Daniela Munca's ESL Funland - Recently Updated Pages

Best Grammar Websites

dvmunca — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:44:01 CST

This is the page where we will be sharing the best Grammar related websites. For a start: I have added 5 links - please take your time to tell us which one you think is the best!

1. Grammar Girl

2. Grammar Gorillas

3. Grammar Bytes

4. BBC Grammar

5. Grammar Games from British Council

Video Introductions to Communities

dvmunca — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:55:40 CST

Dear Video Introduction to Communities Project participants,

Why are we participating in this project?

It is a great opportunity for us to:
- learn to do something new and exciting in English besides the curriculum and the textbooks!
- meet students of our age from all over the world!!!
- teach others about Moldova and some interesting places we have;
- practice our recording / editing / speaking / presenting skills.

Where will our videos be posted/saved?

We are making videos which will be posted on the Next Vista for Learning Website. This is an online library of free videos for learners everywhere - they can find resources to help them learn just about anything, meet people who make a difference in their communities, and even discover new parts of the world. And Next Vista for Learning wants to post your educational videos online, too. Everyone has an insight to share and yours may be just what some student or teacher somewhere needs!

if you need more information on the project, go to: This is our Project Page
If you are interested in what other students have done so far, go to Sample Videos done by other iEARN participants

You can use two main tools to make your video: Windows Movie Maker and Photo Story for Windows 3. I have uploaded two video tutorials that could help you:

This a very nice videos about Moldova done by BBC, check it out:

This is a video done by Marina Gandacova - tell us what you think about it!

Pearl Youth News Project

dvmunca — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:42:57 CST

Some of my EFL students are working on a special project called Pearl Youth Reporter News in collaboration with the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism from New York, USA.This is what the reporters say about the articles our ALC students wrote last week: Diana Matiescu (Advanced Conversation Class, Instructor Daniela Munca) wrote a bout Moldovan “mamaliga” and about an interesting story that happened a couple of weeks ago. Iana Mihailicenco (Advanced Conversation Class , Instructor Daniela Munca) wrote a beautiful piece of news about an amazing boy who makes violins. Read the stories and the comments from New York: Enjoy!

By Diana Matiescu
"Mamaliga" is a very popular national Moldovan food which according to BBC”is the version of polenta, made from yellow maize flour, and eaten with butter, sour cream and cheese. In rural areas it is sometimes made thick enough to slice and used as a substitute for bread. It can also be cooked to a softer consistency and eaten with a spoon".
A young boy of 22 years old Sergiu Terentii and his colleague of 37 years old Ghenadie Popescu , decided to transport a 120 kilos mămăliga (/mə.mə'li.gə/) from Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, to Iasi, Romania, without using any vehicle. In this interview Sergiu Terentii will tell us some details of their 7 days trip with their huge mămăliga.
Diana Matiescu : -Tell me please who came with this idea?
Sergiu Terentii: - It was the idea of Ghenadie Popescu who included me into this project. I was just asked if I am in all this and I agreed instantly (laughing).
Diana Matiescu: -How was this “mămăliga” made? Was it home made?
Sergiu Terentii: - It was not a real “mămăliga”. It was made from wood and aluminum with a hole inside it where we kept our personal things. Above it was covered with sponge and maize flour mixed with glue. It smelt like a real “mămăliga” and because of the sun it was very hot, like it was just prepared and it weighted almost 120 kilos without our personal things, with all them together it had almost 150 kilos.
Diana Matiescu: - How long took this entire trip?
Sergiu Terentii: - It took almost 5 days and a half till the custom Sculeni and because it was closed because of the floods from Romania we had to return back home for a day, while the “măm ăliga” rested at the custom. The next day we continued our way, and it took almost 7 days.
Diana Matiescu: - Where did you sleep in the night?
Sergiu Terentii: - We slept in the woods, or in people’s houses if they where so generous to shelter us, one night we slept in a summer school for children. Every day we had a special bedroom (laughing).
Diana Matiescu: - Did you have any problems at the custom with this mămăliga?
Sergiu Terentii: - No, not at all because we had a special document in which it was said that this artistic object has to be carried on foot in order not to be damaged.
Diana Matiescu : - Which had to be the final destination?
Sergiu Terentiii: - The final destination had to be Cucuteni, which is 60 km from Iasi, and where this “mămăliga” had to be exposed, but because we could not continue any more, we didn’t have more power, we got till Iasi and we took a car from there to Cucuteni.
Diana Matiescu: - What was your aim by doing this insane trip with this huge mămăliga and all that on foot? Sergiu Terentii: - We wanted to prove that our culture will never die, and there are people like us that still promote it and value it. We also wanted to prove that we have enough patience like a mămăliga needs to be prepared; we had enough patience to carry it till Iasi. Their idea with this traditional Moldavian food reflects the fact that there are still people that care about their culture and want to make it known abroad by "having the patience like a mamaliga needs to be prepared, by having this immense patience to show to the others that they will always be prepared to promote it and to value it".

Hi Diana,
Since I'm American, I'm not familiar with mamaliga so I was glad that you took the time to explain what type of food it is, and how it is consumed. Comparing it to polenta was particularly useful. It 's a good idea to explain things to your audience, and not assume they know what you 're talking about. You are right- this story is a feature story! Great job understanding the difference between hard news and feature writing. Journalists do sometimes use the interview question and answer format to tell a story, but in this case I think it might be better to write a 500 word story describing what is going on, and weave in plenty of the quotes from your interview with Sergiu.
This is a really interesting story, but at the end I still wanted to know even more! If I were doing this story I would make sure I answered the five questions stories should answer: who, where, what, why and how.
I would also edit a little bit for clarity. There are two things that help me check clarity on my own stories. First, I give the story time to breathe- in other words, I finish writing it and then give it a few hours or a few days. When I come back to the story, I can more easily see what needs to be revised. The second thing I do is read out loud. Sometimes it feels silly to be reading out loud to myself, but it helps me hear where my language could be improved.
All in all, great start! Fabulous story! All the best. Let me know if you have any questions!
Reporter from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism from New York, USA November 28th, 2008

Final Week

dvmunca — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:12:43 CDT

Test 1
Test 2
Test 3

The spring semester is almost over and I would like you to share your impressions, thoughts and suggestions. Please answer to the following questions:

1. What was the most useful thing you learned in this class?
2. What do you think about this wiki: did you find this method of teaching grammar useful? Was it difficult for you to navigate around it? Were you able to attach documents and comment on other students' work easily or not?
3. If you could add or change one thing/ one feature of this wiki, what would that be?
4. Do you think you will use it in the future, after the semester is over?
5. Do you have any comments or suggestions for your instructor?

Future - How? When? Why?

dvmunca — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:39:27 CDT

HERE and HERE to find out!

Work in 3 teams. Complete the required task and post the reply as thread:

Team 1: What is the difference between "Will" and "Going to"? (see textbook p. 248 for reference)

Take this QUIZ for practice.

Team 2: When do we use Present Simple and Present Continuous for future? (p. 247, also Unit 19 photocopy)

Team 3: How are Future Continuous and Future Perfect different? (Unit 24)

More on Future Continuous HERE and HERE

Fun Time! Let's have fun doing these exercises:
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3

Quizes on Future Tenses:
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3
Getting the Right Tense game!

Present Perfect

dvmunca — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:50:14 CDT

Team 1:
Team 2: When is Present perfect Used? Find out HERE

Team 3: What are Non-Progressive Verbs? Take this QUIZ and find out!

Team 4: How about MIXED VERBS?

They are NOT normally used in progressive tenses.

The senses	Emotional	Mental	Possession	Existence
feel* hear see* smell* taste* know	amaze appreciate astonish care* dislike envy fear hate like love mind need please prefer surprise want*	believe desire doubt* feel* forget* imagine* know mean* realize recognize remember* suppose think* understand want*	belong have* own possess	appear* be* consist of contain cost* exist include* look* matter owe resemble seem sound weigh*

Verbs with a * can sometimes be used, but it has a special meaning.

Relative Clauses

dvmunca — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:47:48 CDT

What is the difference between a Restrictive and a Non-Restrictive Clause (also Defining and Non-Defining):
Restrictive Clauses
Non-Restrictive Clauses

Task 2:
What is a "Relative Pronoun"? You can find more information HERE. Give examples:
Now - Let's take these quizes: QUIZ 1 QUIZ 2 !

Task 3: What is the difference between: Which and That?

Task 4: To insert or Not to insert:
Decide whether the following clauses are defining or non-defining clauses. Insert commas where necessary.

The car which was a rare sports coupe was built in 1966.
We invited the boy who Tom had met the week before to the party.
Our friends who we met at university are coming to visit next week.
That is the building where they shot the film 'Vanilla Sky'.
Mr Jackson whose son also goes to this school will be attending the party next weekend.
The author's latest book which has become a bestseller is about two children in Jamaica.
That book which is the novel I was reading last week is the one I meant for you to take to the beach with you.
Mr. Smith who is a well-respected lawyer has just retired from active practice.
The book which I bought yesterday is damaged.
Mrs. Jackson who is very intelligent lives on the corner.
The document that I need has 'important' written at the top.

Task 5: Work together to expand the following story by using as many non-defining relative clauses as you can. Feel free to make a funny story!

A man called Peter took an airplane to New York to visit his sister. When he arrived at the airport, a old man asked him a question. Peter gave a short reply and the man invited him for a drink. Peter accepted, and after he had the drink, caught the airplane to New York. When he got to his sister's apartment, his sister invited him into the living room. As he entered the room, he was surprised to see the same man.

Connectors

dvmunca — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:06:03 CDT

Type of Connector	Connector(s)	Examples
Coordinating conjunctions	for (cause), so (effect)	Professionals can sometimes be extremely impatient, for their positions are at times rather stressful.
Subordinating conjunctions	because, since	Since high level positions are at times rather stressful, professionals can sometimes be extremely impatient.
Conjunctive adverbs	therefore, as a result, consequently	High level positions are at times rather stressful; therefore, professionals can sometimes be extremely impatient.
Prepositions	because of, due to, as a result of	Due to the stressful nature of high level positions, professionals can sometimes be extremely impatient.

1. Find Connectors which express the following
: Connectors

- Condition
- Contrast
- Comparison
- Cause Effect
- Opposition
- Addition

2. Quiz Time! Connectors Quiz 2

3. Adventure Time Task

- Read one of the posts on this ESL Class Blog about two natural wonders in US: Niagara Falls and Grand Canyon. Choose one story you liked best (how Niagara Falls froze over one year, how a schoolteacher survived going down the falls in a barrel, why they stopped the water of the Bridals' Veils, what is a skywalk in Grand Canyon, why was theodore Roosevelt interested in preserving Grand Canyon, how this natural wonder was created, etc.)

- Create a short summary of the story (130-160 words) using at least 5 of the following connectors: whereas, thus, therefore, otherwise, although, unless, on the other hand,

- Post the story on the blog as a comment under the post you liked best (either Niagara or Grand Canyon)

ESL Meeting

dvmunca — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:55:54 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Gerund and Infinitives

dvmunca — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:43:16 CDT

Verbs Followed by an Infinitive She agreed to speak before the game.
agree aim appear arrange ask attempt be able beg begin care choose condescend	consent continue dare decide deserve detest dislike expect fail forget get happen	have hesitate hope hurry intend leap leave like long love mean neglect	offer ought plan prefer prepare proceed promise propose refuse remember say	shoot start stop strive swear threaten try use wait want wish

Verbs Followed by an Object and an Infinitive Everyone expected her to win.
advise allow ask beg bring build buy challenge	choose command dare direct encourage expect forbid force	have hire instruct invite lead leave let like	love motivate order pay permit persuade prepare promise	remind require send teach tell urge want warn
Note: Some of these verbs are included in the list above and may be used without an object.

Verbs Followed by a Gerund They enjoyed working on the boat.
admit advise appreciate avoid can't help complete consider	delay deny detest dislike enjoy escape excuse	finish forbid get through have imagine mind miss	permit postpone practice quit recall report resent	resist resume risk spend (time) suggest tolerate waste (time)

Verbs Followed by a Preposition and a Gerund We concentrated on doing well.
admit to approve of argue about believe in care about complain about concentrate on confess to	depend on disapprove of discourage from dream about feel like forget about insist on object to	plan on prevent (someone) from refrain from succeed in talk about think about worry about

Let's Have Fun! Game Time!!!

Game 1 - The Ant Eater

Game 2 The flashcards!
Game 3 Battleship Game

Gerund or Infinitive Quiz 1

Check your spelling!

dvmunca — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:10:21 CST

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Study Guides

dvmunca — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:34:38 CST

Voicethread - Share your Voice!

1. All you need to know about Voicethread: Voicethread Home page

2. What is Voicethread? About Voicethread

3. Sample Projects: ESL Projects

4. Questions and Answers: FAQ

5. Voicethread tutorials: How to create a Voicethread

Topics for your Voicethread Project:

a) Passive Voice

b) Modals in the Past

c) Adverbs

d) Past Perfect

e) Present Perfect Simple / Progressive

Planning your Project:

1. Choose your topic
2. Research on the Internet, use your textbook, read the photocopies, etc
3. Write a short plan for the project (1. Introduction, 2. Definitions and Rules 3. Examples 4. Comparing with other grammar forms etc.)
4. Create slides / separate pages for each rule or example.
5. Try to find cartoons, pictures, charts, graphics, that would help explain the rules
6. Download them in Voicethread
7. Arrange them in a specific order
8. Add a title and comment each slide
9. Use your voice and text comments
10. Save the project
11. Send the link to the instructor dvmunca@olemiss.edu or save it on this page.
12. Good Luck!

Assignments

dvmunca — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:07:49 CST

Mid-Term Mini Project

Dear ESL students,

please find attached the guidelines for the Mid-Term mini project.

1. Answer to all the questions and provide examples for the grammar rules you posted.

2. Follow the guide to the grammar cites you could use to complete the assignments.

3. When you complete the task, attach it as a word document on this page. Good Luck!

Check on the following useful grammar links:

BBC Grammar - ed or - ing?

So or Such?

Have to / Don't have to

Prsent Perfect Continuous

Practice for the Midterm:

Take these quizes: they are good practice for the mid-term exam:

a) Hard or Hrdly Hard/Hardly

b) So / Such

c) Although / Despite Adverbs Test

d) Passive Voice Michigan Test

e) Modals Quiz on Modals

f) Modals in the Past Past Modals

Modal Vebs

dvmunca — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:11:59 CST

Modal Forms Modal verbs can be used in a variety of different forms. Study the examples below.

Modal Simple
I could swim at the beach.
Modal Continuous
I could be swimming at the beach right now.
Modal Perfect
I could have swum at the beach yesterday.
Modal Perfect Continuous
I could have been swimming at the beach instead of working in the office.

Passive Modal Simple
The room should be cleaned once a day.
Passive Modal Continuous
The room should be being cleaned now.
Passive Modal Perfect
The room should have been cleaned yesterday.
Passive Modal Perfect Continuous
The room should have been being cleaned but nobody was there. (Rare form)

Let's have some fun with the following quizes:
Modals Quiz 1

Modals Rules Quiz

Modals of Permission and Request

Passive Verbs

dvmunca — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:18:48 CST

This week we will be working with Passive Verbs. I have put together a list of websites that might be useful to you.

Find out about how Passives are formed here:

Passive Verbs Introduction

Introduction to Passive Verbs

Take the following quizzes and tell what you have learned:

Quiz on passives 1

Passives Quiz 2

Passives Quiz 3

Grammar Games Here!

Castle Game

Announcements

dvmunca — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:46:08 CST

I have just created a short quiz on American Culture: Check on it and let's see if you can make 100 % ! Good luck!

http://uk1.hotpotatoes.net/ex/26942/PTYGFFQF.php

See also: The Syllabus | Assignments | Study Guide

Adverbs and adjectives

gladysbaya — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:49:10 CST

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Tenses in News

dvmunca — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:53:00 CST

This week we will be examining tenses in use.

Task 1: Chose an article you really like from the following sources:
CNN News,
USA Today News or
Yahoo News

Task 2: Copy the article in Word and Identify each tense used by adding a "review" box from Tools like in the document attached below

Task 3: Tell us why the author used those tenses and what they express (action in the past, result in present, planned activity, etc)

Task 4: Read each others' article summary and tell us which article was the most interesting one!

Welcome to our ESL Funland

dvmunca — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:00:36 CST

This wiki is our central meeting place to learn English, find intresting resourses on the web, post links to our blogs, slideshare accounts, youtube accounts and just have fun throughout this semester. Check back regularly to review any new announcements, review the syllabus, get tips from the study guides, and ask a question for other students or the instructor. Studying English can be sooooo much fun, so join us in this little on line adventure!

Announcements	The Syllabus	Assignments	Grammar Sites you will LOVE! Grammar Girl About.com Grammar Mania Online Grammar
Student Spotlight	Study Guides	On line Dictionaries The Free Dictionary Answers.com Visuwords Merriam-Webster dictionary Visual Dictionary

Grammar Girl in Simple Format

dvmunca — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:26:14 CST