Having Fun with Language Links English Clubs
Virtual
Debate Program
Students: Young Learners & Adults
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Why is the ocean blue? Why can’t I stay up as late as you do? How does the internet really work? What makes a country powerful?
Children have a plethora of questions about anything and everything around them. Asking questions and having healthy discussions are necessary and lead to interesting conversations.
Why not give children a platform to express their ideas and thoughts?
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A debate is nothing but a discussion deliberated around a particular theme, supported by facts and informed opinions. In our 8-week Debate Class students have the opportunity to
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• enhance their public speaking skills
• organize their thoughts
• develop skills in refutation and argument building
• acquire persuasive and negotiation skills
• practice grace under pressure
• strengthen team building skills
• gain confidence
• and further develop their critical thinking skills.
Debates are not only exciting and stimulating, but they also help to broaden knowledge. Students can benefit from participating in a program that aims to satisfy the inquisitive mind.
READING GIVE US
SOMEPLACE TO GO WHEN WE HAVE TO STAY WHERE WE ARE.
– Mason Cooley
Virtual
Book Club
Students: Adults
Level: 5 (Intermediate) & 8 (Advanced)
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Do you love reading? Would you like to read a story in English?
Ever wanted to be able to talk about what you are reading?
Come join our Book Club
Meet new friends, see different perspectives and enjoy great discussion in a safe place support for language development.
We will read interesting stories to spark and provoke thoughtful conversation in a small group.
Reading is one of the best ways to improve your English, but it can be a bit challenging without some guidance. Through these stories, we practice new vocabulary, work on pronunciation and engage in real-life conversation about interesting characters, topics, issues and our own lives. The story will help us learn English, but they also help us understand ourselves and each other.
During each lesson you’ll meet to discuss what’s been happening in the book, the characters, your favourite or least-liked parts and ask questions about parts that maybe you had trouble understanding. We will provide a worksheet in advance to help you prepare for our lesson and arrive ready to speak.
Learn to describe the story and discuss your favourite and least-liked parts with friends outside of the online classroom.
Not to worry! We will help you.
We offer the Book Club at two different levels, Intermediate and Advanced.
Students will read a variety of short stories and/or novels from different genres and written by international authors exposing students to global perspectives and building self awareness.
(Sample) Reading List:
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The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
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A Good man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor
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In the Penal Colony by Franz Kafka
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The Devil in America by Kai Ashante Wilson
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The City born Great by N.K. Jemisin
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Exhalation by Ted Chiang
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The Daughters of the Moon by Italo Calvino
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The Embassy of Cambodia by Zadie Smith
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Sweetness by Toni Morrison
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Girls at Play by Celeste Ng
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And many more…
Top 6 reasons to join LLX online book club:
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1. Interact with international friends
New people bring in different opinions and new perspectives which makes for excellent discussions
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2. Read to speak
Read something interest to tell your family and friends
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3. Read things that you wouldn’t otherwise read
Be introduced to new authors and discussions that give insight into new ideas, themes, and perspectives
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4. Deeper understanding and conversation
Get a deeper understanding of the story by analyzing your thoughts and challenging them in a group discussion
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5. Safe Learning Environment
6. Turn the TV Off
Another great thing about forming a book club is that you turn your TV off. The world is saturated with technology and what better way to unplug than by reading a great story.
Be part of a group, read books and share your thoughts.
MUSIC IS THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF MANKIND.
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Virtual
Glee Club
Students: Adults
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Bored of learning ESL?
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Try a fun and creative way to engage with the English language. Instead of learning grammar rules and learning vocabulary lists, sing it!
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Learning a new language is all about making it part of your life and spending a little bit of time every day picking up something new about the language you are learning and slowly building up your fluency.
Music is an easy way to build English into your daily routine. It’s a low effort, low impact way to pick up pronunciation and colloquial phrases or expressions and is as simple as putting in your headphones. Listening to music in English means to can be studying no matter what you are doing, such as exercising, cooking or cleaning.
During each lesson you’ll meet to learn the vocabulary or idioms in the song, discuss the theme and learn the cultural background of the song. Practice the pronunciation and fine-tune your listening skills. Learn the rhythm of the English language. Did you like the song? How did it affect your mood? We will provide a worksheet in advance to help you prepare for our lesson and arrive ready to sing.
What Are the benefits of learning English through Music?
1. It works
There is a range of scientific evidence that suggests that music is an effective way for English as a Second Language (ESL) learners to improve their grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Added to that is the Mozart Effect, the theory that suggests rhythmic music can help to boost mental performance, helping students pick up new languages faster.
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2. It improves your vocabulary
Since songs are aimed at native English speakers, song lyrics are full of slang words, colloquialisms, and modern English expressions. Listening to song lyrics is an excellent way to pick up language that often is not commonly taught in class.
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3. It helps to set “The Beat”
Learning a language is as much about learning its flow and rhythms as it is about learning its vocabulary and grammar. Unsurprisingly, learning through music helps you master how English is spoken, not just what words are used. Using music as part of your language learning process can help to improve your knowledge of the language’s rhythm, tone, and beat.
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4. Repetition is key
Lyrical repetition is a key part of rap, rock, R&B, and pop music. Listening to songs with a repetitive pattern is an excellent way to commit new vocabulary to memory. Music has a way of getting stuck in our heads and is more persistent than simply learning word lists. When trying to learn new vocabulary, find a song that you like that contains those words and let it get stuck in your head.
5. A window on English-Speaking Culture
Listening to English Language music is an excellent way to absorb the culture of English-speaking peoples. It can be an insight into the way English-speaking people think and feel. If nothing else, having a knowledge of popular songs and artists gives you something to talk about with your English-speaking friends, and a good conversation is a great way to improve your English.