Nate's Reading and Writing Classes

By Nate Feldman 1. automate = to have things done by machines 2. benefits = something useful or good for you  3. discrimination = not being treated fairly  4. expertise = deep knowledge about a subject  5. gig = a temporary or part-time job, especially one you can do on your own (like driving an uber or having an Air B and B in your house)  6. job security = having a job that you cannot lose easily  7. labor = workforce, employees of a company  8. on the margins = people not a part of the mainstream of society  9. substitute = replace someone or something with someone or something else  10. take advantage of = to use something to help you in some way  11. the other end of the spectrum = on the opposite side of something  12. wage = money you make from a job  Warm-up discussion: 1. Is finding job security easy or difficult these days?  What do you know about this? 2. How can you take advantage of your time in Philadelphia? ...

                                                         Should We Have Classes Until 5 PM?                                                                 By Nate Feldman  The ELS language school in Philadelphia offers classes in English from 8:30 in the morning until 3:45 in the afternoon.    Recently, there has been talk by some people that ELS classes should be much longer, and they have suggested that the day should be extended until 5 PM (Background).    However, is this a good idea?    Should we really have classes an hour and fifteen minutes more than we do now?    In my opinion, w...

 By Nate Feldman This session, we have learned about comparison essays and how to show how two things can be similar, different, or a little bit of both. Write a comparison essay on one of the following topics: 1. Humans vs. Apes (like Chimps and Orangutans)  2. Two other animals  3. Two people you know  4. Two types of American food  5. Two cities you have visited in the United States Remember to focus on the quality of writing over the exact number of words.  Obviously, I don't want it too short, but if you have 375 good words, I am not going to grade you higher if you add 50 more words that are unnecessary.   You can use the entire class period.  We will take a short break from 2:35-2:45.   Also, for this assignment, don't use your phone.  Use the knowledge you have gained from this class, as well as other classes.  You can use a dictionary or phone for the revision on Monday. Have fun and enjoy the essay! -Mr. Nate...

By Nate Feldman Friendship is an essential part of our lives, like food and water.  We are by nature social creatures and enjoy having people to interact with.  Two friends I like to spend time with are Taylor and Jeanine.  While some of the things we do together are different, they have a lot of similarities. Taylor likes to go to movies and other entertainment events.  We often go to the cinema and see movies.  We have also gone to outdoor events, like the Great Allentown Fair and the lighting of Christmas trees.  We haven't gone to a sporting event yet, though we talked about seeing an ice hockey game together next month.  He also came to support me when I was selling my magazines and cards at an arts and crafts festival in October. Like Taylor, I have gone to movies and entertainment events with Jeanine.  We went to the cinema to see a film, and we also went to a concert last April.  We likewise attended a tree lighting event in Philadelp...

By Nate Feldman I recently went to a school, and there I had two teachers.  They both taught me well, but they had some unique differences.   There was Mr. Franklin.  He was very playful in class.  He always taught using games and imagination.  Very often, he would tell stories to the class to learn something valuable and interesting.  He had a great sense of humor and liked to laugh.  At the beginning of class, he asked us what we would want to do for the day, so we decided the type of lesson. Then, there was his wife, Mrs. Franklin.  Unlike her husband, she wasn't so playful in class.  She always used the book for the lessons and stuck with it strictly.  She could laugh, but she was more serious during lessons.  Also, unlike her husband, she was the decision-maker in the class.  She told us what to do, and we would do it. The two teachers were so different, but I learned so much from them, and I think they were both amaz...

  Discussion: 1. Are you comfortable making eye contact with people, or are you uncomfortable with that?   2. Who is the decision-maker in your family? 3. Do you like to see wildlife in different places?   Philadelphia is similar to New York City.   Both are big cities in the northeast United States.   Philadelphia has a large population.   Likewise, New York has many people.     Japan has a lot of beautiful nature.   Similarly, Pennsylvania has many places with great scenery.       Philadelphia is very cold in the winter months. Like Philadelphia, Osaka has freezing temperatures in the winter months.   Like rugby, people tackle players in American football.   Like baseball, softball hits a ball with a bat.   Like Mexico, Guatemala speaks Spanish.   Like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia is a Gulf Middle Eastern country.   While I am in class, I listen to the teacher.   Whi...

 By Nate Feldman Reading Comprehension Lesson Text Natasha and Olivia are being haunted by the ghost of Suzanna Craigson, a girl that lived in their town in the early 1800s and died in a mysterious drowning accident. They see her in pictures and around the school. So, they try to discover more about who she was and why she might be interested in them. 1. Pre-Reading Activity Think & Discuss What do you know about ghosts or ghost stories? Why do you think people are interested in mysteries from the past? What questions come to your mind after reading the title or first sentence? Summer vs Winter (Block Style) Introduction Seasons change the world around us. Some people love the heat of summer, while others enjoy the cold of winter. Summer and winter are very different in weather, activities, and feelings. This essay will explain the main differences between summer and winter. Summer Summer is hot and sunny. People wear light clothes like T-shirts, shorts, and s...

By Nate Feldman Comparison Essay: Soccer and American Football Do you like to play or watch sports?  Athletics play an important role in cultures around the world, and two of the most popular, soccer and American football, often create confusion for international students. Although both games involve teamwork, strategy, and intense competition, they differ greatly in rules, equipment, and global popularity. To begin, soccer is the world’s most widely played sport. It is simple to learn and requires very little equipment: a ball and an open space. The objective is straightforward.  Players use their feet to move the ball and attempt to score goals by kicking it into the opponent’s net. Except for the goalkeeper, players cannot touch the ball with their hands. Soccer matches are known for their fast pace and continuous action, with only a short halftime break. American football, on the other hand, is primarily popular in the United States, although there is a Canadian foot...

 By Nate Feldman Comparison Essay: Oatmeal and Waffles (Block Method)  Are you familiar with things that American people eat for breakfast (hook) ?  There are many unique things people enjoy having in the morning, such as cereal, toast, eggs, bagels, and pancakes.  Many people also having oatmeal and waffles (background). Although they are both common morning foods, they are quite different in taste, texture, and nutrition (thesis). (paragraph about oatmeal) First, oatmeal is a warm dish made from oats cooked in water or milk. It has a soft, thick texture. Many people like oatmeal because it is healthy. It is high in fiber, which helps you feel full longer. People often add fruit, nuts, or honey to make it sweeter. (paragraph about waffles)  Waffles, on the other hand, are made from a batter of flour, eggs, and milk. They are cooked in a waffle iron, which gives them their special shape and crispy outside. Waffles are usually sweeter than oatmeal. Many people e...

 By Nate Feldman Have you eaten breakfast in the USA?    Two popular things that Americans eat for breakfast are pancakes and cereal.  In fact, some recent statistics say they are the most famous breakfast things in the United States.  At any restaurant you go to, you will certainly find these items on the breakfast menu.   While they are very popular, they have some  differences  with each other.   Pancakes are usually eaten on the weekends because they take a long time to make.  They are very soft and fluffy, so people often eat them with forks and knives to cut them.  Also, people eat fruit either on top of them or inside of them.  Cereal, on the other hand, is typically eaten on weekdays.  That is because it is quick to pour cereal in a bowl and add milk to it.  Unlike pancakes, cereal is very crunchy, so you can’t pick it up with a fork.  You need a spoon for it.  Like pancakes, people ea...

By Nate Feldman Warm-up: We will watch the video, "The Missed Meeting."  What kind of social relationship does the man have with the person on the phone?  Is it a good relationship?  Do you have any social relationships like this?  Discuss this with your classmates.   Reading:  We will go over answers from exercise B-C on P.8 in the book. Writing: We will review a comparison essay, Cereal vs. Pancakes. Short Writing:  What are two things people like to have for breakfast in your country.  Are they similar or different?  Write no more than 100 words about this topic (It is SHORT writing).  

By Nate Feldman   Pancakes and Cereal             Have you eaten breakfast in the USA?   Two popular things that Americans eat for breakfast are pancakes and cereal.   In fact, some recent statistics say they are the most famous breakfast things in the United States.   At any restaurant you go to, you will certainly find these items on the breakfast menu.   While they are very popular, they have some differences with each other. One big difference between cereal and pancakes is when we eat them.   Typically, people like to eat cereal on workdays because they you just have to put it in a bowl and add milk and some fruit if you would like.   On the other hand, pancakes are more popular on weekends.   You need extra time to prepare and cook them, so it is very popular to eat them on Saturday or Sunday, not on Monday-Friday. Another difference is their texture .   For instance, cereal...