Beckie Loewenstein

My student A. would like to learn about US history, constitution, and legal system in our English program, İngilizce kurslari , İstanbul . Our first lesson introduced basic law vocabulary about arbitration, legislation, and litigation. Our second lesson explored the American colonial acts and grievances. Today's lesson guided critical thinking about the the historic shifts of public opinion, legislation, and litigation with regards to marriage equality. Turkey does not have a federal system of government.  Before starting the lesson on federal law, I elicit the words federal, Constitution, Congress, legislation, and Supreme Court.  Next, I ask concept questions to check understanding: What laws do all 50 states have? Federal laws. If someone from California moves to Texas, will they live with the same federal laws? Yes. Are the state laws of Texas and California the same or different? Different. Who writes the federal laws? Congress. Who ar...

As a private English teacher, özel İngilizce öğretmeni , I encounter many students who prefer to focus on English speaking practice, İngilizce k onuşma , in our private English lessons, İngilizce özel ders, in İstanbul . This evening my student S. initiated the conversation topic of models with eating disorders.  Without any preparation in advance, together we brainstormed the following language: I have...an eating disorder/anorexia/bulimia. He struggles to overcome a health problem. She fights a mental illness. He is disappearing/vanishing. She feels unique/special/embarrassed. She looks too thin. He loses weight. Her blood pressure/blood sugar/pulse rate is too low. His heart is weak. First the person must admit they have a problem. Next the person must get used to the idea of therapy. Finally the person must follow a new diet with proper nutrition. Body image is mental. Body shape is physical. We are thin/slim/slender/average build. We want to be strong, attr...

Istanbeast swallows boys sliding down metal tongue deep, humid throat burps

--> As a private English teacher, özel İngilizce öğretmeni , I provide English speaking practice, İngilizce k onuşma , on topics of personal interest to my students in private English lessons, İngilizce özel ders, in İstanbul . My student N. would like to speak in English about pregnancy.  Here is a lesson plan: Goals: Can offer congratulations Can express excitement about the news Can offer encouragement and support Can ask polite and slang questions Target language: My wife is pregnant/expecting/preggers/eating for two! She has a bun in the oven! She is knocked up! Congratulations! You must be so excited! You must be thrilled! Kids are great! Wow, you look great! What a cute belly! Parenting is certainly full of ups and downs but it's worth it! I hope the baby will have your beautiful eyes. Do multiples/twins run in your family? How are you feeling? Are you having fun picking a name? How have you been feeling? Any morning sickness? Don...

English has a different rhythmic pattern than Turkish. The Turkish alphabet does not contain the letter 'w.' The 'th' sound /ð/ and /θ/ do not exist in Turkish.

--> As a private English teacher, özel İngilizce öğretmeni , I encounter many students who prefer to focus on English speaking practice, İngilizce k onuşma , in our private English lessons, İngilizce özel ders, in İstanbul . Here is a lesson plan to narrate a video with the present continuous. Goal: I can describe what someone does in the moment. Lesson: Watch and describe the action video of Putin with present continuous. Target language: He is + verb -ing Video: newsfeed.time.com/2013/07/16/watch-adventure-time-with-vladimir-putin/ Student performance: He is flying a plane. He is wrestling. He is diving in a submarine. He is shooting a bear. He is racing a car. ★ This creative lesson uses authentic news video for visual learners and gives a performance activity for speaking fluency. ▶ Allow the student to take notes during the first view and then present on a second view.

Bright and early at 7 am I walk up the hill to the Sishane metro on Istiklal to go teach a new private class, İngilizce kursu , in Gayrettepe. My new student greets me with his red tie undone. As Ramazan just started, I ask my student if he fasts. He says, " oruç tutmuyorum ," Turkish for "I do not keep the fast." We drink mugs of black tea and eat simit .  He says he calls these sesame bagels gevrek in Izmir, his hometown. Our first lesson I combine introduction free response tasks from Five-minute Activities for Business English by Paul Emmerson and Nick Hamilton. First, write insightful questons about the nitty gritty details, perks, and drags of a job. Next, answer these questions about yourself for your current job. Develop these answers with follow up questions. This will be the introduction of a presentation. When the student says he brings creativity and enjoyment to his training sessions, I realize this would be a great topic for a presen...

My family and I visit Martha’s Vineyard the day before July 4 th during our family vacation in Cape Cod.  An early morning ferryboat takes us from Hyannis to Martha’s Vineyard in about an hour.  Passengers with freckled faces and sunburned necks wear baseball caps, baggy, plaid shorts, and polo t-shirts. We land at the ferry dock in Vineyard Haven.  Teenagers at Martha’s bike shop assemble bikes, helmets, and baskets for us to rent.  They tell us we are among the few who sign the liability waiver. The sun shines on us as we start our ride along the marshes and coast.  Arriving at the quaint Edgartown, we admire the wooden Victorian houses.  Taking in the view of the sea, we stop at a marsh for photos.  A lady jumps out of her car to take our photo. A short ride away, we swing by Humphrey’s of West Tisbury for sandwiches.  They bake their own bread and roll in dough.  I order a “Californian” with avocado, sprouts, and turkey...