I think my strength is kindness. I don't think that this is true, but a lot of people say, "You are so nice!" Sometimes, however, being kind to others can consume time. However, I don't think it would hurt to be kind to others. When I help someone, I feel happy and I can learn many things from that.
submitted by Ji Hye Park
class: Contemporary Topics 1
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
A walk to the past in the Lower East Side
by Aiyma Yerkin
The Lower East Side is one of the oldest neighborhoods of New York City. It has long been a working-class neighborhood and often a poor and ethnically diverse section of New York. Today it is largely a Puerto Rican and Dominican community.
The Lower East Side is perhaps best known as having once been a center of Jewish culture. It is especially remembered as a place of Jewish beginnings in contemporary American Jewish culture.
I liked visiting the Tenement Museum on Orchard street the most. The museum's exhibits including the restored apartments are said to depict the lives of immigrants who lived at 97 Orchard street between 1863 and 1935. The museum also has an extensive collection of historical archives and provides a variety of educational programs.
The movie we watched in the visitor's center told us the stories of immigrants from different countries. It showed their life in tenement apartments in the 19th and 20th centuries. Starting with how they arrived in New York, their way of life, their work, the difficulties they faced at that period of time, and ending with the successes in their lives, which they deserved. Their success is being able to find happiness living as citizens of the United States.
class: Explore NYC
The Lower East Side is one of the oldest neighborhoods of New York City. It has long been a working-class neighborhood and often a poor and ethnically diverse section of New York. Today it is largely a Puerto Rican and Dominican community.
The Lower East Side is perhaps best known as having once been a center of Jewish culture. It is especially remembered as a place of Jewish beginnings in contemporary American Jewish culture.
I liked visiting the Tenement Museum on Orchard street the most. The museum's exhibits including the restored apartments are said to depict the lives of immigrants who lived at 97 Orchard street between 1863 and 1935. The museum also has an extensive collection of historical archives and provides a variety of educational programs.
The movie we watched in the visitor's center told us the stories of immigrants from different countries. It showed their life in tenement apartments in the 19th and 20th centuries. Starting with how they arrived in New York, their way of life, their work, the difficulties they faced at that period of time, and ending with the successes in their lives, which they deserved. Their success is being able to find happiness living as citizens of the United States.
class: Explore NYC
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
A letter of complaint (imaginary)
Dear Sir,
I am writing to complain about a short holiday I had recently which was organized by Citibreaks. I was dissatisfied with several things.
First, your advertisement promised a hotel in a central location, whereas in fact, the hotel was a long way from the city center. You also said that all the rooms would have a river view, but my window just looked over the parking lot, which was very noisy. I also had to pay extra for dinner although the advertisement had stated that it was included in the price. To make matters worse, I had no choice about which show to go to. I had wanted to go to a new musical, but the only ticket offered to me was for one which I had seen already.
I had been looking forward to my holiday very much, but it was completely ruined by these problems. I therefore feel that you should refund half the cost of the holiday in compensation for my disappointment.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Gamze Avci
class: Contemporary Topics 1
I am writing to complain about a short holiday I had recently which was organized by Citibreaks. I was dissatisfied with several things.
First, your advertisement promised a hotel in a central location, whereas in fact, the hotel was a long way from the city center. You also said that all the rooms would have a river view, but my window just looked over the parking lot, which was very noisy. I also had to pay extra for dinner although the advertisement had stated that it was included in the price. To make matters worse, I had no choice about which show to go to. I had wanted to go to a new musical, but the only ticket offered to me was for one which I had seen already.
I had been looking forward to my holiday very much, but it was completely ruined by these problems. I therefore feel that you should refund half the cost of the holiday in compensation for my disappointment.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Gamze Avci
class: Contemporary Topics 1
Using vocabulary with some imagination
Ali and I
I went to the place where Ali and I first met a decade ago. I drank coffee because he liked coffee. I closed my eyes, and I imagined him. Suddenly, one hand touched my shoulders. I knew his touch. Certainly, it was Ali. He came! This was incredible. I was shocked and I felt weary. Ten minutes later, wine came to the table from the cellar. He brought red wine. Ali was sure I liked wine so much. Later the food came. I was delighted and ate dinner. I looked at him and then I asked a question.
"How did you come?"
"I resigned from my job," he said. I didn`t believe him. This job was very important to him.
"Why Ali? Why did you resign?" I asked.
"I don`t want to work anymore," he answered. "It's now time to reveal my secret. I want to live with you forever. I want to be with you only. I don't want to be far away anymore." I smiled and he held my hands. "I know tomorrow is your birthday, and I have a surprise for you," he said.
He took me to the pet store to buy a puppy. I saw one with two different color eyes who was trying to breed with one poor white puppy. I liked him because he was trouble. Now we can live together as a family.
"Life begins again," we said together.
I went to the place where Ali and I first met a decade ago. I drank coffee because he liked coffee. I closed my eyes, and I imagined him. Suddenly, one hand touched my shoulders. I knew his touch. Certainly, it was Ali. He came! This was incredible. I was shocked and I felt weary. Ten minutes later, wine came to the table from the cellar. He brought red wine. Ali was sure I liked wine so much. Later the food came. I was delighted and ate dinner. I looked at him and then I asked a question.
"How did you come?"
"I resigned from my job," he said. I didn`t believe him. This job was very important to him.
"Why Ali? Why did you resign?" I asked.
"I don`t want to work anymore," he answered. "It's now time to reveal my secret. I want to live with you forever. I want to be with you only. I don't want to be far away anymore." I smiled and he held my hands. "I know tomorrow is your birthday, and I have a surprise for you," he said.
He took me to the pet store to buy a puppy. I saw one with two different color eyes who was trying to breed with one poor white puppy. I liked him because he was trouble. Now we can live together as a family.
"Life begins again," we said together.
submitted by Gamze Avci
class: Contemporary Topics 1
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Talking about body parts
He was in a car accident yesterday. His chin, right elbow, both calves and right knee were bleeding for 30 minutes. When he went to the hospital, he had a headache, so he applied constant pressure on his temples. He had a mustache and a goatee but his chin was slashed so his goatee had to be shaved completely because his chin had to be sutured.
submitted by Lee Hye Han
class: Contemporary Topics 1
Monday, October 3, 2011
A Letter for a Gratitude Visit
A Gratitude Visit is an exercise developed by positive psychologists to help individuals increase their level of happiness, albeit temporarily. In this exercise, the writer thanks someone through a letter. However, instead of sending it in the mail, the writer visits the person he or she is thanking and reads the letter to the person.
Positive psychologists believe this activity increases the person's level of happiness because it enables them to feel connected and allows them to give something. Giving in itself, psychologists believe, makes people feel better, which then increases their level of happiness.
This letter was written by Lee Hye Han for her cousin, Regina.
Dear Regina,
Hi! What's up? I'm glad I came to the U.S. to stay with you for a while. And thank you for hanging out with me very often. You know when I came to New York, I didn't have friends. So I was glad I spent time with you.
Do you remember when I came to New York 7 years ago? I didn't speak English as well as now. My English has improved a little bit. Anyway, we had many problems when we talked. But now I'm studying and trying to speak English much better than before, and we can talk about a lot more things.
I appreciate everything you've taught me. When I needed to learn something, you taught me very kindly. Thank you for that.
And on my birthday, your family gave me a present. Thank you for my birthday present and the nice cards. I was thankful that you remembered my birthday. I'd like to stay in New York with you. When I go back to Korea, I can't forget being here and your kindness.
I feel gratitude toward your family. I wish you a lot of luck and happiness in life. Thank you, sweetheart!
With love,
Han
class: Contemporary Topics 1
Positive psychologists believe this activity increases the person's level of happiness because it enables them to feel connected and allows them to give something. Giving in itself, psychologists believe, makes people feel better, which then increases their level of happiness.
This letter was written by Lee Hye Han for her cousin, Regina.
Dear Regina,
Hi! What's up? I'm glad I came to the U.S. to stay with you for a while. And thank you for hanging out with me very often. You know when I came to New York, I didn't have friends. So I was glad I spent time with you.
Do you remember when I came to New York 7 years ago? I didn't speak English as well as now. My English has improved a little bit. Anyway, we had many problems when we talked. But now I'm studying and trying to speak English much better than before, and we can talk about a lot more things.
I appreciate everything you've taught me. When I needed to learn something, you taught me very kindly. Thank you for that.
And on my birthday, your family gave me a present. Thank you for my birthday present and the nice cards. I was thankful that you remembered my birthday. I'd like to stay in New York with you. When I go back to Korea, I can't forget being here and your kindness.
I feel gratitude toward your family. I wish you a lot of luck and happiness in life. Thank you, sweetheart!
With love,
Han
class: Contemporary Topics 1
Having fun practicing vocabulary. Who knew?
1) He has faith in the other people in his company.
2) This movie is so dreary. I know because I watched it a year ago.
3) She handed in her resignation last week.
4) He betrayed his nation for his own interests.
5) I didn't sleep well last night, so I feel weary today.
submitted by Ji Hye Park
class: Contemporary Topics 1
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