Americans and Their Pets

Americans are very talent for training pets such as dogs, fishes and cats . . .

During Spring break, my family and I went to "Seaworld" in San Diego. I saw many shows like shamu, dophin and sealion show . . . , but the show I liked very much was Pets Stadium show. There were many little and cute pets were trained by professionalism. They arranged races, games for dogs and cats. When time is up for the show. They turned on the music "Who lets the dogs out." The dogs followed the music to run out messily. Suddently, the music stopped. And then one by one is performing. The dogs and the folk on the show are very funny. They made the audients laugh and laugh . . . The audients so happy and could not stop with the big clap hands.

Americans love pets very much. They treat pets like people. They even talk and feed them. They take good care of them. Americans give pets a very sufficient life.

BBQ in Redwood Park

Last Thursday, our school went to Redwood Park for BBQ. I got up early and go to school early as usual. The weather was hotter than usual. Our teacher started to give us tickets when we came in the classroom. At 9:30 the school bus arrived and we started our trip. We were chatting and laughing during we were in the school bus.

After about 20 minutes, we arrived at Redwood Park. We sanded at BBQ and picnic park area. We sat down and eat some snack which we brought for BBQ. We were chatting, laughing and taking pictures each other. Suddenly, the teacher asked us to keep quiet as a docent want to inform us the important information. He told us that don’t touch this kind of plants and showed us the plant. That plant is harmful for us. It can make us itch all over if we touch it careless. In order to let us understand clearly. At the same time our teacher did some actions for us.

Some students and teachers were firing up the grill. There were 4 grills here. A big smog covered us soonest. We had many kind of fruits. They are Oranges, peaches, bananas and watermelon and so on. Some students were making orange juice. Some were washing fruits. Some were making foods. At that time there was delicious smell went around us. It was the time for our lunch. First, we ate corns. Our teachers cook hamburger and hot dogs for us. Teachers were sweat. We queued for pick up hamburger or hot dog and drink. After half and hour, all of us were full. We cleared up the rubbish. Buys were playing volleyball under the tree or playing football on the trail. We chatted and laughed under the trees. We never have spoken to each other such a lot since we knew each other.

At 2:40 PM, we have to come back school by school bus. Thanks to our teachers cook for us. We have a good time at our BBQ.

Herewith a picture.

First driving test

Almost everyone told me that drive a car is an easy job like you walked. But it is very inconvenience to go somewhere if you don’t drive. I started to learn how to drive once I got the permit. My husband employed an instructor to support me. At first I think drive is the same like drive bumping car in paradise. The different point is drive a car avoid to touch anything. But it can change my idea after I took the first driving test.

After several hours practice, my instructor told me that I can take a driving test in DMV. I was very delight after I heard it. I decided to take a driving test on next day.

Fortunately, I can get an appointment with DMV on next day. I asked my husband to go with me as I want to take his car in the test. On our way to DMV, my husband asked me:” Do you really want to take the driving test today? I don’t think you can get it. We can cancel it if you don’t want.” But I don’t agree with him.

It was my turn to take the test. I started the vehicle and feel very nervous when the examiner got in the car. At that moment the examiner said to me:” You need more practice.” I confused when I heard it as I hadn’t finished the test. I continued to drive. The examiner ordered me to backing, stopping, turns and changing lanes. But I couldn’t do all smoothly.” You need more practice.” The examiner said to me again when we came back DMV and she passed me a piece of paper about driving test. I felt upset as I failed the test. Almost everybody can get it easily but I couldn’t. I think the examiner was too strict.

After thinking about the test again and again, I understand that the examiner was right. I made a lot of mistake during the test. Such as I forget to turn on signal light when I started vehicle and backing. I forget look behind shoulder to check behind spots when I changed lanes. At the same time, I realized that safe is the first. Not in a hurry if I want to get it. I need more practice.

Free Public Transportation on Monday

Monday is a "Spare the Air Day"!

You can ride BART, the busses or the ferrys for free all day.

Click here to learn more.

There may be many more "Spare the Air Days", but this may be the last time this year that public transportation is free.

Get out and enjoy it!

I suggest a ferry ride to San Francisco. Maybe another ferry to Sausalito? If you see me, wave. I'll be riding my bicycle

Let's Talk this Sunday at 9:30 pm

Let's talk this Sunday. If you haven't downloaded Skype yet, you can get it here. Of course, it is free.

I want to try out the Skypecast to see if we can have a group conversation over the Internet.
Click here around 9:30 on Sunday, June 25th.

Join the Techtutor group.



Talk to you this Sunday.

Incentive Students

I don't know what to say to my teacher besides "Thank you very much."

He is a very patient editor. He is never discouraged by essays which need a lot of editing. He is never bored by the topic of any essay. My teacher makes good guesses at what we are trying to communicate to our readers. He asks us to write clearly. He reminds us to make our essays easy for readers to understand.

My teacher always encourages us to write and write. He event gives certificates to students who write at least ten essays during a semeter. He does this to give students an incentive to express themselves through writing.

Richard hopes that each of his students will become an author. Perhaps, this is his dream.

So, let's realize his dream. We should write more and more next semeter. We must try our best to become authors whose essays can make our classmates laugh and cry. Let's scrible like Shakespeare to make Richard's dream come true.

Photos from our 1st Annual Picnic and Barbeque in Redwood Park

Click here to see yourself at the 1st Annual Picnic and BBQ in Redwood Park!

An Invalid Trip

My mother-in-law likes pizza very much. Yesterday we received an advertisement. It said that large pizzas are on sale and there is no need to call ahead, no need to wait, and no limit. Supplies will be available all day, everyday. My mother-in-law was very happy when she read it.

It happens that this store is not far from our home. It just takes 10 minutes to drive there. My mother-in-law decided to go and buy a pizza. She asked my sister-in-law to go with her. But my sister-in-law had to finish her job first, so she refused my mother-in-law. This time my mother-in-law went by herself.

After one and a half hour, my mother-in-law hadn’t come back. We started to worry about her. Suddenly, the door opened and my mother-in-law walked in carrying a water-melon.

“What’s the matter? Why did you buy a water-melon not a pizza?” my sister-in-law asked.

My mother-in-law looked upset and sat down and began to describe her trip. She didn’t know how to go to this pizza store when she arrived at the bus stop so she asked a woman how to get there. The woman told her how to go to the pizza store.

Finally, my mother-in-law found the pizza store. When she approached the shop she saw that some construction workers were working there. She realized that this pizza store hadn’t opened yet!

She didn’t want to come back home empty handed so she went to the market and bought a watermelon.

That’s why she bought a watermelon and not a pizza. Everyone, except my mother-in-law, laughed when we heard that.

“Don’t be disappointed, you can go again when it opens,” I said to my mother-in-law.

The World is Really Small by Mei Fang

Lastr week I went to 8th Street and Harrison for physical therapy. An office worker there talked to me. She asked me where I was from. I told her that I came from Guang Dong, China.

"What county?" the office worker asked.

"Da Bu," I told her.

"What town?" she asked.

"Da Ma," I told her.

She said that her mother had studied at a middle school in Da Ma. Then she told me her mother's name, Liao Ni Man.

I was surprised to hear this name. I told the office worker that her mother had been my classmate!

Unfortunately, the woman said, her mom had passed away in 1989.

After I met my middle school classmate's daughter in Oakland, I said, "The world is really small!"

Yesterday

Yesterday was Father's Day and Sunday.
My friend Pan graduated from Stanford University this year.

A ceremony for the graduates took place in the one of the halls on this Father's Day. Pan invited his father, mother, wife, his three years old son, his sister, his good friends and me to attend the ceremony.

The ceremony was simple and grand. Each graduate not only got a diploma from the headmaster, but also got warm applause from the professors, classmates and visitors. When Pan held his son’s hand when went to the headmaster to get the diploma. He was greeted by laugher and a lot of warm applause, because his son was very bashful in front of so many people.

After the ceremony, Pan hosted a tea party to treat his friends. Everyone was happy. Pan's family was specially proud of him.

I left the party before dusk, becaues I wanted to go to Oakland in hurry. My wife and my two sons were waiting for me to celebrate Father's Day in Oakland.

Yesterday was a double happy day to me!

My Car

One day two months ago, I came home and parked my car in the garage. When I stopped the engine, I heard something that sounded like boiling water from under the hood. After several seconds, the sounds stopped.

The next day, after school, I drove my car to a my favorite car repair shop and asked the mechanic to check what happened to the car.

He lifted up the hood and then we saw something that looked like white foam overflowing from the mouth of the engine coolant reservoir. He took off the lid of the radiator and put a plastic funnel into its mouth. Then he started the engine and put a smoke detector into the plastic funnel where exhaust might come out. Several minutes later, the reading on the smoke checker showed that there was some exhaust coming out from the radiator. The technician told me that my car's engine block was cracked. When the engine was running, the exhaust was pressed out by the moving pistons through the crack in the engine block into the coolant which surrounds the cylinder. The exhaust passed through the tubes into the radiator then into the engine coolant reservoir. At last, pressure from the exhaust pushed open the lid of the reservoir. The white foam was the product of the chemical reaction of the exhaust and the coolant. It was pushed out of the coolant reservoir by the exhaust.

The mechanic told me that while this problem rarely occurred, it was serious and I needed to replace the engine block. He told me that a brand new engine costs more that $2,000, a used engine costs about $1,200.

In the last eight years I had driven more than 240,000 miles. The car's body, frame and other parts are still in good condition. If I bought a used car with around 100,000 miles, I would have to pay about $7,000. So, I decided to let the mechanic replace the cracked engine with a used one.

One week later, I paid $2,000 for the used engine and labor charges and then I drove my “new” car back home.

I hope I can use this car for many more years.

Happy Farther's Day

Happy Father's Day for who are fathers now!

Xin Yue (A Little Girl) by Mei Fang

Xin Yue lived in Chang Chun, China. She is six years old. Her family is ordinary. She got a brain disease and became blind. She hoped to attend the Tianamen Square flag raising ceremony, but her family didn't have enough money to visit Beijing. Kind hearted people offered to raise a flag in Chang Chun. This made Xin Yue very happy.

Some friendly people contacted a doctor at a hospital in Beijing. The doctor invited Xin Yue to his hospital. Her parents and a local doctor accompanied her on the train to Beijing.

After examining Xin Yue, the doctor decided to perform an operation on her. Xin Yue got better. She could see. When her parents took her to Tianamen Square to watch the flag raising ceremony, Xin Yue was really happy!

Xin Yue is still being treated at the Beijing hospital.

Mei Fang

Summertime

Everybody seems excited on summertime because the weather is hot. It's kind of special season which people expected for the whole year.

Most people like to travel on summertime because kids have no school. Parents spend time with their children go somewhere. Some mothers no work, they take good care on their children at home. They want their children are happy and enjoy much during summertime.

Summertime is relaxed for everyone. Especially for kids students and teachers.

New York Times Immigrant Story

Check out this newspaper story about an illegal Chinese immigrant.

It is a long story, but I found it interesting.

What are your feelings about the story.?

Please leave a comment.

Berkeley Kite Festival

In our classmate Loan's essay, she mentioned flying kites in Vietnam. It made me remember the Berkeley Kite Festival.

During two days of the Berkeley Kite Festival, visitors can sit on the green grass , see many colorful, different size, different types of flying kites in the blue sky and children can study how to make the kites and fly them.

Every year, an older performer who comes from Canada controls three kites at the same time by himself. People will enjoy this peaceful and friendly activity.

I took some pictures last year. Now I am posting two of them here.

This year’s Berkeley Kite Festival will take place on July 29th and 30^th, 2006. I suggest that our classmates “go fly a kite” with their children or their friends.

If you need detailed information, please go to this web site: www.highlinekites.com Remember to bring wind coats and water with you. And don't miss the last show because children will love it--- many candies are dropped from the sky

Good Morning. Howarya?

Friends and classmates smile.

Did you get exercise 91?	Yes, I have a copy for you.
Thanks	Don't mention it.

My Roses

I have planted some roses in my back yard for years. I pruned them at the end of last year and I fertilized them in March this year.

Spring is the time when everything grows.

My roses bloomed recently. They were so beautiful that I took some pictures of them.
Now I put one of the pictures on the blog.

I hope my classmates like it.

My Memorial Weekend Plans

This weekend is a long holiday for everybody, but for me it is not. I have to go to work. My job is going to very busy this weekend, because many people are going to get nail done before they go to a barbeque party, a picnic or a weekend trips. So I am going to work hard on this weekend. I have two birthday parties on this weekend. One in Oakland on Saturday and one in Sanleandro on Sunday. Both is my niece's birthday. I am thinking about the present for my niece, but I don't known yet, what's I am going to gift for them?. Maybe I going to give to each of them a red envelope with money inside.
I will off work on next Monday. It's a Memorial Day so my shop will close. I'll stay home to relax or probably I going to go shopping. I hope everyone have nice weekend

Mei Fang's Memorial Weekend Plans

I will visit my old classmate in Canada over the Memorial Day weekend. She recently moved from China to Canada. She invited me to visit her. We were classmates at the university in Chang Chun, China. We graduated in 1955. We didn't see each other for a long time. When she arrived in Canada, she called me up. I was surprised!

We haven't seen each other for more than twenty years. We wanted to get together, but it was not possible. When we meet in Canada this weekend, we will have our wish!

Phung Chau's Memorial Weekend Plans

This weekend I plan to go to San Jose to visit my friend. She invited me and my family to attend her son's wedding on Saturday night. We are all very happy for her son and her family. I hope he will be very happy.

Ceaser's Memorial Weekend Plans

I will go to Lake Tahoe and Reno during the long weekend with my mother and my brother and his family. My mother is very happy because she wants to get to know these places. I think I have a very good surprise for my mother because it's her first time in the United States.

My brother and I feel very happy because we will be together on Memorial Day. We plan to have a barbeque alongside Lake Tahoe. We will have a big party to celebrate my mom's first trip to the United States.

Viva Salsa!

Read this San Francisco Chronicle article about the Bay Area Salsa dance scene.

Mother's Day in Mexico

Mother's Day in Mexico is celebrated on May 10. Everybody congratulates their Mothers, if somebody's Mother is dead, they go to the cemetery to take her some flowers.

At church there is a special mass for all the Mothers. At night there is a festival to honor them. This festival is organized by the elementary school's teachers. Every Mother gets a ticket for a chance to win a prize. They also have free dinner.

I remember when we were children, we used to save money at school. Our parents gave us some money everyday to buy a snack.Sometimes we saved a little bit and gave it to our teacher. Our teacher used to collect our money during the whole year. A few days before Mather's Day we received our money back to buy a gift for our Mother

We couldn't afford to buy an expensive gift, but we felt happy to give her a little present and wish her a Happy Mother's Day!

Mei Fang's Mother's Day Story

In China, our customs were very different. There was no Mother’s Day when I was a child.. Now, some people celebrate Mothers Day, but when I was young we did it a different way. We were grateful to our mothers in a different way. For example, on Chinese New Year and at the Mid-Autumn Festival we gave a big party for our mothers and we were very happy.

China has a popular song that says, “Children that do not have a mother, they feel like grass. Children that have a mother, they feel like a treasure….”

My mother died in 1978. She will forever live in my heart.

My sister has a serious illness. She couldn’t eat out at a restaurant this Sunday morning. My husband and I went to her apartment. We brought flowers for her. Her husband cooked lunch for us. Together, we celebrated Mother’s Day.

We enjoyed a cheerful Mother’s Day.

Mei Fang

My Feeling on Mother's Day

There are half of happiness and half of sadness to me on Mother's Day. I'm happy because I'm being a mother and sad because I don't have a mother.

My mother passed away when I was twelve years old. So that I had lost a very special relationship of my mother. I only have a little bit impression of my mother now.

Many people complement about my mom was a good woman. She could able do anything in her life. She was a lovely woman. She had a heart of gold. She had many characters. All those words are from the people had told me.

I know my mom is a brave and good take care of the family. She was the one who brough the bacon home. I respect and love her very much.

Even though she died for a long time, but she is always alive in my heart. She is my idol. Sometimes, I dream about her and I don't believe she died. I tried to keep up my dream until I woke up.

I feel sorry for the death of my mother. Like today I can not show my love to her on Mother's Day even if it doesn't have Mother's Day in Vietnam.

Short and True Story

There was a little three year old girl. She phoned her grandmother for " happy Mother's Day " and she asked her grandmother, "do you have any gift for my mother?" the grandmother said, what? your mom have to give me a gift. Then, the little girl said, my mom already a gift for you, but you have to give to my mom a gift, too.

This little girl is over smart!

My Mother

Today is Mother's Day. I think almost everybody celebrates Mother's Day this weekend in the United States. But I never celebrated Mother's Day with my parents and never gave a present to my mother on that day in China.

Now that I am in America , I think of my mother on the second Sunday in May. I remember when I was a child, one time my mother checked my homework after I had finished it. She ordered me to do it again as she found something wrong with my homework. After that, I was afraid my mother would check my homework and I always finished it carefully. I had to give up watching TV at night or playing games with other children except on weekends in my childhood. At that time, I didn’t like it but I had to obey my mother’s orders. However, it made me happy that my mother would cook delicious food for me.

My mother didn’t want to check my homework when I studied in Middle school. She just said to me, " You can make a mistake during your studies, but don’t make the same mistake a second time.”

She was very busy because she went to work and she had to take care of our home. I liked to turn on the TV when I came back from school . My mother found out about that very soon and she said to me, "If you want to be successful, do your homework first.”

It seemed that I had no freedom in my family. After I grew up and thought about that, I realized that is love. That is a mother’s love. I am proud that I have a great mother. She taught me a lot. I decided to celebrate Mother’s Day with my parents this year.

My Impressions On Mother's Day

It has one Mother's Day each year. People buy different presents for their mother as a rule.
In this day, as a mother they would feel happy, but in other days they still need to work hard at home or in the factories, or at the offices, or they must do two jobs to support their families.
I think that as the son or daughter who respects for and love thier mother or parent should usually do some houseworks for their mother or parent. It would be the best way to respect for their mother and parent.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a big and popular holiday in Americar. I think it is becoming a big and popular holiday for the countries which celebrace the Mother's Day like in America.

On Mother's Day most people are very busy. They spend their time shopping. They want to pick and choose the right things for their mothers. Many people take their mothers to restaurants. Some people give chocolate candy or flower on Mother's Day. They do like this to show they love their mothers.

For me, I have gotten many, many gifts from my children on Mother's Day. I feel very happy because I am the apple of their eyes. They need me very much. Especially, when they are hungry.

Last year, I got a vase of rose flowers from my daughter on Mother's Day. The year before that, I got a neaklace. The necklace was made of beads. It's cute. My daughter is a creative girl. She changed different gifts for me every year. She always makes me feel pleasure with the gifts she gives me. Oh, my son is simple. He just gives me " A heart " every year. He writes something very nice with a lot of red hearts on the card. He makes me feel happy, too.

So far, I'm very happy and proud to be the mother of my children. I hope, after they grow up, that they will continue to honor me on Mother's Day because mothers have only one special day. That is "Mother's Day."

Woman Fired

Read this article.

Do you think the employer acted fairly?

Fat Man Walks Across America

Mei Fang likes this story.

Read it here.

How far have you ever walked?

A Day at Universal Studios Hollywood

During the Spring break, my family and I went to Los Angeles. While we were in Los Angeles, we took one day to visit Universal Studios in Hollywood.

Talking about Hollywood, everybody knows that is a real moviemaking place. It's a largest movie studio in the world.

I took a tour around the studio. I saw movie sets that were very skilled built. They looked real, but they were not real. I saw flood. I saw the fire distroy cars. I saw the rain comes down. This is a popular and famous tour.

I saw " Shrek and Donkey." It's a good film. I felt the action right from my own seat because I wore 3D eyesglasses.

I saw an action movie. Arnold was part of this film. He acts very grave and dignified. While I was watching the movie, I saw real actors performing on the stage. I though I saw the real Arnold, but my husband said, that it wasn't really him. Somebody was made up exactly like him. For this film, I wore three dimension glasses, also.

I joined many tours and I walked on the red carpet at Universal Studios Hollywood. I learned many things and I liked it very much!

This is My Idiom

Put yourself in someone's shoes or put yourself in my shoes.

• Put yourself in my shoes: try to imagine yourself in my situation in order to understand how I feel.
  

I attempt to answer two of the idioms:

• Nose to the grindstone: to pay attention on doing something and to not stop working until the job is completed.
  
• Rule of thumb: to a simple, easily understood rule that tells us how to act in a given situation.
  

Idioms

Idioms are interesting expressions "whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make them up."

In other words, the words of the idiom provide few clues to the meaning of the idiom.

Here are a few:

• milling around
• nose to the grindstone
• dirt poor
• rule of thumb

What does each mean?


Do you know an idiom?

Post yours on the blog.

A Young Student

Every morning, before I go to adult school, I like to exercise in Clinton Park. I recognize some people. They walk through the park to go to their working places at fixed times. Some people walk around the park and some students stand around the bus stop waiting for the bus to school. I particularly noticed an old lady waiting for the bus everyday with her grandson.
She was relatively tall. Usually she wore black clothes and a light brown sun helmet. She always carried a blue back pack with a drawing of happy face on it. She carries it in her hand. The young boy came to around her belt hieght and he did not carrry anything by himself. Obviously the blue back pack belonged to the young boy.
When the bus stopped and let the passengers got on. The grandmother always let her grandson go ahead. She followed him and accompanied him to school.
One morning, I walked close to the bus stop. Suddenly I noticed a student getting on the bus and he carried a blue back pack with a yellow circular smiling head sign, but there was no grandmom following him. I thought that this student must be that boy and that the grandmother might be busy or sick. The next day, I still did not see the grandmom. The third day, the grandmom appeared beside her grandson. At that moment, I found that the young boy had come up to her shoulder.
Time is passing unconsciously. The first time I noticed them had been about three years ago. Now the boy has grown up. I hope he will not need his grandmom to accompany him going to school again.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo !

For Dan, the Substitute teacher

Thanks very much for the enthusiam and the happiness of you to edit my essays.

Thanks a lot for choosing many interesting stories to let I read.

I liked the questions in those stories because it expanded my idea.

The stories attracted me to read because they have many hero.

Welcome My Teacher Back

Time is flying fast. Four weeks almost have gone. My teacher is going to return with us next week, after his vacation.

I'm very happy with the coming back of my teacher. Recently, the class looks like missing my teacher's voice. The class seems missing the joke and the likeliness of my teacher.

The Day Without an Immigrant

I imagined if the day without an immigrant, it would be very quiet. The life would be peaceful and wouldn't have any competiting. Then, suddenly I think about farther steps. I asked myself, who will do the hard job which pay less money? The answer is immigrants. So, the immigrants are the people who help the native people to get rich?

Day Without an Immigrant

Teacher Jean and I marched in the Day Without an Immigrant rally in San Francisco.

Click here to see pictures of the march.



What do you think about The Day Without an Immigrant events today?

Put your ideas on the blog. 

Even More Voices

Try this if you have a very fast connection to the Internet.

Tongue Twisting Ptonunciation Practice

Leave a comment on the blog!

To Change the Atmosphere

I think sometimes changing teacher is very good for students because we have more chances to practice listening. Every teacher has different voice, accent and some intersting.

For example, I'm learning from a subtitute teacher now. He is a positive teacher. He always chooses intersting stories for students to read. After stories, sometimes we feel tired. He woke us up by Japanese Kung Fu that he had known. We followed him and did it. We felt good and got more motivating after that.

For eating is the same. Sometimes, we change the tasting so we feel good?

Make Me Laugh

Yesterday, my substitute teacher, Dan was teaching about nutrition food lesson. While he was explanation, he asked each student "what food do we crave?" so, each student answers him. Suddenly, he asked "what food do your teacher crave?" I was thinking and I would like to say, my teacher crave coffee, cappuccino. Then one of students in class said "Richard craves computers" This sentence made me and Kai Yan laugh a lot. It is not only in class. Sometimes, when I remember about this sentence, it always makes me laugh......and laugh.

This is true, my teacher craves computers very much!

Rebuilding Chinatown after the 1906 Quake

Check out this interesting article about rebuilding Chinatown (San Francisco) after the 1906 earthquake. It was only a few years later that the immigration station on Angel Island opened.

You can read the article and then click on the "listen" at the top to hear it. The photos are also interesting.

Leave a comment (below) if you think I sould post more articles for you and your classmates to explore.

Angel Island Photos

Click on this link to see more Angel Island photos.


http://flickr.com/photos/muypadre/sets/72057594104871977/

Click on "View as Slideshow" to watch our trip from beginning to end.

Don't forget to wtite a story about our trip!

A Field Trip to Lawrence Hall of Science

My son's class is studying about dinosaurs and fossils. Last Tuesday we went on a field trip to the Lawrewnce Hall of Science in Berkeley. It was about 9:00 am when we left my son's school. It was raining very hard. We had to hurry up to get onto the bus which was parked in front of the school.

When we got to the Lawrence Hall of Science, it was still raining. The children were very excited about what they saw, especially when they saw different kinds of dinosaur models moving and making sounds like real dinosaurs.

There were also dinosaur eggs. Some baby dinosaurs were hatching from the eggs. Some children liked a kind of dinosaur called "veloceraptor." They said that this dinosaur was mean.

There was something that was interesting to me. It was about the stages of human death. It said that there are five stages of human death. They are:

1. Fresh
2. Bloated
3. Decayed
4. Post Decay
5. Skeletal

At 11:00 am, all the classes from my son's school met in the auditrium. A person talked about fossils and dinosaurs. Soon after, we ate lunch in the cafeteria. After that, it finally stopped raining, so we went outside to admire the beautiful view of the bay area.

We really enjoyed this field trip!

A Trip to Angel Island

Last Thursday, our class decided to go to Angel Island. It was the first time I got up so early since I have lived in the United States. At 7:40 AM my father-in-law and I arrived at our classroom. Some of my classmates had already arrived and were waiting for the teacher. Everybody felt happy and excited.They smiled all the time.

We started to walk to the Lake Merritt BART station after our teacher took a picture of us in front of the school. We each bought BART tickets once we arrived at the Lake Merritt BART station. It was very crowded when we got on the Bart train.

In a few minutes, we arrived in San Francisco. It was a long walk from the Embarcadero to pier 41. We really felt tired by the time we arrived at pier 41, but we still had a lot of energy.

We got on the ferry boat after we brought ferry tickets. I felt cold once I got on the top deck of the ferry boat. The weather didn’t influence us. We still chatted and laughed. We took pictures each other. Suddenly, there are some gulls flying toward to us. That’s great. Then I took my camera and ran to the closer to take a picture of gulls. At that mement, I heard someone say that we had arrived and we needed to get off the ferry boat. I hadn’t taken a picture of gulls yet, but I had to follow my classmates and get off the ferry boat.

First, our teacher led us to climb up 142 stairs. We stopped after a while. Then we sat down and listened to a docent talk about the Angel Island‘s history relevant to Chinese people. Because the prison houses were being repaired now, the docent couldn’t allow us to go into them. He showed us some pictures of the old immigration station and a poem in Chinese. I can understand that person’s feeling who wrote the poem after I read it.

Then our teacher led us on a climb up the mountain. The trail up mountain were rough and wet. We stopped and took pictures once we found a nice scenic view. Suddenly, I found that our teacher and some of my classmates were disappearing. They were far ahead, so I did my best to climb fast although I felt tired. I decided not to wait for my father-in-law. I realized that he could do his best to catch up with me if I climbed faster than him. Otherwise, we may get lost. I climbed the mountain and, at same time I looked back to see whether my father-in-law was following me.

Finally, we arrived at the top of mountain. We panted and cheered. At the top of mountain we surveyed the whole Bay Area including the Golden Gate Bridge. We felt excited and took pictures of each other. We chatted and ate our lunch there.

We had to climb down the mountain after we finished our lunch. We got on the ferry boat to go back to San Francisco. We needed to take a Bart to get back to Oakland. We said goodbye to our classmates who wanted to take ferry boat back to Oakland. We really enjoyed ourselves that day!

Write and Receive

If you post an account of our field trip, I'll give you a disk full of photographs.

What a deal! 

My Adventure

I had been to Angel Island twelve years ago, but I couldn't remember much about it. Last Thursday my class took a field trip there, so I had a chance to go back to Angel Island and to take a ferry again.

That morning, we met in our class room. The teacher took a picture of us in front of school, then we walked to the Lake Merritt BART station. We each bought BART tickets and used them in the machines. We met a few classmates at BART station. The teacher took some pictures of us there. We we waited for the BART train and got on.

It was not too long before we arrived in San Francisco. We walked from the Embarcadero to pier 41. It was a long . . . distance. Everybody was excited. We had a lot of energy. We followed the teacher. He stopped at a bakery to buy a loaf of bread. He shared just a tiny piece of bread with me. He is a cheap teacher.

It took us not so long to walk to pier 41. We hung around there for over 15 minutes and we bought the ferry tickets. We accidently cheated two tickets from the young man who sold the ferry tickets. We used that money to give to the docent. Our teacher said, " We made money."

We got on the ferry. We just followed the teacher. The teacher was wild and so were we. We went up to the top deck of the ferry. It was extremely cold, but everybody was excited. We talked. We laughed. We changed the money from buying the tickets. We took pictures. We were very very happy on the ferry. We were indeed wild!

Finally, we got to Angel Island. Many of us brought cameras. Each took pictures of each other. Then we began to climb up around 143 stairs. We stopped at one point to hear the park docent talk about the history of Angel Island. It was not interesting to hear because he is a very very slo.........w man.

We started to climb up the Mount Livermore mountain. We stopped at one point to take pictures. It is a nice view. We saw the San Francisco bridge. We saw skycrapers. That is a real picture which I have never seen before.

We continued to climb up to the top of mountain. Although, everyone was very tired, but eventually, we had arrived to the point. We had our lunch on there. While we were eating lunch, we were talking. We enjoyed eating many kinds of foods that we had brought and we shared each other.

Then, time was up. Everybody had to climb down from the mountain. One of the groups got lost. We had to hurry to climb up again. We swerved to other way to going down. If not we would stay there for overnight because that was the last ferry. Luckily, we saw the teacher. He was happy and relaxed to eat food. He was a bad leader right?

We all of us chatted and shared some foods again. Then we going down to the Angel Island and took the ferry back to San Francisco. We said good bye to classmates who wanted to take the BART home.

Then, we half of us followed the teacher to go to the "Trieste caffe." It took us a long .......way to walk there to had a cappuccino. It's kind of strange of the coffee shop with colorful tile-top tables. There were many classic pictures on the wall. The teacher took order for us because we were over exhausted already. We enjoyed the cuppuccino. We cheered cups each other. We talked and relaxed.

Soon after, we went back to the ferry. We bought tickets to get back to Oakland. On the ferry I saw the sunset among the ocean. It is a poetic view when I looked out from the ferry.

I will never forget my adventure because it was wild and it stayed on me a lot of tiredness.

A Walking Day

On March 30th my class went to Angel Island. That day we have to go to school early at 7. 45 am. My husband took me to school on the way he went to work. I went to buy some food for my lunch. At school, I met my classmates with some friends from another class. We waited for the teacher about a few minutes. Our teacher came and he brought some jackets. Maybe he thought some of us would be cold when we arrived to Angel Island. As the plan, we left school at 7. 55 am. We walked to the BART station, where we met some friends. They already bought tickets and waited for us.My teacher showed me how to buy the ticket, and then I showed to others. We took the BART from Oakland to San Francisco. The BART was very crowded, we didn't have a seat. When the BART started go, it was shaking a lot. I had to hold a friend's shoulder. Who in the afternoon class. Just a few minutes the BART took us to San Francisco. That was my frist time I took the BART. And then we walked from BART station of San Francisco to Pier 41 about 15 minutes. We colleted money give to our teacher. He bought ferry tickets for our group to go to Angel Island. The ferry dedart at 10 am. We got into the ferry and went to the top of ferry to view San Francisco Bay. Many bird fly follow our ferry. We try to took pitures for the birds but they move quickly.
The weather was cloudy and windy. We arrived to Angel Island at 10.20 am. We climbed throught 142 stairs to view immigrantion station. At there, the docent man told us about history of Angel Island. He is a volunteer worker on Angel Island.
After that, our teacher gave to each person of us a map of Angel Island. We climbed to the Mt Livemore. It is the top of the Island. I was so tired and hungry when I got there. We enjoyed our lunch and view around San Francisco Bay. Before I have never viewed San Francisco Bay like that. It is a beautiful bay.
We went down of the mountain at 2 pm. We have to came back the ferry station at 3pm. On the way came back I was chating with some friends in another class. Seem the way was shorter and I walked faster, althoungh I was hurt my feet.
While we waited the ferry came back to Pier 41 our teacher asked each person of us about thinking of the trip. We was tired but we was happy.
When we came back to Pier 41 haft of us took the BART back to Oakland . I and some friends went to the cafe Trieste with the teacher. We walked throught many block to get coffee. But I didn't drink coffee, I drinked tea.
We took the ferry back to Oakland at 5. 45 pm. We arrived the Jack London square about 6.30pm. We walked again about 20 minutes to the bus station. We went back to school at 7.00pm. My husband picked up me get home at 7.10pm.
That day was a long day for me. Before I never walked long way like that. My feet was so bad, it was hurt a lot. But I was happy, I had a good time with my classmates and my teacher. I'll never forget this trip.

Cafe Trieste

Some of us walked up to the Cafe Trieste in North Beach.

You may find this story in Saturday's San Francisco Chronicle interesting. 

I'm Practicing to Make Questions

1. What fruit is a popular seasonal around the world? Cherry.
   
2. What kind of fruit is member of the same family as rose? The cherry.
   
3. Where be native of cherry? Western Asia.
   
4. What kinds of prepared foods are processed to make from cherries? Jellies, pies and alcoholic drinks
   
5. What are the countries for cherry-producting nation? Russia, Poland and Turkey.
   
6. Which state is the biggest American producer of cherries? Washington state.
   
7. What countries are major producers of sweet cherries? The U.S, Iran and Turkey.
   
8. How do the fresh cherries cost? They cost more than many other kinds of fresh fruit.
   
9. How did the farmers do when they process grafting the cherries? They took cuttings from exitsting trees and joined them to related trees.
   
10. What is scion? The cuting.
    
11. What did the U.S provide Japan? The U.S provided Japan with cuttings from the Yoshino trees in Washington.
    
12. What did it help Japan to replace? The cuttings helped replace Japanese trees lost in flood.
    
13. Hi.classmates, please help me out with these questions! especially, Mr. Blum.
    

Until , By and By The Time . . . .

· We 're going to be at the ferry in San Francisco by 10:00 am.

· Tell me by Wednesday whether or not you want to go with me to the Angel Island.

· My family and I are going to be away until Thursday.

· On April 7th our teacher is going away. He will not return until May 5^th.

· It took her some time to find the restaurant.. By the time she arrived at the restaurant, the guests were eating.

· I worked hard last weekend. By Sunday night. I felt exhausted.

· It was windy. By the time the black cloud reached us, it had begun to rain.

· The meter expired. By the time the man returned to his car, the police had already put a ticket on it.

The Big Mouth Money Jar

Hi, Nontachai's

I read your writing. The situation in your class over there is the same as here. The students used to speak their native languges each other. But now we're learning forein languge. We should speak the languge we're learning. So we can improve it day after day right?

As you know, our teacher made a lable to tape on the jar such as "The Big Mouth Money Jar" for punishing the students who like to speak their languges during the class. And you know, our teacher has a sensitive ear. By the time if we speak our languge, it's immediate he brings the money jar come up to the students who are speaking their languges. He tells that students to put coin in the jar. We collect that money for Christmast party.

Our class has have the jar for two weeks already. Now everybody controls oneself. No one dare to speak their native languges. Except we forget, sometimes.

You see, this procedure is very effective. Tell your teacher folow Richard's rule. It is indeed working!

Tell us more stories! We are expected your writing soon.

Angel Island FAQ

Where do we meet on Thursday Morning?

Meet in Room101 or at the Lake Merritt BART station

What time do we meet on Thursday morning?

Meet at 7:45 in Room 101. We will leave promptly at 7:55 to walk to the Lake Merritt BART station.

You can also meet us at the Lake Merritt BART station at 8:25.

How much money should I bring?

Bring between $20 and $25 for transportation.

BART costs $2.75 each way.

The Angel Island Ferry group rate is $13.50.

The San Francisco to Oakland Ferry (optional at 5:20 p.m.) costs $5.50.

Bring extra money if you plan on buying snacks or drinks.

Who will buy our tickets?

You will. Each student will buy their own ticket.

Please bring exact change (or at least crisp dollar bills) for the BART ticket. We won’t have a lot of time to spend buying tickets at the Lake Merritt BART station.

We will purchase the Angel Island Ferry tickets at Pier 41.

What kind of weather do we expect?

Check with weather.com. The prediction is for partially cloudy with a high of 61 degrees. This is perfect weather for hiking, but be prepared for all weather conditions.

What clothes should I wear?

Be prepared for all kinds of weather. It may be windy. If you climb to the top of Mt. Livermore (the highest point of the island) you may feel warm. Dress in layers so that you can adjust your clothing to the conditions. I usually carry a couple of sweaters and a light jacket. Don’t forget a hat if you need protection from the sun.

Dress casually and wear comfortable shoes. We will be walking quite a bit.

What else can I bring?

Bring lunch for yourself and some snack or fruit to share with your classmates.

Bring a bottle of water, juice or soda.

Don’t bring alcohol or illegal substances.

Bring sunscreen and a hat if you, like me, need protection from the sun.

Bring a camera if you have one. Don’t forget spare batteries, etc.

Bring a notebook and pencil. We will be talking about everything we see. This could be an excellent opportunity to expand your vocabulary.

Bring a backpack to carry all of the above.

What will we do on the island?

Speak English, of course.

We will walk around the eastern end of the island and look at Chinese Cove where the Chinese immigrants were detained. I hope a park ranger or volunteer will give a talk.

We’ll eat lunch together. After that, students can choose how to spend their time. Some may want to explore the shore. Others may choose to go for a walk or climb Mr. Livermore. Some may just want to relax and talk.

Everyone should meet back at the dock by 3:20.

The ferry departs for San Francisco promptly at 3:40.

When does the field trip end?

Officially, the field trip ends at 4:00 p.m. on our return to Pier 41 in San Francisco. Students are free to leave from there. The BART runs a regular schedule from the Embarcadero to Oakland.

Unofficially, I will stay and wait for the Oakland ferry that leaves Pier 41 at 5:20. This is a good time to talk casually or grab a bite to eat. The ferry (fare is $5.50) takes about an hour to reach Jack London Square in Oakland. We’ll (several students have decided on this option) take a bus back to Neighborhood Centers School.

Can I bring a relative or a friend?

Yes, if they can walk, they are welcome, but please tell me who you are bringing by Wednesday.

Sun Shines on Sunday

As you can see, the sun shone on the Golden Gate Bridge and my head.

I have more photos if you would like to see them on Monday. 

A small party

Last Wednesday, all of us (Cristina, Naci , Sethern and me) left earlier than usual from school as Cristina had invited us to visit her house so we decided to go that afternoon.

We chatted while we were driving. After 15 minutes, we arrived at Christina’s house. I felt comfortable and warm when we got into Cristina’s house. Then we sat on the sofa and viewed some of Cristina’s pictures. All of us only spoke English as we came from different countries.

Cristina quickly treated us to some orange juice, and then some potato chips and some special Mexico food. We talked about each other’s countries and our feelings after we moved to the United States.

It surprised me that I found some words in English on the potato chips. Each potato chip had a different sentence. There were riddles on them! So I suggested that we play these riddles on each other. The rule was whoever could reply to a question correctly then she would get one chip. We played the game and cheered.

We had to leave after one and a half hour. We thanked Cristina for her invitation and delicious food when we left. We really had a good time that day. I felt excited that it was the first time I had visited any classmate’s house after I arrived to the United States. We can make friends although we come from different countries.

The Dog Who Dialed 911

Leana, 46-year-old woman with a wheelchair, who lives with her son in Washington. Leana never dreamed that the dog can save her life.

"Fairth" is a dog's name. That's Leana's new service dog. Leana suffered from epilepsy for nearly a decade (such as 10 years). She had "Bronson", that her first service dog. She helped her with chores, arrands and most critically, to assist her in the event of epileptic seizures. Bronson was retiring from service and Fairth was subtitute as her job then.

Leana and a professional dog trainer to trained Fairth to work as a "seizure-response dog" with hope that she might develop into a "seizure-alert dog."

Oneday, Leana reached across the stove for empty water kettle. She fell out of her wheelchair, hitting her head on the kitchen-cabinet door and lay uncouscious on the floor. This was a medical emergency, though not directly caused by her epilepsy. At that time, Fairth's heroism kicked him into over-drive. The dog found the cordless phone with her mounth and her nose pushed the dog called 911. Speed-dial button she had been trained to identify. Fairth barked into the phone. She barked and barked.

Most operators are not trained to translate the barking of dogs, but they detected a pattern to the barks. They seemed to come after she spoke.

When she had accomplished the calling 911, Fairth went back to Leana and did her seizure-response work, pushing her into the "recovery position" on her side, which cleared her throat.

When the police officer arrived, Fairth and Bronson watched from the window. Both had been trained to recognize the uniforms of police, firefighters and medical personnel not as intruders, but as friends. With her nose, Fairth unlatched to let the police came in. Fairth was barking as she ran to the kitchen, urging the police folowed her. Emergency responders know to trust the competence of service animals. The unconscious Leana was whisked to the hospital.

Leana was in the hospital for three weeks. Fairth went with her for part of the time. Leana had a clear idea of her rescure. After she returned home. She contacted to the police. She knew the story of Fairth amazing feat.

While listening to the police. Leana kept interrupting, saying "My Fairth did that? She did what?" After she finished and she had hung up the phone, she threw her arms around her dog and cried out, "How did you know to do all that?" Leana didn't think the dog was able to figure out each step to take, working on the skills in sequence and with exact precistion.

Leana must be love and devotion to Fairth. After that night the relationship changed between Leana and Fairth. Leana found out that Fairth, who she was: "a true angel."

My Classmate, Adrian

Today, it's around 2:00 pm. It is hailing. While I was looking at the hail. suddently, Adrian came into my shop. He wanted to get a hair cut. While I was cuting his hair, I talked to him. I asked him, "Why aren't you going to school?" He said, he has many problems. He'll go to school later. He told me to say "hello" to the teacher. Then I asked him, "What are you doing?" He said, he is selling DVDs on E 14 & 39 AVE. He sells for two shifts everyday. The morning shift is from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The night shift is from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

This is the second time he came to my shop to get a hair cut.

As. . . .As and Like and As

1. As she walked down the street, she looked into my shop.

2. Let’s go to Angel Island as you don't have anything else to do.

3. The teacher gave the homework to the students just as I left.

4. I cut myself as I was cutting a customer's hair.

5. Just as Yanhua and I began talking, the teacher interrupted us.

6. A customer came for a haircut just as I opened the shop.

7. As it was an interesting topic, I wrote the essay quickly.

8. As last Friday was a Saint Patrick’s Day, the teacher pinched the students who didn't wear the color green.

9. As you know, my class is going to go to the Angel Island in next two weeks.

10. As we expected, the weather going to be pleasant on the day of the field trip.

11. As the teacher thought, it usually doesn’t rain at the end of March.

12. As the teacher said, do not adjust the blinds. Leave the blinds as they are.

13. Some procedures, such as C P R, can save 40% of victims lives.

14. You're beautiful as usual.

15. You're careless as usual.

16. Kaddo once was proud as a lord and once sat in rags asking for help, also.

17. As a great man of Tendella in the Kingdom of Seno, Kaddo once had a bursting granary and many servants.

Valentine's Day Gift

My friend told me a true story yesterday.
Mr. Wong, Mrs. Wong and their son live in Oakland. They are not rich.

Before this Valentine's day Mr. Wong wanted to give his dear wife a gift . He had thought about many items. He thought that a diamond ring would be excellent, but he could not afford to buy one. Flowers wouldn’t be special enough. Crystal decorations are beautiful but he had sent a little lovely crystal angel to his wife last year. It was difficult to decide what would be a suitable gift which could be both practical and cheap but not low quality.

On Valentine's Day, as usual, his wife went to work but he had a holiday so he stayed at home. In the morning, Mr. Wong cleaned the refrigerator. He opened its door and he saw inside. Suddenly, He got a wonderful idea. After cleaning the refrigerator, he went out and came back soon.

That afternoon, Mrs. Wong came home after work. She felt tired out that day. She came to the door of the house and opened it slowly with her key. She stood in the door holding the door handle. She saw her husband leaning against the counter in the kitchen. He smiled at her and said to her: "My dear, come here please."

She felt strange and moved toward her husband. He asked his wife to open the door of the refrigerator, and said: "Here is a Valentine's Day gift for you, my dear."

When she opened the door of the refrigerater wide, she saw only that some crowns of broccoli (Cantonese call them broccoli flowers ) were placed in the center of the refrigerator. It looked like a bundle of beautiful flowers. His wife smiled broadly and laughed. She gave him a long kiss.

Mr.Wong felt happier than he had ever felt before.

As If

She sounds as if she doesn't speak English correctly.
I feel as if we need to practice the grammar that we have learned each day.
It looks as if our teacher thinks everyone in this class understands the reading on the computer. It looks as if the teacher doesn't know the students' level.
It smells as though somebody grilled B. B. Q around here.
I didn't know her, but she treated me as if I were her good friend.
I don't like advertisments. The companies always advertise as if their products do a very good job.
We don't need to practice all the grammar that we have learned. We just need to practice some of the grammar we don't know well.

Who wrote "Hero"?

Click here to learn more about the author of "Hero".

Read some of his poems.

Learn CPR. Save a life!

Check out these news stories:

Girl saves mom with CPR

Singer uses Heimlich Maneuver to Save Stage Hand

Help Plan Our Field Trip

Plan a Trip to Angel Island

We are trying to plan a trip to Angel Island on March 30th.

Please help with the planning!


How can we get to Angel Island?

What are the costs?

When will we have to leave and what time will we return? Check the schedules.

What kind of weather do you expect on March 30?

What should we bring with us?

Will we have to walk far?

What will we do on Angel Island?

Here are some resources to help answer these questions.

BART
Angel Island Ferry
San Francisco Ferry
San Francisco Transit Guide

Information about Angel Island
Angel Island Immigration Foundation
Angel Island State Park
Angel Island Tours
Angel Island Immigrant Journeys of Asian Americans
Angel Island Poetry
More about Angel Island Poetry

Can you answer these CPR questions?

How CPR Works

What happens when a person experiences cardiac arrest?

How effective is CPR?

What does CPR mean?

When was CPR invented?

Where does the oxygen we breathe go?

When to Dial 911

What may be the most important step that you can take to save a life?

If two people are present and CPR is needed, what should they do?

If you are the only one present and CPR is needed, what should you do?

What should we always do when faced with an emergency situation?

What should you be prepared to tell the 911 operator?

Adult CPR

According to the American Heart Association, Adult CPR should be performed on anyone over what age?

What is responsiveness?

What should you do before beginning any rescue effort?

When shouldn’t you shake the victim?

What should you do if the victim does not respond to gentle shaking and shouting?

Adult CPR Airway

What does the “A” in “ABC” mean?

What do you need to do if the victim is unconscious and unresponsive?

How do you check to see if the victim is breathing?

What is the most common airway obstruction in an unconscious victim?

How can you clear the airway of an unconscious victim when the tongue is blocking it?

Adult CPR Breathing

What does the “B” in breathing stand for?

How do you prepare to give rescue breathing?

What can happen if you over-inflate the victim’s lungs?

What should you do if the victim vomits?

How many breaths should you give?

What should you do after you give the first two breaths?

What should you do if the victim does not begin breathing, coughing or moving?

Adult CPR Circulation

What does the “C” stand for in “ABC”?

How can you determine if the victim’s heart is beating?

Where is the carotid artery?

What is a pulse?

What will you have to do if there is no pulse?

Adult CPR Compressions

Why is correct hand placement very important when performing chest compressions?

If you hear a cracking sound, should you stop performing chest compressions?

How many times should you compress before giving two more breaths?

How fast should you compress the victim’s chest?

Should you check the victim’s pulse again?

How long should you continue if there is no pulse?

What should you do if the victim has a pulse but is not breathing?

My Friend's Emergency

Most people don't know what to do in an emergency situation.

For example, my friend's daughter is 5 years old. Suddently, a lot of blood came out of her nose. My friend thought that was normal. She asked her daughter to lay down for a half day. She thought the bleeding would stop later. After a few hours, she sat her daughter up. The blood came out more and more. It was dripping. Then she called 911. An ambulance took her daughter to the hospital.

Sometimes, people don't know that to do in a critical situation. During those minutes, if we know about what to do, we can save a victim's life.

Oscar and Me

In the 78th annual Academy Awards. I saw a lot of movie stars. They looked very elegant and attractive. Each actress had a different style. They wore very special clothes and their clothes were unique. They are all talented actors. Some nominnees got Academy Awards. The awards are made of gold and were shaped like a man.

Homework Update !!!

Oops!!!

The Academy Awards start at 8:00 p.m. New York time.

That would be: 5 p.m. in Oakland.

If you want to see the stars arrive, watch the Red Carpet Special at 4:00 p.m.

Homework Assignment

Watch the Academy Awards at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday night and write a blog post with the title, "Oscar and Me." The Academy Awards will be on the ABC network. Locally, ABC is on channel 7.

Please share what you think about the Academy Award show. What did you like? What didn't you like?

You can click here to listen to a Voice of America story about the Academy Awards.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2006-02-26-voa2.cfm

See you on Monday. I hope to read your stories before then.

Some Questions in The Meeting

A. Firt Information Meeting
1. What did you learn at the meeting?
2. Which things were the most important or helpful?
3. What other things would be helpful to know?

B. Starting and Ending Your Classes
1. Is your class too short or too long? Or just right?
Just right.
2. What is the best number of weeks for one class?
10 weeks for one class.
3. Do you think it is good that students can start or leave a class at any time?
Yes, I do.

C. Attending Classes.
1. Is it good for the school to have rules about coming to class?
No, I don't think it is good for the school to have rules about coming to class.
2. What do you think is the best rule?
I think the best rule is: speak English in the class.

D. Staying in the ESL Program
1. What helps you to keep coming to class?
The class has to be interesting.
2. Why do some students stop taking classes soon after starting?
Maybe they get a job or don't have time.

E. Making Progress in Learng English
1. In your class, what are you learning in English? How do you know?
Pronounce, grammar, reading and listening.
2. How do you know when you are ready to move to a higher level?
I feel like by myself or I can take a test well.

F. Using Computers in Learning English
1. Do you use computers in your English classes? What do you do?
Yes, I do. To get news.
2. Do computers help you to learn English?
Yes, they do. They help me to learn extra at home
3. What other kinds of machine do you use in class?
Hardwear, printer.

Practice Telling Story

I would like to have a chance to talk every morning. I would like the teacher give the topic to students to write a very short story in 10 minutes such as: my favorite hobby, the funiest story or what are your consider life's greatest gift, what are your consider life's greatest sorrow . . . And then the teacher calls up around 7 people to read their stories everyday. I think it is very helpful for us to practice talking.

My Suggestion

I feel like we learned a lot of grammars everyday, but we don't have a chance to practice. I think if the teacher keep to continue like this everyday. It doesn't work for us very much, because we have the idiom "You get out what you put in" but I don't see any get out. So, now I have some suggestions to the teacher and classmates:

After we learned the grammar. I'd likethe teacher give homeworks to students to write about 5 or 10 sentences which are using the grammar that we have just learned. I think the teacher do like this, it will work better than we just learned without practicing.

I would like the teacher slowdown little bit in teaching grammar. To rush to learn we don't have the depth impression in our mind. So, I think we have one day to learn and then the next day we practice. It is very good to remember.

I would like what I have learned, I'll stick in my mind forever.

I need classmates' ideas. Please give me some comments.

CAME BACK FROM VIETNAM

I came back to the United States a week ago. I was so tired after my flight that I took one more day off
to clean the house and wash clothes.

The next day I went to work. People at my work were
happy to see me. After 5 weeks, I was happy to see them, too. They asked me many questions
about Vietnam. I told them a lot of stories. At work I was so happy I forgot I was tired and sleepy. When I got home, I slept a lot. I didn't go to school. I was lazy. I am sorry about that. In Vietnam I
wrote 2 stories. I wanted to write more stories but I lost the address of the blog when I went to Saigon. I will write a story about Vietnam very soon.

See you guys tomorrow!
THANH

What Democracy Means to Me

Democracy is a system of government in which the people hold the ruling power.

Everyone has equal rights. If you don’t like a politician you can protest against him. Democracy sounds very good.

Sometimes when politicians want to be elected, they promise you whatever you ask for, but they may not do what they promise after they are elected. They can not do all that they promise. In fact, no one can be perfect.

Compare democracy to the dictatorship system.

A dictator has complete power over the country. People have to follow his orders, whether or not they like them.

I prefer democracy better.

What Democracy Means to Me

Democracy means equality. Everyone can speak or publish in freedom.

I like democracy, because I can criticize anybody in the public even though he is the president. Journalists can write whatever they like in the newspaper. Cartoonists can make fund of or imitate anyone. It is not a crime to do these things.

My country is a democracy, also, but it is different than here. People can not criticize the president even if the president does something wrong or he does bad things. Human rights are unequal. The rich people are always right and powerful.

So, to me, democracy means freedom of speech and equal human rights.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is for people to celebrate love or a special relationship with people whom we love or like.

On Valentine's Day most people like to give flowers or chocolate candy with a card. These are popular gifts. Some people give other things, also.

On Valentine's Day most young people like to go to a movie. Some couples like to travel to romantic places. People who are married go out for a family dinner. Some kids they give presents or cards to their teachers or friends.

My country doesn't have Valentine's Day so people don't have a special holiday to celebrate the relationship between husbands and wives.

Many Asians who have lived in the United States for a long time don't do anything on Valentines' Day. They don't think this holiday is important. A few Asians follow American traditions. They do somethings special on Valentine's Day. They think Valentine's Day is an important day, also.

I think Valentine's Day is very good, because it reminds people to warm up their relationships, especially between husbands and wives.

The American Life Style

Many people think American life is stressful and competitive. This is perfectly true!

Everybody knows that America is a rich society. Everybody wants cars, a house, entertainment, fun games, nice clothes, good food and an opportunity to travel. People work hard for these things. Some people have to work two jobs for what they want in life.

Every month we have to pay for the rent, PG&E, phone, car insurance, medical, food … Oh! There are too many bills! American life is stressful.

American life is not easy if we don't have a stable job or we can't afford payments for the house. How can we survive if we get laid off. It's indeed stressful!

In my country life is less competitive than here. People don't have to work so much. They can relax more than here.

In my country almost everybody owns a home. Thus, people work just for food and some miscellaneous needs. In a family just a few people work. This can support the whole family.

Anyway, American life is better. If we work hard, we can enjoy the American life style.

New Year in Ha Noi

This year I enjoy New Year in my hometown. I was very busy, butI really happy. Before New year four days, I was help my Mum make cakes. We made 12 cakes. It was coast about 10 pounds rice, 6 pounds bean and 4 pounds meats for make cakes. I don't know call the English name for this cake. It's a tradition cake of my country.The cake only has to make for New Year' days. Ten years ago, every family made this cake when New Year caming. Now, many familys don't make cake, they go to markets to buy the cake. You can buy it everyday.
Same Christmas' days in United States we decorated our house with flowers and light. Eve New Year's day my Mum cooked big dinner have expecial foods. Every member in my family had to go home ate dinner together. Eve New Year's night I with my brother went to center city to see firework.
THE END PART I

I am missing adult school

Dear Teacher Richard and All

Maybe you do not remember me but I still want to apology for my disapearing.

I am now learning in Laney College and I am re-writing this Vietnamese fable on the ocasion of Vietnamese Tet holiday. I hope you will not delete my name in this blog


INTELLIGENCE OF HUMAN BEING
One day, a tiger was about to eat a buffalo. The farmer, who was also the buffalo owner, passed by and noticed the buffalo in danger. As the buffalo helped the farmer plow his land, the farmer tried to think of a way to rescue the buffalo. He begged the tiger not to eat the buffalo: "Please release my buffalo and I’ll give you my intelligence in return". The tiger was curious about "intelligence" and said to itself: "what is intelligence?, I have never seen it in this world, ok, I’ll get his intelligence then I’ll eat this stupid farmer and his buffalo". Then the tiger accepted the exchange. Pretending to gorget something, the farmer said: "Oh, I left my intelligence at home and I am afraid that while I am going back home, you’ll eat my buffalo. "Can I just tie you to a tree so that you can't eat my buffalo" he proposed. Being impatient for getting intelligence, the tiger agreed. The farmer started to tie the tiger with a rope. he go around the tree, one round, another round and another round... the tiger got tied more and more tightly. Finally, it could not move. The tiger was very angry and shouted at the farmer: "Why are you tying me so tightly? why don't you go home and get me your intelligence". The farmer bursted in to laugh: "Ha ha ha, now I am showing you my intelligence" then he set the tied tiger on fire until all the rope was burnt down and the tiger ran away with fear. Nowadays, we still see stripes on tigers' fur because their ancestor was burnt by the farmer.