My Future

This is my third semester of graduate school and I have five more classes left once this semester is over. I am ecstatic to finish school so that I can finally start my career as an elementary or TESOL teacher. I have so many plans for my future and I cannot wait to get started. I know that there will be a fair share of hard times, since life is not easy, but there are so many positive things that I look forward to. Just to mention a few: I want to travel the world, buy a home, buy expensive items, get married and start a family. Everything that I am doing right now is to prepare me for my future, I am working, I am in school and I am saving money. Luckily, with the love and support of my family they are making my future even more promising. They have helped me financially by putting me through college, by living at home it helps me save the money that I need for my future. I hope to move out soon and I know it will be a struggle but I am ready for it. I have lived a very comfortable life and I want to gain even more independence. I am proud of how far I have come, I have two jobs that I enjoy and I am pursuing a career that I love. In 5 years from now I hope I have achieved all my goals (traveling, family, home, money, job etc.). I think the best thing is to know what you want to do with your life and this is my dream. It is my goal to make my dreams a reality I think it is best not to dream too big but anything can happen as long you try.

1. semester
2. ecstatic-very happy
3. career: job
4. expensive: things that cost a lot of money
5. financially: meaning money
6. independence: freedom
7. achieved: reach a goal

Spelling Words - Missing Letters

1. indep_ndence

2. car_er

3. financi_lly

4. ex_e_sive
5. a_hieved

6.semest_r 
7. _cstaticGrammar points

Prepositions

The word preposition can easily be understood by listing some examples: in, on, under, by, for, from, with, during. Prepositions are the (usually) short words that precede nouns or pronouns, and give information about where (on the table), when (in April), etc.
What can be very difficult for learners of English, however, is to know which preposition they need in the sentences they say or write. This is because there is often no correspondence between the preposition they use in their language and the one needed in English*.

* For example: German has the same preposition as English: in. But there are many occasions when English uses in, and German uses a different preposition, or vice versa. English children play in the street, German children auf der Strasse (on the street). Germans can be good in languages (gut in Sprachen), whereas the English are good at them. English people travel by bus; Germans travel with the bus (mit dem Bus). In Germany, something belongs me (gehört mir), but in England it belongs to me.

Prepositions often follow other parts of speech as fixed phrases that have to be learned case-by-case: interested in, angry about, to belong to, etc. It is clear, therefore, that the learner who wants to use English prepositions correctly will often need to consult a good dictionary.

Here is a good online dictionary to use:
http://dictionary.reference.com/

The one

Once upon a time there lived a very beautiful young lady named Alexa. She was happy with her life but always wondered when she would meet the love of her life. She always dreamt of what her wedding would be like and tried to imagine what her groom would look like. She knew that one day she would meet the man of her dreams and she would have a family of her own. Until then she went to school and worked two jobs all in preparation to be the best future wife. She wanted to learn how to cook and make special desserts. She wanted to do all of these things so that her man would know how much she loved him. Even though she was young, she was frustrated, she had met many men but none of them had the special quality that she was looking for. Then on an unexpected day she met him, his name was Hugo, she did not know it then but this was the man she was waiting for. She was at a party and they had locked eyes. Then, he came over to her and introduced himself, he kissed her cheek and she felt giddy. She did not know why but she liked him and just knew that he was the one. They started talking and after a few days he asked her out on a date. They spent the whole night talking and she felt herself falling in love with him. It had all happened so fast but she could now imagine what her husband would look like. She knew who she wanted to make special meals for and who would be the father of her children. She could now see him clearly, but not just in her dreams. She now saw him standing at the end of the aisle, it was Hugo.

1. groom: a man who is about to be married
2. preparation: to be ready for something
3. frustrated: annoyed
4. quality: a specific characteristic
5. unexpected: something that you do not see happening
6. giddy: excited
7. aisle: a walkway

Grammar points

The Verb to do

To do is used as a principal verb in many set phrases used with the various tasks we do around the house and at work. To do is generally used to express tasks we do, rather than things we make. Of course, there are some exceptions to the rules. Here are some of the main set phrases about tasks we do:

do good
do the dishes
do sport
do exercise
do business
do homework
do yard work
Examples:
I'll do the dishes if you make dinner.
Sheila tries to do sport at least three times a week.
He's done that exercise a number of times.

NOTE: To do exercise is used with a number of different types of exercise. Generally, we use 'play' with competitive sports, 'go' with activities such as walking, riding, and hiking. 'Do' is used with exercises such as yoga, karate, etc.

Examples:
Jennifer did yoga for two hours this morning.
I try to do some exercises like sit-ups and push-ups every morning.
James does pilates at his local gym.

watch the following video on the verb to do:

Exercise:

Unscramble the words
1.	oormg	________________________________
2.	uxnctepdee	________________________________
3.	saeil	________________________________
4.	ddgyi	________________________________
5.	treinppaaro	________________________________
6.	yauilqt	________________________________
7.	setdfruart	________________________________

 

Snow

I really needed the day off from school and work today, therefore I am thankful for the snow day. However, this inclement weather makes traveling inconvenient. Driving to school, driving to my two jobs, and running errands are more difficult to do with the snow. Snow to begin with is difficult but the accumulation from the past few snow storms is what makes it worse. I cannot wait for the spring weather! I dislike staying in the house all day I get cabin fever. After a while you get bored of watching TV and tired of doing school work. I am thankful that I was productive with getting most of my school assignments done but after a while I need a break. I need to get out of the house just to let my mind relax.

1. inclement: very cold, wet weather
2. inconvenient: difficult
3. errands: chores someone has to go out and do
4. accumulation: an increasing amount
5. cabin fever: feeling annoyed or angry from being indoors for too long
6. productive: getting a lot of work done

                              Grammar points

Subject-verb agreement
A singular subject must take a singular verb, and a plural subject must take a plural verb. The only verb form that is affected by this rule is the third person simple present; but since this verb form is the one you will use most in your studies, it is essential that you master the subject-verb agreement rule as quickly as possible.

In these examples, the subject is in bold typeface and the verb is in italics:

• The Prime Minister is meeting the President of the United States at the White House. (singular subject: Prime Minister; singular verb is meeting)
• The Prime Minister and the President are meeting at the White House (plural subject: PM and President; plural verb are meeting)
• Glass breaks easily. Glasses break easily.
• The computer is a useful tool. Computers are useful tools.
• The lion has eaten the zebra. The lions have eaten the zebra.

Exercise: Select one answer from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you choose should fit the blank in the sentence.

1.  Either the doctors in this hospital or the nurses____ going to have to make a decision. is are

2.  ______ your boss going to attend the ceremony?
Is
Are
3.  Some of the votes __________ to have been lost.
seem
seems
4.  The amount of tornadoes in this county _____ increasing every year.
are
is
5.  Everyone in this class_____ to study.
have
has

6. He will _________ his project in front of a huge crowd presents present

7.  He seems to forget that there __________ things to be done before he can graduate.
are
is

8.  There _______ to be some people left in that town after yesterday's flood. have has

9.  Some of the food __________ to be contaminated.
appear
appears
10.  50% of the students __________ in favor of bringing their own lunch to school.
is
are

Zumba

I always had a love for music and dancing therefore it seemed like a no-brainer when I decided to get certified as a Zumba instructor. The classes are so much fun and are an excellent way to get in shape.

I had been taking Zumba classes for about a year before I was approached by a manager at the gym I attended; he said that he was looking to hire someone new to teach. He told me that if I got certified I would have the job, so I thought about it and then I signed up for the 8 hour certification class. The day of the  certification class was long and exhausting  but it was all worth it. In the end I ended up getting my certificate and a new job.

I have been teaching Zumba for about 3 years now and I love it. I enjoy making new routines and learning new choreography. I especially loved the music; prior to Zumba I had not really listened to Spanish music. Now I listen to it everyday and most of my routines consist of Spanish songs.

I am currently teaching Zumba, Zumba toning (which is dance zumba but with light weights) and Zumba for kids. I am also a nursery school teacher and my principal expressed interest in trying zumba for the children. It has been a wonderful experience and the children love it. Zumba has brought me many great job opportunities, a healthy body and fun wonderful memories. I am thankful that I started doing Zumba and I greatly recommend everyone try it.

1. no-brainer: did not require much thinking
2. certified: to say officially that something or someone has met certain standards or requirements
3. zumba- an exercise Spanish dance class
4. instructor- teacher
5. approached: to move or come close to someone
6. exhausting- very tiring
7. choreography- dance moves
8. prior- before

                                     Grammar Points

What is a subject?

The subject is one of the main two parts of a sentence. According to traditional grammar, a sentence consists of two parts:

• a subject,
• a predicate which modifies the subject.

consider the following sentence:

• Leila loves painting.

Leila is the subject and likes soccer acts as the predicate
The subject relates its constituent (a noun phrase) by means of the verb to any other elements present in the sentence (objects, complements and adverbials.)

Examples of subjects

• Nurses are on strike. (subject with no determiners)
• The big man hurt him. (a noun phrase introduced by a determiner)
• Driving is what I like most. (Gerund)
• To write poems is difficult. (Infinitive)
• That he worked hard is a fact. (a clause)
• I/you...like soccer. (subject pronouns)
• It rains often here. (dummy subject)

Now write 5 sentences with 5 different subjects.

                                                                     Exercise
Answer the following questions

1. What is Zumba?
2. Have you ever heard of Zumba before this reading?
3. Have you ever taken a Zumba class before? If not, then write if you would like to try it
4. Do you like to dance?
5. Why do I like teaching Zumba?
6. Do I like Spanish music?

The Best Experience of my Life

When asked to reflect on the best experience of my life a specific person comes to mind, my boyfriend. Meeting him was the most significant part of my life, especially since I had never fallen in love before. From the first date I felt that there was something special about him and after a few dates I quickly fell in love with him.
Even though the first date was nerve-raking, due to the fact that I was so excited and did not know what to expect, it was the best experience of my life. I am a shy person so I was nervous but he made me feel so comfortable. I felt like I had known him for a long time. There was never an awkward moment of silence; He carried a great conversation and had me laughing. He was a true gentleman, it was a night that I will never forget. I did not know it then but it was the start of the best chapter of my life.
I am so thankful that I have him in my life, he has showed me how a woman should be treated. Just when I thought chivalry was dead, he came into my life and opened my door and pulled out my chair. I wondered to myself if he would continue to do that for me and I am proud to say he still does. He is a real man and I will never take him for granted. I have never felt so strongly about anyone before, it is such a special feeling and was well worth the wait.

Definitions:
1. Reflect: To think
2. Specific: clear detail
3. Awkward: uncomfortable feeling
4. Take for granted: not being thankful
5. Nerve-raking: feeling very nervous
6. Chivalry: being polite toward women

Fill in the blank with the words that have been defined above.

Life is short so enjoy it. Occasionally you will be place in ____________ situations but you will learn from them. Even though you will feel _______, you must realize you have to go through the bad to appreciate the good. Life is something you never want to ________________. Make sure you take time to ________ on all the good things that have happened to you, never focus on the negative. Always be the best you can be and pay attention to _________ details. An act of _________ can go a long way. Live, laugh, love.

What is the past tense?

The tense of a verb is determined by when the action took place.  The three main tenses are: the past tense, the present tense and the  future tense. Verbs describing actions that will happen in the past are said to be in the past tense.
Examples:

• "The four travelers passed a sleepless night, each thinking of the gift Oz had promised to bestow on him."
  (L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, 1900)



• "And the Scarecrow found a tree full of nuts and filled Dorothy's basket with them, so that she would not be hungry for a long time. She thought this was very kind and thoughtful of the Scarecrow, but she laughed heartily at the awkward way in which the poor creaturepicked up the nuts."
  (L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, 1900)



• "Dorothy . . . drew a small silver whistle from her pocket and blew a shrill note upon it."
  (L. Frank Baum, Tik-Tok of Oz, 1914)



• "The past tense includes any action or state of being that we could find between the dawn of time and a split second before the present."
  (Michael Strumpf and Auriel Douglas, The Grammar Bible. Owl Books, 2004)

Pick 3 sentences from this reading that are written in the past tense and underline the words that are written in the past.

The tense of a verb is determined by when the action took place.  The three main tenses are: the past tense, the present tense and the future tense. Verbs describing actions that will happen in the past are said to be in the past tense.
Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/past_tense.htm#mC112KjqOtZDgwP4.99

The tense of a verb is determined by when the action took place.  The three main tenses are: the past tense, the present tense and the future tense. Verbs describing actions that will happen in the past are said to be in the past tense.
Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/past_tense.htm#mC112KjqOtZDgwP4.99

The tense of a verb is determined by when the action took place.  The three main tenses are: the past tense, the present tense and the future tense. Verbs describing actions that will happen in the past are said to be in the past tense.
Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/past_tense.htm#mC112KjqOtZDgwP4.99