Friday, August 18, 2017

Interested in Distance Learning?

Do you want to study English at home?

With Distance Learning, you can study English at home using your smart phone, a laptop, or a dvd player.  For a list of some of the programs used in Distance Learning, look on the sidebar of this blog.

Every week or two weeks, Distance Learning students meet with a teacher at an appointment. The teacher gives them an assignment.  They do the assignment at home - with their smart phone, laptop or dvd player.  When they return, the teacher corrects their work and helps them practice and improve their English.

Distance Learning is by appointment.  Every Distance Learning student has a twenty minutes by appointment.   This is their special time for study and practice with the teacher.

Distance Learning is for everyone.  Some Distance Learning students cannot come to a regular ESL class.  They have young children or they work many hours at their job.  Other Distance Learning have a regular ESL class but they want extra homework or special practice with an ESL teacher.  Anyone can come to Distance Learning for help with ESL - English as a Second Language.

Like all ESL classes at San Mateo Adult School, Distance Learning is free.

To get started in Distance Learning, make an appointment.  Call 650 - 558 - 2128 to make an appointment.  If the teacher is busy and cannot answer, leave your name and telephone number.  The teacher will call you back and give you an appointment.

You can also stop by Room 29 to make an appointment.  If the teacher is busy helping a student, please be courteous and wait until the teacher is free.

You MUST have an appointment to begin.  The teacher will not give you an assignment until your first appointment.  At the first appointment, the teacher will help you fill out the registration form and ask you questions to assess your level, strengths, needs, and goals.

There are three teachers in Distance Learning:  Carolyn, Cynthia, and Jay.   All three teachers have worked in Distance Learning a long time and have a lot of experience.  Look on the upper right side of this blog for their schedule.

Teacher Carolyn loves to talk about current events, travel, and restaurants.
She is an expert at finding newspaper articles to meet students needs and interests.
She facilitates Lunch Bunch on Mondays and Fridays.

Teacher Jay also teaches the Passport to Employment Class
He knows a lot about writing resumes, job interviews, and finding a good job.
He has many connections to the local community.

Teacher Cynthia loves writing and pronunciation. 
She updates the school website and social media.  She used to teach Parent Ed.
She loves helping parents and grandparents find resources for family success.
She facilitates Lunch Bunch on Wednesdays and Break Bunch on Monday evenings.



Welcome to Distance Learning!


Distance Learning Schedule 

  • Monday 8:30 am - 4 pm Carolyn
  • Monday 5 pm - 9:30 pm Cynthia
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 5 pm Cynthia
  • Tuesday 6:00 pm - 9 pm Jay
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Cynthia
  • Wednesday 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm Jay
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 4 pm Carolyn
  • Thursday 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm Jay
  • Friday 8:30 am - 3 pm Carolyn



Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Distance Learning Material Online: Handouts and Videos

Some of the Distance Learning handouts and videos are available online:

Study Handouts for Putting English to Work Level 1

USA Learns - video and exercises.  Note:  You can buy the USA Learns app for $2

English For All handouts - in the middle, listed as English/Spanish

Connect with English - videos and exercises


Citizenship:

Videos to help you prepare for the test

Typical N-400 questions and answers



Additional Resources

Duolingo - Use or your computer or laptop or get the free app available for your smart phone. 
Note:  Teacher Cynthia can track your progress if you join her Duolingo class.

Quizlet - digital flashcards.  Make your own or search by topic.

Revolution English

ESL lessons on Youtube

     Rachel's English

     Engvid

Pronunciation

      Rebecca Linquist

Listening Skills

     ESL Bits - audiobooks with transcripts, songs with lyrics, etc.
 

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Study for Citizenship Test with these Videos on Youtube

Check out these videos to help you pass the US Citizenship test!




You can find all the videos here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edk8n9arEL8

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Distance Learning is now in Room 29!

Distance Learning has moved to a new room!   We are now in Room 29.  We have more space and will soon have some new offerings.

As always, call 650 - 558 - 2128 to make an appointment in Distance Learning.

We are here to help you improve your English!

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Connect with English Is Now On The Internet

Now you can watch Rebecca's story on the Internet!

Connect With English is a wonderful ESL series.  Follow Rebecca as she pursues her dream - and improve your English!

Go here to watch the episodes and do the interactive activities.




Wednesday, September 2, 2015

How To Use Distance Learning

Do you want to study English at home with Distance Learning?

Great!

How do you get started?

1.   Call 650 - 558 - 2121  and make an appointment

or

2.  Visit Room 29 and make an appointment.

What happens next?

1.   Come to your appointment!  Arrive on time.  You will have twenty minutes at your appointment.

2.   The teacher will register you.  Fill out the registration form.  Distance Learning is FREE, like all our ESL classes.

3.  The teacher will ask you questions about what you want to learn and your English skills.  Answer the questions.  Talk with the teacher.  The teacher will decide which program is right for you.

4.  The teacher will give a DVD and homework. 

5.  Make an appointment on the calendar for your return.

6.  Watch the DVD at home.  Do the homework.  Study and practice.

7.  Come to your return appointment.  The teacher will check and correct your homework.  The teacher will practice English with you and help you improve.  The teacher will give you another lesson.  You will make another return appointment.  Go home and watch the DVD at home.  Do the homework.  Study and practice.

8.  Repeat!

Here are the people who work in Distance Learning:

Teacher Carolyn works
Mondays: 8:30 am to 3 pm
Thursdays:  8:30 am to 4 pm
Friday:  8:30 am to 3 pm

Teacher Jay works
Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 9:30 pm.

Teacher Cynthia works
Monday evenings from 5 to 9:30 pm
Tuesdays 8:30 am to 5,
Wednesdays 8:30 to 4:30 pm

Here is Student Leader Daniel with Teacher Katherine - on the right!
Katherine works Tuesday evenings from 6 to 9 pm.

Toshio works in Room 28.
He takes care of all the CASAS testing.
He also helps students make appointments in Distance Learning.



Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Improve Pronunciation

Most ESL students want to improve their pronunciation.

There are many good videos on Youtube to help you.

Here are a few of my favorites:

1.  Rebecca Linquist. 

You can find her Youtube Channel here.  Her Youtube channel has many, many videos.

I like Rebecca Linquist because she gives very helpful, very specific instructions, and has a very sensitive approach.  She is always learning new things and then blending what she learns into new videos to help students.

Here is a video with mouth exercises to help you sound more American.



She also has many videos with advice for speakers of different languages.  For example, here is a video for speakers of Spanish and Tagalog:



2.  The Pronunciation Doctor - Marsha Chan.  You can find her Youtube channel here.
 
Marsha Chan is a professor at Mission College in Santa Clara.  I love her because she gives wonderful tips and advice - and she is funny.  Humor is a great way to relax - and being relaxed is a big help in learning a new language and improving pronunciation.

If you like her teaching style, you can ask your teacher to look at her blog with advice for ESL teachers.

Here is a sample of the Pronunciation Doctor:




 
3.  Amy Walker.  Here is her Youtube channel

Amy Walker is an actress and vocal coach.  She gives advice to develop many different accents - not only American.  She also gives advice for many different American accents (Southern, New York, West Coast, etc.).   And she gives advice for specific things like vowel sounds.

Here is a sample of her tips for American Accent - Vowel Sounds:



4.  Type, "American accent for (your language)" into Youtube and see what you find.

For example, when I type, "American accent for Chinese speaker," I find:



How about if I type, "American accent for Arabic speaker"?  I find our old friend Rebecca Linquist.  She has a lot of these videos.




Try it yourself.   See what you find on Youtube.   Try different videos.  Find what you like.

If you find something good, share it here on a comment.

Have fun and improve your English speaking power!