Wednesday, April 27, 2016

WeChat ESL Class on May 6, 2016

A. High Lights of your week
B. Breaking News in the world
C. Short Topic: Mother's Day - a Holiday to Honor Motherhood

Mother's Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors mothers in the United States. It is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. It became an official holiday in the country at the start of the 20th century as a way to honor mothers whose sons had died in war.

The holiday is celebrated in a number of ways. People give mothers gifts like flowers, cards, and jewelry to thank them for all their hard work. A popular symbol of the holiday is the carnation. This is because when the holiday first began in the U.S. people were encouraged to wear a red carnation if their mother was alive or a white carnation if their mother was dead. Many people take their mothers out for a special meal. In fact, Mother's Day is the most popular date in the U.S. for people to go out and eat and it is estimated that people spend billions on meals and gifts. Mother's Day is also the most popular day to make long distance calls in the U.S. It is the second most popular gift-giving day after Christmas.

Since its establishment, Mother's Day has been criticized for becoming highly commercialized. In fact, the founder of the U.S. holiday, Anna Jarvis, began protesting the holiday and was even arrested for disturbing the peace for demonstrating. Jarvis's own mother started the campaign to establish a mother's holiday during the American Civil War.

Mothers are not the only people celebrated on this day. All mother figures including grandmothers, great-grandmothers, stepmothers, and foster mothers are honored on the holiday. In schools many students make special gifts, including handmade cards. While widely recognized, Mother's Day is not a federal holiday. Many other countries around the world have their own version of Mother's Day.

D. Idioms

1. Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:

2. Bite Your Tongue:

3. Blood Is Thicker Than Water:

4. Blue Moon:

5. Break A Leg:

6. Buy A Lemon:

7. Can't Cut The Mustard :

8. Cast Iron Stomach:

9. Charley Horse:

10. Chew someone out:

E. Bible Story: Jesus Calms the Storm

Matthew 8:23-28 (New International Version (NIV))

²³Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

²⁶He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

²⁷The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men

²⁸When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.

The photograph reflects our earthly voyage: We sail into an uncertain future, but we are surrounded by the faithfulness of God!

Jesus’ disciples were surrounded by a storm, and He used the experience to teach them about the power and faithfulness of God (Matt. 8:23-27). We seek answers for the uncertainties of life.

Whether young or old we all face uncertain futures. Heaven answers: God's love and goodness encircle us no matter what awaits us. We wait and see what God will do! —David Roper

INSIGHT: When sin came into the world, everything broke. The earth no longer functioned as it was supposed to. Our bodies and minds became susceptible to sickness, disease, and demonic oppression. And we found ourselves relationally separated from God and other humans. In Matthew 8 Jesus shows His authority over sin in all these areas. The kingdom of God is not just a place we go to when we die. It is a kingdom Jesus began during His time on earth. He manifested it every time He healed a sick person, drove out a demon, or calmed a storm. And it will be ultimately revealed when He returns to earth again and makes everything whole, perfect, and new.

Friday, April 22, 2016

WeChat ESL CLass on April 30,2016

A. High Lights of your week
B. Breaking News in the world
C. Short Topic: Stock Market
Quick Definition*

A stock market is a market for the trading of company stock, and derivatives of same; both of these are securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately.

More detailed information*

The term 'the stock market' is a concept for the mechanism that enables the trading of company stocks (collective shares), other securities, and derivatives. Bonds are still traditionally traded in an informal, over-the-counter market known as the bond market. Commodities are traded in commodities markets, and derivatives are traded in a variety of markets (but, like bonds, mostly 'over-the-counter').

The size of the worldwide 'bond market' is estimated at $45 trillion. The size of the 'stock market' is estimated at about $51 trillion. The world derivatives market has been estimated at about $300 trillion.[1] The major U.S. Banks alone are said to account for about $100 trillion. It must be noted though that the derivatives market, because it is stated in terms of notional outstanding amounts, cannot be directly compared to a stock or fixed income market, which refers to actual value.

The stocks are listed and traded on stock exchanges which are entities (a corporation or trading of all securities listed on the NYSE, the NASDAQ, the Amex, as well as on the many regional exchanges, the OTCBB, and Pink Sheets. European examples of stock exchanges include the Paris Bourse (now part of Euronext), the London Stock Exchange and the Deutsche Börse.

D. Idioms
1. In The Same Boat:

2. Arm And A Leg:

3. Axe To Grind:

4. le of My Eye:

5. High As A Kite:

6. The Drop Of A Hat:

7. Back Seat Driver:

8. Back To Square One:

9. Back To The Drawing Board:

10. Backer's Dozen:

E. Bible Story : The Servant Girl and her Master - 2 Kings 5:1-16

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

5 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.[a] 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”

So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels[b]of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”

8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana[c] and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Discussion Questions:

1. Who, when, where, what, how and why was related to the story?

2. Summarize the story in your own words?

3. What stands out in the story?

4. What did you learn from the servant girl or the Commander Naaman?

5. What is the takeaway lesson?

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

WeChat ESL CLass on April 23,2016

A. High Lights of your week
B. Breaking News in the world
C. Short Stories: Art gallery in the Atlantic

Diving more than 90 feet (27 meters) below the Atlantic Ocean, you'll find this not-so-average art gallery. This underwater exhibition has been set up in the world's second largest artificial reef off the Florida coast. Divers installed a dozen 3 by 4.5 photo illustrations on the deck of the sunken ship General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, which rests at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary about 7 miles south of Key West.
The once transport ship is now temporary home to the artwork of Australian art photographer Andreas Franke. Each piece is covered in Plexiglass, mounted in stainless steel frames and sealed with silicone to prevent the paintings from becoming waterlogged.
Marine life will settle on the paintings during the 4 months that they'll be underwater, and giving them their final touch by their inspiration, the sea itself.
Difficult words: artificial (made by people), temporary (only for some time), mount (to put up), seal (to close securely), silicone (a material that chemicals and temperatures cannot affect very much), settle (to rest).

D. Idioms:
A Picture Paints a Thousand Words:

A Piece of Cake:

A Slap on the Wrist:

A Taste Of Your Own Medicine:

A Toss-Up:

Actions Speak Louder Than Words:

Add Fuel To The Fire:

Against The Clock:

All Bark And No Bite:

All Greek to me:

E. Bible Story: Mary and Martha - Luke 10: 38-42
Why don't you help with the preparations?
³⁸Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴²but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Key Verse

"She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said." (Luke 10:39)
Discussion Points:

Summarize the story in your own words.
What are the differences in personality between two sisters?
Why was Martha upset? What did she ask Jesus to do?
What would you think Jesus should have responded to Martha?
Why did Jesus say only one thing was needed? What is that one thing?

Saturday, April 9, 2016

WeChat ESL Class on April 16, 2016

A. High Lights of your week

B. Breaking News in the world

C. Short Story: American Art in Delaware
You have probably heard of the DuPont Company, which was founded by a family of the same name. But do you know about the museum that one of the family members began?

Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969) was an heir to Delaware's DuPont Company fortune. He was one of the first serious collectors of American decorative art objects --furniture, textiles, paintings, and other objects made in the United States between 1640 and 1840. American furniture and household objects had been considered inferior to those from Europe. But du Pont helped develop a new appreciation for American decorative arts. He created a legendary showplace for these objects on his family's estate just outside of Wilmington, Delaware. In 1951 it was opened to the public as the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur (pronounced winter-tour) Museum.

Du Pont assembled objects from his collection into 175 "period rooms," each with examples of American antiques and decorative arts that followed a certain theme or period in early American history. For example, the du Pont Dining Room has furniture dating from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. And, because this was the time when the United States became a new nation, there is a patriotic theme in the room. Another example is the Chinese Parlor, which has furnishings that reflect Americans' fascination with Asian culture during the 18th century. In these period rooms du Pont believed he could tell the story of the early United States through furniture and other decorative arts.
Questions:
True or False?
1. Henry Francis du Pont's art collection is displayed in a museum in Delaware.
2. Americans were interested in Asian culture in the 18th Century.
3. Mr. du Pont assembled his collection according to size.
4. Which of the following is not an example of decorative art?
a. textiles
b. furniture
c. legendary
d. painting

D. American Idioms - Tell what it means and make a sentence.

1. A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush:

2. A Blessing In Disguise:
3. A Chip On Your Shoulder:

4. A Dime A Dozen:

5. A Doubting Thomas:

6. A Drop in the Bucket:

7. A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted:

8. A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand:

9. A Leopard Can't Change His Spots:

10. A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned:

E. Bible Reading

John 2:1-12 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Wedding at Cana

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ²Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. ³When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” ⁴And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. ⁷Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. ⁹When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom ¹⁰and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” ¹¹This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
¹²After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothersand his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.
Tell the story in your own words and tell what else
you think happened.

± Write about a birthday party with the same kind of sentences.

± Tell about another wedding.

± Write about another wedding.

--

May God Bless Your Week!
wendy

ESL teaching Links

http://www.eslgold.com/reading/american_art.html

http://www.idiomsite.com/
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/e/ESLggk/index.php?p=1_3_Learn-English-with-Bibles
http://www.manythings.org/slang/
http://www.eslgold.com/win/stock_market.html

http://esl.about.com/od/businessreading/a/Young-And-Free-Prerequisite-For-Success.htm?utm_term=esl%20stories&utm_content=p1-main-5-title&utm_medium=sem&utm_source=msn_s&utm_campaign=adid-8d39cf79-d73f-497e-871a-92c2199c12f1-0-ab_msb_ocode-29604&ad=semD&an=msn_s&am=broad&q=esl%20stories&o=29604&qsrc=999&l=sem&askid=8d39cf79-d73f-497e-871a-92c2199c12f1-0-ab_msb

Section 2: 10 Good Bible stories to study English

1. The Wedding at Cana

2. A Visit - The Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon
1 Kings 10:1-13; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12

3. Mary and Martha - Luke 10: 38-42
Why don't you help with the preparations?

4. The Servant Girl and her Master - 2 Kings 5:1-16

5. Jesus' birth and first visitors - Luke 2:1-20

6. Etiquette re: Places of Honour - Luke 14: 7-11

In the Bible, find Meal Wordings such as:

When you give a luncheon or dinner, do invite....
When you give a luncheon or dinner, do NOT invite...

Come, for everything is ready now. Luke 14:17
Eat what is set before you.

7. The judge and the Widow - Luke 18:1-8

8. Do not worry about - food,... Luke 12:22-28

9. Children and Parents...Ephesians 6:1-4; Colosians 3:20-21

10. Education for "Royal Service" and the
10-day "Scientific Test" of Daniel - Daniel 1:3-21

==============================================================
Section 3: Sample Activities of one Bible Story: The Wedding at Cana

- You can find this story in your 2 Bibles: your English one and the one in your language Bible.

- Look for The wedding at Cana.... in John 2:1-12.

± Photocopy the story.

± Ask a good English speaker to read the story on audio tape.

± Listen and read the story in English and in your other language(s).
English : (Language)
3:1 (three to one)

± Ask 3 questions about English (using the story is good). Learn with your teacher.
(words, meanings, phrasing, grammar, pronunciation, word order, dictionary entries, story structure, timing words, logic words, substitution of words, alternatives...)

± Say/(pronouce) sentences or the whole story with your teacher.
Circle the problems. Learn.

± Close the book and write the story the way it is in the book.

± Write the story in your own words. Add other ideas and words. (Closed book better.)

± Learn the story by heart. Tell it to some people. (Close the book and say the same words from the book.) Tell some sentences to many English people and see, if they understand you.

± Tell the story in your own words and tell what else
you think happened.

± Write about a birthday party with the same kind of sentences.

± Tell about another wedding.

± Write about another wedding.
==============================================================

A	Abigail
B	Hannah
C	Michal
D	Peninnah
E	Ruth

A	She was a true Israelite
B	She was drunk
C	She was in intercessory prayer
D	She was very sincere
E	None of the above

A	They knew not the Lord
B	They lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle
C	They got drunk
D	All of the above
E	A & B

A	A coat
B	Money
C	Food
D	All of the above
E	None of the above

A	Go back to sleep until you have another dream
B	Here am I send me
C	Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
D	Speak, LORD; for your servant hears
E	None of the above

2017 ESL Class