Music Monday: "Forget You" by Cee Lo Green

Today for Music Monday, we watched Cee Lo Green's hit song and video, "Forget You."

You can watch Cee Lo Green's video "Forget You" again above.

His name is pronounced "Sea Low," not "she low" -- but some students think it sounds like "싫어"! That's funny.

In the song, Cee Lo sings about his ex-girlfriend. She broke up with him because he wasn't rich. She only wants to date rich men.

The song is very popular. It was recently on "Glee," where a famous actress named Gwenyth Paltrow sang "Forget You." You can watch that again on youtube here.

Family Feud Surveys

Next week, we will play a game called Family Feud. In Family Feud, 100 people answer some questions. Then, two families compete, trying to guess the most common answer to the questions.

In this video, two families are trying to guess the most common answers to the question "Name a famous person with the first name Michael":

Today, students interviewed each other with simple questions, like "What is your favorite pizza topping" or "Name a U.S. state." Tomorrow, I will add up all of the answers to create the Family Feud game.

We will play the game next Tuesday -- the winners can choose which movie we will watch during the last week of class!

Happy Halloween: "Addams Family Values"

Today, second grade students watched part of a funny and scary movie. The movie is called "Addams Family Values." It is about a monster family. We watched it with English subtitles, so we could read and listen together.

Here is more information about the movie, from Wikipedia.

Do you want to watch more of this movie?

Come ask me, "Miss Kaye, can I borrow 'Addams Family Values'"?

I will say "yes!"

During the second half of class, some students chose to self-study. They want to prepare for admissions tests (entrance exams) for university. Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) has their entrance exam today, tomorrow, and Friday. Other universities have entrance exams this week and next week, too.

Good luck to all students!

Happy Halloween! "Hush"

Yesterday and today, first grade students learned about Halloween, played a scary game called "Murderer," and watched part of an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a popular American horror/comedy drama TV show. In the episode, Buffy and her friends must save their city from the Gentlemen, monsters who steal everyone's voice. About half of the episode is silent; characters must communicate in lots of different ways, including computers, body language, and writing.

You can watch a funny scene from the episode here.

Happy Halloween: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

Today, first graders watched 2 short scenes from "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and talked about some American Halloween traditions.

Some people carve basic faces into pumpkins. Here is an example of a popular shape:

Some people are very creative with pumpkin art. What do you think about this Justin Bieber pumpkin?

Metaphor Riddles

Can you guess the topic of each metaphor?

1. _________________is a red-eyed monster,

Never moving, only winking

Judging cars and people

Refereeing the traffic.

2. When I am still, I am a mirror.

When I am fast, I am stronger than stone.

In the desert, I can be life

In a boat, I can be death.

What am I? ____________________

3. (from Tolkien’s The Hobbit)

A box without hinges, key, or lid,

Yet golden treasure inside is hid.

What am I? ________________________

Simile Poetry (Class 1-1)

Here is a sample of some students' work, created and presented last Friday.

That day, we were honored to have a very special guest in class, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alina L. Romanowski.

Students worked very hard, and wrote some very creative and funny simile poems!

Here are 3 of my favorites:

Naju Pears:

Naju pears' size is like the full moon--

They are very big.

Naju pears taste like lemonade

Naju pears are as hard as Charlie's head.

Obama

Obama's power is like a volcano--

They are strong and wide.

Obama smiles like a diamond

Obama is as important as the air.

Starcraft II

Starcraft II is like an Orchestra.

They are super massive, harmonic

It's units fights like fire

The battle scene of it is as real as a reality.

Compliments and Similes

Today the second graders talked about a type of comparison called a simile.

Then, they gave each other compliments using similes. Here are some examples of compliments, from class 2-1:

"His height is as tall as a mountain."

"Your body is as thin as paper."

"Your eyes are as black as seaweed."

"Jessica's head is as small as a bird."

"Seewon studies like a machine."

"Laura is as cute as a puppy"

"His head runs like a computer."

"His tooth shines like a star."

And from class 2-2:

"Charlie's brain is as smart as a computer"

"Charlie's brain flows like a river."

"Dean looks like a lion."

"Kim Tae Hi looks like an angel."

"Ethan's eye is as big as a frog's."

"Ethan's muscle moves like a machine."

"Dong Won is as tall as a tree."

"No Air" by Jordin Sparks featuring Chris Brown

Today, first grade students watched the video for "No Air," a duet between Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown.

"No Air" uses metaphors and similes to talk about how difficult it is to be apart from someone you love.

Definitions:

A metaphor is a way of describing something by comparing it with something else that has some of the same qualities.

• Example: He is so tall! He's a giant.

A simile is a phrase that compares two things, using the words "like" or "as."

• Example: The test room was as silent as a graveyard.

You can watch the video for "No Air" again on Youtube here.

Happy Chuseok

Happy Chuseok 2010!

Enjoy your free time! Play with your family and friends, rest, and enjoy. See you next week :)

Music Monday: "Just the Way You Are" and Compliments

Today, first grade students talked about compliments.
We listened to Bruno Mars' song "Just the Way You Are." In this song, Bruno gives his girlfriend compliments. He thinks she is beautiful, smart, and has a sexy laugh. But she is not confident, and she rejects his compliments. He is disappointed because she does not accept his compliments.

Korean people and American people use compliments differently.

In Korean culture, it is very common to reject a compliment, like this:

Girl 1: You look pretty with your hair up like that.
Girl 2: No, I don't. I look like an old woman.

But in American culture, it is less common. Americans use compliments

Instead, Americans often return a compliment, like this:

Girl 1: You look pretty with your hair up like that.
Girl 2: Thanks. Your hair looks great, too.

Americans also often respond by adding information to help continue the conversation, like this:

Girl 1: You look pretty with your hair up like that.
Girl 2: Thanks. I got it cut at a new place near my apartment. They're great - would you like to come with me next time?

Americans often use compliments to begin conversation or build friendship.

To learn more about comparing Korean and American compliment styles, look at the article outside the English classroom. It reviews scientific studies on Korean and American compliments.

To watch Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are" video again, click here.

Reviews of "Mine"

Today, we read excerpts (pieces) of reviews of Taylor Swift's song "Mine."
Then, we wrote our own reviews.

Each student wrote a short review saying his or her opinion, and also chose a review to agree or disagree with.
There are 4 review excerpts. Each pair of students chose 2 to read and 1 to agree/disagree with in their review.

Click "Read more" to see the example reviews from class:

Music Monday: Taylor Swift "Mine"

This week, students listened to Taylor Swift's new song, "Mine."
In it, Taylor Swift imagines what her life will be like in the future. She imagines that she is happily married with children and looking at the past. She imagines that when life is difficult, they will sit together and remember the happy history of their love together.

Here is a picture from the video, of Taylor Swift's imagined husband and son:



After listening to the song and discussing the video, we talked about some new vocabulary and idioms from the song.

To wait tables (v): to serve food/drinks, to act as a waiter
Rebel (n): a person who acts against authority or does not obey rules
To brace yourself (v): to prepare yourself for something difficult or bad
Flashback (n): A fast, clear memory

Then, students wrote and performed dialogues using at least 2 of the 3 new vocabulary words from the song. They were very funny!

Music Monday: "Impossible" by Shontelle

Lesson of the Day: The new #1 song in America this summer, "Impossible" by Shontelle
Video of the Day: "Impossible" by Shontelle

Today's Lesson:

1. Greetings
2. Dictation - short biography of Shontelle
3. Music video - "Impossible"
a) watch once
b) watch again and fill in the missing words on the lyric worksheet
c) answer four questions about the mood, visuals, and storyline of the song, and watch again
4. Self-edit written answers, with special attention to articles (a, an, the) and subject-verb agreement
5. Share answers.


Today, as always, we gave special attention to The Big Three:
1. Articles
2. Subject-Verb Agreement
3. Tense

Welcome Back!

Today is, August 23, 2010. After a summer at home in New York, I returned to Korea a few days ago. I am so happy to be back! I am excited to welcome you back to my class for the new semester.

Welcome back to class for a new semester of Conversational English class!

This semester, we will be giving special attention to 3 things. They need extra attention when we write. They are

The Big Three:

1. Articles
a tree, an apple, the best student.

2. Subject-Verb Agreement
"I do" but "she does"

"I eat" but "he eats"

3. Tense (past, present, future)
"Did you go to the festival last weekend?" "No, but I'll go next weekend."


In class or around school this week, I hope you will come talk to me about my trip to America this summer, and tell me what you did during the summer. Did you play video games? Did you visit colleges? Did you spend time with your family and friends? Did you see any English language movies? Let's talk about it in class!

First Grade - Romeo & Juliet Balcony Scene

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First Grade - Romeo and Juliet: Balcony Scene

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First Grade - Romeo & Juliet: Balcony Scene

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Taylor Swift, "Love Story"

This week, first grade students listened to "Love Story." "Love Story" is a song by Taylor Swift, a famous teenage American singer. She sings in the pop/country genre, and she writes her own music and lyrics.

The words and video for "Love Story" are based on the story of Romeo and Juliet. However, "Love Story" has a very happy ending!

Watch "Love Story," by Taylor Swift, here.

Read the lyrics to "Love Story" here.

Romeo & Juliet: Prologue

Want to read the Prologue again? Here it is!

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Love Story

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life. . . .

(this picture is from the 1968 movie)

This week, students worked on Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous love stories in the English language.

We read the Prologue together, and watched three different film versions of the Prologue.

Then we watched and compared clips from those movies.

Here are the movies:

(this picture is from the 1997 movie)

Romeo and Juliet 1968 (starring Olivia Hussey as Juliet)

Romeo and Juliet 1996 (starring Leo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet)

West Side Story 1961 (musical version set in 1950s New York)

Shakespeare in Love 1998 (about William Shakespeare writing "Romeo and Juliet")

(this picture is from West Side Story)

Want to read the Prologue again? Look at the next blog post!

Second Grade: American Independence Day!

American Independence Day is on July 4 (this weekend). So today, second graders learned about the story and the words of the American national anthem (song). Vocabulary in the song includes "twilight," "dawn," and "brave."

Here is a video we watched in class. It is pop star Jordin Sparks singing the national anthem at the beginning of the Superbowl (American football championship game).

Then, we talked about some Fourth of July traditions in America, like going to a barbecue with family and friends, watching a parade during the day, and going to see fireworks at night.

Last, we talked about some American history trivia. For example, many students already knew that there are 50 stars on the flag because there are 50 states in America!

Here are the words to the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner":

Oh, say, can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

World Cup and "Waka Waka"

This week, students watched the video for "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" by Shakira.

This is the official song of World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

Shakira is a singer and a dancer, and this video borrows some African dancing -- which many students practiced during class!

Students watched the video twice, listened to the words, and then described the video with answers to specific questions. Second graders also compared "Waka Waka" to "Wavin' Flag," another World Cup song that is very different. Many students thought that "Wavin' Flag" was a little dark and serious, while "Waka Waka" was colorful and joyful.

Here is "Waka Waka," by Shakira

Here is "Wavin' Flag," by K'Naan, featuring Will.i.am

Poetry

Today, students learned about poetry, specifically about American poetry.

One definition of poetry is "The art of rhythmic literature, written or spoken."

We read and listened to three American poems:

"The Crocodile's Toothache" by Shel Silverstein (read that here, watch it here)

"The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe (read an e-book here, watch the Simpsons version there, read about Poe in Korean here)

"The Country" by Billy Collins (watch & listen to the animated poetry here)

Then students worked with a partner to create a rhyming couplet using two rhyming words.

Examples will be posted below!

Poetry Examples

Couplets from Class 1-1

Small Ball

by John & Alexander

His hand is too small,

to grip a soccer ball.

No Snow

by Jacob & Christopher

When I said "No"

Her heart was filled snow

Dress Yes

by Eileen & James

he asked "Do you like this dress?"

I said "I like this dress, yes"

Fat Cat

by Jason & Johnny

If you eat this cat,

you will be fat

Bed Head

by Sarah & Grace

If an ant invade to your head,

You should get rest in your bed.

Free Sea

by Brian & Yes

1. If I'm free,

I will go to sea

2. When I look at the sea

I feel free

Big Pig

by Kevin & David

Our farm is very big

And there is a pig

House Mouse

by Chris & Rebecca

If you don't clean your house,

There will be a mouse!

Long Song

by Justin & Charlie

I feel days are long

So I just sing a song

Poetry Examples

Couplets by Class 1-3

Voldemort & Brian:

"When I see a shore of sea

I think of my dreams and feel being free"

Ryan & Chris:

"If there is a pretty girl with Long hair

I will sing softly a love Song there"

Sirius & Arthur:

"I went to my bed,

I saw a ghost's head."

Joshua & Harry:

"The boy is very small,

And he looks like a ball.

That is all, please give him a call (010-2424-4442)"

Rika & Patrick:

"Give a fish to a Cat

If you wish him to be fat"

Arbiter, Danielle, & Katie:

"Let's wear a dress

And if you say "Yes,"

We will be in success"

Snape & Michael:

1. "I like my house

But there is a mouse"

2. "If there is a food in your house

There will be a mouse"

Eric & Hagrid:

"If you say "No"

It will be snow.

Poetry Examples

Couplets by Class 1-2

Jack & Jane:

"There are small poles

Put the balls into the holes"

Nicholas & Frank:

"I had sickness on my head,

So I went to my bed."

Michael & David:

"I went to the sea

I feel free"

Xander & Jacob:

"When I eat more and more fat,

I'm feeling that I be a cat"

Brandon & Ashuely:

"If I see a mouse,

Then I will sell the House"

Layton & Shay:

"If you say yes, I will give you a dress

Yes, I know your address,

So I deliver the dress"

Joel & Richard:

"There is a Pig

It is Big"

Second Grade Pop Quiz

Here are some very good answers from today's pop quiz.

However, there are some problems with the grammar or vocabulary of each answer. Can you find them and correct the sentences?

Class 2-2:

Question: The Crocodile in Peter Pan sounds like a clock. Why is this important?

Answer: Clock means "time is going," and Peter Pan wants to stay young status. So they are opposite each other.

Answer: Because the sound of clock means "time over" for children.

Answer: Because in Wonderland, time is the most scary thing. They just don't want to be a grown up.

Question: Explain two differences between the 1951 cartoon and the 2010 Johnny Depp "Alice in Wonderland" movies (use complete sentences).

Answer: The most important difference is mood. The 1951 cartoon has bright and happy mood, but 2010 movie has scary mood. Also, in 2010 movie the Alice is adult.

Answer: In the cartoon, Alice fall in the hole so slowly, but she fall very speedily in the movie. In the cartoon, hatter is so bright, but in the movie, he has strange atmosphere.

Question: Did you prefer Peter Pan or Alice in Wonderland? Why? (use complete sentences)

Answer: Alice in Wonderland is better for me because it has more secret meaning.

Answer: I prefer Peter Pan because it has many action (fighting). Also because it is more fantastic and in Neverland people don't get old.

Class 2-3:

Question: The Crocodile in Peter Pan sounds like a clock. Why is this important?

Answer: The Crocodile ate Captain's arm with his clock. Now, the clock is in Crocodile's stomach. When it comes people can hear the clock's sound.

Question: Explain two differences between the 1951 cartoon and the 2010 Johnny Depp "Alice in Wonderland" movies (use complete sentences).

Answer: The 1951 cartoon has funny figures and lovely story, but the 2010 movie makes people feel a little scared.

Question: Did you prefer Peter Pan or Alice in Wonderland? Why? (use complete sentences)

Answer: I preferred Alice in Wonderland because Never land was interesting but couldn't impress me.

Answer: I prefer Alice in Wonderland. Because it shows us something new, something strange, etc. It is a fantastic world.

Candy Design Project Videos

For our Great Books unit, students designed a candy for the Willy Wonka candy company.

Here are some of their creative ideas.

Willy Wonka's Invention Room

Today, students worked on designing a candy inspired by the book and movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Students watched an 8-minute clip of the 1971 movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," and listened to the scene where Willy Wonka takes the children on a tour of his invention room.

After that, students began designing their own original candy. Each pair is creating a unique candy with a name, a list of ingredients, a picture, and a description of taste and effect.

Today we had a visitor in our class -- Hanbat Elementary School English teacher Sarah. Here are some pictures of Sarah and me with students from today:

Sports Day!

Last Thursday, CSHS students participated in Sports Day. They competed in many types of sports games, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, jump rope, and tug-of-war. Here are some photos!

Students warm up with their teams -- blue, white, and red teams!



Setting up for tug-of-war:


Tug-of-war!



Face painting:


A few second graders take a break:


First grade boys take a break:

Great Books: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Day 1

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Day 1
Lesson Topic: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Video of the Day: Clips from the 1971 and 2005 films, starring Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp, respectively (wild guess which one was a bigger hit with my kids)
Idiom of the day: "Rags to riches" (read a definition from wikipedia here)




Today's Lesson:
1. Greetings & Pop Quiz
2. Introduction to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and author Roald Dahl, and reading through handout
3. Explanation of the idiom "rags to riches," and how it relates to Charlie
4. Watch a clip of the 1971 version, starting about 7 minutes in where we meet Charlie's family in their one-room hovel (4 mins)
5. Reading comprehension: students read 3 short paragraphs introducing the Bucket family and house, and answering 8 questions about it. Students worked alone, then compared answers with the other students at their tables.
6. Watch the same scene (introducing us to Charlie's home and family) in the 2005 version. The scene begins at about 04:37.
7. Announcing our guest teacher for tomorrow, Sarah! (30 seconds ;)

I am excited for CSHS students to have the opportunity to meet and talk with many different native English speakers from America.

Great Books: Alice in Wonderland, Grade 2

Lesson of the Day: Alice in Wonderland
Video of the Day: short clip from "The Matrix," and clips from the 2010 and 1951 "Alice in Wonderland" movies



First Hour:
1. Introduction to Alice in Wonderland, read through handout on book and author.
2. Watch a very short (30 seconds) clip from the Matrix where Morpheus says Neo "must be feeling a bit like Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole" and talk about how Alice in Wonderland is very often quoted or referenced (my students needed me to define "quote" and "reference").
3. Watch the scene where Alice tumbles down the rabbit hole in each movie, and discuss the differences.
4. Talk about the Mad Hatter, and how some Victorian hatters suffered from illness and madness caused by mercury poisoning.

Second Hour:
1. Reading comprehension: Excerpt from the Mad Hatter and March Hare's tea party.
2. Watch the tea party scene in each movie
3. Compare the films with each other and with the book.
4. Watch the ending to both movies. Which ending do you prefer? Does one make you think Wonderland was a dream more than the other? What makes you think it was real or a dream?



"In that direction," the Cat said, waving its right paw round, "lives a Hatter: and in that direction," waving the other paw, "lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they're both mad."
"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat. "We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be, said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

Great Books: Alice in Wonderland, Grade 1 Day 1

Lesson of the Day: Alice in Wonderland
Video of the Day: short clip from "The Matrix," and clips from the 2010 and 1951 "Alice in Wonderland" movies

Today's Lesson:
1. Introduction to Alice in Wonderland, read through handout on book and author.
2. Watch a very short (30 seconds) clip from the Matrix where Morpheus says Neo "must be feeling a bit like Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole" and talk about how Alice in Wonderland is very often quoted or referenced (do you remember the vocabulary "quote" and "reference"?).
3. Watch the scene where Alice tumbles down the rabbit hole in each movie, and discuss the differences.
4. Talk about the Mad Hatter, and how some Victorian hatters suffered from illness and madness caused by mercury poisoning.
5. Watch the tea party scene in each movie
3. Compare the films with each other and with the book.


The first chapter of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland begins:
"ALICE was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, 'and what is the use of a book,' thought Alice, 'without pictures or conversations?'"

Study Break

Today, students took a break from their hard work to enjoy a movie about American high school life.

We watched the movie Mean Girls, the #1 movie of 2004. This movie is about a girl from Africa named Cady who enters the American school system for the first time, and tries to make friends and succeed in school. But there are many unfamiliar social rules about American high school life, and Cady makes some serious mistakes before finding her place at school.


This picture shows Cady sitting with a group of girls called "the Plastics" -- the rich and beautiful but very mean girls at her high school.

Peter Pan and Paper Planes, Second Grade

Here are some pictures of the second graders' lesson about Peter Pan. It looks like fun, doesn't it?

Peter Pan and Paper Planes

Lesson of the Day: Introduction to the Great Books unit & Peter Pan
Video of the Day: Clips from the 1953 and 2003 Peter Pan films.



Lesson highlights:
Day 1:
-Students explained as much of the story as they remembered
-Students read an excerpt from chapter 3 of Barrie's "Peter Pan and Wendy," and answered simple comprehension questions
-Students watched the corresponding scene in the 2003 film (it's the one where Wendy sews Peter's shadow back on), and compared the print and film in small group discussions
-Students watched film clips highlighting the most important plot developments, paying special attention to mentions and symbols of time and growing up (big example: the scariest creature in Neverland, the Crocodile, sounds like a ticking clock)

Day 2:
-Complete a listening comprehension worksheet by filling in missing phrases while watching the film
-Finish watching clips central to the plot
-Indulge in alliteration and childish whimsy with Peter Pan Paper Planes!

After two days of talking about the exuberant joys of childhood and Peter's fears about going to school and growing up, students (and, to be honest, me too!) were happy to run around outside in sunny weather with paper airplanes.

All students made creative airplanes, and some flew very far. Here are some pictures from class 1-2:

Commercials Lesson Videos, Class 1-2

Taco Bell:

Samsung:

Commercials Lesson Videos, Class 1-3

Samsung:

Taco Bell:

McDonald's:

Jinro:

Angel-in-Us:

Grade 1: Commercials Lesson Videos, Class 1-1

Here are some commercials that CSHS Students created last week. Did they do good work?

Taco Bell (Mexican fast food):

Samsung (cell phones):

Jinro (soju):

Angel-In-Us (coffee and beverages):

McDonald's (fast food):

I thought these were all very creative and funny!

Grade 2: Pop Star Presentations & Photos

Lesson: American Pop Stars and Pop Music Genres

Idiom of the Day: None

Video of the Day: many music videos, chosen by students

For two weeks, second grade students worked in groups of 2 or 3 students to research and present on an American pop star.

Students presented on biography, music, genre, and more, and chose music video clips to show similarities between Korean and American pop music styles.

Students did research on March 31, and created Powerpoints and made presentations April 7 & April 14.

Here are some pictures of students as they prepared and presented their American Pop Stars project: