Now it is time to practice summarizing writing.  Here you will find links to three articles that you can read.  Try to summarize the articles in the comment box.  Remember to use the guideline presented earlier in the week.

Article #1:  Funding Your U.S. Study by Doug Bernard
A short post on the Voice of America blog about studying in the United States.

Article #2:  When and How to Say “Enough!” by Martha Beck
A longer article from Oprah Magazine on how to improve your life.

Article #3:  4 Steps to Take if Your Boss is a Micromanager by Dr. Peggy Drexler
This is longer article on a problem that sometimes arises in the workplace.

Good luck!

Here you will find three "notes".  Summarize the main idea of each page in the comment box below.

Below you will find some lists to help you visualize an organized summary.

The first sentence should include:
    --the type of document (article, book, passage, illustration)
    --the author or creator
    --the main idea of the document (who + what they have done)

The body should include:
    --three to four details from the reading that support the main idea
    --transition words (also, in addition, etc.) to connect the details

The final sentence should include:
    --a statement paraphrasing the main idea of the document
    --a transition phrase (to sum up, in other words, etc), if appropriate

Hopefully, these tips will help you turn summaries from foes to friends.

Here are the names of the landmarks posted earlier this week.

    1.  sidewalk

    2.  fence

    3.  corner

    4.  crosswalk

    5.  house

    6.  stop sign

    7.  street sign

    8.  bus stop


Learn more about these landmarks and other vocabulary for your trips around town in East Bay ESL’s Around Town workbook available on the Online Courses page.

Can you name the landmarks in the pictures below?  Check back in a few days for the answers.

The Moth can be a useful resource for students, especially those who live or work in the United States, because it can expose students to regional accents and cultural attitudes of the United States. Here are a few ways I encourage students to use The Moth.

1.  Record Unfamiliar Words or Phrases.  Since most of the participants in The Moth are native English speakers communicating with other native English speakers, you will hear a wide breadth of words and phrases.  Taking notes on new words and looking them up in a dictionary (or, for slang, on urbandictionary.com) can expand your vocabulary and introduce you to words people really use.

2.  Create Questions for the Speaker.  Even though you can’t speak with them, you can practice your small talk skills by creating imaginary questions for them.  In social situations, people often tell stories about their life.  If might be difficult for you to come up with questions or related stories on the spot, so you can practice that skill with The Moth.  Imagine what questions you could ask to keep the conversation going.

3.  Summarize the Story.  Summarizing is a skill you can’t practice enough.  What was important in the story?  What was a turning point?  What lesson does the story teach?  Don’t repeat phrases directly from the story.  Rather, try to paraphrase.  Share your summary with another student and see if you agree.


All three activities can help you improve your English, but don’t forget to listen to the stories for pleasure as well!