Classes will meet once a week and based on your group number, the lessons will meet Monday or Wednesday. You can find this information under the link for Atelier Schedule.
You are expected to attend class with university policy, as most of the work is done in class activities. You are expected listen, as well as participate. If you have an English dictionary, I ask that you bring it with to each class. If you ever have questions, I am always available via email.
I have blog post about about English language resources online and in Angers, job resources, and making an English CV or letter of motivation. You may want to look these over, we won't cover all of it in class.
05 March, 2012
17 February, 2012
MAG Students Last Class/Exam
My appologies for the unexpected absence the last class, I had a personal problem to attend to.
For anyone seeking their exam, they will be available at my office. Simply e-mail me and we can arrange a time.
For anyone seeking their exam, they will be available at my office. Simply e-mail me and we can arrange a time.
13 February, 2012
February 14 - Tourism Marketing
With technology advancing quicker each day, every current student should consider how technology will affect their future job. Every hiring company is looking for someone who is not only capable of using the internet (as most people in first-world countries have a good understanding of how to use it), but also for people who are able to market on the internet. Whether it is by creating a website or blog, promoting your product through social networks or events, or creating an advertising campaign, you will probably be asked in the future to help a company with their presence on the internet.
I decided to show a few examples of award winning campaigns, that even included viral videos. Although these campaigns usually have a large budget (a lot of money to spend), the idea is what counts here. If you have a good idea, you won't need to spend a lot of money to get people talking about your product.
Travelocity Traveling Gnome
http://www.effie.org/winners/showcase/2011/4842
Montana: There's Nothing Here
http://www.effie.org/winners/showcase/2011/5132
Old Spice: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like
http://www.effie.org/winners/showcase/2011/4883
Jameson: Taste Above All Else
http://www.effie.org/winners/showcase/2011/5307
The new North American Finalists will be posted next week on the Effie site.
I decided to show a few examples of award winning campaigns, that even included viral videos. Although these campaigns usually have a large budget (a lot of money to spend), the idea is what counts here. If you have a good idea, you won't need to spend a lot of money to get people talking about your product.
Travelocity Traveling Gnome
http://www.effie.org/winners/showcase/2011/4842
Montana: There's Nothing Here
http://www.effie.org/winners/showcase/2011/5132
Old Spice: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like
http://www.effie.org/winners/showcase/2011/4883
Jameson: Taste Above All Else
http://www.effie.org/winners/showcase/2011/5307
The new North American Finalists will be posted next week on the Effie site.
February 7th & 10th
Tuesday we had class as usual despite the weather. We did an activity based on speed dating and each student developed a character that was looking for a romantic partner. Each student spoke with another student as if on a speed date of 2 - 3 minutes in length. At the end of the class each student was asked to select their preferred date. This is a good oral practice and vocabulary builder.
Friday, we were to have a quiz but it was moved to today, the 14th of February. In Groups 1 and 3, we played a type of trivia game and in Group 2, we played an English version of Times Up.
This week consisted of both in class activities, so there is nothing to make up if you were not in class. However, if you have questions about either activity, feel free to contact me.
Friday, we were to have a quiz but it was moved to today, the 14th of February. In Groups 1 and 3, we played a type of trivia game and in Group 2, we played an English version of Times Up.
This week consisted of both in class activities, so there is nothing to make up if you were not in class. However, if you have questions about either activity, feel free to contact me.
03 February, 2012
Week of January 31 – February 3rd
This week I handed back corrections on any CVs I received, printed or e-mailed. I gave some feed-back based on common mistakes I saw on Tuesday. I then reviewed some basic grammar on the past tense, in the simple and continuous form. The problem is there are many irregular verbs which do not follow a specific rule for conjugation in the past. For a more complete list of frequently used irregular verbs, check out this list.
I then assigned each student to write me a story of at least 10 sentences in length. The subject of the story was to be about a time you encountered a problem at work or while traveling. This was to help you prepare for the question in an English interview of, "Tell me about a time you solved a problem at work and how you did it." Also, many of us enjoy telling stories about a time when something went wrong for us, and so it's good practice to tell stories you frequently tell in your native language in English. I gave the rest of the class to work on this.
Today, we read those stories out loud. I finished the class with a a short exercise on the comparative and superlative adjective forms. Some adjectives use the word 'more' in front of them in the comparative, while others use the ending '-er' or '-ier' if the adjective finished with a 'y'. In general, the superlative follows the comparative model, but uses 'most', '-est', and '-iest' instead. I asked each student to pick three examples from each of the following topics- Cities, Music, Books, Films, Food, Sports, etc. Each student was to come up with comparative and superlative sentences talking about each topic.
Example: Music - David Guetta, Johnny Hallyday, and Serge Gainsbourg.
David Guetta is more popular than Johnny Hallyday (comparative), but Serge Gainsbourg is the best French music icon. (superlative)
27 January, 2012
Delayed Update
I apologize for not keeping the blog up to date, as I have been sick the past week.
In our second class, I had each student select a favorite and a least favorite destination. Each student had time to ask several questions, to discover the secret destination of their partner. I then assigned a 10 sentence comparison of the city you like vs. the city you do not like.
In Class #3 we covered modals, like should, could, and would. We then read samples from the NY Times Advice "The Social Q" and in groups of four, each group came up with solutions to problem solve. There was a minimum of 20 sentences required. I allowed the rest of class to work on this, and until the following class to finish the assignment.
In Class #3 we covered modals, like should, could, and would. We then read samples from the NY Times Advice "The Social Q" and in groups of four, each group came up with solutions to problem solve. There was a minimum of 20 sentences required. I allowed the rest of class to work on this, and until the following class to finish the assignment.
In Class #4 we had each group share their advice column responses. I distributed the corrections to the assignment between two cities, and discussed common mistakes that I found in the copies. I gave the rest of class to those students who wanted to read their comparisons aloud to the class, for oral practice.
In Class 5, I discussed the use of "for" and "since", and use of the words "trip, travel, vacation, holiday, cruise, voyage, and journey". The use of these last group of words is different than in France, although many are the same word in both languages. There are also differences in use between America and England. We split into partners, where each partner corrected the CV in English of the other. I distributed a document with frequently asked interview questions. Each student could use five questions from the worksheet I distributed, and then had to come up with five questions of their own for their partner. We then conducted interviews with each other. A lot of vocabulary used in interviews was discussed in class.
In Class 5, I discussed the use of "for" and "since", and use of the words "trip, travel, vacation, holiday, cruise, voyage, and journey". The use of these last group of words is different than in France, although many are the same word in both languages. There are also differences in use between America and England. We split into partners, where each partner corrected the CV in English of the other. I distributed a document with frequently asked interview questions. Each student could use five questions from the worksheet I distributed, and then had to come up with five questions of their own for their partner. We then conducted interviews with each other. A lot of vocabulary used in interviews was discussed in class.
At the end of this last class, I also showed videos that cover some of the pronunciation problems when foreigners learn English, because there are so many irregular pronunciations.
Irregular Verbs Rap Video
Since VS For; Travel, Vacation, Trip, Journey, etc.
Group 3 did not see clips
Since VS For; Travel, Vacation, Trip, Journey, etc.
Group 3 did not see clips
17 January, 2012
First Class & Week 1
Hello MAG 1 students!! The first day of class I gave an overview of the class, and my expectations. Attendance is mandatory as well as class participation. The groups are not split up into Levels, everyone is mixed, and I ask that everyone feel welcome to ask questions.
The first day of class, we came up with questions that you could ask someone upon first meeting them. We then interviewed a partner, and introduced them to the class. For the groups who did not finish introducing their partners, or for the students who did not attend the first day of class, you will be presenting your partner or yourself this coming Friday, January 20th.
Today, the 17th in class, we practiced asking questions, using a secret destination or place. Each student came up with a place they liked, and a place they didn't like. Students took turns asking other students questions in order to figure out which place the first student was thinking of. We rotated partners so everyone had a chance to speak with someone different. At the end of class, we totaled up the points for each team. I also assigned homework, 10 sentences written or printed out for Friday morning, on why you prefer the place you like, to the place you don't like. If you use sources, as always, please list them.
I will correct this assignment, and we will use it in class next Tuesday.
The first day of class, we came up with questions that you could ask someone upon first meeting them. We then interviewed a partner, and introduced them to the class. For the groups who did not finish introducing their partners, or for the students who did not attend the first day of class, you will be presenting your partner or yourself this coming Friday, January 20th.
Today, the 17th in class, we practiced asking questions, using a secret destination or place. Each student came up with a place they liked, and a place they didn't like. Students took turns asking other students questions in order to figure out which place the first student was thinking of. We rotated partners so everyone had a chance to speak with someone different. At the end of class, we totaled up the points for each team. I also assigned homework, 10 sentences written or printed out for Friday morning, on why you prefer the place you like, to the place you don't like. If you use sources, as always, please list them.
I will correct this assignment, and we will use it in class next Tuesday.
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