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1. Teacher Training Workshops Schedule

Please sign up in advance to attend a particular event at ETRC at the circulation desk, by phone (044) 425-77-75, by e-mail: etrc_kyiv@yahoo.com, or send a text message to 067 230-7619. Please visit our website at www.etrckyiv.com and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/etrc.kyiv

*In December, English Language Fellow Seneca Ryan conducts teacher training workshops at the America

House Kyiv on Tuesdays, with their repeats at the ETRC on Fridays (Please read the detailed information below).

* Tuesday, December 13, from 4:00 – 5:30 PM –

Certificate Award Ceremony with Seneca Ryan

at the America House Kyiv! To honor those participants who have attended 5 or more teacher

training workshops this year with Seneca Ryan, we will be presenting official certificates of accomplishment.

We look forward to celebrating your commitment

to the teaching and learning of English!!

* Series of monthly Teacher Training Workshops: ―Effective Methods of Teaching English‖ by Maryna

Tsehelska

Series of teacher training workshops ―Effective Methods of Teaching English‖ by Maryna Tsehelska will take place once a month during the academic year 2016-17. At the end of the course, certificates will be given to those, who will attend at least four out of eight workshops and will share their own ideas about the techniques.

About Presenter: Maryna Tsehelska works as associate professor at Kryvyi Rih Pedagogical University and she also is the director of the “Educational Centre “Interclass” – a language school, where English is taught through concept mapping. She is a Fulbright alumna, TESOL-Ukraine vice-president and has presented at numerous scientific and practical conferences.

Please read Maryna’s invitation: “In this series of workshops I would like to share some techniques and strategies of teaching English, which could be called “cognitive” or “brain-friendly”, but in order to avoid the discussion around the terms, I would call

them just “effective.” These techniques are a combination of modern cognitive pedagogy ideas and my and my colleague’s observations and reflections of English teaching and learning. We use them to teach English at the “Educational Centre “Interclass” (Kryvyi Rih) and they are used by our partners in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv and Sarajevo. As we go through the main points, I hope that participants of the workshops will try some of the ideas and share the results.”

The fourth workshop ―Making Grammar Instruction Meaningful and Enjoyable‖ will take place on Monday, December 12, at 4:00PM.

* Clubs in December: ETRC Joined «Україна Speaking» Campaign: Youth Film Club welcomes you on Thursday afternoons,

December 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 3:00-5:30 PM to watch and discuss popular American movies.

NB! English Language Fellow Seneca Ryan will moderate a film club meeting on December 22!

ETRC Joined «Україна Speaking» Campaign: Ihor Reznik, Career Guidance Consultant, Personal Development Coach, HR-Recruiter, will teach you how to find and use your strengths to the fullest in order to succeed in your career and personal life on Friday, December 23, at 4:00 PM.

Anna Suprun, psychologist and handmade artist, will help you to felt a rooster, symbol of New Year 2017, on Monday, December 26, at 3:00 PM.

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DETAILED SCHEDULE OF ETRC EVENTS

a) Teacher Training Workshops

In December English Language Fellow Seneca Ryan conducts teacher training workshops at the America House Kyiv on Tuesdays at 4:00PM, with their repeats at the ETRC on Fridays at 4:00PM.

Follow the schedule of the America House Kyiv at https://www.facebook.com/americahousekyiv/events and

http://www.americahousekyiv.org/events/!!! Friday, December 2 from 4:00 – 5:30 PM Workshop “8 Great Vocabulary Activities for the EFL Classroom” Presenter: Seneca Ryan, English Language Fellow, U.S. Department of State Continuing our “8 Great” series, this week we will be exploring a variety of exciting exercises for introducing new (or revisiting previously learned) vocabulary in the English language classroom. Be ready to participate with colleagues and discuss variations on activities. Wednesday, December 7 from 4:00 – 5:30 PM Presentation “LanguaBooks™ - English learning in an advanced 21st Сentury format!” Presenter: Eva Pavlenko, Project Manager at LanguaMetrics

English language teachers, future teachers and all interested are invited to attend a presentat ion ““LanguaBooks™ - English learning in an advanced 21st Сentury format!” Bring the latest in speech recognition technology into your classrooms to accelerate English language speaking and reading for your students. LanguaBooks™ are now available to students in Ukraine at no cost whatsoever. These highly interactive and engaging online books are the most advanced form of books available today. LanguaBooks™ actually

measures the students’ ability to be understood when he speaks. Learn how advanced technology from SRI International and LanguaMetrics, Inc. makes this possible. Imagine - books, that speak, listen and teach! For more details visit the website https://ua.languabooks.com/ Friday, December 9 from 4:00 – 5:30 PM Workshop “An Introduction to American Writing Centers” Presenter: Seneca Ryan, English Language Fellow, U.S. Department of State Writing centers are a well-utilized and respected facility within American universities. In this session, we’ll be looking at how these centers operate and play a crucial role in the academic environment. We’ll also introduce “The English Writing Center,” a working center in Kyiv. Participants will come away with a broader understanding of these facilities and how they can provide valuable services to Ukrainian universities increasing English writing ability and confidence in students. Monday, December 12 from 4:00 – 5:30 PM Teacher Training Workshop 1.4 “Making Grammar Instruction Meaningful and Enjoyable” Presenter: Maryna Tsehelska works as associate professor at Kryvyi Rih Pedagogical University and she also is the director of the “Educational Centre “Interclass” – a language school, where English is taught through concept mapping. She is a Fulbright alumna, TESOL-Ukraine vice-president and has presented at numerous scientific and practical conferences.

Workshop 1.4 Description: How is English grammar acquired? Should we teach all English tenses at once or study them separately? Why do our students know grammar rules but make lots of grammar mistakes in writing and speaking? What is more important – a clear explanation or meaningful revision?

These are just a few questions presenter is going to answer while sharing her personal observations and beliefs about grammar teaching and learning. Key points: 1. A short discussion about popular ways of teaching grammar. 2. Stages of grammar acquisition. 3. Teaching English tenses. 4. The power of paraphrasing.

NB! Series of teacher training workshops “Effective Methods of Teaching English” by Maryna Tsehelska will

take place once a month during the academic year 2016-17. At the end of the course, certificates will be given to those, who will attend at least four workshops and will share their own ideas about the techniques.

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Tuesday, December 13 from 4:00 – 5:30 PM Certificate Awards Ceremony and Participant Testimonials with Seneca Ryan at the America House Kyiv!

Private audience: To honor those participants who have attended five or more teacher training workshops this year with Seneca Ryan, we will be presenting official certificates of accomplishment. Participants will also be invited to share classroom experiences and personal thoughts with the group. America House Kyiv is located at Mykoly Pymonenka Street, 6, in 15-minutes’ walk from Lukyanivska metro station, http://www.americahousekyiv.org It’s obligatory to bring your government-issued ID (passport)!

Friday, December 16 from 4:00 – 5:30 PM Methodological Workshop "Montessori approach in teaching English to preschoolers: practical tips” Presenters: Viktoriia Shcherbyna PhD, Principal in "Montessori New Age School" (Kyiv, Ukraine); certified Montessori teacher for children age 6-9. Olesya Nedelcheva, Leading Montessori teacher in "Montessori New Age School"(Kyiv, Ukraine); certified Montessori teacher for children age 2.8 – 6; International business professional. Description: Montessori is a method of education that is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and

collaborative play. In Montessori classrooms, children make creative choices in their learning, while the classroom and the teacher offer age-appropriate activities to guide the process. Children work in groups and individually to discover and explore knowledge of the world and to develop their maximum potential. There are some bullet points to teach English and the sequence to present the material

and information, that will be presented and discussed at the workshop. Please note that this workshop will be taken into account for the Certificate program Jan-June 2017! Tuesday, December 20 from 4:00 – 5:30 PM Methodological Workshop “Teaching and Learning Come Together: Different Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching. Part II” Presenter: Victor Bielyshev, English language instructor with 30 years' experience, including 12 years of teaching at Kyiv National Linguistic University, Fulbright alumna, and an active participant of ETRC methodological seminars. Description: The workshop will focus on different techniques and principles in Language Teaching. During this workshop:

1) Presenter will continue reviewing main language teaching methods being practiced today; 2) Participants will have an opportunity to learn about more methods and examine their own

beliefs about teaching and learning of English to ground their methodological decisions. Please note that this workshop will be taken into account for the Certificate program Jan-June 2017!

b) ETRC Joined «Україна Speaking» Campaign: Youth Discussion Club Wednesday, December 21 from 4:00 – 5:30 PM Self-Improvement Subliminal Learning Session

Current research is demonstrating that learning does occur as we sleep - the brain reorganizes information during intermittent phases of the sleep cycle in order to free up memory and even solve problems for us as we rest. Need to activate super-learning and advanced thinking? Then join our relaxing self-improvement hypnosis session aimed at IQ raising, skill enhancement, problem solving, and

help with procrastination. Friday, December 23 from 4:00 – 5:45 PM Discussion Club/Seminar ―What are Your Personal Strengths?‖

Presenter: Igor Reznik, Career Guidance Consultant, Personal Development Coach, HR-Recruiter Do you know your personal strengths? If you would be interviewed, what would you answer? Would you really name your biggest personal strengths instantly? Why is it good to know them? Because it can help you in choosing the right career or making good decisions in any sphere of your life, for example, relationships, emotional and social IQ. Then you are empowered to live your life more effectively, joyfully and almost effortlessly. Knowing your strengths will raise your self-awareness and give you clarity to lead the way.

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During the meeting, we will talk about: - How to understand your life calling using Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)? - Whether your strengths align with your values and unconscious desires? If you want to have a comfortable life, you should focus on using those strengths to the fullest, because that’s where you have a competitive advantage and where you can create the most value for other people. You will learn and discuss the ways how to reveal your personal virtues - your strengths, and how to live a meaningful life. Knowing where you come in strong and where you need assistance can help you stabilize your personal life and nurture your professional interactions. !!!DO NOT FORGET to take a pen and paper - we will make very interesting psychological exercises!

c) Women’s Club Schedule

Monday, December 26 from 3:00 – 5:00 PM Women’s Club Handmade Master-Class on Felting Moderator: Anna Suprun, psychologist, hand-made artist If you are fond of hand making, we invite you to join warm women’s club atmosphere while felting a rooster - symbol of New Year 2017.

d) ETRC Joined «Україна Speaking» Campaign»: Youth Film Club

Thursday, December 1 from 3:00 – 6:00 PM ―Bridget Jones's Diary‖ (2001) (Runtime 97 min.) with English subtitles. Motion Picture Rating (MPAA): Rated R for language and some strong sexuality. See all certifications at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243155/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg#certification Starring Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant Bridget Jones is an average woman struggling against her many imperfections. As a New Year's Resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. Thursday, December 8 from 3:00 – 6:00 PM ―Captain Fantastic‖ (2016) (Runtime 118 min.) with English subtitles Motion Picture Rating (MPAA): Rated R for language and brief graphic nudity. See all certifications at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3553976/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg#certification Starring Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Samantha Isler In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, challenging his idea of what it means to be a parent. Thursday, December 15 from 3:00 – 6:00 PM ―Life of Pi‖ (2012) (Runtime 127 min.) with English subtitles Motion Picture Rating (MPAA): Rated PG for emotional thematic content throughout, and some scary action sequences. See all certifications at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454876/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg#certification Starring Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger. Thursday, December 22 from 3:00 – 5:30 PM ―A Christmas Story‖ (1983) (Runtime 94 min.) with English subtitles

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA): PG. See all certifications at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085334/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg#certification Starring Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie attempts to convince his parents, his teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.

The Film Club meeting will be moderated by English Language Fellow Seneca Ryan!

Thursday, December 29 from 3:00 – 6:00 PM ―Arthur Christmas‖ (Animation) (2011) (Runtime 97 min.) with English subtitles Motion Picture Rating (MPAA): Rated PG for some mild rude humor. See all certifications at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430607/parentalguide?ref_=tt_stry_pg#certification Voice: James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Hugh Laurie, Imelda Staunton, Laura Linney Each Christmas, Santa Claus delivers presents to every child on Earth. But when the unthinkable happens, and Santa misses one child out of hundreds of millions, someone has to save the day. Please sign up in advance to attend a particular event at the circulation desk, by phone (044) 425-77-75, by

e-mail: etrc_kyiv@yahoo.com, or send a text message to 067 230-7619.

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a) 2017 STUDY OF THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTES (SUSIs)

1) 2017 Study of the United States Institutes for Scholars Announcement

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine is pleased to announce a competition for the 2017 Study of the United States Institutes for Scholars. This program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and will cover all participant costs, including program administration, travel, housing and subsistence, as well as book, cultural, and incidental allowances. The highly competitive Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars (SUSIs) are intensive post-graduate level academic programs with integrated study tours whose purpose is to provide foreign university faculty and other scholars the opportunity to deepen their understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions. The ultimate goal of the Institutes is to strengthen curricula and to enhance the quality of teaching about the United States in academic institutions abroad. Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars will take place at various colleges, universities, and institutions throughout the United States over the course of six weeks beginning in or after June 2017. Each program is designed for a multinational group of 18 educators and professionals and focuses on a particular American Studies discipline or theme, and is planned and conducted by a U.S.-based host institution. Each Institute includes a four week academic residency component and up to two weeks of an integrated study tour. Participants are expected to attend all lectures and organized activities, and complete all assigned readings. The institutes should not be viewed as research programs. 2017 Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars will be held in the following themes in U.S. Studies: American Politics and Political Thought, Contemporary American Literature, Journalism and Media, Religious Pluralism in the United States, U.S. Culture and Society, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Please find detailed program description and the application form attached. Please visit the SUSI website page to obtain general information about the Institutes: http://exchanges.state.gov/susi . Applications are also available at the U.S. Embassy’s website http://ukraine.usembassy.gov or by email to KyivAccess@state.gov. The deadline for receiving applications at the Public Affairs Section is January 9, 2017.

2) 2017 Study of the United States Institutes for Student Leaders from Europe Announcement

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine is pleased to announce a competition for the 2017 Study of the United States Institutes for Student Leaders. This program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and will cover all participant costs, including program administration, travel, housing and subsistence, as well as book, cultural, and incidental allowances. Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Student Leaders from Europe are intensive short term academic programs whose purpose is to provide groups of undergraduate student leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States, while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills. The SUSI programs for Student Leaders from Europe are five-week Institutes that consist of a balanced series of seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures. Each Institute will have up to 22 international participants and will include a four week academic residency component and a one week integrated study tour. The coursework and classroom activities will be complemented by educational travel, site visits, leadership activities, and volunteer opportunities within the local community. During the academic residency, participants will also have the opportunity to engage in educational and cultural activities outside of the classroom. The program will take place in June and July 2017. The Institutes will be hosted by the University of South Carolina, the University of Oregon, and the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga on the topics of Civic Engagement, Environmental Issues, and Social Entrepreneurship, respectively. Please find detailed program description and the application form attached.

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Applications are also available at the U.S. Embassy’s website (http://ukraine.usembassy.gov) or by email to KyivAccess@state.gov The deadline for receiving applications at the Public Affairs Section is January 15, 2017. b) US Embassy-Kyiv: Grants and Programs

2017 Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Programs The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is pleased to announce a call for proposals for two competitions of the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Programs. 1. Small Grant Program: Projects from $10,000 - $200,000

The Small Grant program competition will take place in one round. Under this program, AFCP will accept proposals through December 10, 2016. This program supports preservation of cultural sites, cultural objects, museum collections and forms of traditional cultural expression. 2. Large Projects Program: Projects from $200,000 - $500,000 The Large Project Program will take place in two rounds. AFCP will accept proposals for Round 1 through December 10, 2016. The winners of Round 1 will be invited to take part in Round 2 at the end of February 2017. This program supports the preservation of major ancient archaeological sites, historic buildings and monuments, and museum collections which possess exceptional value in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the host country or the surrounding region. To apply, please use the templates from the “Related Links” below for your application, forms and budget. Please submit your proposal with supporting documents no later than December 10, 2016 by e-mail to:Kyivafcp@state.gov Democracy Small Grants Program General Competition The U.S. Embassy invites Ukrainian non-profit and non-governmental organizations to submit project proposals to the Democracy Small Grants Program. There is no fixed application deadline – this is an open-ended competition. Program Description (PDF) Media Development Fund General Competition The U.S. Embassy invites independent media outlets – including print, radio, TV, or electronic media to submit project proposals to the Media Development Fund. There is no fixed deadline – this is an open-ended competition. Program Description (PDF) https://ukraine.usembassy.gov/programs-grants/current-programs-and-grants.html

c) Grants at GURT Resource Centre

Find the list of opportunities to receive funding, grants and scholarships for education, professional development and projects. http://gurt.org.ua/news/grants/

d) Free Course ―Exploring the World of English Language Teaching‖ at Future Learn

Learn what it means to be a TEFL or English Language Teacher, and start preparing for your first teaching job by joining ongoing free course “Exploring the World of English Language Teaching.” About the Course: Thousands of English language teachers take up posts around the globe every year, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) to different nationalities and speakers. If

you’re thinking about joining them, this free online course will help you find out more about the world of English Language Teaching (ELT). https://goo.gl/NuVYK6

In November, English Language Fellow Seneca Ryan conducted three teacher training workshops at ETRC. On November 4, Seneca revised common mistakes and best practices for giving instructions. On November 18, Seneca and participants celebrated International Games Day at your Library by playing Activate! board games. On November 25, Seneca introduced participants to basics of English composition and discussed a framework for the

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standard American essay. On November 11, Victor Bielyshev, English language instructor, Fulbright alumna, and an active participant of ETRC teacher training workshops, conducted the first methodological workshop from the series “Different Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching”. Presenter provided an overview of several language teaching methods practiced today and discussed with participants their benefits and drawbacks for particular teaching contexts.

On November 16, Maryna Tsehelska, an Associate Professor at Kryvyi Rih Pedagogical University, Director of the “Educational Centre “Interclass”, and TESOL-Ukraine Vice-President, conducted the third workshop from the series of monthly workshops “Effective Methods of Teaching English” where she shared with participants benefits of and ideas for applying Bloom’s Taxonomy in the classroom.

On November 22, Oleksandr Moskalenko, an English Language instructor with 30 years' experience, Tutor for adult professionals at local and multinational companies in Ukraine and abroad and Author of a book “How to learn English”, conducted teacher training workshop on task-based language teaching (TBLT) method and explored with participants how TBLT could improve accuracy of speech.

On November 2 and November 16, the fifth and sixth webinars from the fourth series of webinars American English Webinar Series were broadcasted at ETRC. The webinars were dedicated to using media in academic writing and tools for digital learning. On November 8, Volodymyr Hrudinin, Change Management Consultant from Australia, moderated a discussion club on the topic “Adapting to Changes in Labour Market” and

explored with participants how new technologies changed labor market and how to plan one’s career in new contexts.

On November 2, 9 and 23, businessman and lecturer Jeff Evans conducted three seminars on leadership at ETRC. Jeff and participants discussed a number of crucial topics from the Leadership Course, including importance of authentic listening, being out here and realms of possibilities for a leader. Participants found Jeff’s ideas useful and easily applicable, and ten regular participants earned certificates of attendance.

On November 21, psychologist and handmade artist Anna Suprun welcomed enthusiasts to Women’s club for a master class on wet felting. Participants felted necklace beads and in the process discussed importance of regular communication with friends and like-minded people for one’s mental well-being. In November, ETRC hosted 4 regular film club sessions and 1 special film club session organized to honour International Education Week. Participants watched famous American films and discussed their messages, in particular, cross-cultural communication, tolerance, importance of being a strong personality, dedicated professional and cherishing your family and friends.

December 1 – World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is held on the 1st December as an opportunity for people to work actively and collaboratively with partners around the world to raise awareness about HIV and help us move closer to the goal of an AIDS-free generation. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day, held for the first time in 1988.

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https://www.usaid.gov/world-aids-day December 25 – Christmas Day

Christmas Day is a public holiday in many countries worldwide, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. It's a time when family and friends come together and remember the good things they have. Festive activities include exchanging presents, singing Christmas songs, going to parties. http://top40.about.com/od/holidaymusic/tp/Top-100-Christmas-Songs.htm http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/12/christmas-traditions-from-around-the-world-infographic/

December 31 – New Year’s Eve Civilizations around the world have been celebrating the start of each new year for at least four millennia. Today, most New Year’s festivities begin on December 31 (New Year’s Eve), the last day of the Gregorian calendar, and continue into the early hours of January 1 (New Year’s Day). Common traditions include attending parties, eating special New Year’s foods, making resolutions for the new year and watching fireworks displays. https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/new-year-eve http://mashable.com/2015/12/28/new-years-eve-foods/#etnzBoa9OkqG

1) 10 Anti-Aging Tips: How to Look Younger and Stay Healthy Forever

Several researches show that people who feel younger than their chronological age are likely to live longer, better lives. Keeping your mind agile, your body active, and staying socially active are all habits of people who feel younger than they are.

http://www.wikihow.com/Stay-Young

http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/wellbeing/7-lessons-on-anti-ageing-from-bbcs-how-to-stay-young-11364050661896

2) Autophagy — How Your Body Detoxifies and Repairs Itself

For the last time, forget juice cleanses and detox diets. You can be surprised but your body can clean itself. It's a natural process called autophagy (literally "self-eating"): your cells create membranes that hunt out scraps of dead, diseased, or worn-out cells; gobble them up; strip them for parts; and use the resulting molecules for energy or to make new cell parts. Furthermore, this effect of autophagy was proven and recognized by 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine!

http://greatist.com/live/autophagy-fasting-exercise

https://www.yashodahospitals.com/blog/autophagy-your-body-s-way-to-cleanse-itself

1) AfternoonTea and English This blog is 100% dedicated to the English language. Rules, new words, themed months, grammar and useful resources. For those who would like to learn English with pleasure. http://afternoontea-english.tumblr.com

2) Lingualeo Master your English with this online platform that offers ongoing tasks and provides bonuses for performance. Lingualeo describes its approach as "seven secrets of learning a foreign language". These are: understanding of the purpose of studying; regular classes; working with the living language; imitating native speakers; bringing skills to automaticity using visual, auditory and motor memory. Lingualeo is on the web, Android, iOS, Windows Phone. http://lingualeo.com/chooselanguage?returnUrl=#get-plan

3) Englishlink

Englishlink makes the experience of learning English convenient and effective. Whether you are an elementary speaker or need business English for a new job, American and Canadian teachers from Englishlink will help you reach your goals. http://www.englishlink.com/en-US/home/index.aspx

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1) Rachel's English

Learning good English pronunciation is hard, and perfect pronunciation is harder but you’ll be able to improve it with Rachel’s help. Using popular American English phrases, vocabulary, idioms this channel shows you the examples from real life American English conversation. All videos have closed captioning to help non-native speakers understand.

https://www.youtube.com/user/rachelsenglish

2) ToLearnEnglish

This is a great resource created by an ESL teacher for learning English with tests, lessons and forums. Here you’ll find hundreds of exercises, grammar and vocabulary sheets, funny games and educational videos. If you want to know more about American culture, history and geography it’s a good place to start. http://www.tolearnenglish.com

Christmas Magic by Joanna Fuchs

Are we too grownup to feel a thrill As we light the Christmas tree?

Are we immune to cookies, Christmas cards and Christmas glee?

Are we too adult to "Ooh" and "Aah"

At the Christmas candle's glow? Are we blasé about our gifts; Do we shun the mistletoe?

Are we too mature for carols,

For merry or for jolly? Do the decorations leave us cold,

The ornaments and holly?

Fat chance! We'll never grow too old To love the Christmas magic. A year without a Christmas

Would be boring, even tragic.

So bring it on! The candy canes, The feasting and good cheer;

O Christmas, lovely Christmas, You're the highlight of the year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We look forward to seeing you at the ETRC! ETRC Staff