A new tool KUBBU

I just found an amazing and extremely practical tool for making online activities, exercises, quizzes, puzzles etc called KUBBU - a strange name (meaning nothing) but don't be put off by it.
It is free, you only have to register. I tried it out and was delighted. Something new at last!

Follow this link to see what you can create with this tool - 
http://www.kubbu.com/a1/2498_jobs_and_professions

Web application WALLOVERS

I just discovered a new web application - online pattern painting Wallovers which are symmetrical designs painted on a virtual wall - and got carried away like a kid. It is a tool for drawing patterns in the frame.

One drawback is its very limited choice of colours. I played with the tool tonight and see what I got.

You will need Shockwave player.

Worksheet - Englishman in Japan

Reading task about an Englishman in Japan. Students have to put the events in order. It is good for teaching cultural differences and the topic of culture shock.
There is KEY at the bottom of the page, so if you give this task to your students, don't forget to remove the answers.

Another online task

Here is another task which I made for teaching Present Continuous. It contains a video (a popular song by Fool's Garden) so you will need loudspeakers. Enjoy!
TASK 2

Halloween

˙ƃuısınƃ oƃ llıʇs uǝɹplıɥɔ puɐlʇoɔs puɐ puɐlǝɹı ɟo sʇɹɐd ǝɯos uı ˙uǝʌıƃ sı ʇɐǝɹʇ ou ɟı ʎʇɹǝdoɹd ɹıǝɥʇ ɹo sɹǝuʍoǝɯoɥ ǝɥʇ uo ɟǝıɥɔsıɯ ɯɹoɟɹǝd oʇ ʇɐǝɹɥʇ (ǝlpı ʎlʇsoɯ) ɐ oʇ sɹǝɟǝɹ ,,ʞɔıɹʇ,, pɹoʍ ǝɥʇ ,,¿ʇɐǝɹʇ ɹo ʞɔıɹʇ,, 'uoıʇsǝnb ǝɥʇ ɥʇıʍ 'ʎǝuoɯ sǝɯıʇǝɯos ɹo ʎpuɐɔ sɐ ɥɔns sʇɐǝɹʇ ɹoɟ ƃuıʞsɐ 'ǝsnoɥ oʇ ǝsnoɥ ɯoɹɟ ǝɯnʇsoɔ uı oƃ uǝɹplıɥɔ ˙uǝǝʍollɐɥ uo uǝɹplıɥɔ ɹoɟ uoıʇɐɹqǝlǝɔ ʎɹɐɯoʇsnɔ ɐ sı ƃuıʇɐǝɹʇ-ɹo-ʞɔıɹʇ

Could you read this? Did you think it was Arabic?
Take a closer look. It is just a good-bye from Halloween!
Here is a 'normal' version of the text. (If you got interested in how I did it, here is the link to a very simple tool - Flip Text.)

Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costumes from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, "Trick or treat?" The word "trick" refers to a (mostly idle) threat to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. In some parts of Ireland and Scotland children still go guising. In this custom the child performs some sort of show, i.e. sings a song or tells a ghost story, in order to earn their treats.

On Halloween night I had some unexpected guests in disguise, I did not recognise anyone but they must have known where I lived. Luckily, I had prepared a bowl of sweets beforehand, so I treated them and was spared tricking but got thanks instead!