Learn English: Recent Episodes
Polina Nesterova
Slides are available at: https://pnesterova.blogspot.com/2021/11/age-online-lesson-plan-intermediate.html
Slides on video: https://youtu.be/3iQuJIsYJ7I
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://pnesterovacom.wordpress.com/2021/11/11/korean-marathon-day-50/
ESL video lesson plans on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/engpnesterova/
Esl video lesson plans on the website: https://pnesterova.com/category/english/english-listening/
Transcript:
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening!
I have been teaching English for more than five years now, and still, I cannot find the limit for my influx of new knowledge. The English language is the incentive and the empowering strength, which helps you explore and expand your horizons. The knowledge illuminates new paths of your life enriching it and making you stronger.
Meeting new people from all over the world and broadening your world outlook thatâs the essential part of my existence now. My aim is to help people achieve their fluency goal for which I use the language immersion method. We are trying to communicate mostly in English throughout the lesson and use authentic language resources.
I have a long history with English since childhoodđ©âđđ And it has become my professional career. Now I am a certified English teacher with a degree in English, korean and slovenian language learner. Iâve been teaching English for more than five years and obtained a Cambridge certificate C2 proficiency in 2017.
To sum up, Polina Nesterova is an ESL teacher with more than five years of experience. She has taught English in Korea, obtained a CPE certificate and a degree in linguistics and teaching English. The owner and the content creator of Learn Slovene&Korean&English blog. The spheres of interest include cognitive science, teaching and learning languages, memorization techniques.
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2021/09/26/korean-marathon-day-25/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2021/09/16/korean-marathon-day-15/
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This episode also available as a blog post at: http://pnesterova.com/2021/09/27/korean-marathon-day-26/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2021/09/24/korean-marathon-day-23/
Full lesson with vocabulary, video and exercises at: http://pnesterova.com/2021/09/20/decisions-video-lesson/
The audio is from a YouTube video Alan uses live listening: https://youtu.be/cv_cLwHGcyI
Decision making text The same decisions The topic of this lecture is decision-making. How do people make decisions. And the best way I think to make decisions thatâs what the lecture is about. Yes, now I think that itâs not possible itâs just impossible to get all the information you need to make a decision. But I think itâs only possible to get about 20% 30% of the information. The second thing is as we grow up, as we go from child to adult we get conditioned from our parents, from our schools, from the government. We get to think in a certain way. And we get to like some things and not like some things. Youâre different from me because of where you came from. And because of this itâs very difficult to make decisions in a different way. Youâll tend to make the decisions in the same way.
New decisions So I donât know if you agree with me or not, but I think that making decisions rationally or intuitively is a waste of time. First of all, the problem is that youâre in a rut. Youâre kind of conditioned. So how can you get out of the rut and make different decisions. Itâs one problem. How itâs very easy instead of making rational decisions you make decisions by chance. You let chance make decisions for you. And itâs very easy way of doing this and thatâs to use this.
Itâs easy Okay here are my reasons for doing this. First of all, itâs quick and itâs easy. Second, itâs not stressful. Ordinary decision making is very stressful. It takes a long time. Oh, shall I not go? What should I do? Very stressful bad for your heart, isnât it? So itâs quick, itâs not stressful. And itâs possible that you can do something that you would never have done before. Life is dangerous anyway.
Pure chance Your life is decided by chance anyway. The people you meet, you meet by chance. I met my girlfriend and my wife by chance and it changed my life this way. I could have met somebody else and I could have changed that way. It was pure chance that I met her at that time. Most of the things that happened to us are chance. So why not use chance to make decisions.
In control of your life? Well why not? Good question, isnât it? Why not is because most of us want to believe that we are deciding. You want to believe that youâre youâre deciding what to do, donât you? You want to believe that youâre in control of your life. Actually you are not. So accept it and throw the dice.
More ESL video lessons on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/engpnesterova/
The full mind map and a table on science and technology word formation
At a recent family dinner my mother was struggling to remember an actorâs name. Doing what seemed natural, I took out my smartphone, searched for the movie she was talking about and voila! Benedict Cumberbatch. This series of events, which might seem completely (worth) of comment for most of us, (complete) blew my mother away.âHow did you know to do that?â she asked, while I tried to explain that it was simply second nature. But, later, it got me thinking; thinking about how we use technology in so many different aspects of our lives. Planning, socialising, communicating and banking â just some of the things that we now tend to do through our gadgets. However, there is one particular group for which technology has had a (benefit) and profound impact on students. Going back to my family dinner, and chatting about university life, it didnât take too long for the phrase âyou kids have it so much easier these daysâ to feature. But, to be completely fair on my mother, she has a valid point.
While we still have all the same (education) benefits as those of the previous generation, we have so many more as well. We still have libraries available to us, but we also have (count) virtual libraries that exist on the Internet.
Student faculty (interact) is another area that has benefited from technology, for both parties. Nowadays, we can communicate from the comfort of our homes, or even while we are on a bus, through mail, instant messaging or even Instagram.
Itâs amazing to actually look back, compare, and take on board the (advance) that have been made and the benefits we are reaping as a result.
Smartphones, projectors and smart speakers are already a common sight in lecture halls, and why shouldnât they be? The (replace) of textbooks with e-books on phones allows students the luxury of having up-to-date, interactive or even personalised learning materials.
More ESL English video lessons on Facebook
Dreiser was born in Indiana, America. Â His parents were of German origin. They were very poor. He spent his childhood in poverty. He went to university but didn't take a degree. In 1892 he started to work as a reporter for Chicago newspapers.Â
His first novel Sister Carrie is about a young woman who doesn't want to live in the countryside. She goes to the city and becomes a famous actress. The novel makes people think about morality and lifestyle. It was called the greatest of all American urbal novels.
In his other novels he shows different situations where young people want to have a lot of money. Â Some of such people become criminals. People killed for money, married for money and it was called the American kind of crime.Â
Dreiser also was a poet. He wrote about poverty and ambition. He understood the social injustice of the working class and joined the Communist party USA in 1945.Â
His business novels make people think about life and goals in life. There is a Dreiser college in New York. Also, you can see his name in a Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. He is one of the greatest unique American writers, who showed some important aspects of social life.
The audio is from Minimalism: A documentary about the important things YouTube videoÂ
The full lesson with exercises and discussion questionsÂ
Key vocabulary:
- the thing you were obsessed about
- compulsory consumption
- It wasnât about just getting rid of my stuff
More ESL video lessons on FacebookÂ
Audio is from Everyday English: goals and dreamsÂ
The full lesson with discussion questions and listening exercisesÂ
Key vocabulary:
- I regret not taking lessons
- amateur theater
- recreational pilot license
More ESL video lessons on FacebookÂ
Also the episode is available as a blog postÂ
ESL English video lessons on FacebookÂ
Learn Slovene&Korean&English on FacebookÂ
The full lesson with exercises, vocabulary and discussion questionsÂ
Key vocabulary:
- obsessed with
- a source of pollution
- mind becomes clear
More ESL video lessons on FacebookÂ
The audio is from a YouTube video Everything Gwyneth Paltrow eats in a dayÂ
The full lesson with vocabulary, exercises and discussion questionsÂ
Key vocabulary
- Iâm obsessed with that stuff
- Smoothie that has some good fat and some protein and some fiber
- Peanut butter protein bars
More ESL video lessons on FacebookÂ
The audio is from a YouTube video Future food The menu of 2030
The full lesson with exercises, vocabulary and discussion questionsÂ
Key vocabulary:
- food sources
- affordable product
- food shortages
More ESL Video lessons on FacebookÂ
Based on a YouTube video Material girlÂ
The full lesson with vocabulary and interactive exercisesÂ
More ESL video lessons on FacebookÂ
The audio is from Tetrina Blalock on police brutality and demanding respectÂ
The full lesson with exercises, vocabulary and discussion questionsÂ
Key vocabulary:
- exposing deep divisions about race and policing
- your firsthand experience with racism and prejudice
- trust in this system
More listening and ESL video lessons on FacebookÂ
The audio is from a YouTube video Julie Chen | Asian Plastic Surgery | Double Eyelid The Talk Secret Revealed
The full lesson with vocabulary and exercisesÂ
Ket vocabulary:
- the audience canât relate to you
- unless you get a plastic surgery
- I look more alert
More ESL listening and video lessons on FacebookÂ
The audio is from a YouTube video #InequalityIs:Â Favianna Rodriguez on cultural inequality
The full lesson with vocabulary, exercises and discussion questionsÂ
Key vocabulary:
- Cultural inequality
- You donât see yourself reflected
- In a future that we have not yet fulfilled
More ESL video lessons and plans on FacebookÂ
Audio is from a YouTube video Starting a coffee shop businessÂ
The full video lesson with exercises and vocabularyÂ
More video lessons on FacebookÂ
The audio is from a YouTube video Can fashion be sustainable BBC EarthÂ
The full lesson with exercises, vocabulary and discussion questionsÂ
Key vocabulary:
- Species of plants and animals
- Desire for fast fashion
- The brink of extinction
Video lessons on FacebookÂ
Audio is from a YouTube video Everything supermodel Tyra Banks eats in a day
The full video lesson with exercises
Key vocabulary:
- Flavor - taste of a food or drink
- Plain - not decorated, simple or basic
- Cut in half - to cut something into two pieces
Video lessons on FacebookÂ
A lesson plan for Esl/esol classes has a logical structure starting with
a warmer, intro to a topic, activation of previous knowledge.
pre-teaching of some vocabulary or grammar ( 3â5 items, if necessary). Ask questions, explain meaning of words/grammar within a context, practice pronunciation, check understanding, write and show other forms of a word/grammar, highlight phonology
Presentation of a text, audio, video or a picture. Simple gist question, following some specific questions about the material
Controlled practice. Check understanding of the material/vocabulary or grammar rules. The examples are gap-fill exercises, true or false, etc.
Freer practice. Here students should use their own ideas within the specific context. For example, complete sentences with your ideas, describe the picture relevant to target vocabulary/grammar
Production, the final step. It is usually expressing an opinion about the topic, advice, prediction. You can tell your students your own opinion before the task as an example. Don't forget to use target language. Special questions including target language can be formed to start a discussion.
It is a standard lesson plan using the traditional model PPP (presentation, practice, production) and CELTA methodology. More suitable for beginners, elementary and intermediate learners. You can find the examples of the video lesson plans using this model on my website. There are lesson plans for elementary, pre-intermediate and intermediate learners. Topics include health, food, character and personality, daily life, social issues, culture, business vocabulary, IELTS preparation.
Problem is where to have a learning space for online lessons
-platforms: zoom, Google, etc.
Why not to make lessons, use, reuse and make available for thousands of people
Everything is on one page.
-blogs, website, Google slides, padlet youtube, and even a podcast
All of these platforms have their share of interactivity.
My choice is a website with lots of tools: videos, tests, audios and text can be all on one single page.
If you buy a website address (domain) it will be your forever, although with platforms which are not yours, your content can be removed and you cannot actually own 100% of your content.
What is interactivity online
When we think about interactivity, first thing i think is interactive exercises. Where I can click and move things with my finger and of course auto check.
What I think about interactivity is really about
getting students engaged via communication,
visuals,
constantly activate students, besides just interactive exercises
Creativity and interactivity when teaching online: should be mostly about (go to the outside world), and communication with people especially for adults and more confident learners
Communicating with other people: Facebook and YouTube (sending posts and comments
Comment youtube videos
Ask instagram followers
Real-time interaction
Discussion boards
During an online lesson interactivity can be facilitated with
Clicking on Links
Tests
Games
Games: role play, play a famous person
Board games
Jam board, miro board Padlet Pinterest
How to expand creativity
To try something new
Flip lessons
Give them a choice
Encourage autonomy
Incorporate their interests
Inconventional learning materials: youtube comments, cafe reviews on Facebook, shopping websites, blogs, ask a blogger for audio on their piece
The full lesson at: http://pnesterova.com/2021/07/14/favorite-comfort-food-video-esl/
Transcript:
The best food I have ever eaten has to be a French crepe. I had it for the first time 1 year ago in a place near my home. French crepes are awesome, a little bit fatty but really tasty.
There I also tried a green matcha cream tea. It was amazing. I usually like all types of green tea but this one is really good. This type of tea is from Asia and is also popular in many countries. I want to make this kind of tea myself. I rather drink tea or coffee without sugar. I replace sugar for a cake.
I like to drink tea or coffee, eat cake and stuff like that in a cafe by myself. Not everyone likes to be by yourself in a cafe, but I love it and this place has a good vibe.
I'm gonna go back to that French place and eat amazing food and drink green tea or coffee. I guess they have matcha tea ice cream as well. That can be really tasty to try for dessert.
Jessi, you were staying in a house in London, right? That you are convinced was haunted.
-Yes! I really think it was because we were doing a lot of night scenes.
-Yes! I really think it was because we were doing a lot of night scenes. And I came early, like 3:30 in the morning, and I'm so tired. And I had everything left out like the lights. And I had one chandelier on a little bit. And I started talking my clothes off to put my pajamas on and the lights started to dim.
-And I had one chandelier on a little bit. And I started talking my clothes off to put my pajamas on and the lights started to dim. And I thought, ok I might be having a stroke. This is what happens, right? The lights start slowly go dim. And every light in the room, even the bedside tables slowly started to go on. Swear! Swear! Swear! Like I was..and it was like err..like I was like on some alien spaceship,all white. And then it went pitch-black.
-I was..and it was like err..like I was like on some alien spaceship,all white. And then it went pitch-black. I actually said because I was so tired "OK, I acknowledge you, I understand you are here. And don't wonna kick you out, I'm just very tired so please let me sleep".And it never happened again.
-
It never happened again. It must be true.
-
Exactly!
-
It could have nothing to do with some odd electricity surge.
-
It's London, it's haunted.
-Jessi, you were staying in a house in London, right? That you are convinced was haunted.
-Yes! I really think it was because we were doing a lot of night scenes. And I came early, like 3.30 in the morning, and I'm so tired. And I had everything left out like the lights. And I had one chandelier on a little bit. And I started talking my clothes off to put my pajamas on and the lights started to dim. And I thought, ok I might be having a stroke. This is what happens, right? The lights start slowly go dim. And every light in the room, even the bedside tables slowly started to go on. Swear! Swear! Swear! Like I was..and it was like err..like I was like on some alien spaceship,all white. And then it went pitch-black. I actually said because I was so tired "OK, I acknowledge you, I understand you are here. And don't wonna kick you out, I'm just very tired so please let me sleep".And it never happened again.
-
It never happened again. It must be true.
-
Exactly!
-
It could have nothing to do with some odd electricity surge.
-
It's London, it's haunted.
Key vocabulary:
A haunted house -
A haunted house is a house or other building often seen as being inhabited by ghosts who may have been former residents of the house.
The lights started to dim -
To dim is to make or become less bright or clear, become darker
It went pitch-black -
To go pitch-black is to become completely and absolutely dark
I acknowledge you -
To acknowledge is to accept or admit the existence or truth of something
Learn more vocabulary about paranormal phenomena and do exercises at:
http://pnesterova.com/2021/02/07/english-paranormal-listening/
Join a Facebook group!
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/11/04/korean-grape/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2021/04/22/speaking-your-goals/
Video: https://vimeo.com/372137804
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/10/30/korean-ice-cream/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2021/01/22/met-a-slovenian-celebrity/
The episode is also available as a blog post on http://pnesterova.com/2020/12/06/english-vocabulary-starting-a-business/
The episode is also available as a blog post on https://pnesterova.com/2020/12/11/english-vocabulary-job-skills/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/11/13/improve-your-english-listening/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/11/16/korean-linguistic-circle-inside-view/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2021/03/05/english-speaking-work-idioms/
Learn natural English vocabulary to talk about how to explain idioms. Awesome phrases for speaking. Look at work idioms below. What do you think they mean?
- work like a dog
- work out
- work the system
- work your socks off
In the video Maria is explaining the idiom âJack of all trades, master of none.â What do you think it means?
Watch the video. Which statements below are true and which are false?
Tomâs got a job
Maria is starting a blog
Jill is interested in customs and traditions
What work related idioms are important and common in your culture? How could you explain them in English? Are there idioms about job skills?
Learn more idioms about people at work
Please, leave a comment if you have any tips or questions about this business vocabulary.
Find more English lessons on our website.
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/10/31/seoul-korea/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/11/20/it-is-really-stressful-to-be-evaluated/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/12/14/my-celta-essay-i-never-sent/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2021/03/04/poking-korean-society/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/11/08/language-and-music-english-reading-practice/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/10/28/self-introduction/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/12/18/the-glimpse-of-my-life-in-the-uae/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2021/02/23/urban-decay/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/11/25/english-vocabulary-your-favorite-restaurant/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2020/11/21/pronunciation-rules-in-english-go-full-hamilton/
This episode is also available as a blog post: http://pnesterova.com/2021/02/06/importance-multicultural-communication/