It's Week 3! Check out what's on:

Workshops this week:

1.  Library Orientation with Bill McAskill (levels 4-6):  

Monday, March 21st:  3pm, ESL Library, D315.

Learn about the valuable resources available to you on George Brown's Library Database. 
You must register with your teacher in advance and because of the great interest in this hands-on workshop, we will be holding two more: 

Wed, March 23rd, D318 Computer Lab and 

Monday, March 28th, D315, ESL Library.

 

2.   SUMMARY/PARAPHRASE Study Group (levels 4-8)

 Paraphrasing and Summarizing are key skills that you will need throughout your entire academic and working career.  Come out to practice the essential skills of Summary and Paraphrase in a small group setting led by your Peer Leaders. 

When: Tuesdays (sched A) Thursdays (sched B) 

                                       Where: D317 Tuesday; D309 on Thursday

                                       Time: 12:00-1:30 pm

3.  Speak Up (levels 4-8) :  

Practice conversation and public speaking skills in a relaxed atmosphere and make new friends in the process.

When:  Wednesday

Where:  D309

Time: 3:00-4:30 pm

4.  Writing Skills Workshop with Stephen:

Improve your planning and writing skills.

When:  Thursday

Where:  D301

Time: 3:00-4:30 pm

5.  Memory Skills and Leitner Box Workshop with Mehrangiz and Alireza

Learn an effective language learning tool and memory technique and put relaxation and memory strategies to use.

  

The same workshop will be offered two times so choose the day that best matches your schedule.

When:  Thursday, March 24:  12-1:30pm, D230 A
 and Monday, March 28:  3:00-4:30pm, D301 
A sign up sheet will be provided to your teacher!

 Check out the video below for a brief intro to this workshop!

And, as always, take advantage of the resources available to you.  There is help for you:

• The Peer Tutors at the TLC in C503
• Tutoring in the ESL Library, D315, 12-1pm, Tues and Thurs
• Peer Leaders and Student Success Workshops, D304

Welcome to Week 2 at the School of ESL!

Today:
Library Research Skills with Bill, Reference Librarian  

Time: 3pm

Where:  D315 (ESL Library)  

Who: Levels 4 and UP

1. SUMMARY/PARAPHRASE WORKSHOP (levels 4-9)

Practice essential skills of Summary and Paraphrase in a small group setting. All skills will be integrated and your Peer Leaders are there to faciliate!

When: Tues(sched A) and Thurs(sched B)

Where: D302 Thurs; D308 on Tuesdays

Time: 12:00-1:30 pm

2. SPEAK UP! (levels 4-9)

Want to improve your speaking? Improve your confidence in conversation using games and role plays . This 6-week workshop will focus on conversation and speaking skills in a FUN and active atmosphere!

When: Every WED AFTER SCHOOL, WEEKS 2-7

Where: D309

Time: 3:00 to 4:30 pm

ALSO:  Workshops in the Library

1.  Library Orientation with Amber: 
Tues and Thurs (Nov 2 & 4), 3pm
2.  Powerpoint 2007 Orientation: 

Wed (Nov 3) from 3-4:30

Both of these workshops are in the ESL Library, D315!

Don't forget about the range of useful supports  at GBC:

1.  Tutoring in the ESL Library every Tues and Thurs,12-1pm
2.  Peer Leaders are available to support you and your study groups (D304A) M-F
3.  Peer Tutors are available M-F in room C503, building C

Yummy Bake Sale Treats!

FYI:  Check out the pumpkin carving and caravan pictures out below as well as the UNITED WAY BAKE SALE info--it's just around the corner--Friday, Nov 5th!!!

Welcome to Week 2 at George Brown's School of ESL! Check out what's on this week.

We hope you all had a restful long weekend and that you were able to beat the heat.
As you get settled in to your new session, take a look at what is available to help you improve your English at George Brown's School of English as a Second Language.  Take advantage of what is offered and take charge of your learning!!!

1. LIBRARY ORIENTATION:  
THIS WEEK with Amber
Learn about all of the software and materials available to you in the ESL library.

When: Tues, and Thurs
Where: D315, ESL Library
Time: 11am

2.  Powerpoint 2007 
THIS WEEK with Amber
When: Wednesday 3.
Where: D315, ESL Library
Time: 3-4:30 pm


3.  Summarizing and Paraphrasing Workshop with Alona (Levels 4-9)

Practice essential skills of Summary and Paraphrase in a small group setting.

Your Peer Leaders are there to faciliate!

When: Tues(sched A) and 
Thurs(sched B), Weeks 2-7

Where: D 301 (Tues); D302 (Thurs)

Time: 12:00-1:30pm

4. SPEAK UP!:  Speaking with Confidence (Levels 4-9)

A workshop facilitated by Stan Middlestat and your Peer Leaders

Want to improve your speaking? Improve your confidence in conversation using games and role plays . This 6-week workshop will focus on conversation and public speaking skills in a FUN and active atmosphere!

When: Every WED AFTER SCHOOL, 
WEEKS 2-7
Where: D309

Time: 3:00 to 4:30pm

And for the Advanced Levels...

5. Writing Skills Study Group with Corina (levels 6-9)

A workshop to assist you with developing an outline for academic writing.  Brainstorm with your peers and learn how to organize your thoughts clearly and effectively.

When:  Tues/Thurs, weeks 2-7,

Where:  D 302 (Tues); D301 (Thurs)

Time:  10-11:30am

6.  TTA--Ted Talks Activity with Mehdi G.  (levels 7-9)
Practice listening and speaking in an academic atmosphere that aims to improve your listening and communication skills.  You will have the opportunity to discuss and learn from some fabulous speeches found on TED TALKS

When:  Tues/Thurs, weeks 2-7

Where:  Meet at Peer Leader office, room D304A
Time:  9-10am

As always, your Peer Leaders are here to help you! Set up a study group and invite us to facilitate; drop by Tuesdays and Thursday and after school for one-on-one and small group tutoring. No need to sign up in advance--drop by D304A to meet us--our schedule is posted on the door!


This Week's Presentation Tips:

1.  Know your audience--ensure what you are saying is interesting and keeps your audience's attention (vary your pitch, intonation and pausing); speak to them and be ready to answer their questions if necessary

2.  Body Language--face your audience and use your ppt (point to the screen when appropriate); use gestures and do not read from notes or your ppt (you can refer to it, but don't read it--you'll put your audience to sleep

3.  Maintain Sincere Eye Contact:  Use the 3-second method, e.g. look straight into the eyes of a person in the audience for 3 seconds at a time. Have direct eye contact with a number of people in the audience, and occasionally scan  the whole audience while speaking. Use your eye contact to make everyone in your audience feel involved.

4. Pause where appropriate--don't race through your presentation, but don't be long-winded either!  Be concise in your details.

5.  Structure your presentation:  have a clear intro, body and conclusion

6.  Have a smile in your voice:   speak confidently--persuade your audience--maintain their interest

Overall, remember the 3 Vs:

VISUAL 
-look around the room:  engage with your audience

-refer to your visuals

-use appropriate gestures

VOCAL 
-use your voice as a tool

-don't speak too quickly or slowly

-pace yourself: use a variety of speeds and change the volume of your voice for emphasis

VERBAL 
-refers to the words you use and the way you organize your talk

-have a clear intro, body and conclusion; --use attention getters to grab their attention

-use a variety of transition words between points

Week 4, February 1st to 5th.

What's on this week in GBC's ESL Program:  LOTS!!!  Take advantage of all that is offered!


1. TODAY, February 1st, 2010

Orientation to GBC's online library resources and effective research skills.
Where:  ESL Library, D315
Time:  3:00pm

Presented by Bill McAskill, Lead Research Librarian at GBC's Casa Loma Campus

2. Microsoft Powerpoint 2007 Workshop with Amber

When: Tuesday, February 2nd & and Thursday, February 4th.
Where: D315 ESL Library
Time: 3:00pm

3. Speaking Bootcamp Workshop
Learn effective conversation and public speaking skills in a fun atmosphere with your peers!
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays
(4-week workshop:  1st workshop:  Feb 2, 4; 2nd workshop: Feb 9, 11; 3rd workshop: Feb 16, 18; 4th workshop: Feb 23, 25)
Where: D306
Time: 3:05 to 4:30pm
Public speaking is a skill and it can be learned!!

4.  Newsblog Club: Digital Storytelling Workshop 
Learn a very simple way to create a digital presentation using pictures, music, your voice and text!
When: Wednesday, February 3rd
Where: D318 (Computer Lab)
Time: 3:05 to 4:30pm
New members welcome!  Contribute to our online Blog!

5.  Summarizing and Paraphrasing Workshop
Practice essential skills of Summary and Paraphrase (spoken and written)in a small group setting
When: Weekly, every Tuesday(sched A) and Thursday (sched B)
Time:  12:00-1:30
Where: D333

6. Tutoring in the ESL Library
Improve your speaking skills!
Where: D315 ESL Library
When and Time: Every Tues and Thurs from 12:30 to 1:30

7.  NEW! 
Lunch and Learn with the Advisors
Meet with Tracy and Joseph from Advising who will be more than happy to answer your questions about what services they offer and programs at the college.

Where: D309

When:  Friday, February 5th

Time: 12:40