Steps to Educate

Now, from VOA Learning English, it’s time for Words and Their Stories.

If this is your first time with us, this program explores words and expressions commonly used in American English. We take a look at where they come from and how best to use them.

So, as winter officially comes to half the world, today we celebrate an expression that means winter is coming.

When temperatures drop and a cold snap comes, that means one thing: Jack Frost has arrived!

Jack Frost represents the coming of dark, cold days. He is the personification of winter, a human form of winter weather. So, when we say, “Jack Frost is nipping at your nose,” we mean that you feel the cold, icy effects of winter on your face.

When a frost or deep freeze comes, you had better bundle up! You should wear enough clothing to stay warm.

Now, Jack Frost does, indeed, bring the cold of winter. But he can also create beauty in nature. Some traditions claim that Jack Frost is responsible for leaving ice and snow on windows, trees, the ground…anywhere it will stick.

While we know frost is a natural event, it is fun to think that an imaginary creature named Jack Frost (or another name in some other cultures) changed the world into a winter wonderland!

That is what poet Hannah Flagg Gould (1789-1865) must have been thinking when she wrote a poem called The Frost.

Here are parts of that poem.

THE FROST looked forth, one still, clear night,

And he said, “Now I shall be out of sight; …

Then he went to the mountain, and powdered its crest,

He climbed up the trees, and their boughs he dressed

With diamonds and pearls…

A conversation

With all of its beauty and extremes, winter is a great subject for songs and poetry. But now, let’s listen to how we use these wintry expressions in conversation:

Brrr! It is freezing outside. This cold snap came out of nowhere!

I don’t care how cold it is. I’m going on a hot date!

Is that all you’re wearing? You need to bundle up or Jack Frost will be nipping at more than your nose!

I’ll be fine. I’m wearing my new coat.

That it is NOT a winter coat. I mean, it looks great, but it’s much too thin. You will catch a cold. I know. You can wear my new down coat. It keeps you warm up to minus 30 degrees Celsius!

I’m going on a date…not exploring the Arctic Circle! Thanks. But I am not wearing that big, thick black coat. Besides, the taxi will take me from door-to-door.

But what if something goes wrong? What if the car skids on the ice and is involved in an accident? You’ll have to walk to the restaurant. You might freeze to death!

No, I won’t. I’ll just call an Uber to come and get me.

And what if that vehicle runs out of fuel? Then you’ll have to walk to get more.

No, the Uber driver will. I’ll just call another car.

What if that new Uber driver is a pregnant woman and she goes into labor? You’ll have to help. You’ll have to wait outside in the cold until help arrives! And the roads are already covered with five centimeters of snow! It could take the ambulance an hour to get to you! If you’re wearing that thin coat…you’ll catch your death!! The EMTs will find you frozen solid like a block of ice!!

Stop! Stop!! You win! Give me your coat!

Good decision.

Here’s my ride …

Don’t forget gloves…a hat…and a scarf! Okay, good bye. Have fun!

And that’s the end of this Words and Their Stories.

Until next time!

I’m Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English.

text:

I want to talk about my life in (the) UK. I went to study in the UK a few years ago. The most exciting experience is that I went to a host family for my Christmas holiday in December. I went there alone … on a train. It took me about one or two hours to get there, to York, and then I stayed there for one week. This was the first time that I spent time with a UK family, which I learned a lot from them. They treat (treated) me like a family member, they took me out to eat, to play and to see all the different interesting culture of their region. On Christmas Day, they even bought me some presents to celebrate the Christmas (celebrate Christmas). 

When I went back to Oxford, which was the place that I stayed for that year, I had the chance to teach in a Chinese school every Sunday. The kids are (were) about 14 years old and I taught them Chinese. They were very cute but they all speak (spoke) in English. I spent lots of time to encourage (encouraging) them to speak in Cantonese. 

During my study (studies) in the UK, I lived with (a) few other students from different countries. They are very nice and we used to cook on our own, just like a big family. Every day we will go to … every day we went to supermarkets to buy food and drinks and desserts. We cooked every day. I was not a good cook – normally I just put everything into (the) oven. And I’ve tried (I tried) to bake a cake before but failed and they all laughed at me. And every time when I bake(d) a cake, they never taste(d) it. We share(d) a flat together – we share(d) kitchen, bathrooms but we do (did) have our own sink and bedroom. The life (Life) in the UK is quite relaxing besides study because you can explore more and do different activities at school or even some other extracurricular activities. 

After I come (came) back (to) Hong Kong, I still keep in touch with all my friends in the UK, from different countries like Italy, Malaysia, Japan, UK and other countries. Sometimes we even send email(s) to each other, sometimes they may come to Hong Kong to visit and we will meet each other again. 

I really enjoy (enjoyed) the time in the UK. I hope you will also have the chance to explore more in other different countries in the future.

by monse c. caro

well, another year, another language expectation
I think all my classmates, including myself, are a little excited about this year, the level of complexity is higher and that in conjunction with the lifestyle I lead is a little more complicated but manageable.

although some third year classmates, I think it was mostly to make us feel like we were in danger, but I think it was an exaggeration on their part, or so I want to believe.

Ireally hope to surpass last year’s expectations of myself, since i found ways to memorize and study better the topics like use of english or phonetics. but i feel that this year i want to enjoy this year with my friends. since i was a girl who failed language 2 it was a fear to make a mistake again.

But this year I really hope that I will pass and that I won’t have any problems, even if I don’t have enough time for a free time.

And knowing the methodology of mrs. james I could present this or if any of my colleagues are reading:
Hello ,don’t be afraid to make a mistake because this is the time where you can do it. And if you have to do something twice it’s okay, no one is going to tell you anything or make you feel bad. just be chill kids.

Well I must start by saying that this is not my first time taking this course, it is already my second time but I must say that even though I repeated english language 2 it was the best decision I could have made since I believe that now I can adapt to certain situations that I could not at the beginning of last year .

Despite everything I had to go through last year I now feel that I have more capacity to be able to communicate both with my teacher and my classmates. communicate both with my teacher and my classmates since I certainly always have doubts about how to do the work well in class and for the tests specifically for the pronunciation of sounds since as I have a dyslexia problem it is very complicated for me sometimes to understand how the words can be pronounced but I feel that now I can improve all that with the passage of time but at my own pace.

How Technology Has Changed My Learning Experience

When I first started this course, I honestly thought technology in education just meant using computers for homework and maybe watching some YouTube videos in class. But wow, was I wrong! These past months have totally changed how I see learning with technology.

One of the biggest positive changes has been how I can learn at my own pace. Like when I struggled with geometry, I found this amazing app called GeoGebra that lets me visualize shapes and move them around. It was so much better than just staring at drawings in a textbook! I could replay explanations until things finally clicked, which was super helpful because sometimes I felt embarrassed asking questions multiple times in class.

Speaking of helpful tech, Google Classroom has become my best friend! Before, I used to lose my homework assignments all the time , but now everything’s organized in one place. Plus, I can collaborate with my classmates on projects even when we can’t meet in person. Last month, we did this awesome group presentation about climate change where we all worked on the same document from our homes – it was pretty cool!

Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. My biggest challenge was when my internet kept cutting out during important online lessons. It was super frustrating! I learned to download materials beforehand when possible and found a better spot in my house for WiFi connection. Also, sometimes I catch myself getting distracted by social media when I should be studying . I’ve started using app timers to help me stay focused.

I’ve noticed some downsides too. Sometimes I miss having more face-to-face interactions with my friends in class, and staring at screens all day can give me headaches. I’ve learned to take regular breaks and do some stretching exercises. Also, not everyone in my class has the same access to technology at home, which doesn’t seem fair.

Working with my classmates online has been interesting. We use Discord for group projects , and it’s actually helped me connect with classmates I was too shy to talk to before. Plus, getting feedback on my work through comments is less scary than having someone point out my mistakes in person.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about using technology in my future studies. I feel much more confident now about using different digital tools, though I still sometimes need help from my teachers or classmates. I think the key is finding the right balance – using technology when it really helps, but not forgetting the importance of real-world connections.

For the future, I’d love to see more virtual reality in our classes (how cool would it be to take a virtual tour through ancient Rome in history class?) and maybe even use AI to get instant help when we’re stuck on a problem. But most importantly, I hope technology keeps making learning more fun and accessible for everyone, not just those who can afford the latest gadgets.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGVuDW69Lw/wwVXltJu0jP2sdVJkV6_3w/edit?continue_in_browser=true

1.-Jessica Morales, Monserrat Caro

2.-Monserrat Caro, Jessica Morales

Dentist:	Now the receptionist told me you’re a bit frightened of dentists. Is that right?
Khalid:	Yes I’m terrified actually.
Dentist:	Well I hope I can change your mind about me! So first of all, let me ask you a few questions about your dental history.
Khalid:	OK, if you think it will help.
Dentist:	I’m sure it will. Now can you remember your first visit to the dentist?
Khalid:	Yes, I was only young but I had to have a … a filling.
Dentist:	And why was that?
Khalid:	I ate lots of sweets when I was a boy. You see, I’ve always loved sugary things.
Dentist:	Go on.
Khalid:	But the dentist didn’t explain anything. He switched on the drill and when that horrible noise started, I just started screaming!

1.Jessica Morales, Monserrat Caro

Assistant: Happy New Year, madam. How can I help you?
Helen: I’d like to return this jumper please. [clutching a bright orange sweater with reindeer patterns]
Assistant: I see. Is there anything wrong with it?
Helen: Nothing except the colour, the shape and the size! [sighs] I mean… it’s quite… unique.
Assistant: And do you have the receipt?
Helen: [looking uncomfortable] No, you see it was a Christmas present.
Assistant: Well if you just get the receipt from whoever gave you the gift, then come back to us, we’ll be happy to give you a refund.
Helen: But my mum gave it to me…
Assistant: Can’t you just ask her for the receipt then?
Helen: Well that’s the problem. My mum gives me a dreadful jumper every Christmas and I don’t want to hurt her feelings. She gets so excited when she gives it to me. Last year it was lime green with pompoms!
Assistant: I understand, but without a receipt there’s not much I can do, sorry. Though… have you considered our exchange program? You could swap it for store credit.
Helen: Really? That might work! At least then I could get something I’d actually wear.
Assistant: Yes, though the store credit would be at current sale prices. Is that okay?
Helen: That’s perfect! Honestly, anything’s better than walking around looking like a radioactive reindeer. And mum never asks why I don’t wear them – I think deep down she knows.
Assistant: Let me get that sorted for you then. And maybe next Christmas you could casually mention which styles you prefer?
Helen: I’ve been doing that for ten years! I think she enjoys torturing me with these jumpers. It’s become a sort of family tradition now.

Activity: “Amelia Earhart: Pioneer of the Skies”

Objective:

Students will research and create a collaborative Google Slides presentation about Amelia Earhart, her achievements, and her impact on aviation and women’s rights.

Steps:

1. Introduction (10 minutes):
   • Teacher introduces Amelia Earhart and the project using a brief video clip.
   • Explain the collaborative nature of the project and how to use Google Slides.
2. Research Phase (30 minutes):
   • Divide students into groups of 3-4.
   • Each group is assigned a specific aspect of Amelia Earhart’s life:
   • a) Early life and education
   • b) First flying experiences
   • c) Major flight achievements
   • d)Mysterious disappearance and legacy
3. Content Creation (40 minutes):
   • Students use Google Slides to create their assigned section.
   • Each group creates 3-5 slides with text, images, and at least one interactive element (e.g., a quiz question, a clickable map of her flights).
   • Teacher circulates to provide guidance on both content and technical aspects.
4. Peer Review (15 minutes):
   • Groups swap their sections with another group.
   • Using the comment feature in Google Slides, peers provide feedback on content accuracy, presentation, and creativity.
5. Refinement (15 minutes):
   • Groups refine their slides based on peer feedback.
6. Compilation and Presentation (20 minutes):
   • Teacher compiles all group slides into one presentation.
   • Each group presents their section to the class.
7. Reflection and Discussion (10 minutes):
   • Class discussion on what they learned about Amelia Earhart and the collaborative process.
   • Students complete a short Google Forms survey about the activity.