@elp magazine, Issue 2, June 2015 by University of Toronto English Language Program

@elp MAGAZINE

Issue 2 June 2015

A summary of the academics, activities and accomplishments at the English Language Program

Project Toronto

Presenting new sides of the city

Sakura Hanami

Exploring High Park’s beauty and history

s e i r o t S s s e c c u S

tova, a Anaya b ra il D , hen —Ying C m Abdunabi— tudents s hla P A L d E n r a gkol Forme n o m g n Tho Khanin t things sh grea li p m o c ac

CONTENTS

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

@elp

4 6 8 10

EDITOR & DESIGN

ACTIVITIES

MAGAZINE

Dan Pinese

STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Heather Bryans Chris Chipman Brenda Colley Erik Dean Emma DeLeeuw Aakanksha John Carol Lam Jessica Lim Asumi Matsumoto, Bill Mboutsiadis Christopher Penaranda Evelyn Pedersen Darren Rigo Mustafa Sarier Graham Shular Andrea Michaely Sriskandarajah Karen Thomson

Khanin Thongmongkol Flying High

Ying Chen

Preparing for Success Abroad

Dilraba Anayatova A Masterful Student

Ahlam Abdunabi Ready for Dentistry

20 Sakura Hanami in High Park

14 Summer Sports Guide 16 Summer Activities 18 T.O’s Best Kept Secrets 22 Volunteering 25 Taste of Toronto 26 Bata Shoe Museum 27 Darren’s Music Corner 46 ELP on Instagram

Cover Photograph by Andrea Michaely Sriskandarajah

ACADEMICS

Project Toronto

29 30 32 34 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 42 43 44 51

My Presentation Day The First Arrival’s Guide Toronto’s Street Art Hollywood North A Happy Day Metamorphoses of Fall Ramadan Month Meeting a University Friend Peace Be With You All My Last Weekend My Instructor Summer Time Memory A Story The Canadian Las Vegas

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Here at the English Language Program (ELP), we feel lucky to work and live in Toronto, a vibrant, multicultural, bustling and impressive city. It just so happens that within this city we also have the pleasure to work with our students who seem to fit within the Toronto culture naturally. In a lot of ways they are Toronto: full of life, culture, creativity, opportunity, different perspectives, hopes and goals. So, in this issue, we decided to let our students profile the city in which they live. The pages ahead feature multiple stories from ELP students centred in Toronto—from gaining entry to Aeronautical Engineering and Masters of Law here at the University of Toronto to a chance meeting with an old classmate from halfway around the world on our very own city streets. Also, students show off their creativity and academic skills by showcasing very different sides of Toronto—from movie making sites to street art— as a part of Project Day, a group presentation component of Academic English. And finally, ELP students give back to Toronto by volunteering for its many charities and causes and in turn tell us stories of making friends, learning a new language and culture. In the end, maybe it’s not that the students are inspired by the city but that their energy, intelligence and drive contribute to what make it an inspirational place. I can’t speak for the other 6 million about our city; but, I can say our students make the ELP truly inspiring day in, day out. Enjoy, Sherry Yuan Hunter Director, English Language Program & International Initiatives

accomplishments

Khanin Thongmongkol

of Thailand

Flying High

Interview by: Dan Pinese, Program Administrator, Student Services

the University of Toronto and study in the Aerospace Engineering program. However, I had to improve my English skills a lot in order to prosper in university; so, I decided to register in the place that could make me better. The English Language Program (ELP) was my choice because of its reputation, location and facilities. The English Language Program at the University of Toronto is one of the most outstanding places for ESL students because there are a lot of hard working teachers who really care about students, and staffs who are very helpful, ranging from solving daily life problems to visa issues. Moreover, not only is the school good academically, but it also has numerous activities for students to attend. Examples are volunteer activities, trips to other provinces or even in Toronto itself and festivals. The location is also convenient for students to come here, since it is located in the middle of subway lines which makes it easy for students to come regardless

Q: Could you briefly describe yourself: your goals, previous education, past work experience, and how you arrived here in Toronto, at the ELP? I used to dream of being a pilot when I was a child, because I was impressed by an airplane from the first time I flew. I was surprised by how such a huge vehicle could carry tons of mass and fly, so I decided at the time that I would become a pilot to be able to control this complex vehicle. However, while studying in high school, I perceived that mathematics and physics were my favorite subjects. Reinforced by my fascination for airplanes, I changed my mind to study Aerospace Engineering instead. In March 2014, I graduated from the only science high school in Thailand, Mahidol Wittayanusorn School. After that, I won a Thai government scholarship for studying overseas and chose Canada. I arrived here in Toronto in late September 2014 with the intention that I would study hard and achieve my goal, to be accepted by 4

â&#x20AC;&#x153;While studying in high school, I perceived that mathematics and physics were my favorite subjects. Reinforced by my fascination for airplanes, I changed my mind to study Aerospace Engineering instead. In March 2014, I graduated from the only science high school in Thailand, Mahidol Wittayanusorn School. After that, I won a Thai government scholarship for studying overseas and chose Canada.â&#x20AC;?

the unfamiliar environment and new life style here. They made me feel comfortable staying here, even though Canada is so far and so different from my country.

Q: Why did you choose the University of Toronto for your Aerospace Engineering program?

Q: What are your plans for after you complete your studies at the University of Toronto?

The reason why I applied here is that students interested in attending Aerospace Engineering must study the first two years in the Faculty of Engineering Science which gives them exceptional background knowledge to continue their major in aerospace engineering. Students in this program can have more thorough knowledge and thought than others who only study in Aerospace Engineering for four or five years. I have a strong belief that if a skyscraper has no robust foundation, it is set to collapse, which is similar to learning that if students have insufficient background knowledge, it will be very difficult, probably impossible, to continue to a higher level.

My first plan is that if I can earn scholarship to study a Master’s degree of my desired discipline at the time, I will continue studying. Otherwise, I will return to my country, Thailand, and work at Suvarnabhumi airport, Thailand International Airport in Bangkok, as an airplane repair staff until I have gained enough experience and earned sufficient money to continue studying a Master’s degree. Ultimately, I would like to study until I am knowledgeable enough to achieve my final goal, which is to work with NASA or an airplane company in order to design and build my own airplanes or satellites. This has been my dream since I was a child.

Q: How did the ELP help prepare you for your future studies?

Q: Do you have any advice for future or current students at the English Language Program?

As I mentioned before, ELP not only provides only in-class courses, but also extracurricular activities, most of which are outdoor activities. While studying here, I took two Academic English courses, level 50 and 60, and one English Plus. Academic English helped me with academic skills, such as writing essays, doing research, giving presentations and speaking properly in job and university situations. On the other hand, English Plus made me confident about having daily-life conversations, such as using idioms, responding to various situations and learning about Canadian cultures, all of which are useful for someone like me who would like to stay here. I gained the most out of the courses by asking and approaching my teachers whenever the chances came, especially asking questions during the classes and meeting with teachers after the class. By doing this, I could talk to them about the topics that were not clear to me and they explained to me at the time, or sometimes they did some research to answer those problems correctly, which showed me that they really care about students not just about finishing duties each day. However, devoting ourselves only to learning academic skills cannot lead us to our goals; this is one of the reasons, I guess, why ELP prepares extracurricular activities for every student who is willing to join. These include volunteering and leisure activities. Participating in volunteering benefited me in many ways, for example speaking English in real-life situations, meeting native speakers, helping someone in need and, sometimes, receiving free food. Moreover, there are a lot of social activities for students to attend, most of which are after the class, so I did not miss my class. The activities range from playing video games at ELP to going out all around Toronto and, sometimes, outside of the city. My favorite activities were winter camping, when we went to YMCA Camp Wanakita, and winter sports, such as ice skating, skiing and tobogganing. These after class activities aided me in learning how I should adapt myself to

“Doing right and working hard” is the only helpful advice that I can give. “Doing right” means that you know what you are doing and why you should do it. “Working hard” comes after that. In my case, I knew when I came here what my first goal was, improving my English skills in order to be able to study university here. I then tried every way I could to make myself better, approaching teachers, asking when I had doubts and participating in as many activities as I could in order to expose myself to the English language and Canadian culture. Nevertheless, I believe that everyone has his or her own strategies to achieve the goals depending on their character, but you should keep these two words in your head, doing right and working hard.

“Academic English helped me with academic skills, such as writing essays, doing research, giving presentations and speaking properly in job and university situations. On the other hand, English Plus made me confident about having daily-life conversations, such as using idioms, responding to various situations and learning about Canadian cultures, all of which are useful for someone like me who would like to stay here.” 5

accomplishments @elp

of their living places. Being a student here supports me in studying as well, because we can use University of Toronto facilities such as libraries and buildings. To sum up, ELP has helped me in numerous ways.

accomplishments

Ying Chen

of China

Preparing for Success Abroad Interview by: Brenda Colley, Program Administrator, Student Services

Q: What courses have you taken at the English Language Program? I have taken Academic English level 60. Q: Why did you choose to take these courses? What was your motivation for studying at ELP? Firstly, I knew that the Faculty of Law accepts the grade from the ELP. This was my first motivation. Secondly, I wanted to improve my language. Before, I joined a club that I thought would improve my language. However, I needed an instructor to help guide me. For Law, I need to write a lot so I wanted to improve my skills. I knew the ELP is the best English institution in Toronto. Q: What experiences from the English Language Program stand out to you the most? The most positive thing was my writing skills. I now know how to correctly express my opinion and ideas academically. Secondly, I learned how to express

“I now know how to correctly express my opinion and ideas academically. Secondly, I learned how to express myself in presentations. I had great progress from that part. Thirdly, the ELP also has a lot of activities like volunteer, which is good for me. Through those activities I learned a lot about the culture of Toronto. I believe that the volunteer experiences I joined also helped me to apply to university.” 6

myself in presentations. I made great progress in this respect. Thirdly, the ELP also has a lot of activities like volunteering, which was good for me. Through those activities I learned a lot about the culture of Toronto. I believe that the volunteer experiences I joined also helped me to apply to university. Also, seeing the NBA was an amazing experience for me in North America. Q: What challenges did you experience when you first arrived in Toronto? How did you overcome these challenges? I’m from China. For me, the first challenge was of course the language. I remember when I arrived in Toronto I couldn’t talk with others on the phone because I was afraid to talk to strangers. Another thing was the culture barrier. I found a lot of clubs and activities to learn to communicate with the native speakers which helped me a lot in speaking and listening. Also, I learned to understand the culture.

Q: Did you volunteer during your time at the ELP? How many hours?

Q: Do you feel that the ELP has prepared you to succeed at an English speaking university/college?

Yes, I did. I did probably over 20 hours. I liked the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. I had to set up and keep the order of the marathon activities. I hope next time I can join and run it.

Yes. The atmosphere of the class taught me how to study in this country. And English skills of course. The ELP helped to prepare me for the challenging course of graduate studies.

Q: Did you participate in University and College Application Support (UCAS)? How did it help you?

Q: Do you intend on staying in the country of your school after you finish your degree? Or do you intend to return home?

Yes, and I have to say that it helped me a lot. Firstly, it taught me how to organize my application documents because I had no idea what the requirements were and which kinds of aspects I had to put in those documents. Secondly, after I finished my application, UCAS helped me correct it and shorten it. My teachers also helped me with reviewing those documents. Q: What programs are you applying to and do you have prior education in this field? Have you had a response from the schools you’ve already applied to? Were you accepted? The programs are the Master’s of Law program Faculty of Law at U of T and at Osgoode Hall at York University. Yes, I have prior education in law and relevant experience in China. I was accepted into both programs. Q: Did you attend any of the workshops? Which one(s)? I attended the “Applying to Post-Secondary: Graduate Edition” workshop. Q: What advice would you give to students who are currently going through the application process? Firstly, understand which major and which program you want to apply to and clearly understand if your qualifications fit the requirements. This is the first step. Secondly, prepare your documents and attend more social activities like volunteering for some relevant experience in this field. This is a big asset in the application process. Thirdly, spend time to create an excellent resume, personal statement and statement of purpose. Those documents are the only way that the admissions committee can recognize you.

“I was a lawyer in China. I will keep my career. Probably, I will practice law in Canada and China at the same time. I will practice international law by working in a company as the legal consultant.”

Probably, I will stay in the country to practice law here. Q: What are you going to do until you start school? For now, I am going to apply to volunteer in Toronto. I am also applying to a summer course about law in North America at Yale University. Q: What does your future hold? What are you going to do 10 years from now? I was a lawyer in China. I will keep my career. Probably, I will practice law in Canada and China at the same time. I will practice international law by working in a company as the legal consultant. Q: Do you have any last comments about the English Language Program? I think this program is awesome. It was great to be a part of it. I believe it is the beginning of my success abroad. It helped me to get into my dream school. I also want to thank my instructors Shauna and Yaseen. They are both very very good instructors and they are good friends also.

One-on-one Application Support One-on-one application support is available by appointment. Students can visit the main office in room 4-106 to arrange an appointment to speak with our Application Support Program Assistant. Be sure to arrive at your appointment with prepared questions and any supporting documentation you may need.

Contact Brenda: brenda.colley@utoronto.ca

accomplishments

Dilraba Anayatova

of Kazakhstan

A Masterful Student

Interview By: Emma DeLeeuw, University and College Application Support Program Assistant

Q: What courses have you taken at the English Language Program?

months, while studying I wanted to see as many places as I could.

Initially, I was enrolled in Academic English Level 60. After completing Level 60 I enrolled in and completed two Advanced Academic English courses.

Q: What challenges did you experience when you first arrived in Toronto? How did you overcome these challenges?

Q: Why did you choose to take these courses? What was your motivation for studying at ELP?

The biggest challenge for me was that I didn’t know anyone; as a result my classmates became my family. I also didn’t know the city which was both challenging and exciting. It was also the first country I visited where English is the only language spoken, and my first time away from home for a longer period of time.

First of all, Level 60 is the language requirement to apply to the University of Toronto which meant that I wouldn’t have to take other English proficiency tests. I decided to continue with Advanced Academic Skill because it focused on preparing me for university. By practicing writing academic research papers and literature reviews I believe that it is a great preparation course for any Masters level university program. Q: What experiences from the English Language Program stand out to you the most? There are a lot of positive memories. After two days of being enrolled in Level 60, my classmates and I went sightseeing in Toronto. It was a very busy three 8

Q: Did you volunteer during your time at the ELP? How many hours? Yes I volunteered a lot! I arrived in the summer so I was able to volunteer at a lot of different festivals like Dusk Dances, Big on Bloor and Island Girl. I also volunteered at marathons like the Waterfront marathon, as well as the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Run for the Cure. Another great experience was volunteering in various soup kitchens like the Scott Mission. With my teacher, my class and

I went to TESOL which is a teacher’s conference, where I presented in front of an audience. I was also able to volunteer in an elementary school where we helped classrooms with their Halloween activities like carving pumpkins. I enjoyed Halloween because of the wide range of people that celebrate this holiday; both young and old.

University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). I was also accepted to the Department of applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies at Carleton University.

Q: Were you part of any clubs during your time at the ELP? Did you learn additional skills beyond the Academic English classroom?

The most important piece of advice that I would give would be to carefully explore everything that a program has to offer. Do not choose more than ten programs. Make sure to keep a checklist of the different document requirements and deadlines for each program and school. Most importantly, stay positive; for me it was very hard because at first I got two rejections from U of T and McGill. Since then I keep a photo of a positive and inspiring quote as my phone background to keep me motivated!

I participated in many volunteer opportunities which taught me many different skills but I also participated in various clubs. I participated in softball; it was the first time I played and I really enjoyed playing. While I am at the English Language Program I also participated in Brazillian “forró” dance classes twice a week at the Centre for International Experience. In the music club we also sang a bunch of Russian songs which was a lot of fun. Q: Did you participate in University and College Application Support (UCAS)? How did it help you? Yes, I participated in the UCAS. The staff were very kind and helped me a lot with my CV and letter of intent. UCAS offered me a lot of great advice regarding the content and formatting issues. They also sat down with me and helped me understand the confusing program requirements and application procedure. Q: What programs are you applying to and do you have prior education in this field? Have you had a response from the schools you’ve already applied to? Were you accepted?

Q: What advice would you give to students that are currently going through the application process?

Q: Do you feel that the ELP has prepared you to succeed at an English speaking university/college? Yes, I definitely feel prepared. The Advanced Academic skills helped me because they really focus on the tasks that will be required of you in university. Q: Do you intend on staying in the country of your school after you finish your degree? Or do you intend to return home? I have to return home because my scholarship requires me to work for 5 years in Kazakhstan after I graduate from the Master’s program. Kazakhstan is a very young country (24 years in 2015), every year a group of students are sent abroad to study at the most prestigious universities and gain experience that can later be used in Kazakhstan.

I have been accepted into the Master of Education specializing in Language and Literacies Education at

Q: What are you going to do until you start school?

“I have made a lot of friends here. It was an unforgettable experience for me. I feel very lucky to be here because the program provides both English language knowledge as well as an amazing social experience. There is a lot of effort to engage international students both socially and academically through the many activities available to every student.”

Q: What does your future hold? What are you going to do 10 years from now?

I miss my family so maybe I will go to see my family until September.

I am thinking about pursuing a career in an education institute as a researcher. Specifically, I am interested in education policy. Q: Do you have any last comments about the English Language Program? I have made a lot of friends here. It was an unforgettable experience for me. I feel very lucky to be here because the program provides both English language knowledge as well as an amazing social experience. There is a lot of effort to engage international students both socially and academically through the many activities available to every student. I am so happy that I came here through the English Language Program; I have explored and learned a lot and tried a lot of things that many international students wouldn’t have the chance to do. 9

accomplishments

Ahlam Abdunabi

of Libya

Ready for Dentistry

Interview By: Emma DeLeeuw, University and College Application Support Program Assistant

McGill University in Montreal

Q: What courses have you taken at the English Language Program?

Q: What experiences from the English Language Program stand out to you the most?

I took English Plus, Advanced Academic Skills and Academic English Level 60. I attended the courses in this order because I already had the English requirements through the IELTS test, but I really wanted to improve my English skills academically and be immersed within an English speaking environment.

My experience with my teachers stand out most at the English Language Program, because of the great amount of support they provided me. In the Advanced Academic Skills course my instructor was Bill. He taught me how to be a self-learner, how to motivate myself. I really appreciated his encouragement; he even gave me advice on how to break the ice when I met my potential supervisors. Additionally, he spent extra time to help me understand certain articles that I had to read in order to complete my application.

Q: Why did you choose to take these courses? What was your motivation for studying at ELP? I chose the English Language Program at the University of Toronto because it is a great university. Before attending the ELP, I had already applied to the faculty for sciences but at the University of Toronto but I did not get accepted. Through the English Language Program I received a great advantage by taking the Advanced Acadmic Skills and I was able to realize why I was not accepted. 10

Q: What challenges did you experience when you first arrived in Toronto? How did you overcome these challenges? The major challenge I had when I first arrived in Toronto was that I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find an apartment close

to the university. I thought I would be able to find an apartment in August in order to start for September, but most of the affordable apartments close to the university were already gone. Instead I had to live further away.

Also, do not wait to start your application. Make sure to get started as soon as you know you want to go to university. Especially in medicine, it is very important for students to get their application started early so that you can start contacting supervisors.

Q: Did you learn additional skills beyond the Academic English classroom?

Q: Do you feel that the ELP has prepared you to succeed at an English speaking university/college?

I learned about the different cultures, social norms and how to communicate with professionals. As well as improving my English I learned how students and teachers communicate with each other in Canada.

Yes, I feel ready. My English skills have definitely improved and I am a lot more confident in being able to express my ideas more concisely.

Q: Did you participate in University and College Application Support (UCAS)? How did it help you?

Q: Do you intend on staying in the country of your school after you finish your degree? Or do you intend to return home?

Yes I participated in the University and College Application Support program. First, I got help to write an appeal letter for U of T to re-consider me. This allowed me to learn why I was rejected and how the application procedure works. UCAS also helped me with my CV and personal statement, they provided me with templates and advice about the structure and content. Additionally I also received help on all the steps how to apply to university.

It depends. I want to apply for a PhD and get the most of advantage here and then go back to my country to improve the education there.

Q: What programs are you applying to and do you have prior education in this field? Have you had a response from the schools you’ve already applied to? Were you accepted?

Q: What does your future hold? What are you going to do 10 years from now?

I will be attending McGill University starting in May and pursuing a Master in Dental Science. I also applied to the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and Cardiff University. Q: Did you attend any of the workshops? Which one? During my time at the English Language Program I attended the “Perfecting my CV and Personal Statement Workshop.” I also attended all of the reading, writing and speaking workshops that were also available. Q: Did you attend any one-on-one appointments? Did these appointments help you? Yes I attended two appointments for my resume. I also went to the visa counselor at the Centre for International Experience. They were very helpful in clarifying the visa process, and me saved a lot of time and money since it was free to meet with him; he is definitely an expert. Q: What advice would you give to students that are currently going through the application process? The first thing: do not feel upset or frustrated. Filling out an application is very hard especially for international students that struggle with the language and the time constraints. Due to the time constraints, you have to apply ahead of time while you are still learning English. That is why it is very helpful to be able to sit down with someone that can explain the procedures.

Q: What are you going to do until you start school? I will begin to prepare myself by attending seminars at the university; I will meet my supervisor and meet my future classmates.

I will finish my PhD and open my own dental clinic. My dream is to open a center with several professionals, and teach at the same time. I want to give back to the country everything I have learned here in Canada. Q: Do you have any last comments about the English Language Program? I am very thankful to all my teachers: Bill, Terry, Doug. As well, I am very thankful for Akua because she was always open to our opinion about the English Language Program and wanted to hear feedback from us. Along with the situation happening in my home country she was always ready to offer sympathy and support.

“I will finish my PhD and open my own dental clinic. My dream is to open a center with several professionals, and teach at the same time. I want to give back to the country everything I have learned here in Canada.” 11

activities

@elp

activities

Summer Sports Guide Top 5 places to play summer sports By: Christopher Penaranda Studying Psychology, University of Toronto

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1. Soccer: Jesse Ketchum Public School, 61 Davenport Rd this is the best place to play soccer, only a 7 minute walking distance from the ELP. Plus, you get to walk by one of Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prettiest neighborhoods: Yorkville. This field is made of artificial grass and has two working nets. Alternatively, Christie Pits Park (779 Crawford St) and Back Campus (27 Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College Circle) are other options. 2. Basketball: Jesse Ketchum Public School , 61 Davenport Rd is again your best bet, a full sized concrete court and working rims make this my favourite place to play basketball. The other alternative is Christie Pits Park (779 Crawford St)

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3. Tennis: Ramsden Park is the best place for tennis, 1020 Yonge St. It boasts over eight tennis courts that are also covered by trees, which keep it breezy and cool in the heat of summer. 4. Street Hockey: Aura Lee Park, 73 Sussex is one of my favourite spots to play street hockey, here you can meet some locals and play in teams. Fortunately it is only a 5 minute walking distance from ELP. 5. Beach Volleyball: Woodbine Beach, 1675 Lake Shore Blvd E is the most appropriate place to play beach volleyball in the city. Bustling with noise and life, the beach also boasts an extremely cold lake to cool off. Although it is a 25 minute subway and bus ride, the trek is definitely worth it.

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Summer Activities By: Graham Shular Master’s of Teaching Graduate, OISE, University of Toronto

t’s unmistakable. Longer days, green leaves on the trees, and warmer temperatures signal the arrival of sunny spring to Toronto. Sunny weather means that students at ELP will have many opportunities to explore the city and partake in fun, exciting events such as day trips to Niagara Falls, Algonquin Park and Toronto Island. However, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can damage your skin and even cause skin cancer. According to the experts at the Skin Cancer Foundation, sun exposure can result in painful sunburn, and UV rays can cause wrinkles, sagging skin and an ageing process known as photoaging! An easy way to combat the negative effects of sun exposure while studying at ELP is to apply sunscreen with a high SPF. Two of our more popular events during the warmer months of the year (Niagara Falls day trip and Toronto Island Beach Party) involve a lot of time in the sun, and it is important to keep yourself protected while having fun in the sun. Read on to find out how to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation while studying at ELP. SPF – or Sun Protection Factor – is a measure of a sunscreen’s ability to prevent UV rays from damaging the skin. No sunscreen will block out all UV rays, but the higher the SPF, the greater 16

amount of UV radiation you’ll be protected from. Be sure that when you are applying sunscreen to use about a shot-glass full about 30 minutes before sun exposure. You should be re-applying sunscreen every 2 hours, especially if you are swimming, sweating, or toweling off. Typically, the SPF of sunscreen ranges from 15 to about 50 (some people might need SPF 60 or higher if their skin is very fair). Now that we know more about what SPF is, and what it does to help us from skin damage, here are two ELP events that we recommend using sunscreen for. Niagara Falls Day Trip – SPF recommended: 30 (or higher) The Niagara Falls Day Trip is an awesome event that showcases one of Canada’s best-known natural beauties. Don’t apply sunscreen until you get to our first stop, because the day starts with a bus ride with minimal sun exposure. The first stop on the trip is to a vineyard to see how wine is made in Ontario. Apply a small amount of sunscreen to your face for this stop, as there are opportunities to take some pictures amongst the grape vines. After a tasting of the different wines, we hop back onto the bus and drive to the town of Niagara on the Lake

to have some lunch. There are really delicious ice cream shops in this town, and you’ll need to apply some sunscreen on your exposed skin as we walk around. Once we finish with lunch the next stop is to see Niagara Falls! At this point you should be applying sunscreen to your face, arms, neck and legs (all exposed skin) while on the bus. Once at the falls, you’ll be outside for a few hours. Take lots of pictures, and feel the spray from the falls on your face if you choose to go out for a boat cruise trip aboard the Hornblower. The Hornblower is a boat the takes you on a short boat ride right up to the falls on the Niagara River. Chances are that while you are on the Hornblower the sunscreen that you applied earlier will have been washed away. Once you are back on dry land be sure to reapply your SPF 30 sunscreen to all of your exposed skin. At this point in the day, the sun will be going down and your risk of sunburn and skin damage due to UV rays will be lower. By properly applying sunscreen, you will be able to treasure your memories of Niagara Falls, and not have itchy, sore sunburn. Toronto Island Beach Party – SPF recommended: 45 (or higher) The Toronto Island Beach Parties are a hit in the warmer months at ELP. We take students to Toronto Island regularly to barbeque up a storm, to play lots of fun games, and to relax on the beach. Obviously, this ELP event requires strict attention to the risks of sun exposure! Before we board the ferry to the Island, it is recommended that each ELP student and Cultural Assistant apply a generous amount of sunscreen (with an SPF of 45 or higher) to ensure maximum protection from the sun’s rays. The first part of the day is spent in a shady part of the Island with lots of trees. While the Cultural Assistants cook our lunch, ELP students will usually play Frisbee, volleyball or other sports. We barbeque lots of

delicious foods like chicken, hotdogs, hamburgers, beef steaks, and vegetable skewers (and lots of other foods). No one goes home hungry at this event! My favourite food at the Toronto Island Beach party is definitely the grilled pineapple! Once everyone gets a good helping of delicious food, we head over to the beach to enjoy different sports (both on land and in the water). At this point of the day, you’ll want to reapply your sunscreen. Be careful to apply it all over (especially if you will be wearing a bathing suit while at the beach). Take note that many beach activities necessitate the reapplication of sunscreen throughout the day. If you’re playing beach volleyball, the sand may rub off your sunscreen – especially if you are diving for the ball! Swimming in beautiful Lake Ontario (one of the world’s largest fresh water lakes) will wash off your sunscreen as well. Make sure that after you get out of the water (or after your sweat from playing sports) you reapply your SPF 45 sunscreen to protect you from the harmful UV rays. The Toronto Island Beach party is a full day event, and you probably don’t have to apply as much sunscreen once the sun goes down, because the risk of skin damage from sun exposure will be less in the evening. If we last the whole day, you may be lucky enough to take some beautiful pictures of the sun setting over the city of Toronto: what a beautiful end to a beautiful (and sun-safe) day on the beach. So there you have it: everything you need to know to keep you protected from the damaging effects of sun exposure while visiting us this spring and summer at ELP. For your day-to-day travels to ELP and around the city, it’s a good idea to keep a bottle of SPF 15 sunscreen on you. Some of our events (such as Conversation Cafe) include short excursions out in the city, and it is good to be prepared. However, if you are going to be spending a lot of time in the sun, please stay safe, and apply sunscreen! 17

activities

T.O.’s Best Kept Secrets

Best Locations fo the Perfect Photo Andrea Michaely Sriskandarajah Women & Gender Studies and Equity Studies, University of Toronto

f you are a self-proclaimed photographer, camera enthusiast or simply like taking pictures as a hobby and you are wondering where Toronto’s best kept secrets for photographers are, look no further. By now you have probably figured out that Toronto encompasses everything from having a busy downtown hub, to scenic wilderness views, to skylines and panoramas, to historic and modern architectural beauties, to landmark museums, and an abundance of artwork displayed in both galleries and on the streets. For a photographer, the diversity and number of places to capture a beautiful picture in Toronto is both astounding and limitless. Accordingly, here is a following list of great locations in Toronto to photograph: Bluffer’s Park: Often considered Toronto’s very own “tropical” oasis (since all our so-called beaches are actually lakes), Bluffer’s Park provides numerous opportunities for scenic photographs. With visibly spectacular geology and rock-formations surrounding you, rocky cliffs, breathtaking sunsets, a beautiful marina and countless trails to go for a walk or run in – the possibilities for capturing a beautiful photograph are endless. There are also a number of picnic tables – so bring your friends and some food a long with you. Graffiti Alley: This is a great place not only to see Toronto’s best street art, but it often serves as the perfect backdrop for many photographers. Located in Toronto’s Fashion District, Graffiti Alley stretches about 1 km and runs south of Queen Street West from Spadina Avenue to Portland Street. Graffiti Alley includes everything from small, intricate designs and tags on garage doors and brick walls, to enormous street art covering entire buildings. Evergreen Brickworks: Also known as Don Valley Brickworks, is a former industrial site located in proximity to the Don River valley. This site used to manufacture and create bricks that were used for a number of notable Toronto landmarks that are very familiar to ELP such as the Ontario Legislature buildings and the historic Casa Loma. This is the perfect spot if you are looking for that old, run-down, historical feel to a photograph! 18

Evergreen Brickworks

Graffiti Alley

Polson Pier: If you have ever wondered how to capture the perfect scenic photograph of Toronto’s complete skyline without having to travel to the Toronto Islands, Polson Pier is the perfect goto spot. You can either explore the area with your camera as it also has a marina, a number of restaurants, parks and an entertainment complex or you can simply plant your camera on the wooden docks alongside the water to capture the perfect photograph of Toronto’s skyline. Riverdale Park: This particular park is another great location to capture Toronto’s skyline view, but one that is a lot different from the skyline captured from Polson Pier. Having previously been a landfill for Toronto in the 1960s, Riverdale Park has a number of hills that you can climb to capture the skyline. I must also add that since its opening in the late 1800s, Riverdale Park has been a very popular location for sports and recreation as the park is home to three sports fields, numerous tennis courts, baseball diamonds, a soccer field, a swimming pool, a running track, an outdoor skating rink in the winter and even a farm! Brookfield Place: Brookfield Place is one of Toronto’s modern architectural beauties. Surrounded by Bay, Wellington, Yonge and Front Streets, Brookfield Place is located within Toronto’s financial district. It is not only home to Canada’s Hockey Hall of Fame, but it is also home to some of the most prestigious commercial, financial and legal firms in the world and often houses the corporate headquarters for numerous world-renowned Canadian companies. What attracts thousands of photographers to this location in particular is the Allen Lambert Galleria, an incredibly designed pedestrian walkway surrounded by glass.

Polson Pier

Union Station: Why dream of visiting New York City’s Grand Central Terminal when we have our very own Union Station right here in Toronto? Regarded as a Heritage Railway Station, Union Station serves as both the primary railway station in Toronto as well as the main intercity station to travel to other cities. Although the exterior architecture of Union station is as beautiful as it is on the inside, what attracts many photographers to this site is actually the Ticket Lobby (which is often simply referred to as the “Great Hall”). The Ticket Lobby offers a “Grand Central Terminal feel” with its 76 metres length and 27 metres high ceilings. It truly is remarkable sites to both endure as well as to photograph. Distillery District: The Distillery District offers a historic feel, both in its physicality as well as in its atmosphere. In addition to a large number of restaurants, public art and boutiques, this particular site is home numerous heritage and historic buildings (there are over forty), especially those of the Gooderham and Worts Distillery. Aside from the numerous historic buildings you can photograph, there are also popular spots within Distillery District such as a gigantic heart, an old, rustic truck as well as a gigantic “L-O-V-E,” where a number of people attach “love locks” as similarly done in the famous Pont des Arts in Paris, France.

Distillery District 19

Sakura Hanami in High Park Cherry Blossom Trees in Bloom By: Mustafa Sarier, Cultural Assistant, Master’s of Applied Science Candidate, University of Toronto

very year, Torontonians flock to High Park in the spring for the Sakura Hanami (a Japanese term that translates to “cherry blossom or flower viewing”). It is an annual tradition that marks the start of warmer weather. It is also a great opportunity to take photographs. However, though the cherry blossoms are beautiful to see, they represent more than just the oportunity to take a great photograph. The over 2000 Japanese SomeiYoshino Sakurathe (Yoshino cherry tree) were planted in Toronto in 1969 on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo, Japan and most of these trees line the groves and trails of High Park. These trees were gifts given by Japan for Canada and Toronto’s support of and friendship toward JapaneseCanadian refugees after the Second World War. More than 50 of these Japanese cherry trees are located along the High Park Trail near Grenadier Pond. Also, these trees are have been continually given to Toronto as a part of the “Sakura Project,” a partnership between the City of Toronto and the Consulate General of Japan. Every year, the English Language Program heads down with a large group of students to see the brief appearence of the cherry blossoms. Depending on weather conditions, the cherry trees bloom in early spring with the length of the blooms varying from 1-2 weeks.

activities

Volunteering

By: Erik Dean, Cultural Assistant, Studying Ecology and Evolution, University of Toronto & Jessica Lim, Cultural Assistant Master of Arts Candidate, University of Toronto

olunteering is clearly the most popular extracurricular activity here at the ELP. With volunteer meetings held every Wednesday after class, and up to 80 students attending at a time, it might make you ask, “What is it about volunteering that is so attractive to ELP students?” Well, through roughly two years of organizing the volunteer component at the ELP I feel there are four main benefits to volunteering: fun, practice, culture, and experience. Through volunteering, students get the opportunity to see and do things that they might not otherwise get to experience. There have been many fun events that I didn’t know about before, which I have been able to attend thanks to volunteering with the ELP. Even if I had gone to these events however, I would have only seen them from the perspective of a regular participant. As a volunteer, you get to experience such events from behind the scenes which can be very interesting. Many Canadians like to go out and volunteer, which for ELP students, means many opportunities for conversation with native English speakers. Practicing in an event environment is different from talking in class, with friends, or doing your homework. Volunteering is a great way to diversify how you practice English day to day. Perhaps you’re wondering why so many Canadians like to volunteer. Firstly, every high school student in Toronto has to volunteer at least 40 hours in order to graduate. Even beyond high school though, there are many Canadians of all ages who make a habit of volunteering. Volunteering is a familiar concept to Canadians, and to donate your time instead of your money for a cause is a big part of our culture in Canada. Lastly, all the volunteer hours you accumulate can earn you a reference letter, or a volunteer certificate! These documents can be used in work or school applications, and demonstrate that you are committed, community minded, and responsible. Of course, they make for a great souvenir as well. 22

GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon

n the past term, one of the larger events ELP volunteers helped out at was the Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon. Running roughly 42 kilometers would understandably make anyone quite thirsty, so there are aid stations, which provide water and sports drinks, positioned every 4 kilometers. The role of ELP volunteers at the marathon was to hand out such drinks to runners, and to keep replenishing the constantly dwindling supply of filled cups. Additionally, many cups get discarded along the roadside once runners have finished with them, and need to be collected. ELP volunteers, being the stewards of the environment that they are, ensured that every last cup was collected and disposed of. Most remarkable however, was that in order to ensure all was ready before the race began, ELP volunteers had to start their work at 6:00 AM!

Fort York community Cleanup Day

nother recent event of note was the Fort York community Cleanup Day, put on by The Friends of Fort York and Garrison Common. Fort York is a National Historic Site of Canada, established over 200 years ago, and is frequently visited. With its location right in the downtown core, its grounds tend to acquire a lot of litter. This year was the second year in which ELP volunteers donned gloves, grabbed garbage bags, and ventured out to help the community restore Fort York to its rightful condition. With nearly 60 volunteers in attendance, ELP volunteers thoroughly swept through the grounds of Fort York in record time.

Jays Care Foundation

LP volunteers also recently helped out at the Rogers Centre, helping the Jays Care Foundation prepare for the Sportsnet Charity Broadcast Auction. All sorts of collectible Toronto Blue Jays items were organized and packed by ELP volunteers, which would later be sold to baseball fans to raise money for community programs. With 30 volunteers working over the course of two days, countless boxes of baseball memorabilia were sealed and sent off for delivery. After we had finished our work for the day, looking at the pile of boxes we had packed, it was easy to see how much of a difference we had all made by working together!

activities Department of East Asian studies at the University of Toronto

olunteering with the ELP is not only an excellent way to help out the Toronto community, it is also a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and improve your English speaking skills, as students often interact with native speakers of English. Although we assist with many different events and support a variety of causes, two in particular were noteworthy. The department of East Asian studies at the University of Toronto requested some help from a few of the ELP’s Japanese students to assist as judges in a classroom debate. This was unlike any other volunteer experience, as the students were able to actively participate in a university course and play a very huge role in the activity. The topics of debate included whether or not students should have homework, whether or not capital punishment should be enforced, whether or not parents should spank their children, and if a dog is more preferable than a cat as a pet. The ELP volunteers were not only able to judge some interesting debates, they also had the opportunity to experience what it is like for foreigners to learn and speak Japanese, their mother tongue. Japanese Canadian Community Centre (JCCC)

oronto also has a Japanese Canadian Community Centre (JCCC) that helps bring together the Japanese Canadian community through events, sports, and entertainment. Recently, our Kwansei Gakuin University students took part in the Spring Bazaar that was held at the JCCC. The Spring Bazaar attracts Torontonians who are interested in finding unique items at bargain prices! In addition to helping with the clean up after the event, our volunteers got to explore the community center and experience a little part of Japan in Toronto. Japanese food and snacks, books, and crafts filled the atrium. As this was a fairly large event, students were able to interact with other volunteers. This was a wonderful opportunity for our KGU students to briefly relieve their homesickness and lend a hand to the Japanese Canadian community at the same time.

olunteering is designed to allow students to gain valuable experience at charitable organizations in Toronto. • Gain valuable work experience • Practice speaking English • Join exciting events happening around Toronto for free • Meet new people Students are awarded a certificate and reference letter upon completion of 20 hours of volunteer work which they can use when applying to academic programs in universities, or when seeking jobs in Canada and elsewhere. The English Language Program is proud to volunteer with the following organizations: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

ALS Canada Beaches International Jazz Festival The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation The Canadian Diabetes Association Dusk Dances Festival Foodshare Toronto The Friends of Fort York Goodlife Marathon Harbourfront Toronto The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre The Jays Care Foundation Luminato Festival of Arts Open Doors Toronto Right to Play The Scott Mission Sporting Life 10k SummerWorks Theatre Festival Toronto Blues Festival Toronto Fringe Festival Waterfront Blues Festival

Volunteering is easy! Attend the weekly meetings every Wednesday at 5:15pm in Room 2-214. Sign up for upcoming events, check the number of hours you have volunteered, or request a reference letter or certificate.

Taste of Toronto

Healthy Eats!

By: Asumi Matsumoto, Cultural Assistant, Studying Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto

id you know that there are more restaurants in the city of Toronto than the province of British Columbia? Toronto is the ultimate spot for foodiesthe city is filled with a variety of restaurants with food from different cultures. In this “Taste of Toronto” series, we will explore different kind of foods available here in Toronto. Now, a common misconception is that “Eating Out = Unhealthy”, but that is not necessarily the case! Here, we present three of my favorite healthy eating spots in Toronto (listed in alphabetical order).

Bunner’s- Vegan and Gluten Free Bake Shop

Bunner’s

Overview: Who said we shouldn’t satisfy our sweet tooth when we are trying to eat healthy? This place offers vegan and gluten free baked goods, such as brownies and cupcakes. Their baked goods are also free from refined sugars; they are sweetened instead with agave nectar, which is lower on glycemic index (meaning, it doesn’t spike up your blood sugar level). Recommendations: Mini cupcakes, brownies For more information: go to: bunners.ca/shop

Hibiscus Café Overview: Located in Kensington area, this vegetarian café offers variety of healthy (and delicious) foods, from hearty salads to buckwheat crepes, and even dairy-free ice cream!

Hibiscus Café

Recommendations: Salad, savory crepes For more information: go to: hibiscuscafe.ca

Salad Days Overview: This is one of my most favorite places for a healthy take out (perfect when you don’t have much time for lunch). Salad Days offers salads and wraps made from fresh ingredients. What’s best about this place is that it’s pretty easy on your wallet! Recommendations: Custom salads For more information: go to: saladdaystoronto.com Salad Days

activities

Bata Shoe Museum Starting off on the Right Foot

By: Aakanksha John, Cultural Assistant Studying Equity Studies, Philosophy and Diaspora & Transnational Studies, University of Toronto

he Bata Shoe Museum is an attraction housing over a thousand shoes and 10,000 artifacts at St. George and Bloor St W. I took a group of English Language Program (ELP) students for a visit there; but riddle me this: how do you make a museum about shoes sound interesting? For starters, you have to be enthusiastic about the museum and the treasures hidden inside. Just like Sonja Bata, the founder of the Bata Museum, I love shoes. Being a Cultural Assistant at the ELP requires that one is open-minded and willing to take on challenges confidently. Using this, I decided to be creative and introduce the Bata Shoe Museum to my students in this way: just as Toronto is more than just a city with people of many cultures, the Bata Shoe Museum is more than just a museum about shoes. Toronto’s got a buzz about it, it has a unique vibe in the way it tells the stories of the people within it. Whether you walk down Bay Street or bustle through Kensington Market, you’ll notice the way people interact with each other tells you a lot about the history, culture and significance of the neighbourhood. In the same way, the Bata Shoe Museum displays shoes that tell stories across 4,500 years of history. From the material the shoe was made from, to who made it, to when and for what purpose it was made, we can gather lots of information. We speculate about the climate within the region the shoe is from (i.e. if they are a pair of sandals vs. a pair of boots, the shoe was made to be worn in to temperatures vs. cold temperatures). We can even go further 26

to analyse how the shoe itself carries the cultural traditions of the society in which it was worn. For example, special platform-like black shiny shoes were worn by the Shinto, or caretakers of shrines in Japan. Throughout history, we know that women’s fashion (for example) has changed. The Bata Shoe Museum displays this historical (and fashionable) time lapse through their presentation of different shoes from different eras. Starting at the feet of the earliest civilizations and finally ending at the catwalks of today’s designers, students were able to notice how the shoes highlighted changes in fashion and reflected the role of women in society and they were expected to present themselves. For example, just like we go to particular neighbourhoods in Toronto because we are searching for a certain kind of atmosphere, certain shoes were made for special purposes and to have certain effects. Some women in India of the higher castes wore platform heels that were quite heavy and made out of silver; she couldn’t walk around much in them. But back in those times, many of those women primarily stayed within their dwellings and didn’t travel much. Today, woman that belong to wealthy households can afford to buy shoes that are both extremely stylish but also give them mobility to travel, work, entertain, and shop some more! In the end, I believe that the students enjoyed themselves because they had open minds and were willing to stretch their imaginations. Now I think they’ll twice the next time you see a pair of shoes!

Darren’s Music Corner The Harmonica

By: Darren Rigo, Activities Assistant Graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design

he harmonica is also known as a blues harp (due to its common use in blues music) or mouth organ. It is a free reed aerophone, which basically means that it uses air to make sound by passing through a series of close fitting strips of metal called reeds. There are many different kinds of harmonica but the easiest and most fun to play for beginners is a diatonic harmonica, especially a Richter-tuned one. This kind of harmonica will be tuned to play only in one specific key. The drawback of this is that to play along with any song you will need a set of 12 harmonicas (one for each key). The advantage however is that because the notes are set in a key, you can’t play a bad sounding note. Furthermore, these harmonicas can be bought at almost any music store for around five dollars! Also most songs are played in the key of C or G so you can actually get by with just one or two harmonicas.

Blow Draw

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C E G C E G C E G C D G B D F A B D F A

A blues harp in the key of C would have 10 holes, each with two different sounds based on blowing into the hole or sucking to draw air out of it. If you look closely at the notes you will find that blowing into any of the holes only plays 3 different notes. C, E and G, the first third and fifth notes in a C major scale, also known as a C major chord. Drawing from the holes will be the only way to produce the other four tones, if you look closely you can find different combinations that make different major and minor chords also in the key of C. The best way to hold a harmonica is to place your left hands index finger along the top and thumb around the bottom. Then use the remaining fingers and your right hand to form a cup around the back of the harmonica. You can open and close this cup by moving your right hand to control the sound. Also you can use both hands to physically bend the harmonica, this will affect the pitch so you can make fun bluesy sounds (think the sound of a passing train) and also reach other notes. Because its so easy to play and experiment with I’d recommend trying harmonica to any musician who want to try a new instrument. Just get a friend to play a simple C chord progression (I like: C Am F G) or even some twelve bar blues on guitar and jump in with a solo and see what you can come up with.. The most important thing to remember when playing harmonica, like any instrument, is to have fun!

Music Club

Join us every Thursday at 5:15PM for Music Club. 27

academics

Project Toronto

Presenting New Sides to the City By: Dan Pinese, Program Administrator, Student Services

ne day per week, there is a different vibe in the halls of the English Language Program. From outside the classroom, you can hear a lot of different conversations taking place. There is talk of the history of Tim Hortonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, the Egyptian pyramids, the effects of urbanization, architecture, and even the recycling of cooking oil. This is Project Day. In small groups, throughout their 12-week-long course, Academic English students prepare and eventually present their work at Project Day. Project Day provides an opportunity for students to use the skills from the Integrated Skills Class to work collaboratively in small groups in a project-based learning environment with several instructors. Students have the opportunity to interact (in class and through an on-line discussion board) in teams made up of students from different classes. Each team produces and presents two projects during the Academic English session. Through collaborative and independent work on these projects, the goal of Project Day, is for students to develop the skills necessary for their academic studies. 28

But by discussing their projects with them, you realize that the work goes beyond a simple presentation. Not only did students research subjects as a team and present their ideas to their classmates but some made videos and as a result learned how to record video and audio, edit, and input graphics in a collaborative exercise. Many students challenged themselves and stepped outside their comfort zone, engaging with other students online to organize and arrange their ideas, meeting times, duties and contributions and as result made lasting connections. In other words, students have made the most of Project Day. And as you will see in the Project Day presentations profiled in this â&#x20AC;&#x153;Project Torontoâ&#x20AC;? feature, developing new skills, finding new interests and the displaying of talent is exactly what happened as a result of these students collaborations. From a large amount of worthy presentations, three groups were selected for this feature with each in some shape or form chosing Toronto as its focus. The hallways will never sound the same.

academics @elp

My Presentation Day By: Jungsun Lee of South Korea, Academic Foundations

n week six of this term, my team met and discussed what we wanted to do for project day. Honestly speaking, we didn’t know about this city, because we haven’t been in Toronto for a long time. We talked about some places where we wanted to go or we went before. Then we chose one place for one person. Those were Distillery District, Roger’s Center and Ripley’s Aquarium. We made schedule for tourists in Toronto. In the first few weeks we collected pictures and information about our places. Then we were talking about our subject on WhatsApp application. It was a fresh experience for me. Before I started project day, I had used only Kakao Talk (It is the most famous social network service in Korea). However, communicating to my classmates from other countries, I needed another SMS and my Arabic classmates recomended to me WhatApp. Therefore, we could make a group on it

and could change our opinions. One week ago, we made a final powerpoint presentation. Then the presentation day was coming. We met in class and did a final rehearsal. Project day was divided into two sessions. In the first session, we attended the other three groups’ presentations by audiences, after that we presented three times in front of the others three groups and teachers. I thought that it is a very good method because if we presented just one time, we would feel very nervous. But we had three opportunities. The first time I was a little nervous. I forgot something to say and missed my information. The next time, I was better and better. I took many pictures during our presentation because I wanted to keep a good memory for my team. This project day gave me three presents. First, my team members became more close friends. We talked about our opinions and thoughts, not only on project day subjects but also our normal life on WhatsApp. Second, watching other groups’ presentations was a good chance for motivation. I felt that I improved my English and did it better. Last, I met a good Korean friend. She was a level 40 student and one of my audience members. After our presentation, we exchanged our names and phone numbers. Now we are friends. In conclusion, now I’m awaiting my second project day and a new team that will show me new things and give me new presents. 29

academics

The First Arrivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide By Team Awesome: Jose Rene Caballero Ceballos, Youngmin Lee & Congcong (Andy) Zhu Academic English Level 60

eam Awesome did something very outside-the-box for their first Project Day. They decided to create a graphic novel that documented in super-hero fashion the adventures of arriving in Toronto, going grocery shopping, getting their University of Toronto ID card and finally, the climax of the story, getting on the WiFi network at the University. Indeed, the First Arrivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Guide is a must read for all newcomers to Toronto and ELP. It is obvious that Team Awesome put not only a lot of work into the production of their graphic novel, but research too as the story if filled with tropes, characters and stylistic choices that will be very familiar to avid comic book readers.

academics

Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Street Art By Team Golden Falcon: Morad Benkoura, Mariam Cisse & Shiho Shimogaito Academic English Level 50

oronto is surrounded by a lot of street art but the must popular is graffiti. Many people refer to graffiti as either an art form that makes the city beautiful or vandalism related to crime. But rarely do people ever look past their opinions to see it for what it truly and more importantly is. Most graffiti has a meaning that shares a strong message. And it also requires a lot of skill, creatively

and dedication by artists to make. They use walls to express their thoughts or themselves in a most inoffensive way. It brings people together, puts a smile on faces and most importantly inspires others. Ââ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Mariam Cisse

academics

Hollywood North

By The Super Group: Mohammad Alsayegh, Yuto (Chris) Iio, Hilal Savkliyildiz & Yue (Moon) Wang Academic English Level 40

e’ve all heard Toronto called “Hollywood North” before and seen movie crews blocking off sections of the city as we try to go about our day (most recently as the Bat-Mobile chased the Joker down Yonge Street for the movie Suicide Squad). The first time, you are curious. The second time, a little less intrigued. And after a while, you take it for granted that if you live in Toronto, chances are your city will show up in a Hollywood blockbuster next summer. It takes movie fans and Academic English Level 40 students like Mohammad Alsayegh, Chris Iio, Hilal Savkliyildiz and Moon Wang to make you realize again just how exciting it is that your backyard is all over the silver screen. So, for Project Day, they formed Team Supergroup and decided to make a small movie of their own, explore Toronto and find the locations of some of their favourite movies. In the 10-minute video, the group documents the

Team Supergroup in front of Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto

34 A car gets crushed in front of Convocation Hall in Total Recall (2012)

sets of several blockbusters filmed in and around the University of Toronto campus including The Incredible Hulk, Resident Evil: Afterlife, RoboCop, Pacific Rim, and Total Recall. The results of their research surprised them. For example, Pacific Rim, a movie about giant robots piloted by humans that do battle with large creatures that rise from the sea, does not seem like a movie that is meant to be set in Toronto. “Pacific Rim is a popular movie in Japan and I didn’t know that it was filmed here in Toronto,” Chris said. Indeed, if you compare Elizabeth Street, the set for one of the movie’s largest action scenes, the change is dramatic. And this realization of movie magic was echoed by Moon found when she realized that The Incredible Hulk was filmed just down the street from the English Language Program. “I was really impressed that The Incredible Hulk was filmed at the University of Toronto, at Knox [College],” said Moon. “I didn’t realize that it [Knox] was such a small building but they filmed very big scenes there.” But the fact that Toronto is often a location of choice for movie makers makes sense to Team Supergroup because, as they explained, Toronto can look like many different places because of its architecture. “Toronto has traditional and modern buildings and the cost is cheaper here than in the USA,” Chris said. Overall, Team Supergroup deemed their project a success for a lot of reasons. According to Hilal, they learned a lot new skills they will use in future endeavors like how to use video editing programs, record voiceovers and put it all together with different software. Also, they enjoyed the group aspect. “We did it together,” said Moon. “That was the most fun thing about it.” So much so that they continue to meet on Tuesdays and head to the movies. “We started a movie group. Every Tuesday we go to the movies. The project triggered this.” Mohammed said.

The Hulk tearing through Knox College in The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Elizabeth Street under attack in Pacific Rim (2013)

35 Robarts Library surrounded by thousands of zombies in Resident Evil: AfterLife (2010).

academics Disclaimer: Due to our diverse student population, we receive many opinion-based articles relating to global and current affairs. The views expressed in this magazine are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the English Language Program. The English Language Program does not endorse, represent or warrant the quality of products or companies mentioned within.

A Happy Day

By: Mariya Li of Kazakhstan, Academic English Level 60

hat is the definition of happiness? How do we realize when we are happy? Maybe happiness is to be a prosperous owner of an extremely oversized house and a pair of perfectly shining shoes? Maybe happiness is to find a warm place and food during the tough winter? For some people it might be kids playing on the backyard and laughing like never and for others it is a wrinkled hand still carefully handling theirs through all the time they had together. What makes me happy? Honestly, I have no idea, but yesterday I caught myself smiling. I smiled as a goofy puppy or one of that crazy guys who are talking to themselves in the subway. I smiled for all grey faces in the train what made them feel uncomfortable and I felt happiness with everything of mine. This feeling contagiously spread into all my body; happiness was everywhere in every cell of my soul, reflected on the walls of the train, and fulfilled the air. Yes, all of us had a long day full of mundane actions and unsurprisingly all of us were tired, but none of us realized how happy we are. Every day we are coming back home and complaining about weather which does not suits our moods or relatives who keeps us nervous. In all this daily race we forget how happy we are to have all these people kindly surrounding us, how is it fascinating to wake up every day and be curious what the new day will bring to us, and live. Live with all capitals: LIVE and be thankful for the chance to observe this charming world which full of surprises and unrepeatable moments that makes us feel unique in mumbling chorus of billions pasted copies. I realized I am joyful to live, I love feeling alive, that makes me happy. I know through years I will become a different person perhaps matured or maybe still not, but what I am sure about is that I want keep the light of that moment deeply in my soul and pass it to the next generation as a gift from my little wisdom. Maybe they will not like it. I hope in a sooner future they will unexpectedly find their own moment of happiness which they will pleasantly talk about to grandkids on the sunset of their age. Please listen to Bach’s “Air on the G String” immortal masterpiece and the pure sense of happiness.

Artwork by: Mariya Li

Metamorphoses of Fall By: Mariya Li of Kazakhstan, Academic English Level 60

eptember. Autumn. Rachmaninoff’s “Three Nocturne” wafting into my ears from headphones, it is time to go. It is time to go outside and greet fall with all its vivid colors. I like to walk in parks and observe the breathtaking dances of falling leaves. When a leaf is breaks off from a dry branch, life stops for a minute and then, we can see its last alluring agony before it will fall down and mix with dirt on the ground. We are as leaves, spinning in an endless beautiful waltz being guided by the wind called life, until we meet the ground. We never know when we will meet our fair-wind and where it will bring us. Life is fascinating cryptic. It’s October and the weather is changing. Rachmaninoff’s Fantaisie-tableaux still plays from my headphones and takes my thoughts away from class. The days are shorter. I am trying to wake up earlier to savour the rare sunny mornings. It is raining. Everything is waiting for changes. Naked trees, which are shamefully shaking in the wind, are waiting for snow. People with long scarves, wrapped around their necks, are gathering in coffee shops, waiting for the winds of change and trying to keep their hearts warm. Much like everyone, I will live in Starbucks. Drinking tea in the cozy company of a book will help me to kill time and escape the endless monotony of these gray days. I will wait here until the winds of change give me a new breath of life-inspiration. November. I still maintain my relationship with the book, but now with a cup of coffee; it is difficult to awaken in this cold weather. Day by day autumn is retreating, disappearing from the calendar. Some streets are already lit with Christmas lights. Today, I saw a man who was humming a song and probably hurrying home to have dinner with his family. At that moment, a little snowflake fell on my cheek. Suddenly, the sky started magically sparkling; it was snowing. “It is snowing!” I smiled to myself, savoring a deep breath of the fresh freezing air, and turned the music up loud. It was Symphony no. 2 of the same master composer playing on while I am floating away with these winds of change.

Artwork by: Mariya Li

academics

Ramadan Month By: Khalifa Hamad AlQeraisi of Qatar, Academic Foundations

like Ramadan month because the person is near his God. I will tell you about Ramadan month in my country Qatar. In Ramadan the people fast from morning to night. The men go to the Mosque to pray and read the Quran. When the men go to the mosque, the women stay in the home and cook the food. In Ramadan there are a lot of kinds of food. The people in Ramadan visit their relatives and eat the dinner together. The people in Ramadan hand out the food to their neighbours before the dinner. In the middle of this month, there is Qrnqaoh celebration. The children rejoice on this day. The children on this day at night go out and walk around the houses to get candy and nuts. Also, they sing when they walk around the houses and get the candy and nuts. Finally, at the end of this month there is celebration. In this celebration the people stop the fasting and they visit their relatives. Image designed by Freepik

Meeting a University Friend By: Jungsun Lee of South Korea, Academic Foundations

hree weeks ago, I met a university friend who lives in Toronto. We studied veterinary medicine for six years. At that time he often said other classmates that he wanted to imigrate to another country. He studied NAVLE (North America Veterinary Licensing Examination) and English. After I graduated, I have never heard about his news. I just guessed he lived in Canada or America. Actually, I was not a close friend and we didn’t keep in touch for almost nine years. However, if he lives in Toronto, I would really want to see him. So I searched on Facebook and sent a message to him. Surprisingly, he lives in Toronto!! He got a veterinary licence in Korea in 2006, and two years after he got permanent residence in Canada. Then he moved to Toronto. In addition, he will open his first pet clinic near Finch station on May 25th. We talked with each other on the phone and made an appointment. Even though we were not close friends, I was really glad when I saw him. Korea’s veterinary medicine school takes six years and getting a veterinary license is very hard. We usually studied over-night during exams and lab tests. Maybe that memory made us feel like very close friends. Living in another country is very difficult because everything is new and unusual. However, he has done it very well. In conclusion, I’m very proud that he is my friend.

academics

Peace Be With You All By: Jean Bertin ST LOUIS of Haiti, Formerly an Academic English Student, Currently a Master of Divinity Student, University of Toronto

PEACE BE WITH YOU ALL Si vis pacem para pacem

A very difficult level to reach in life: having a peaceful mind.

Living without experiencing any kind of disturbances seems to be impossible. Peace be with everyone: peace that restores confidence between one another. To all the citizens of the world, enduring peace we wish you. Peace without fear! Peace without worries!

Rebelling, instigating trouble,

Breaking our vital relationships in the midst of nature, Without restraints and fear of repercussions. This is madness. This is inexcusable!

Violating human rights, and not observing any laws. Obeying only our own principles and autonomy. Fighting each other for what we have or possess. Destroying ourselves for what we are. Doing so without fear of creating new problems. This is craziness. This is intolerable!

We must be welcoming to the world which is ours!

Even if it seems to be upside down, Even if it seems to be a comedy, it is truly ours. Peace be with everyone: a peace that soothes. To all the inhabitants of the “global village”, a long-lasting peace! Peace without fear! Peace without worries!

Peace and justice will go together forever.

Love and truth will embrace passionately and forever. Outside of these unions, no true peace is attainable. Knowing one another better is for the good of our great and beautiful community of beings. Knowing one another more is recognizing the rights of every individual of our wonderful village.

1. This is an adaptation of my original version in French, which is titled De la Révolte et la Paix and can be found in: the Anthologie De la Révolte et la Paix (From Revolt To Peace). Florilège 2015, Les Dossiers d’Aquitaines de Bordeaux, France, p. 110.

My Last Weekend By: Jungsun Lee of South Korea, Academic Foundations

ast weekend, I went to St. Louis to see my best friend. Actually, she lived in Germany and she went to USA because she joined her sister-in-law’s wedding in March. My friend was pregnant, but something went wrong for her and she had her baby at 25 weeks by c-section. When the baby was born, he was 1.5 pound, and he had many medical proplems with his heart, lungs, brain and vision because the baby’s developement needs 40 weeks. Before I went there, I was really concerned about her familly bacause she has had physical and psychological problems such as guilt, which many mothers who have a premature baby experience. Other concerns of mine were that the baby was too small and young and that I knew that the USA medical service was awful. However, since I met them, I was really relieved. First of all, the children’s hospital has a perfect NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). There are specialists for premature babies and there are even massage therapists. They made a team and took care of the baby for 24 hours per day. And they opened all information to parents and allowed to stay for 24 hours. Then my friend and her husband lived in Ronald MacDonald House, which is provided for parents who have ill children. This house is run by MacDonald Foundation and volunteers. Many volunteers help them and their motto is “better

than house”. They take care of parents or familly with very specific points such as dining, cleaning, shopping and counselling. Their recomended payment is 15 dollar per day but it also depends on your ability. Then last lucky thing is my friend’s travel insurance. The policy is covering everything, so she doesn’t need to pay for anything. Because her visa will expire soon, the insurance company sent an ambulance aircrafe including two pilots, one pediatrician, two nurses and one technician only for my friend and her baby. It’s an unbelievable story! Maybe the company thought that it was cheaper to use a plane than to pay a USA hospital. Regardless, my friend’s familly can return to their home soon. For three days, I stayed with them and I met many new people such as volunteers who work at the hospital and MacDonald House, parents who have sick children, my friend’s sister-in-law’s familly and their Greek Orthodox Father. (My friend’s husband is Greek Orthodox.) My friend and her husband will leave soon, so they wanted to say good-bye and thank-you to their familly, friends, hospital team and everyone who helped them. Obviously, America has many problems, yet it also has a culture of donating and volunteering. I felt that these activities are a big pillar that supports American society.

academics

My Instructor By: Haifaa Mahjoub of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 50

admire my instructor Heather because she educates us from all heart and passionately. She is always trying to transfer information to us in different ways (easy and simple) to make it understandable. She never gets angry or complains about our questions, and she helps everyone as much as she can. Giving all those English basics contributes to building good foundation, and that is what she always does. She does multiple quizzes that help us practice and get good marks. Also, Miss Heatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategies and plans make the educational process very interesting. I appreciate her because she always wants to improve our English language and make us good writers.

Summer Time

By: Nathalia Cristina de Melo Correa da Silva, of Brazil Former Academic English Student, Current Civil Engineering student at the University of Toronto Now that it is summer time I feel that everything will rhyme I can lay down at High Park cause now the days never get dark Or chill out at Woodbine the feeling that the world is mine I can wear my skirt, And have a frozen dessert because the sun is always bright Everything feels so right I love summer time

Memory By: Fatimah Alturfi of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 60

n “Delete” - The Virtue of Forgetting in the Digital Age, a lecture by MayerSchonberger (Jun 14, 2012), the lecturer mentions that human memory is not stable and relying on memories is insufficient. Because of this issue, people have tried from the beginning of time to develop new methods in order to remember more precisely. It is vital to consider that the process of recalling an event from the past includes adding something, losing something, or modifying something unconsciously as if a new interpretation influenced by recent experience might interfere with the event and change it. Although people realize that forgetting is a blessing, not a fault in human memory, they still aim to have the perfect memory. However, enormous issues have derived from the perfect memory. These issues can be seen when looking at how people fail to coexist together in the modern world because of exceedingly old conflicts between previous generations. These conflicts are definitely associated with old generations but because of the perfect memory, they are still flourishing, they are still continuing. Moreover, in an article by Michelle Dean in the New Yorker “The Story of Amanda Todd” (October 18, 2012), the writer focuses on a recent case of the suicide of the young, Canadian girl Amanda Todd, as she chose to end her life because a man she met online published her nude photos on Facebook. For years, Todd kept changing schools, but everyone knew her, bullied her, and stalked her. The community around her could not forget what happened. The comprehensive memory thus can be ruthless. It has been made clear how the precise memory has become a fault in the digital age.

academics

A Story

By: Mariya Li of Kazakhstan, Academic English Level 60

t was midnight when Alice, a normal girl from an average town, finished reading her book and was trying to sleep. She was wondering about new worlds, people around, and strange noises that reached her ears from the street. When she checked out the window, she saw that the street was unusually crowded, and curiosity lead her to go out and investigate what was happening outside. She saw strange figures that were surrounded by a crowd on a stage. They were passionately speaking about other worlds, space, and sense of Freedom. Alice understood that they were aliens who had been exiled from galaxy called Aipotu, which in translation means mirrored. They had come to this world to help people be free. Srenwo, as they called themselves, said that in order to understand freedom, people have to follow three simple rules: First rule. Accept the Aliens’ religion called Msiremusnoc and believe in their god Yenom. This god declared other religions “not so trendy” and put a taboo on praying to other gods. Second rule. People had to be blessed by Yenom to raise their social status and be called Starcotsira, the highest social level in Srenwo hierarchy. However, Latipac fo Renwo, their leader, said people that they could exchange blessings to Seitidommoc (special beautiful thing that people used to make). To help them, Latipac fo Renwo shared his blessings by helping people make more Seitidommoc, an exchange value to have more blessings, but he asked them to return a little bit more of Yenom’s blessings and Seitidommoc. To be more successful, people would be divided into 3 departments: those who found a plant from which to make Seitidommoc, those who ironed Seitidommoc to make it smoother, and those who packed it into shiny boxes. People produced a million Setidommocs per month. However, no matter how much Seitidommoc people made, they always were had to produce more because they had to return 80 percent of blessings to Seitidommoc to Latipac fo Renwo. Third rule. People had to celebrate Kcalb Yadirf, an important event in the Msiremusnoc religion. Srenwo gave people a second chance to escape the slavery. Aliens declared the 4th Thursday in November – the day of Kcalb Yadirf, only on this day people had a chance to exchange their own small amounts of blessings or even land a little bit more to get beautiful shiny things from the future that Aliens had brought with them. Moreover, another Srenwo whose name is Gnitekram added some magic to the beautiful shiny things and made them be broken faster and lose their appealing shininess. These shiny things helped people feel higher in the social status, so they sold their Freedom to boost their own egos 44

that what those people loved more than everything and compared who had the most beautiful one. However, not all people believed in Srenwo’s power. There was another group whose religion was Msiremusnocitna, and their leaders were Aved Det from Adanac and Xram,. Xram, who wrote Latipac, taught people how to work together and collect communal blessings in order to get one status of Tarcotsira to exchange between each other. Aved Det from Adanac explained to people that celebrating Kcalb Yadirf is diputs yllatnemadnuof, which means totally misguided because by buying beautiful shiny things, people had not just agreed to be slaves to their religion, but they had also destroyed the world around them. Also, Aved Det from Adanac warned people to be careful with Gnitekram and think critically then he speaks. Gnitekram and Srenwo had the ability to make people blind and control people’s minds. To remind people about the dangerous power of the Gnitekram, Aved Det from Adanac asked people to celebrate their own day of Freedom at the same day and reduce consumption of unneeded shiny things. Finally, Msiremusnocitnas overcome their desire to buy shiny things and Srenwo lost his power to control people because they did not believe in the imagined jail that aliens had created for them with the help of Gnitekram. Suddenly Alice woke up and realized that it was just a dream. She was happy to come back to her safe and beautiful reality that was free of control and slavery. Alice put on her trendy jeans, checked her Facebook profile, and went out to buy the new shampoo from advertising commercial that she had just seen on TV. Tomorrow will be Monday, and she will work productively to contribute to the prosperity of her free world called Ycarcomed.

Key words: Srenwo (Owners) Msiremusnoc (Consumerism) Yenom (Money). Starcotsira (aristocrats) Latipac fo Renwo (The Owner of Capital) Seitidommoc (Commodities) Kcalb Yadirf (Black Friday) Msiremusnocitna (Anticonsumerism) Aved Det from Adanac (Ted Dave from Canada) Xram who wrote Latipac (Marx who wrote Capital) Gnitekram (Marketing) Ycarcomed (Democracy)

The Canadian Las Vegas By: Nathalia Cristina de Melo Correa da Silva of Brazil, Former Academic English Student, Current Civil Engineering student at the University of Toronto

iagara Falls is a city in Ontario which has been called by many, the Canadian Las Vegas. The town is one of the most beautiful and breathtaking destinations of this world. It is possible to say that the city is the right place for anyone who wants to have all different types of fun and see peculiar entertainment. In fact, many features make Niagara Falls the right place to go. First off, the Falls, the theme parks spread throughout town, and the many attractions in the casino. Niagara Falls is an important tourist and vacation spot to Canada since the city has a wide range of fascinating attractions. First, the waterfalls are for sure the most fascinating spot in city. When in Niagara, it is possible to go on boat trips to see the Falls by the river view; this is the most exciting activity because the river view is perfect to entirely admire the waterfalls. It is also important to say that everybody in the boat will be wet by the end of the trip, which is quite fun. All the brightest lights and the wide range of games, hotels, and casinos make Niagara Falls the Canadian Vegas. It is incredible how the casinos are spread around the whole city. It is possible to find casino style games for children in many of Niagaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arcades. Niagara makes gambling seem like lots of fun. Finally, the theme parks are something unique in Niagara. Walking through the main street in the city, it is difficult to say what is not part of one of the Niagara parks. Dinosaurs, volcanos, wizard golf, and many other bizarre activities are around the city, leading to a magical atmosphere everywhere. In conclusion, Niagara Falls, the Canadian Las Vegas is a beautiful destination for anyone who wants to have a fun and exciting adventure in a way that only Niagara Falls can only offer. The always beautiful Niagara Falls was once just a city with waterfalls; however, now the town is one of the best destinations in the world. The city is the right place for everybody.

academics

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#UofTELP volunteers running the water station at the 10th annual Spring into Action! Walk or Run for Diabetes.

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Making new friends with #UofTELP’s Sport’s Club! Here is a snap of one of our student’s playing tennis this past weekend!

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@Niddnapat: You asked why people always expected you to smile in photographs. And I told you it was because they hoped that in the future, there would be something to smile about :) #UofTELP #UofT #CNtower 47

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