c.o.d. library esl/abe/ged faculty newsletter december 2011
welcome to the end of the semester! resource of the month
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com
Grammar Girl is an educational podcast and website that has been providing “quick and dirty tips for better writing” since 2006. Host Mignon Fogerty dispenses advice, clears up common confusions and generally makes the subject of grammar fun and fascinating.
thinking ahead to the spring There may only be a few weeks left of the fall semester, but a lot of us are already planning for spring. Here in the Library, we’re putting together our schedule for SOS and SOS Online workshops-- keep an eye out for the coming semester’s line-up! SOS workshops, whether in-person or online, are a great way for you and your students to learn something new. Almost every week we offer sessions about research, library tools and skills, technology, and life skills. All workshops are free and taught by COD Librarians. We’re also making great headway with our newly organized Graded Readers area-- if you haven’t browsed the stacks in a while, stop by and take a look. Series are now shelved together, making finding a particular reading level, title or genre that much easier.
This past summer, the Library received funds that could be put toward the purchase of materials supporting special populations. A good amount of that money came my way to use for ESL and ABE/GED “Episodes” appear weekly, books, CDs and DVDs. As those items begin hitting the shelves, I’ll occasionally more than once a week, make a note of them in this newsletter. Take a look at a few of these and focus on a single question, newly added items below! concern or topic. Recent episodes have addressed the true meaning of the word “brouhaha”, the distinctions between “riffle” and “rifle”, as well as “10 tips to banish typos”. A handy list of most popular tips are highlighted on the site’s homepage. Grammar Girl’s origins as a podcast make the content highly flexible. Users can subscribe to the podcast and receive updates automatically, either to a computer or mp3 player. Visitors to the site can listen to episodes from a built-in audio player and every episode is also available as an article, allowing visitors to read, or read along to the audio podcast.
As you’re planning ahead for the next semester, don’t forget to include the Library in your syllabus or course outline. A visit to the Library or a visit from a librarian is an effective way to introduce your students to the rich and varied resources available to them. Take a look at some of the orientations and activities available for ESL and ABE/ GED classes in the Faculty section of the Research Guides (http:// library.codlibrary.org/esl/orientations or http://library.codlibrary.org/abe/ orientations). I’m also happy to customize sessions to meet the unique needs of your students. Just let me know what you’d like to do and when you’d like to do it! Of course, you can contact me any time with orientation requests, material recommendations or any other question or comment, but scheduling is always easier earlier than later! I’ve enjoyed working with you and your students this semester, and look forward to more of the same in the Spring. Happy holidays and have a wonderful winter break.
Users can also submit questions of their own for the Grammar Girl’s consideration. The Library has a copy of Fogarty’s grammar handbook “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Writing”, an excellent companion to the website and podcast.
new in the library ● Connect with English (DVD) PE1128.A2 C666 2010 A dramatic new way for speakers of other languages to learn English. Through the story of Rebecca, an aspiring singer on a journey across America, the series touches on life's important issues: leaving home, parenting, education, work, love, success, and loss. Video segments are fifteen-minutes each ● Easy Pronunciation PE1137 .E279 2009 Helps listeners improve their American English pronunciation through the use of natural conversational English ● Effective Meetings (DVD)PE1127.B86 E34 2005 Takes learners systematically through the core communication and language skills needed to participate effectively in meetings, and helps them to develop these skills in meaningful and realistic ways. Illustrates both bad and good extracts from meetings for analysis and discussion ● Effective Telephoning (DVD) PE1127.B86 E35 2005 Covers the main aspects of telephone calls from preparation and organization to problem solving, confirming arrangements and closing calls. Provides both good and bad examples of telephone behavior for analysis and discussion
Basic Learning Express Library tutorials are available on YouTube http://youtube.com/codlibrary
Schedule your Spring class visits and orientations now! Just contact Jenn.
Visit the ESL and ABE/ GED Research Guides for student and faculty resources
Jennifer Kelley, ESL/ABE/GED Librarian * kelleyj@cod.edu * SRC 3043A * 630.942.2383