EFL FLEX in Moldova

This summer ACCELS Moldova in collaboration with ALC (American Councils), where I am currently working as an EFL instructor, have organised a summer immersion program for the FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange Program) finalists from all over the former Soviet republics, who came to Moldova to improve their English, study about US culture and get ready to face an academic year in the States. This is a short video we put together with the activities we enjoyed the most: the first part is just a slide show of pictures and comments, the second represents a series of short videos with the FLEX students sharing their experience in Moldova. A couple of students have visual and hearing impairments. These interviews were taken during our last EFL Conversation class, when the students talked about what they liked doing during these 5 weeks and is they are ready to leave for US.

Check on our Voicethreads!

My students and I have explored Voicethread - and created a couple of presentations on different topics you might find interesting and fun to watch! For teachers: I have also uploaded a lesson plan you can find on my TeacherWeb page ("Lesson Plans" section).
Check on the following links if you want to find out more about:

1. Beyonce and her career as a singer and actress: http://voicethread.com/#q.b106050 and http://voicethread.com/#q.b106194 (or type in "Beyonce" in the Browse section of Voicethread);
2. My experience in NY by Gabi Lu http://voicethread.com/share/103345/

3. Advantages of Travelling http://voicethread.com/#u75245.b89426

4. Past Perfect -http://voicethread.com/#q.b90651 and http://voicethread.com/share/89461/
5. Modal Verbs: http://voicethread.com/#u64820.b89478.i455697

6. Niagara Falls: http://voicethread.com/#q.b105995 and http://voicethread.com/share/106041/

7. Rodeo Superstitions https://webmail.olemiss.edu/cgi-bin/webmail.cgi?cmd=url&xdata=~2-dc582f0887a4d72d3a1cc428f64397b3f88ca4f4e19dd9c7dd00&url=http!3A!2F!2Fvoicethread.com!2Fshare!2F106194!2F
8. The sttue of Liberty http://voicethread.com/#q.b105979

9. Yosemite National Park http://voicethread.com/share/106629/

Don't forget to create an account or sign in first to watch them.

What is a "Tornado" ?

What you need to know about tornados:

1. Scientists don't know exactly how tornadoes form, but that they usually occur in the United States when cool dry air from the north mixes with warm moist air from the south.

Find out by yourselves:

- What is a twist? - What is a tornado alley?

2. Watch the following National Geographic Videos. What did you notice about tornadoes?

3. Tornados are found most frequently east of the Rocky Mountains during the spring and summer months. Find out how tornados form here.
4. In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported nationwide, resulting in 80 deaths and over 1,500 injuries.
5. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph or more. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Once a tornado in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, carried a motel sign 30 miles and dropped it in Arkansas!

Having fun with Cartoons!

Fun Facts about Niagara Falls!

Have a look at Niagara Falls, one of the most beautiful places in USA. Although they aren't the highest waterfalls in the world, the volume of the water that flows over the falls combine with their height to make Niagara Falls exceptionally spectacular. Find out who survived a trip down Niagara in barrel, how the Falls froze almost completely one year, why they "stopped" the water and what are Niagara's best attractions.

General Information

Niagara Falls at Night

Attractions and Tours

Niagara Movie

Crazy Adventures!

10 Niagara Falls Attractions

Niagara Falls Frozen in 1911!!!

Interesting Facts about the Falls.

Teachers can survive anything (even Niagara!)

Let's learn more about the Grand Canyon

1. This week we will be learning about Grand Canyon. I have put together some interesting sites we could explore and find out more information about this wonderful site.

Grand Canyon facts at El Civics for ESL Students

2. Find out what a Skywalk is from this slideshare presentation : Skywalk in Grand Canyon

3. Watch this amazing video and feel free to share comments: Grand Canyon on Youtube

4. Learn about the Indian Tribes from the Grand Canyon: Navajo People

Atomic Bomb Testing in Vegas

How did Atomic Bomb Experiments change Las Vegas? Was it safe to watch those explosions? What do you think about that?