Monday, March 10, 2014

Internet Addiction - A Growing Problem




Hello everyone!

I hope you are all doing fine and that you are still willing to participate in our English online class discussions. Luckily, our class is growing again as I expect some new students to join us here. I wish them all a warm welcome to our class blog!

As you can see from the title, we have some serious issues to talk about this time. Have you ever asked yourself a question: What would happen with our lives today if the Internet somehow disappeared? Would we still be able to have a normal life? Or not?

Although the Internet has brought us numerous benefits, it is not something that could be used without any caution. According to the statistics, more and more people become problematic or compulsive internet users nowadays and the Internet Addiction has become a serious 'disease' of our modern age. People tend to spend more time with their computers than with their families and friends. They start to live a 'cyber life' on its own which completely consumes all their energy and time. For many, checking e-mails, updating profiles on social networks, 'googling' something out, etc. is the first thing to do in the morning and the last thing to do before sleep, or some even stay awake and online all night long. It seems that it has become so easy to get hooked and develop a real addiction to the virtual world.



What about you? How much time do you really spend in front of your computer and surfing the Internet? Hopefully, you have managed to find the perfect balance of everything in order to have a normal and meaningful life.

Here are two tests to find out whether you have already become addicted to the Internet or not:


or





Use these links to read the text 'Internet Addiction – A Growing Problem' and practice your English:









For those who find themselves inclined to become addicted, here is the remedy that might help:




I look forward to your comments and online class discussion about the Internet addiction, or more generally, advantages and disadvantages of using the Internet.
Good luck with your tasks and 'see' you online soon!

Best regards,
Izela



Thursday, January 16, 2014

2014  to be the best year ever?




“Your success and happiness lies in you. 
Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” 
Helen Keller

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”  
 Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dear students!

Welcome back to our class blog!

Let us all gather here again, exchange our thoughts and learn something new.
It's the beginning of the New Year 2014 and it's the perfect time to start fresh and pursue our New Year's resolutions in order to fulfill them. Will it be better than 2013? Will it be the best year ever? Maybe the answer lies in us, we just have to stop for a while and peek a little bit under the surface ...

I would like you to use these links below in order to read a text and complete the exercises related to it. There are also some questions for discussion, so you can use them and/or some of your own to prepare yourself for our class discussion we are going to have here.


Good luck!
I am looking forward to seeing you 'online' again!
Izela

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

WebQuest: What Makes A Successful English Learner?



Dear students,

We have tried out something new in our class today. And that is a WebQuest!
You can open it here: What Makes A Successful English Learner?

I hope you enjoyed learning English aided by a new technology tool!

I am very pleased with what you have all done today and you have made very nice PowerPoint presentations at the end.

Now I would like you to think about our class today and post your comments about it on our Class Blog. It should be a short reflection on these questions:

What do you think of WebQuests and their application in teaching / learning?
Did you like our WebQuest today? Why?/Why not?
What did you learn today and how can it help you become a more successful English learner?


Many thanks to all of you!
I look forward to seeing you next class!

Best,
Izela

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Discussion Topic: Speaking English Can Make You Richer / Poorer?



Dear students,

Here is your task for our next class this Tuesday. You are going to use the links below in order to read a text and complete a few exercises related to it. In that way you will prepare yourself for our class discussion on Tuesday.

Good luck!

Izela

Pre-Reading Exercises

Reading

Comprehension Exercises

Listening + Fill in the gaps

Exercises - Language

The 8 Types of English Language Learners

Dear students!

I am sorry that you experienced some technical problems with the link I provided in my previous post and I apologize for not having detected it earlier by myself.

Therefore, I supply you with another link, where you can possibly find the answer to the question: What kind of English learner are you? You can read about the 8 types of English language learners, based on the analysis of the mindsets language learners have and their ability to speak English. Try to decide which type is yours. I hope it will be interesting and fun!

So here is the link: The 8 Types of English Learners

I look forward to your feedback on our class blog!


Best regards,

Izela

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Welcome to our class blog!




Dear students!

I am more than happy to announce that our first class blog is officially opened and I warmly welcome you all to join in!

Let's start learning English online and enjoy in our virtual classes from now on!

As a warm-up activity, I would like you to think about your reasons to learn English and what kind of a learner you are. It is very important to identify your English goals in order to help you understand what is important for you and make your learning English more effective.

I recommend you to use this link and complete the quiz which will help you discover what kind of English learner you are and what are your learning needs:

English Learning Goals Quiz - Why Are You Learning English?

Good luck!

Please, share your results with us by posting a comment on our class blog.

I look forward to 'seeing' you all online soon!

Best regards,

Izela