Video Lesson resources

Hello all,

Here are some resources for the video you're making. I promised I'd post the examples we've looked at in class, so ...

Easy Feet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp2-IpLIrf0

PooPourri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKLnhuzh9uY

MagnaVolt (Fake ad from Robocop 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w39o6eSI06Y

Sunblock 5000 (Fake ad from Robocop [2013])
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jPaxiz8i_4

There were also questions about video editors. A couple of points to remember. First, you do not need a video editor. You can set this up as one long take. That would be perfectly fine. Two, you're looking for freeware or shareware editors, if you're using any at all.

With that in mind, here are some lists that focus on software to try for Windows and OSX.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-6-free-video-editors-mac-os/
http://www.tekplz.net/best-free-video-editors-windows-mac-os-x
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/best-free-video-editing-software-9-top-programs-you-should-download-1136264

I hope this helps, and let me know if you need anything. Good luck, and happy filming.

Stu

Also, a Canadian comedian talking about Canada's weather. It's short, and I think funny, but he speaks quickly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EQdXyKiFY4

Week 9 Listening Homework (and an extra exercise)

Week 9

There are TWO listening exercises this week. One is homework for everyone; the other is an extra for people who want the extra practice (or grades). In any event, enjoy, and we'll see you on Monday.

The first assignment (for everyone) - is about an Australian man who invented a new texting symbol. The audio is on this page. Make sure that you click the audio file. You can watch the video if you wish, but that's not necessary.

1 Where was Mr. Mathis when he had the idea for this invention?

2 How many different designs did he try?

3 Why did Apple reject the app that Mr. Mathis proposed?

4 How many people have downloaded the app from his site?

5 Does he think there's a risk of ruining English by over-simplifying the language?

Extra Listening activity. You do not have to do this activity. But if you wish to, I'll give you extra points for the homework.

This is a story about odd birds in East London, United Kingdom. You can listen to the story here, from (20:40 - 27:11). I suggest that you download the file so that you can skip ahead to the story about the birds. The stories that open the podcast are either rude or quite sad.

1 Why is Lorraine trying to save the birds?

2 What do the birds look like?

3 What is the name of the government official who is trying to get rid of the birds?

4 What does Lorraine do when she sees that man trying to catch the birds?

5 How many of these birds are there in total? How many in Lorraine's neighbourhood?

6 How much money is the UK government spending to get rid of the birds?

Week 8 Listening Exercise

Hello All,

This week we have a shorter and easier presentation to look at. This is a TED Talk - which means that it has subtitles. Please do not look at the subtitles available in your native language. If you must use subtitles, then enable the English subtitles after you've listened to the presentation a few times.

The presentation is available here or 

 http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_yourself.html

Enjoy the long weekend, and we'll see you on Tuesday.

1 Does it help to tell someone your goals?

2 Why is telling someone your goal a bad idea?

3 When was this idea most recently tested?

4 Why do some of the pictures have zippers on their mouths?

5 What can you do to better reach your goals (2 things)?

Bonus Question:

What is the expression in English that means "be quiet" that is referred to - but not used - in the video?

Week 7 Listening: Calgary Floods

This week we're looking ahead to the disasters chapter, and listening to an interview with a woman who helped out during the floods in Calgary this past June. This section is a little longer, but it's an interview and should be pretty easy because of the format.

http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/episode/2013/06/21/calgary-flood-rescue-bell-of-batoche-semple-on-afghanistan/

1:45 - 9:11

1 Why did Corine decide to help her friend Maggie?

2 Name two things that Corine saw when she was driving to Maggie's house.

3 What did Maggie think was going on? Why did she think that?

4 What did Maggie take with her when she left her house?

5 Why didn't Maggie's neighbours know what was happening in the neighbourhood? How was she feeling?

6 How are Maggie and Corine related?

Bonus Question:

How many animals does Maggie have?

Extra Tricky bonus question:

Who and what was in the van when Corine drove out of Bowness?

Week 6 Listening - The most wonderful time of the year

This week we have a Halloween story. Enjoy the podcast, have a good weekend, eat lots of Halloween candy and I'll see you all on Monday.

The podcast to listen to is here:

( http://thememorypalace.us/2011/10/mary-mary-and-mercy/ )

1 When did George Brown's wife die? How old was she?

2 What did the neighbours think had killed George's wife and daughters?

3 What really killed George's family?

4 What did the neighbours recommend to save the rest of his family?

5 What year was it when George Brown and his neighbours tried to save Edwin? Name one thing that was special about that year.

Bonus

What was the proof that Mercy was the cause of the problem?

Week 5 Listening Exercise

This week you have a review of a movie to listen to. The movie that is being reviewed is a new adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing by Joss Whedon, who recently directed The Avengers. Please watch the trailer for Much Ado About Nothing before listening to the review.

Now, listen to the review (June 14, Joss Whedon and Henry Cavill)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/kermode/all (Please listen from 52:52 - 57:50)

The same clip on Youtube

1 What kind of movie is it (two qualities)?

2 How long did it take to make the movie?

3 Is the movie easy to understand? 

4 How long does it take to get used to the Shakespearean language?

5 Does the reviewer like the movie? Give two reasons why.

Bonus: What did the reviewer mean when he called the movie "a palate cleanser"?

Good luck and have a good weekend.

Week 3 Listening Exercise

This week you can choose either one of the following clips. Only do one clip, and you can choose between them. The first clip is the easier passage: the second clip is for people who want an extra challenge.

Regular Question:

This is a presentation at TED. Listen to the presentation and then answer the questions. 

Click here to watch the presentation.

1 How long will it be before neurological diseases become an epidemic?

2 How many people will have Parkinson's disease in the United States by 2050?

3 What causes Alzheimer's disease?

4 Are governments or private organizations doing the most to research treatments for neurological diseases?

5 What is one thing you can do to help avoid Parkinson's disease? What is one thing you can do to lessen the chances of Alzheimer's disease?

Bonus Question: What does it mean to "drop the ball"?

Challenge Question: This is an interview with three people: the host, Astronomer Neil DeGrasse Tyson, co-host Chuck Nice, and journalist and infectious disease expert Laurie Garrett. Chuck reads a question, and then Laurie talks about her experiences with the black plague. Listen to it here.

 (Listen from 6:47 - 9:09)

1 When and where did Laurie experience a black plague epidemic?

2 What did the officials in the city do? How many doctors were there in the city?

3 What did the national minister of health claim he had cured his cancer?

4 What did the hosts think was the biggest problem in how people reacted to the plague?

5 How should an epidemic of the black plague be treated?

Good luck, and the answers are due on Monday in class.

Week 2 Listening Assignment

Hello All,

Here's this weekend's assignment. It's an interview between Jesse Thorn and Stephen Tobolowsky about something that happened to Stephen in a grocery store.

If you're downloading to a laptop, then use this link:

http://tsoya.libsyn.com/actor-stephen-tobolowsky-1?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tsoya+%28Bullseye+with+Jesse+Thorn%29&utm_content=FeedBurner

If you're using a mobile podcatcher like pocketcasts, then add this feed and select the September 17th episode.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/tsoya

In either case, please listen from 8:08 to 16:55. 

1 What two things did the man do that alerted Stephen that something was wrong?

2 What did Stephen see behind the man's back?

3 What idea did Stephen have to escape his problem?

4 Name two things that he saw outside of the store.

5 How did Stephen get away from the man?

Bonus Question: How much did his groceries finally cost?

Semester Homework 3B

Hello SL 3B students,

Here's a hard copy of the homework plan we discussed yesterday.

1 Vocabulary journal: You need to write 10 words that you heard each week in your journal.

2 Computer lab: You need to do the homework assigned on http://www.myenglishlab.com/ You have to spend 10 hours working on the website by the end of the semester in December (the website tracks your usage).
Note: This is been fixed and you're able to do the assigned work now. 

3 Weekly podcast: You need to listen to a short podcast (or short section from a podcast) and answer a few questions about it. This will be assigned every Thursday.

4 Unit Vocabulary Sheet: I'll give you a sheet before each new unit that you need to complete.

5 Textbook exercises: Occasionally, you'll need to complete homework in the textbook. This won't be every day.

6 Read for next unit: Read each unit before we begin it.

7 Unassigned listening: Find something you want to listen to and listen to it regularly. You should be listening to English on the radio, podcasts, or TV every day.

8 Presentation Preparation: There will be two presentations assigned this semester. You will need to prepare for each of them outside of class.

That looks like a lot of work to me. Good luck.

Week 1 Listening Assignment

Hello Students in SL 3B,

This is the first listening assignment. You can email the answers to me, or turn them in on Monday afternoon at the start of class.

http://thememorypalace.us/2012/03/distance/

1 What was the name (first and last) of the person this story is about?

2 When did this story take place? Where did it happen?

3 What was this man's job?

4 What happened to the man's wife?

5 Why is this man famous now?