Videos for Classes/Interest

One of my middle school classes is reading Matilda (by Roald Dahl), and, as part of the story, there is a newt.

Since I was fairly sure that my students did not know what a newt is (it's a salamander, or, to be descriptive but inaccurate, a water lizard), I searched the internet for pics and a video.

I quickly found this very interesting (and very short) National Geographic video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvBi5Wv8-qg

Also, I showed a few classes this "Boom Chicka Boom" song/video, for fun, and to see what would happen; interestingly, the boys in 2 classes got into it but, while the girls also liked it, they didn't dance and move:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2XVfTzel8E

Re-post: Wedding Haka

New Zealand wedding haka:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhhedH6wK6I

Once in a While . . .

I gave my plant/tree a shower today, as it was looking quite dusty . . .

Cooking Time

Duck, salmon, and assorted veggies (with a block of tofu):

Yum!

What a Wonderful Trip and Message!

Hokule'a, The Hawaiian Canoe Traveling The World By A Map Of The Stars

http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2016/05/27/479468130/hokulea-the-hawaiian-canoe-traveling-the-world-by-a-map-of-the-stars

'World Leaders 'Rattled' by Trump"

Read this BBC news article:

http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-36389374

Documentary: Snowy Owls

This documentary (app. 9 min.) about snowy owls has a bit too many humans in it, but it is a good beginning:

http://www.npr.org/2016/05/24/479223874/we-followed-a-snowy-owl-from-maryland-to-ontario

Is Korean Food Healthy?: One View

Read this perspective:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2015/01/351_150144.html

Short Film

An excellent short film that I have posted before . . .

"Record/Play"

11 minutes

Not for young children:

https://vimeo.com/75869689

Saturday Lunch

I love to eat fish, especially salmon, and this way of cooking is the best for me, at least when it is straight out of the oven . . . a combination of baking and steaming (as there is a small amount of water inside the sealed foil).

This time I added some kale and sesame leaf to the mushroom+garlic combo, and some onion to the salmon package (which I won't do next time; I will put the onion, if at all, in with the mushrooms).

Delicious and healthy! (Though not cheap.)

I made enough for several leftover meals, though the salmon will not be nearly as tasty at that point.

Teaching with Songs and Videos

Most efl textbooks include a song/chant in each unit, as music can be a great way to stimulate many young students and their memories.

However, I have started branching out and incorporating other songs, usually picked off the internet.

Our English academy is fortunate enough to have 3 classrooms with computers + monitors, so I can show video songs like this recent favorite covering the 'days of the week':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIQsyHoLudQ

Two older middle school classes recently read about 'great white sharks', so I showed them this natgeo video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2FInaOCqoo

When I have a chance, I also sometimes have middle school classes watch a short film, such as "9"

https://vimeo.com/37209185

and then write a group summary on the whiteboard (students take turns writing sentences, with the teacher providing guidance).

Songs and videos are great for variety, interest, and recall!

Trump's Approach to his Businesses' Taxes

Protecting his companies, or lying and cheating?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/05/19/trumps-tax-troubles/84543538/

North Korean Workers in China

Read this news article:

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/05/19/2016051901138.html

Delicious!

And healthy . . .

(salmon, carrots, mushrooms, garlic, and zucchini (호박/marrow)

Academies

Last Friday I greeted my 4th grade class.

"Happy Friday!"

There were some cheers but also some "No's"

I asked why.

Two students said that they had a lot of homework.

One girl mentioned academies.

She said that she was very tired,

I questioned her about her response.

She said that she goes to 5 academies (after school): English, math, art, swimming, and piano.

Wow . . .

Irony

Itaewon, an area in Seoul, is one place that I like to go to sometimes; there is a great foreign food store, an English used/new bookstore, and many ethnic restaurants.  There also used to be a place called the "American Cafe" that served big, delicious hamburgers.

Sadly, it closed.

Along the main street you can find McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC.

There is also a Subway sandwich shop.

I prefer Quiznos to Subway, and there used to be a Quiznos in Itaewon too, but it was replaced by an Olive Young beauty store.

What a loss.

But Subway is a staple, kind of the place that you relish having but don't really go to very often.

Kind of a reminder of home.

I have long thought that having a Subway in the small Seoul-satellite city where I live would be a godsend, but knew it would never happen.

We have an Indian restaurant, some semi-authentic Italian pasta places, and several Vietnamese restaurants, but that's about it . . . oh, now there is an udon noodle joint.

Yet no Quiznos, and no Subway.

All that bread is not healthy anyway, in addition to the white-rice-heavy Korean diet, so, two weeks ago, I adapted a carbohydrate-free nutritional program, with an emphasis on low-sugar and low-salt (another problem in Korea).

And then the unexpected happened.

A fried chicken restaurant near my workplace closed and, in place of it, there will soon be a . . . Subway sandwich shop.

No!

Really?

Yes, it is true.

Only right now I can't eat there.

Maybe it has been sent to test my willpower.

Whatever the case, it will still be a comfort.

Trump's View of Women

A CNN report:

(Disturbing, to say the least, as are most things about him)

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/13/politics/trump-women-2016-campaign/index.html

More Trump Lies?

Read this BBC article:

http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-36289239

Article: Food Waste

Read this:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/05/160510-food-waste-new-york-feeding-5000-chefs/

Short Short Film

One of the shortest short films (2 minutes):

https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/05/11/the-moment/

BBC News Article: Really?

Puerto Rico baseball games moved due to players' Zika fears

• 6 May 2016
 
• From the sectionUS & Canada

Image copyrightAP

Image captionThe Pittsburgh Pirates were scheduled to play the Miami Marlins

Two Major League Baseball games that were scheduled to be played in Puerto Rico have been moved due to players' concerns about the Zika virus.

The games between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins have been moved to Miami instead.

Players said they were worried about contracting the virus and passing it to their partners.

Zika is suspected to cause birth defects in babies whose mothers had it while pregnant.

Zika: What you need to know

Puerto Rico recorded its first death from Zika last week.

The island has seen more than 600 cases of the virus.

In a statement, Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) said Commissioner of Baseball Robert D Manfred Jr "had no choice" but to relocate the games because so many players had partners who were pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

The statement also said baseball would hopefully be played in Puerto Rico again "in the near future" and that those concerned would "continue to support the growth of the game in Puerto Rico, where an outstanding baseball tradition has long made the island an important venue for the game".

More than 20 countries are reporting cases of Zika, which is spread by mosquitoes.

The country which has been worst affected by the outbreak, Brazil, is due to host the Olympic Games in August 2016.

The authorities there said in February that there was no chance the Games would be cancelled due to the outbreak, and that there was no risk to players or spectators except for pregnant women. {My emphasis}

Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said sexually transmitted transmission of Zika is more common than previously thought.

{Only pregnant women can get bitten by mosquitoes?} {My question}

Clinton Campaign Presents Anti-Trump Video

Watch this short video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BUj9bXEVvk

Trump Steals Music

Read the news article:

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36210829

Short Sci/Fi Film

Wow! Very creative . . . 18 minutes (not for young kids):

https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/05/04/the-nostalgist/

Lunch Buffet

Earlier in the week our academy's staff went to a Korean buffet restaurant (meaning the focus is on Korean food).  It was quite nice, and I plan to return.

Here's a picture of my platter of food (kimchi, tofu, salad, pork, stir-fried veggies, egg . . .):

Just for Interest

Watch these police recruitment videos:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/04/new-zealand-police-officers-do-the-running-man-in-recruitment-video

Firsts

Today, May 1st, I bought a toaster oven:

I haven't had one for 4 years.

To celebrate, I cooked some salmon and mushrooms (with pesto):

(It's important, when wrapping the food in foil this way, to add a few tablespoons of water so that you get steam).

Delicious!

(And healthy!)