A GMO tomato caused this young man's death

English Conversation lesson about GMO food. Discuss the pros and cons with your English teacher!

We all want to have cheap food, and the GMO companies want to make a fast buck.  The instance of a GMO food, coupled with a food allergy is bound to make the public become more aware of the dangers of GMO foods. You don't really know what is in the GMO food, what genes are added?

Read this article and discuss it with your English Teacher
http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/doctors-confirm-first-human-death-officially-caused-by-gmos/ 

Key Terms
autopsy
allergic reaction
manifest 
injected
epinephrine
 deteriorate
medical examiners
forensic experts
tests and analysis
fish-related allergens
antibiotic resistant genes
ingestion
improbable
ceased

Questions

Why did the young man die? 
What is surpising about this tomoto?

Why was he cautious about eating certain foods?

Why are food allergies such a problem?

Does your country allow GMO food to be sold?

Do they have to have a label?

Have you ever bought GMO food?

Can you tell the difference between regular vegetables and GMO vegetables?

What do you think about restaurants using GMO food in their menus? 

Will you change your vegetable choices after reading this article? 

Lesson Plan by Rachael Alice Orbach - Professional English teacher 

Is Elementary School Homework obsolete? English Conversation Lesson

English conversation lesson about a school that has decided not to assign homework. 

This is an interesting question, whether students in elementary school should be assigned homework.  I remember sitting with my kids for hours just teaching them how to read in First Grade, I live in Israel and Hebrew, if you speak the language already is not so hard to decode.  You see a letter, you read it. As a parent, Hebrew was not my native language, so it was more difficult for me, and I had to sit for hours with my children to actually teach the reading that they didn't understand at school.  Recently, two of my kids are in 6th and 8th grade.  They are English speakers, and there are no other English speakers in their classes, so the English teachers have asked me to sit with my kids and teach them myself.  I'm an English teacher so yes, I know how to teach English, but what about other parents that the teachers don't know how to reach?  When I was substituting for a First Grade classroom in English, I really didn't want to give homework, because I knew that in the end the parents would be the ones doing it for the kids.  

Read this text and have a conversation in English about it with your English teacher 
http://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-city-public-school-banished-homework-2015-3

Key Terms
abolishing
outragiing
frustration 
exhaustion
loss of interest
analyzing studies 
reading at their own pace
academic success
overarching
not going over well with parents
yank their kids from the school
 isn't viable
lottery
unstructured reading
the landscape of homework




Questions
Is this a good policy for the school?
What do you feel about the New York School that doesn't assign homework?
What type of homework is the most benefical?
Do math worksheets really help students?
What do you think about writing essays in the native language?
How much homework do you or your children do every night? 
How much time should different age groups do homework? 
Should the parents sit with the child while the homework is being done? 
When is the best time to do homework?
Does homework help you?
How much homework is too much?
How can the school limit the time the kids spend on videos and computers?
Hou can unstructured reading help students succeed in school?
What about students who have difficulty reading?
Could audio books replace reading? 
What do you think about the parents who want to take their children from the school?  
What message does not giving homework in math and English say to kids?
How can children of lower economic status use their time when both parents work, or it is a one-parent household?


English Conversation lesson by Rachael Alice Orbach 

How to support your musical child

English conversation lesson about music and supporting the musician in the family.

I have been a musican for as long as I can remember.  I started playing the guitar at age 7, but I had really wanted to start when I was five.  But there wasn't a guitar small enough for me.  So, when I finally started playing the guitar nobody told me actually how to practice.  This blog post would have really helped me and my parents back then.  Now, however I play the guitar, clarinet, flute, saxophone, mandolin, recorders and oh yes, I started the piano 2 years ago.
I am taking an active role in my daughter's musical education.  I'm teaching her how to play the clarinet. She is progressing and it is very gratifiying to see another young musician in the family.
 I also teach all these instruments so if you are in Jerusalem and want music lessons. . . contact me.
Otherwise read this blog post, it is a bit long, but very interesting. and discuss it with your English teacher!

http://www.kimcollinsflute.com/blog/for-parents-how-can-i-support-my-budding-musician

Key Terms
budding
a shameless plug
disciplines
cover more bases
feeding his or her need for expression
perseverance
problem-solving
the ability to work in a group,
leadership
cooperation
create an outlet
self-soothing
 listen critically
assess performance 
create plans to solve problems
traits 
applicable
music stand
tucked away 
distraction
overcome any issues 
converse with
line of communication
inspiration
subtle ways
 flit in
nerve-wracking
spontaneous practice
establish a routine
Make charts
Set goals
Reward
frequently
Support effort 
perseverance
a willingness to try new things
actively listen
enthusiasm and interest
win-win situation


Questions
What is the best way to support a musical child?
Do you play a musical instrument? If not, would you like to? 
What  are the benefits to playing a musical instrument?
Which one is most important to you?
Are the reasons that an adult would want to start playing a musical instrument different than a child starting?
What type of musical goals would a child have? 
How does scheduling a performance help motivation to practise? 
What skills does the parent have to foster in the child? 
Would you consider a teacher or learning from videos?
Which instrument is the easist?  Hardest?
How long should a person try out a new musical instrument before giving up? 



Lesson plan by Rachael Alice Orbach - Professional Music teacher and English teacher 

Tel Aviv company produces Cancer vaccine.

English Conversation lesson about possible Cancer vaccine. 

A Tel Aviv company produces Cancer Vaccine - to be given to cancer patients to keep the cancer from recurring.  This could be a breakthrough, to help people who have had cancer not to continue to go through so many chemotherapy sessions.   I hope that it will be in use very soon!

Read this article and prepare to discuss it with your English teacher
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4170853,00.html

Key Terms 
therapeutic vaccine
clinical trials
 administer
 platform technology
cancer 'cluster bomb'
blasting cancer tumors 
solid and non-solid tumors.
Coupled with that
depressed immune system
compromised immune system
 ailment
T-cells
 MUC1 molecule
 lymphoma,
 leukemia  
multiple myeloma
brought down to size
long-term approach 
fend off 
chemotherapy 







Questions
What is the difference between a theraputic vaccine and a preventative vaccine?
How long will it take for the vaccine to become available? 
How will this vaccine work for patients? 
How long will the  injections be needed?
How will this type of treatment improve Cancer treatment? 
Do you know anyone who has had cancer? 
How did they respond to treatment? 
Did the treatment work? 
When was this article written? 
Do you think that there has been any progress since then? 




Lesson Plan by Rachael Alice Orbach - Professional English Teacher 

Five things that Successful People do before going to bed

Business English Conversation lesson.  Another way to give yourself a boost to succeed in business.  

If you are a freelancer, then the line between work and home is blurred.  So in order to have your next day get off on the right foot, you need to have a routine before going to bed. 

Read this short article and be prepared to discuss it with your English Teacher 
http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhigh/2015/02/16/five-things-successful-people-do-before-they-go-to-bed/

Key Terms 
quell
ensure
 burn the candle at both ends
overall
decompress
prodigiously
disruptive 
counter-intuitive
 playing in their heads
prioritize
thoughts appear to “pop”
cognitive precursors
simmering
condoned

Questions
According to the article, what is the most important thing you can do? 
What did the author learn from the book "The Giving Tree?"  https://archive.org/stream/TheGivingTree/The_Giving_Tree_djvu.txt
How is that different from the lesson that children learn from the book? 
How does planning for the next day help the night before?
Some people plan their day while they are getting ready to go home, which do you do.
What types of things do you get ready for the next day? 
When do you plan your next day?  
What types of books do you read for pleasure?
Which type of books do you like to read, paper or e-book?
Do you read those books at night?
Where do you put your cell phone?  
Do you turn it off at night? 
Do you agree with the last point, that you need 7 hours a night?
How many hours of sleep do you get every night? 
Do you sleep enough?



Lesson Plan by Rachael Alice Orbach - Professional English teacher 

How to give a great presentation! Business English

Business English Conversation lesson.  How you give a presentation is as important as the content!

How you give a presentation is as important as what information you wish to present.  Make sure that you know your data and that you are well prepared with the correct dress and body language.  Presenters from all parts of business need to learn these rules and strive to present even dry data in an interesting way!

Read this article and be prepared to discuss it with your English teacher
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20150223-secrets-of-the-perfect-speech

Key Terms
make a name for themselves
Congressional Medal of Honour
a slap in the face
 a higher calling
impassioned address
fiery 
righteous indignation
exemplifies
emotional involvement
strong narrative
introduction
narrative
 argument
refutation 
summation
recitation
constructive feedback
motivational speaker
freshest version
routine 

Questions
How many presentations do you need to give at your job
How do you prepare for them?
Why does the article say not to rely too much on PowerPoint slides?
What do you do if you see your audience is not interested in your presentation?
If you have to give a presentation about last quarter's sales, how can you give life to the data?
Tell me about a good speech that you recently heard. 
What made it different from other speeches?
How do you get over being nervous before giving a presentation?


Lesson Plan by Rachael Alice Orbach-Professional English Teacher 

Reward students for NOT looking at their phones! English Conversation

English conversation lesson about how to motivate students not to look at their phones during class.

Teachers and Employers are becoming more and more annoyed by students and workers looking at their phones during class and work. The smartphone
is a big distraction and provides much of the time wasted during class and work throughout the day. But what could you do about it? Now there is an app that could provide the answer!

Read this article and discuss it with your English teacher
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3041845/this-app-rewards-students-for-not-looking-at-their-phone-during-class

Key terms
phones locked
 juniors
on-board.
earn points
redeem points
opportunities
anti-technology


Questions
What is the point of the app?

What can the students earn if they use the app?

How does that benefit students? 

How does that benefit the professor?

How does that benefit businesses? 

How can the teacher give more points to students?

Is this a good incentive for students to stay off the phone?

Would you use it, personally, why or why not?

What other incentives can you think of that will help students stay off their phones?

What did you do when you were in school to help you pay attention?

How can this be used for work purposes?

Should the boss know about it? 

Lesson plan by Rachael Alice Orbach - Professional English Teacher