Blog Writing #5: Future Tense (due Monday 10/1)

Tell the class about your plans after you finish taking classes at the LCC.

Important note that I forgot to mention in class:
If we have two events in the future, the event in the subordinate clause must be in the present tense. The verb inside the main clause is in the future tense.

Example:  Before I go to bed tonight, I will brush my teeth.
Or:  After I brush my teeth, I'm going to go to bed.

Blog Writing #4: Past Perfect (due Monday 10/1)

You had an appointment with me yesterday after class. You didn't come because something happened which prevented you from coming. What happened? Be creative. Extra points if you make me laugh. Use the past perfect.

Also, read this short article about an excuse that made national news:
http://news.yahoo.com/president-obama-writes-fifth-graders-excuse-note-181128671--abc-news-politics.html

Have a great weekend :D

I hope you had as much fun as I did today on our first Friday Fun Day. I'm really excited to have such great classes this term.

I will post the schedule for the week on Sunday. I'm going to hold off on giving you a grammar test until I return. Please finish the work in unit 3 over the weekend and I will ask Susan to answer your questions on Monday. She'll also spend time with you on writing. Also, I'm going to post some more blog homework for you.

The weather forecast is for a lot of rain, so my advice to you is to stay off the roads if possible. When it rains a lot in Houston, there tends to be some flooding. If you are in a car and the water looks too high to pass, TURN AROUND. Otherwise, you'll get water in your car. I know this from personal experience, unfortunately.

Please tell me Holly's e-mail address!

Please tell me Holly's e-mail address.

LCC Attendance Policy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuU0KJpFQHg&feature=youtu.be

Musical Lesson: Present Perfect

“I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For,” by U2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSv-lKwOQvE

I have climbed highest mountains

I have run through the fields

Only to be with you

Only to be with you

I have run

I have crawled

I have scaled these city walls

These city walls

Only to be with you

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I have kissed her lips

[I’ve] Felt the healing of her fingertips

It burned like a fire

With a burning desire

I have spoken with eternal angels

I have held the hands of a devil

It was warm in the night

I was cold as a stone

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I believe in the kingdom come

When all the colors will bleed into one

Bleed into one

Well, yes I'm still running

You broke the bonds

And you loosened the chains

Carried the cross

Of my shame

Of my shame

You know I believed it

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

But I still haven't found what I'm looking forBut I still haven't found what I'm looking for

Musical Lesson: Present Perfect Progressive

"I've Been Waiting for a Girl Like You," by Foreigner

Which present perfect progressive works here?

Case 1 (the event continues in the present) or
Case 2 (the event has been happening recently) or

Case 3 (the event happened recently but then stopped)?

In other words, does the singer continue to wait (case 1), has he been waiting recently (case 2) or is he finished waiting (case 3)?

To hear the music, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXjJCbA5qc4&feature=related


So long, I've been looking too hard, I've been waiting too long
Sometimes I don't know what I will find, I only know its a matter of time
When you love someone, when you love someone

It feels so right, so warm and true, I need to know if you feel it too

Maybe I'm wrong, won't you tell me if I'm coming on too strong?
This heart of mine has been hurt before, this time I want to be sure

I've been waiting for a girl like you to come into my life
I've been waiting for a girl like you, your loving will survive
I've been waiting for someone new to make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting for a girl like you to come into my life

You're so good, when we make love it's understood
Its more than a touch or a word can say
Only in dreams could it be this way
When you love someone, yeah, really love someone

Now I know its right, from the moment I wake up till deep in the night
There's nowhere on earth that I'd rather be than holding you tenderly

I've been waiting for a girl like you to come into my life
I've been waiting for a girl like you, your loving will survive
I've been waiting for someone new to make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting for a girl like you to come into my life

I've been waiting, waiting for you, ooh, I've been waiting
I've been waiting
(I've been waiting for a girl like you, Ive been waiting)
Won't you come into my life?

Maz Jobrani video we watched in class today (past habit: used to/would)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhSAaNYQtW0&feature=related

Some Great Places to Go in Texas

Here are my recommendations for places to go outside of Houston. Actually, there are several great places to visit in Texas if you want to have some fun.

The first place I recommend is South Padre Island, which is located about 5 hours south of Houston. The beaches are beautiful and my family and I saw lots of dolphins when we took a boat ride there. Usually when you take a tourist boat ride they tell you that you're going to see wildlife but you don't actually see any. Not so in SPI. Also, it's a great place for seafood and for playing in the sun and sand. It doesn't look anything like Galveston. You can trust me as I'm a Floridian who knows her beaches!

The second place my family and I love is Austin because its scenically beautiful and there is so much to do. Austin has wonderful nightlife for those of you who love music. Original bands play nightly on Sixth Street, which is downtown. In fact, a lot of famous bands get their start on Sixth Street. During the daytime there is also a lot to do and see. You can visit and tour the Texas State Capitol and wander around the campus of the University of Texas.

For water activity in Austin, you can go to Zilker Park, where you will find Barton Springs, a natural pool of really, really cold water (icy yet refreshing!) the length of 2 football fields. In addition to the pool, at Barton Springs you will also see lots of college students and other Austinites scantily dressed. If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, you can see many on display there! For children, there is a train ride and playground at Zilker Park as well as an outdoor theater that presents free performances throughout the summer (similar to Houston's Miller Theater). Finally, when you are at Zilker Park, you can rent a canoe or kayak and paddle along Town Lake. It's a true delight.

Another great place to swim in Austin is Lake Travis. The beach is a bit rocky but the temperature of the water is just perfect. You can rent jet skis and boats at various spots along the lake. There is also a water rides park in that area (I forget the name, but you can google "waterpark Austin Lake Travis" to find it, I'm sure). Finally, when in Austin make sure to enjoy some chips and salsa, or an entire meal, at the Oasis restaurant, which overlooks all of Lake Travis. It's quite a sight. You will ask yourself if you are really in Texas.

The last place I recommend to you today is about 45 minutes west of Austin, called Hamilton Pools. From the parking lot, you have to hike a short path and then you arrive in a swimming hole which feels like paradise and looks like Hawaii. The pool extends out from a grotto (like a cave) and you can swim or just float in the cool turquoise water. I visited Hamilton Pools for the first time nearly four years ago--it was the week after Hurricane Ike paid a visit to Houston--and we all agreed that we must return there again soon. The only thing I need to tell you is that you must check to see if the park is open before you go. If there are problems with bacteria levels in the water, they close the park. Here is the website:
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/tnr/parks/hamilton_pool.asp

Finally, if you have been to any great places here in the Lone Star state, please share the information with all of us!

Blog Writing #3: Present Perfect (due Thursday, 9/28)

Answer the following questions:

1. What are some interesting experiences you have had in your lifetime?

2. What are some things you have not yet done in your lifetime but would like to do?

3. What are some of the places you have visited in the world or in your country, and when did you visit them?

Blog Writing #2: Past Tense (due Thursday 9/28)

Tell us EITHER about the best day of your life OR the worst day of your life. We want details! Who, what, when, where, why, and how, and also, how were you feeling when the event was happening?

Use both simple past and past progressive to narrate your day, which will show that you know how to use the forms correctly.

Weekly Schedules

All weekly schedules will be posted here.

Week Six:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-rIza1967iVT0xxdXUzaFB4Y3c

Week Five:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-rIza1967iVLVlHeWNKZzh2NXM

Week Four:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-rIza1967iVZ2FmNWtrVWo4cGs

Week Three:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-rIza1967iVcjY0Ym1GVEd3VW8

Week Two:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-rIza1967iVMmxxUWlTQjlJTmM

Amazing light dance

Cool and Cool and Cool.http://www.56.com/u72/v_NzA2NDEzNTc.html

Reminder for Greg's class' homework

Reading book Practice 1~4, pag 24~34 Hope you guys have a good weekend

Have a great weekend!

It has been my pleasure to meet you this week and I look forward to a fun (and productive) semester together.

For Monday, please complete:

1. Focus on Grammar (FOG), unit 1, exercises 1-6 and the unit review on p. 14

2. Engaging Writing (EW), read pp. 4-11; answer the questions and fill in the word chart. Also, look over the writing assignment on p. 12 and start thinking about your role model.

Schedule for Friday

8:30-9:00 a.m.  Meet Greg in the bookstore.

If you already have your books, or are getting them somewhere else, then you can skip the bookstore and come straight to class at 9:15.

Class 1:  9:15--10:45
Class 2:  11:00-12:30

LCC Soccer Team

There will be a meeting for the LCC soccer team tomorrow (Friday the 21st) at 1pm. It will initially meet somewhere outside the main office. If you are interested in playing, go to the meeting!

Books for the class

Focus on Grammar 5 (with CD), by Jay Maurer
Engaging Writing, by Mary Fitzpatrick

Blog Writing #1: Introduce yourselves (due Friday 9/21)

Today each of you briefly introduced yourselves to the class. Now I would like you to tell us some more about yourself in writing.

Here are some questions to consider:

Where are you in life (meaning, what stage)? Did you finish high school? College? Graduate school? Talk about your background, and your professional and personal aspirations. Also, discuss your interests, hobbies, and talents. Tell us something about yourself that makes you unique. Feel free to add anything else that you would like to share about yourself with the class.

You should post your writing as a comment to this post. Just click on comment.

This is writing PRACTICE. It does not have to be perfect.

Welcome to the blog!

Hello 5A,

The purpose of this blog is threefold. First, it will be a place for you to do a lot of your writing and grammar assignments. I will also place weekly schedules and updates on it.

The second purpose for this blog is for us to share useful information (where to go, where to shop, what to do if you have a problem, etc.). You can also use the blog to post items of interest, such as articles, pictures, invitations, etc.

Finally, I will use the blog to post internet links for different activities such as on-line grammar practice/quizzes and other activities that I think will benefit you.

You should check this blog every few days in order to keep current with the class.

About due dates:  If something is due on Wednesday, then you have all of Wednesday to complete it. That means its late on Thursday. Try your best to complete assignments on time; however, if you miss the deadline, you still need to do it.

I look forward to a great semester with all of you, and I look forward to "seeing" you on-line,
HC

p.s. To write something on the blog, click on "comments" and write your post.