• Some photos of China 1998-2000
• About Thor
• Some photos of Thor

1. Language Learning

a) Notes on Language Learning Basics

 

2. Numbers

a) Numbers, series 'A'

3. Speaking

3.1 Notes on Successful Speaking

3.2 Intonation

4. Vocabulary

a) Notes on Vocabulary Learning

TAPESTRY 1 (textbook) 

Theme 1 - Introductions

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

Topics when meeting a new friend. (Expanded into dialogues out of class by students for later classroom performance).

"Meeting You" worksheet. (Dialogues of informal and formal introductions for listening, understanding, memorization and performance + notes on the culture of meetings).

Sample listening test for "Meeting You". (Listen, write down what the teacher dictates, then finish the sentence with any good English).

2. Culture

TAPESTRY 1 (textbook) 

Theme 2 - Finding Your Way

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a) Looking for the Two-Seven Tower (in Zhengzhou)

b) Listening Test #1: Looking for the Two-Seven Tower.

c) Zhengzhou City map: a) Chinese; b) English

Chinese map from http://map.vbgood.com/China_city_map_collection/zhengzhou.htm
English map from http://www.chinaforgroups.com/china_map/zhengzhou_map.gif
(Images on this server for convenience only. Please refer to the originals).

d) Discussion around WHO report : Road Accidents in China

 

TAPESTRY 1 (textbook) 

Theme 3 - A Full Life

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a) Mr Bones Tells All [An imaginary humorous interview as a model for student creation and performance].

b) Que Sera Sera [Song, learned for understanding English rhythm, and to cue student thinking about life plans].

c) Some slang words to describe people in working life.

d) What is a career? [The many ways of looking at a working life]

e) A celebrity interview; [student assignment].

f) An imaginary retirement speech recalling highlights of a working life; [student assignment].

g) Listening test 2 based on the future, and "Celebrity Interview".

 

TAPESTRY 1 (textbook) 

Theme 4 - It's Raining Cats & Dogs

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a) It's A Bit Sticky [dialogue, comparing the weather in Sydney and Zhengzhou]

b) Rain and Wind - two children's poems by Thor

c) Climate Report assignment.

d) Dialogue creation from a picture story: Splash ! (based on J.B. Heaton, Composition Through Pictures, page 2; pub. Longman)

e) Listening test 3 based on "It's a Bit Sticky"

TAPESTRY 1 (textbook) 

Theme 5 - Giving Advice; Describing Symptoms

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a) Advice on Food for a Foreign Teacher [assignment for a panel of four]

b) Health Freak dialogue

c) Birth Defects Soar in China [news article for discussion]

d) First Aid demonstration by students based on cue cards (see photos)

e) Listening test 4 based on "Health Freak"

TAPESTRY 1 (textbook) 

Theme 6 - Describing People and Things

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a) Finding Mr Wrong and Miss Don't Want [student assignment for cultural sensitization]

b) Cultural Clashes [three role plays based on actual experiences in China]

c) Comparing Migrant Stock: The Foreign Born in Australia, Canada, and the United States by Region of Origin [information linked from The Migration Policy Institute, 2007, with thanks]

d) A Funny Looking Bloke [dialogue for paired practice]

e) Listening Test 5 : based on Cultural Clashes

 

TAPESTRY 1 (textbook) 

Theme 7 - My Hero - Describing People's Personalities + Using a Chart for Notes

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a) A Scene for a Hero (Assignment)

b) "Chinese Whispers" game [ a demonstration that we never communicate quite what we think we say]

c) Hero (a dialogue for intonation practice and performance)

d) Character branding : a name to match the description.

e) The Rose of Tralee [ an old love song to demonstrate the power of concrete analogy and imagery]

f) Listening Test 6 (based on "A Funny Looking Bloke")

2. Mid-Term Exam (based on previous tests)

TAPESTRY 1 (textbook) 

Theme 8 - Get a Job!

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

1. Why should I give you a job? [Assignment]

2. The Pickle Factory Interview and The Love Club Interviews Mr Chu [ two humorous dialogues satirizing the interview process]

3. Job Interviews

a) Job Interview Frame 1 
b) Job Interview Frame 2 
c) Job Interview Frame 3 
d) After the Interview 
e) Job Application Frame 1 

4. Listening Test 7a (based on The Pickle Factory Interview)

 

TAPESTRY 1 (textbook) 

Theme 9 - All In The Family

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a) A Story to Tell (assignment)

b) A Trashed Message (a story for listening and re-telling)

c) A Bum Bike (dialogue for paired role play)

d) Listening Test 8 (based on "A Trashed Message" and "A Bum Bike")

e) Sample Speaking Test (using pictures from a San Mao cartoon)

TAPESTRY 1 (textbook) 

Theme 10 - The Future Is Now

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

1. Future Plans - An Argument (assignment)

2. In Over Our Heads (a dialogue for paired role play)

3. Practice Speaking Test2 from Pictures (Heaton)

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 9 - What's In The News?

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

1. Radio News (assignment)

2. Shoes to Go (a dialogue for paired role play)

3. Practice Speaking Test from "Short Texts From Oz" (Oral Grammar Practice)

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 10 - Planethood : The Environment

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

1. Environment Debate (assignment)

2. Smoke and Mirrors (a dialogue for paired role play)

3. Practice Speaking Test 2 from "Short Texts From Oz" (Oral Grammar Practice)

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 1 - The Whole World is Your Classroom

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

Topics when meeting a new friend. (Expanded into dialogues out of class by students for later classroom performance).

"Meeting You" worksheet. (Dialogues of informal and formal introductions for listening, understanding, memorization and performance + notes on the culture of meetings).

Sample listening test for "Meeting You". (Listen, write down what the teacher dictates, then finish the sentence with any good English).

2. Culture

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 2 - Changes & Choices

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 3 - This is Who I Am

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a) Mr Bones Tells All [An imaginary humorous interview as a model for student creation and performance].

b) Que Sera Sera [Song, learned for understanding English rhythm, and to cue student thinking about life plans].

c) Some slang words to describe people in working life.

d) What is a career? [The many ways of looking at a working life]

e) A celebrity interview; [student assignment].

f) An imaginary retirement speech recalling highlights of a working life; [student assignment].

g) Listening test 2 based on the future, and "Celebrity Interview".

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 4 - Health; Getting the Most out of Life

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a) Advice on Food for a Foreign Teacher

b) Health Freak dialogue

c) Birth Defects Soar in China [news article for discussion]

d) Listening test 4 based on "Health Freak"

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 5 - When Cultures Meet

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a) Finding Mr Wrong and Miss Don't Want [student assignment for cultural sensitization]

b) Cultural Clashes [ three role plays based on actual experiences in China]

c) Comparing Migrant Stock: The Foreign Born in Australia, Canada, and the United States by Region of Origin [information linked from The Migration Policy Institute, 2007, with thanks]

d) A Funny Looking Bloke [dialogue for paired practice]

e) Listening Test 5 : based on Cultural Clashes

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 6 - What Do You Mean? - Thoughts & Communications

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a) A Scene for a Hero (Assignment)

b) "Chinese Whispers" game [ a demonstration that we never communicate quite what we think we say]

c) Hero (a dialogue for intonation practice and performance)

d) Character branding : a name to match the description.

e) The Rose of Tralee [ an old love song to demonstrate the power of concrete analogy and imagery]

f) Listening Test 6 (based on "A Funny Looking Bloke")

2. Mid-Term Exam (based on previous tests)

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 7 - Making Friends & Finding Attachments

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

1. Why should I give you a job? [Assignment]

2. The Pickle Factory Interview and The Love Club Interviews Mr Chu [ two humorous dialogues satirizing the interview process]

3. Job Interviews

a) Job Interview Frame 1 
b) Job Interview Frame 2 
c) Job Interview Frame 3 
d) After the Interview 
e) Job Application Frame 1 

4. Listening Test 7b (based on The Love Club Interview)

 

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 8 - Tell Me What I Want: Advertising & Shopping

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

a)A TV Commercial (assignment)

b) A Trashed Message (a story for listening and re-telling)

c) A Bum Bike (dialogue for paired role play)

d) Listening Test 8 (based on "A Trashed Message" and "A Bum Bike")

e) Sample Speaking Test (using pictures from a San Mao cartoon)

 

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 9 - What's In The News (a)?

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

1. Future Plans - An Argument (assignment)

2. In Over Our Heads (a dialogue for paired role play)

3. Practice Speaking Test2 from Pictures (Heaton)

 

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 9 - What's In The News (b)?

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

1. Radio News (assignment)

2. Shoes to Go (a dialogue for paired role play)

3. Practice Speaking Test from "Short Texts From Oz" (Oral Grammar Practice)

 

TAPESTRY 2 (textbook) 

Theme 10 - Planethood : The Environment

1.  Extra material  by Thor :

1. Environment Debate (assignment)

2. Smoke and Mirrors (a dialogue for paired role play)

3. Practice Speaking Test 2 from "Short Texts From Oz" (Oral Grammar Practice)

4.  Crazy Conversations

1. Ear Scratching
2. Soju Fumes [soju is strong Korean alcohol, like vodka or Chinese bai ju]
3. A Brain Chip for English
4. Mosquitoes are Dangerous
5. A Dead Tortoise
6. Avatar Assistance
7. International Visitor
8. Parking Problem
9. Mr Magoo is Confused
10. Mr Magoo Fights a Vending Machine
11. The Pickle Factory Interview
12. The Love Club Interviews Mr Chu