A Stormy Week

I just finished my soup for the week, so I thought I write something. Today I saw a friend I haven't seen for quite a while. I was asked if I have lost some weight! I needed to hear that, yesterday I went food shopping and decided to give up my diet. I was buying stuff for my soup and then decided to buy frozen pizza, frozen chicken, and hamburger patties like I do when I'm not on a diet. I ended up with chicken, potatoes, onions, garlic for soup, apples for my long trips, and ice cream (to feed my addiction). When it was noticed that I had lost weight I was happy I didn't give up yet. I am noticing it on the scale and my clothes too! I haven't been able to go to the gym for about a week because my knee has been hurting me so much. I went to the hospital, I had to go to emergency since I couldn't get an appointment and the nurse told me to go to the emergency ward, on Tuesday and the doctor said it seemed like gout. She had me take a blood test and get x-rays since they wanted to make sure there wasn't another problem. The x-ray didn't show any problem, and the blood test didn't show high uric acid which would mean gout. The doctor decided it was gout even though the test didn't prove it. After 2 hours of waiting and tests and 5 minutes I was given the medicine for gout and sent home. I was very happy with the way they treated me and thought the 2 hours in the hospital wasn't too long since I went into the emergency ward and wasn't a high priority. Most of the wait was for the x-rays and that section had many people in it. I have been taking the medicine for 3 days and my knee still hurts. I can feel it improving, and I hope it is soon better. Of course when it rains it pours!! At the same time my knee has been giving me problems and I have been driving long long distances my home has sprung a leak. I had noticed water outside my home when it was warm weather and no rain so I knew I had a problem. I had my nephew, Jonathon, check the pipes under the home and there was, in fact, a leak. I called a plumber who came out to fix it. It cost me must more than I was hoping it would, but got it fixed (I hope). My next step is to call the insurance company tomorrow to repair the damage. The insulation under the home is drenched, that has to be removed, the area dried, and replaced. Then the floor in the kitchen is now warped and needs to be redone. Maybe I can get a pretty kitchen floor out of this deal. I hope this all works out to the better. The good thing that happened this week was I found out for sure that I will keep my job. It was decided that the job position was going to be in the Bay Area and not in Sacramento, and since the other person that would be eligible for the job is in Sacramento, and I'm in the Bay Area he has decided not to apply for the position.

I can't change what I can't change!

I haven't written in a while, I got an email from someone that has been reading my blog and they gave me "constructive criticism". I guess I should take it well, so I tried to do what she said. She said to proofread what I read more, because some things are misspelled and sometimes grammar is a little wrong. She also said my writing is often rambling and not upbeat. I haven't written because I was trying to write things that were interesting and I tried to think of something funny to write about. Remember when I wrote about do what you will do and don't do what you won't do? If I think about what I'm going to write then it doesn't just flow and I don't know what to say. I have also written about my habit of going off on tangents. I never know what direction my writing will take, I guess I will never write for a publication, I don't know if I could write about something ... it just needs to flow. So I'm back to writing, bad or good, I do what I can do, and don't do what I can't do...

Last weekend I stated teaching again. I will teach 3 weekends in Santa Clara then I return back to San Francisco for 3 weekends, then I will return to Santa Clara again. I really enjoy teaching, and hearing where my students go after they take my class. Right now I have 3 or 4 students that are teaching in Korea, 3 that are in China, I have one student in Chile and 4 in Guatemala. I just heard of a student that is going to Columbia. I also have 2 students teaching in Italy, 2 in Spain, 2 in Poland and a few in Brazil. It makes me feel good to know that I am making a difference in the world by teaching teachers. On Monday I went to Fairfield to help a recruiter, he asked that I drive to Dixon, Vallejo, and Pittsburg. I had fun driving around doing errands. Tuesday I spent the day doing "mock interviews" for high school seniors in Salinas. Wednesday I worked with students in Castro Valley. Today I drove to Exeter High School which is near Strathmore ... and not much more. I left my house at 4:30am so I could get to the school by 8am. It was a nice drive until I drove over the mountains and hit the fog! The fog was very thick, and lasted until I returned and drove over those same mountains. I enjoy the small towns in the California Central Valley. They even have water towers in the middle of the town with their names on them. On Monday night I stayed at my mom's house. The thing I like about staying in her house is the view in the morning. I can look out the window and see the ocean!

Strathmore HIgh School

Today I drove to Strathmore High School. This was a great little high school which is three and a half mile drive. I enjoyed meeting and helping these kids, makes me feel like I am really needed. It was nice that after my presentation one of the students came to me and thanked me for coming. He said he seldom sees people from outside the community and it was nice that I came all the way to help them. It really made me feel good. After the high school I went with the recruiter and we went to another high school, a community college and the school district. He found it helpful that I took him and showed him how to do things that many people had told him what he needed to do. I started driving back around 2:30 I was listening to an audio book. It was a great story that I had been listening to for the three and a half hours on my trip there. When one disc was over I took a break from my book and put on some music. I listened to some songs from the 70s. Made me think about high school. I turned up the music, and rolled up the windows, like high school. Benny and the Jets played, and Crocodile Rock.Then Let It Be by the Beatles played. I felt sad, I thought about the first party I invited girls to. In 9th grade, Junior High School, I wanted to have a party at my house. My mom said ok, so I got my sister to help me to figure out how to do it. I invited about 25 people. I addressed the invitations and gave them out at school. Ramona was the one girl that I wanted to come. I had also invited Marta, who was like my best friend (in high school I went to the prom with Marta). On the night of my party only 4 people came. Ramona, Marta, Clint, and Sam. I was sad and upset that no one else came. I didn't realize that RAMONA came!! It was the first time anyone had given me music for a gift, Ramona gave me a 45 record from the Beatles, Let It Be. I asked the next Monday at school why people didn't come, and I found out that I hadn't filled out the information of when the party was on most of the invitations. That was 40 years ago, and I still remember how I felt. It is interesting how we remember the bad things that happened in our lives. About 15 years after Junior High School I ran into Ramona's sister when I was stationed in Germany. It was nice to see her, and that also made me remember the party.

First Dates

This week hasn't been to busy. Tuesday I was supposed to be in Bakersfield at 8am, which means I have to leave my house at 4:30am. I realized that was kind of stupid when there is someone that lives in the area that can go instead of me. I had them go and when they got there they learned the appointment was canceled so I am glad I didn't try to go. On Wednesday I went to a school in Morgan Hill, about a 30 minute drive. It was a new school and I thought it was an alternative school, which it wasn't. I had a good time talking with their AVID class. Today I get to sit around my office, which is very spartan with a desk, 2 chairs, a book case and nothing else ... I don't even have pictures on the wall. Looking out the window of my office (I should be happy I have a window) I see the jail and courthouse. I don't look out the window often. I don't spend much time in my office because I am usually on the road, but today my boss is supposed to be coming by (he is always 2 or 3 hours late) and I think I should be here to see him, since my job is on the line. I will sit here writing my blog and doing reports for a few hours until he comes, talk to him for about 30 minutes, then we'll see what else is in store for me today.

Last weekend I had another first date. It always feels weird to date someone for the first time. For me the worst kind of first date is meeting in a coffee shop or for dinner and just talking. My favorite kind of first date is going to the movies. You can learn a lot from going to the movies together. First you find out what kind of movie they like, and how flexible they are... would they want to go to the movie that is your first choice, or do they demand to go to their choice of movies. What do they want for refreshment, do they get one of those huge drinks and big popcorns, then suggest you get one too since they don't ever share. Do they want to sit in the middle of everyone, or somewhere less visible to others. Do they talk a lot during the movie, and if they don't do they mind if you do. Do they sit on the chair so they lean towards you, or do they lean away from you. The weirdest date I went on she sat at the edge of her chair all movie, so kind of had her back to me. No, that is not the weirdest first date. When I was in Korea, before I got married, I was introduced to a girl by my bosses secretary. She asked me if I wanted to meet her friend. She said it in a way I thought it was her, but turned out to be really a friend of hers. Her friend couldn't speak English, and I couldn't speak Korean. Okay, weird and uncomfortable. We ended up going to a coffee shop and not saying a word. It was a writing date! She couldn't speak English, but she could read and write. She would write something, and I would read it and write back. Then she would read what I had written and then write back. That went on for about 2 hours. It was a little comical, but she was very serious. I had met her once or twice more after that. In fact, about a year later I had met and married another woman. The woman I married didn't know anything about the writing date woman. I was walking down the street with my "then wife" and this girl came running up behind us. She had spent the last year studying English so she could talk to me. Her English was pretty good. My wife suggested the three of us go sit in a coffee shop together and talk. NO!! They ended up talking in Korean for an hour and my wife was angry. She asked why I didn't tell her about this other woman. I said I only saw her once or twice, and my wife said we were going to meet her again the next week. I dreaded that meeting all week. When we met the other girl brought her diary, and showed all the times we had met, turns out 10, and told my wife how much she loved me. I really couldn't remember this stuff about the writing date woman. I know there was NOTHING physical that happened between us, not even a kiss, but I had to eat crow for many months after that chance encounter. Anyway, back to last weekend. It was fun, we drove along the coast and got to know each other. All those "first date" questions were asked.  "What kind of food do you like?" - I'm not particular, whatever is in front of me is great. "What is your favorite kind of movie?" - Going to the movies is the experience, not the actual movie, I prefer action, but I also like movies that bring out my emotions, make me laugh, or make me cry. "What kind of music do you like?" - I like soft rock and oldies. "What do you like to do for fun?" - I like to go on short drives around the area, I like to go to movies, I like to play mini-golf, bowl, and lazertag. I like to stay busy, not just sit around and watch the clock move. "Where do you like to go on vacation?" - I like to go someplace I haven't been before and explore. The date went well, and we will see if I get to go on a second date.

My Mom is Coming to Visit (UPDATE)

I just finished cleaning my room, getting ready for my mom to visit, sometime (I don't know when). I don't know when she will come, but now I have half the kitchen and my bedroom ready.

Diet Update!

I am writing this as I am eating a bowl of ice cream. I really AM serious about my diet, but I think I'm addicted to ice cream. This was a hard week to stay on a diet. After loosing 6 pounds my first week I went on a trip today for work. When I was on my trip I was good on the way up, I even took my soup with me. Even with the soup, I had a hamburger for dinner that night. I skipped the fries! The next morning I had my soup, and went to the indian reservation to work in the high school. All was good until my GPS went out and I had to stop at McDonald's to check my computer to see where I was going. Okay, that was a weak excuse, but I was weak with starvation! I ordered a number 8, because that was a chicken sandwich, but I even ate the fries! I drove with fervor to my next appointment, four hours away. Up and down and around the mountains. I got sick, but I got there in time (well, really I was 30 minutes late). I ate at McDonald's again. I got home that night around 9. The next day I stayed on my diet, soup and fresh fruit! The next day the people I work with wanted to say thanks to me so they took me to a buffet for lunch. I always "pig out" at buffets because I want to get my money's worth. So, my diet remains a struggle. I am also going to the gym every day. I increased my cardio workout 10 minutes and am doing push ups and sit ups at home every night. I had someone comment this week that I was looking better, she said my stomach was smaller and my face seemed thinner. My belt is cinched up one notch. So, the struggle remains. I am down one pound this week, so I am down to 190 from 197.

ESL: Scott's Way

I have been teaching ESL for a long time, in fact I have been teaching a certification class for ESL teachers for over three and a half years. I thought I would put together some of my thoughts about learning ESL and post them on here. I have a few now, and will post a few later, If you have any comments about my thinking either post a comment here, or email me at grtsct@yahoo.com.

ESL: Be a Good Student

Some of you readers are students in classrooms, some are just looking at how to improve their English. All of us are students, of some sort. When you want to improve your English you must find a way to actively work at it. Just being exposed to something doesn’t mean it rubs off on you. If you want to learn to drive a car you cannot just ride in a car and expect to be able to get behind the wheel and know how to drive. You have to take lessons, someone show you how the correct way to do it, practice in a controlled environment, and then take it on the road and practice on the actual street before you get your license to drive alone. What does a good student do? First, they study, they don’t just go through life, just sit in the class, just expect to be entertained. They asks questions, they participate in class, take risks and decide they will learn and study. In class when the teacher asks a question a good student will try to answer, during drills they participate, they do their homework. They know they won’t learn just by living or breathing in the classroom. Talk to the teacher outside of class, take advantage of their wisdom. During life talk to strangers, participate in discussions, don’t be afraid of taking a risk, most native speakers will enjoy helping you improve your English.

ESL: Making Mistakes

I have often had students that will be talking to me in English, and then stop in mid-sentence and just stand there with their mouth open, thinking of what to say. It gets frustrating for me because I can’t help them with a word, or thought , if they don’t complete the sentence. Some students are so scared of making a mistake they would rather do nothing than taking the risk of making a mistake. Making mistakes, in fact, is how you learn. Think of it, when you learned Math you did something repetitively until you were able to make no more mistakes. The most important thing is learning from your mistakes and trying to avoid them in the future. When I lived in Korea I had to ride the subway often. I was surprised when I sat down and the people next to me would get up and sit on the other side of the car. I first thought that they were rude, but realized that it was Korea and most people in Korea are very polite and helpful. Then I had wondered why they were not wanting to sit next to me, I had taken a bath, I did brush my teeth, I had no idea what they were hesitant to sit next to me. After talking to some of my friends I realized that people didn’t want to sit next to me because they were scared they might have to speak English. What if I said, “hi”, and they had to answer me. They were so used to being graded on their English, they thought if they made a mistake they would be embarrassed and I would ridicule them, like their teachers had. That is why an ESL classroom has to be like a cocoon and risks had to be taken and students can’t make fun of other students. What if mistakes weren’t made, wouldn’t that mean that people didn’t try unless they were 100% sure they would never make a mistake. Mistakes are necessary to learn. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes when learning English. The most important thing is to continually trying to improve your English ability.

ESL: What Should I do to Learn English

How did you learn your first language? First you learned simple words to ask for things, then in school you learned a little grammar and then they had you learn to read and had you read simple books. Then discuss more difficult books. And, so on. If you are learning English, maybe the best way is to start slowly, even if you are an adult, think of your English as infant. Some people like to watch movies, and since the listening is difficult, they have the subtitles (the writing at the bottom of the screen) on. The problem is you end up reading rather than listening. If you want to turn the subtitle on, then watch the show 3 times, first time no subtitles, watch the action. Second time turn on the subtitles so you can understand what is being said, third time watch it without the subtitles, and you will be surprised at how much you understand. Remember you have to study listening just like you study reading, actually work at it and don’t think it will just happen. I used to manage a language school in San Jose, CA. All the students left early, so I wanted to make a change to the program. I got the first season of Smallville and downloaded all the scripts (what they say) and then made a book of the scripts. We had a class where the students would watch 5 minutes of the show, then read the script, then practice the script with their classmates, then watch the 5 minutes again. Next class we would watch that 5 minutes then work on the next 5 minutes. We did that through the whole show. They learned and had fun, you can’t learn if you don’t laugh! The best thing you can do is read books written for 3^rd or 4^th grade. The reason you want to read books for young children is because you will understand most of the vocabulary, the book is smaller, and the writing is bigger. It is best to be able to finish reading an entire book!! After finishing one or two books, try another. I used to have a friend from Taiwan, that was at a level 1 (beginning), she and I spent much time together, we spent evenings doing things like going to movies or going to libraries or just watching tv. On the weekends we would go on trips and go to cities near my city. After she spent so much time around me for 3 months she went to a different language school and they tested her for her level and she was a level 5 (advanced). She didn’t study English, she just used it. She didn’t study grammar, but her English improved 4 levels. Wouldn’t it be nice if every ESL student could spend all their time with me, or with anyone that is a native speaker, but it isn’t always practical. So, find something to do in English, not just sit and study. When I taught at night school I told my students they had homework, their homework was to go shopping! They didn’t understand until I told them to just sit on a bench in the mall and someone will come sit next to them. Americans are very open to others, someone would come sit next to them and talk, say hello and then tell them all of their problems. Maybe tell them about a fight they had with their girlfriend or their wife/husband. Maybe tell about the fight they had with had with their wife about their girlfriend. Then the person sitting next to them will get up and walk away. I think the most important thing about learning English is to do something, not just sit at a desk and study.

ESL: Reading Without Your Dictionary

I have been teaching ESL for almost 20 years and it is interesting how many students read with a dictionary next to them. I think about how often I have read with a dictionary. Even when I was learning German in high school and when I lived in Germany, I didn’t rely on a dictionary as often as some ESL students. It takes a long time to read anything if you try looking up every word you don’t know in a dictionary. I think of the times I read books and if I don’t know what a word means, if I ever use a dictionary to look that word up. Maybe once or twice a year I might do that. The best way for a person learning English to read is to read it straight through, underlining (or highlighting) the words that might be looked up in a dictionary. Then after finishing the paragraph, page, or essay if you feel the need to look up a word in a dictionary look up the words underlined (highlighted).  If you do look up a word, then keep a list of those words. Make your own list of vocabulary words. Often you will realize there is no reason to look up every word, you can still understand what you read, even if you don’t understand every word. Isn’t that what the real reason you are reading? Think about the times you watch tv and multi-task. With the tv on you are on the phone, on the computer, running in and out of the room while cooking, or maybe doing homework. Think about not seeing everything on the show, but you still understand what the show is about. Reading is the same thing, you don’t understand every word, but you understand what the essay was about. I had a student a few years ago that came to class all excited. She was so happy she was able to read and ENTIRE book. She read the book HOLES, and it only took her six months. I was happy for her. She was really happy to read complete something. The book was written for middle school students, I know that she didn’t understand over 25% of the vocabulary when she started the book and probably understood over 80% when she finished. She understood the book, maybe not every word! So, when you read don’t read with a dictionary you are going to finish the reading more quickly, and gain more confidence.