Christmas 2013 - esl-lab.com

To everyone around the world, our family would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season. May our hearts be turned to those in particular who are in need of love and a kind word during this season and every day of the year.

Randall

Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving Day in the US! I am sure many countries around the world have a similar holiday in which people remember the things that they are most thankful for. For me, I am grateful for every breath I take, the sun coming up in the morning, and most importantly, my family. What about you? What are you most thankful for? Share your thoughts.

http://www.dailyesl.com/thanksgiving-day.htm

Black Friday Shopping

Black Friday is quickly approaching in the United States (this year, on November 29th). But what is it? Watch my video on the topic and share any experiences you have had on this day. Personally, I never go because I don't want to fight the crowds, and my sanity is worth more than cheap electronics. Instead, I often run in the mountains. It's much more peaceful.

http://esl-lab.com/shop1/shopping-bf-video.htm

Christmas is Coming!

Because Christmas is only a month away, I thought I would start suggesting listening activities on my Web sites that deal with this topic. Here is the first one. I enjoy it because it has the voices of some of my children when they were much younger. Good practice of young, natural speech: http://esl-lab.com/tradition/traditionrd1.htm

Halloween - esl-lab.com

Happy Halloween! So, what do we do in the Davis family to celebrate the day? Take a look at this video:

http://youtu.be/v446tmpuTAo

Saving the Environment

I started my Web site 14 years ago at the end of 1997. So, what is the oldest listening activity on my site? Well, one of them is certainly one of my favorites called "Saving the Earth." I recorded with my daughter. My kids have contributed their voices over the years to make the site interesting to users.

http://esl-lab.com/enviro1/enviro1.htm

College Roommates - esl-lab.com

Having a bad roommate can be an awful experience. Imagine someone who every cleans up, holds wild parties until the early morning hours, and eats all of your food. What would you do? How do you work through such situations? 

In my newest video activity, you can meet such a guy. Watch and then share your ideas on this.

http://esl-lab.com/roommates/roommatesrd1.htm

Homestay in the USA (esl-lab.com)

Do you want to SMILE a little? My newest video activity is on homestay experiences, but this video is CERTAINLY different than any other I have created. I am experimenting with video puppet shows, and in this one, you hear my voice AND see me sleeping on the sofa as the unusual roommate. Tell me if you think these are useful. I might create more.

- http://esl-lab.com/homestay/homestayrd1.htm

Huntsville Marathon 2013

Last weekend, my wife and I completed another marathon, and at the mile 23 (37km) point in the race, we jumped in the air to celebrate the accomplishment (and to forget the pain). Just like in life, we all encounter and pass through difficult times (and this includes learning another language like English). However, if we are persistent and never give up, we can see progress in our lives. You can see a full report of the race at http://www.hikinginutah.com/huntsvillemarathon-2013.htm.

A New School Year

Now that many students are back to school around the world, I often students and teachers take a look at my self-study guide at http://esl-lab.com/guide.htm. This page lists most of listening activities by topic, so you can find exactly the type of practice you need. Take a look, and I wish you all the best in your study this year.

Dailyesl.com on Portable Devices

Because more and more people are accessing the Internet, I am preparing my Web sites so you can learn on the go using cell phones and portable devices such as an iPad. Give dailyesl.com as an example of this work. Randall

Viewing Content on Smart Phones

With the growing use of Smart phones and other portable devices, more and more people are accessing the Internet this way instead of computers. With this in mind, and I have just finished making changes to 175+ listening activities on www.esl-lab.com, so you can view/listen to my content just about anywhere. Enjoy! Randall

Independence Day

At times, I sometimes forget the many freedoms we have and enjoy in the United States, but these freedoms also come with responsibility. In other words, we have to freedom to choose our leaders, to share our religious beliefs with others, and the freedom to peacefully protest laws that we feel do not sure our interests the best.

However, these freedoms do not allow us to infringe on the rights of others. If people want to worship God in different ways than I do, then I can respect that and allow them to do so as they may. They can build their places of worship and meet freely. Personally, I think such activities can enrich the lives of other people and broaden our understanding of the world around us.

By upholding these freedoms and ensuring that others enjoy them too, we can bring about greater peace and compassion to others.

Here is one video activity on holidays in the US where freedom is remembered:

http://esl-lab.com/tradition/usflag-video.htm

Memorial Day in May

In the United States, Memorial day falls on the final Monday of the month of May. On this day, people remember those who died in military conflict and war in the preservation of our freedoms. In fact, freedom is never free, but we must seek to maintain it. People often go to cemeteries and leave flowers, small token items to remember the departed, and clean the headstone and grave.

The holiday has expanded to now include visiting the graves of any friend or family member who has died, and it can be a time when people reflect on the lives of those who have passed on before them.

For others, it is also a day to kick off the summer season with family gathers and barbecues.

So, do you have a similar holiday in your country? If so, how do people celebrate this day? Share your ideas.

Randall

Answering the Telephone

I am always trying to think of new listening tasks to help English students expand and improve their language skills. One type of task is a combination of a PowerPoint slide and video into a mini-lecture on a particular topic.

Here is one example of this new project which I will continue to experiment throughout this year:

- http://esl-lab.com/phone/phone-videolecture.htm

Randall

Spring is Here

Winter's grip on our state in Utah is slowing falling away as we now are entering spring. However, because we live in the mountains at a relatively high altitude, it isn't uncommon to see snow in the valleys well into April and perhaps May. Here is a video activity on the weather in my state and what you can expect.

- http://www.esl-lab.com/weat1/weather-video.htm

Randall

Valentine's Day

Many people celebrated Valentine's Day yesterday, and my wife and I spent the evening doing indoor rock climbing and having a meal at a restaurant. Over the years, I have found that spending time together doing things you both enjoy is so important. Building the relationship every day cements your friendship more than giving flowers and candy once in a while. Here is one of my listening activities from www.esl-lab.com on what NOT to do.

- http://www.esl-lab.com/flowershop/flowershoprd1.htm

Career Search: Difference is Cultural Expectations

The types of jobs both men and women hold in different countries are not universal, and often cultural, social, and religious factors play a role in employment decisions. Even government policy and rules often determine how employment decisions can be made. What might be an acceptable hiring/employment practice in one place might not be true in another country.

In this listening activity, we discuss these issues in a somewhat humorous way. Give it a try.

Career Search
http://esl-lab.com/careersearch/careersearchrd1.htm

Randall

Happy New Year 2013 (esl-lab.com)

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. May you be able to reach the goals that you set. You might enjoy my newest video activity that discusses how you can succeed in your resolutions for the new year:

http://www.esl-lab.com/seasons/newyear-video.htm

Feel free to share your own resolutions for the new year and the reasons why you want to make those changes in your life.

Best,

Randall