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 2: May 10th to 14th--Check out what's on this week!

1.  TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES Workshop
Part I
Learn test-taking strategies focusing on IELTS and TOEFL!  This workshop will be led by two of your Peer Leaders that have taken and excelled at these tests.
When: TODAY!  Monday, May 10th--Follow up workshops will be announced at today's meeting.
Where: D309
Time: 3:00 to 4:00pm.

2. LIBRARY ORIENTATION with Amber
When: Tues, May 11th and Thurs May 13th
Where: D315 ESL Library
Time: 11AM

3. Summarizing and Paraphrasing Workshop
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: D333
Time: 12:00-1:30

4. MICROSOFT 2007 POWERPOINT workshop with Amber
When: Wednesday May 12th
Where: D315 ESL Library
Time: 3:00-4:30pm

5.  SPEAK UP!
 New opportunity starting THIS week!!
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 4:00pm

6.  Lunch and Learn Alumni Panel

Learn about the post-secondary experiences of GBC's ESL graduates

When:  Friday, May 14th
Where:  D309
Time: 12:40-1:20


Coming:  Digital Storytelling Workshop--weeks 2 and 3 Monday after school.  You can win a tuition refund by expressing yourself through a digital story!!  Details to come.  Email Dorothy if you are interested!

Newsblog Club:  do you want to improve your writing while expressing yourself to your peers?
Why not write an article?  Need some inspiration??
Interested?  Email Dorothy or drop by D304 to chat about it!



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!

Week3 March 22nd to 26th: What's on this week??

1. Tutoring in the ESL Library

Improve your language skills with teachers from the TESL program!
When: Every Tues and Thurs
Where: D315 ESL Library
Time: 12:30-1:30

2. MICROSOFT 2007     POWERPOINT  workshop with Amber  

When: Tues, March 23rd and

Thurs, March 25th

Where: D315 ESL Library

Time: 3:00pm

3.  Speaking Bootcamp Workshop with Catherine Luke
Learn effective presentation and public speaking skills in a fun atmosphere with your peers!
When: Every Wednesday for four consecutive weeks (March 24, 31st, April 7th, 14th)
Where: D306 
Time: 3:05 to 4:30pm
Public speaking is a skill and it can be learned!!

4. Summarizing and Paraphrasing Workshop
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)
Where: D333 on Tuesdays and D331 on Thursdays
Time: 12:00-1:30

New opportunity starting next week!!

5.  Speaking with Confidence

Improve your confidence using games and role plays with your peers and Peer Leaders.  This 4-week workshop will focus on presentation skills in a FUN and active atmosphere!

When: Every Tues and Thurs for four weeks.

(1.March 30th/April 1st; 2. April 6th/8th; 3. April 13th/15th; 4. April 20th/22nd)--date depends on whether you are schedule A or schedule B.

Where: PAL Centre, Lifeworks Centre, Building E lower level (across from Treats and Subway), room E139.
Time: 12:00 to 1:00 pm

Limit:  10 students for Tues and 10 students Thurs session 

Email Dorothy to sign up--ask your Peer Leader for Dorothy's email--first come, first served!  Signing up means that you commit to coming all 4 weeks as each week will build on the previous week's workshop.

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!  

Also, coming up neXT WEek:  CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP ON MONDAY'S FROM 3:45 TO 4:30 FOR LEVEL 7 & 8 STUDENTS INTERESTED IN CREATIVE WRITING.