English Fundamentals 1&2

Test your English! 

Instructions
1. Watch this video.
2. Click here to begin your 25-question test.
3. When you finish your 25-question test, write down your CEFR level and review your test answers at the bottom of the page.
4.  Give your CEFR score to your teacher.

Between WW1 and WW2

The period after World War 1 in the United States went from a time of abundance to a time of poverty.  Watch the following three videos and then answer the question below on your blog.

1.Black Tuesday
2. The Great Depression Explained in 1 minute
3.Living in the 1930s

Blog Writing Question: 
What aspect of American culture during the 1920s and 1930s is most surprising to you?  Explain why.

Monday, April 10

1) Answer essay questions A and B below in your notebook.  Read each question carefully and write a full and complete answer to both questions.
2) Work/Study on Outside Homework or Assignments.

Essay Question A
In your opinion, what is the most important characteristic (for example, honesty, intelligence, a sense of humor) that a person can have to be successful in life?  Use specific reasons and examples from your experience to explain your answer.  When you write your answer, you are not limited to the examples listed in the question.

Essay Question B
If you were asked to send one thing representing your country to an international exhibition, what would you choose?  Why?  Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

English Fundamentals

Select one of the topics below and write about it for 20 minutes...

Descriptive topics

1. Describe your favorite place in as much detail as possible.
2. What do you do outside of school and work? Describe any hobbies you have, sports you participate in, or other activities you regularly enjoy.
3. If you could invite five people to a dinner party, who would they be? What is each guest like?
4. Describe your favorite fictional character in as much detail as possible.
5. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Describe it and explain why you’d choose it.

Instructions

1. Give directions for getting from one point to another. Explain what landmarks someone might see along the way.
2. Explain how to entertain guests who unexpectedly arrive at your home.

Verb tense practice

1. What’s one thing you could never live without and why?
2. Describe your ideal town or city, why you would want to live there, and what you would do there.
3. Write about a time in the past when you had to make a difficult decision, and explain what you did.
4. Talk about five specific goals you want to accomplish this year, and explain how you are going to accomplish them.
5. Imagine you’re babysitting a child who breaks the kitchen table. Explain to the child how they could have avoided doing this if they had behaved differently.

Practical vocabulary practice

1. Write a review of a new restaurant (either fictional or real) in your area.
2. Describe the best party or large-scale event you’ve ever attended.
3. If you could get one gift for everyone in your family, regardless of the cost, what would you get them and why?
4. Choose a form of transportation (such as cars, trains, boats, planes, or subways) and explain how it has changed people’s lives.
5. Write a pitch for a new blockbuster movie. Explain what will happen in the movie and why it will draw crowds to the theater.

Persuasive writing practice

1. Do you think our society is too dependent on technology like smartphones? Why or why not?
2. Imagine that a big new department store is being built in your hometown. Do you support this development or not?
3. Do you think it’s better for students to have a long summer break or be in a year-round school system with more breaks throughout the year? Explain your position.
4. Should employers set aside time during the day for their employees to exercise? What might be some of the advantages or disadvantages of this?
5. What is your favorite book or movie, and why should people read or watch it?

13 Colonies

WATCH THE VIDEOS AT THIS LINK

Ladies: How Proverbs 31 Are You?  Take these 2 quizzes!
1. The Proverbs 31 Quiz! 
2. How Well Do You Know the Proverbs 31 Woman Quiz.

English As a Second Language Placement Test

International Students 2015

Please read this article and write a reaction (1-2 paragraphs) to it using your personal experience.

International students taking a big piece of the American pie

It's a New Year!

The summer is now officially over, and a new school year has begun at SVA.  Explore this website to find a number of websites to help you learn and improve your English.

Washington, D.C. Field Trip

Washington, D.C. Field Trip

Thursday, May 14, 2015
(See homework assignment below)

Projected Trip Itinerary (tentative and subject to change)

5:00 a.m.          Leave SVA

9:00 a.m.          Arrive Washington - White House/Pennsylvania Avenue/U.S. Capitol

10:00 a.m.        Library of Congress

11:00 a.m.        Supreme Court

12:00 p.m.        Lunch on the National Mall National Mall Museum Map PDF

12:30 p.m.        Visit Museums*

5:00 p.m.          Leave Museums/Walk National Mall & Monuments

                         Meet at Washington Monument by 5:30 p.m.

                         Walking tour of:

                         WW2 Memorial

                         Korean War Memorial

                         Vietnam War Memorial

                         Arrive at Lincoln Memorial by 6:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.          Leave Washington

10:00 p.m.        Arrive SVA

*Museum Groups - You must be in groups of 3 or 4 people and remain on the National Mall.

Give Mr. Rivera cell numbers and internet numbers.

Top 5 Washington, D.C. Places to Visit (as voted in class)

Lincoln Memorial

White House

U.S. Capitol

Air & Space Museum

Washington Monument

IMAX Films (Shown at Air & Space Museum and Natural History Museum)

Washington, D.C. Map

What to bring

D.C. and/or National Mall Map

Cell phone or Internet Phone

Camera

Comfortable walking shoes

Long sleeves for cold bus & museums/IMAX theatres

Nice clothing (no t-shirts, ladies no shorts)

Spending money

Weather Forecast for May 14

Mostly Sunny

Low - 56 degrees

High - 75 degrees

Mr. Rivera's Contact Information

413-325-4656

edward.a.rivera@gmail.com

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
By Wednesday, May 13, you must give me your museum group plan for museum time on Thursday between 12:30 and 5:00 p.m.  Provide the following information by email.

1.  Names of 3-4 group members
2.  National Museums you plan to visit between 12:30 and 5:00 p.m.
3.  Your email/cell phone/what's app number

Mr. Rivera will take a group to the Air & Space Museum, The Art Museum, and the American History Museum.  We will try to see one IMAX film ($9).

The Civil War

Ellen G. White Writings on the Civil War

B
Civil War Names and Places - Research Topics on Civil War
Research these names and places from the Civil War.  Choose one for an individual presentation.

Union
Abraham Lincoln
Lacey Springs, Virginia
General Ulysses S. Grant
General William. T. Sherman
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
West Point, New York (United States Military Academy)
Emancipation Proclamation
General Franz Sigel
Winchester, Virginia
54th Pennsylvania Regiment
New Market Gap
Yankees

Confederacy
General Robert E. Lee
The Army of Northern Virginia
Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia
VMI Cadets
May 15, 1864
Staunton, Virginia
General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (VMI Teacher) "Do not take counsel of your fears."
Thomas Jefferson's Grandson VMI Cadet
Moses Ezekiel
Jews - Pharaoh/Blacks - Slavery
General John Breckenridge (V.P. of USA) "Send the boys in.  May God forgive me!"
Shenandoah Valley "Breadbasket of the Confederacy"
The Valley Pike
Jacob Bushong's Farm
The Rebel Yell
Jefferson Davis
Richmond, Virginia

Town of New Market Civil War History Tour on Monday, May 9

Some New Market Civil War Street Names
Investigate the story of each street name?

West Lee Highway
East Lee Highway
Confederate Street
Stonewall Street
Cadet Road
Congress Street
Dixie Lane
Breckenridge Road
Stuart Street
Ashby Lane
Early Street

Film "The Field of Lost Shoes"

TOEFL Writing Tutorial

TOEFL Writing Tutorial

February is Ski Month

This month has seen a lot of skiing, some after school, some on the weekends, snow days, and home leave, too!  Skiing is one of the best things about winter.  Thankfully, we have had a bit of snow around here this year.  Last Sabbath, the snowstorm before the Jaime Jorge Concert was awesome!!!

We have been going weekly to Massanutten Ski Resort.  They run a "Midnight Madness" special on Mondays, so we can ski for cheap.  We are still waiting for the perfect combination of snow and weather conditions, but it has been fun.

We have also had our share of bumps and bruises...(concussion, fractured thumb, scraped back, frozen fingers, etc.).  The students have improved every week to the point that some are even doing the dread "black diamond" runs!

This morning we got a little more snow!  That makes me think we will have at least one March ski session.  Let's hope it is a great one!  February is ski month!!!

Mr. Rivera Goes to the White House - Class Plans for February 5, 2015

I know you will feel sorry for me when I tell you I am going to the White House today! I plan to meet Mr. Obama... In my absence, Mimi DeSpirito will substitute today!

Students, please read below the activities you are to do today in class. Lots of it will require a Chromebook or one of the classroom computers.

Thanks, Mimi! I wish you a wonderful day today!!!!!

Mr. Rivera

Thursday, February 5, 2015

5th Period

English Fundamentals 1: 12:30-1:55

Chapter 2 - Do Textbook Exercises Together

Watch Ch. 2 Grammar Speaks

Ch. 2 Quiz on Friday

Play Games to Learn English

Intermediate & Advanced ESL Classroom Games

Watch Connect with English - Episode 2 “Differences”

6th Period

English Fundamentals 2: 2:00-3:25

Chapter 6 - Finish textbook exercises

Watch Ch. 6 Grammar Speaks

Ch. 6 Quiz on Friday

Play Games to Learn English

Intermediate & Advanced ESL Classroom Games

Ch. 6 Test on Friday

7th Period

Writing/Reading Lab: 3:30-4:55

(Gabrielle Griffin will come to work with the students that are in her World History class.  Renata, Eillen, Paulo Vitor, a couple of others…)

Journal Question:

Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a teacher. Others think that it is always better to have a teacher. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons to develop your essay.

Reading

Read The New York Times or The Washington Post.  Find 2-3 articles to read.  For each article, write a quick summary about it on a sheet of paper.  Include the following and submit to the Mimi:  

1. Headline
2. Source
3. Write 20-word summary of the article

Vocabulary Notebook:

Write 50 New Words with Word, Meaning, and Sentence for each.  Due Friday! Write neatly!

SUPER BOWL XLIX

New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks
February 1, 2015

Here are some sites you should visit to understand more about the American Super Bowl!  Hope you enjoy the game, and may the best team win!

• A Beginner’s Guide to the Super Bowl
• 49 Things You Need to Know About Super Bowl 49 
• Watch The Super Bowl HERE on Your Computer or Tablet on NBC
• Super Bowl Simulation: Patriots vs. Seahawks

Happy New Year!

Dawn... 7:15 a.m.  From the SVA Orchard looking west towards  the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia.  A new year is dawning and almost here.  Let's make 2015 the best year of our lives!!!  In God's power.  :)  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The End is Really the Beginning!

It has only been a few days since several of our UNASP students from Brazil started to return home.  Most spend one semester at SVA to learn English and a new culture.  Another UNASP group follows the next semester.  I truly enjoyed this group of young people.

Having spent the last 4 months teaching them English (and hearing some pretty standard complaints from time to time), I was slightly surprised when they said they were sad to leave.   

"Just when I was beginning to really learn English and make friends with Americans, I have to leave!"  I was happy at that comment because it meant that the SVA experience was a success.

I thought of you all when I read this article in WIRED magazine...

How Brazil Plans to Teach a Million People English Before the Rio Olympics

Students!  Remember that SVA was just the beginning for you!  Blessings and Happy Holidays reunited with family and friends.  I will miss you!

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) New King James Version

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct^[a] your paths.

 

 

FINALS WEEK AT SVA

Our last days together this semester.  I wish you good luck and Godspeed!  Merry Christmas!!!

ENGLISH FUNDAMENTALS TESTS

15-Question Grammar & Vocabulary Test

10-Question Listening Test


After each online test, save the results for Mr. Rivera to record.

 It was a great experience with great young people from around the world at SVA 2014!!!

Friday, November 14

Instructions for Mr. Rivera's ELL classes today.

5B - English Fundamentals 1

Students: Icaro, Islla, Bruce, Victor, Andrea (SVAE)

Finish all exercises in Ch. 4 TEXTBOOK

Study Ch. 4 grammar charts using google/youtube

6A - U.S. History & Culture

Read p.88-92 in small groups (2-3)

Write answers to questions 1, 2 on p. 92

Use internet to research all titles and headings p. 88-92

6B - English Fundamentals 2

Students: Camilo, Ana, Keren, Danilo, Alejandro, Vitor, Jhonatan, Graciela, Rafael

Finish all exercises in Ch. 4 TEXTBOOK and WORKBOOK

Study CH. 4 grammar charts using google/youtube

7A - Listening/Speaking

Watch TED Talks (English subtitles)

7B - Writing/Reading Lab

Students: All the above

1. Journal Question: Cold: Write about how you experience the cold at SVA
2. Writing: Work on Draft 1 - Semester Writing Project (due Nov. 21)
3. Mrs. Griffin’s Online Work (Camilo, Alejandro, Sebastian, Tammy, Danilo, Gabriel)