Time: 12:00 - 2:00 pm Monday - Thursday
Teacher: Stephanie Thomas
Class Phone Number: (619) 348-5502
Important dates:
Wednesday, February 3 - Class begins
Friday, February 12 - Lincoln's birthday, no school
Monday, February 15 - President's Day, no school
Monday, March 28 through Friday, April 1 - Spring Break, no school
Monday, May 30 - Memorial Day, no school
Friday, June 10 - Last day of spring semester
Class Resources
International accreditation sites: Can you transfer credits from the university you attended in your native country? Is your degree transferable? Find out by visiting these sites.
An idiom is a combination of words that has a meaning different from the individual words. Define and practice idioms by clicking the button below.
Body language is a powerful tool you can use to make your personal and business relationships more meaningful and successful. Click on the button below to watch a TED Talk video describing powerful and weak body language.
Click here to watch a PowerPoint presentation. Are these body language messages positive or negative?
Making a good first impression is important. Learn how to greet people in other countries by clicking on the button below.
Passive Voice: Use the passive voice to focus on the object of an action (the result or outcome) rather than the action or the person doing the action.
Past Passive = was / were + past participle Present Passive = am /is/are + past participle Take a mixed tense passive voice quiz. Click here. |
Reported Speech: reported speech is when you tell someone what someone else said. To learn more, click on the button.
|
Conditional Tense
|
Type 3: We make the third conditional by using the past perfect after 'if' and then 'would have' and the past participle:
if + past perfect, ...would + have + past participle
It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of this situation.
If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and so she didn't pass.)
Sometimes, we use should have, could have, might have instead of would have, for example: If you had bought a lottery ticket, you might have won.
Click here to view a video tutorial. To practice the Type 3 conditional tense, click here.
Click here to view common irregular verbs including past participles.
Present Perfect Progressive
This tense indicates a continuous action that has been finished at some point in the past or that was initiated in the past and continues to happen. "I've been reading this book for two months and I still haven't finished it."
The action is usually of limited duration and has some current relevance: "She has been running and her heart is still beating fast."
Is there any difference between the present perfect (She's lived in San Diego for two years) and the present perfect progressive (She's been living in San Diego for two years)? Often, we can use either tense.
To emphasize the action, use the present perfect progressive form:
"She's been having a hard time."
To emphasize the result of the action, use the present perfect:
"She's written a wonderful essay."
With the words never and ever, the present perfect is always used.
"I've never met them."
"Have you ever been to Alaska?"
To learn more about the differences between present perfect progressive tense, click here.
Click here to view rules and examples of the Present Perfect Progressive (also called Present Perfect Continuous) verb tense.
Click here to view a short video that demonstrates the form of this tense and how to use it.
Practice the present perfect progressive online by clicking here.
The action is usually of limited duration and has some current relevance: "She has been running and her heart is still beating fast."
Is there any difference between the present perfect (She's lived in San Diego for two years) and the present perfect progressive (She's been living in San Diego for two years)? Often, we can use either tense.
To emphasize the action, use the present perfect progressive form:
"She's been having a hard time."
To emphasize the result of the action, use the present perfect:
"She's written a wonderful essay."
With the words never and ever, the present perfect is always used.
"I've never met them."
"Have you ever been to Alaska?"
To learn more about the differences between present perfect progressive tense, click here.
Click here to view rules and examples of the Present Perfect Progressive (also called Present Perfect Continuous) verb tense.
Click here to view a short video that demonstrates the form of this tense and how to use it.
Practice the present perfect progressive online by clicking here.
Past Progressive
The past progressive (also called past continuous, is used to indicate that an event in the past was happening when another event interrupted it.
Examples: While I was watching TV, the pizza arrived.
I was watching TV when the pizza arrived.
To view more examples, click here.
View a quick video with examples by clicking here.
In the examples above, the words when and while are used. Watch a video that explains when to use when and while by clicking here.
English for Careers students memory challenge:
Street Scene: click here.
Clinic: click here.
Practice the Past Progressive by clicking here.
The past progressive (also called past continuous, is used to indicate that an event in the past was happening when another event interrupted it.
Examples: While I was watching TV, the pizza arrived.
I was watching TV when the pizza arrived.
To view more examples, click here.
View a quick video with examples by clicking here.
In the examples above, the words when and while are used. Watch a video that explains when to use when and while by clicking here.
English for Careers students memory challenge:
Street Scene: click here.
Clinic: click here.
Practice the Past Progressive by clicking here.
Adjectives
We use adjectives to describe nouns. For example, I tell you, "Ken is a nice guy." Nice is a word I use to describe Ken. Nice is an adjective. To view a Top 500 list of the most commonly used adjectives in English, click here.
To compare two nouns, use comparatives. To compare several nouns, use superlatives. Click here to view a guide that explains forming the comparative and superlative.
Take an online comparatives quiz by clicking here. Take an online comparatives and superlatives quiz by clicking here.
Watch a video featuring comparisons by clicking here.
Too / Enough: We use these words to indicate an excessive amount of something, a sufficient amount, or less than sufficient amount. Click here to learn about too / enough. To view a video tutorial of too / enough, click here. To practice online click here.
We use adjectives to describe nouns. For example, I tell you, "Ken is a nice guy." Nice is a word I use to describe Ken. Nice is an adjective. To view a Top 500 list of the most commonly used adjectives in English, click here.
To compare two nouns, use comparatives. To compare several nouns, use superlatives. Click here to view a guide that explains forming the comparative and superlative.
Take an online comparatives quiz by clicking here. Take an online comparatives and superlatives quiz by clicking here.
Watch a video featuring comparisons by clicking here.
Too / Enough: We use these words to indicate an excessive amount of something, a sufficient amount, or less than sufficient amount. Click here to learn about too / enough. To view a video tutorial of too / enough, click here. To practice online click here.
Verbs and Gerunds / Infinitives: Some verbs require the following verb to be in the gerund form (I enjoy swimming.) Some verbs are followed by the infinitive (I want to swim.) Some verbs can be followed by either the gerund (I love swimming) or the infinitive (I love to swim.) Click here to view a list of verbs followed by gerunds and infinitives.
The verb remember can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive. Click here for a video tutorial.
For a general tutorial video, click here.
The verb remember can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive. Click here for a video tutorial.
For a general tutorial video, click here.
English for Careers students organize verbs into categories of infinitives, gerunds, or both.
These words will be featured on the test:
1. want + infinitive
2. enjoy + gerund
3. need + infinitive
4. avoid + gerund
5. learn + infinitive
6. decide + infinitive
7. mind + gerund
8. imagine + gerund
9. quit + gerund
10. promise + infinitive
1. want + infinitive
2. enjoy + gerund
3. need + infinitive
4. avoid + gerund
5. learn + infinitive
6. decide + infinitive
7. mind + gerund
8. imagine + gerund
9. quit + gerund
10. promise + infinitive
Stative Verbs: Stative verbs show a state of being. They are used to communicate emotion (feel, seem), ownership (own, possess), state of mind (understand, know), and sense (smell, look). Click here to view a list of stative verbs.
Modal Verbs: A modal verb (also 'modal', 'modal auxiliary verb', 'modal auxiliary') is a type of verb that is used to indicate modality – that is, likelihood, ability, permission, and obligation. Examples include the English verbs can/could, may/might, must, will/would, and shall/should. Click here to practice Modal Verbs. English for Careers students' group practice using Modal Verbs:
Modal Verbs: A modal verb (also 'modal', 'modal auxiliary verb', 'modal auxiliary') is a type of verb that is used to indicate modality – that is, likelihood, ability, permission, and obligation. Examples include the English verbs can/could, may/might, must, will/would, and shall/should. Click here to practice Modal Verbs. English for Careers students' group practice using Modal Verbs:
Future Tense - going to / will
Irregular Past Tense Verbs
Present Perfect Tense
Practice Grammar and Take Notes at Grammar Bytes!
Learn about misplaced modifiers by clicking here.
Prepositions are some of the most difficult words to master. Learn about verb / preposition combinations by clicking here.
Practice Grammar by reading notes pages and taking online quizzes from Frankfurt International School. Click here.
Take an Adjective Word Order Quiz by clicking here. (Remember, OSASCOMP)
Complex sentences make writing more interesting, but they also require a knowledge of conjunctions and commas. Learn about independent and dependent clauses by watching this video. Can you identify independent and dependent clauses? Take this quiz to find out.
Prepositions of Time: in / at / on - These small words are easy to spell and understand, but students often have difficulty remembering when to use in, at, and on in sentences. Review the rules for these prepositions by clicking here. Test yourself! Take an online quiz by clicking here.
Read brief descriptions of grammar rules and try them out for yourself by clicking here to visit Ginger.
Irregular Past Tense Verbs
Present Perfect Tense
Practice Grammar and Take Notes at Grammar Bytes!
Learn about misplaced modifiers by clicking here.
Prepositions are some of the most difficult words to master. Learn about verb / preposition combinations by clicking here.
Practice Grammar by reading notes pages and taking online quizzes from Frankfurt International School. Click here.
Take an Adjective Word Order Quiz by clicking here. (Remember, OSASCOMP)
Complex sentences make writing more interesting, but they also require a knowledge of conjunctions and commas. Learn about independent and dependent clauses by watching this video. Can you identify independent and dependent clauses? Take this quiz to find out.
Prepositions of Time: in / at / on - These small words are easy to spell and understand, but students often have difficulty remembering when to use in, at, and on in sentences. Review the rules for these prepositions by clicking here. Test yourself! Take an online quiz by clicking here.
Read brief descriptions of grammar rules and try them out for yourself by clicking here to visit Ginger.
Expressing Opinions
You will meet people with different opinions and points of view in the workplace. Learning to express your opinion and to politely disagree is an important soft skill. Click here to view expressing opinions suggestions. Then, take the opinion survey by clicking on the button below. Think about how you would express your opinion and politely disagree as you work through the nine-question survey.
You will meet people with different opinions and points of view in the workplace. Learning to express your opinion and to politely disagree is an important soft skill. Click here to view expressing opinions suggestions. Then, take the opinion survey by clicking on the button below. Think about how you would express your opinion and politely disagree as you work through the nine-question survey.
Retirement
As people get older, they begin to think about retirement. Is it better to retire early (at a younger age) or later (at an older age)? In terms of health, the answer may surprise you. Click here for a lesson about the effects of retirement on health.
As people get older, they begin to think about retirement. Is it better to retire early (at a younger age) or later (at an older age)? In terms of health, the answer may surprise you. Click here for a lesson about the effects of retirement on health.
Safety in the Workplace
Southern California is prone to wildfires and earthquakes. Learn how to safely help others and yourself in a series of safety videos. Click here to see video topics and links.
Southern California is prone to wildfires and earthquakes. Learn how to safely help others and yourself in a series of safety videos. Click here to see video topics and links.
Goodwill Community Foundation Global
GCF Global has created an amazing website with detailed instructions on a variety of topics including getting the most out of your smart phone, grammar and reading exercises, and so much more. Click here to visit GCF Global.
GCF Global has created an amazing website with detailed instructions on a variety of topics including getting the most out of your smart phone, grammar and reading exercises, and so much more. Click here to visit GCF Global.
English Mania
What nation in the world has the most English speakers? The answer may surprise you. Why do so many people around the world want to learn English? Click on the button to view Jay Walker explain the world's English mania.
What nation in the world has the most English speakers? The answer may surprise you. Why do so many people around the world want to learn English? Click on the button to view Jay Walker explain the world's English mania.
US Holidays
Halloween - Do you know how Halloween began? Learn by clicking here. Test your memory with an online Halloween matching game by clicking here. Watch an incredibly scary video by clicking here.
Halloween - Do you know how Halloween began? Learn by clicking here. Test your memory with an online Halloween matching game by clicking here. Watch an incredibly scary video by clicking here.
Spelling
English spelling is not easy. There are only 44 phonemes (sounds) in the English language but there are 1,100 ways to spell those sounds.
Click here to learn about silent letters.
English spelling is not easy. There are only 44 phonemes (sounds) in the English language but there are 1,100 ways to spell those sounds.
Click here to learn about silent letters.
Talk like a Californian
What makes pronunciation in California different than in other parts of the country? Click here to find out. Do you want your English to sound more like a native American speaker? Click here to watch a video and practice rhythm, connected speech, and linking.
What makes pronunciation in California different than in other parts of the country? Click here to find out. Do you want your English to sound more like a native American speaker? Click here to watch a video and practice rhythm, connected speech, and linking.
More Pronunciation Lessons: Click here to practice more pronunciation.