QR Code Scramble: Using Smartphones for Good

Left to Right: Ali, Khalid and Mazi unscrambling a text, 21st century style

Everyday we have to tell our students to put their phones away. ARG! After all they distract them from learning!

Despite our best pleas and threats, our good-cop and bad-cop discussions, we can't win this struggle.

Technology is obviously omnipresent, and, in fact, it is so embedded in students' lives that they think about, learn about and understand their word through those pesky little devices that can drive us insane.

So why NOT use them instead of forbid them? Furthermore, while we obviously have to make sure they don't abuse the power they have in their palms, there are ways to incorporate them into our instruction while engaging our students. ...

Links and Resources for Increasing English Language Proficiency

Speaking/Pronunciation

Manythings.org provides pronunciation of commonly mispronounced words. Students work in pairs and quiz each other on their proficiency.

http://www.manythings.org/pp/

This Web site is a guide to help students pronounce English vowels and consonants. This site provides audio clips, video clips and descriptions of how to make proper English sounds.

http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/english/frameset.html

Merriam Webster provides this helpful resource that provides explanations and handy quizzes to help students with pronunciation and vowel and word stresses.

http://www.learners-dictionary.com/pronex/pronex.htm

More Resources after the jump!

Word Doc version
Research Tips sheet

Class Pics -- Spring 2012

Movie Night II: Persepolis at the ELC

Because it went so well the last time, we're doing it again! Our bookclub group has decided to share the wonderful movie, Persepolis, with the ELC. And even though it comes at a busy time, we think it is perfect opportunity to unwind and watch a great movie with some great people. Details below!

What: PERSEPOLIS

When: FRIDAY, JUNE 1 at 7p.m.

Where: ELC Student Lounge

Why: To celebrate Level 4 Bookclub!

Details: Potluck event, so feel free to bring something to share. Friends and family encouraged. 

Word Doc Version

SP 12 Final Exam Schedule

Below is a document with the schedule for finals.

ELC Open House Pictures

On May 2, 2012 we held an open house, and each nationality at the ELC had a chance to showcase their beautiful and unique cultures to the community. It was great to watch the students have fun and show off how awesome they are.

These are some pictures I took, though they aren't great. My camera started acting up, so I stopped taking pictures. Besides I wanted to focus my efforts on enjoying the moment.

Tutoring Workshops for International Students

May 11 for commas and general sentence structure .... May 18 for speaking skills. Both at the I-House in B4. Click here for details or click the jump.