Today is CBC Food Bank day!

If you have time today, head down to the CBC building downtown (right across the street from the main branch of the public library) for their open house and Food Bank drive. The open house is from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

You can go through the CBC news room on a tour, and it's really fun. Also remember to donate to the Food Bank while you are there! Click here for more information.

How to avoid holiday fraudsters

Be careful this season when you are shopping or leaving town. Read this article from the Vancouver Observer about 7 tips to avoid identity theft this holiday season.

Free events for December 2014

Click here for the free events for December 2014. This list was compiled by two dedicated VCC Instructors who are always willing to share this list with us!

East Vancouver Culture Crawl - for art lovers!

If you're into art, design and crafts, then check out the East Van Culture Crawl this weekend! Click here for the website. You can visit hundreds of artists' studios in east Vancouver, and of course buy their art. Here's a 50-minute video of some of the Culture Crawl artists talking about their work:

HOT TALKS featuring Eastside Culture Crawl artists at Hot Art Wet City in Vancouver from bentzen on Vimeo.

Hazel McCallion, 93-year old mayor of Missassauga, steps down on November 30, 2014

Here is a link to some information about Hazel McCallion, the mayor of Mississauga, Ontario. She is 93 years old and has been the mayor of Mississauga for 36 years!

This is an interview that Rick Mercer did with Hazel McCallion from a few years ago, when she was 88 years old. Enjoy!

My Vote Matters

I think our voting field trip on Wednesday was a great success! I was so excited to see so many of you lining up to vote, and to see those of you who aren't yet able to vote be so interested in the process. Here is a video of young voters talking about why voting is important. Please encourage your friends and family to get out and vote tomorrow, if they are eligible!

Aesop's Fable: The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Top 10 tips to learn a language

Just came across this interesting article about learning a language. Take a look. What do you think?

Ryan Arcand, Edmonton man and talented pianist!

Click here for the CBC news story about Ryan Arcand, the Edmonton homeless person who was recorded by a passerby while he was playing the piano.

I really do think this is a great example of the saying, "don't judge a book by it's cover". 

Free Events in Vancouver November 2014

Click here for the 'Free Events in Vancouver - November 2014' listings. This was compiled by two very generous and wonderful instructors at VCC, Eugene and Ken!

Ira Glass, Storyteller

We did a listening today about 'The Art of Storytelling' which focused on storytelling tips from Ira Glass. Click here for his biography, and click here for an example interview from his radio show, This American Life on NPR (National Public Radio).

If you want to listen to the interview, click on the 'play' button on the top right hand side of the screen.

VPD Warning - sexual assaults (Vancouver's West Side - Marpole/Shaughnessy)

CBC news is reporting that between April and October of this year, there have been 3 incidents of sexual assaults on Asian women on Vancouver's west side.

Please take a look at the news report and be vigilant (= be aware of your surroundings).

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-sexual-assaults-prompt-police-warning-1.2789418

Conversation Do's and Dont's

Here is the video of the 'Do's and Don'ts' list that I read aloud today in class. Listen again, read along with the tapescript (click on the link below the video to get to the tapescript), and check your notes (click here to see an example of notes for this video)

View Conversation Do's & Don'ts on Howcast

Tiger mom? Or dolphin Mom?

My kids' school just forwarded this poster to me about an upcoming parenting workshop called 'The Dolphin Way'.

I think I'd like to go...is anyone interested in joining me? It might be interesting to listen and compare to what you read in 'the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother'.

Let me know if you'd like to go. Click here for the poster or take a look below.

Doors Open Vancouver - this Saturday!

The City of Vancouver is hosting the first-ever Doors Open Vancouver event.

From the event website: "Enjoy free, behind the scenes access to the buildings that shape our city. Explore Vancouver’s civic, cultural, and historic facilities and learn about how they are designed and what happens inside at this all-ages event."

Click here for more information. It looks like a fun way to practice your English and learn more about city-operated buildings. My top picks would be the Orpheum Theatre and City Hall...

Events in Vancouver

VIFF (the Vancouver International Film Festival) starts tonight and continues for a couple of weeks. Go see a movie! Click here for more information.

Another fun event this week is Word Vancouver, a celebration of literacy and reading. It's free, and there's stuff for all ages. Click here for more information.

ESL Matters: CBC News Clip from May 2014

Here is the video about the funding cuts and layoffs at VCC:



Later on this week, I will post the answers to the listening activity that we did in class yesterday.

For more information (and extra listening/reading practice!), go to www.eslmatters.ca to look at the website for the ESL Matters campaign, and watch some of the student stories and other news clips.

Free Events in Vancouver - September 2014

One of our amazing teachers at VCC, Eugene Sayson, helps to put this list together of free (or almost free) events in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

I challenge you all to attend one or more of these events and practice your English!

Click here for the "Free Events in Vancouver" for September 2014.

The events are listed chronologically so scroll down to see the events for the middle to the end of the month.

New term: Fall 2014 at MOCC!

I'm excited to be teaching the UI-LA class at MOCC this term, and I'm looking forward to the next few months. I will be using this blog to post resources and links for more practice, as well as homework updates.

I hope you will use this blog regularly, and post comments on things that I post. We are a community of learners working together, so please speak up and share your comments and ideas. Please watch the short video on "How to Comment" - the link is on the right hand side of this page at the top of the blue column.