Good afternoon everyone,

Our theme for this week is ''Know Yourself.'' Based on that, we need to know our strengths and weaknesses in order to better evaluate ourselves and set our goals.

Task 1:

Essential Skills refer to the nine skills and abilities that are essential to success in Canadian occupations. The Government of Canada has compiled detailed lists, called Essential Skills Profiles (ESPs), of how workers in hundreds of jobs use these nine skills.

Write down next to each skill which one best describes you better:  expert - good - intermediate - beginner -  no knowledge

Nine Essential Skills:

• Reading Text                   beginner

• Document Use                  expert

• Numeracy                         expert

• Writing                            beginner

• Oral Communication        good

• Work with Others             expert

• Thinking Skills                 expert

• Computer Use                  intermediate

• Continuous Learning        expert

Task 2:

Complete an Essential Skills self-assessment:

Strengths: I am confident that I can use document very well.

I am confident that I can use document very well.

I am confident that I can work with other people very well,because I have a lot of working experience.

Weaknesses: I feel I struggle with my writing skill.

I feel I struggle with my writing skill.

Areas for Improvement: I would like to improve my ability to/on

I would like to improve my ability on  reading

Wednesday's assignment

Wednesday's assignment

Good afternoon everyone,

Today, we have talked about the “Unwritten rules of Canadian manners.” Now, you are required to write a letter to a friend back home, who he/she is planning to move to Canada soon, and give him/her some advice on how to adapt to the Canadian culture, also tell your friend some tips on the most important Canadian unwritten rules, from your perspective, to avoid embarrassment.

HI , YUNHU

 I   just heard you will come to Canada next  month. I'm very happy to hear that because I can’t see you for a long time. But first all ,I must tell you some behaviour and unwritten rules of Canadian manners. We have the different culture from Canada, so you need to adapt the Canadian culture. First ,you are the stranger of this country, so you must broken some unwritten rule , you need say “thanks “and “sorry “ all the time rather than feel angry or embarrassed. Second ,you must pay the tips more than  bill  after you have a meal in a restaurant, you should pay 10%-15% of the bill. Last thing I want to tell you is all indoor place in Canada not allow to smoking, or you will be fined.  There are lots of other things you should to adapt, wish you have good time in Canada!

Good afternoon everyone,

This week, we will be talking about the writing mechanics. Let’s start by a short writing assignment to reflect your learning experience in this classroom.

Write one to two paragraphs on your experience in Workplace English class. Use the following questions as guidance to narrow down your scope in your writing.

• Why did I join this classroom?
• What is/are the skills/knowledge I wanted to improve?
• How much improvement have I accomplished? How long did it take me to improve them?
• What special segments/parts/activities/assignments in the classroom that have helped me to develop my language?
• What are the things that you still want to work on? 
• Add any ideas or suggestion that you have to  improve your learning experience.

Last month  I  just arrived in Canada. First thing I need to do is to improve my English

,so I came to Workplace English Class.I want to improve all skills of my English,especially listen and speaking.

Till now I have learned about one month.There are some improvement  about my language .I can understand  more what someone talk in English and I can speak more too.I especially like the part "presentation" and talking class with the native people on Tuesday afternoon .It very helpful for my listening and speaking.But I want to improve my writing skill because that is my most weakest part in my English,so I still want to work on it.I wish someday I can use this secondary language freely. 

How a bill becomes law – vocabulary

Task 1:

Match the words with their definitions.

1.	legislative             E	A.	distribute
2.	bill                      D	B.	present
3.	circulate              A	C.	official consent or approval
4.	policy                 G	D.	a draft of a proposed law
5.	put forward         B	E.	of legislation (the process of making laws) or legislature
6.	debate                 H	F.	a revision or improvement in a legal document
7.	amendment         F	G.	a course of action adopted by a government or party
8.	assent                C	H.	discuss formally in a legislative assembly

Task 2:

For each verb, write the corresponding noun. Use a dictionary to check your answers. Then, complete the sentences using the correct forms of words from the list.

VERB		NOUN	VERB	NOUN
legislate		legislation	approve	approval
circulate		circulation	draft	draft
amend		amendment	recommend	recommendation
debate		debate	proclaim	proclamation
1.	A local government has the power to___legislate___matters related to public spaces and parking in a town or city.
2.	The Canadian Constitution has many constitutional acts and ___amendment_.
3.	The first ____draft_____ of a bill is prepared by the appropriate cabinet committee.
4.	A bill needs the _____approval_________ of the House of Commons to be sent to the Senate.
5.	Parliamentary ___debate____ is an important part of the legislative process.
6.	Sometimes, a new law comes into force when it is _proclaimed___by the governor general.

Wednesday's assignment

Wednesday's assignment

Financing Post-Secondary Education

Task 1:

You will hear the words below in a talk here about financing post-secondary education. Match the words with their meanings; write down the letter next to the word.

1. __d_ rely on                                                    a. given

2. __e_ eligible                                                    b. not enough

3. __a_ granted                                                  c. accumulated

4. _b__ insufficient                                            d. depend on

5. _f__ contribution                                         e. qualifying

6. _c__ accrued                                                  f. gift

Task 2:

Listen to the talk and answer the questions below.

1. What expenses can the cost of post-secondary education in Canada include?

tuition ,residence fees, as well as the cost of books and other materials, transportation, food and various necessities.
2. How are government loans administered?

   paid through a combination of the CSL (Canada Student Loan) program and the provincial student loan program 

3. Who can receive government student loans?

 students financial resources available to students are deemed insufficient to meet a student’s education expenses. 

4. Why are government student loans better than personal bank loans?

Because government student loans don"t need to pay all interest of loan.

5. What other forms of financial assistance are available to students?

scholarships, bursaries and awards.

6. What is an appropriate title for this talk?

    The introduction of government student loans

Task 3:

Listen again and complete the text with the missing words.

Par. 1 Studying at a university or college can 1.__involved_____________ various costs. Depending on the program or school, 2. __tuition_____________ can vary from $2,500 to $8,000 or more per year. !e cost of post-secondary education can also include the cost of 3. ___accommodation___________, such as residence fees, as well as the cost of books and other materials, transportation, food and various necessities. Many students in Canada rely on help from the government and financial institutions to finance their education.

Par. 2 Government programs are the form of financial assistance most often 4. __utilized_________to finance university education. Government student loans provide money to 5.__eligible___________ students based on demonstrated financial need. Funds are paid out through a combination of the CSL (Canada Student Loan) program and the provincial student loan program (e.g., OSAP—Ontario Student Assistance Program). Students  6.____apply__________ in their province of residence.

Par. 3 Government student loans and other funds are granted only when other financial 7. __resources______________ available to students are deemed insufficient to meet a student’s education expenses. These resources include family contributions, part-time work, 8. __scholarships_____________, bursaries, etc. If a student is under 19, a parent or a legal guardian or sponsor needs to 9. __co-sign_____________ the loan document.

Par. 4 Government student loans offer a great advantage over personal bank loans as full-time students can qualify to have their 10. __accrued____________ interest paid for by the federal and/or provincial government while they are still studying.

Par.5 Private student loans or lines of credit are offered by many banks and credit unions. The main difference between them and the government programs lies in how the interest 11. _is__repaid____________. In private loans or lines of credit, the student is responsible for all the accrued interest as soon as the loan has been 12. _____signed__________. In addition, many medium to large corporations and private organizations also offer scholarships, bursaries and awards for students.
Task 4:

Who wouldn’t like to have some free money?  Click on this link and search the eligibility criteria for grants, bursaries, and scholarships, plus the estimated amount as well.  Share this information with your classmates. 

 student loan

Eligibility

To qualify, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or designated as a protected person;
• be a permanent resident of a province or territory that issues Canada Student Loans (Note: The Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Quebec operate their own student loan programs. Contact your provincial or territorial student financial assistance office for more information);
• demonstrate financial need;
• be enrolled in at least 60 percent of a full course load (40 percent for students with permanent disabilities) if you are a full-time student;
• be enrolled in 20-59 percent of a full course load if you are a part-time student (if you are a student with permanent disabilities and you are studying between 40-59 percent of a full course load, you can choose to be considered a student in full or part-time studies);
• be enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program offered by a designated post-secondary school that runs for at least 12 weeks within a 15-week period;
• pass a credit check if you are 22 or older and are applying for your first Canada Student Loan; and
• not have exhausted your maximum lifetime limit for financial assistance (including interest-free statu

grant:

 Eligibility

The Canada Education Savings Grant is available until the end of the calendar year in which the child turns 17, as long as:

• the child is a Canadian resident;
• the child has a valid Social Insurance Number;
• an RESP has been opened in their name; and
• a request is made for the grant.

Children who are 16 or 17 years old may be eligible to receive the Canada Education Savings Grant if at least one of the following conditions is met:

• a total minimum of $2,000 was contributed to (and not withdrawn from) the RESP of the child before the end of the calendar year they turned 15; or
• a minimum annual contribution of $100 was made to (and not withdrawn from) the RESP in at least four of the years before the end of the calendar year the child turned 15. 

scholarship:

Good morning everyone,

Task 1:

Let's start by a trip report on Friday's field trip. Write one paragraph to describe Friday's field trip.

Describe the location
Did you enjoy it or not? Why?
How did you feel? 
What was the best thing about you? 
Give your suggestions as what could we do to improve field trips in the future? 

       Last Friday,my classmates went  to Bluffers Park for a tour and pot luck.This Park located in Brimley Road South, Toronto.I really want to go this trip,because this would be the first time field trip since I had came to Canada.But unfortunately,on the night of last Thursday ,One of my friend just from China called me he wants have lunch and discuss some important matters with me tomorrow noon. So I didn't went to the trip ,Today my classmates told me they had so much fun in this trip .They ate a lot of food,played different games,even played soccer.I think I must take part in the field trip next time.I don't want miss it.

Task 2:

Task two is a reading task. Read the following passage and then answer the following questions. Make sure to record your answers for class discussion afterwards.

HOCKEY’S $124 MILLION MAN

 When Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin became the National Hockey League’s first $100-million man early in 2008, it was hard to find anyone in the hockey world who didn’t believe he was worth every penny. But how can this be possible? Is any hockey player truly worth that much money? It doesn’t take a Wall Street accountant to figure out what was in it for the player known as ‘Alexander the Great.’ Ovechkin’s 13-year, $124-million contract averages out to just over $9.5 million a season, giving him financial security for life. Even so, Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis believes the deal is also good for his hockey team. At the time, Leonsis admitted that making a decade-long commitment to a 22-year-old in just his third NHL season wasn’t an ordinary thing. But if Ovechkin has proven anything by his goal-scoring rampage since his rookie season in 2005–06, it’s that he’s no ordinary player. All the awards and accolades – Calder Trophy as top rookie in 2006, Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal-scorer and Hart Trophy as NHL’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and 2009, plus four straight first-team all-star selections – only begin to tell the story. It’s Ovechkin’s once-in-a-generation combination of skill, size, brute physical strength and relentless passion that sets him apart and draws fans to the arena. That’s the package that Leonsis is paying for. “I’m a risk-taker,” Leonsis said at the time. “And if you’re going to make a long-term investment, who else would you do it with?” Ovechkin said the contract wouldn’t change the way he approaches the game. “I know it’s extra pressure, but I have to play the same,” he said. “If you think of the pressure, it’s hard for you. I have to play the same way – play more, play better.”

Questions:

A- For each of the following underlined words from the article, choose the right meaning. Try to guess the meaning of the words without using a dictionary.

1. A rookie is someone who

a. is just starting his career

b. is controversial

c. generates a lot of profit for a company or organization

         a

  

2. When someone receives accolades, they get

a. bad reviews in the press

b. praise and recognition

c. big sums of money

            b

3. “Goal-scoring rampage” refers to

a. going after other players to try to score goals

b. scoring goals from a ramp

c. scoring lots of goals

            c

             

4. When we say Ovechkin’s passion is relentless, we mean that

a. it pays off

b. it never stops

c. it can hurt others

            b

            

5. A long-term investment is

a. something you will be paying for in the next few years

b. something you will pay for a long time

c. something that will pay off (or bring you profit) after many years of investment

             c

6. Ovechkin’s combination of skill and passion sets him apart means

a. it distinguishes him from others

b. it makes him feel distant

c. it makes him independent

              a

B- Read the article and choose true or false. Find the fragments of the text that confirm your answer.

1. Most people associated with hockey agree that Ovechkin is worth such a large amount of money. T 

2. Ovechkin is famous for his fair play. That’s why he attracts so many fans.   F

3. Leonsis feels paying Ovechkin so much money is a risk he is willing to take.   T 

4. Ovechkin started his career in NHL hockey in 2008.     F

5. Signing the biggest contract in NHL history will make Ovechkin change his style of playing hockey.   F

6. It was obvious only to Wall Street accountants how much financial security Ovechkin has with this contract.  F 

Have you ever considered how technology might affect your health? Watch this video and then follow the tasks below.

Task 1:

Fill in the table below:

Words	Meaning	Sentences
Radiation	exposure	Radiation is energy,especially heat.
Waves	run	The sound waves maybe hurt you
Animation	cartoon	I like animation  made of  china
Precautions	prevent	Bring  your jacket to precaution get a fever
Speaker phone	microphone	Use your speaker so we can hear you.
Handsets	cellphone	Almost everbody has  handsets
Boost out	make it higher	He got a good boost out of it.
Intensity	power	It increase radiation intensity
Elevator	lift	We often use elevator
Give away	give up	We must give away the bad habbit
Reduce	decrease	We already reduce the damage
Pull away	leave	She drive out and pull away
Tackling	equipment  deal with	I must tackling climate change.

Task 2:

Write a quick summary on the Dr. Oz episode, but don’t exceed one paragraph.

Cell phone"s radiation may increasing the risk of tumors,so in some situation we should use it carefully.Dr.Oz give some hints to protect your health when you use cellphone.

Task 3:

List down the dos and don’ts that he has mentioned in his short talk.

dos                                                                                       don'ts

leave 4 inchs from head                                         don't keep  your cellphone in pocket

put in your purse                                                   don"t use telephone signal is poor or driving

limited cellphone use in children under 14                use wireless set

use speaker phone mode or head set