American English June 22 Update

 Here is the latest bulletin from AE:

Social Media                  

Please feel free to use this language to disseminate the new AE content via your social media platforms.

	Facebook	Twitter	Link	Graphic/Picture
American Teens Talk!	Want to know about high school in the US? Check out our new #‎AmericanEnglish resource American Teens Talk. This week's interview is with Sol. Read about her many extracurricular activities, including Science Olympiad, a school club that prepares for a science competition. It's free on the American English website.	Learn about US culture, practice reading & speaking, & increase vocabulary w/ American Teens Talk! #AmericanEnglish	http://bit.ly/TeensTalkSol	Picture is attached to this email and is CC0 Public Domain.
Teacher’s Corner	Teachers, do you have multiple levels of learners in your classroom? Check out this week's Teacher's Corner for suggestions! We discuss how to use teacher-supported groups and how to create leveled assignments to differentiate instruction for your students. #AmericanEnglish #TeachersCorner	Need to differentiate instruction? Learn how to create leveled assignments in this week’s #AmericanEnglish #TeachersCorner.	http://bit.ly/JuneTeachersCorner3	Pictures/graphics are attached to this email and are CC0 Public Domain.
Animated Video: T & D Tapping	Why do many American English speakers say the words "rider" and "writer" in the same way? Find out with our latest #‎AmericanEnglish video. This video is about tapping (also called "flapping"), something that is common in spoken American English.	What is flapping in #AmericanEnglish pronunciation? Find out with this #video!	Facebook: http://bit.ly/TDtapping YouTube: http://bit.ly/TDTapping	Graphic is attached to this email was created by OELP.

SMA Rompin Pre-Toon

Here is a pre-toon for 23-25/6 at SMA Rompin. Look forward to work with the awesome teachers there Access Program students. We're going to Rock the Ihya Ramadhan Program and sprinkle some 4th of July on there too. It is another step in the right direction in developing better relations with the US & Malaysia.

Step by Step On How To Build A SCORM Site on FROGVLE

Hey Gang, I've decided to publish a Step by Step On How To Build A SCORM Site on FROGVLE. It is fairly easy and with practice takes anywhere from 10-15 minutes. The good news is, once you have invested the initial time in building a site you, never have to do it again. If you get stuck in the process or have questions, you can contact me at heavyhittersconsultancy@gmail.com

Let the building begin!

American English Update June 8

What’s New from American English?

Check out our new resource American Teens Talk! on the website. Each week, we will post a new interview, with text and audio. This week, take a look at the introduction, possible activities for using this resource in your classroom, and the first interview with Bianca. It’s a great resource for teaching all four skills and U.S. culture.

Teachers around the globe face some common challenges in the classroom. This month’s Teacher’s Corner  will present strategies to address some of the most common issues in English language classrooms, including ideas to manage large classes, teach students with multiple levels in the same class, and adapt and find teaching materials. This week we explore using learning teams to make the most of large classes.

The next American English MOOC for English language learners, “English for Journalism,” begins August 15. In this 5-week course, learners will explore print and digital media, expand their vocabulary, learn to develop news stories, and much more.

How can you create an inclusive classroom? Check out the new Guide for Educators: Creating Supportive Learning Environments for Girls and Boys. This guide, funded by the Department of State and developed by IREX, provides teachers and administrators with tools and resources to create a gender-inclusive environment where all students can learn.

American Teens Talk!	Do you teach teens or young adults? This new collection of interviews of American high school students is a perfect text to use in your English language classroom. Each week, we will post a new interview, with text and audio. #AmericanEnglish	American teens talk in this new resource on the #AmericanEnglish website. Read & listen to interviews with US teens.	http://1.usa.gov/1svdTsK
Teacher’s Corner	Do you teach large classes? Large classes can be challenging for teachers. Find out how to use learning teams to help make the most of large classes in this week's Teacher's Corner. #AmericanEnglish #TeachersCorner	40, 50, 60 students in a class? Find ways to manage large classes with this week’s #TeachersCorner from #AmericanEnglish.	http://1.usa.gov/1Y6ajRm
English for Journalism MOOC	Are you interested in a career in journalism? This MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) may be for you! This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in developing the skills needed for a career in journalism. This 5-week course starts August 15. #AEMOOCS #AmericanEnglish #journalism #MOOC	Explore print & digital media, write articles, & more w/ this #AEMOOC for journalism! Starts Aug 15.	http://tinyurl.com/journalmooc
Gender Guide for Educators	How do you break gender stereotypes in the classroom? Check out the new Guide for Educators: Creating Supportive Learning Environments for Girls and Boys. This guide provides teachers and administrators with tools and resources to create a gender-inclusive environment where all students can learn.	Teachers from around the world share how to break #GenderStereotypes in classrooms.	http://bit.ly/1W0rhkS

American English Update June 1

I will try to use this blog as portal of information as well. This monthly bulletin is treasure trove of free English resources provided by US Embassy KL. Do Enjoy!

What’s New from American English? 

• Make a photography exhibit in your classroom. This week’s Teacher’s Corner focuses on using photographs to enhance students’ vocabulary and get them asking and answering questions.

• Our latest animated video teaches the idiom “break the ice.” The video will be on the American English Facebook page and  YouTube channel later this week.

• June 5 is World Environment Day, and June 8 is World Ocean Day. Graphics to promote these days are attached.

Social Media

Please feel free to use this language to disseminate the new AE content via your social media platforms. 

Animated Videos for English learning	When you meet people for the first time, are you shy? Or do you say something to break the ice? Learn the meaning of the idiom “break the ice” with this #AmericanEnglish #idiom video.	How do you break the ice when you meet someone new? Learn to use “break the ice” w/this #AmericanEnglish #idiom video!	You Tube: http://bit.ly/1TPY2Rs  Facebook:   http://on.fb.me/1KoRezm
Teacher’s Corner	Create a photography exhibit in your classroom! Learn how to use photographs to enhance students’ vocabulary. #AmericanEnglish #TeachersCorner	Make a photo exhibit in your classroom & use photographs to enhance vocabulary. #TeachersCorner #AmericanEnglish	http://1.usa.gov/25xMaFK
World Environment Day	Today (June 5) is World Environment Day. What will you do to help the environment today and every day? #WorldEnvironmentDay #wed2016	What do you do to help the environment? #WorldEnvironmentDay #wed2016

From Penang With Love

Training, Tracking, Teaching and Tutoring are all part and parcel of my specialties. I have been tutoring a student from Kazan, Russia in reading, writing, listening with a focus on speaking. Jamal is a outta-sight student who will be returning to Russia early in June. We have been working together using the New Cutting Edge book as a framework. However, I say it and I live it,"Don't teach the book, use the book to teach."

In an effort to apply speaking in a real world setting, we took the show on the road to Penang. It is also know as the Pearl of the Orient. Being a top tourist destination, many people speak English on the Island. We started our journey with a brief visit to our friends at SK Kampong Berangan who were hosting a Dr Muda program. We set off from there on the road to Jeli, which is the last petrol station before entering Ancient Belum Forest. 

Belum is home to many wild exotic plant and animal species. It also home to couple herds of wild elephants who have laid claim to this neck of the woods for centuries, dating back to the Pattani Sultanate. There are remnants of a trail system that used to stretch from Pattani to Malacca which was the main route of trade for these seafaring sultanates. They were centered on opposite seas: South China sea and the Straits of Malacca. Hence, the importance of this land route based on elephant transportation. Due to changing times and shrinking habitat, the herds have been limited to this haven.

The road in Belum has many signs warning drivers of the presence of elephants and tapirs. We took a photo opp at one of these warning signs as a novelty. Belum is a breathtaking old growth forest which ends in Girik. The scenic sights don't cease there. There are the rolling hills from Girik to Kulim. There is a large patch of an industrial park in Kulim. Then you drive through a significant swathe of verdant paddy fields when the urban landscape of Penang sprouts up. 

Jamal had a chance to practice his English at the tremendously delicious Kapitan Restaurant. He had an occasion to read signs in English at the impressive Masjid Tanjong Tokong. No visit Penang can be complete with visit to Batu Ferringhi Night Market. There he had an opportunity practise his improving speaking skills with all the hawkers as we shopped for souvenirs. We saved the historic UNESCO World Heritage Georgetown for last. Jamal commented on how it reminded him of St.Petersburg. We exited the Island and headed back home to Kota Bharu.

I earlier mentioned Tracking as one of my skill sets. What is tracking you ask? I have been traveling through Belum extensively over the past couple years. Even though my aspirations to be the 'elephant whisperer' are most likely delusional, my ability to track elephants in Belum is spot on. There is a stretch of road I have dubbed 'elephant alley.' If you go there at the right time of night, the probability of spotting one of these curvaceous critters is high. Fortunately, Jamal got to see 3 young elephants scamper into the jungle. Jamal revealed his parents called him 'Jumbo' because he use to watch that movie all the time. It was yet another sweet memory to a spectacular day.

"Some people are in the educational biz, but I'm in the biz to educate." - Khidar 'AB' Abdullah

Breakdown of SCORM Packages That Are UPSR BI 2016 Friendly

In my quest to collaborate, I want to share with the good teachers of Malaysia. The UPSR is a national test for Year 6 primary school students. This year's format has been changed to reflect the new KSSR curriculum. Below is a breakdown of all the SCORM packages for Year's 4-6. I have highlighted SCORM packages which have transferable skills relevant to the UPSR P1 & P2 in BI.

In the old format Paper, 1 & 2 were a combined for a single grade. In the new format, Paper 1 and Paper 2 standalone and have separate grades. The stakes for English have risen considerably.

YEAR 4

Adventures on Planet Sierra- is a grammar lesson of singular and plurals. It explains singular and plural subjects in sentence.

Merdeka Race Day- is car racing setting. Learning to use ‘must’ and ‘have to’ (grammar). Uncle Toby’s Farm- a grammar exercise in prepositions. Using locations in farm setting to
display meaning of prepositions.

In the Jungle- grammar exercise using demonstratives: a, an, the. ‘A’ with singular countable nouns that begin with consonant sounds. ‘An’ with singular countable nouns that begin with vowel sounds.

Day In, Day Out -Present simple tense, habitual (routine) actions. The simple present tense is used to show actions we do everyday, always or sometime.

Aladdin's Adventure- a grammar exercise on how to use uncountable nouns.

Animal Kingdom- grammar activity using ‘a’ singular nouns that begin with consonant sounds.

A Pheasant on an Elephant-Speaking activity with the sound "ph" in the beginning, medial and terminal position.

Sweeny and Tweeny in Tinkletown- A speaking activity using ;tw’ in the beginning of a word.

Colourful, Wonderful and Exciting- a speaking activity how to stress 3-syllable words. 

Inspector Bakar Does It Again- A grammar activity on using What, Where and When. 

YEAR 5
The Island of Legends-This lesson is read and give details about places in story. Write
paragraphs based on given word or phrases-UPSR friendly

Fabulous Cook- This Lesson is reading and understanding simple paragraphs. Complete mind-
maps and diagrams with information from the texts. UPSR friendly, info transfer, main ideas

Stop It Now-This lesson read and tell why a person is good or bad. Complete descriptions with the missing words and phrases and people. Write sentences using words and phrases given.

Friend In Need- This lesson read a story and talk about actions of people and animals in the story. Understand some smilies and proverbs. Write sentences about animals in the story.- UPSR Friendly- Activity B- P2 Eval A- Reading Comp MCQ; Eval B writing story to picture

An Important Lesson- This lesson give information about 3 people in the story. Fill in the missing words in the story. UPSR friendly P1

Who Will It Be- This lesson read a story and give details about the people in the story. Use words to show comparison. Write descriptions about people. UPSR friendly P1

Supermarket Race- This lesson identify collective nouns. Form sentences using the words given. 
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow- This lesson answer questions from factual texts. Complete Mind
Maps with information from texts. UPSR friendly P1

Dancing Gracefully- This lesson use capital letter, full stop, question mark, comma, apostrophe
and exclamation mark properly. Write simple descriptions using given words UPSR Friendly

The Amazing Hunt- This lesson write simple directions with help of a map, Write simple directions in your own words 

Year 6
Getting Connected- This lesson answer comprehension questions based on texts given.
UPSR friendly P1

What A Day- This lesson is writing complex sentences using ‘because’ to link reasons with actions. Write a guided letter to the teacher. UPSR Friendly P2

Same Yet Different- This lesson identify correct usage of homographs. Make compound sentences using words and phrases. UPSR friendly P2

Robo and Roko- This lesson learn word opposite in meaning from the story. Learn to read and talk about the actions of people in a story. UPSR friendly P2

Almost the Same- This lesson use words with similar meanings from given words. Write sentences to form a story. UPSR friendly P2

Brothers and Sisters- This lesson combine words to form compound words. Write simple guided descriptions.

I Wish- This lesson read and understand the meaning of words in the story. Select the most suitable meaning of words in a story. Read and predict the outcome of the story.
UPSR Friendly P1

Numbers and Dates- This lesson use and recognise the spelling of numbers 1st -31st. Read and understand letters. Design posters.

Inventors and Inventions- This lesson read and tell what you have learnt from a story. Write a letter to friends or family.

All About Food- This section answer comprehension questions based on letter. Write simple letter to pen pal. 

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