Blended Learning - A sample 'Teacher's Brief'

Here is a sample Teacher's Brief:

Subject: Your Teacher's Brief For SuperStudent - Next lesson scheduled for Sept 14th
From: The GymGlish Team
To: Mr English Teacher

..................................................................................................................

Hello Mr Teacher, here is this week's GymGlish Teacher's Brief.

Have a look at our menu and see if there's anything that takes your fancy.

Student in this course is SuperStudent.

SUGGESTIONS OF THE DAY

STARTER
The most popular starter as voted by your students is
In the wild (VOCAB)

MAIN COURSE
The dish of the day is the text
Introductions (Day 8) scene 1 (see appendix for full text)

DESSERT
The chef's choice for this week is the common error
Fore (golf) (VOCAB)

Still peckish? Have a look at our "à la carte" menu...

A selection of recent requests:

In the wild	VOCAB	Error
To be survived by somebody	VOCAB	Request
Shotgun	VOCAB	Error
The passive voice	GRAM	Request
The present perfect tense	GRAM	Request

A selection of recent texts and audios:

Introductions (Day 8) scene 1	TEXT	Request
To Kill a Texas Mountain Bear: Susan comes to the rescue of Harold Warbuckle scene 1	TEXT	Comprehension error

To listen to the audio file, dial the GymGlish audio server and enter the code.

A selection of recent errors:

Fore (golf)	VOCAB
One of a kind	VOCAB
Appreciate your business	VOCAB
Open for business	VOCAB
Forming the 'perfect' tenses with the auxiliary 'have '	GRAM

The following comments have been made:

In the exercice below:

Kevin says to Harold Warbuckle, 'I understand you enjoy golfing.'
What does this expression mean?

Could we have written :
' I know why you like playing golf' instead of 'I know why you like to play golf'

'I heard that you like playing golf ' instead of 'I heard that you like to play golf'

Is it the same meaning or is there a difference?

Thank you

- by SuperStudent on 2010-04-01

Appendix

(to live) in the wild: (to live) in the natural habitat, (to live) not in captivity
adverb, idiom

wild: natural, uncultivated; ferocious, savage
adjective

(Xavier) is survived by (his son): (Xavier's son) exists, is still alive, survives (and Xavier is dead)
idiom

a shotgun: a gun with two barrels, used for hunting
noun

a gun: a firearm, a weapon that fires bullets, a pistol
noun

to carry a gun: to have a gun with you, to be armed with a gun

gun control: gun regulation, efforts to limit the sale of guns
idiom

Fore! (golfing term): Be careful of the ball! (golfing term)
idiom

In golf, this warning is shouted to let other players within range know that a ball is about to fly through the air, and that it may hit or come very close to others.

one of a kind: unique, special, individual
adjective, idiom

Susie is one of a kind. There's no one else like her.

I appreciate your business: Thank you for choosing our company; we are grateful that you chose our firm
idiom

This expression is used in spoken language as well as in sales letters or e-mails to customers.

Thank you for coming to the store. We appreciate your business.
Your business is greatly appreciated here at Warbuckle's.

We are open for business!: The company is open! Business has begun!
idiom

We are open for business is also used in other contexts: We will remain open for business during the construction.

Introductions (Day 8) scene 1

4:20 PM - Polly and Harold continue the tour of the Delavigne offices.

Polly: If you follow me, sir, you will meet two of the most important members of the Delavigne team. First, we have Kevin Connors, our production manager. Connors works with our subcontractors overseas, particularly in Asia. He is in contact with all our factory and plant managers. Kevin purchases supplies ranging from glass bottles to seaweed, which we use in the manufacturing process. Kevin loves to travel, but only in first class. In fact, he is on his way to Central America next week, to look into some promising opportunities there.
Kevin: Mister Warbuckle, it's wonderful to meet you at last. I understand you enjoy golfing. I just played an incredible course in Golden Gate Park, you might want to check it out.
Harold: I'll give it a try. What's your handicap?
Kevin: I have flat feet.
Harold: Excuse me?
Kevin: Oh, my handicap in golf! I'm a 15.
Polly: Let's keep moving, Mr. Warbuckle. We still have a lot to see...

Kevin says to Harold Warbuckle, 'I understand you enjoy golfing.'
What does this expression mean?

* I heard that you like to play golf
* I know why you like to play golf
* I am filled with joy when I play golf
* I'm familiar with the game of golf

To Kill a Texas Mountain Bear: Susan comes to the rescue of Harold Warbuckle scene 1

Focus: Business, Press, Travel, Wp

Bruno reads an article in the Dallas Morning Journal Constitution Daily

Armed Man Shoots Unarmed Bear: Animal Rights Activists Up In Arms
by Margaret Penman, Editor-in-Chief

World-renowned Department Store mogul Harold P. Warbuckle was arrested yesterday in his hometown of Amarillo, Texas on suspicion of illegally hunting bears on the property surrounding his 50-acre ranch and estate. Warbuckle, president and CEO of an international department store chain, has always been known for his passion for hunting and guns. The retail magnate was detained and jailed early yesterday morning after park ranger Ernest Marshall discovered a shotgun shell lodged in the hindquarters of a bear cub near Warbuckle's ranch. Marshall was doing his daily sweep of Amarillo's natural wildlife preserve, which borders Warbuckle's ranch on three sides. Warbuckle was released after posting the quarter million dollar bail assessed by judge Wanda Killjoy. He refused to comment on his case after leaving the courthouse early this morning accompanied by his team of lawyers and his loyal hound dog 'Hooch'.

This case is of interest not only to animal rights activists and bear lovers, but also to financial analysts and investors. The backlash from Warbuckle's arrest could have financial implications not only for Warbuckle's Department Stores, but for his business partners as well. Warbuckle has significant retail contracts with many large businesses, notably with the San Francisco-based cosmetic manufacturer the Delavigne Corporation.

The Texas Mountain bear is on the endangered species list, with fewer than 100 bears in the wild today. The bear shot by Warbuckle, affectionately known as 'Cinnamon' by the veterinarians supervising its recovery, is in stable condition at the Amarillo Valley Bear Clinic.