Week 3 Homework Reminder

I know you're chilling on the couch, but don't forget your English homework!

In case you've already forgotten, here are the homework assignments for this week. Please have them done by Friday at noon:

1. Write your weekly blog post. You can choose one of the following topics:

A. What professionalism means to me: my past, present, and future.

B. My experiences as a student/ professional, and what I would change if I could start over again.

C. How social networking has impacted me and my friends/ classmates/ coworkers.

D. Why I'm a great/ terrible conversationalist.

These topics are based on the book and what we've been talking about in class. If you have another topic you'd prefer, please email me for approval ASAP.

2. Using the topic you chose in part 1, prepare a short (5-10 min.) presentation related to your response. Since you'll be evaluated on your English use above everything else, you don't need to bring any materials for the presentation. If you decide you do want to bring materials (like a handout or a PowerPoint presentation, for example), please tell me if you'll need the projector. And remember: if you do choose to bring materials, they should enhance your presentation. If they don't, it's better to leave them at home. I think we've all sat through enough presentations where the presenters boringly read their notes off their PowerPoint slides; let's not do that on Saturday, OK? 

3. Comment on your group partners' blogs. Follow the same procedure as last week, but this time you'll be commenting on your partners' posts about "good/bad" companies.

4. Check out the Common Errors on my language-learning blog. I've noticed quite a few of them in class recently, and it's good to review them occasionally.

5. Have a good week!

Fast Note

This has nothing to do with this post, but people are more
likely to read something if there's a picture involved.

Hi Everyone! I've been reading about your "good" and "bad" companies, as well as a few of your dream jobs. Most of them are looking very good, so keep up the good work!

I've also noticed that a few of you -but definitely not all of you- have been commenting on your 2 group partners' blogs. There are some good conversations are coming out of these comments, so I want to just mention again that you should be reading and commenting on your group partners' blogs. You can read and comment on any class member's blog, but you have to do it with your group members.

So, if you've not done the comments, or if you still have to put up or change any previous blog posts, it's better late than never.

I'll see you all in class tomorrow. Have a good night!

Week 2 Homework Reminder

Hi Everyone! Since I promised I'd post a homework reminder a few days after class, here's your homework reminder:

DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

OK, here are the assignments:

1. On Saturday you got into groups of three. You need to read your group partners' blogs and respond to what they wrote in the comments section of their blogs. You can agree, disagree, react, or comment on their English usage, but your comment must be constructive and add to the conversation (Don't just say, "Haha, great work." or "I agree."). Please make your comments by Friday at noon.

2. Read your group partners' comments (and any comments I made) and please respond to them.

3. For your blog homework this week, you need to choose a "good" or a "bad" company and write a little about it on your blog. You should describe the characteristics of a good or bad company, and explain why the company you chose embodies your description. Try to use as many details and examples from your personal experiences and interactions with the company as possible. Please do this by Friday at noon.

4. In the workbook, please finish the exercises from chapter 1 (p. 7, 8, 9, and ex. 7 on p. 10; you don't need to do p. 11).

5. Don't forget to participate in the Online Conversation Club! Click Here for more information about how to start, and to see the current schedule.

So, that should keep you busy till Saturday! Have a great week, and see you then!

Chicken & Waffles

Ricardo: I told you they were real.

Now be sure to bring an extra pen next week.

Everyone else, take care and have a good week!

A Few Comments Before Class

Another strange job I had: I worked at a dairy.
Also not very glamorous, since I occasionally
had to put my arm IN cows. Yuck.

Hello Everyone!

I enjoyed reading your posts about your dream and nightmare jobs. Hopefully in real life, you'll all get your dream job, whatever it may be.

If you've not posted your response to your blog yet, you can (and should!) do it still; it's better late than never. Also, I'd like you to check your blogs sometime in the next few days. If you have a comment from me or a classmate (and most of you do or will), I'd like for you to respond to the comment, if necessary. 

So, that's all for the moment. I'll be explaining your week 2 assignment tomorrow in class so in the meantime, rest up and have a good night, since class starts tomorrow at 8:00! AM! Not 8:06! Haha!  

Week One Homework: Dream Jobs

You may not have known it, but I actually was a bus driver
for about six years while I was studying in college.
I can't say I felt very prestigious doing it, though.

Your first assignment for this week is to write a couple of paragraphs on your blog. Since we were talking about dream and nightmare jobs, I'd like you to write your thoughts about what you think the perfect job for you would be, and why. For example, if you think your ideal job would be driving buses, explain what aspects of your personal goals, personality, or career wishes make that job ideal for you. Alternately, you could talk about your "nightmare" job, if you prefer. Also, comment about whether the job you mention carries prestige with it in Costa Rica. If so (or if not), is it prestigious in other parts of the world? Explain.

Please finish your blog post by noon on Friday, so that I'll have time to read and comment on them. You can also feel free to check out your classmates' blogs and leave comments.

For your second assignment, I'd like you to complete exercises 3 and 4 on page 7 of your text; in the workbook, please do pages 5, 6, and 7. We may not have a lot of time to review these during our next class, but if you have any questions about these exercises, be sure to ask them.

I'll be excited to read and comment on your blog posts this week! Take care, and see you on Saturday!

Online Conversation Club

Hello Everyone! I forgot to remind you in class yesterday about the CCCN's Online Conversation Club. I've written details here, like the schedule and how to participate. I'll hope to see you online!

Welcome to AP-4!

Hello! My name's Ryan, and I'm the teacher of the Advanced Program, Level 4 at the CCCN in Palmares. I'll be posting some comments and assignments on this blog, and you can also send comments to me through this page.

I'm looking forward to our class together, and I'll do everything I can to make the class useful and interesting for you. I'd also appreciate any feedback you have for me along the way.

There is one thing I need you to do as soon as possible. If you've had an AP class with me before, then you possibly have a blog already. If you do, great! If you don't have a blog yet, then please start one. The process is usually very quick and painless. If you're not sure what to do, check this link for more detailed instructions on how to start a blog.

When you have your blog's address, or if you already have one, please send the link to me. You can send it by email or by copying and pasting it in the comments section below. I'll then put together a list of all the students' blogs and put the list on this site.

So, that's all for the moment! I'll hope to see you all tomorrow, bright and (too) early!