Upcoming Trips

I love to travel. The next few months I having exciting trips planned. Next month I will be going to Disney World for the first time in  13 years. I am looking forward to being in warmer weather, and seeing just how much Disney has changed since I have been there last. In August, I will be going to London, England for a wedding. I have never been to the country England before. I am going to face my fear of heights when I go on the London Eye. I'm really looking forward to seeing Big Ben as well. I love weddings, so to be able to go to one in a new country sound thrilling to me! My future travel plans are what keep me moving forward. I cannot wait until to see more of the world soon!

Vocabulary

Travel (v)- to make a journey or go somewhere different than where one lives

London Eye (n)- a ferris wheel or circular ride in London, England (see picture above)

Big Ben (n)- a large clock on a tower in London, England (see picture above)

Thrilling (v)- to feel excitement

Future (n)- a time period that has yet to happen yet

Vocabulary Exercise

1.  It is _____________ to go on adventures.

2.  People _______________ all over the world to see new places.

3.  __________________ is a fun ride to go on.

4.  The ______________ is the opposite of the past.

5.  ________________ is let's many people tell the time in London.

Grammar Point

Future Tense: used when talking about something that has not happened yet.

Example: I am going to work tomorrow.

Grammar Exercise

Interview a friend or a family member about what they are going to do over the summer. Write down their answers and circle all parts that show the future tense.

Check out this future tense game!

http://www.esl-galaxy.com/boardgames/future%20tense.pdf

Italy

Last summer, I went to the amazing country Italy with my mom. We went on a two week tour that took us to the most important places in Italy. First we went to Rome, we saw the Trevi Fountain, and I made a wish by throwing a coin into the water. We went to incredible museums. The best part was going to see the original Colosseum, where many people in Ancient Rome went to the amphitheater for entertainment. Next, we went to Florence, where we saw the famous David sculpture, and we went on a tour of the famous writer, Machiavelli's home. The food was phenomenal! In Italy, there are much smaller portions than in American, and many different courses that come out at restaurants. After that, we went to Venice. It was an amazing view staying over in a hotel on top of the floating city (Venice's nickname). I road a Gondola, and went to a famous glass factory. Then, we went to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower Of Pisa. To end the tour we went to my absolute favorite parts of southern Italy, Sorrento, Capri, and Positano. I went to an authentic Italian farm where the family grew their own lemons and tomatoes and made every dish they ever ate right from their farm. I was able to make my own fresh pizza using their homemade mozzarella cheese. We took a steep right up the Amalfi Coast. The beaches in southern Italy were amazing. This was the trip of a lifetime, and I cannot wait to travel more of the world.

Vocabulary

original (adj)- not a copy, the first one made

amphitheater (n)- a large oval building with no roof, and lots of seat, where entertaining events take place

portions (n)- how big a meal is

courses (n)- sets of dishes that come out at different times with different types of meals

Gondola (n)- a narrow boat typically found in Venice

authentic (adj)- real, from a different country

Vocabulary Exercise

1. The ____________ book was better than the last book.

2. The people went to a concert at the ______________.

3. _____________ food tastes better when you are in a different country.

4.  The meal has four _____________.

5. The ______________ of food on that plate is too much for me to eat.

6.  My favorite thing to ride in Venice was the _____________.

Grammar Point

Past tense: When you are talking about something you did in the past, the verb changes to the past tense.

Example- I went to Italy. I ate food. I had great experiences.

Grammar Exercise

Write a story about your favorite place you have been to using the past tense.

Teaching and Beaching

Last winter, I was privileged to represent American teachers and travel to Costa Rica, teaching English to children in a high needs area. Through living and learning in Costa Rica, my kindergarten students taught me how it must feel to be an English Language Learner (ELL) in America. The patience, visual cues, and gratefulness of these children, instilled a newfound sense of purpose into what I hope to achieve in an American classroom. I read to students in Spanish and English, and taught my students songs in English while they taught me songs in Spanish. I volunteered to paint a mural with other volunteers as well. After school, volunteers got a change to go to the beach and explore the beautiful country. Teaching in Costa Rica prepared me for my student teaching experience in several English as a New Language (ENL) classrooms. These experiences collectively, gave me the aspiration to want to further my education, and become a TESOL teacher.

 My kindergarten class in Costa Rica

Vocabulary

privileged (adj)- having a rare opportunity to have or do something that is expensive

patience (n)- to tolerate something bad without getting mad

instilled (v)- to give or make an idea or desire in someone's mind

newfound (adj)- discovered recently

mural (n)- a large painting, usually on a wall

explore (v)- to discover something new

Vocabulary Exercise

1. People are _____________ to have a cellphone.

2. You need to ____________ a map before going somewhere new.

3. The parents ______________ values in their children.

4. The girl painted a ___________ for everyone to see.

5.  I have a __________ love for frosting.

6. It is important to remain calm and have ___________ before getting mad.

Grammar Point

Verb: It's what you do. An action, state of being, or occurrence word.

Grammar Exercise 

Chart your verb activity for the week. At the end of the week write a paragraph using all the action verbs you used this past week.