Video — Mary, Did You Know? (Petatonix)

Mary, Did You Know? is a Christmas song written in 1991. It has become a popular song for artists to cover. Maybe the best version so far is the one recorded this year by Pentatonix, a popular YouTube artist. Enjoy the video again. I have included the lyrics below the video.

Merry Christmas!

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.

The lame will leap, the mute will speak, the praises of the Lamb.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM.

Lesson 12 – Introduction to Essays

Quizlet

We took another quiz on the NAWL 1-3 set. If your score was below 85%, keep practicing the Test for each set on your own time until you get 85% or more on each set.

In the next lesson, there will be a quiz on the NAWL 1-4 sets.

RF
We did with Reading Fluency (RF) practice again with The Language of Shakespeare. Update your RF Log on Google Sheets.

EWr
We did not have enough time to do Extensive Writing (EWr) during the lesson. Use your smartphone's timer function and write for 10 minutes at home. The topic this time is My Best (or worst) Christmas Memory. How many words could you write? Could you reach your best score? Update your EWr Log on Google Sheets.

Introduction to Essay Writing
We looked at the organization of essays including a model essay. You will be writing an essay on the following topic:

Advice for learning English successfully


Homework

1. Read and complete the activities in the handouts.
2. Make an outline for your essay.
3. Write your introduction.

Tasks 2 & 3 should be in a Google Doc

• Log in to Google Drive.
• Create a new file in Google Docs.
• Give it the title your name + RW2 + L12 (ex., Junko Saito RW2 L12).
• Share it with me at my Rikkyo email address.

Due 12/21 21:59.

Progress Checklist (up to L11)

Video — Angels We Have Heard on High (The Piano Guys)

Angels We Have Heard on High
(The Piano Guys)

Now that Thanksgiving is finished, we can listen to Christmas music! This is a classic Christmas song with a twist by the Piano Guys. They use many GoPro cameras and a drone (indoors!).

Enjoy it again (except for the 3rd period class. We didn't have time during the class, so enjoy it for the first time!).

Lesson 11 – Paragraph Revisions and Extra Practice

Quizlet

We took another quiz on the NAWL 1-3 set. Next week, there will be another quiz on this set with a time limit. I recommend using the Test task on Quizlet. Take the test several times to prepare.

RF
We did with Reading Fluency (RF) practice again with Banned Books. Update your RF Log on Google Sheets.

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) again. The topic this time was A healthy lifestyle. How many words could you write? Could you reach your best score? Update your EWr Log on Google Sheets.

Peer Review
Read your partner's L10 homework and give feedback for formatting AND content including any mistakes you might find.
Due 12/11 21:59.

Revise
After you receive feedback from your partner, revise any mistakes.
Due 12/13 21:59.

Homework
Write a paragraph about Healthy Lifestyle Advice in a Google Doc. Your paragraph should have a good topic and concluding sentence and several good supporting sentences. You can use the ideas you wrote in your EWr notebook. Add more examples and check your formatting and organization.

1. Log in to Google Drive.
2. Create a new file in Google Docs.
3. Give it the title your name + RW2 + L11 (ex., Junko Saito RW2 L11).
4. Share it with me at my Rikkyo email address.
5. Due 12/14 21:59.

I have made a checklist for you to check your progress in this class. You can download it here.

Progress Checklist (up to L11)

Video — Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Pentatonix)

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
(Pentatonix)

This Christmas tune is from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet. The story takes place on Christmas Eve. This performance is amazing. I wonder how many hours they must have practiced for this song.

Enjoy it again.

Lesson 10 – Writing Paragraphs (continued)

Quizlet

We took a quiz on the NAWL 1-3 set. Next week, there will be another quiz on this set with a time limit. I recommend using the Test task on Quizlet. Take the test several times to prepare.

RF
We did with Reading Fluency (RF) practice again with Copyright Laws. Update your RF Log on Google Sheets.

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) again. The topic this time was What I like and don't like about Winter. How many words could you write? Could you reach your best score? Update your EWr Log on Google Sheets.

Writing Paragraphs
I gave you more handouts. Fill them in.






Homework
Write a paragraph about Winter in a Google Doc. Be sure to choose a focus because Winter is too big of a topic. Your paragraph should have a good topic and concluding sentence and several good supporting sentences. 

1. Log in to Google Drive.
2. Create a new file in Google Docs.
3. Give it the title your name + RW2 + L10 (ex., Junko Saito RW2 L10).
4. Share it with me at my Rikkyo email address.
5. Due 12/7 21:59.

Blog
Write comments on three of your classmates' blog posts. Choose the person 3 above you on the class list. Then, choose two more classmates' posts to comment on. Due 12/8 21:59.

Video — The Jungle Book / Sarabande (Mayan Style) – (Wonder of The World 3 of 7)

The Jungle Book / Sarabande (Mayan Style)
(The Piano Guys Wonders of the World Series)

This is the third in the series where The Piano Guys go to one of the 7 Wonders of the World.  In this video, they go to Chichén Itzá on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. The most famous view is of El Castillo, a big Mayan pyramid.

The music is a medley of tunes from the soundtrack to Disney's The Jungle Book. Did you see the bear and the panther in the video? They are two main characters from the movie

Enjoy the video again.


 



You can read more about the New 7 Wonders of the World in simple English here:
New 7 Wonders of the World 

Lesson 9 – Writing Paragraphs

RF
We did with Reading Fluency (RF) practice again with Bi and You. Update your RF Log on Google Sheets.

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) again. The topic this time was my favorite music artist. How many words could you write? Could you reach your best score? Update your EWr Log on Google Sheets.

Writing Paragraphs
We learned about writing paragraphs. Writing good paragraphs is foundational to writing essays and other academic writing.

In the handout, we learned about the parts of a paragraph, and then about topic sentences and supporting sentences. 

For next week, finish the handout (topic sentences, writing supporting sentences). 


If you were absent, you can download the handouts by clicking on the link below.
RW2 Lesson 9 Handout


Quizlet

We took a quiz on the NAWL 3 set. Next week, there will be a paper quiz on the NAWL 1-3 set with a time limit. I recommend using the Test took on Quizlet. Take the test several times to prepare.

Homework
Follow the instructions on the handouts. Follow the steps below for the task on p. 3 (2~3) and the final task (3~5) on page 4. 

1. Log in to Google Drive.
2. Create a new file in Google Docs.
3. Give it the title your name + RW2 + L09 (ex., Junko Saito RW2 L09).
4. Share it with me at my Rikkyo email address.
5. Due 11/30 21:59.

Blog
Write a new blog post. The topic is My favorite music artist. Due 12/1 21:59.

Video — The Mission / How Great Thou Art - The Piano Guys (Wonder of The World 2 of 7)

The Mission / How Great Thou Art 
(The Piano Guys Wonders of the World Series)

This is the second in the series where The Piano Guys go to one of the 7 Wonders of the World.  In this video, they go to the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). They also visit Iguazu Falls near the border of Argentina. 

The music is a mashup (mix) of two tunes. One is called Gabriel's Oboe. It is the most famous music from the soundtrack of the movie The Mission. The setting of the movie is at Iguazu Falls. It is a wonderful movie and I strongly recommend it. It has a beautiful theme about love (not romantic). I cry every time I see it. The other music is a Christian hymn called How Great Thou Art.

Enjoy the video again.


 

You can read more about the New 7 Wonders of the World in simple English here:
New 7 Wonders of the World 

Lesson 8 – Getting Ready to Write

RF
We began again with Reading Fluency (RF) practice. Update your RF Log on Google Sheets.


EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) again. How many words could you write? Could you reach your best score? Update your EWr Log on Google Sheets.

Getting Ready to Write
We learned about preparing for writing. Follow the instructions on the handouts. Follow the steps below for the final task on page 4. 

1. Log in to Google Drive.
2. Create a new file in Google Docs.
3. Give it the title your name + RW2 + L08 (ex., Junko Saito RW2 L08).
4. Share it with me at my Rikkyo email address.
5. Due 11/23 21:59.

Blog Comments

From the list of student blogs on the right side of this blog, find the student who is one above you on the list and go to their blog. Read their blog post and leave a comment.
Due 11/24 23:59

If you haven't written your Typhoon Memory blog post, do it today.

Quizlet

Whenever you have free time in class or free time outside of class (e.g., waiting for a train or bus), study vocabulary.

Next week we will have a quiz on the NAWL 3 set. Study. If you got less than 85% on previous quizzes, you should study those sets also.

ER (graded readers)

Another way to use your free time is to read graded readers. Don't forget to take the quiz on MReader when you finish a book to get credit.

Video — Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends (The Piano Guys – Wonders of the World Series)

Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends 
(The Piano Guys Wonders of the World Series)

This is the first in the series where The Piano Guys go to one of the 7 Wonders of the World.  In this video, they go to the Great Wall of China. Enjoy the video again.






You can read more about the New 7 Wonders of the World in simple English here:
New 7 Wonders of the World 

Lesson 7 – Formatting

RF
We began again with Reading Fluency (RF) practice. Update your RF Log on Google Sheets.


EWr
You did Extensive Writing (EWr) again. How many words could you write? Could you reach your best score? Update your EWr Log on Google Sheets.


Quizlet
You took the NAWL 1 Test again. If your score was less than 85%, you should study the set more.

Next week's quiz will be on the NAWL 2 set.

Document Formatting
We are using the steps in Chapter 2 of Becoming a Better Writer on formatting. Follow these steps to create your document.

1. Log in to Google Drive.
2. Open your your RW2 L06 file from Lesson 6.
3. Share your document with your partner.
4. Follow the formatting steps in Chapter 2.
5. Due 11/11 23:59.

Peer Review
Read your partner's L06 homework and give feedback for formatting AND content including any mistakes you might find.
Due 11/15 21:59.

Revise
After you receive feedback from your partner, revise any mistakes.
Due 11/17 21:59.

Video — I Won't Give Up (Jayesslee Cover of Jason Mraz)

I Won't Give Up (Jayesslee Cover of Jason Mraz)
Jayesslee is the artist who sang the Gangnam Style cover we watched before. Jayesslee means J S Lee. Their names are Janice (Jay for J) and Sonia (Ess for S) and their last name is Lee. I love their harmonies. It must have been difficult to perform this on one take at the beach.

See the lyrics below the video.

I Won't Give Up

Jason Mraz

When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

Well I won't give up on us, even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love, I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space, to do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting, to see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up

I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not and who I am

I won't give up on us, even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up, still looking up.

I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)

I won't give up on us, even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love, I'm still looking up

Lesson 6 – Getting Ready to Write

RF
We began again with Reading Fluency (RF) practice with Reading Reading 19: The Terracotta Army. Update your RF Log on Google Sheets.


EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) again. How many words could you write? Could you reach your best score? Update your EWr Log on Google Sheets.

Writing Paragraphs
Follow the steps below. 

1. Log in to Google Drive.
2. Create a new file in Google Docs.
3. Give it the title your name + RW2 + L06 (ex., Junko Saito RW2 L06).
4. Share it with me at my Rikkyo email address.
5. Write 2-3 paragraphs about a school festival. 
6. Due 11/3 23:59.

Quizlet

You took the NAWL 1 test. Study this set again for the next lesson.

Whenever you have free time in class or free time outside of class (e.g., waiting for a train or bus), study vocabulary.

ER (graded readers)

Another way to use your free time is to read graded readers. Don't forget to take the quiz on MReader when you finish a book to get credit.

Video — Mission Impossible (The Piano Guys featuring Lindsey Stirling)

We watched the Piano Guys play Mission Impossible, a popular TV show turned into a movie series. This time they were joined by another YouTube star, Lindsey Stirling. She is known for playing violin while dancing. Enjoy it again below:

Lesson 5 – Extensive Writing (EWr)

RF
We began again with Reading Fluency (RF) practice with Reading 17. Update your RF Log on Google Sheets.



EWr
We tried Extensive Writing (EWr) for the first time. How many words could you write? Update your EWr Log.

Quizlet

After entering your scores into your RF Log and EWr Log, you spent some time studying vocabulary on Quizlet. 

Whenever you have free time in class or free time outside of class (e.g., waiting for a train or bus), study vocabulary.

Next week there will be a quiz on the NAWL 1 set.

Blog Comments

From the list of student blogs on the right side of this blog, find the student who is one below you on the list and go to their blog. Read their blog post and leave a comment.

ER (graded readers)

Another way to use your free time is to read graded readers. Don't forget to take the quiz on MReader when you finish a book to get credit.

Remember, the total you need to read this semester is 60,000 words. You should be almost 1/3 finished by now.


Quiz
We took a quiz on plagiarism. Next week we will have a quiz on the first NAWL set on Quizlet. Be sure to study.


Homework
The homework for Lesson 5 is to write comments on three more classmates' blog posts. You can choose which posts to comment on.
Due 10/27 23:59


The homework for Lesson 4 when I was absent is the following. You need to complete it for attendance credit on 10/14:

• Use the stopwatch on your smartphone and do Reading 18. Answer the questions without looking back. You can look back after you finish, but DO NOT change your answers. We will check our answers in class.
• Use the timer on your smartphone and write for another 10 minutes in your EWr notebook. Before you begin, choose a topic and think about it for a minute. Count the number of words and update your EWr Log.
• Write another blog post. Write again about a Typhoon Memory. This time, you will be careful with your spelling in grammar. Use one of your photos or an image from the internet to go with your post.

Due 10/27 23:59

Video — Gangnam Style (Cover by Jayesslee on YouTube)

We watched Jayesslee's (Janice & Sonia Lee) cover of Psy's Gangnam Style. They are a talented pair of Korean-Australian twin sisters from Sydney. Enjoy it again below:

Lesson 3 – Student Blogs

RF
We began again with Reading Fluency (RF) practice with Reading 16: Castles. Could you reduce your reading time? 

Quizlet
After your enter your scores in your logs, immediately go to Quizlet and study from the NAWL list on our class page. You can do this on your smartphone or your computer, whichever is convenient for you.


Blog Set Up
Set up your blog for our class, follow these steps:

1. Log in to Blogger . Use your Google Drive login and password.
2. Click on the New Blog button at the top left of the page.
3. In the Title cell, write, "(your full name's) RW2 Blog" (ex. Keiko Sato's RW2 Blog).
4. In the Address cell, write, "(your full name without spaces) + RW2" (ex. KeikoSatoRW2).
5. Choose a Template from the Simple group. Don't worry, you can change the template at any time.
6. Click on Create Blog. This should take you to your Blogger Dashboard.
7. Follow the steps below (from step 2) to send me the link to your blog.

Submit Blog Link
Everyone should send me the link to your blog. Follow these steps:

1. Go to Blogger and log in. This should take you to your Blogger Dashboard.
2. Click on the View Blog button.
3. Copy the URL to your blog.
4. Send it to me by email with "RW2" as your email subject.

Extensive Reading (ER)
You must read 60,000 words by the end of the semester. Be sure to take a quiz soon after you finish a book.


Homework

• Write a blog post introducing yourself to your classmates. Give it the title, My Personal Introduction. Include information about your family or friends, your hometown, and your interests/hobbies. Include at least one photograph. Due 10/15 23:59.
• Read and study The English Language Program Policy for Plagiarism and Cheating on p. 1 of Becoming a Better Writer. There will be a quiz next week.
• Study on Quizlet.
• Read from your graded reader.

Video — Cello Wars (Star Wars parody by The Piano Guys on YouTube)

The Piano Guys are my favorite YouTube artists. They have great music AND great videos. This one is a parody of my favorite movie from my childhood, Star Wars. Now people call it Episode IV (4) or A New Hope, but it was Star Wars to us when it came out. It wasn't until the stupid prequels (Episodes I, II & III) years later that those names were used.

The ideas of lightsabers, fighting ships flying across the screen, laser guns and The Force were all new and very cool. Star Wars was the first real blockbuster movie. If you wanted to see it when it came out, you might have had to wait hours and there were no reserved seats back then. It stayed in the cinemas for over a year.

I have included a modern trailer of the movie below the Piano Guys video. The original trailer was not very good. Enjoy!

Lesson 2 – Reading Fluency (RF) & Extensive Reading (ER)

RF
We began with Reading Fluency (RF) practice. Each time you will read a passage for speed and mark your results. You should see your time drop over the term.

RF Log

Follow the steps to set up your Reading Fluency (RF) Log:

We will use Google Sheets (spreadsheet) to keep track of our progress in extensive writing (EWr). This makes it easy me to follow your progress. It also makes it easy for you to see your own progress. You can generate a line graph from the spreadsheet.

Follow the steps:

1. Sign in / log in to Google Drive with your Rikkyo email address.
2. Click on NEW.
3. Choose GOOGLE SHEETS. 
4. In the top left box, give your spreadsheet the title: full name + RW2 + RF Log (e.g., Taro Suzuki RW2 RF Log)
5. In the top right corner, click on SHARE.
6. Share it with me. Use my Rikkyo email address.
7. In the A column, write the date of your first RF reading.
8. In the B column, write the time of your first RF reading.
9. In the C column, write the number of correct answers.
10. Repeat for each time.

Enter in your RF score every week.


Quizlet

We practiced vocabulary using Quizlet.


EWr
We will try Extensive Writing (EWr) next week. This is a way to improve our writing fluency.


EWr Log
We will use Google Sheets (spreadsheet) to keep track of our progress in extensive writing (EWr). This makes it easy me to follow your progress. It also makes it easy for you to see your own progress. You can generate a line graph from the spreadsheet.

Follow the steps:

1. Sign in / log in to Google Drive.
2. Click on NEW.
3. Choose GOOGLE SHEETS. 
4. In the top left box, give your spreadsheet the title: full name + RW2 + EWr Log (e.g., Taro Suzuki RW2 EWr Log)
5. In the top right corner, click on SHARE.

We will begin to use this log next week.

Due 10/4 23:59.

Next Week

We will begin practicing writing for fluency. Bring your B5 notebook (see the Lesson 01 post) to class.

Bring your graded reader.

Bring a computer.

Extensive Reading (ER)
We registered for M Reader. You must take and pass quizzes to get credit for your reading.

M Reader Log In

Use the code: lwOPm0Gj (copy & paste)
For your username, write GTB-your first name (eg., GTB-Taro)

To log in, you must time rikkyo- before your username (eg., 

Some information about M Reader:

• Be sure that the quiz you choose in M Reader is for the version from the same publisher as the version you read.
• You must get 6/10 to pass quiz.
• You cannot take the quiz again for that book if you fail (unless you ask me)
• You can only take one quiz every 96 hours (4 days), so don't wait until the last week to begin taking quizzes.

Video – Tom Sawyer by Rush

As I told you in my self-introduction, the Canadian rock trio, Rush, is my favorite band. Geddy Lee, the bass player, is also the singer and keyboardist; Alex Lifeson is the guitar player; Neil Peart is the drummer and lyricist (writer of the words).

Rush's best-known song is Tom Sawyer. Tom Sawyer is the name of a famous character is American literature. Mark Twain wrote a few novels with Tom as a character who observes human nature. Tom was a boy and had a friend named Huckleberry (Huck) Finn. Huck had his own novel in which he made a raft (small flat boat) and traveled down the Mississippi River with an escaped slave.

In the introduction part of the video there is an animation with characters from South Park (a popular TV show). The characters have their own rock group called Lil' Rush. They start to play Tom Sawyer, but stop to have an argument. It's because the singer confuses Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

In this song, Peart (the writer) thinks of himself as a "modern-day Tom Sawyer". So, this song is really about himself. I have included the lyrics (words) below the video if you would like to read them. Enjoy!






Tom Sawyer
Words: Peart    Music: Lee & Lifeson

A modern day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today's Tom Sawyer
Mean, mean pride

Though his mind is not for rent
Don't put him down as arrogant
He reserves the quiet defense
Riding out the day's events
The river

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the mist, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his skies are wide

Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the space he invades
He gets by on you

No, his mind is not for rent
To any God or government
Always hopeful yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the witness, catch the wit
Catch the spirit, catch the spit

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his eyes are wide

Exit the warrior
Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets by on you
And the energy you trade
He gets right on to the friction of the day

Lesson 1 – Orientation

Introductions
In our first lesson, I introduced myself with a slide presentation. You also introduced yourselves by filling in a form online.

Quizlet

Vocabulary is perhaps the most important part of learning a language. We will use the flashcard website/app called Quizlet to help us study. Click on the link below to join our class.

Quizlet Class Join Link

Download the Quizlet app from your smartphone's app store and log in using the same username and password you used today.

Next week I will tell you how to choose the right level on Quizlet.


Vocabulary Levels Test
These tests will help me to know more about your vocabulary. They will also help you to learn about your own level.


Orientation
We also looked at the syllabus for this semester.

I am looking forward to our classes together this Fall!

Next Week

1. Buy and bring a B5 Notebook (not spiral).
2. Write your full name in English on the front
3. Write "Reading & Writing 2" under your name
4. Write "Daniel Beck" below that.
5. Bring a graded reader to class.
6. Bring a computer to class.