Welcome to ESL 4 & 5!

No more updates to this website. Please contact me for information about our ONLINE class.

  • Canvas - SDCE Online. Here is the link sdccd.instructure.com You can enter all of your SDCE classes through this link. Use your student ID# from your card and your birthdate (MMDDYYYY). We'll talk about this at our class meetings this week. Using Canvas, we can do reading, vocabulary practice, grammar and other activities that we used to do in class.
        • Here's a short video to show you how to get into Canvas and find our class.
        • Please email or call me if you need help with anything! If you can't get into Canvas, please text me at 858
        • 633 - 3227
        • Please pass on this information to your classmates - thank you!
  • Zoom meetings. Get the Zoom app (HERE for Android, HERE for Apple) You can download Zoom to your phone, tablet, or computer for free. Using Zoom, we can do dictation, conversation and other activities the same way we would in class.

We will meet on Zoom on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9 am..

  • WhatsApp. To join our class WhatsApp group, please contact me or Nicole or Cristy.

Week 9 - Online learning begins!!

  • Our class will now meet online. Obviously, we'll be learning about this together! Some activities we'll do online together so we can talk with each other. Other activities will be online for you to work on whenever you have time. As always, email or text me if you need any help!
  • Canvas - SDCE Online. Here is the link sdccd.instructure.com You can enter all of your SDCE classes through this link. Use your student ID# from your card and your birthdate (MMDDYYYY). We'll talk about this at our class meetings this week. Using Canvas, we can do reading, vocabulary practice, grammar and other activities that we used to do in class.
        • Here's a short video to show you how to get into Canvas and find our class.
        • Please email me if you need help with anything!
        • Please pass on this information to your classmates - thank you!
  • Zoom meetings. Using Zoom, we can do dictation, conversation and other activities the same way we would in class.

We will meet on Zoom on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9 am..

  • WhatsApp. To join our class WhatsApp group, please contact me or Nicole or Cristy.

Week 8 - CLASSES CANCELLED this week

  • Unfortunately, our school is now closed. Next week we'll have some online classes using the Zoom app (HERE for Android, HERE for Apple) You can download the Zoom app to your phone, tablet, or computer for free. I hope to test it this week to see how it works, and I'll put all the information here about our class times and how to join.

Week 7 - Imperfectly Perfect Day (Phrasal Verb text)

  • Vocabulary - Our new words will be here on Tuesday.
  • Grammar - Here's a nice introduction to using phrasal verbs. If you're interested in a dictionary of phrasal verbs, try this. Just click on the letter G (for example), and it will give you a list of phrasal verbs with GET and GIVE and GO.

Week 6 - Health - Obesity & Sleep

Week 5 - Health

  • Vocabulary - Our new words will be here on Tuesday. I'm still looking for a different vocabulary website with fewer advertisements...
  • Grammar - This week we'll study word forms (also called parts of speech): Nouns, Adjectives, Adverbs, Verbs, etc. Here's a basic introduction and then exercises
  • Grammar2 - Can you identify nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs? Try this exercise - Parts of Speech1 - Click "Play this game" to start. Ready for a more challenging quiz, try Parts of Speech2.

Week 4 - Ellis Island - Immigrants & Refugees

  • Vocabulary - Our new words will be here soon. I'm still looking for a different vocabulary website with fewer advertisements...
  • Grammar - Using the Past Continuous - Each link below has an explanation and then exercises at the bottom of the page.
  • Reading - News for You - Read and listen to simple news articles. You will need to use the password. 76B546 You can also access this in the afternoon ESL computer lab.

Week 3 - Martin Luther King, Jr.

  • Vocabulary - Our new words will be here on Tuesday.
  • Grammar - Simple Past Tense - Each link below has an explanation and then exercises at the bottom of the page.
  • Museum Month - In February, you can visit over 40 museums in San Diego for 50% off. To get the discount, you need to get a FREE museum month pass at any San Diego library or at any Macy's store location in San Diego. Click the link or ask your teacher for more details.

Week 2 - Equal Rights for All

  • Vocabulary - Our new words will be here on Tuesday and we'll explore the vocabulary website together.
  • Grammar - Simple Past Tense - Each link below has an explanation and then exercises at the bottom of the page.
  • Listen & Read - News for You - Read and listen to simple news articles. You will need to use the password. 76B546
  • Museum Month - In February, you can visit over 40 museums in San Diego for 50% off. To get the discount, you need to get a FREE museum month pass at any San Diego library or at any Macy's store location in San Diego. Click the link or ask your teacher for more details.

Welcome to our Spring 2020 class!

Hello, everyone! This week we'll be getting to know each other, exploring our textbook, and learning about our class and our school. I'm excited to meet you and to help you improve your English skills.

Week 1 - Class Information

  • Vocabulary - Our new words will be here on Tuesday and we'll explore the vocabulary website together.
  • Reading - News for You - Read and listen to simple news articles. You will need to use the password. 76B546
  • Textbook - Our book is an old edition of Grammar in Context 2. We have copies to share in the classroom or you can buy it used or new.
  • Grammar - ELC Study Zone is one of my favorite grammar websites. For our class, I recommend the intermediate levels, but you can try them all. If you have questions, ask me!

Fall 2019 - Ventures 3

Week 18 - Are you ready for next semester?

Please see Nga on Wednesday, January 23 to pre-register for spring ESL classes.

Grammar - ELC Study Zone is one of my favorite grammar websites - choose a level and then click Grammar to see a list of topics. Each topic has a page of explanation and then some practice exercises.


Free Online Classes - ESL and Citizenship

Are you interested in studying from home? Do you know someone who can't make it to class because of an irregular work schedule or because of child care issues? Please spread the word about our online ESL classes.

For these classes, you MUST attend an in-person orientation during the week of January 28th. See flyer for details and please ask for more info if you're not sure about how it works.

Session 1: 01/27/20 – 03/28/20 (9 weeks)

Online Intermediate ESL Classes: http://bit.ly/spring20intermediate

Online Advanced ESL Classes: http://bit.ly/spring20advanced

Online Special Topics ESL Classes: http://bit.ly/spring20specialtopics

Online Citizenship Class: http://bit.ly/spring20citizenship

Week 17 -

  • Vocabulary - Our new words for week 17 will be here on Tuesday.
  • Grammar - On the Ventures website, click level 3 (green), then choose Unit 10, and find the practice exercises for Lesson B (Conditional) and Lesson C (Future Time Clauses).

Welcome back - Week 16 -

  • Read - New Year Resolutions - Read an article about the most common New Year Resolutions that Americans make.... and how to make better and more successful goals.
  • Vocabulary - Our new words for week 16 will be here on Tuesday.
  • Grammar - On the Ventures website, click level 3 (green), then choose Unit 9, and find the practice exercises for Lesson B (Past Continuous) and Lesson C (Past and Past Continuous).

Winter Vacation - Dec 22 to Jan 5 See you on January 6th, 2020!

  • Have a great vacation!
  • Please email me or text me if you'll be back to class later than January 6th. Thank you.

Week 15 - Your Local Library

Week 14 - Shopping/Money - Unit 7

Week 13 - Time - Unit 6

  • Vocabulary - Our new words will be here on Tuesday.
  • Grammar On the Ventures website, click level 3 (green), then choose Unit 6 and find the practice for Lesson B and C (Adverb Clauses)
  • Read the news in English - adapted from the New York Times

Week 12 - Thanksgiving -from grammar book

  • Vocabulary - Our new words will be here on Tuesday.
  • Grammar review - here's a chart with all the different tenses in English. Which ones do you need to practice?
  • Last chance to practice job interviews. Here are the videos.- Level 4 and Level 5

Week 11 - Salsa Starz - Ventures Unit 5

  • Vocabulary - Our new words are here.
  • Grammar On the Ventures website, click level 3 (green), then choose Unit 5, and find the practice exercises for Lesson B ( Present Perfect .. already & yet) and Lesson C ( Verbs + Infinitives)
  • Videos so you can be ready for your interview - Level 4 and Level 5

Week 10 - Job Application

  • Vocabulary - Our new words are here.
  • Videos of EL Civics Job Interview - Level 4 and Level 5
  • Grammar On the Ventures website, click level 3 (green), then choose Unit 8, and find the practice exercises for Lesson B ( Present Perfect Continuous) and Lesson C ( Phrasal Verbs)

Week 9 - Job Interview

  • Vocabulary - Our new words are here.
  • Matching - Match the personal quality with a description.
  • Videos of EL Civics Job Interview - Level 4 and Level 5
  • Grammar - more phrasal verbs - Here's a basic introduction and then at the bottom of this page, you'll find lots of exercises to practice phrasal verbs with verbs like LOOK, GET, BRING, etc.

Week 8 - Health & Beneficial Plants

  • Vocabulary - Our new words are here.
  • Grammar On the Ventures website, click level 3 (green), then choose Unit 4, and find the practice exercises for Lesson B ( Present Perfect ) and Lesson C ( Used To)

Week 7 - Disaster Preparation

Week 6 - Friends and Family - (Ventures Unit 3)

  • Vocabulary - Our new words will be here on Tuesday.
  • Grammar On the Ventures website, click level 3 (green), then choose Unit 3, and find the practice exercises for Lesson B ( because/because of ) and Lesson C ( enough/too)
  • Reading - News for You - Read and listen to simple news articles. You will need to use the password. 76B546

Week 5 - Strategies (Ventures Unit 2)

  • Vocabulary - Our new words will be here on Tuesday.
  • Grammar On the Ventures website, click level 3 (green), then choose Unit 2, and find the practice exercises for Lesson B ( Present Perfect ) and Lesson C ( Present Perfect )
  • More Present Perfect - Check out ELC study zone for Present Perfect form (what it looks like) and Present Perfect uses (meaning and how we use it)

Week 4 - Biography - Helen Keller)

Week 3 - Job & Personality (Ventures Unit 1)

  • Vocabulary - Our new words are here.
  • Grammar On the Ventures website, click level 3 (green), then choose Unit 1, and find the practice exercises for Lesson B ( Verbs + Gerunds ) and Lesson C ( Comparisons )
  • Grammar - Here's a good list of Verbs that are followed by Gerunds.
  • Reading - News for You - Read and listen to simple news articles. You will need to use the password. 76B546

Week 2

  • Grammar - Word Forms (parts of speech) Here's a basic introduction and then exercises
  • Grammar - Can you identify nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs? Try this exercise - Parts of Speech1 - Click "Play this game" to start. Ready for a more challenging quiz, try Parts of Speech2.
  • Reading - News for You - Read and listen to simple news articles. You will need to use the password. 76B546
  • Vocabulary - Our new words will be here by Tuesday.

Fall Semester 2019 - Welcome to ESL Levels 4 & 5

Welcome, everyone! This week we'll be getting to know each other, taking a look at our textbook, and learning about our class and our school. I'm excited to meet everyone, to find out what you need in your English class, and to help you improve your English skills.

Every week I will update this class website with vocabulary, grammar, reading, and links for extra practice. You can use the website from any place that has internet access, and of course you can always access it from our afternoon ESL computer lab class.

Week 1

For this week, here are two links to get you started.

  • Grammar - ELC Study Zone is one of my favorite grammar websites. For our class, I recommend the three intermediate levels, but you can try them all. If you have questions, ask me!
  • Reading - News for You - Read and listen to simple news articles. You will need to use the password. 76B546


Our main textbook for Fall 2019 is

Ventures 3 - Student book and Workbook (2 books total) -

            • Available at our SDCE West City bookstore Mon & Wed for about $43 (Remember, bookstore is CASH ONLY)
            • Available on Amazon and shipped to your home directly for about $35

We will use the 3rd edition of Ventures 3, which looks like the picture you see here on the left. If you already have or if you buy an older edition, you may find that some parts of the book are different.

Summer 2019

Hi everyone! I'm not teaching at West City this summer, but there are still lots of things to study.

  • READING (with Audio) - Breaking News English - Choose an article, click on it, listen, and find lots of vocabulary, reading and listening activities to go with each article.
  • NEWS (Audio only) KPBS radio (89.5 FM) Click "LISTEN LIVE" at the top of the page. Or click these links to read local news and national news articles.
  • Vocabulary - Our Spring 2019 vocab lists from Ventures 3
  • Ventures textbook activities online. These include vocabulary, grammar, listening.


Spring 2019 - Week 1 - Twenty Dollars

  • Week 1 Vocabulary practice. Your weekly homework is to write 10 to 15 sentences with these words. You can also download the free Quizlet app to your phone. (if you want to join our class on Quizlet, 5UzXwXheA is the code.)

More links for intermediate ESL, including spelling, basic computer skills, grammar, vocabulary, etc.