Tag Archives: ESL

Interactive ESL Lessons

Posted on 14 October 2010 by gypsy

Teaching ESL at the university level is very satisfying as it is so easy to find something to talk about with the students. They are old enough to have some life experience, even if they don’t have the English words … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged C.I.T., Changzhou, China, Chinese, communicate, communication, ESL, ESL blog, foreign teacher, interactive lessons, Jiangsu, students, teaching esl, TEFL, xinbei | 4 Comments

The Freshmen Arrive.

Posted on 12 September 2010 by gypsy

Saturday and the end of the first week of regular classes means that it is time for the freshmen to move onto the campus. Unlike the return of the sophomores, juniors and seniors who arrived over a period of a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bot camp, C.I.T., Changzhou, China, Chinese, ESL, ESL blog, foreign teacher, freshmen, FT, Jiangsu, military service, school, students, teaching esl, TEFL, university, xinbei | 2 Comments

Money, Money, Money

Posted on 19 August 2010 by gypsy

One of the tasks that are necessary for one who is heading off to teach ESL in China, is to get some Chinese money which is often referred to as “yuan” (yuán – 元), or as “kuai” (kuài – 块) by the locals, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged C.I.T., Changzhou, China, Chinese, chinese language, communicate, communication, ESL, ESL blog, foreign teacher, FT, Jiangsu, kuài, Mandarin, money, rén mín bì, teaching esl, yuán, 人民币, 元, 块 | Leave a comment

On-Line Newspapers

Posted on 14 August 2010 by gypsy

Well, this is our “local” newspaper, so it goes to the top of our saved URLs for on-line newspaper reading. There is nothing like keeping up with the local news especially when we talk with family and friends from Saskatchewan … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged C.I.T., Changzhou, China, china daily, communicate, communication, ESL, ESL blog, foreign teacher, FT, Jiangsu, journalism, New York Times, newspapers, Ottawa Citizen, Star Phoenix, students, teaching esl | Leave a comment

Night Views of Changzhou

Posted on 11 June 2010 by gypsy

Just a bit of a diversion with this post, a look at some of upscale Changzhou as was seen in September 2006 during and early evening walk with some of our FT colleagues following an evening meal out together. Walking … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged canals, Changzhou, China, Chinese, ESL, ESL blog, foreign teacher, FT, Jiangsu, night lights, teaching esl | 3 Comments

Eating Well

Posted on 10 June 2010 by gypsy

I don’t remember where this photo was taken, likely at the entrance to small shop, what caught my eye here was the offerings in front of the statue, especially the offerings of food. Like so many other places we have … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Changzhou, chī guò le - 吃过了, China, Chinese, chinese language, communication, ESL, ESL blog, food, foreign teacher, FT, have you eaten today, Jiangsu, Mandarin, mid-autumn festival, moon cakes, nǐ chī le ma - 你吃了吗, yuèbǐng - 月饼, Zhōng qiū jié - 中秋节 | 1 Comment

A Bit About Changzhou

Posted on 9 June 2010 by gypsy

Changzhou (常州) is more than a city (市 – shì) in Canadian terms. It is a union of five administrative districts consisting of towns, villages and rural settings contains of about three and a half million people (rén – 人). Changzhou city (Chángzhōushì – … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Changzhou, China, Chinese, chinese language, communicate, communication, ESL, ESL blog, foreign teacher, FT, Jiangsu, Mandarin, teaching esl, xinbei, YángGuāng HuāYuán, 阳光花园 | 1 Comment

A Home is Where the Heart Is

Posted on 7 June 2010 by gypsy

This older couple is one of many I found as I walked throughout Changzhou who seemed to be comfortable together. The scene reaffirmed within me that it takes more than money to bring happiness into one’s life. At home in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blog, bókè, Changzhou, China, Chinese, chinese language, communicate, communication, ESL, ESL blog, foreign teacher, FT, home is where the heart is, Jiangsu, Mandarin, 博客 | 2 Comments

Contrasts – Behind the Walls

Posted on 6 June 2010 by gypsy

This is one of the homes that are found within the gated community called Sunshine Gardens (yáng guāng huā yuán – 阳光花园) where we lived during our first two years in China (Zhōng guó – 中国) and where we will again live when return to Changzhou … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged běi, Changzhou, China, Chinese, chinese language, communicate, communication, dōng, ESL, ESL blog, foreign teacher, FT, hōng chǎn, Jiangsu, Mandarin, nán, pín kùn, Sunshine Garden, Sunshine Gardens, teaching esl, xī, xinbei, yǒu qián rén, Zhōng guó rén, 常州, 阳光花园 | Leave a comment

You Are Never Too Old to Work

Posted on 4 June 2010 by gypsy

The first September in Changzhou, we got to see how a group of women would take their small scythe-like tools in order to cut grass. This group of women were cutting the grass on the grounds of the Changzhou Software … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged begging, C.I.T., Changzhou, China, Chinese, chinese language, communicate, communication, ESL, ESL blog, foreign teacher, FT, gardening, grounds keeping, Jiangsu, jiao, Mandarin, qǐ tǎo, teaching esl, work ethic, xinbei, yuán, zì zūn, 乞讨, 元, 自尊, 角 | Leave a comment