 Welcome to ESL Progress
Dear EnglishClub.com Member!
Welcome to this edition of ESL Progress! This month you can learn about the importance of the "comma" in writing, and take part in our Talking Point Discussion on "Parties". You'll also find links to recently added pages, including our new ESL Blogs which you're welcome to sign up for. Test yourself too with Quick Quiz. As always there is the latest news, lesson plan, jobs and business opportunities for teachers and schools.
Happy Progress!
Josef Essberger, Founder
EnglishClub.com
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NEWS FOR ESL LEARNERS  |
This Month's Lesson  Punctuation: the Comma
A comma in writing is like a pause inside a sentence when speaking. We use commas inside sentences. Commas separate parts of a sentence into logical elements. Commas have no meaning, but they help us to see the structure and therefore the meaning of the sentence. Put a space after a comma. Do not put a space before a comma. 1. Use a comma between items in a series or list. In a sentence, the last two items usually do not need a comma between them as they are separated by "and". However, if one or both of the last two items are long, a comma may be useful. - coffee, tea, sugar, milk, eggs, butter, salt
- My favourite sports are football, rugby, swimming, boxing and golf.
- Hunsa was wearing blue jeans, black shoes, his brand new white shirt, and a brown and green cap.
2. Use a comma between three or more adjectives or adverbs. - I like the old, brown, wooden table.
- He bought an old, red, open-top Volkswagen.
- He ran quickly, quietly and effortlessly.
Read on... |
Latest Talking Point  Party Games
Children's Party Games
At a children's party in Britain you will often find that the adults organize games for the children to play. One of the most popular (and easiest to organize) is Musical Chairs. In this game several chairs are placed in the middle of the room but there are not quite enough chairs for all the children. A grown-up then starts the music and the children run around the chairs. After thirty seconds or so the grown-up stops the music and the children all race to sit down. However, as there are not enough chairs, one or two children can't find seats and so they are 'out' of the game. The music is started again and while the children are running around one of the grown-ups takes away one of the chairs. When the music stops again another child will be 'out' of the game. And so it continues until you have a winner.
Another ever-popular game is Pass the Parcel. This needs some preparation: one of the adults must wrap a present in several layers of wrapping paper. The children all sit in a circle and music is played while they pass the parcel around the circle. When the music stops the child holding the parcel may unwrap one layer of the wrapping paper. The music starts and the parcel is passed on. This continues until the last layer of wrapping paper is reached. The child who is holding the parcel when the music stops then unwraps the last layer and wins the present.
Treasure Hunts are also good fun. Articles (such as Easter Eggs or other sweets) are hidden around the house or party venue and the children are sent to look for them. Older children can be given clues to guide them to the 'treasure'.
Perhaps one of the oldest party games is not really a party game at all, just a classic children's game. It is, of course, Hide and Seek. In this game the children hide while one of them (or a grown-up) counts to ten slowly. The seeker then tries to find the hidden children as quickly as possible.
Adult Party Games
Pass the Parcel is also sometimes played by adults with the variation that hidden in some layers of the wrapping paper there lurk pieces of paper with forfeits written on them. A forfeit might be to do an impression of a well-known animal, or to sing the National Anthem backwards, or something equally silly.
Fizz Buzz is another popular game with some adults. In this game the idea is to count as a group: the first person says 'one' and the next says 'two' etc. It sounds easy until you reach a number with a five or a seven in it, in which case you must yell 'fizz' (for numbers with five in them) or 'buzz' (for numbers with seven in them). The game should be played at a fast pace and can be very funny after the participants have had too much to drink!
Although not exactly a game in itself 'Fancy Dress' can turn a whole party into a game because the guests must wear outlandish costumes. Many fancy dress parties are themed - for example, Hallowe'en parties.
Conclusion
Why are party games so popular in Britain? Many people are at a loss to explain why though it has been suggested that the Brits find it easier to overcome their natural reserve in social situations if games are organized for them.-- Each month we have a new Talking Point and invite your views and opinions. Just follow the link below to say what you think. This month's Talking Point is: "Parties are a waste of time (and money)!"Say what you think... |
Quick Quiz 
Wine is made from
a) grapes
b) apples
c) beetles
See end of newsletter for answer
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NEWS FOR ESL TEACHERS
Blogs for Your Students:
ESL Blogs at EnglishClub.com are perfect for individual or group projects for your students. You can have your students sign up for a blog in minutes, and set them tasks to perform such as writing a diary daily or weekly, in class or for homework. http://eslblogs.englishclub.com
Blogs for Teachers:ESL Blogs aren't just for students. There are endless ways that you as a teacher can make use of your own blog. Use it to set homework, write lessons, offer tips for other teachers, keep a diary for friends and family... http://eslblogs.englishclub.com |
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This Month's Lesson Plan  Talking Point: Party Time!A fun lesson which ties in neatly with the festive season, though it can be used at any time of the year: Party Time! Vocabulary is practised in a gap-fill exercise based on the different meanings of phrases containing the word "party". Students are given the chance to practise their fluency through personalized conversation questions such as: "Do you enjoy going to parties? Are you a party animal or a party pooper?" Download lesson plan...Each Talking Point worksheet is available for download as a PDF file that you can view in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Each worksheet can be easily printed and is freely photocopiable. |
Latest ESL Jobs 
Find the latest job offers for English teachers posted by schools around the world. Also in the Job Centre: - Subscribe to JobAlert FREE
- Frequently Asked Questions about ESL jobs
- Tips on writing your resume when applying for an ESL job
- Resumes bank where you can post your resume
- Schools can post ESL vacancies
ESL Jobs Centre... |
Schools For Sale 
- USA: Language School in San Diego
- Italy: School for Sale (Calabria)
- Italy: English School for Sale
- Spain: Profitable School for Sale
- Spain: English School near Seville
See full details... |
Answer to Quick Quiz
a) grapes
This is a level 3 question and answer from Word Up, the ESL board game that's fun to play at home or at school. Learn more here...
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