Happy 2010!
14 years ago
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Welcome Back Students
Hopefully everyone has had a wonderful holiday. Remember that classes start up tomorrow morning. Get ready for the last two weeks of the fall semester and your last chance to have classes until January.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Thanksgiving Holiday
This week is Thanksgiving. We hope that everyone enjoys their break and gets to practice their English. We will have our regular class schedule for Monday and Tuesday (11-23 and 11-24) this week. However, we will not have classes on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (11-25 to 11-27). Our regular class schedule will continue on Monday, November 30.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Student Essay: Cultural attitudes towards parenting
By Liang
I am a mother of a four-year old girl. I am from China. I have found many differences between China and America when I came to the U.S.A. As a mother, I want to focus on cultural attitudes towards parenting. The following examples are some different in America and China what I observed.
A. Different attitude to sharing food.
I have an American friend of two kids. When we hang out we bring some food for the kids. I usually prepare more food for the kids. Before I give my daughter food I often ask her if her kids want some. In China it is good manners to share food. I think my friend is a very nice person with good manners and good education. Every time she just prepares food for her kids. My daughter asked me why she needed to share food with the other kids but they didn’t want to share with her? I think this is a culture difference between China and America. For me, as a mother, I need know the culture different and conform to cultural traditions; this is a good way to make my daughter feel better.
B. Excessive positive is the best way for grow up?
My daughter goes to preschool this year. She likes to show some papers to me. Once I found she wrote number “2” in a wrong way, like “s”. I told her it was wrong. She cried and asked me “Why does my teacher always tell me ‘good job’, but you love to say ’you are wrong ’? I believe encourage children could improve their self-confidence, but too much affirmation could causes children are difficult to face different opinions.
C. The independence of children culture.
In China, it is a common opinion” Children are dependent on adults”. Parents have a responsibility to take care of their kids. Parents decide what you eat, what you learn, who you can play with, even when you will do in the future. Usually until you go to university your parent decide everything for you. In our culture we believe: as a kid you cannot know what is good for you, as parents we try our best to avoid our kids have something wrong. In America, parents respect the child’s choices from when they are little. A child can decide and does a lot of things by himself because he knows this is his own responsibility.
For me, I agree with the independence viewpoint, but I want to give some suggestions before she make a decision.
D. Discipline is very important in the U.S.A.
Before I came here I thought there were more freedoms in this country. Now I have found there were many discipline for kids. American mothers require their kids go to bed on time, to be quiet when you eating, to close your mouth when you are chewing, keep good manners all day. American teacher tell students to be quiet during the school time, before you want to talk to teacher you need to call respectfully etc. In China, discipline is more flexible. For example, we need to have good manners when we eating, but for kids, we think highly of how much she eating than good manners.
Because raising children is very personal, compare those differences between China and the U.S.A. will help me to deal with different situations. As these comparisons just from my observation sometimes I am confused with how to distinguish between culture and personality in parenting. If it is a different culture I will help my daughter adapt to America school and America society, If it just was difference between different families I will tell my daughter to respect other people.
I am a mother of a four-year old girl. I am from China. I have found many differences between China and America when I came to the U.S.A. As a mother, I want to focus on cultural attitudes towards parenting. The following examples are some different in America and China what I observed.
A. Different attitude to sharing food.
I have an American friend of two kids. When we hang out we bring some food for the kids. I usually prepare more food for the kids. Before I give my daughter food I often ask her if her kids want some. In China it is good manners to share food. I think my friend is a very nice person with good manners and good education. Every time she just prepares food for her kids. My daughter asked me why she needed to share food with the other kids but they didn’t want to share with her? I think this is a culture difference between China and America. For me, as a mother, I need know the culture different and conform to cultural traditions; this is a good way to make my daughter feel better.
B. Excessive positive is the best way for grow up?
My daughter goes to preschool this year. She likes to show some papers to me. Once I found she wrote number “2” in a wrong way, like “s”. I told her it was wrong. She cried and asked me “Why does my teacher always tell me ‘good job’, but you love to say ’you are wrong ’? I believe encourage children could improve their self-confidence, but too much affirmation could causes children are difficult to face different opinions.
C. The independence of children culture.
In China, it is a common opinion” Children are dependent on adults”. Parents have a responsibility to take care of their kids. Parents decide what you eat, what you learn, who you can play with, even when you will do in the future. Usually until you go to university your parent decide everything for you. In our culture we believe: as a kid you cannot know what is good for you, as parents we try our best to avoid our kids have something wrong. In America, parents respect the child’s choices from when they are little. A child can decide and does a lot of things by himself because he knows this is his own responsibility.
For me, I agree with the independence viewpoint, but I want to give some suggestions before she make a decision.
D. Discipline is very important in the U.S.A.
Before I came here I thought there were more freedoms in this country. Now I have found there were many discipline for kids. American mothers require their kids go to bed on time, to be quiet when you eating, to close your mouth when you are chewing, keep good manners all day. American teacher tell students to be quiet during the school time, before you want to talk to teacher you need to call respectfully etc. In China, discipline is more flexible. For example, we need to have good manners when we eating, but for kids, we think highly of how much she eating than good manners.
Because raising children is very personal, compare those differences between China and the U.S.A. will help me to deal with different situations. As these comparisons just from my observation sometimes I am confused with how to distinguish between culture and personality in parenting. If it is a different culture I will help my daughter adapt to America school and America society, If it just was difference between different families I will tell my daughter to respect other people.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Student Essay: Grapes
By Esther
There are some places for picking grapes. I have several experiences. I visited one place. I will introduce visited place. We went to Pick & Pay Grape with my friend families. It takes about one hour from Raleigh to there. When we visited there, many people already picked grapes.
We took a basket in order to pick it. My husband and we ate grapes during the picking the grapes. Its tastes was very delicious and sweet. I loved it. After one hour, we met in front of the door in store in order to pay for picking grapes. We just took the black grapes, but other people took the green ones. They recommended me the green grapes more delicious/good than the black ones. We don't know about that. We paid about $42; each pound is almost 2 dollars. After that, we went to the information center but there was already closed.
There are some places for picking grapes. I have several experiences. I visited one place. I will introduce visited place. We went to Pick & Pay Grape with my friend families. It takes about one hour from Raleigh to there. When we visited there, many people already picked grapes.
We took a basket in order to pick it. My husband and we ate grapes during the picking the grapes. Its tastes was very delicious and sweet. I loved it. After one hour, we met in front of the door in store in order to pay for picking grapes. We just took the black grapes, but other people took the green ones. They recommended me the green grapes more delicious/good than the black ones. We don't know about that. We paid about $42; each pound is almost 2 dollars. After that, we went to the information center but there was already closed.
Friday, November 13, 2009
My Favorite Time of the Year
Yes, heaven on earth... for a teacher. Books, more books, and even more books. It is my favorite time of the year: the Library Book Sale. This event in November is a teacher and student delight. Last year I bought over 900 books and I spent under $100.
Enough talk.
Where: Inside the old Winn-Dixie store at 1514 Garner Station Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27603 (Across the street from the old Walmart).
Booksale Hours & Dates:
Saturday Nov. 14 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 15 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday Nov. 18 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Thursday Nov. 19 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday Nov. 20 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
PRICES FOR THE FIRST 5 DAYS ARE $4.00 FOR HARDBOUND BOOKS; $1.00 FOR PAPERBACKS
Saturday Nov. 21 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
HALF PRICE DAY: HARDBOUND BOOKS $2.00;$.50 FOR PAPERBACK BOOKS
Sunday Nov. 22 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
$5.00 PER BOX; $2.00 PER BAG
BAGS & BOXES PROVIDED BY THE LIBRARY---CUSTOMER PACKS.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The advantages and disadvantages of buying health insurances in the U.S.A
By Jua
When foreigners try to settle in the U.S.A, they have many things to do and to choose. One of them is buying a health insurance. They have to decide whether to buy a health insurance and if so, what kind of insurance they should buy. However that decision is very difficult because insurance fee in the U.S.A is more expensive than any other countries and many foreigners stay in the U.S.A for 1~3 years. So I plan to compare two cases by interviews and hope it will be helpful for you to figure out the advantages and disadvantages of buying health insurance.
Part I - Interview with Shirley who has health insurance
Q. Why did you buy health insurance?
A. Because my husband has a full time job, he could buy family health insurance through his company. If someone has a full time job, it will be a good opportunity to have health insurance because insurance through the company is cheaper than private insurance.
Q. What is the benefit you’ve experienced with health insurance?
A. American medical expense is very expensive. But with insurance I paid usually $10 as a copay per visit and prescription was usually less than it. Another benefit is that you can choose any doctor whoever you want in the hospitals where accept your insurance plan.
Q. Would you recommend buying health insurance to people who plan to live in the U.S.A for 1~3 years?
A. Sure. Even if you live in here for short period, somebody of your family may get a cancer. If so, a chemotherapy fee is $20,000~$30,000 and you must pay more than $1,000 per each treatment without insurance. When you go to an emergency room or a doctor office, first thing they ask you is “Do you have health insurance?”. Some doctor office will not accept you if you don’t have insurance because it is important thing for hospitals.
Q. Would you recommend buying health insurance to people who plan to live in the U.S.A for the rest of their life?
A. Yes. Even if you are very healthy and you will not cause any car accident, somebody may hit your car and you may be injured. Also even if your deductible is very high, for example $500, health insurance still help you because a lot of medical expense cost over $5,000.
Part II - Interview with Michelle who doesn’t have health insurance
Q. Why don’t you buy health insurance?
A. Because it is very expensive. It would cost around $250~$400 per month. That is about the half of what I pay rent. It’s crazy.
Q. What is the difficulty you’ve experienced without health insurance?
A. First thing, I feel like I can’t sick. So whenever I get in my car, I pray nothing’s going to happen. I worry about having an accident. Also I really try to stay healthy – to eat health food, to exercise, to do everything I can be healthy. When I go to a doctor office without insurance, they give a little bit discount, but it is $10 or less and doctor visit cost usually $170. If I know my problem after visiting a doctor, I will go to a specialist. But if not, I will get many tests and one test may cost $1,000 at least.
Q. Would you recommend buying health insurance to people who plan to live in the U.S.A for 1~3 years?
A. If you’re healthy and don’t have any health problem, it’s O.K without insurance. But if you are not healthy and you have a medical condition and serious illness or if you have a plan to be pregnant, buying health insurance is better than without insurance.
Q. Would you recommend buying health insurance to people who plan to live in the U.S.A for the rest of their life?
A. If someone is working and have children, health insurance is good. Because children get hurt, get sick easily and if you continue working, you need to stay healthy.
Q,. Do you have a plan to buy health insurance?
A. If price go down, I’ll buy it. But right now it’s very expensive. It’s not fair. Doctors or hospitals don’t get money, money is going to insurance companies. Even if you have health insurance, when you really sick, for example-you get a cancer, insurance companies try to change insurance plan and not to cover you.
By Jua
When foreigners try to settle in the U.S.A, they have many things to do and to choose. One of them is buying a health insurance. They have to decide whether to buy a health insurance and if so, what kind of insurance they should buy. However that decision is very difficult because insurance fee in the U.S.A is more expensive than any other countries and many foreigners stay in the U.S.A for 1~3 years. So I plan to compare two cases by interviews and hope it will be helpful for you to figure out the advantages and disadvantages of buying health insurance.
Part I - Interview with Shirley who has health insurance
Q. Why did you buy health insurance?
A. Because my husband has a full time job, he could buy family health insurance through his company. If someone has a full time job, it will be a good opportunity to have health insurance because insurance through the company is cheaper than private insurance.
Q. What is the benefit you’ve experienced with health insurance?
A. American medical expense is very expensive. But with insurance I paid usually $10 as a copay per visit and prescription was usually less than it. Another benefit is that you can choose any doctor whoever you want in the hospitals where accept your insurance plan.
Q. Would you recommend buying health insurance to people who plan to live in the U.S.A for 1~3 years?
A. Sure. Even if you live in here for short period, somebody of your family may get a cancer. If so, a chemotherapy fee is $20,000~$30,000 and you must pay more than $1,000 per each treatment without insurance. When you go to an emergency room or a doctor office, first thing they ask you is “Do you have health insurance?”. Some doctor office will not accept you if you don’t have insurance because it is important thing for hospitals.
Q. Would you recommend buying health insurance to people who plan to live in the U.S.A for the rest of their life?
A. Yes. Even if you are very healthy and you will not cause any car accident, somebody may hit your car and you may be injured. Also even if your deductible is very high, for example $500, health insurance still help you because a lot of medical expense cost over $5,000.
Part II - Interview with Michelle who doesn’t have health insurance
Q. Why don’t you buy health insurance?
A. Because it is very expensive. It would cost around $250~$400 per month. That is about the half of what I pay rent. It’s crazy.
Q. What is the difficulty you’ve experienced without health insurance?
A. First thing, I feel like I can’t sick. So whenever I get in my car, I pray nothing’s going to happen. I worry about having an accident. Also I really try to stay healthy – to eat health food, to exercise, to do everything I can be healthy. When I go to a doctor office without insurance, they give a little bit discount, but it is $10 or less and doctor visit cost usually $170. If I know my problem after visiting a doctor, I will go to a specialist. But if not, I will get many tests and one test may cost $1,000 at least.
Q. Would you recommend buying health insurance to people who plan to live in the U.S.A for 1~3 years?
A. If you’re healthy and don’t have any health problem, it’s O.K without insurance. But if you are not healthy and you have a medical condition and serious illness or if you have a plan to be pregnant, buying health insurance is better than without insurance.
Q. Would you recommend buying health insurance to people who plan to live in the U.S.A for the rest of their life?
A. If someone is working and have children, health insurance is good. Because children get hurt, get sick easily and if you continue working, you need to stay healthy.
Q,. Do you have a plan to buy health insurance?
A. If price go down, I’ll buy it. But right now it’s very expensive. It’s not fair. Doctors or hospitals don’t get money, money is going to insurance companies. Even if you have health insurance, when you really sick, for example-you get a cancer, insurance companies try to change insurance plan and not to cover you.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Culture Shock
By Hongli
The United States is a nation of immigrants. Although the reasons people come here are different, in common the reason is the same, they are seeking freedom and opportunity. But are you ready to survive? Have you already experienced this, or are you experiencing "Culture Shock"? I have.
Before I arrived in America I had no idea about culture shock. I had not prepared for anything, I just came. So when I really arrived here, I was really shocked by the different and strange culture. All or most of my familiar cues were removed. For example, when I am in Beijing, China, I never worry about the transportation. In the city, I can go everywhere by bike, by bus, and by taxi. If I want to travel to another city which is a little far away, I can go by coach, by train, or by air. It is really very convenient. For the daily shopping, it is much easier. Almost every neighborhood has its own convenient store, where you can buy anything you want for your daily life. If you want to go shopping in the shopping mall, you can just take the public bus, it is very cheap, only 0.4 Yuan, about 0.05 Dollar. Usually you just need to wait about 5 minutes each time, because there are a lot of public buses. But here in America, I notice it is very difficult to go out if you do not have a car. Even to buy the necessaries of life is also very hard.
For me, the hardest time was in the first several months when I did not get my own car. I had to walk about 30 minutes to the nearest grocery store to buy food and vegetables. When I went to At&t store which the nearest is 2 miles away, I had to take a bicycle and to share the lane with motor vehicles, I was really very afraid at that time. One time when I went to a shopping mall by bus, I waited about 40 minutes outside in the cold winter. Once I also called a taxi from my home to the airport, it was around 10 miles, but I spent more than 20 dollars for the taxi. It was really very expensive. Even after I bought a car, it was still not freedom for me to drive anywhere, because the speed limit of the highway was too high for me to drive. In addition, usually the grocery store is still a little far, so I prefer to shop once or twice a week, I still can not eat fresh vegetables and fruits everyday.
I also have interviewed some other people from different countries. A Korean says in her country people usually automatically divide the trash into daily trash, paper, plastic, metal and other recycling trashed and put them into different trash cans.
But here she seldom find different trash cans, and she does not know how to deal with her trash. An Israeli mentions the biggest culture shock for her is her children. When her family is in her country, the children can play outside by themselves and she is not worried about them. They are free and safe. But here she never lets her kids go outside because she thinks, and other people also tell her, that it is dangerous to do so. She is under great pressure now. She becomes very nervous and sensitive. A Chinese says although she likes the environment and the clean air here, but she can not adopt well to the food and boring lifestyle, she miss her family, friends, and Chinese food very much, and she decides to go back China after she graduates. Some other people also think there are some very ridiculous things they can not understand, such as in the TV show, some American can speak loudly about sex and lies and never feel shy. Or often there is a long line of cars waiting outside McDonald's but at the same time inside there are only a few people eating there, it is really very strange.
Anyway, culture shock maybe is different for every one. But if we want to survive and find chances for us and for our children in America, it should be better to conquer culture shock as soon as possible.
The United States is a nation of immigrants. Although the reasons people come here are different, in common the reason is the same, they are seeking freedom and opportunity. But are you ready to survive? Have you already experienced this, or are you experiencing "Culture Shock"? I have.
Before I arrived in America I had no idea about culture shock. I had not prepared for anything, I just came. So when I really arrived here, I was really shocked by the different and strange culture. All or most of my familiar cues were removed. For example, when I am in Beijing, China, I never worry about the transportation. In the city, I can go everywhere by bike, by bus, and by taxi. If I want to travel to another city which is a little far away, I can go by coach, by train, or by air. It is really very convenient. For the daily shopping, it is much easier. Almost every neighborhood has its own convenient store, where you can buy anything you want for your daily life. If you want to go shopping in the shopping mall, you can just take the public bus, it is very cheap, only 0.4 Yuan, about 0.05 Dollar. Usually you just need to wait about 5 minutes each time, because there are a lot of public buses. But here in America, I notice it is very difficult to go out if you do not have a car. Even to buy the necessaries of life is also very hard.
For me, the hardest time was in the first several months when I did not get my own car. I had to walk about 30 minutes to the nearest grocery store to buy food and vegetables. When I went to At&t store which the nearest is 2 miles away, I had to take a bicycle and to share the lane with motor vehicles, I was really very afraid at that time. One time when I went to a shopping mall by bus, I waited about 40 minutes outside in the cold winter. Once I also called a taxi from my home to the airport, it was around 10 miles, but I spent more than 20 dollars for the taxi. It was really very expensive. Even after I bought a car, it was still not freedom for me to drive anywhere, because the speed limit of the highway was too high for me to drive. In addition, usually the grocery store is still a little far, so I prefer to shop once or twice a week, I still can not eat fresh vegetables and fruits everyday.
I also have interviewed some other people from different countries. A Korean says in her country people usually automatically divide the trash into daily trash, paper, plastic, metal and other recycling trashed and put them into different trash cans.
But here she seldom find different trash cans, and she does not know how to deal with her trash. An Israeli mentions the biggest culture shock for her is her children. When her family is in her country, the children can play outside by themselves and she is not worried about them. They are free and safe. But here she never lets her kids go outside because she thinks, and other people also tell her, that it is dangerous to do so. She is under great pressure now. She becomes very nervous and sensitive. A Chinese says although she likes the environment and the clean air here, but she can not adopt well to the food and boring lifestyle, she miss her family, friends, and Chinese food very much, and she decides to go back China after she graduates. Some other people also think there are some very ridiculous things they can not understand, such as in the TV show, some American can speak loudly about sex and lies and never feel shy. Or often there is a long line of cars waiting outside McDonald's but at the same time inside there are only a few people eating there, it is really very strange.
Anyway, culture shock maybe is different for every one. But if we want to survive and find chances for us and for our children in America, it should be better to conquer culture shock as soon as possible.
The different education between the US and China
Before I came to the
“ Mum, my classmates can walk in the class!” My daughter told to me with surprise when she 1st day entered the school in the
In
The difference between this two countries are teaches control of the students or teaches students self-control.
When my daughter come back home, I will ask her about homework. But she always answers me no homework or already finished. I feel surprised, because in China Teachers often give their students a lot of homework. In the
The different between them are teachers ask students do more exercises or ask their students learn more by themselves freely.
My daughter often tell me that her teacher praised her. In China，Teachers always criticized their students when they find their students’ shortcomings, they want to help them so they criticized them. Opposite in the
The different between two countries that teachers hope their students to reduce their shortcomings or teachers help the students build their self-esteem.
Different countries have different cultures and education system. No good and no bad. But if your children come here to study, as parents you should tell them that they are different and you should explain to them why is different.
Essay About the Military
By Donna
The military is the best chance to improve yourself in the US if you are an immigrant and you don't have money.
When I came to the USA, I didn't know what I should do. If you don't have any goals, you are frustrated. Now there are hard times in the World, and I read a book about the military, then I decided what I really want.
My family is very big. I have 4 younger sisters and 2 brothers. I'm the oldest child in my family. So I can help my family get insurance, earn some money, and improve myself. In the US, the military will give you a lot of benefits (free education, insurance, apartments...), and also you can learn English faster.
I decided the Navy is the best for me! All my family is proud of me. My younger sisters are talking to their friends about me.
But I must learn to pass ASVAB test (math, general, English skills). Without that test you can't enjoy the military. On the internet you also can find preparation material (books) special for that test. So it is very easy to order.
I wish other immigrants will find easier way to survive after they moved. But finally I founded my way in my new life, and new goals, I want to reach.
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