Happy New Year!

新年快乐！

Gods and Deities ESL Discussion Questions

Gods and Deities

What is a God/Deity?

Something we worship.

Something that has supernatural powers.

Famous Gods?Deities?

Yahweh

Emperors?

Zeus

Bruce Lee?

How many Gods can we worship?

One God -monotheist

Many Gods- polytheists

What do you worship?

Gods?  Pop Stars?  Sport Stars?  Historical Figures?  Cartoon characters?

Are celebrities modern substitutes for Gods?

How do we worship?

Sacrifices, prayers, iconography, shrines, ceremonies, bowing down

Where do we worship?

Churches, mosques, temples, stadiums, concert halls,

Do we wish you were a god?

I wish I was the god of _________

Do you want to meet a god?

I want to meet the god of_______

Are Gods and Deities useful things?

Why do we need to worship?  There is a god?  We are ignorant?

INTRODUCE  CONCEPT  OF SACRED THINGS

Things we don't profane.  e.g.  Don't say anything about my mother.  Don't step on my mother's photo.

Do you have a sacred possession?

What things/ideas/people do you hold sacred?

What do Chinese hold sacred?

What do Christians hold sacred?

What do Muslims hold sacred?

Play the God Game!

Gratitude Discussion Questions

What is Gratitude?

It is said that the secret to happiness is to have gratitude?  Agree?  Disagree? Why?

What are you thankful for?

What should we most be thankful for?

Who are you thankful to?

Who is a person everyone should be thankful to?

Make a list of ten things you are grateful for?

Why are you thankful for these things?

Make a list of ten people you are grateful to?

Why are you grateful to these people?

How to show your gratitude?

How do other people show their gratitude for things?

How to thank people?

Is there someone you forgot to thank?

Is the Spring Festival a time to have gratitude?

Do you expect to be thanked when you do something nice?

To have no gratitude — ingratitude; to be ungrateful

Do you know some ungrateful people?

What people are usually more ungrateful?

Can you remember some times when you were ungrateful?  

Are children usually grateful for what they have?

Is it okay to do thankless tasks?  What are some examples of thankless tasks?

Do you think the youngest generation is ungrateful for what they have?

Were the older generations more grateful?

Discussion Questions about the Moon and Satellites

1. The Moon Discussion Questions

Have you thought about the moon today?  Why?  Why not?

When was the last time you looked at the Moon?  Do you like looking at the Moon?

What do you see when you look at the moon?

What does the word "Moon" make you think of?

The moon is Earth's ___________

The moon is a symbol of what?

Why do the Chinese use the lunar calendar?

Are there Chinese characters living on the moon?

How does the moon affect our lives?

What would happen if there were moon?

Do you want to visit the Moon?  What would you when you went?

What is a good name for a moon base?

Will there one day, be a KFC on the moon?

What do you like to do in the moonlight?

Do you think China will put a man on the moon?

Do you believe they put a man on the moon?

Who does the moon belong to?

Is the Moon romantic?

Does a full moon make people act crazy?

Finish this sentence  When the moon is in the sky,_____________________.

Have you heard stories of people turning into Monsters during the Full Moon?

Do you know what it means to "moon someone"?  

What do these Idioms mean?

Ask for the moon.

Promise the moon.

Once in a blue moon.

think someone hung the moon.

Reach for the moon.

Many moons ago.

I was over the moon.

Satellites

What are Satellites?  Orbiting objects.

What is the most famous satellite?

What is a satellite country?  Does China have satellites?

What kind of satellites are made by man?  What use are they to us?

Would you like to live on a satellite?

What does in mean to orbit something?  Who orbits around you?  Who do you orbit around.

Someone goes into orbit.  What does this idiom mean?

Discussion Questions about Dancing

Dancing Discussion questions

What is Dancing? Movement of the body to music and rhythmn.

Why do we dance?  Are there benefits to dancing?  Is it a Mating Ritual?

Do you like to dance?  Why?  Why not?  Are you shy to dance?  Why?

When was the first time you danced?  When was the last time you danced?  How often do you dance?

Are you a good dancer?  Would you like to be a professional dancer?

Who are some good dancers?  Why are they good?  Are foreigners good dancers?  Who are the most famous dancers in China?

Finish this sentence.   Good Dancers are____________.

Bad Dancers are_____________.

Good Dancers can____________.

Bad Dancers can______________.

Who do you like to dance with?  Can men dance together in China?

Who do you want to dance with?  It is okay to dance by yourself?

Have you ever gone to a dance?  Are there dances in China?  Is Dancing important in Chinese Culture?  Wuxi Culture?  Are there traditional Wuxi Dances?  Do they teach dancing in school?  Are there dancing schools in Wuxi?

Do you like to watch dancing?  e.g. Ballet, in the movies?  What do you think of Ballet?  Do you think teachers should dance?  

Ladies!  Do you like a man who can dance?

Do you go to dance clubs?

What music is good to dance to? What music Isn't?

What kinds of dancing are there?  What is your favorite kind of dancing?

Do you like to dance by yourself or with others?  Do you like slow dancing or fast dancing?

I sometimes see people singing to themselves.  Do people like to dance because they feel happy?

Dance Idioms:

He dances to another tune.  He is dancing to another tune, these days.

Finally:  Ask the students to dance!!!!

Top Ten List ESL Class Plan

Top Ten Lists

The purpose of this class is to:

-allow the students to brainstorm.

-all the students to express opinions.

-Why? because.....

Introduction

-Introduce the topic of top-ten lists

-present a sample top-ten list. Look on the Internet for a humorous top-ten list.

Top Ten Lists as chosen by teacher

Top Ten excuses for not handing in your homework

1.My grandmother died

2.My grandfather died

3.The dog ate my homework

4.My parents died

5.Thieves stole my homework

6.My house caught on fire and so my homework was burnt.

7.I caught a bad case of cancer and so I couldn't do my homework

8.I was drunk

9.I got married

10.The boy I paid to do my homework was sick.

-Most important things in life.

-favourite activities.

-ten coolest things in the world.

-ten things you hate about school.

Top ten lists as per students

-students come up with their own ideas for top ten lists. If time, they can present them.

2011 HyLite English Chinese New Year Dinner Video

Entertainment at the HyLite 2011 Spring Festival Dinner.

Discussion Questions about Motivation

Motivation

What is it?  

It is what gets us going.  

It makes us do things when we don't feel like it.

It causes us to give extra effort.

Adjective?  Motivated.

Are you motivated?  Unmotivated?  Why?   Why do you think so?

What motivates you?  Others?

Are you motivated by...?

Money

Parental approval

Praise

Peer approval

Sex        

 Power

Thrills

Laziness

Curiosity         

Good Marks

Who motivates you?  Who has motivated you?

World's most motivational person?

Why do we need motivation?  Could we act without it?

When do we need motivation?

How do you motivate others?  Is it easy to motivate others?

Where do you go for motivation?  Do you go to TV? Movies?  Internet?  School?  Church?  Motivational Speakers?

Tell me a time when you were very motivated and you did something incredible?

Mingling at the 2011 Wuxi, China International Festival of Chicken Wings...

Radio Procedure Class Plan for ESL

Radio Procedure

Radio

What is it?  Do you listen to radio these days?  I used to but now I listen to podcasts.  Do you listen to podcasts?  What are your favorites? 

Would you like to listen to podcasts?  What topics?

Have you ever listened to a sporting event on the radio?

What was radio like in china twenty years ago?  Now?

Have you ever communicated by radio or walkie-talkie?

Radio Procedure  ((Teach the Voice Procedure Alphabet).

 A Alpha

B Bravo

C Charlie

D Delta

E Echo

F Foxtrot

G Golf

H Hotel

I India

J Juliet

K Kilo

L Lima

M Mike

N November

O Oscar

P Papa

Q Quebec

R Romeo

S Sierra

T Tango

U Uniform

V Victor

W Whiskey

X Xray

Y Yankee

Z Zulu

Assign the students a callsign e.g. Alpha Kilo Six Four

Words to use on the radio

·Affirmative — Yes

·Negative — No

·Reading you Five / Loud and clear — I understand what you say 5x5.

·Over — I have finished talking and I am listening for your reply. Short for "Over to you."

·Out — I have finished talking to you and do not expect a reply.

·Clear — I have finished talking to you and will be shutting my radio off.

·Roger — Information received.

·Copy — I understand what you just said (after receiving information).

·Wilco — Will comply (after receiving new directions).

·Go ahead or Send your traffic — Send your transmission.

·Say again — Please repeat your last message (Repeat is not used as it is a specific command when calling for artillery fire)

·Break — Signals a pause during a long transmission to open the channel for other transmissions, especially for allowing any potential emergency traffic to get through.

·Break-Break — Signals to all listeners on the frequency, the message to follow is priority. Almost always reserved for emergency traffic or in NATO forces, an urgent 9 line or Frag-O.

·Standby or Wait one — Pause for the next transmission. This usually entails staying off the air until the operator returns after a short wait.

·Callsign-Actual — Sometimes an individual (generally a superior) may have a person monitor the network for them. Saying "actual" after their callsign asserts you wish to speak to the specific person the callsign is attached to.

·Sécurité — Maritime safety call. Repeated three times. Has priority over routine calls.

·Pan-pan — Maritime/aviation urgency call. Repeated three times. Has priority over safety calls.

·Mayday — Maritime/aviation distress call. Repeated three times and at beginning of every following transmission relating to the current distress situation. Has priority over urgency and safety calls.

Situations in which we can practice using radio procedure:

Ordering food.  Making an Appointment.  Meeting someone on the street.  Making a marriage proposal.  Asking to borrow money.  Telling your parents you are getting married.

Overrated and Underrated things discussion questions

Overrated things are things that you think are not as good as other people seem to think.

We could also say these things are not as advertised, disappointing, underwhelming.

Think of some popular things you hate.  e.g. I hated the movie Titanic.  I hate Rap Music.

Think of some famous people you hate.  e.g. Obama, Al Gore,

Think of some people who get too much credit when things go good.

What are some places that you went to and were disappointed.  I remember going to the Space Needle and hated it.  It was so expensive.  I found the Forbidden City to be dull.

Other ways of using "over" as a prefix.

Overpaid.  Overacting.  Overdo.  Overdone. Overwork.  Oversleep.  Overreact  Overexaggerate.

Underrated things are things that you think are not as bad as other people seem to think.

We could also say these things are not advertised, surprising, Under Appreciated.

What people are underappreciated in society.  What people get too much blame?  Are scapegoated?

Think of some things you like that no one seems to like.

Think of some people who are unfairly said to be bad.  e.g.  George Bush

What are some things you did or experienced that surprised you?  They exceeded your expectations?

Other ways of using "under" as a prefix:

Underpaid.  Underachieve.  Underage.  Underwater.  Under perform.  Understatement.

"Hands" Discussion Questions

Hands

Review parts of the hand vocabulary.  Finger tips, palms, knuckles,...

Why are hands so important?

What do we do with our hands?

How do you take care of your hands?

Have you ever hurt your hands?  What are problems we can have with our hands?

What do attractive hands look like?

Do strong or pretty hands excite you?  Do you like a man/woman with strong/pretty hands?  A woman with man hands — attractive?

Hand Superstitions?

Hand idioms

What do these idioms mean?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

I have my hands full.

I have my hands tied.

Die by own hand

An old  hand

A helping hand

You are in safe hands.

Can I have a show of hands?

Take matters into own hands.

Right-hand man

Have the upper hand.

Go hand in hand.

He likes to glad hand.

Be on hand.

A hand-me-down.

Popular Song Titles and Lyrics in the Passive Voice

• When Cheek-to-Cheek Dancing is Being Done by Us.
• Satisfaction Can't be Gotten by Me
• I Was Shaken by You All Night Long
• It is only Rock and Roll is known by me
• I was given birth to in the U.S.A.
• Business is being taken care of
• Nothing ain't been seen yet
• A Son of a Bitch is being messed with by you now
• The Law was fought by me
• Under My Skin is where you are gotten by me
• The Queen be saved by God

Predictions: an ESL English Corner for China

Predictions for 2011

What are predictions?  What does it mean to predict?  What are prophecies?  Who are some famous prophets?

Do you like to make predictions?  Do you know someone who is good at making predictions?

What do we call the people we consult for information about our futures?  Do you see these people?

Is your life going as predicted?

Are there things you do to have a good year?

Will 11/11/11 be a significant day?

Topics on which to make predictions

Sports

America

Europe

North Korea

Taiwan

Politics

Weather

Your Life

The end of the world

The Economy

Obama

Hu Jiantao

Wen Jiabao

Hilary Clinton

Yao Ming

Jackie Chen

Wuxi

What about the future (long-term)

What does the future for Man, China?  For you?

What do you think life will be like in fifty years?

What country will be the most powerful in 2050? In 2100?