PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER ASSISTANT by Shuyi Lin

The best job for me is one that works around children. It can be either working at a child care center or pre-school, so a suitable occupation would bw pre-school teacher assitant.

It has been a dream job for me, because I really love the type of work that the job has to offer. Not many people get to earn a paycheck while enjoying exactly what they want to do at work. It is very important for people to be happy working because we spend about one-third of our life-time at work.

Andrew, JenniferESL Lesson 22, and ESLPod 559

Andrew's Journey to a New Life in America chapter pdfs

All of the novels in The MICHIGAN Stories for Newcomers series

1. Modified Version of Flor
2. Modified Version of Senem
3. Modified Version of Andrew
4. Modified Version of The Kims
5. Student Book Clubs homepage

Jennifer ESL Articles - Lesson 22, Part 1 - English Grammar (video)

JenniferESL — March 19, 2010 — An introduction or overview of English articles: a, an, the, and the zero article. Level: Intermediate to advanced.This is a lesson in TWO PARTS. Part 1 presents basic rules or guidelines for using English articles.

STUDENTS: Additional practice is available at EnglishCafe.com. http://www.englishcafe.com/lesson/english-articles-part-1-61067


ESL Podcast 559 – Ending a Restaurant Meal

Learn how to end your meal in a restaurant in English in this episode. (Credit card problems!) Download Podcast


HOMEWORK

Read All Star 4 pg 137 "Don't Be a Victim of Credit Card Fraud" ans answer these questions:

1. Who really pays for credit card fraud? How?
2. What is a bogus credit card?
3. What would you do if a telemarketer called ans asked for your credit card number?
4. In what ways do people become victims of credit card fraud?
5. What are 3 things you can do to prevent credit card fraud?

*MY FRIEND, MR VINH by Linh Pham

Mr. Vinh was my co-worker when I worked at my previous company. I admire him because he is smart and funny. He makes plans for our sales team. He analyzes the wholesale food market and shows me how to increase my sales. He can explain anything that I don't understand in great detail.

Mr Vinh helps everyone and shares his ideas with our co-workers in the other departments. We worked hard to make everything easy for others, and we were very successful. I really appreciate his help.

MY FAVORITE JOB by Tan Do

"It's a Wonderful Life!" Tan Do shows off his new mini-DVD player.

South Vietnam is my country. When I was 18 years old, I became a policeman. At that time, Vietnam was at war. Three years later (1975), the Viet Cong achieved their victory, the war ended, all the soldiers came back home, and they needed a job for their livelihood. I need a job, too, so I made my living room into a small repair shop for repairing radios, television, phonographs, etc.

I learned to repair small appliances when I was 16 years old, but it was just the basics, and didn't have any experience yet. I learned more from my job hands-on; my experience improved and became better than before.

A business must have customers, and my customers were just my friends, neighbors, and cousins who had broken appliances and brought them to my store to be repaired. I didn't earn a lot of money from my small shop, but it was enough for my family to live.

I especially loved my job!

Double Comparatives - Lesson 21 - English Grammar

JenniferESL: Double Comparatives - Lesson 21 - English Grammar

JenniferESL — February 21, 2010 — Topic: Double comparatives (as in "The more, the merrier.")Using comparative forms to express cause and effect. Level: intermediate to advanced.

STUDENTS: Additional practice is available at EnglishCafe.com http://www.englishcafe.com/lesson/double-comparatives-more-merrier-english-grammar-56384

CATESOL!

Let's go to that workshop!

This weekend , several of the teachers from Milpitas Adult School will join hundreds of ESL teachers at the Santa Clara Convention Center for our statewide convention: CATESOL--California (and Nevada) Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.

For four days, we will attend workshops, lectures, and meetings about improving our ESL teaching skills. Teacher Judy will carefully shop for new books; Teacher Hongyan will review new classroom technology; Teachers Ann, Thao, and Reva will participate in group activities; and I will teach a workshop about citizenship.

Here are two VOA interviews recorded at our national conference, TESOL.

An Editorialist's Opinion of How to Write Better

Patricia Kelvin, a former newspaperwoman, has advice for students of any subject. download MP3

English Teaching Is Music to the Ears of a Former Pop Promoter

Curt Burich also worked on reality TV, but now aims for reality of a classroom. download MP3

A SECRETARY by Maitrang Nguyen

After I graduated from high school in Viet Nam, my initial job was a secretary of a Shoe Company where many kinds of shoes were made and sold to the Soviet Union.

I worked in the Shoe Company's office in Saigon. There were eight office workers who were affable and honest. I needed their help when I was training as a secretary. I learned how to make a presentation. After that, I was trained to type on a manual typewriter. It was the kind of machine that used carbon-paper between the white sheets of paper. I carefully put them in the manual typewriter and used the power of my arms and hands to type it. I got really tired while I was typing.

My salary was average, but I had medical benefits. I gave all my salary to my mother and I was really interested in my career.

A few years later, my company slipped in the economic depression. I changed my job to become a bank teller and then a supervisor. I had enthusiasm for my new jobs, but I will always remember my first occupation being a secretary.

Now I am living in th United States. With my skills and the experiences i have had, I plan to become a pharmacy technician.

Phrasal Verbs & Compound Words - Lesson 20 - English Grammar

JenniferESL: Phrasal Verbs & Compound Words - Lesson 20 - English Grammar

JenniferESL — December 23, 2009 — Topic: Compound words (nouns and adjectives) formed from phrasal verbs. Special attention is given to the pronunciation of the compound words (stress patterns). Level: high intermediate to advanced

For additional practice on this topic, please visit EnglishCafe.com. I've created a follow-up quiz for students. The link is: http://englishwithjennifer.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/student-stumper-11-compound-words/

MY FRIEND, TINA by Cindy Lam

Cindy Lam shares her latest recipe with her lucky classmates.

After I watched "It's a Wonderful Life," I remembered one of my friends--Tina. She is a friendly and funny person. She taught me about the Philosphy of Life. She always says, "If others can do it, you can do it, too!"

I try to practice this saying every day. For example, when I was young, I didn't know how to cook different things. Tina told me that I could cook many different things now because I practice her upbeat philosophy. Because I continually try to cook a wide variety of Asian food, it has helped me change cooking from a daily chore into a hobby!

MY FRIEND, MR ZHANG by Xu Xiaozhong

Xu Xiaozhong was an engineer in Shanghaifor over 30 years.

Mr. Zhang is my old friend. He is 15 years younger than me. We worked at the same factory in China for 30 years. He was an engineer, too.

To me, he is very reliable. He completes every assignment on-time. He usually has great ideas to do things in new ways. Also, he is very enthusiastic to help other people.

Before I retired, he quit his job and became an owner of a company, but we still stayed in contact. His company grew really fast. He bought a new house and car. He created a wonderful life for his family. I really admire him.

Now, I am living in the United States. We meet only once or twice a year, but I think our friendship go on forever!

TOUR GUIDE by Wei Nanfen

Ivy works at Mayflower Restaurant and wants to become a Tour Guide.

The best job for me is a tour guide. I am interested in sight-seeing. I always take a lot of pictures when visiting a new place or seeing new people. My friends say that I am a friendly and adaptable person; to be a tour guide, flexibility and adaptability are essential. The things that I have to improve are my English and being comfortable to speak in front of a group of people. Hopefully I will achieve my goal after this school. cheers!

Phrasal Verbs (Pronunciation) - Lesson 19 - English Grammar

JenniferESL: Phrasal Verbs (Pronunciation) - Lesson 19 - English Grammar

December 09, 2009 — Topic: Pronunciation patterns of phrasal verbs

Level: Advanced

This lesson shows how grammar and pronunciation are related. The stress patterns used for phrasal verbs are guided by sentence structure. Learn three common patterns and achieve more natural rhythm in your own use of phrasal verbs. Additional practice is available at EnglishCafe.com:

http://www.englishcafe.com/lesson/pronunciation-patterns-phrasal-verbs-44462

LVN LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSES by Kitima Sourannavong

Kitima and her daughter

I want to study to be a LVN because I like to help people when they are sick.

LVNs provide care to the patient on a very personal level. They are responsible for taking vital signs, monitoring patients' intake and output of food and liquids, treating common problems such as bedsores, and performing several procedures such as dressing wounds, bathing, and dressing. LVNs perform diffucult procedures such as starting intravenous fluids.

Usually LVNs report to or work directly with Physicians or RNs and frequent direct contact with patients to help them deal with their illness.

My Mother has come home!

Sunday afternoon, my mother was released from the hospital. She is so happy to be home! Thanks to every one for their prayers and well wishes!

TEACHING by Nasreen Usmani

I have always enjoyed teaching as a profession. When I was in Pakistan, I used to teach in an elementary school. I taught from Grade 2 to Grade 5. I taught mathematics and science. It was a wonderful experience and I believe that it is the right kind of job for me.

Teaching is my passion from a young age and I have always wanted to be a part of the education system in which I could use my teaching skills. It gives me great pleasure to teach new concepts to young students and help them learn a new set of skills in school. I hope to get a job in education and start my career as a teacher once again.

Wednesday Night Update!

My mom is still in the the hospital. The new medication is beginning to work: she has less pain, is eating more food, and the constant diarrhea has stopped.

Late in the afternoon, the Physical Therapist checked her range of motion (good) and strength (ok) of her arms and legs, but it is still very difficult for her to safely roll out of bed without causing severe pain to her back and torso. She (and my father) are staying at least one more night until she can safely get out of bed and walk. The doctor will check her again on Thursday morning. She is looking forward to checking out the Kaiser Farmer's Market.

On Thurday morning, ESL 5 will go to the computer lab for a CASAS listening test. After everyone has completed their listening test, we will work on completeing our work portfolios. Please bring your Job Completion Charts and Essays for me to check.

My Mother is in the Hospital

My mother is 75 years old. When she was in her mid 30s, she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (類風濕關節炎, 类风湿关节炎, Viêm khớp dạng thấp, La artritis reumatoide).

My mother took a lot of aspirin, and when the pain got worse, she took cortisone and prednisone. As she grew older, she developed osteoporosis. No matter how bad the pain was, my mother did her own housework every day.

Late last year, she fell. My dad brought her to the hospital to check if she had broken any bones. When the medical technicians tried to x-ray her, they twisted her back. The x-ray showed many tiny fractures in her spine and ribs. Six weeks ago, my mother fell again, and she refused to go to the hospital because the last x-ray was so painful.

My father then negotiated with Kaiser to send nurses, therapists, and home health care aides to check on my mother every day. Everyone gave different advice, and my mother's physician did not return phone calls or emails from my father or the visiting nurses in a timely manner.

Soon, it became too painful to eat and drink (all my mom wanted to do was smoke cigarettes). They gave my mother stronger and stronger pain medication, which would constipate my her. Then would give my mother "stool softeners" to relieve the constipation, which gave her severe diarrhea. She could not stop going to the bathroom, and any "accidents," no matter how small, were humilating to my mother, who is a very fastidious person.

After five days of constant pain and diarrhea, my mother became very dehydrated and malnourished. On Tuesday moring, my mother was at the point of loosing consciousness and slipping into a coma, so the visiting nurse ordered an ambulance to bring my mother to the Kaiser Santa Clara Emergency Room. My father followed in a separate car.

During Tuesday break time, I tried to call my parents at home. No one answered. Teacher Judy suggested that I call the main phone number at Kaiser Santa Clara. I called and asked, "I am looking for my mother. Is Elinor Gagliardi in the Emergency Room or has she be admitted to the hospital?" They were immediately able to tell me "Yes" and switched me to her room in the emergency room. My father answered and gruffly told me he would call back. I knew he was too busy, so I ran back to the classroom and dismissed the class. I jumped in the car, bought a sandwich for my Dad, and went to Kaiser.

When I got to Kaiser, my mother was awake, and the nurses were trying to adjust her pain medication (morphine and percocet), so they could x-ray her and run more tests. They had also given her an IV to re-hydrate her and give her some vitamins, but everything would run through her into a bedpan. The nurses and doctors were constantly coming in and out of the room to check on my mother, so she couldn't sleep.

My mother became very frustrated and wanted to go home for some privacy, but when nurse asked to her to try to walk with a walker, they could see that she was very unsteady on her feet. They finally convinced her to stay overnight in the hospital and my father stayed with her.

It is now Wednesday morning and class has been cancelled. On Thursday, we will have a CASAS Listening Test, so please look at the blogposts about Listening Practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Also, please complete your Job Comparison Chart and work on your essay: Which Job Is the Best Job for Me.

Thank you for your patience and prayers during this difficult time.

Listening Test Level C

SOURCE: Level C Level C Audio (SEE BELOW)

You will practice one time. First, you will hear a question. Next, listen carefully to what is said. You will hear the question again. Then choose the correct answer: A, B, or C. You will hear everything one time. Listen.

Practice

What’s the problem?

􀂃 Joe, where’s your hard hat?
􀃠 Oh…sorry! I forgot to wear it.

What’s the problem?

• A
• B
• C

Listen to the MP3 for Questions 1 & 2

1. What problem does the woman have?

􀂃 I need to talk to Payroll about my pay statement.
􀃠 What’s wrong?
􀂃 They used vacation time for the days I was sick.

What problem does the woman have?

• A
• B
• C

2. What is the man asking about?

􀂃 Hi, I’m interested in your summer soccer camp program for kids. Can you give me some information?
􀃠 Sure! It’s a half day program and…let’s see… it starts next week…no, sorry…next month. You need to register by this Friday. It’s really popular. Last year we had to turn alot of kids away.

What is the man asking about?

• A
• B
• C

You will practice one time. You will hear the first part of a conversation. To finish the conversation, listen and choose the correct answer: A, B, or C. You will hear everything one time. Listen.

Practice
􀂃 Hi, Sonia! How’s it goin’?
􀃠 Great! How about you?
􀂃 Oh, fine. Whaddaya doin’ this week-end?

• A
• B
• C

Listen to the MP3 for Questions 3 & 4

3.
􀂃 Sammy’s Pizza.
􀃠 Where are you located?
􀂃 We’re on Third Avenue just west of Imperial.
􀃠 Did you say Third Avenue?

• A
• B
• C

4.
􀂃 Andrew, the printer keeps jamming again. Could you get someone to come and repair it right away?
􀃠 Again? We had a guy out here last week to fix it!

• A
• B
• C

You will practice one time. Listen to what is said. When you hear the question, Which is correct?, listen and choose the correct answer: A, B, or C. You will hear everything only one time.

Practice:

􀂃 Do we need onions?
􀃠 Yeah…get five or six.
􀂃 Well then…let’s buy a whole bag. It’s less expensive.
􀃠 OK.

Which is correct?

• A
• B
• C

Listen to the MP3 for Questions 5 & 6

5.
􀂃 When was the last time you visited your sister?
􀃠 I saw her in June.

Which is correct?

• A
• B
• C

6.
􀂃 Your lab results will be ready in about 3 days. You can call this number to find out if they’ve come in.

Which is correct?

• A
• B
• C

Listening Test Level B

Source: CASAS Level B Level B Audio (SEE BELOW)

First, you will hear a question. Next, listen carefully to what is said. You will hear the question again. Then choose the correct answer: A, B, or C. Listen to the MP3 for Questions 1 & 2

1. What does the woman say?

.....Let’s go for a walk at lunchtime.
.....I can’t go today. I have too much work to do.

What does the woman say?

• A
• B
• C

2. What button should you press for your credit card balance?

You have reached Town & Country Bank.
For your current checking or savings balance press “1”.
For your credit card balance, press “2”.
To report a lost or stolen ATM card orcredit card, press “3”.
For information about other services, or to speak to a representative, press “zero” at any time.

What button should you press for your credit card balance?

• A
• B
• C

You will hear the first part of a conversation. To finish the conversation, listen and choose the correct answer: A, B, or C. You will hear everything two times. Listen to the MP3 for Questions 3 & 4.

3. Doctor Khan says I need to lose weight.

• A
• B
• C
  

4. What’s wrong with Lupe?

• A
• B
• C

Listen to what is said. When you hear the question, Which is correct? Listen and choose the correct answer: A, B, or C. You will hear everything only one time. Listen to the MP3 for Questions 5 & 6

5. Where’s Nancy?
.....She’s on vacation. She won’t be back until the 10th.
.....Oh, really. Where’d she go?
.....She went to Wisconsin to see her family.

Which is correct?

• A
• B
• C

6. .....Hello. I’m Dr. Meade. What brings you here today?
........I’m feeling very run down. I’m getting a lot of sleep, but when I get up to go to work, I still
feel tired.

Which is correct?

• A
• B
• C

Listening Test Level A

Source: CASAS Level A Level A Audio (SEE BELOW)

Look at the Practice pictures and listen. Choose the correct answer: A, B, or C. Listen to the MP3 for Questions 1 & 2

1. How do you like your new apartment? I really like it. It has big windows.

Pictures:

• A. apartment bldg w/big windows
• B. apartment bldg w/very small windows
• C. house with big trees
  

2. I like this shirt but the sleeves are too long.
Pictures:

• A. woman wearing a long dress
• B. woman wearing a short-sleeved shirt
• C. woman wearing a shirt with sleeves too long

First, you will hear a question. Next, listen carefully to what is said. You will hear the question again. Then choose the correct answer: A, B, or C. You will hear everything two times. Listen to the MP3 for Questions 3 & 4

3. What time will the man get home?

.....What time will you be home?
.....5:00.

What time will the man get home?

• A
• B
• C

4. What does the man want to do?

.....I’m moving next week, can I borrow your truck?
.....Sure, no problem.

What does the man want to do?

• A
• B
• C
  

You will hear part of a conversation. To finish the conversation, listen and choose the correct answer: A, B, or C. You will hear everything two times. Listen to the MP3 for Questions 5 & 6

5. I’ve lived here for 6 years. How do you like it?

• A
• B
• C
  

6. Look out! There’s broken glass on the floor.

• A
• B
• C

Good News!

VOAvideo — April 05, 2010 — New figures released on Friday suggest the U.S. economic recovery is gaining traction. The Labor Department says employers added 162,000 jobs in March. That's the biggest monthly gain since the recession began. Despite the improving jobs picture, the nation's unemployment rate held steady at 9.7 percent. VOA's Mil Arcega has more.

VOANews: Obama Welcomes Job Report, Says More Work Ahead

US economy registers largest increase in jobs in three years in March; critics say figures well below expectations

VOANews: 115 Rescued From China Mine, 38 Still Missing

March 28 disaster at the Wangjialing mine trapped 153 miners in a flooded underground shaft

God bless China and USA by Baosheng Guo

I was born in Tibet in westen China, but I am Chinese, I am not Tibetan. In my hometown, there are many religions and nationalities such as Muslim, Buddhist, and Mongolian. When I saw so many religions, I started to think about the value of my life and I asked my father if God exists--I like philosophy and religion.

When I was 18 old, I went to university in Beijing to study philosophy. In China, all students must learn Maxist philosophy, but I dislike it, because Marx said that there is no God, no value of spirit, no love……only class struggle and violent revolution.

In my university’s library I read a book named "Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" (新教徒伦理学与资本主义精神). This book said that Protestant Christianity has a close relationship with democracy and free-market economy, because protestant values include love, freedom, equality, respect for human rights, and monitoring the government. I started to like Protestantism.

When I had a job, I went to many cities in order for businiess. In 2004, I went to Guilin City in south China to attend a conference. I met a pastor who came from Hong Kong. He talked with me about Jesus for 6 hours in a hotel. I came to know my sin: I know that Jesus, the son of God, saved me from my sins through the cross. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb for our sins and for God’s justice and love. At last, the pastor lead me to pray to God--I became a Christian at that time.

Then, I went to a Free Church in Beijing and never stopped. In China, churches are divided into two branch: one is a government church and the other is the Free Church,whch is also called the Underground Church. The Free Church refuses any control from government. When I became a Christian, I participated as a teacher in the Free Church. After 2005, I went to many Free Churches in China as teacher and speaker.

Because Chinese culture adores the Dragon culture (in politics) and Wolf culture (in economics), I started speaking about the Lamb culture of Protestant Christianity. Many Christian churches welcomed me to speak about the Lamb culture. So when I became a famous teacher, the government started to harrass me, so I resigned from my church job, and came to the USA last year to study in a seminary in San Jose.

On Easter, I must thank Jesus for saving me. Because of His death, we have no sin; because of His resurrection, we are victorious in the Word.

At last, I ought to say: "God bless China! God bless the USA! God bless you and me! Hallelujah, Amen!"

Baosheng Guo
March 30, 2010

CASAS Test Prep Activities for the Reading and Listening Tests

On Monday 04/05, ESL 5 will take the CASAS Reading Test.

On Thursday 04/08, ESL 5 will take the CASAS Listening test.

Here are some exercises to help you prepare for the CASAS TESTS.

CASAS Test Prep Activities for the Reading Test

• Links to Activities to Form 27
• Links to Activities to Form 81 R
• Links to Activities to Form 81 RX
• Links to Activities to Form 83 R
• Links to Activities to Form 85 R
• Links to Activities to Form 185 R

CASAS Test Prep Activities for the Listening Test

• Level A Level A Audio
• Level B Level B Audio
• Level C Level C Audio

Milpitas Adult School ESL Computer Lab

Job Descriptions

Pick four jobs and fill out the JOB COMPARISON CHART:

• Name of Job
• Job Description
• Education/Licenses/Certiificates
• Job skills
• Salary (per hour or per year)

Here is the list of 50 jobs:

1. Accountant
2. Artist


3. Auditor


4. Baker


5. Bank teller


6. Cake decorator
   
7. Car mechanic
   
8. Cardiologist
   
9. Chef
10. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)/Home Health Aide (HHA)
11. Computer Programmer
    
12. Cook
    
13. Cosmetologist
14. Counselor
    
15. Dental assistant


16. Dentist


17. Fashion designer
18. Financial planner


19. Florist
20. Food broker


21. Garden designer
22. General contractor (construction)
    
23. Hotel manager
24. K-12 teacher


25. Lawyer


26. Librarian


27. Make-up artist


28. Math teacher
29. Mechanical engineer
30. Museum curator
31. Nanny
32. Nurse
33. Pastor
34. Pastry chef
    
35. Pediatrician
    
36. Pharmacist
    
37. Pharmacy technician
    
38. Physician
    
39. Pre-school teacher
    
40. Pre-school teaching assistant
41. Real Estate Sales Agent
42. Restaurant manager
    
43. Salesman
    
44. Secretary
    
45. Security guard
46. Small appliance repair person
47. Store manager
48. Tour guide
49. Truck driver
    
50. Wholesale salesperson

If the Salary information is missing

• Go to http://www.google.com/
• Search for "Job salary (name of the job)"
• Click a website and copy the low and high salary amount.

Still can't find an interesting job? Here is a website with many short job descriptions.