Week 3: Where were you when...?

Do you remember where you were when Korea co-hosted the FIFA 2002 World Cup?


...or when Namdaemun burned down?


Such events don't happen often, but when they do, it's hard to forget how they make us feel. I remember very clearly where I was when the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster happened, when the 9/11 attacks happened, and when Barack Obama became the US president.



Sometimes such big events bring people together. This week, many of us came together to watch the final game between Korea and Japan in the World Baseball Classic.





This week, I want you to write fifty words telling me about how you felt watching big events such as these unfold before your eyes. I look forward to reading your stories.
See you in class!

Becka

Week 2: Different Cultures, Different Gestures

For this week's journal assignment, I want you to think about different kinds of body language you use. What do your gestures mean? Tell me about one or two gestures you use everyday. What do they mean? What kind of feeling are you expressing? Are they polite gestures, or rude ones? Please write at least 50 words describing two or more gestures you use.

Here is some inspiration:

If you do this...

...what feeling are you showing?

Here are some examples of other hand gestures. These gestures have different meanings in different cultures.

This gesture means "good!" in North America...

...but it is very, very rude in most Middle Eastern and some African cultures!

This famous gesture expressed "victory" during World War II, but...

...the meaning changed with the US peace movement in the 1960s.

Be careful using this sign, though!

If you hold your hand the opposite way, like Sir Winston Churchill is doing here...

...people from the UK, Australia, or New Zealand will be offended!

Celebrity Doubles

Today we talked about "celebrity doubles". Do you think you look like a celebrity? CLICK HERE and upload your photo to find out which celebrities you look like.

UNIT 1: Practice Quiz!

Hi everyone,

Last week we reviewed
• introductions and profiles
• how to use verbs (simple present actions)
• how to describe physical appearance

In our first class this week, we will finish Unit 1.

Are you feeling confident about what you've studied?
Please CLICK HERE to test yourself with the Unit 1 On-line Quiz!

Tomorrow, I will post your weekly journal topic on this blog. Stay tuned!

See you in class,

Becka

Week 1: Hair-Raising Stories

Have you ever gotten a bad hair cut, or had a "bad hair day"? This week, please write a few comments about a bad hair salon experience. What was the worst hair cut you've ever had?

CLICK HERE to go to a funny website where you can see how YOU would look with many different hairstyles. Upload a picture of yourself and try a new style! Here I am as a strawberry blonde:



Just for fun, here's a video by American alt-rock band Pavement. This song is called "Cut Your Hair."



For your journal assignment this week, please write at least 25 words about a bad hair experience. You may type it below as a "comment" but please remember to INCLUDE YOUR NAME. If you do not want to leave a comment here, please write your entry in a notebook and submit it to me by class time on Monday, March 16th.

Welcome to Native English One!

Welcome to Native English 1, the basic English conversation class at Soon Chun Hyang University. Every week, please visit this blog to check out the "journal" topic for that week. After you view the my blog post, you will have one week to write a short response. Your response can be written as a "comment" below this post, or it can be written in a notebook and submitted to the instructor the following week.

Your journal response should be AT LEAST 25 WORDS. You may write more if you like.

Remember, EFFORT is the most important part of your journal assignments!

I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts.

Cheers,
Becka