Week 3: "Play" with Vocabulary (Quizlet) and learn to introduce the tourist spots

Dear students,

In week 2, you have learned some vocabulary from the article. And now, it's time to refresh your memory by using Quizlet! I have made up the online learning flashcards of those 15 new vocabulary that you just learned last week. You have to first refresh your memory in preparation stage, and then move on to GAMES !

The Instructions for testing vocabulary: 
 
Part I: Preparation stage: 

1. Please click the following website first 
Quizlet: 15 Vocabulary for describing tourist spots in London

2. Refresh your memory of these 15 vocabulary. (Focus 
    on the definition and how to pronounce it)
    For the audio part, click the sound button as 
    illustrated below. 

Part II: Ready for games? (Different modes for you)
1. Flashcards
2.Typing the vocabulary
3. Listen and Spell
4. Matching
5. Gravity  (see example below!)
   

Now, as you are more familiar with the vocabulary, it is time to listen to the following audio files made up by myself. It is the audio version of the article from Week 2.
(Click here for the article)

1. London Eye

                               

2. Big Ben

3. Buckingham Palace

Task of the Week:
1.  Listen to all of the audio files 

2. Choose 1 (among the London Eye, Big Ben, 

    and Buckingham Palace) and also another tourist 

   spot that interests you to practice your speaking 

   ability. 

3.  Upload your recording to the Facebook page. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1797065263892450         

Week 2: Learn more English about the tourist spots and describing the scenery!

Dear Students, 

This week, we will deal with the top 3 London attractions (The London Eye, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace) that most of you find interested in. The following article describes these amazing spots. Please read the article below and learn new vocabulary about the tourist spots!

[ The pictures are all taken by myself!] 

1. The London Eye

     Originally designed to mark the turning of the millennium, the London Eye has established itself as one of the skyline’s most loved features. It is a gloriously over-sized ferris wheel that has 32 air-conditioned capsules. After entering the capsules, passengers can then embark on a journey up to 135 metres high above the Thames. Inside the London Eye, the glass-shaped pods enable you to view London "at a glance", with the whole city situated right beneath you. It takes 30 minutes for a full ride, but don't worry, it’s a mild rotation that would not cause any unease. The London Eye revolves from east to west, so your first views are towards the east. Here, you could see the city of Westminster, where most visitors think of London. Therefore, not surprisingly, most visitors take the pictures from this direction. If you would like to pay a visit, remember to book your tickets in advance. 

 Adapted from (1) https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/coca-cola-london-eye) . You could find more information from the link!


2. Big Ben 

The Elizabeth Tower, commonly called Big Ben, is one of London's most iconic landmarks and must-see London attractions. The story of Big Ben begins in 1834 with the devastating fire which destroyed the Old Palace of Westminster. This disastrous event eventually led to the building of this prominent attraction and also a world-renowned landmark of the city.Technically, Big Ben is the name given to the massive bell inside the clock tower. The clock tower looks spectacular at night when the four clock faces are illuminated. 


Adapted from
1. http://www.aboutbritain.com/BigBen.htm
2. http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/london-attraction/big-ben#CIFYalPR1uCpb22J.97
You could find more information from the links!

3. Buckingham Palace

 

me in front of Buckingham Palace :)

Buckingham Palace is the Queen's official and main royal London home. It has been the official London residence of Britain's monarchy since 1837. Queen Victoria was the first monarch to live there. The special "event" to pay attention to is the flag. When the Queen is at home, you can see her royal flag flying from the flag pole on top of Buckingham Palace. This flag is called the Royal Standard. Another special event to participate is to look for the Changing of the Guard. It takes place in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace at 11.30 every day in summer, every other day in winter, and lasts about 45 minutes. It offers you a chance to watch the guards exchange their duty in the display. A famous tradition that you should not miss!  

Adapt from
1. http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/buckingham-palace.htm

2. http://www.projectbritain.com/london/attractions/buckinghampalace.htm

You could find more information from the links!

* Here is the video of the changing of the guard (shot by myself last year) Have a look and enjoy your reading!

Task of the Week:

1. Read through the adapted version of the article to get 
   the whole picture. If you do not understand the words, 
   try to guess the meaning of the words first. [From 
   contextual clues, pictures...,etc.]
   [Optional] If you want to learn more, click the links to 
   read the original version! Highly recommended for self-
   learning!
2. Read again, and pay attention to the underlying   
    words.  
3. Find the definition through the following websites:
    It is time to practice learning new vocabulary from
    English-English dictionary (instead of from English-
    Chinese dictionary)

(1) cambridge dictionary
(2) Macmillan dictionary
(3) Synonym

4. Choose 5 additional vocabulary that you are interested 
    in/don't know before to make up the sentences or 
    stories (if possible!)
5. Upload your make-up sentences/stories to the
    Facebook page 
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1797065263892450/

6. You will receive your formative feedback afterwards.

7. [Optional tasks]
   Based on the poll in Week 1, find articles that 
   describe those tourist spots in London by yourself and 
   share it to the Facebook group page. 

Week 1: Explore your favorite places in London (Pinterest)

Dear students,

I know that you have been mulling over the idea of traveling to London since you participate in this summer study tour. Some of you are excited and thrilled together with a mixed emotion of anxiety, because it is the first time to be in the foreign country, and also the first time to "plan" your four- day- trip in London. Therefore, in order to first ease your tension, I would like to introduce an online website called 

Pinterest • The world's catalog of ideas (Click)

Pinterest is a social bookmarking website where users ("Pinners") can browse, collect, categorize, save and share photos with friends. There are a variety of photos waiting for Pinners to find new ideas such as ways to throw a party, places to visit, style for inspiration, ways to decorate your house, inspirational quotes..., etc. It is absolutely easy to save the photos that interest you online without limits. Moreover, it also enables you to follow your friends so as to "repin" their ideas that will show on your front page.

 
The instructions:

1. head to Pinterest.com and join now.
2. Sign up and create an account. (It's better to link to your Facebook account, so the classmates could find you easily; Also, it is recommended to provide your e-mail address as well, so that you could get More Pins for your interest)
3. Create a new board: click the "Add +" button in the upper right-hand corner of your main Pinterest page.
4. Give your board a descriptive name: e.g. London, Food, Tourist Attractions.
5. Try to find 5 photos to add to your board ! 
6. Like your friends' photos, and what to save it? Simply hover over the image on Pinterest and three buttons will appear—repin, like, and comment. To add that pin to your account click "repin"
7. Like and Comment? If you click "like", the photo will not be added to one of your own boards);  You can also add comments to your friends' pins by clicking the "comment" button. 

 Not Sure? See The Video Instruction below

Task of the Week

1. Sign up for Pinterest
2. Create a board for London
3. Pin your favorite pictures about London and you
   could also write your feelings on the pictures! Examples could be seen below.

     4. Visit your friends' Page

     5. Leave comments on 3 of your friends' photos

     6.   Join the online poll on Facebook Page:

        Investigating about: What are the places you would

        like to know more about after viewing those

        pictures from Pinterest?

        Online Poll