Wednesday, January 28, 2015

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!

Monday, December 29, 2014

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!!!

















Sunday, December 21, 2014

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

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

 

 

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

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, 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)

Thursday, November 13, 2014

THURSDAY, November 13, 2014

PLANS FOR MR. RIVERA'S ELL CLASSES
NOV. 13, 2014

English Fundamentals 1
Students: Icaro, Islla, Bruce, Victor, Andrea (SVAE)
Study for Test on Ch. 4.  
Finish all exercises in Ch. 4 TEXTBOOK
Study Ch. 4 grammar charts using google/youtube
Watch EF1 Ch. 4 “Grammarspeaks” at englishclasssva.blogspot.com

English Fundamentals 2
Students: Camilo, Ana, Keren, Danilo, Alejandro, Vitor, Jhonatan, Graciela, Rafael
Study for Test on Ch. 4
Finish all exercises in Ch. 4 TEXTBOOK and WORKBOOK
(workbooks are in the “OUT” box)
Study CH. 4 grammar charts using google/youtube
Watch EF2 Ch. 4 “Grammarspeaks” at englishclasssva.blogspot.com

Writing/Reading Lab
Students: All the above
Students should work in the following order:
  1. Writing: Work on Draft 1 - Semester Writing Project (due Nov. 21)
  2. Mrs. Griffin’s Online Work (Camilo, Alejandro, Sebastian, Tammy, Danilo, Gabriel)
  3. TOEFL Practice on Computers  OR  Reading practice exercises at englishclasssva.blogspot.com

Friday, November 7, 2014

Friday, November 7

Today is my wife's birthday, so I will not be at school today.  Here is the plan for classes today.  See you on Monday!  Ciao...

ELL Substitute Plans - Friday, November 7 (12:40-3:30 p.m.)
  • 5B - English Fundamentals 1 (12:40-1:10 p.m.)
  1. Work on textbook exercises following Charts 4-3, 4-4 and 4-5
  2. Quiz on Ch. 4 on Tuesday
  3. Finish workbook Ch. 4

  • 6A - U.S. History & Culture (1:15-1:45 p.m.)
  1. Read Ch. 5 individually.  Use chromebook/internet to help you understand more.
  2. Study Quizlet.com for Ch. 5 vocabulary quiz on Monday

  • 6B - English Fundamentals 2 (1:50-2:20 p.m.)
  1. Do textbook exercises following Chart 4-6
  2. Finish grammar workbooks for Tuesday, Ch. 4

  • 7A - Listening/Speaking Lab (2:25-2:55 p.m.)
  1. Watch/Listen to TED Talks on computer with English subtitles
  2. Do Listening Exercises at svaenglishclass.blogspot.com

  • 7B - Writing/Reading Lab (3:00-3:30 p.m.)
  1. Turn in 50 new words in vocabulary notebook
  2. Begin work on First Semester Writing Project:  “My International Experience in 2014”  (750-1000 words typed)
1st draft: due Friday, November 21
2nd draft: due Friday, December 5
3rd draft: due Thursday, December 18