The month is almost over and I have not sent out my resource blog. I apologize about that. Also there were a couple mistakes on the email I sent out last week, including the fact that there was no place for dates on the sample checks attached. The following are a few suggestions for subjects to be covered in the ESL class. Beginning students

• Recognize the coins and bills, their names and their values.
• Be able to inquire about the price of an item.
• Be able to count out an appropriate amount of money when told a total cost of items being purchased.
• Be able to count change if acting as a cashier.
• Be able to reconized whether they have been given correct change.
• Be able to return or exchange an item that they have purchased.
• Know in what situations things typically can or cannot be returned in the USA.
• Be able to read a bill.
• Be able to write checks.
• Be able to record the amount of money in the checkbook.
• Be able to talk about opening a bank account.
• Be able to make a deposit or withdrawal.
• Be able to use an ATM.
• Know the names of clothing types.
• Be able to describe what they are wearing.
• Be able to complement a classmate on what they are wearing, and respond appropriately to complements:
  • That's a nice sweater. Is it new?
  • That's a nice color on you.

Advanced Students

• Be able to look buy something online.
• Be able to fill out a credit card application.
• Understand responsible use of credit.
• Know strategies for establishing a credit history in this country.
• Be able to call a company to make inquiries about a bill.
• Be able to make a household budget.
• Be able to call or write a letter of complaint about poor service.
• Be able to recognize possible mail or other types of fraud.

I realize that you may not be able to cover all of these topics, but they are some suggestions.

In a textbook I was looking at recently, there was an interesting innovation. At the end of each major thematic unit, there was a student self-assessment

Early in December, I hope to send out some suggestions for holiday related topics as you wrap up the fall semester.