Hi Stuart,Thanks for creating the blog and also Thanks for all what you doing for as;) you are great.. I hoop that the network may help as to have progress in English ! ;))

Is stealing co-worker's lunch is a culture thing?

I was shocked yesterday when I saw there was a paper in office kitchen asking people stopping stealing others' lunch !

And today we got such email,

Then I searched in google, I found lots of posts was talking about that.  It's funny.

Just give two links.

http://izismile.com/2011/03/26/dont_steal_my_lunch_hilarious_fridge_notes_25_pics.html

http://www.askamanager.org/2011/10/my-boss-keeps-stealing-my-food-after-ive-asked-him-to-stop.html 


If this is Canada culture,  I am going to try this once.......

Debt listening questions

Here are the three questions from tonight's listening on debt:

1) What was most surprising about what Canadians said about debt?

2) Why are people getting so deeply in debt?

3) What does ‘financing consumption’ mean?

Listen to the newscast again, and try to think about answers to the questions for tomorrow.

Debt listening

Click onto the part that says 'listen to the story'.

CBC Radio Online

Check out this link to CBC's Radio online.  It's a great way to listen to Canadian topics, and to work on your listening skills.

CBC Radio Online

Theme song of The Fosters

Here are two awesome songs.

Kari Kimmel - Where You Belong.mp3

Same Love(Feat Mary Lambert).mp3

CNN recommended:  45 Taiwanese foods we can't live without

I really like to share the fun with The Boss.
http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/bruce-springsteen-and-jimmy-fallon-gov-christie-traffic-jam-born-to-run-parody/n45079/
How do you think? Ha Ha Ha...

Paul VT, Lai.

Tonight’s ‘micro-moon’ will be the smallest full moon of 2014


Share to everybody!!

Usage of 'Get' in spoken English

Get is one of the most confusing word in English,  I collected some explanations for it.  

• Two common meanings for get are "receive" and "become." A third meaning (an informal, idiomatic one used mostly in casual conversation) is understand.

Examples:

1. I got a present yesterday.
2. I get tired after 10 km walks.
3. Question #36 is confusing. Do you get it?
4. Thanks for explaining question #36. I get it now.
5. I don't get it. Why do we have to be there  45 minutes early? 
6. I know you thought Bob's joke was funny, but I didn't get it.

• get can also mean answer or respond to a ringing phone or someone who's at the door. 

Examples:

1. The phone's ringing, but I can't get it just now. Can you?
2. I hear the doorbell. Can you get it?   

•  means to buy.

Examples:

1. I got my new shoes at Charlie's Custom Footwear.
2. Where did you get that dress?
3. Will you stop at the store and get some milk?
4. I'll get lunch this time. You can pay the next time.
5. I'm almost out of gas, but I can get some on my way home.
6. If I give you the money, can you get a box of computer disks for me?

•  To retrieve something (and, often, to bring or take it or them to another place or person): 

Examples:

1. The letter carrier just delivered the mail, Can you get it?
2. I think I left my keys in the car.
3. I'd better get them. 
4. Get your coat. We're ready to leave.
5. I think I left my glasses on the kitchen table. Would you please get them for me?

•  Another use for get is in the idiom has / have got.

In American English, the preferred past participle (third form) for get is gotten when get is used in the present or past perfect tenses. It's important to know this because has got and have got look like present perfect tense, but these two forms are actually used like the simple present tense. Also, they use got, not gotten, and they mean has or have. 

Examples:

1. I've gotten several letters this week. ( = I've received = present perfect )
2. I've got several letters. ( = I have = simple present )
3. She's gotten high marks ever since she started school. ( = She's received = present perfect )
4. She's got high marks. ( = She has = simple present )
5. I haven't gotten your report yet. When are you going to turn it in? ( = I haven't received = present perfect )
6. I haven't got your report. You didn't turn it in. ( = I don't have = simple present )  

Special Note:

Many people think that gotten has an "ugly" sound
and don't use it in present perfect tense. Instead, they
replace it with other words that have the same meaning
(for example, received).

• The combinations has got and have got are idioms that mean has or have. They can also be used with to. When they're used in this way, they mean the same as has to and have to ( = "must" or "be required to"): 

Examples:  

1. It's late! I've got to leave!
2. Mehmet can't come to the party. He's got to work. 
3. Your grades aren't very good. You've got to work harder. 
4. Tell Angela she's got to be ready in 10 minutes.  
5. Don't forget that we've got to meet Mr. Brown at 5:00 PM.  

Special Note: Has got to and have got to are almost always contracted to 's got to and 've got to. The "got to" part of each combination is pronounced something like "godda" in everyday speech. Also, the 've is often not pronounced or pronounced very weakly, so you might hear something that sounds like "I gotta go" or "You gotta help me" or "We gotta hurry."   Important: "Gotta" is for speaking, not for writing!

Hello guys!

I am so happy we have a place to communicate with each other, to share information, resource here.

I am so excited about it, and I am also very worry about what I should write here. I have lots of questions.

What font size should I use? normal or big ?  Do I need a title?  Should I use italic in the whole text of just part of it?  Should I use different colors for difference paragraphs?  How many words should I write?  What if I write something too simple, too straightforward so that you guys say Shu is a idiot?  Or if I write something too abstract, too complex,or something you guys might feel be dwarfed by my flawless sentences? Would you guys laugh at me if you find out I actually never written any thing in the Internet?  How should I do to pretend I have lots of experiences to write a post?

Oh, my gosh! I am so nervous~~

Hey guys.... Feel free, now that I've invited everyone to add to the blog, to post interesting videos, news, or other information on the blog.  Please KEEP IT CLEAN though!   Be aware that some articles may make some students feel uncomfortable, so think about what you're posting before you do. 

This is to help us practice our English remember!

This is an article about the No Pants Day on Sunday. Note they call 'pants' 'trousers' in England.

No Pants Day London and around the world article

Phoebe, can you post something about the Vancouver one?

Here's a link to ISS of BC's ESL Online Links, which are used to practice English skills.  There are lots of activities on here that you can do at home as well.

http://www2.issbc.org/janis-esl/links.html

Welcome to Stuart's Level 4/5 Evening class blog!

Hi everyone.  Happy New Year!
I've created this blog so I can share useful links with you all, as well as giving you a chance to suggest ideas on effective ways you practice your English.  It will also give you all a chance to network with each other!  Stuart