EFL Learners

Fun Survey for ESL/EFL Learners A common comment made by new English students is that they want to improve their conversational skills. In fact, many students complain that their grammar is OK, but, when it comes to conversing, they feel they are still beginners. This makes sense - especially in academic settings where the emphasis often tends towards structural knowledge. As a first year, enthusiastic ESL/EFL teacher, I can remember striding into class ready to help students converse - only to find out that what I had chosen was of little or no interest to my students. I stammered through the lesson, trying to cajole my students into talking - and, in the end, doing most of the talking myself. Does this scenario sound slightly familiar? Even the most experienced teacher runs into this problem: A student wants to improve his/her speaking ability, but getting them to state an opinion is like pulling teeth. There are many reasons for this common problem: pronunciation problems, cultural tabus, lack of vocabulary for a given topic, etc. In order to combat this tendency, its good to gather a little background information on your students before you begin your conversation lessons. Finding out about your students well ahead of time can also assist in: planning out longer arcs of learning topicsunderstanding the personality of your classgrouping students for activitiesfinding the right authentic materials that will hold your classs attention through the tough bitssuggesting individual research topics for class presentations Its best to distribute this type of fun survey during the first week of class. Feel free to distribute the activity as homework. Once you understand the reading and study habits, as well as the general interests of your class, you will be well on your way to providing engaging materials that will actually encourage your students to say more than yes or no the next time you ask them to make a comment. Fun Survey for Adult ESL/EFL Learners Imagine you are having dinner with your best friend. What topics do you discuss?Imagine you are having a work lunch with colleagues. What topics do you discuss that are non-work related?What do you like best about your profession?What do you like least about your profession?What do you like to read? (circle items)FictionAdventure storiesHistorical fictionScience fictionComic booksThrillersShort StoriesRomance novelsOther (please list)NonfictionBiographyScienceHistoryCookbooksSociologyComputer manualsOther (please list)Do you read any magazines or newspapers? (please list titles)What are your hobbies?What places have you visited?What type of things do you like: (circle items)GardeningGoing to museumsListening to music (please list type of music)MoviesWorking with Computers / Surfing the InternetVideo gamesWatching TV (please list programs)Playing sports (please list sports)Playing an instrument (please list instrument)Other (please list)Think about your best friend, husband or wife fo r a minute. What do you have in common with him/her? Fun Survey for Student ESL/EFL Learners Imagine you are having dinner with your best friend. What topics do you discuss?Imagine you are having lunch with classmates. What topics do you discuss that are school related?Which courses do you most enjoy?Which courses do you least enjoy?What do you like to read?  (circle items)FictionAdventure storiesHistorical fictionScience fictionComic booksThrillersShort StoriesRomance novelsOther  (please list)NonfictionBiographyScienceHistoryCookbooksSociologyComputer manualsOther  (please list)Do you read any magazines or newspapers?  (please list titles)What are your hobbies?What places have you visited?What type of things do you like:  (circle items)GardeningGoing to museumsListening to music  (please list type of music)MoviesWorking with Computers / Surfing the InternetVideo gamesWatching TV  (please list programs)Playing sports  (please list sports)Playing an instrument  (please list instrument)Other  (please list)Think about your best friend for a minute. What do you have in common with him/her

Colima and Maya's Cultures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Colima and Maya's Cultures - Essay Example A vessel in form of a dog that considered being an exemplar of Colima culture and vessel with palace scene that determines a Maua culture are fallen under analysis. What should be mentioned is that these works of art have a lot in common, still cultural specialties are visible.  Colima culture or co-called Capacha refers to the territory of West Mexico and â€Å"dated there to the early to middle Formative period† that is 200 BCE-300 AD (Evans and Webster, 95). Death was regarded as a transfer to another world, and burials have attracted special attention in ancient times. â€Å"Ancient West Mexicans used a unique shaft-chamber tomb, an underground series of rooms reached by a narrow, vertical opening, or shaft† (IMA, n.p.). Such vessels have been surrounded the deceased and have put there with a special aim. Dogs have remained to be servants as guides to assist the dead person in his/her trip to the underworld (IMA, n.p.).   In addition, dogs are considered to be a source of food for Colima people that is why such vessel has been of great significance according to the beliefs of that population. The vessel has a dark brown color and rather and size a really small dog. The example of Maya culture belongs to the Late Classic Period in the existence of discussed culture, more exactly 600-900 AD (Foster, 17). â€Å"The culture reaches its artistic zenith† in those times (Foster, 18). That is why the vessel with palace scene is regarded as an important example of Maya culture. This is considered to a vessel for a drink with a painting scene showing â€Å"a ruler sitting on a throne, wearing a jade necklace and a headdress with exotic feathers† (IMA, n.p.). Such vessels also have buried with the people they belong to, usually that have been rich residents of those territories. The vessel is in the different tones of brown and beige color with the size of normal pot or mug.