Day9 : The Lesson

This morning's lesson focussed on the English used in phone conversation. The main lessons were from EnglishClub.com again. The lessons included the introduction of common phrases. For their practices, the students were given three telephone scripts with parts left blank for them to fill in. After they had completed this revision, they used the completed scripts to practice mock telephone conversations with each other.

In the afternoon, listened to the Rob and Bob ESL podcast. In this episode, Rob and Bob discussed the use of gerunds and the infinitive. They also describe what a Japanese wedding is like. Again, to revisit the objective of the Rob and Bob show: it was basically used to familiarise the students with the American and British accents as well as key points of English grammar. In the second half of the afternoon session, we worked on In Company Chapter 7. This lesson focussed on the use of "can" and "can't".

Interesting cultural insight: In Phnom Penh, people double park on the road all the time. Usually, the traffic cops don't care too much (as in ignore!) about such traffic transgression. However.... and this is the fun part... If there happens to be a national assembly sitting, then the cops will be extra vigilant. You see, they have to make a big show to the law-makers and VIPs that the drivers are law-abiding.

So the whole morning, I have students running in and out of the classroom to shift their vehicles from the right side to the left side of the road. The instructions changes every ten minutes. It was a riot! The students are remarkably good natured about it. Everyone is laughing about having to shift their cars. It is rather farcical ... to make things worse, apparently Indonesian President Susilo Bambamg Yudhoyono decides to visit in the afternoon. So the wheel turns once more... it is quite an interesting cultural induction! Here's a picture of the Billboard announcing the visit of the Indonesian President:

Work Done:
Telephone English, http://www.englishclub.com/speaking/telephone.htm
Rob and Bob ESL Podcast, Episode 22, Japanese Weddings, Gerunds and Infinitive
In Company, Chapter 7