Mad dogs & English

End of Spring Semester

2007-06-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, so our last 'in class' class is over for Spring and I will take off Summer class.
For those dedicated students who frequent the blog, I will be available for questions via blog or email and I will experiment with an online course through the blog. Jiri is going to work with me on some teaching videos. Those who would like to keep in touch with the fellow ESL bloggers please carry on. We all love to hear how you are doing and see the progress of your writing skills. Whenever I have time I will let you know what corrections you need and please bloggers help each other when you can with corrections. It all leads to better English language skills. Thanks for sharing your time and yourselves with me.
Chris

How sweet to be back to Seattle

2007-06-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hello everyblogger,

How are you all doing? Yessss, I'm back to Seattle. Alex and I were traveling around with my parents who came to visit us. They stayed 4 weeks with us... We rented an RV and planed to visit the Southwest! So, our first stop was San Francisco. We all fell in love with this city. Then we saw the biggest, largest living thing in the world, that a sequoia, a giant tree. After that, we arrived to Las Vegas. This city is completely crazy. We managed to loose only 50 bucks and not to be drunk, not as many many people there. Really, that's crazy to see how people can loose their values and think that money is the best thing in the world. They spend, spend, spend until they have (almost) nothing left. Well, one night was enough. I'm happy to have seen this city, and actually, it was my second time there, but I don't feel the need to go back again.

The madness gave way to the beauty. We went to Grand canyon (it's very big), then to Monument Valley (it was like in movies) and then we left Arizona to go to Mesa Verde NP, in Colorado. We saw Native Americans' houses built in the rocks in order to protect themselves against the enemies. Gorgeous.

After that, we spend 10 days in Utah. Utah is likely the most awsome State in the US. Arches NP, Capitol Reef NP, Grand Staircase Monument, Bryce Canyon and Zion: all these parks and monuments are great. My favorite is Bryce Canyon. We went down the canyon and hikes a little bit. We hiked in Zion, too, and the vultures (kind of big eagle) were flying above us. Obviously, we didn't die and they didn't have a nice dinner...

We also spent one hour in Salt Lake City. Here again, we can use a superlative: the saddest city in the world. Downtown was gloomy, we barely saw one guy walking in the streets and it was impossible to drink a beer, a glass of wine, even a coffee. It's banned by the Mormons. There was no reason to stay there, so we pursued towards Grand Teton and Yellowstone NP. Great idea. In Yellowstone, we admired not only the geysers, but also the wildlife. We saw a young grizzli bear, some white pelicans, a wolf, a coyote, tons of buffalos, some elks, a marmott, even two snakes! I can say that our trip was successful!

And what about you? What happened in your life during this time? plenty of good events is that right? I hope to see you soon,

Stephanie

PS: Chris and Jiri, I posted a comment for you on Jiri's hockey writing (do you see what I mean?)
Well,

Experimental music concert

2007-05-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

I am sending this email to invite you to our next concert the next Friday at 8 PM. Is gone be a pefect concert to go after or before adrink-dinner with friends, I am sure that you will have a lot of things to comment after to attend the concert.

The concert has been prepared with the intention to offer a travel into differents styles of contemporary music by our assimilation.

I hope to see you there. To see the place, please go to the site

http://duojuum.net/node/26

Cheers

Gaby

Hockey

2007-05-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Czechoslovakian National Team beat Russians in a final game of The World Championship in Ice Hockey in 1972. Games with Russia hasn't been just about sport for years. We won a tournament and all nations became to celebrated a great victory. In my family my father and his friends celebrated also my birth. They said he has to play a ice hockey.
Yep, my lifetime sport number one is hockey. I started to played hockey when I was 6 years old. I trained three time of week with my town team and we played a game against another hockey club during weekend. This had become my schedule for maybe ten years, until I quited. Since that, I played occasionally with my friends. I had also joined Town Pub League for three years before I left to USA.

The power of the intention

2007-05-23T17:45:00.000-07:00

The power of the intention is a new tool in creation realities that has been used for many people today. It can be reached by anyone and is so easy. Nobody need a special and expensive material or resources for do it, because everything is in your thoughs and inside your mind are all your answers. This technique can modify your reality which means your health, career, your world etc.

How can people control their way of thinking? Muhammad Ali spent much of his training time learning how to be the best boxer in the ring also he learned how to make the fight in his head. He used the focused intention and developed a set of mental skills such as affirmation; visualization; mental rehearsal; self-confirmation; and perhaps the most powerful though in his life “I am the greatest.”
Like as Ali with mental intentions you can do wherever you want, first you have to choose your goal and used mental pictures of it to create a new reality, second it is really important to practice your visualizations regularly. Finally, when you visualize in your mind’s eye something that having already occurred, you are creating your new future. Some people prefer to focus their goals when they are in a state of concentrated focus and can see them as a mental picture, imaging the details and feeling how they would be living that moment.

If people can change their realities in consequence human intentions might be powerful enough to affect and change our surranding However people might have the responsibility when are generating their thoughts because they can change others people lives.

Marianna, This is really good, please continue with it. Chris

Movie from a library

2007-05-14T22:33:00.000-07:00

During my last weekend I saw a movie "The Usual Suspect". The movie is from 1995. Kevin Spacey, who stars in the movie, has got an Oscar award as best supporting actor. The movie is about corruptions in the NYPD and a Hungarian gang in California. I especially like the final part of the movie, when a police inspector had some inkling and figured out, who he just talked to and let go. My rating is three and half stars.
I borrowed that movie from Seattle Public Library. I like that institution a lot. They lend a free movie for two weeks. I usually find a movie which I want to watch on a library catalog, put it on hold and next I wait until the order arrives. A good system! I have been waiting for that movie for three months, but we say in Czech- Kdo si pocka, ten se docka- Who has waited, he has got it.
Jiri

firts post

2007-05-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

I'am carlos noriega . born in mexico city 0n 1963. en mexico endig the high school , after estudi tree years on the coleguio de bachilleres and gradued, afteer maqued a test for enter the univercidad autonoma de mexico on the eschool of architectur. for tree years....after that becoming to literal surce.

Independence Day

2007-05-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

My favorite event

My favorite event was my independence day. It happened in May 24, 1991. This day was the very interesting and a favorite day even for all the people in my country. My country is called Eritrea and it is located in the horn of Africa. It is bordered with different countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti and Saudi Arabia. It got its independence through a hard ship struggle of 30 years. In this struggle about 65 thousand people sacrificed their lives and 10 thousand people became disabled. Because of this we celebrate this day by remembering those people, by preparing traditional food and drinks and also playing traditional music and songs every year. Because of all the above points I really enjoy this day every year.

Haregu Hailu
Asmara Eritrea
05 09 2007

The ESL Classes has brought changes on me

2007-04-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

Taking the ESL classes at Literacy Source has brought great changes in my day-to-day life and especially in my job. Before taking ESL classes, I had a hard time communicating with people, replying to emails at my work place and traveling abroad. While I was talking in English with other people, I had always a sense of dissatisfaction because I couldn't express to them what I thought. I had a very embarrassing experience while I was traveling because lack of English speaking. Last year when I was flying from India to the USA, I had seven hours layover at Heathrow Airport in London. When I arrived there, I was very tired because of long flight. At the Airport I saw a calm and spacious passengers' lounge with nice couch where passengers could sleep. First I thought to take a rest there, but later I thought if I take a nap I might over sleep and miss my flight. I thought if I miss the plane that would be the most terrible situation for me. Therefore, I decided, I would rather eat and drink something. I walked to a café and used sign language to order food and beverages. I was really embarrassed doing such things. At that time I desperately realize what I need to learn. Since that date I have a strong motivation towards learn English language.

Therefore, since I got to Seattle, I have been taking ESL classes at Literacy Source.
Taking ESL classes has been very helpful for me. Now I feel much more comfortable speaking in English with other people and traveling. Even though it is hard to read and write in English for me, when I talk in English, I am able to express what I want to say. I reply to official mail, and I feel more comfortable using computers. I lately visited my friend in Vancouver, Canada. Meantime, he was sort of busy because of sudden expansion in his work. I didn't bother him to go out frequently instead of that I went by myself and explored the city. When I got back to Seattle, I was surprised; before one year the person who used sign language to order food is now traveling alone.

Today I am really grateful towards staff and tutors of Literacy Sources for contributing their time and genuine exertion to help the students like me, who comes from all over the world. In addition, I like to say thanks to all my friends from who I got opportunity to know about many cultures.

When I see all these changes in my life after taking ESL classes I would like to keep continue learning and pay more attention on ESL classes for my better tomorrow and also in future I would like to help others.

Thank you.
Lhakpa Tshering
Student Literacy Source.

Mad dogs isn't death

2007-04-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

So I'm going to write something about a topic what I want to learn in our next classes.
I learned grammar many times in the past. I think I should know all the basic grammar. I can study by myself my blind spots or we can spend a short time to remember some grammar.
I like to focus on writing practice, exercises, essays, video... But what is important is to go back and correct tense use, structure of sentences everything with the teacher 1:1. I also like to by correct in class. My friends have said I speak English well, but I have seen on their faces sometimes, that they still don't understand.
Thank for teaching patience with me Chris.
Jiri

That's about me and pets.

2007-03-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite sentence for long time was "I don't like dogs and cats". I had have just a couple experience with pets. I thought that they are unneeded. I have been bitten twice by a dog back in my country. So I felt a little fear from dogs of size German shepherd and I felt like to kick to ass those a little one.
Everything changed three years ago when I moved to Seattle. My brand new Americans friends love pets and almost everybody own one. I rented a room in house where is a dog as well. His name is Kobar and he is Weimaraner. I go very often to walk or run with him. I like to watch his behave. He can nicely touch, cuddle. He is a good yogi so he can stretch and relax. He can also watch and listen-sometimes. Yep, he has been my good buddy for more then year.
Recently I took care about Chris and Deedee's cat-Piggy. That a little tiger is more gently and I guess more easy going then a dog. Good part of take care of Piggy was a full fridge of foods prepared for me.
So, I have different, a better feeling for pets now. Americans like to talk about their pets, when they haven't what to say. I wrote down a little article.
Jiri

Interviews

2007-03-18T06:56:00.000-07:00

In the winter semester Jiri and Carla followed the first documentary project through to completion. Congratulations on a job well done and thanks to Marianna and students contributing and working on this idea. The idea sprung out of a brainstoming session in class and is the result of working on several ideas, many dropped due to lack of attendance. Because the projects were documented in progress, other students were able to carry on the final idea for the project.
The first edit have been posted on YouTube for students to view. In the spring semester, I am hoping we can work on improving such projects both in documentary skills and English speaking skills. To see the first projects click on these links:
Carla interviews Ousman
Jiri interviews Shimo

Siam

2007-03-08T21:58:00.000-08:00

Sa wa ti kup. (Greetings)
At first Thailand is not an easy place for Europeans or people from cooler climates.
It is hot and humid and slightly cooler in the evenings. Most people get a little sick in the first few days. Some of the sickness is due to different bacteria than we are used to and some of the sickness is probably anxiety about health and strangers.
Today the day before the wedding we finally met the family of Art, the bride. We didn't know that the tradition is to get to know the family after the wedding. This evening we are being taken to a sunset on a beach somewhere on the Island (Phuket).
At 7:30 am tomorrow we will be all dressed up ready to visit several temples and homes to give prayers to ancestors and family and for the bride and Groom. This will take several hours of driving and standing in the heat in our suits and gowns.
At 5pm the wedding feast will begin and we will greet the guests in Thai each one as they come in. There will be about 400 guests, mostly Thai, with religions from Buddhist, Moslem and Christian backgrounds.
SO I am thinking of Lhakpa's last writing and I try to keep in mind, we can only change the world by facing and tackling our own demons. When the golden light shines from us, it is infectious and that will change the world as it does everyday. Those that would make war for whatever reason and take the lives of others are deluded and very sick souls, the more power and wealth they have, the more wretched they become, they will rot and decompose in their own stench.
Over the top, well I am reading Henry Miller at the moment and grasping some of the Buddhist essence that pervades the air here. It cures the stench of sewerage and petrol exhaust. Every honk of a took took or bike reminds one, life is fleeting and it is a gift. Phuket is being swallowed up in the rush of tourism and decadence, but one can still see here the influence of the Buddha on peoples faces. As greed and the crass develop perhaps that will go, but I think not, It is infectious and even those clawing to the material need only a reminder that our true destiny is Love.

Our Old Home

2007-02-28T16:49:00.000-08:00

Our old home, our world, the home where our ancestors spent their entire life with all rhythm of life. The home we have been living with our family in, with many optimistic thoughts. The home we live and die. The home, we walk on surefooted and rely on for our entire life. We should take care of our home with love.

This home is not only belonging to this generation. We have to hand it to our new generation with out any flaw. If we find something broken in our home we have to repair them for our children. They have to survive in this home. That is our responsibility, our tradition, which has been happening since the world has begun. We shouldn't forget our valuable tradition. If we do not follow our tradition then it will cause our home to ruin and destroy our generation and tradition.

Today we are developing our home and acquiring lots of equipment to make it more comfortable, but at the same time we are surviving with fear from natural and man made disasters. Many scientists have been researching to cure terrible diseases. They are burning the midnight oil to solve the problems. Our government and many organizations have been making hospitals and schools, providing education and spending millions of money for medication to get rid from diseases. When we see all these good things happening we feel hope for living on the earth.

But, in the other hand, we always have a fear from natural and man made disasters like global warming and developing massive explosive ammunition. Humans are killing humans. Humans are losing the traits of being a human from the other beings. Always trying to obliterate the enemies and stay secure. Seeing these, things the world is becoming a more dangerous place to live.

I think we all who are surviving in this 21st century have a very crucial role to play. We are the fence sitters; we have to decide how our world should be tomorrow, in our children's generation. So, let us save our home from being demolish by natural disasters and man made disasters. Let us fertilize our home with beneficial things. Let us make our world a good place to live.

Lhakpa Tshering.
Student of Literacy Source, Fremont.

Documentary

2007-02-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

I coudn't attend the last class and I have no idea about what's going on regarding the documentary. I think that my group had a good start, but we need to make progress... Our list of questions is not ready.
So, Jiri, Ching, and Malic, do you think that you'll be at Literacy Source tomorrow ? I hope so!!!
Does anyone know when the break is? I hope we still have enough time to make our documentary.

Stephanie

valentine's day

2007-02-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

hello everybody,
Where is everybody today? It seems that all of you are very busy today and happy , well we're three attending classes , we are doing how to edit a post , I hope to see you next week

INVITATION FOR EVERYBODY

2007-02-13T12:26:00.000-08:00

NORTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND STAGE ONE

PRESENT

HUMAN BORDERS

BY RUBI ROMERO
DIRECTED BY ROSE CANO

February 16, 17, 23, 24, and March 2, 3
at 7: 30 PM

February 25 and March 4 at 2:00 PM

Human Borders is an exciting and topical new play about human trafficking between Mexico and the United States and the terrible human toll it exacts. This is the world premiere production of a play that was developed right in the North Seattle Comunnity College.

President Bush recently signed legislation to erect a fence between Mexico and the United States and the national debate over inmigration is heating up. Is the problem the physical boundaries us as separate cultures and individuals?

HUMAN BORDERS illuminates the human side of this debate.

All tickets are pay what you can.

Stage one theater
9600 College Way North
Library Building

“Too” & “Very”

2007-02-11T10:44:00.000-08:00

I took this question and answer from this website that I recommend:
ELI Grammar Hotline Adverbs and Adjectives
(click on it to view site)

Q. (from Abdulrhman) When should I use "very" and "too" and how can I know which one is correct in a sentence?

A. Too and very are both adverbs that modify adjectives and other adverbs.
Very has the meaning of “to a great degree.”

In Japan I lived in a very small apartment. (The apartment was small “to a great degree.”)
He plays the piano very well.
When I went to Las Vegas last August, the weather was very hot.

Very can also be used with superlatives to make them feel stronger.

The very first foreign country I ever visited was Iceland.
This is my very last warning. I won’t tell you again!

Too has the meaning of “more than enough” or “more than good.”
Slow down! You’re driving too fast!” (i.e. the speed is more than enough; it’s dangerous)
This shirt is too small for me. The sleeves are too short. (i.e, it is not possible for me to wear this small shirt.)

Another meaning of too is “also.”
I have a desktop computer and a notebook computer too.

Note that too (in the meaning of “more than enough”) and very can not be used to modify verbs directly.
*You are very driving. (incorrect usage)
*He too speaks. (incorrect usage)
Check the Revision links for an online test using too and very.

Gabriela cannot attend Wednesday class anymore

2007-02-10T19:07:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody,
I'm not able to continue the Wednesday class. I'm very busy with working and so I need some more time for resting. Thank you all for the time we spent together. It would be great to see some of you someday.

All the best
Gabriela

2007-02-09T10:47:00.000-08:00

Hi Chris,

I am very shame with you, and with all the class. Last Wednesday I couldn't go to the class either.

I know, I must to be constant. I can't do it for this moment, I am trying to work here and especially for me, is difficult to found the places to work in my direction like a musician or a writer. Honestly, when I found something with my discipline I lost my head. Sorry.

The interview with the director was fine and I am in. Finally I am doing the music for the acting play and I really enjoy the work. Chris,I had a meeting and I couldn't finish the meeting early last Wednesday: I was worry for the class and I couldn't do it. I don't know how can I do to apologyze myself with you. I don't know if you are upset with all my things around, me always running. I want to say thanks for your tenacity in the class but I have to be honest, I have a lot of work now, fortunately.
I think that I can be free for the next class but I'm not sure, I don't know yet if I have to go to the reherasals, the opening will be on February 16 and they gave me a week (four days) to make the music. Result: I am affraid.

The play is named "Human Borders" the writer is Carlo's wife. Her name is Rubi Romero, she did a fantastic work with the languages, with both, including Spanish and English. The play has a ten percentage of Spanhis, so you can undestand. I used Carlos for the contact with the directora (he he). The opening will be on February 16 in the North Seattle Community College, there will be more dates for presentations on February 17, 23, 24 and March 2 and 3. All the presentations will be at 7:30 PM in the Theather of NSCC. I hope that you can listen my work again. The play is good but strong, a look into human trafficiknig between Mexico and the United States. Not at all the music is original but the work is strong. I am in the studio now trying to do my best effort. I hope to see you there. We are friends, lately.

Cheers,

Gaby

Student Interviews

2007-02-07T18:47:00.001-08:00

Interview with students

Hello

We are students from the Advance Class at Literacy Source course and we would like to ask you some questions.
Can you spare some of your time?

A. Could you tell me your name?

B.-------------------

A. Where are you from?

B. --------------------

A What were your most difficult problem when you moved to Seattle?

B..................................

A. Free question depends of the answer of student.
Example: Why was the language the most difficult problem?

B..................................

A. Free question compare both countries ( USA and the student' country)
Example: Why is the English language more difficult than Chinese language ?

B.................................

A. How has literacy source helped you to settle down in Seattle?

B.----------------------

Thank you for your time

Grammar: Comparative Adjective

Lee

Rangji
Gabriela
Mariana

It's a great evening

2007-02-07T18:46:00.000-08:00

We are happy because we know how to use the blog now!!!!!!

My Trip to Los Angeles

2007-02-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Every One,

I did not come to last week class because I went to Los Angeles with my friend.
We took a very late flight last Wednesday and got in Los Angeles already midnight. We had two meetings on Thursday, one was in the morning and another was in the afternoon. After the meetings we drove directly to airport and we caught a earlier flight back to Seattle, so I could attend this Wednesday's class.

Los Angeles is a big city in US. There are many famous places there, such as Hollywood, Disney Land, beautiful Beaches, etc. If you plan your trip to Los Angeles, please leave at least two days for Los Angeles. But be careful, the traffic in Los Angeles is not as good as in Seattle, especially at rush hours. I got trouble when I drove back to airport last Wednesday.

Los Angeles is also a hub city in western part of US, you can easily reach many other places, for example, Las Veges is only 4 hours driving away, Sandi ego is only two hours driving away, San Francisco is 5 hours driving away.

Hi guys, please inform me which city in Mexico you suggest me to visit.

Qing Ai

2007-02-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

How exciting to see all these contributions and comments. We miss you Carlos and because of your writing we feel we are with you. Joy to your family and happy travel and vacation. It is good to see your exhuberance about being with your family and the tastes and smell of home.
Lhakpa, you will be missed, so stay close on the blog, don't work too hard unless it's to improve English of course.
Guys, you have worked hard on your assignments, I am very happy, it will surely be a success. I too went to a party on Saturday, I think, I don't remember very much of it, except the feeling of being with good people. Jiri, I hope your recovery is swift.

FUTURE TENSES ABOUT GREEN LAKE

2007-02-07T05:28:00.000-08:00

Goodmorning, we are students from Lettercy Source at Freemount if you don't mine we would like to take some decomentry report about Green Lake.

Q. What will you think the future of this Green Lake?

Q. Are you going to continue coming this place?

Q.Will you like to spend more our than before?

Q. I think it s going to rain, so what are you going to do?

Q. I think it will be good idea, if someone opened a mobile snack shop.What about you?

Q. Next week, will you like to have more conversation with me?

I am not able to contiune the class!

2007-02-06T14:40:00.000-08:00

Hello Chris, I will be not able to continue the class on Wednesdays because my workload expanded. I hope to rejoin the class at some point in the future. I would like to say sorry to Gaby, Jung, Carl and all class mates that I couldn't continue our plan. I would like to keep in touch on the blog.
Have a nice class
Lhakpa.

Carlos's vacation

2007-02-06T14:02:00.000-08:00

Hi guys,

I didn'n planned this trip with to much time so I didn't talk to you about it.

The good new is, right now I am enjoining the summer in Chile. Actually today is my second day in Chile. Last week I went to Argentina and Uruguay for working, the nice thing is my family traveled with me, so every day after work they was waiting for me to have dinner and go out for a walk in Buenos Aires.

Now I would like to introduce my family to you guys. In the picture, from left to right, Carlos (my dad), Ana (my mom), me, Rubi (my wife) and Lorena (my sister). The picture was taked when we were traveling from Argentina to Uruguay in a ferry.

Everything is great here.... I can feel all thing I missed for all these years...... I can smell the sence of my land, I can taste the fruit, the fresh fruits from my country, my mom is cooking the food I love, I don't know, is like I am re-recognoizing my world. Oh well, I guess I am too happy now.

What else, I haven´t do any home work yet ( I am sorry about it Cris) but it's because I use every single minute I have to talk to my family and friends to know about their lifes and to tell them about mine in these last 3 years.

I will try to post some more pictures. I will take some good ones to show you a little piece of my country.

Thanks guys, regards.

Carlos from Chile

Jiri's, Ching's, Malic's and Stephanie's documentary

2007-02-05T15:03:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,

Here is our story board:

We'd like to make a documentary on the way people spend their time around greenlake.
We'll focus on different verb tenses: present (simple and progressive), futur and past perfect (if we have enough time and ressources). If somebody from the other groups wants to work on the past perfect, well, it's perfect for us! We can share!

Regarding the advertisement, it could be something like this:

Good morning/afternoon,

We are English students at Literacy Source in Fremont and for our Wednesday evening class, we'd like to make a documentary on the way people spend their free time around Greenlake. So, if you don't mind and if you have time, we'd like to ask you some questions. It's not going to be long.

So so so, this is our plan.
Jiri and Ching should normally work on the past perfect (For how long have you run, walked, swum around Greenlake .....)
Malic should work on the futur (what do you think you'll be doing around Greenlake this Summer?.....)
As for Stephanie, it's the present (What are you doing here?......)

See you tomorrow ;)

FROM LAKHPA, KARLA AND GABY

2007-02-05T11:52:00.000-08:00

Here are my notes about the last Wednesday.
.....

Introduction

Hello, we are a team from Advanced ESL class of Wednesday and we are planning to make a short documentary about Literacy Source's volunteers.

The short interview can be with those questions:

-How long have you been offering classes like a volunteer?

-Which originals languages do you have in your class?

-How many students do you have in class and where are they from?

-Are you planning to still teaching for a long time?, Why do you choose to offer classes?

Could you share with us, a story about your experience. To tell us something unusual, funny, strange or special that you can remember about your foreing students.

We already chossen the location, the interview can be in the classroom with the red wall.
....

2007-01-31T18:43:00.000-08:00

Hello Jiri and Stephanie, how you guys are doing tonight . This is my first class at Literacy Source and I would like to meet you tonight after the class

Ching's, Jiri's and Stephanie's project

2007-01-29T12:32:00.000-08:00

Okay, we'd like to know how people spend their free time around Greenlake.
In other words, we'd like to know what they are doing there and why.
After collecting information by questionning people there, we should be able to make a report.
This is our plan...

stephanie

Great Day

2007-01-24T17:59:00.000-08:00

It is my great day today.

To be two, a miracle

2007-01-22T16:20:00.000-08:00

for Kina's boy

In this alley where the life it's going
away, to be a divided woman
like a salt ocean with a deep river in;
to remind the memory of a day
when love, like a bird running
away takes the courage for the
future trying to invent a better world
to be.

Wake up and never stop boy:
you are new, it has been happened
the miracle again.

Gabriela Villa

Braising: trying a poem again

2007-01-21T13:05:00.000-08:00

....

BRAISING

The first morning was like a pair of birds running away,
a breath in a praise for a salt ocean in front of us
without any rain falling down for a while.

To have the sunlight before a day yesterday I had you.
So quiet, sleeping in your arms in mine, new dream
when mine is the afternoon, running to you.

Braising the thoughts about it,
mine is the night after you breath.
....

Brief History of Bhutan

2007-01-20T22:04:00.000-08:00

Bhutan is a South Asian country, which is bordered by India to the south and China to the north. In the 8th century Padma Samvawa arrived to Bhutan bringing Buddhism from India. He taught Buddhism and established a number of temples and monasteries.

Before the introduction of Buddhism, Bon religion was prevalent in Bhutan. Bon Religion is very similsr to ancient native American's religion. Imported from Tibet and India, which continues to be practiced in some part of Bhutan.

In 1616 monk leader from Tibet named Shabdrung Ngawang Namgayl, a Buddhist leader arrived in Bhutan and he unified all states together and named Bhutan. He introduced the present dual system of religious and secular government. He ruled Bhutan for 35 years and died in 1651.

For two centuries following Shabdrung's demise, civil wars intermittently broke out, and the regional governors became increasingly more powerful. During the war hundreds of people lost their life and thousands of lost their family. This is what very similar to the past histories of many other countries around the world. The civil war ended in 1907 when the people of Bhutan elected the Trongsa Governor Ugyen Wangchuck, the First King of Bhutan. Trongsa is name of place; it's eastern part of Bhutan. The hereditary passed from great man still stands today in the kingdom.

Before forty years ago Bhutan was isolated from world, only handful of people were aware about Bhutan. Today Bhutan is known as one of the most peaceful country in the world. Bhutan is immersed in rich culture and peace with the theory of Gross National Happiness rather than Gross National Product. Gross National Happiness is sustain on four pillars. They are the promotion of equitable and sustainable socio-economic development, preservation and promotion of cultural values, conservation of the natural environment, and establishment of good governance.

This is brief history of my homeland country. I am practicing on writhing so, if there is mistake on grammar rules or other things please correct me. I am proud of myself because now I am able to write short articles in English. I can express my thoughts in English words. Today I am really grateful to the staffs of Literacy Source, volunteers and my friends. It's only success with your genuine helps.

Have a great day!

Lhakpa.

Sickness

2007-01-18T17:50:00.000-08:00

I was very sick last week and I lost a lot of emotions with you, anyway I 'll be in school next monday and I am waiting for that, sounds like everybody was happy with the snow. Me too, but I falled down in a deep cold that I would not forget never. To miss everybody.

I want to say thaks to Lakhpa for the thoughts in the blog, I am complety agree with him. I want to be there. See you.

Gaby

2007-01-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody!

What a surprise to see my face on the blog!!! Yes, it was fun to run, actually, to walk, around Green lake last Saturday! For those who weren't there, there is only one thing to say: you missed it!
To change gear, but not too much, can you get around alright today? (Chris, can you tell me if this sentence is correct? I'm not sure...). I'm so happy! The real winter is in Seattle! That's so beautiful when you wake up in the morning and everything is covered by snow! I like that.
See you tomorrow, I hope.

Stephanie

Rainy run for reading

2007-01-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody,
On Saturday January 13, I attended of Rainy run for reading. At 10:30 sharp no, maybe a little bit late was started 5K long run, walk around Green Lake. Snow and freeze made this race unforgettable. I have never ran in weather like that, I use to cross-country ski in winter, but run was something special for me.

I think that, everybody who attended race won. But if you want little competition point of view, race was won by a man with black dog. I forget they names, but especially the dog looks like pretty stronger runner. I wish keep to ran with that dog. This first annual run attended about 20 people and I saw many happy faces in finish line. My face was the happiest, when I had a bottle of water, a cup of coffee and a banana after the race. Such great refreshment! I also got a t-shirt with the logo of race and accidentally I got a blue balloon. So it was a little materially summary of race. I met there a lot of my classmate from ESL class, people from staff of Literacy Source and some strangers. Strangers were as usually a very polite. How Americans like to say I had FUN!

Event was organize for raise money for Literacy Source & increase community awareness about the issue of literacy.

Literacy Source is my favorite community center. I have been going to ESL class in this center for 3 years. Can you imagine that? That is long time.

Jiri

Rainy Day Run for Reading

2007-01-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

Today was the Rainy Day Run for Reading, a project to benefit Literacy Source programs. This "fun-run" was held at Green Lake at 10:30 this morning and it was great to see so many students from the Advanced class, including Jiri and Stephanie, pictured above! Despite freezing temperatures and snow, everyone had a great time running, walking, and slip-sliding around Green Lake. Afterwards we enjoyed hot coffee, fruit, and croissants. The event helped to raise money for Literacy Source and increased awareness about the importance of adult literacy programs. Thanks to everyone who braved the cold weather to join us, and thanks for donating!

Tashi, Lhakpa, and Rangji get ready to run. Tomoko and her husband show off the Rainy Day Run T-shirt.

Is our Life like a Dream?

2007-01-11T14:23:00.000-08:00

I believe that life is like a dream. When we dream sometimes we are happy and sometimes we are afraid but when we awake from the dream we see nothing.

One night when I was sixteen, I dreamt I was very happy with plenty of money and other desirable things, but when I awoke in the morning I really regretted that it was not true.

In real life, people are extremely attached to material things and forget the meaning of life. We are always abandoning one thing and adopting another. Similarly, we lose sight of our humanity when we embrace our friends but banish our enemies. Our enemies are human too. So, let us consider the difference between enemies and friends. What guarantee is there that the relative will never be against us? Everything in this world is precarious. Today's friend is tomorrow's enemy.

In fact, we attach to our habitual tendencies and think everything that we have today will exist tomorrow. None of us likes to believe our lives are so transitory. We are always waking from this short dream of life. When we realize that we are awaking from our dream, we feel bad and regret our negative roles in the past.

We spend our lives trying to accumulate wealth, but in the end, when we won't even have the strength to move a strand of hair, we will surely not have the strength to take our material wealth with us. Whatever we take with us is only the positive and negative deeds. Stay awake and be good HUMAN BEINGS!

Lhakpa

Welcome back to advanced ESL

2007-01-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

I hope you enjoyed the break and welcome to our new students, who also have been invited to join our blog. This week we will watch a video about affirming your rights in the USA. I urge you to watch the first part and think about the questions. In class we will discuss these questions and any you have regarding the topic and of course grammar and understanding the language. The whole video is about 45 minutes long. There are three instances encounters with law enforcement. For this exercise you only need to watch the first encounter which include;
1. how you can give up your rights
2. a legal commentary of the event
3. a revised re-enactment
4. a further commentary.
Click on the link "Don’t give away your rights" and watch the video.
Questions.
1.In your own words, what are the 3 Constitutional Amendments relevant to being stopped by police?
2. What does the video recommend that you do when stopped by the police?
3. Do these recommendations apply to you if you are completely innocent and why?
4. Are there similar rights in your country of origin, how do they differ?
Further reading.
Below are some links to about the "Miranda Rights" please click on them and read them whenever you have time. They are not required reading, however they give further help to understanding your rights and will make your class discussion more informed.
"Wikipedia definition"
"The Miranda Warning"
"The Miranda Rule"
See you in class this wednesday, Chris

To miss

2006-12-28T13:13:00.000-08:00

I discovered my favorite place: we need to much effort to forget the place where you and me can fly around without any scary. I miss Seattle because it´s my new place to live and there are many projects to do. Many news. I am enjoying my own place in Mexico but I want to say happy new year to the class.

Gaby

Welcome to The Digital Democracy

2006-12-17T11:54:00.000-08:00

I heard this term this Sunday on ABC's This Week. It's a catchy phrase. What does it mean? This Week says it encompasses Blogs, "Youtube" and "Myspace". "Wikipedia" didn't get mentioned but I am sure it should be. Perhaps it covers "Open Source" as well.

With Internet now we can send each other quick messages, emails, live chat, video chat, have web pages for our personal or business interests, make loans to people in other countries, join discussions on any topic in forums and blogs etc etc. I can't list all the possibilities.

Internet has it's down side as well. Gruesome videos of deaths of hostages, exploiting of women and children for pornography. fraud, scams and identity theft. The sharing of music, movies, books, and software programs has denied income to the producers of these media.
However it could be said that the power of marketing individual artists has the effect of suppressing the development of local culture and creativity. These artists are elevated to a god-like status like sports stars, where such adulation can be as detrimental to them as well as their adoring public, who might rather see a concert than vote on their local council about issues that really affect them.

Whatever our opinions, who controls the internet, right now we have a piece of it, a piece of "The Digital Democracy". As an ESL student the culture you are immersed in, is changing and you are a part of that change.

Enjoy the Break.

2006-12-13T17:45:00.001-08:00

Hi blog,
i'm finally enjoying your group.

A poem

2006-12-12T21:06:00.000-08:00

Trying a poem in english

If I run a little bit
please don´t call me;
If I run, run away too far
until the memory stops
and go straigth
with the sunligth of the
object that was yours
and look inside you
to obtein the answer:
the correct answer
of your wind.

When I look inside me
I don´t see you
because I don´t see me
and discovered
I can´t read the rigth word
to say love,
how can I tell you,
I forgot the rigth letter
to write the ferocity
of the fell,
I need to know you
and here is all my
effort,
to have my hands
touching in you
the last moment
and I migth you
see you once,
after the storm.

I am you. Something good
will be done after tomorrow,
and I laugh of everything
on the street because
nothing has sense
to know you and then
peace, and clear nigth
like the last
time I saw you.

I wake up,
you aren´t here.

Gabriela Villa

Walking arround

2006-12-11T20:39:00.000-08:00

Walking
I too, I hear
and I am,
I dislake:
I’m the epithap.

Gabriela Villa

Capitol Hill

2006-12-11T15:57:00.000-08:00

I am trying to traslate my own blog in spanish, so this is my little work for today. Thanks a lot.
Gaby Villa

Yesterday I lost myself in Capitol Hill into my coat.
I discover that I love this city more than I believed before.
To travel into avenues that makes me remember Allan Poe. To fell histories until discover the wind pushing all my memory straigth. The silence of a prosper neighboorwood, No cables and any antena, dreamers lands with victorian little houses and new cars.I walking searching a tango concert where I have to found new peopple but discoverd me chossing to think aobut you and knowing that you are so necesary, absolutly necesary. I felt a dry wether and prefer me into my new boots and a coat making the things better with the difficult part of the way thinking you and searching you and calling you.

Class of December 13th

2006-12-10T17:39:00.000-08:00

Guys,
I will not be able to attend the next class, the class of December 13th.
I have to work late. I have a meeting scheduled at 6 in the afternoon.
But, I will try to do some work to post it.

See you guys.
Carlos

2006-12-06T18:51:00.000-08:00

Hi lovely blogger,

the question is: who is the madest? The dog or the dog's owner?

Stephanie

You begin

2006-12-06T18:26:00.000-08:00

You begin

You begin this way:
this is your hand,
this is your eye,
that is a fish, blue and flat
on the paper, almost
the shape of an eye.
This is your mouth, this is an O
or a moon, wichever
you like. This is yellow.

Outside the window
is the rain, green
because it is summer, and beyond that
the trees and then the world,
wich is round and has only
the colors of these nine crayons.

This is the world, wich is fuller
and more difficult to learn than I have said.
You are right to smudge it that way
with the red and then
the orange: the world burns.

Once you have learned these words
you will learn that there are more
words than you can ever learn.
The word hand floats above your hand
like a small cloud over a lake.
The word hand anchors
your hand to this table,
your hand is a warm stone
I hold between two words.

This is your hand, these are my hands, this is the world,
wich is round bur not flat and has more colors
than we can see.
It begins, it has an end,
this is what you will
come back to, this is your hand.

Homework

2006-12-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, so this blog is suffering from lack of use! This evening in class we will look at how to access the blog and start making use of it. The blog is an ideal way of doing the required homework for the class and generally expressing what problem areas you have with English. I am hoping with use you and your teachers you will be able to see your progress expressing ideas in written English. Another benefit is that it isn't just up to me to review you homework, you can correct each other, other teachers and staff at the school can also help.
Previously your homework has been to regularly read the books you have selected and write about the story.
This weeks homework will be to write your assignment and either email it to me or post it straight on the blog.

Assignment:
Write about the main character. Do you identify with the character, ie do you find there are things you like or dislike about them? What are those likes and/or dislikes?
Does the character remind you of yourself or people you know and in what way?
Please write in sentences and paragraphs, write approximately as much as this blog, and more if you want to. It is a good idea to write in Notepad, Word, so you have a copy you can save. Then cut and paste it into the blog or email.

Begin, Began and Begun

2006-11-24T18:24:00.000-08:00

My answer to the question of whether we could use began in place of begun. Here is an explanation began is the simple past tense, begun is the past participle.
So we have learned recently when we talk of the "relative" present, eg I have lived in Seattle for several years. (true now and for some years previous). Similarly, I have begun cycling to work.

Note to all, next week we will have some practice using the blog and sorting out problems with the company you bought your computer from.
Second If you have got to this site by email invite, you should click on new post not comment. Once you are here, write something you find interesting or ask questions relevant to your learning of English.

Welcome Carlos

2006-11-13T18:04:00.000-08:00

Carlos: Hello ? Am I the first one here? Carlos

2006-11-11T19:04:00.001-08:00

Okay, so what is the purpose of this blog? Whatever you make it.
I promise to write at the best I can at the moment. So if you observe mistakes or something unfamiliar, let me know.

I hope to see how your English writing skills are going. I will probably restrict my corrections to:

areas we have worked on recently.
glaring mistakes.
misuse of expressions or idioms that you wouldn't realize without correction.

This site has a spelling checker, check your work before you use it, so that you self correct typos. When you do find the spelling checker has corrected you...... Well, your a grown up..... you figure that out, however spelling checkers can miss errors e.g.; too, to and two are all correct spellings but may not be in the context.

Now it will save me a lot of work if you correct yourselves and each other. Perhaps some discussion may generate from it and such discussion can help me focus the lessons.

Last week's topic of current affairs " Democrats win the elections" seemed to be taken up with a lot of interest. The follow up discussion on your views about how it affects your respective countries of origin was very enlightening.

So it occurred to me that some of our lessons should look at American politics and history. Part of learning language is discovering the history and culture. Coming soon we will look at America and its role in the middle east.