Practice Makes Perfect

"Practice makes perfect" is a famous saying. It means that when people are learning to do something new, they will be good at it only after having lots of practice. They have to do it over and over again. I have had such experiences for a year. To learn English well, we must speak more, listen more and read more. In the beginning, I couldn't speak English fluently, so I took every chance to practice, such as going to an English class, talking to people who speak English, reading English blogs, and when I saw words I didn’t understand on the street, I would look them up at home later. I kept practicing for a long time. My spoken English is much better than before. My English listening and reading have also improved. Another example is typing. When people first learn to type, they are not familiar with the keyboard and can't type very fast. But as long as they keep practicing, they're sure to have both their typing speed and accuracy improve. Practice makes perfect! This encourages me to practice more and more.

Spelling List for March 20

appropriate
willingness
focus
evaluation
capable
accomplishment
reward
transcript
portfolio
effective
termination
posture
facial expression
first impression
summons
illiterate
motivate
contribution
proficient
inflation
deflation
stagnation
demand
supply
participate

Spelling Words for March 13, 2009

1.  patient

2.  energetic

3.  organized

4.  efficient

5.  reliable

6.  flexible

7.  creative

8.  honest

9.  confident

10. helpful

11. following instructions

12. respectful

13. careful

14. enthusiasm

15. punctual

16. prepared

17. good listener

18. clarification

19. valuable

20. assured

21. follow up

22. demonstrated

23. anxious

24. problem solver

25. concerned   

Spelling List for March 6

administrative assistant

detail oriented

accountant

works well with numbers

fire fighter

flexible

reporter

well organized

landscape architect

creative

mail carrier

efficient

assembler/factory worker

hard working

receptionist

great with people

dental assistant

responsible

security guard

dependable

hair stylist

artistic

business owner

works well under pressure

characteristics

Spelling List for February 27

résumé
application
interview
experience
qualifications
education
position
professional
special skills
certificate
salary
benefits
schedule
attitude
flexible hours
dependability
vacation days
temporary
references
employer
employee
employment
responsibilities
advancement
opportunity

Hello Richard, LindaMy Classmates

Hello, Richard, Linda and my classmates,

How are you? I saw your pictures on the Blog. It looks like everyone is healthy and happy. You know? I totally miss the class. Now, I have been working more days in San Francisco since I got back from Thailand. I went to Thailand because my brother got married. I took some pictures in Thailand to show you.

The first two photos are of one of my favorite places. It is named James Bond Island. This Island was in the James Bond movie "The Man With the Golden Gun".

The last photo is my family with our new sister-in-law.

Enjoyed Dim Sums

Last month, 30th, teacher Linda Newman and part of our new and old students had a lunch together in Happy Valley restaurant.

The day before that day, Linda introduced several kinds of Dim Sum in the class with pictures and texts, since some of our classmates had never eaten Chinese food. So we enjoyed eating Dim Sums and fry noodle.

We had a chance to communicate each other with English and other languages in the restaurant.

Morning Class Jokes and Riddles

Pedro’s Riddles

What did one math book say to the other math book?

What is invisible and smells like carrots?

Yun Ping’s Jokes

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

A man will pay 2 dollars for a one dollar item that he wants. A woman will pay 1 dollar for a 2 dollar item that she doesn’t want.

A woman worries about the future until she gets husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets wife.

Jie’s Jokes

When I walked up to the ATM at the bank, I noticed that someone left his card in the slot in the money machine. I looked up the person in the phonebook and gave him a call.

“I found your ATM card,” I told the man who answered. He then asked hopefully, “You didn’t happen to find my sunglasses, too, did you?”

Spelling list for February 20 Medical Specialties

Medical Specialists (Physicians)

cardiologist

gastroenterologist

podiatrist

psychiatrist

hematologist

orthopedist

internist

gynecologist

oncologist

pediatrician

obstetrician

urologist

anesthesiologist

radiologist

ophthalmologist

surgeon

dermatologist

non-physician specialists

dentist

optometrist

chiropractor

orthodontist

pharmacist

psychologist

physician’s assistant

nurse

Spelling List for February 13

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Congress

House of Representatives

Senate

Chief Executive

Commander in Chief

stimulus package

cabinet

filibuster

cloture

debate

geography

hemisphere

equator

latitude

longitude

tropics

temperate zone

polar zone

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Cancer

Arctic Circle

Antarctic Circle

continent

Spelling List for February 13

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Congress

House of Representatives

Senate

Chief Executive

Commander in Chief

stimulus package

cabinet

filibuster

cloture

debate

geography

hemisphere

equator

latitude

longitude

tropics

temperate zone

polar zone

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Cancer

Arctic Circle

Antarctic Circle

continent

Spelling Words for Friday February 6

saturated fat
sodium
calories
carbohydrates
protein
ingredients
cholesterol
vitamins
fiber
nutrition
minerals
label
serving size
medicine
insurance
advise
habitual
interpret
identify
deductible
reputation
premium
prescription
coverage
dependants

Dear students, 

What a wonderful last day celebration I had with you at Happy Valley Restaurant! It was a great way to celebrate Chinese New Year at the same time.  Thank you for being such a terrific class

and I learned so much from you too.  Continue your English studies with your outstanding teacher Richard.  See your soon.

Best wishes,

Teacher Linda

   

Welcome Teacher Richard back to 101 morning class

We very need you

101 morning class All student

http://mp3.iciba.com/viewsong-7833.shtml

Spelling Words for Friday, January 30, 2009

1.  celebration

2.  lucky

3.  firecrackers

4.  restaurant

5.  dragon

6.  patient

7.  happiness

8.  gunpowder

9.  even-tempered

10. presents

11. envelopes

12. confident

13.  delicious

14.  trustworthy

15. cheerful

16. exaggerated

17. preparation

18. wealth

19. compassionate

20. relatives

21. courageous

22. longevity

23. ancestors

24. strength

25. festival 

Spelling Words for Friday, Jan. 23, 2009

1.  inauguration

2. former

3. election

4. president

5. beginning

6. parade

7. soldiers

8. band

9. ceremony

10. chief justice

11. Supreme Court

12. Bible

13. declare

14. solemnly

15. swear

16. faithfully

17. execute

18. ability

19. preserve

20. protect

21. defend

22. constitution

23. speech

24. oath

25. inaugural balls

Spelling Words for Friday, January 16, 2009

1. minister  

2. assassin

3. violence

4. protest marches

5. separate

6. equality

7. nonviolent

8, theology

9. segregated

10. persuade

11. inspired

12. courage

13. struggle

14. arrested

15. justice

16. famous

17. organized

18. advancement

19. honor

20. dream

21. self-evident

22. character

23. truth

24. powerful

25. possible  

Spelling words for Friday January 9th

1 stressed
2 disease
3 workout
4 risk
5 careful
6 tempted
7 self-confidence
8 safety
9 heart rate
10 vital
11 barrier
12 exercise
13 diabetes
14 research
15 terminal
16 intervals
17 reflective
18 dangerous
19 intersections
20 calories
21 resistance
22 realize
23 obstacles
24 fitness
25 neighborhood

Good Morning, Students!

Welcome to the 2009 school year!

Last night I spoke with Teacher Linda and she told me that working with you is a pleasure.

I hope you redouble your efforts to improve your English skills during this new year.

Thank you for the wonderful cards!

I hope to return to Room 101 in February. In the meantime, I'll continue looking for your stories on the blog.

Richard