!

Vacation Break

2010-07-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

The last day of school is Friday, July 30th.

No classes for FOUR WEEKS in August.

The first day for Student Registration is Monday, August 30th.

The first day of class for Distance Learning and Citizenship is Monday, August 30th.

The first day for Regular ESL classes is Tuesday, August 31st.

If you need to visit the office in the SMART Center, you can visit August 2 - August 6 and
August 23 - August 27 from 8 am to 4 pm.

If you have questions about the Adult School or ESL classes, you can visit the SMART Center or call 650 - 558 - 2100.

Flea Market - Saturday July 17th 9 am to 2 pm

2010-07-06T10:54:00.001-07:00

Make Learning English A Priority

2010-06-22T14:48:00.001-07:00

What is a priority?

A priority is something that is very important to you.

How do you decide what your priorities are? And how do you manage many priorities in one life?

I will tell you a story.

A young man had many things to do. Everything felt important! He needed money. He needed a wife. He needed a job and he needed to exercise and he needed to take out the trash and call his mother and go to Safeway and buy medicine for his sick sister and tie his shoes and go to college. He needed so many things and he didn't have enough time and his live was a mess and he felt frustrated, bad, sad, mad and discouiraged. He needed help.

He went to visit his grandfather. "What should I do?" he asked him.

The old man gave the young man a jar and a pile of rocks, gravel, and sand.

"Put these things in the jar," he told his grandson

The young man tried to do this. He put everything in and shook the jar and he moved things around but he could not get everything in the jar.

"Dump it out," the old man told him. "Now give it here."

The old man put the biggest rocks in the jar first. Then he put in the smaller rocks. Then the gravel. He shook the jar a little so the gravel fell into the spaces between the rocks. Then he scooped up the sand and poured it in. The sand filled in all the little empty places.

The jar was completely full. Nothing was empty. Nothing spilled out.

"There," said the old man. "That is how you should live your life. Decide what is most important. What is the beginning of everything? What things make the foundation for everything else? Those are your priorities. Take care of them first. Then take care of the smaller priorities. Last, do the little things - if you have time. If you don't, don't worry about it. Worry never fixes anything. Worry keeps you busy so you don't have to fix something or accept that it is broken and move on."

The young man thanked his grandfather. He tried to follow this way. His life was better.

Many students tell me they need a better job. They want to help their families. They want a better life. If you live in the U.S., then English is the way to all these things. English is the foundation. English is communication. And communication is how we make our way in the world.

Make learning English a priority. Make time for watching your DVD and doing your homework a priority. English lessons will help you get a better job. English lessons will help you help your family. Watching TV in your first language will not do this. It is fun and it is good. But it is not the foundation to a better life.

Put learning English in the jar first.

Put Your Words On Paper

2010-03-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

Learn more here.

Stand For Schools! Thursday 3:30 pm

2010-03-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

Today - Thursday, March 4 - 3:30 pm

Students from across the district will be lining up on El Camino Ave

from Millbrae Ave to San Bruno.

Come and join us!

Stand for education.

Stand for yourself.

Stand for your family.

Stand for your community.

Stand for the future.

Our future.

Save Our Schools

2010-03-02T15:03:00.000-08:00

The San Mateo Adult School is facing big cuts in 2010. So are all public schools in California.

A Day of Action to speak up about this is planned for Thursday, March 4.

Learn more about events here.

Learn more about what is going on here.

No School on Monday February 15

2010-02-08T19:33:00.000-08:00

The Adult School will be closed on Monday February 15, 2010 because it is President's Day Weekend. On President's 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.

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?

Monday January 18, 2010 - MLK Day - School Closed

2010-01-13T13:28:00.001-08:00

More About The New Fees

2010-01-12T08:33:00.000-08:00

Do you feel confused about the new fees?

Do you wonder if you can still come to Distance Learning or take ESL classes?

Here is more information about how the fees work:

1. The fee is for the Spring Semester which is from January 4, 2010 to May 1, 2010.

2. The $30 fee covers both Distance Learning and ESL classes and Citizenship classes and Computer classes for ESL students. It covers anything in the ESL section of the brochure.

You only have to pay ONE time to cover any ESL class the Adult School offers at any location (Poplar St., George Hall, Foster City, etc.), and Distance Learning.

3. If you take an ESL class, someone will come to your classroom to collect the fee. You do not have to go to the SMART Center to pay.

4. If you do not take an ESL class - if you only come to Distance Learning - then you need to pay at the Center. Go to your normal Distance Learning appointment and tell the teacher that you need to pay. He or she will help you.

5. If you do not have enough money to pay the fee, tell your teacher. Please come to class! Do not stop learning English! If you do not have enough money to pay, the school can help you.

Remember: If you have any questions about the fees, Distance Learning, or school, ask!

Everyone at the Adult School wants to help you learn English and succeed in the U.S. but if you do not know what your problem or question is, we cannot help you.

Help us to help you. Tell us your questions and concerns.

Learn with Your Kids

2009-12-14T18:50:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-17T14:49:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-10-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-14T18:24:00.001-07:00

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

2009-08-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-07-06T18:05:00.001-07:00

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?

2009-05-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-28T17:53:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-18T17:52:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-05-04T17:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-03T17:03:00.001-07:00

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

2009-02-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-01-14T11:43:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-13T10:29:00.000-08:00

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.

Winter Break

2008-12-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

The Adult School will be closed from Saturday December 20 2008 until Sunday January 4, 2009 for Winter Break.

There are no Saturday classes on December 20.

Can you study English during the Break?

Yes, you can!

Can you borrow extra material? Can you borrow three or four videos or dvds?

No, you cannot!

Can you relax and eat good food and spend time with your friends and family

AND study English?

Yes!

Happy New Year!

How To Get Started - And Where To Get Started

2008-11-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

Do you want to get started?

First, you must decide where you want to study.

We have six locations:

The Main Campus - 789 E. Poplar Ave. - Room 28 - Monday through Saturday.
The schedule is posted on the upper right side of this blog.

San Bruno - St. Bruno's Church - Mondays and Tuesdays 12 pm - 4 pm. Teacher Cara Virapaeff.

San Bruno - Belle Aire Elementary School - Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm.
Teacher Glenn Cunliffe.

Burlingame - Community Gatepath - Monday 1:30 - 3:30 pm Teacher Tia Marlowe.

Foster City - St. Luke's - Monday 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm Teach Aleth Reilly.

San Mateo - George Hall Elementary School - Tuesdays and Thursdays 6 - 9 pm. Teacher Shari Deghi.

If you want to go to the Main Campus:

1. Call (650) 558 - 2128 for an appointment. Tell them you are a new student.

Or

2. Visit the Smart Center (the big red building) at the Adult School to register.

You can register:

Monday through Friday 8:30 am - 12 pm
Monday through Thursday 6:15 - 8:15 pm

When you visit the doctor or the dentist, you must make an appointment.

You must make an appointment if you want to visit Distance Learning, also.

After you register in the Smart Center (the big red building), you will walk over to Room 28 and make an appointment for your first visit.

If you want to go to the other locations, just go there when they are open.

The teacher will help you register and help you get started.

So what are you waiting for?

Come and start learning English today!

What is Distance Learning? And How Does It Work?

2008-11-26T14:33:00.000-08:00

Distance Learning is a great way to study English at home.

Some people cannot come to ESL classes at the Adult School because they are busy, working a lot, taking care of children or older parents, or having health problems.

Distance Learning is a wonderful help for these people.

Other people can come to class but want to learn more English faster!

Distance Learning is a wonderful help for these people also. It is extra help, extra time with a teacher, extra learning.

How does it work?

You borrow a dvd or video and homework. You watch the program and do the homework.

You practice, practice, practice!

You meet with your teacher. The teacher corrects your work and helps you improve your English speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Your teacher gives you a new dvd or video and new homework.

You make an appointment to return.

Then you go home and watch the new dvd or video and do the new homework and practice, practice, practice again!

Then you come to your appointment and meet with your teacher and...

Repeat!
Repeat!
Repeat!

As the old saying goes, "Practice makes perfect."

What does that mean?

When do you something many times, you get better at it!