I really like this blogging thing...
Hasn't this been a great week off? It's been so nice to get outside and enjoy the sunshine! I find it really hard to live through winter, so I can only imagine those of you who come from warmer climates! In any case, it's time for me to go back to work next week. I'll be teaching Advanced 1 and EPT 2 (prep for the CELDT).
During my week off I've been reading some good books. Ayrin, I've read Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures and actually really enjoyed it! Yes, I agree it's a different style of writing, but one to be enjoyed nonetheless...
So if you have some time before you begin your classes, pick up a good book. I've got some great recommendations for you!
Read on....
S
Friday, March 30, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Seize the Moment!
>
<
"Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and
make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; great men make them."
~Orison Swett Marden
Here are a few pictures of my trip for those of you who are interested.
Now you have reached your goals and are about to enter the university. These will be some of the best years of your life, so don't forget to seize each moment and make them all great!
Hope to see you at Starbucks!
Sherry :)
Hey, isn't that Scott's car under the troll's hand????
Friday, March 23, 2007
Friday in Seattle
Hello Graduates!
How was the graduation? I heard from Lili that it was a nice ceremony and there were many nice words said. I really wished I could have been there to celebrate with all of you. Maybe we could arrange to have a lunch for those of you who are still available and interested in seeing your classmates again....
How was Moe`s speech? Was there anyone else who spoke?
I`ve had another great day in Seattle. I started out with some conferences on how to integrate students more into the university environment to make them feel that they are part of a community. These presentations were done by two professors from the University of Tennessee. I love their accents. They sound so sweet and nice with their southern drawls...I got me thinking about how many of you are going into new environments in the university and whether or not you are prepared for what lies ahead. There are a lot of unspoken academic rules that students need to know in order to ensure their success in their studies.
Later in the day I took a bus tour and visited the city. The bus was full of teachers! We saw most of the highlights of Seattle and even visited the neighbourhood of Bill Gates. Did you know his home cost 125 million dollars? Anyhow, one needs to earn a considerable income in order to live in Seattle. So Khalid, if you do plan on working for Boeing, study really hard and get the best grades possible in order to plant yourself well. You can even buy a house boat and live on the water. There are so many boats here. I think it must be a prerequesite to live here. We visited a few marinas with some amazing vessels. People give their boats very interesting names. Saw one today called, Family Therapy. Loved that one!
We also saw the original Starbucks. Did you know that the image in their logo was altered once they became popular? It was considered indecent by most American standards. I`ll take pictures to show you.
We also went to the top of the Space Needle. That is the highest tower in Seattle with amazing views over the water and the city. It was certainly very very windy, but the view was breath taking.
Only one more day until I come home. It has been an incredible journey and I am exhausted. However, I secretly have to admit that it`s been a great and well-deserved break for me.
This will be my last blog in Seattle since I don`t think I`ll have access to a computer tomorrow. So if you are interested, we can keep blogging next week.
Tsschus,
Sherry :)
How was the graduation? I heard from Lili that it was a nice ceremony and there were many nice words said. I really wished I could have been there to celebrate with all of you. Maybe we could arrange to have a lunch for those of you who are still available and interested in seeing your classmates again....
How was Moe`s speech? Was there anyone else who spoke?
I`ve had another great day in Seattle. I started out with some conferences on how to integrate students more into the university environment to make them feel that they are part of a community. These presentations were done by two professors from the University of Tennessee. I love their accents. They sound so sweet and nice with their southern drawls...I got me thinking about how many of you are going into new environments in the university and whether or not you are prepared for what lies ahead. There are a lot of unspoken academic rules that students need to know in order to ensure their success in their studies.
Later in the day I took a bus tour and visited the city. The bus was full of teachers! We saw most of the highlights of Seattle and even visited the neighbourhood of Bill Gates. Did you know his home cost 125 million dollars? Anyhow, one needs to earn a considerable income in order to live in Seattle. So Khalid, if you do plan on working for Boeing, study really hard and get the best grades possible in order to plant yourself well. You can even buy a house boat and live on the water. There are so many boats here. I think it must be a prerequesite to live here. We visited a few marinas with some amazing vessels. People give their boats very interesting names. Saw one today called, Family Therapy. Loved that one!
We also saw the original Starbucks. Did you know that the image in their logo was altered once they became popular? It was considered indecent by most American standards. I`ll take pictures to show you.
We also went to the top of the Space Needle. That is the highest tower in Seattle with amazing views over the water and the city. It was certainly very very windy, but the view was breath taking.
Only one more day until I come home. It has been an incredible journey and I am exhausted. However, I secretly have to admit that it`s been a great and well-deserved break for me.
This will be my last blog in Seattle since I don`t think I`ll have access to a computer tomorrow. So if you are interested, we can keep blogging next week.
Tsschus,
Sherry :)
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Sleepless Sherry in Seattle
Hi Class,
Another busy day in Seattle. Did you know that Seattle is the home of Starbucks? No exaggeration, but there is literally an average of 5 in a block. Everyone walks around with huge cups of coffee. Yes, Moe there is plenty of caffeine addiction here. And I think I am more addicted than ever....
The conference is great. There must be at least 10,000 teachers here. Today we gave a presentation on the A2 blogging project. We were assigned a HUGE room for 400 people. Luckily we only had 50. People were really interested in what we do at CELI and were totally impressed by the fluency of your language ability and the level of thinking in your comments.
Jin, I saw a presentation completely dedicated to writing your research paper. It was on using crime as a way to teach grammar. For example, Paris Hilton who has been arrested on DUI charges, is known for her outrageous behaviour. Which grammar point does this example show?
Gina, you should taste the great Washington wines. They are to die for...Syrah and Merlot. New world wines...with great new taste. And cheap...you can get a really nice bottle of wine for under 10 bucks.
I finally made it down to the waterfront tonight; however, I was greatly disappointed. Seattle is not directly on the ocean, so we see a lot of inlet bays. I need to take a boat cruise at some point.
I still can`t get over the number of flowers here. I keep touching them thinking they are plastic.
Graduation day tomorrow. Enjoy and celebrate- you have certainly earned it.
Congratulations!
Keep in touch,
Sherry
Another busy day in Seattle. Did you know that Seattle is the home of Starbucks? No exaggeration, but there is literally an average of 5 in a block. Everyone walks around with huge cups of coffee. Yes, Moe there is plenty of caffeine addiction here. And I think I am more addicted than ever....
The conference is great. There must be at least 10,000 teachers here. Today we gave a presentation on the A2 blogging project. We were assigned a HUGE room for 400 people. Luckily we only had 50. People were really interested in what we do at CELI and were totally impressed by the fluency of your language ability and the level of thinking in your comments.
Jin, I saw a presentation completely dedicated to writing your research paper. It was on using crime as a way to teach grammar. For example, Paris Hilton who has been arrested on DUI charges, is known for her outrageous behaviour. Which grammar point does this example show?
Gina, you should taste the great Washington wines. They are to die for...Syrah and Merlot. New world wines...with great new taste. And cheap...you can get a really nice bottle of wine for under 10 bucks.
I finally made it down to the waterfront tonight; however, I was greatly disappointed. Seattle is not directly on the ocean, so we see a lot of inlet bays. I need to take a boat cruise at some point.
I still can`t get over the number of flowers here. I keep touching them thinking they are plastic.
Graduation day tomorrow. Enjoy and celebrate- you have certainly earned it.
Congratulations!
Keep in touch,
Sherry
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Spring has sprung!
Hi!
Not to rub it in your faces, but in Seattle spring is here. The trees are in bloom. You should see the magnolia trees in full bloom. I love the climate here!
Mary Lee, Nadia and I say that it feels surreal to be here and it`s true!
I saw a great presentation today on how to use the tv show the Simpsons in our classes to facilitate taboo subjects such as homophobia or nuclear power energy....it was super entertaining and informative. I can`t wait to use it in my class.
I also saw many presentations on the importance of using proper references and citations in research papers. I guess Scott and I are not the only ones who think it`s important! SO TAKE THAT ADVICE WITH YOU TO THE UNIVERSITY!
I`ll write more tomorrow. It`s bedtime in Montreal, but dinner time in Seattle. I should go now and eat some fresh pacific salmon.
S
Not to rub it in your faces, but in Seattle spring is here. The trees are in bloom. You should see the magnolia trees in full bloom. I love the climate here!
Mary Lee, Nadia and I say that it feels surreal to be here and it`s true!
I saw a great presentation today on how to use the tv show the Simpsons in our classes to facilitate taboo subjects such as homophobia or nuclear power energy....it was super entertaining and informative. I can`t wait to use it in my class.
I also saw many presentations on the importance of using proper references and citations in research papers. I guess Scott and I are not the only ones who think it`s important! SO TAKE THAT ADVICE WITH YOU TO THE UNIVERSITY!
I`ll write more tomorrow. It`s bedtime in Montreal, but dinner time in Seattle. I should go now and eat some fresh pacific salmon.
S
I'm the student!
Hi A2,
I hope you are surviving the last days of class. Be nice to Scott, I'm sure he's very tired these days....
I love Seattle. Here you can get 3 extra hours of sleep because of the time change!
The conference is going very well. I've been listening to a number of different presentations from a variety of speakers. It's exciting as a teacher because even we are still students learning of different ways to approach teaching English to our students.
Can you imagine that we are wearing shoes and light spring jackets? It hasn't rained yet today but the sky is clouding over quite a bit. Downtown Seattle is really new. The architecture is great. The shopping looks great too, but that will happen after the conference....
A big hello to you all and I'll write more tomorrow!
Sherry :)
I hope you are surviving the last days of class. Be nice to Scott, I'm sure he's very tired these days....
I love Seattle. Here you can get 3 extra hours of sleep because of the time change!
The conference is going very well. I've been listening to a number of different presentations from a variety of speakers. It's exciting as a teacher because even we are still students learning of different ways to approach teaching English to our students.
Can you imagine that we are wearing shoes and light spring jackets? It hasn't rained yet today but the sky is clouding over quite a bit. Downtown Seattle is really new. The architecture is great. The shopping looks great too, but that will happen after the conference....
A big hello to you all and I'll write more tomorrow!
Sherry :)
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Arrived!
Hi Y`al!
I am putting on my American accent for you! I had a safe trip to Seattle, but it was very LONG. The whole plane was full of English teachers from all over the US and Canada. Funny, but we all look a like with our funny purses and dangling earring..I guess there is some truth to stereotypes...LOL
Well...I`m starving so I`m going to look for a restaurant. It`s cold and rainy here...around 2 degrees.
Thanks to all of you for all your nice words. It means soooooo much to me.
I`ll keep u infomed on how it`s going and you do the same.
Sherry
I am putting on my American accent for you! I had a safe trip to Seattle, but it was very LONG. The whole plane was full of English teachers from all over the US and Canada. Funny, but we all look a like with our funny purses and dangling earring..I guess there is some truth to stereotypes...LOL
Well...I`m starving so I`m going to look for a restaurant. It`s cold and rainy here...around 2 degrees.
Thanks to all of you for all your nice words. It means soooooo much to me.
I`ll keep u infomed on how it`s going and you do the same.
Sherry
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)