World of Words June 2012

world of words June 2012, issue 78

“The English Language Program’s student magazine – a compilation of spring session’s highlights, student opinions and other features.”

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world of words

inside this issue student opinion

feature articles

Doors Open Toronto 30

English Beyond Language 5

St Lawrence Market 37

Lacing Up for Charity 7

Flavours of the World: Turkey 38

The Toronto Zoo 8

The Janadriyah Festival 40

Thoughts on the Paparazzi 10

Our Minds/Life/Japan 41 Arabic Calligraphy 42

academic life

Playing Lacrosse in Canada 43

The Volunteer Experience Program 12

Elgin and Winter Garden 44

Academic Skills Students 16 The Daejeon Metropolitan 22 Office of Education Academic Integrity 25 Grammar Corner: Newspaper 26 Headlines as Learning Tools

The Distillery District 46

english outside of the classroom Toronto International Circus Festival 50 The CN Tower 51

Applying for Graduate Study 27

Sports Club Soccer Stars 52

Coffee Chat: Scary Stories 28

Take Me Out to the Ballgame 54 Spring Camping 56 Summer Flicks: The Gang’s All Here 59

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.

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Ask Rosa 60

issue 78, June 2012

ELP Director’s Message June 2012 Dear all, It is my pleasure to bring you another issue of our world-famous World of Words magazine (available in hardcopy as well as online). It is our opportunity to share with you the ‘openness, diversity, tolerance and total respect for different cultures’ (to quote Stanley Zheng, page 5) we enjoy on a daily basis, living here in Toronto.

The spirit of volunteerism is strong in Toronto and it starts with our instructors and staff: we celebrate the dedication of the School of Continuing Studies (SCS) staff members that participated in the Sporting Life 10k on May 13th. In total, the SCS team members helped raised over $8,000 to support Camp Oochigeas. Our students are no slouches either: in the article ‘Volunteer Spotlights’ we applaud the dedication of students working to help others in the Volunteer Experience Program. It is truly inspiring to see students go above and beyond the call of duty and, in the case of student Qingyu Liang, volunteer a staggering 75 hours since starting his studies at the English Language Program. Well done Qingyu!

Spring time brings us sports, camping and tours. ELP students love participating in sporting activities, as volunteers, players or observers. They also join in one of the most popular ELP activities of all: Spring Camping! I am always astonished by how life changing these activities can be in terms of developing lifelong friendships or experiencing something completely new for the first time. Toronto really offers something for everyone. All year round, Toronto offers activities that engage our senses. From a cultural perspective, Doors Open is a great way to explore the history, architecture and beauty of Toronto. Instructor Linda Prue’s Academic English Level 40 class and Becky Smith highlight some of our favourite Toronto buildings. I love the way some of the architecture intertwines the old and the new, the beautiful and the functional.

We also hear reflections from our Korean teachers/students from the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education. Their experience participating at practicum placements around Toronto reminds us that the roles of ‘teacher’ and ‘student’ can be ambiguous. No matter who we are, we can always ‘learn more’. I believe that these articles (and the magazine as a whole) reflects the spirit of the School of Continuing Studies’ English Language Program - to learn and to challenge yourself, but to do so while collaborating and helping those around you. Join us in making a difference in lives – your own or others – and in improving your English communication skills with friends from around the world.

Thank you to all the fabulous students, instructors and staff members that contributed to this exciting issue of WoW. Sherry Yuan Hunter Executive Director, English Language Program University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

Christopher Chipman Editor and Layout Design Stephen Bahry, Maxine Bower, Staff Contributors Laura Brown, Megan Chen, Lily Choi, Andrea Cuellar-Aleman, Erik Dean, Kimberley Hindy, Rosa Leo, Evelyn Pederson, Linda Prue, Darren Rigo, Becky Smith, Erin Stefan, Rolla Tahir, Effie Touchings, Victoria Young, Cindy Zhou

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English Beyond Language

By Stanley Zheng of China, Academic English Level 40

M

y major is philosophy. Almost all the main schools of the contemporary philosophy, more or less, are concerned with the analysis of language.

Yes, language is the world. As there are many kinds of language, there are many worlds. To learn a language is to enter a world.

I wonder if the Academic English program ever has had a student older than me? Our generation has experienced all the worst of China. Finally we have the chance to go to university, and have the chance to learn some English. As a doctor and professor studying Chinese intellectual history, I once was invited to teach at several foreign universities, including Harvard University, but I have never completely taught in English. Even so I am still very grateful for my poor English because it helps me to get the real, concrete, fresh, vivid, and subtle experience about the West, especially North American culture, to make many friends, and, of course, to consult reference of the western professional counterparts.

Before I registered for the Academic English program, I once hesitated for a long time: time, money, even my age. Anyway, for the harvest in such a short time, I feel grateful to the teachers and the program. I am also particularly impressed that the program typically reflects the Canadian sprit: openness, diversity, tolerance and a total respect for different cultures. I wish the program to get better and better.

issue 78, June 2012

Lacing Up for Charity

By Erin Stefan, Program Adminstrator

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taff and instructors from the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies have raised $8,006.00 for Camp Oochigeas. As part of the Sporting Life 10k fundraising initiative, staff and instructors from SCS joined 25,000 walkers and runners on Sunday May 13, 2012.

Established in 1983, Camp Oochigeas is a privately funded organization that sends children living with cancer to camp.

SCS staff and instructors, several of whom were running their first race, entered the 10k as a team. Inspired by Camp Oochigeas’ courageous campers the team worked together to raise funds and awareness for the organization.

“Every day the staff and instructors at SCS work hard to enrich the lives of adult learners,” says Marilynn Booth, Director, School of Continuing Studies. “Our team was thrilled to participate in this fundraising initiative and make a positive

impact in the lives of children living with cancer.

I am proud of our team’s dedication to Camp Oochigeas.”

SCS currently leads Sporting Life’s University and Colleges category in donations. Surpassing its fundraising goal by $2406.00, the funds raised will be able to send two children to camp.

Giving back to the community is an SCS tradition, since 2006 SCS has supported the University of Toronto Student Union Food and Clothing Bank. As part of the staff-organized Jingle Bells campaign, the school collects nonperishable food donations, unwrapped toys and gifts, and holds raffles to raise funds for the charity.

Sporting Life 10k participants: Bibian Aguirre, Yaseen Ali, Ennis Blentic, Chris Chipman, Visnja Cuturic, Mary Jane Dundas, Jennifer Gordon, Kimberley Hindy, Sherry Yuan Hunter, Mary Lawless, Maryam McCubbin, Lisa Morgan, Robert Mounsteven, Barb Peterson, Becky Smith, Trevor Stiner

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THE TORONTO ZOO By: Cindy Zhou, Cultural Assistant

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he first thing you’ll notice when traveling to the Toronto Zoo is that it is very, very far. It takes more than an hour and a half by public transit to reach the zoo from downtown Toronto.

Despite this, the Toronto Zoo is still one of the most popular destinations for families and tourists alike.

Toronto Zoo is huge. According to its website, the Zoo covers an area of more than 280 hectares, 10 km of walking trails, and has some 500 species of animals representing seven different regions.

There are eagles, peacocks, camels, snakes, komodo dragons, kangaroos, polar bears, foxes, leopards, flamingoes, monkeys, giraffes, hyenas, lions, zebras, rhinos, hippos, elephants, tigers, fishes of all kinds, and so on and so forth. This is

just a random sampling of what you’d find at the zoo. Whatever you want to see, you’ll most likely find it at the zoo.

The zoo also has three new additions this summer that are very popular. Two white lions and a polar bear cub are now at the Toronto Zoo, although I can’t say that the white lions are all that exciting, given that all I saw of them were their backs as they slept in the sun. Nevertheless, white lions are extremely rare, and few survive in the wild. I had just recently watched a documentary about white lion cubs in the wild and how difficult it is to hide them from predators or teach them how to hunt.

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The baby polar bear, Hudson, is just the most adorable little thing. At seven months old and weighing 17 kg, he’s not so small anymore, but still just as cute. In fact, he was one of my favourite exhibits at the zoo. While he was playing around with a toy, he managed to shove the toy past the fence into another enclosure. The little guy was determined to get this toy back and tried a variety of tactics, including rolling around on its back trying to reach the toy and attempting to knock down the fence by shaking it. Eventually, it proved to be a futile effort and Hudson went back to playing with his other toys. But the episode nonetheless showed how intelligent he can be.

The Toronto Zoo is not just a great family retreat, but also an important institution for research and conservation. The zoo and its staff are

very dedicated to the well-being of the animals and it has a committed team of researchers and veterinary staff who look for strategies to improve conservation efforts. Special diets are prepared for the animals at the zoo itself to keep them healthy and staff members make sure that the enclosures are clean and well-kept.

There are so many animals at the zoo that it would take more than a day to see them all, so I would recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes, bring lots of water and sunscreen, and try to go on a cool, breezy day. A lot of animals are in indoor pavilions with controlled temperatures and environments, usually much hotter and more humid than outside. And don’t forget to bring a camera!

What do you think about the Paparazzi?

Students from Academic English Level 40, investigate the life of celebrity photographer John White.

J

ustin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Katie Holmes, Lindsay Lohan, Tom Cruise, Kate Hudson, Bruce Willis are just some of the people John White has photographed. His photos appear in People, US Magazine, and New York Post.

If you look in The Toronto Sun newspaper every Friday, you can see John White’s pictures. He has a page “Hollywood North”. It is called Hollywood North because that is Toronto’s nickname (many famous Hollywood movies are made in Toronto). John also has a website called Toronto Celebrity and Event Blog (tceb.ca). From his website, we can see who is in Toronto at the moment. John works for an agency called INF and you can find his photographs in famous gossip magazines and websites.

John told us many interesting things about his job. He told us about how he got into the business. He told us about what makes a shot worth more money (new Hollywood couples, a ‘story’ like Katie Holmes and her daughter strawberry picking,

a famous star in his/her bathing suit why many people don’t like the on the beach). He told us that some paparazzi, but his talking also made stars were a little upset when he took me think about the other side. The their pictures. He told us about his relationship between the stars and difficult and funny adventures. Once the paparazzi is ‘symbiotic’. Stars he rented a car and rented a boat to need paparazzi and paparazzi need get the first picture of a Hollywood stars (but we also need limits for this couple – Kate Hudson and her new relationship to be successful). I think boyfriend (his picture was proof he has a point. Also, most people that they were a couple). He told us criticize the paparazzi, but they are about a couple of stars who pretend still interested in the lives of the stars. they don’t like to be photographed, It is hypocritical. If the paparazzi and but really they want and need to the stars have no audience, then have their pictures in the paparazzi won’t exist. magazines. John believes he is successful because John told us about his he tries to respect the father’s advice: “Do Do something people he photographs. something you love and you love and you He knows that there you will have the best will have the best are limits. Sometimes chance of success.” John chance of people invite him to said he earns a good living success their parties and if he as a paparazzo (although receives an invitation, he the economy and reality knows that he cannot take TV have hurt his business a a negative picture at the party. little), and he is definitely doing Outside the party, anything is okay, something he loves. but he should respect his invitation.

Thank you John!

It is easy to say negative things about the paparazzi. John admitted that the paparazzi do not have a positive reputation and he can understand

Photographs by John White, Toronto’s Celebrity and Event Blog

“

”

Our thoughts after listening to John’s talk...

Paparazzi are interested in children of celebrities, pregnancies, break-ups, private moments and bathing-suit photos. All these examples, I believe, are very private, and if I were one of the celebrities, I would be upset.

However, after John White’s talk, I changed my mind a little bit. Their job is very difficult and dangerous, and I found John a very respectful person, unlike other paparazzi.

Nada Alnufaily John has no schedule. He works 24/7, and he doesn’t have a vacation. I think this is difficult for his family life.

Kana Mikawa

We were surprised by some of his interesting stories behind the celebrity photos. He showed, for example, a photo of Brad Pitt on the street in Montreal.

Yasuhisa Kato Before I listened to John’s talk, I thought paparazzi are bad people.

They hurt celebrities and steal their private space. Many celebrities hate paparazzi and they do not want paparazzi to follow them. However, after John’s speech, I think celebrities need to depend on paparazzi if they want to be famous.

Dan Feng Before I met John White, I thought that paparazzi are a group of photographers that stalk and hound celebrities. However, after John answered our questions, he made the picture of paparazzi clear and I started to change my opinion. Maybe what I thought was true, but this was only half the story. Now, I can say that the paparazzi job is like any kind of job, and it has pros and cons.

Layla Almarhoon Notting Hill is a good movie about paparazzi. In the movie, Julia Roberts is a famous actress. She falls in love with the owner of a bookstore. The movie is about their need for privacy and normalcy.

Elina Xu John showed us the monster camera he uses to take pictures from a long distance.

Kana Mikawa

I did not even know the exact meaning of ‘paparazzi’ or the difference between ‘paparazzi’ and ‘paparazzo’ before Friday. Through John’s talk, I obtained lots of interesting information.

Sumeyra Can It’s true that celebrities must face the price of fame, but people should respect them for what they do for us and give them privacy and some time to relax and enjoy their lives like normal people.

Fatima Alosaif After I heard John’s talk, I changed my previous opinions of paparazzi.

I had always thought that what paparazzi did was illegal because they didn’t care about people’s right to privacy. However, John White showed me the other side of paparazzi. They are also hardworking people. They devote themselves to their work in order to take a perfect picture. They must change their schedule anytime because of their work.

Tao Sun A paparazzo has opportunities to see big stars all the time, but a paparazzo does not have a normal schedule. These photographers have little time to be with their children and wives at home.

Chuan Wang Paparazzi should give celebrities some privacy when they are at home, but when they are in public places, it’s ok to take pictures of them because this is the price of fame.

Layla Almaroon

I have two views about paparazzi. On the one hand, I am neutral. The reason that paparazzi exist is that many average people are curious about celebrities’ private lives, and there are many paparazzi like John White because of this large market. On the other hand, I sometimes feel that paparazzi should be banned.

Ziqing Yan I was shocked when John told us that some celebrities told him their schedule and hoped that he would photograph their activities.

Mario Wang I believe that everything has pros and cons. I can’t say for sure that paparazzi are a good thing, but I can’t deny the interactive relationship between paparazzi and celebrities.

Paparazzi need celebrities and celebrities need paparazzi.

Thao Huynh In my opinion, paparazzi cannot work without celebrities and celebrities need paparazzi to become famous.

However, people also need their private lives, and they do not always want someone to follow them.

Yahya Atwa Paparazzi are photographers who take photos of famous people and sell the photos to magazines and websites.

Elina Xu We were surprised by some of the interesting stories behind John’s photographs of celebrities.

Refa’ah Al-Kurbi Even though coexistence with paparazzi is a part of celebrities’ lives, respecting their space is also crucial.

Jaiden Chung

world of words

v.e.p The Volunteer Experience Program

By Cindy Zhou, Cultural Assistant Reporting on a few recent events with the Volunteer Experience Program (VEP): April 11th, Eglinton Community Centre Psychic Fair

March 24th, 50/50 Raffle Tickets at the Toronto Football Club

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elling 50/50 raffle tickets at sporting events remain one of the most popular volunteer events because participants get pizza and the opportunity to watch the end of the game for free. On March 24, we participated in the 50/50 raffle ticket selling event at the Toronto FC Soccer game at BMO Field. It was an incredibly windy day. As we arrived at BMO Field, we could feel the wind picking up and those of us who were not wearing outer coats were already shivering. As we waited outside, we were fortunate enough to see the coach carrying the players pull up beside us.

Therefore, we got a very close view of the players as they disembarked and entered the locker rooms!

After we picked up our t-shirts, raffle tickets, and floats, we were shown our positions. One of our students brought an iPad and created a scrolling text advertisement on the iPad. This was a very good idea because it was sure to catch the attention of soccer spectators. The wind was relentless that day but we made very good sales. Maybe the spectators took pity on us as we shivered in the cold, so they bought many raffle tickets from us. In any case, because it was so cold, we were jumping up and down in an effort to try to keep warm and so we seemed very enthusiastic.

Afterwards, we were very glad to go inside to enjoy some hot, fresh pizza! Most of us didn’t want to go back outside. When we did head back out during half time, there were so many people among the crowd that we couldn’t actually walk very far. However, because there were so many people, we had quite a lot of customers.

At the end of the day, we were tired and cold but had a lot of adrenaline rushing through us. Overall, it was indeed a very fun event and we laughed a lot.

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O

n April 11, students in the Volunteer Experience Program helped out at the Eglinton Community Centre Psychic Fair. This annual fundraising event allows professional psychics to set up shop on the ground floor of the centre and offer their services for a low price of $10 or $15. There was a wide variety of fortune-telling techniques such as palm reading, tarot cards, and Chinese astrology.

Our students were primarily responsible for setup and take-down. We arrived fairly early, checked-in, and then went to grab a bite to eat. At one of the nearby coffee shops, we bought delicious ice cream and milkshakes. A little ways down the street was Panago, where we sat and chatted for a while. As the event was wrapping up, we returned to the community centre to help with cleanup duties such as stacking chairs, collapsing tables, and reorganizing the room to return it to its original state. To our surprise, when we returned, we found Azer there waiting to get her fortune read. She received a very good fortune and we had a fun time teasing Azer about it. We made such a good impression on the event organizers because of our efficiency and friendliness and they asked us to come back for the Spring Bazaar! Good job volunteers!

issue 78, June 2012

volunteer spotlights VEP Coordinator Megan Chen interviews some of the ELPs most committed volunteers.

Stephanie Susana Duarte Arenas of Mexico, Academic English

as e at w Wh avorit f t r n you P eve ?

VE why and

urs y ho red? n a m tee How u volun o y have

“The Simply Divas Auction on April 29 was my favourite event because it was a special occasion different from all other. I did many diverse roles just in one day such as packing, waitress, coat room and food tester. The whole time I was very busy and enjoyed the musical show! It was amazing for me! Really a new experience!“

“Improve your English! it is a challenge because you have to Wha interact with Canadians and do your best, but every time t t hink do you you learn new words. Meeting interesting people. Getting are b to know Canadian culture. I do this to occupy my time into v enefit the s olun teer of something useful but if you are interested in making your ing? curriculum more attractive, you can do it too.” has How eering r “It has influenced my experience in every aspect of my life. t ou un vol nced y in Volunteering has helped me to give much more meaning e u ce to my stay in this country, and I’ve also gotten to know infl erien o exp oront many places in Toronto. Although they are small tasks, you T

know these will impact positively on society. This makes you feel satisfaction with what you do. In my country there are no volunteering services, and now I am sure that I want to develop a similar group in Mexico. It has been really helpful in making decisions about what to do with my own future. It is possible to work and to help at the same time.”

Ziqing Yan of China, Academic English as e at w Wh avorit f t r n u yo P eve ?

VE why and

“The CHN Kidz Klub Breakfast. We made breakfast to serve to children, and cooperated with other volunteers.”

How ma ny hour have yo s u volun teered?

“Volunteering enriched my life in Toronto. I Wha thin t do yo made new friends with others, and I obtained u k ben are th different experiences. How has volunteering influenced volu efits o e f ntee your experience at ELP and in Toronto: Volunteering has ring ? helped me understand Toronto better.”

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Mustafa Ersin Sarier of Turkey, Academic English

as e at w Wh avorit t rf n u e o y ev VEP why? d n a

“The Simply Divas event was my favorite because here was a concert and I had a chance to speak to people.”

“It is really beneficial to learn Canadian Culture and to adapt to Canada“.

urs y ho red? n a m tee How u volun o y have

Wha thin t do yo u k ben are the e fi volu t ntee s of ring ?

has How eering r “In terms of job experience, it has ou unt vol nced y in influenced me positively. It encouraged e e u c me to adapt to Toronto. I met with a lot people from infl erien o exp oront different countries. Because of volunteering, I now T

have a large number of unforgettable memories in Toronto, and it helped me to be more social.”

Leo Hai

of China, Academic English as e at w Wh avorit f t r n u yo P eve ?

VE why and

“ I like 50/50 ticket in Air Canada Centre because NBA is my favourite sport, and there were lots of volunteers there. I made some nice friends.”

I feel satisfied when I help someone during the events. I get rich experiences and friendships.

has How eering r t ou un vol nced y in e u ce infl erien o exp oront T

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Wha thin t do yo u k ben are th volu efits o e f ntee ring ?

“It will be helpful in my future!” s ny hour How ma nteered? u volu have yo

issue 78, June 2012

Qingyu Liang

of China, Academic English “NBA 50/50 tickets selling. I really appreciate that VEP gave me that chance to be a volunteer because it was my first time to see a live NBA game. We were selling 50/50 tickets during the intermissions and the donated money was for a charity. The volunteers wore the same T-shirt while we jumped and yelled, but most of the time we were explaining and persuading people to buy tickets.

From this experience I learned a lot of daily English because I spoke to many different kinds of people. After we finished selling, we got free pizza and saw the last session of the game. What was interesting was that at the time, I felt the pizza I was eating was the most delicious food I had never eaten before.”

as e at w Wh avorit f t r n you P eve ?

VE why and

hours How many ? olunteered have you v

“The CA, Cindy, once said, ‘volunteering is a part of Wha Canadian culture’. Overseas students in Canada are thin t do yo u expected to be successful in English speaking. The most k ar e b efficient way to integrate into second language countries vo enefits the lunt o eeri f is to accept their culture. To be a volunteer gives you ng? many opportunities to connect and learn different cultures in order to enhance your English potential. That’s why I’m so crazy about volunteering.”

“I can say that being a volunteer at ELP was an amazing has How eering r decision I made. Even myself could not believe that I t ou un vol nced y in took part in so many social and typical North American e e u c n fl events in the past 6 months. It makes my studying life in in erie exp oronto ELP colourful and diverse. I also made a lot of friends that T come from all over the world. Eventually I will graduate from ELP, but in my coming university life I will continue my volunteering career. I think I will miss this great club and the amazing CAs.”

Get involved!

Join the Volunteer Experiense Program by coming to the weekly meetings every Wednesday at 5:15pm in Room 4-160.

v.e.p 15

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Academic Skills Students Kimberley Hindy, instructor for Academic Skills for University and Colleges Success, talks to a few of her students about their research interests and their academic backgrounds.

Jiexin Chen from JiangMen, China

Jason Chen majored in International Economics at the University of JinLin. Due to previous studies in the Economics field, Chen has already grasped the relative theories and the analytical methods which are valuable to apply to research. At the same time, as an international student from China, Chen has a strong understanding and sharp-eyed sense of the economic issues that China has been countering and fighting for a long period.

In addition, focusing on the research of globalization alerted Chen to recognize a giant economic problem hiding behind a continuous skyrocketing Chinese GNP. Eventually, based on above-mentioned factors, Chen would like to focus on the tremendous change of the Chinese economy in the modern era.

“I am going to pursue a Masters degree in Business Administration, thus, I will attend an MBA program in Canada after finishing this course. Simply, there are two reasons why I intend to pursue a higher degree. First of all, after a short period of working, I realized that the current knowledge and skills I grasped, were not adequate for a higher work position in previous job. Secondly, getting a higher educational degree seems to be necessary, especially for who wish to become an entrepreneur or a businessman in today’s intense international market, it is unquestionable that the MBA program will bring all general techniques that they need related to their areas.

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Along with the deterioration of financial industries worldwide, China, as a little affected nation, has become a place which is suitable for other countries to invest, however, the fact is always out of people imagination.

A large amount of money flowing to Chinese market has been causing an illusion of prosperity and forming the structure of bubble economy which would be a fuse for a potential economic crisis. My research interest aims to ascertain the possibility of the explosion of an economic bubble crisis in China. Simultaneously, I would like to suggest a solution with regard to how to deal with a potential crisis efficiently. The research attempts to warn the danger of the structure of the current Chinese economy, and to remind people acknowledge the illusion of prosperity in current Chinese market especially for people who do not have an economic vision and a managerial sense.�

issue 78, June 2012

“My research interest aims to ascertain the possibility... of an economic bubble crisis in China.�

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“I identify myself best with Administrative Law which organizes the relationship between the public and the state, is of great importance.�

Azer Ebru Mutlu from Malatya, Turkey

“It is my sincere belief that people deserve an admirable governing system and qualified rulers in the frame of democratic principles.

People might fail to elect qualified rulers for some reasons. However, this should not mean that they deserve to be ruled in an inadequate way. I believe that a qualified and sophisticated ruler should have a serious and comprehensive education in law and be specialized in the fields of constitutional charter and administrative law.

In this respect, I thought it would be appropriate to continue with my idea of being the first female president of Turkey, by having a good education in law.

Since Turkey is following the Continental Europe Law System, our law system is categorised into two areas; one being civil and the other being private. I personally prefer the civil law area in respect to my future goals. I have been paying great attention to my studies in various fields of civil law; however, I identify myself best with Administrative Law which organizes the relationship between the public and the state, is of great importance.

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issue 78, June 2012

Fernanda Gianone from Sao Paulo, Brazil

In this respect, I believe that people can be liberalized with a transparent and negotiatable way of administration. Because of this reason, I want to focus on two main points concerning the composition of the state and its re-construction in the debate of re-construction of local administrations, which is under the process of being enacted in Turkey.

From this point of view, I have chosen Canada, where people from all over the World can live in peace in one country, as a model. A comparative analysis and study of the law system of this county will surely contribute significantly to my country. Additionally, as a part of Academic Skills for University and College Success, ELP, I found a chance to introduce the multicultural academic environment with my volunteering experience. I work with Multicultural History Society of Ontario and I really appreciate being a volunteer in this honourable organization.

The MHSO which has a mission to investigate, organize and create a multicultural Canadian history is one of my unforgettable experiences in this program. It is essential for future studies in my career.

Finally, I strongly believe that I am going to be able to pursue an academic career at any university in the world having received my degree from Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. With its multi-national and multi-cultural characteristics, U of T will contribute to me as a person and my country. This university will definitely be a prestigious, strong, and effective reference for my future goals.

“This year I am going to start studying Commerce at the University of Toronto Rotman Commerce program, in which I have already been accepted. While in this program I will specialize in Management and Marketing.

I am really interested in this area because it offers a wide scope of possibilities for my future career, facilitating my aim of becoming an influential business woman. It will also open doors for an international career, working with people from all over the world, facilitated by the multicultural environment that I have been experiencing in Toronto.

I have been observing how the marketing strategies of the multinational companies are affecting the cultures around the world and also the population’s behaviour. The negative effects of these strategies and of globalization on the Brazilian population really concern me.

In recent years, the Brazilian culture has been more and more affected by globalization. The problem comes from the standardized marketing strategies used by the companies that enter the Brazilian market without considering the characteristics of the country’s culture. Because of these standardized strategies, the culture of the country is modified, changing the way people dress, act, and eat.

While analysing a prospective foreign market, a multinational company has to take into consideration many aspects. One of them is the country’s culture that plays a main role in the population’s behaviour and the way they will react to a new product that will be introduced. However, in many cases the companies entering the Brazilian market ignore the local consumer behaviour and use the same marketing strategies from other countries where they have been successful.

Although it may seem obvious that the product will not succeed, many times, in the Brazilian market, it does, causing many changes in the local culture. My research has the goal of analysing if these changes bring more advantages or disadvantages to the Brazilian population’s behaviour and culture and in the future could be useful for the multinational companies entering this market to plan their strategies in a more effective way.

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world of words

Nedaa Al-Jezani from

Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“I have successfully completed my BSc in Laboratory Medicine with honours; with that achievement came a full scholarship from my country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I decided to follow my dreams and seized this opportunity to study abroad. I came to Canada to widen my perspective on what I want to explore. With the goal of ultimately attaining a comprehensive understanding of the molecular genetics, I travelled overseas to prove my determination to be a successful woman who will be able to improve her leadership skills to lead in this area by the knowledge and experience which will be achieved from this program.

I am aiming to be admitted to the Molecular Genetics Program at the University of Toronto, as I believe it is the best match for my future goals. I have always been fascinated and passionate about the medical field, and specifically about the mystery of genetics. Even more important is that the University of Toronto has taken the lead in genetics and stem cell research in the world and has more than fifty 20

issue 78, June 2012

Academic Skills Students “I have always been fascinated and passionate about the medical field, and specifically about the mystery of genetics.”

years’ experience. Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, the government and health professionals have just recently started focusing more resources and attention to this particular field. Taking advantage of this knowledge, I will incorporate my Master’s experience with my future Ph.D to obtain a researcher position in a leading research center.

My training at the University of Toronto will equip me with tools that will transform my experience into practical outcomes. This program will also open the door to the extraordinary opportunities that lie ahead of me in this field.

My research interest focuses on how movies influence public understanding of human cloning (HC). HC defined as asexual production (not sexual) of human being from genetic materials of single human (Maienschein, 2001), is controversial issue around the world. HC has been represented in movies as frightening procedures that threaten and break the moral conceptions of humanity. These representations lead society to misjudge the benefit of this technique. In this study, how films that have influenced public understanding of HC is investigated. The history of HC development, movies’ representation of this topic, and societal perspectives about HC are necessary to demonstrate the mechanism of public understanding.”

Abdulrahman Ahmad Alqatari

from AL Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Born in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia in 1992, Abdulrahman graduated from Ajial Alaqsa Private Secondary School in 2010.

He is interested in technology and improved his listening, reading, and speaking skills in English from playing video games. Now in Toronto, Canada, he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering at Ryerson University. He has been playing video games since he was six years old.

“A video game is an electronic or programmed game played by manipulating images on a video display screen. Nowadays, videogames are becoming more popular all over the globe and people from countries that do not speak English as a first language are improving their English in an enjoyable way by simply playing video games; they learn how to read, speak and improve their listening skills by playing these video games. Many players pick up the language through incidental learning while playing these games. The numbers of people playing video games is increasing rapidly every year. Video games are becoming available in almost every piece of electronic device - from computers, gaming consoles and cell phones, and being able to download video games make them all the more convenient. Many believe there are no benefits derived from playing video games, which is not exactly true. Therefore, it is important through this research that people can be aware of how video games can help one improve his/her English skills.”

Prepare for success! Develop and enhance your research and communication skills for academic studies with ‘Academic Skills for University and College Success’ at the English Language Program

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The Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education

world of words

The Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education Effie Touchings, English for Teaching Instructor; speaks with students from the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education about their experiences in Toronto and, in particular, their practicum placements at schools around Toronto.

Jeong Mi Yoo, Secondary School Teacher

Eunsil Kim, Elementary School Teacher

“My school is Saint Joseph’s College School.

Their first goal is to make a student a life-long reader. I have observed grade 12 students’ English 4U classes. They have read a same book together and another book which they chose by themselves according to Independent Study Unit Program. Students seemed to enjoy reading and writing so much. Every time teacher and students were busy in asking questions and answering about the books they had been reading. They seemed to be Socrates and his pupils. I was touched a lot by the scenes. I am sure that the students will be deep thinkers and life-long readers.”

“Before I came here, I did not know well Canada’s multiculturalism. My Canada school, St. Paschal Baylon, consists of 80% the Philippines students.

Students came from other countries. They gets along together. In the subway, on the road, anywhere I can see all races in Canada.”

JaeHee Yu, Elementary School Teacher “I was impressed by Canadian. I heard that over than 50% of population of Canadians are from other country. They seem to respect to and care one another. They keep saying “Excuse me” or I’m sorry”, and they are willing to hold a door for others. Especially, men often vacate their seat for children and the old. Also, they rarely are hectic and allow others take their time. Korean people always hurry to do something, but I hope we learn the respecting and caring one another.”

Jea Kyong Lee, Elementary School Teacher “I love Tim Horton especially ICED-CAP is my favorite. It is impressive people hold a cup of coffee even in the busy morning. Students are quite multicultural. I can see every character of my English -textbook in Korea in one classroom.

The school is more antique and slow. However it is same Teachers make efforts to best teaching and they love their students. TTC is cool!! I can’t explain any good words. It’s just simple, convenient but cool! We are running and going crazy for fun and exciting experiences. We stayed just one month but it is more worthy than any day, any month, any year.”

22

Jeong Mi Yoo

JaeHee Yu

Hae Yoon Park, Elementary School Teacher “The first time I went into the classroom, it felt like it was a small world because students in the classroom was from all over the world. Whenever I go around the downtown, I think nobody would notice that I am a visitor here unless I talk to someone. I realized Toronto is a real multicultural society.”

Da Young Kang, Elementary School Teacher “Before I came to Canada, I thought Canada is more like America. Canada is America’s little brother. However, after I came here I found out what I thought was completely wrong. Besides Toronto is very multicultural city, Canada isn’t like America at all. After I heard some history class from you and other people, I realized Canada is more like between Britain and France. When I went to Montreal it was a culture shock! The thing that Canadian doesn’t speak English was real shock to me and make me rethink about Canada.”

Jea Kyong Lee

Eunsil Kim

Hae Yoon Park

Da Young Kang

The Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education

issue 78, June 2012

O Hee Jang, High School Teacher

Ju Eun Lee, Elementary School Teacher

“At the Canadian school I observed many similarities in teaching, but Korean schools are better in classroom environments and technology than Canadian schools. What I’ve most impressed here is the students motivation in studying. Although most Korean students study hard, their study motivation is quite extrinsic for test or entering good universities.

But Canadian students look happier than Korean students in studying and look like their motivation is more intrinsic.”

“At St. Leo elementary school, there was an old secretary’s retirement ceremony on Tuesday, May 24. In Korea, students don’t prepare the ceremony for retirement person. Only teachers prepare a few simple performances in the buffet not in the school. I was very impressed with students’ various performances such as songs, dances, and role play. I heard that the secretary means more than secretary. She is like mother at school for 20 years. That’s so amazing.”

Young Hee Yoon, High School Teacher Ju Sun Hong, Elementary School Teacher “Since I came to Canada I have seen many people who came to Canada to learn English or immigrate. On the street, in the bus and subway, I can meet many different racial people and they speak not only English but their own language.

My home-stay host and hostess are Brazilian so they usually talk each other in Portuguese and whenever I get a bus, I can hear Chinese Mandarin, Japanese and Filipino easily. In particular, when I go to famous place in Canada, it is not difficult to hear Korean from Korean travelers. In Ottawa, I heard Arabic from the taxi driver talking to his friend through his phone, and I saw many signs written in French. To me, this multicultural society itself was the huge culture shock. I didn’t imagine this scene of Canada before to come here because many Korean people went to Canada for their English ability.”

“St. Joseph College School where I have had my school practicum held a “Walk-a-thon” event on June, 5 and I joined it. Instead of observing classes in a classroom, I was able to enjoy beautiful sunlight and fresh air walking from school to Woodbine beach with all the students and teachers. Everybody seemed exhilarated to go outside talking each other and taking pictures together. I was told that the class to raise the most money would get an Apple computer in their own classroom. What a great idea!! I feel so lucky to have a variety of experiences here in this city that I will not forget for the rest of my life.”

Kyun Lim Krung, High School Teacher “I had wonderful experience in Canada. I love Canadian students. They are always kind, gentle and inquisitive. They will be the leaders of the future world due to their positive attitude. Neil McNeil School students, I will never forget you.

Thank you!”

A Young Kim, Elementary School Teacher “On the way home from school few days ago, I needed to go to the washroom. I went to the nearest subway station, but I could not find a washroom. I was embarrassed, because in Korea, we have washrooms in every subway stations.

Then I found out that in Toronto we have the washrooms in only few stations of the subway.

I learned something new. I will never forget this experience.”

A Young Kim

O Hee Jang

Ju Eun Lee

Young Hee Yoon

Kyung Lim Kang

Ju Sun Hong

23

The Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education

world of words

Eun-Jeong Han, Elementary School Teacher

Yong Seok Cho, High School Teacher “I’ve been joining in teaching practicum in Bishop Marrocco /Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary school for 4 weeks. I’m very impressed by the diverse and well-organized school curriculum, which promotes students interest and develops their potentials. The most interesting is that all the teacher that I met during class observation taught students with the little of technological teaching methods during their whole class time, 75 minutes. But they naturally trigger students’ spontaneous response and try to interact with the students. In Canadian school, the teacher couldn’t be better than any other technological teaching method. In addition, the school consists of multicultural students, so there was a multicultural food day on May 29. Experiencing various kinds of food was an another pleasure for me, even if I gained a little weight that day.”

Hee Jung Youn, High School Teacher “As a matter of fact, when I saw the students who were kissing in a hall and hanging around during the class, I was really shocked. Besides, the teachers were very tolerant to the students who misbehaved during the class. The teachers seemed to be all burnt out after the class is over and the 6 teachers were sharing one over head projector and were trying to overcome the hot without any fan. On the bright side, I found the students have a talent for acting on a stage during the school festival and they made a great job on the video clip presentation in the auditorium. Even though the teachers in the English department were in a tough situation in terms of the supports from the school and the students, I was very impressed with the teachers who are trying to do their best in teaching. Every teachers were very friendly and I enjoyed a nice talking with the teachers everyday, too.”

“This training course in Toronto is such a wonderful time to me. I had a really great experience in University of Toronto and St. Joseph College School. Also, I could have a chance to travel to many beautiful places such as Niagara Falls, Quebec City and New Youk city. I cannot forget all the things I have experienced here in Toronto. That will be so helpful for me and my career.

Thank you Toronto! Thank you U of T. Thank you St. Joseph College. Thank all of you!!”

Je Yeong Park, High School Teacher “This is my first visit to North America. Many things are pretty unfamiliar to me but I am sure that I will not forget this experience. I had a great time here.

Canadian students are taller than Korean ones but they are sincere and polite. One thing that made me feel impressed was their attitude to the class.

Most students eagerly participate in the class and asked many questions to the teachers. Classes that I observed were well organized by the teachers and the students looked comfortable. Canada is full of beautiful natural surroundings and most of all, people are nice.”

Hee Young Kim, High School Teacher “Today is the release day of the movie, Snow White and the Huntsman all over the world. Luckily in Canada, I saw it in AMC theatre. It is unforgettable memory. My favorite actor, Kristine Stewart deserves to be loved by her big fans. The story line is a little bit weak, but the another translation of snow white is unique. Her short dress means that pretty woman is not ideal any more. Her braveness, her warm heart and her affection toward nature make her more brilliant. I would like to follow her.

Sonju Chong, Elementary School Teacher “TTC drivers are very kind. Whenever I ask the directions, they always wait and answer kindly. They also drive very gently.”

Kyu Mi Shim, Elementary School Teacher I introduced Hanbok (Korean traditional clothes) to St. Leo students. I was very proud of myself and Korea and I also appreciated them because they paid attention to the class and treated me friendly. To introduce the Korean culture was very nice and happy and it was my best moment in Canada. I met a lot of nice Canadians and I will miss all of them.

Eun-Jeong Han

24 Yong Seok Cho

Hee Jung Youn

Sonju Chong

Je Yeong Park

Kyu Mi Shim

Hee Young Kim

issue 78, June 2012

Academic Integrity

By Tahera Alnassfan of Saudi Arabia,

Academic English Level 60

I

n their article entitled, “Why do many international students get a failing grade in academic integrity?” from the Globe and Mail, September 2, 2011, James Bradshaw and Tamara Baluja argue why the vast majority of students who are accused of dishonesty in Canadian universities are international students.

Monitoring students for three years, the University of Windsor discovered that the average number of foreign students who are accused of cheating outnumbered the domestic students.

First of all, with distinctive styles of learning, many new arrivals are facing difficulties in using vocabulary and transferring ideas in English. In other words, they lack the confidence to deal with this new language. To demonstrate, Hanna Liu, a Taiwanese student at U of T, found that adequate paraphrasing of an article relies on having enough experience in writing skills and English vocabulary as well. Furthermore, Karan from India adds, in India, students do not need to paraphrase; in the contrary, most students copy what the professor says.

Secondly, being under parental pressure, students will try their best to please their parents without considering of what they are doing is right or wrong. Currently, parents are funding their children to obtain a high educational degree which, subsequently, will help them to receive a high income job back home.

This explanation from parents puts students under stress during the studying period.

Finally, concentrating on sentence structure and fundamental grammar, many students have complained that “the test does not really register what a university-level essay would look like,” Mr. Maharaj said. Many students, as a consequence, are having problems during the first year of university. Due to the fact that people naturally aggregate around the things they love and escape from the things they hate, universities should encourage their students to benefit from writing tutorial services, which are usually available in all universities. Based on these points, training the instructors and adding some extra programs to the first year, international students, in particular, will respect academic integrity. “There are lots we can do,” Ms. Istl said. “The challenge, though, is time and resources,”

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world of words

Using Newspaper Headlines to Practice Grammar and Fast Reading Skills!

by Stephen Bahry, Instructor

Have you ever looked at a newspaper headline, and wondered why they write such strange English? Take today’s newspaper for example: one headline states, “Mayor says bag ban people’s fault”. What kind of English is that?

Headlines use a kind of telegraphese, similar to the way we used to write telegrams. There is not enough space to write a whole sentence, and so they keep the content words, the unpredictable words that carry most of the meaning, and drop the less important function words that are predictable by the rules of English grammar.

When everybody knows the rules, we can use our knowledge to fill in the missing words subconsciously. And when we speak, we stress the content words and do not stress the function words for the same reason.

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So the full sentence has dropped several words: “____ Mayor says _____ _____ bag ban _____ _____ people’s fault”. Can you fill in the missing words?

Yes, the answer is “The Mayor says that the bag ban is the people’s fault”. So when you are killing time on the TTC, or passing time with friends in the coffee shop, you can make a grammar game of reading headlines in Metro, the Star, or the Globe. Just try to fill in the missing words using your knowledge of English grammar and the vocabulary of the headline, and the overall context. Then compare your guess with a friend and discuss whose guess is better!

This is a good way to make your grammar knowledge more active, and also to improve reading skills. In very fast reading, we focus our eyes on content words since we expect the function words and can expect what they will be without looking at them. Now, try another headline! “_____ Union Station flooding ___ caused ____ _____ builder ____ removed ____ sewer, ____ City says”. (The Union Station flooding was caused by a builder who removed the sewer the City said.

issue 78, June 2012

Applying for Graduate Studies Mehmet Filiz of Turkey, English Language Program Ambassador by

I

am Mehmet Filiz, a second year Ph.D. student

at the University of Ottawa’s Education Faculty.

Like you, I was an ELP student at University of Toronto. I had been to that ELP program for almost 15 months. Then, I took an IELTS course at another language school. Afterwards, I got an acceptance from my current university.

In this article, I will explain steps of university applications for graduate studies. I assume that you know what you are going to study throughout your graduate study. As long as you have a few ideas, you might change them later.

First of all, you should decide which cities you can study. Afterwards, you ought to make list of all universities in these cities. Later, you should look at these universities’ website whether or not they have your program. For instance, there are three universities –University of Toronto, York University and Ryerson University- in Toronto and my major is related to education. Moreover, I searched if these universities have an education faculty. Thus, I eliminated Ryerson University.

After deciding which universities you might apply to, you should join these universities’ open house event so that you will be able to get informed about the programs of those faculties.

Furthermore, you will meet a few professors as well as graduate students. You should talk to them. After these events, you might eliminate a few of the universities in your list.

By this step, you could have eliminated many of the universities in your list. At this step you should browse the professors’ profile on those universities’ websites. You ought to try matching these professors’ studies with your research interests so that you will have a list of professors.

Afterwards, you should send a short email to them which indicates your name, your latest degree, your research interest, and appropriate appointment days for you. Then, you can talk to professors at their office.

The last step is to choose which professor you can study. From my experiences, I would say that you will be happy and successful throughout your graduate studies if you find a good supervisor for you.

Good luck in your university applications. I hope everyone makes a perfect choice.

The University Application Program at the English Language Program The University Application Program (UAP) offers ongoing support and assistance to students interested in applying for university or college.

We offer weekly information session workshops, as well as one-on-one counselling sessions (by appointment only). For more information, check the UAP board in the 4th floor Student Hub.

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world of words

Coffee Chat s e i r o t S y Scar

Coffee Chat is a place to relax and practice English in a casual setting.

Join Maxine and Laura e very Thursday at 2pm for Coff ee Chat and lea rn the ins an d o uts of the Englis h Language .

Junya in the Forest Junya Nakamura, Pi-Chia Hung, Abdulrhman Almqairen, Lin Che Chung By:

O

ne day Junya went camping by Lake Ontario with two friends. It was a lovely sunny day and they had a lot of fun. They had a BBQ but it got too hot so they walked in to the forest to cool off. His two friends said that they were too tired so they went back to the campsite. Junya was left alone. It became dark in the forest and he heard a voice. He was scared, but went to find the voice anyway. As he started to walk back to the campsite, Junya heard footsteps behind him and suddenly someone grabbed his shoulder. He turned around, as white as a sheet, but saw that it was just his friends.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” they said.

He was happy to see that it was his friends because he had been scared, but they asked him to leave so that they could be alone and he found himself in the forest by himself again. As he was walking he felt a hand on his shoulder for the second time. He thought it was his friends, but when he turned around he saw a beautiful girl with hair covering her face. She moved her hair and he saw blood on her neck. He tried to move her hair more, to see if she was ok, but as he moved her hair he saw a big mouth. The mouth on the side of her head opened and he saw his friends’ faces inside her mouth! He ran as fast as he could out of the forest and left the camp, never to speak of his time in the forest again.

The Gruesome Nurse Kaho Uegaki, Sumika Iwai, Yumi Funada, Yuri Iijima, Lili Kozomara, Maxine Bower By:

O

nce upon a time, there was a Japanese woman who worked in a hospital. She was beautiful and attracted many people.

Since she worked in a hospital she always wore a mask. She had a secret; behind the mask she hid a gruesome mouth.

28

One night, she went in to a patient’s room and found a nicelooking guy. She took off her mask and lay down beside the man.

Eventually he woke up and when he saw her gruesome mouth he turned as white as a sheet. She spoke softly to comfort him.

She wanted to eat him, but could only eat him if he was in a good mood. As soon as he felt calm from her words she opened her horrible mouth and gobbled up his head. She continued eating the rest of his body and when she was done she lay down in the bed and smiled.

issue 78, June 2012

The Ghostly Driver By:

Mehmet Kurshunlu, Abid-Sellam Rhaouti, Laura Brown

M

ehmet was driivng and a ghost was pushing on the gas pedal. He could not stop and he could not open the car doors. He looked in to the rear-view mirror and saw a person in the back seat. It was his best friend from Turkey, and she was telling him to speed up! He could tell the the ghost had possessed his friend because she was as white as a sheet and smiling at Mehmet in the mirror. She kept saying “Speed up!”

She was haunted by the memory of Mehmet leaving her behind in Turkey. He was shocked by her words and saw the the car was speeding up towards a cliff. He pulled the hand-brake to stop the car, but it broke off in his hand. The car went faster and his friend was laughing.

Finally Mehmet shouted at her, “Why?”

The car flew off the edge of the cliff as he heard a distant siren.

His alarm clock was ringing.

“You must die,” she said, “so we can be together forever…in HELL!”

“Too late, too late!”

The Mad Scientist’s Castle Barbara Lobato, Khaled Ould Isselmov, Victoria Young, Soheila Mir Hosseini, Yuka Sato, Mitsuki Tomioka, Ai Suziki, Manal Aldahash By:

O

ne day in a place far, far away…really far, there was a dark castle on a hill. In this castle lived a dark man, a ghost, and a monster. The man was a mad scientist who created the monster. The ghost was his dead wife.

The neighbours were all scared of the castle and its inhabitants because every full moon the monster would escape and terrorize the neighbourhood.

One stormy night, a traveller in need of a place to stay came to the castle. The traveller was tired and looked like a skeleton.

All he wanted to do was eat something and sleep, but as he walked in to the bedroom in the castle the ghost broke down the door. The traveller was as white as a sheet. He screamed,

but was too scared to move. The castle ghost floated in to the room and took a liking to the traveller. Although the ghost tried to reassure the traveller, he was still scared and ran in to the next room. He found himself in the laboratory of the mad scientist. In the lab he spotted a test-tube labelled ‘Super Drink’. Thinking this would give him special powers he drank it.

However, the super drink was actually a drink to turn you in to a ghost. So the traveller turned in to a ghost and was trapped forever in the castle.

The ghost of the dead wife didn’t like having another ghost around, so a huge battle ensued and the two ghosts killed each other.

The END!

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Doors Open Toronto

world of words

Doors Open Toronto

Linda Prue’s Academic English class explore the history, architecture and beauty of Toronto

The National Ballet School

By Miyako Kuroda, Academic English Level 40

I

visited Canada’s National Ballet School, which is on 400 Jarvis Street. It’s used to practice and learn ballet and I watched many people practicing there.

That building is still new and very big. There is a large studio on the top floor. This studio is enclosed by glass and mirror and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery from there. The studio size is almost the same as a real stage and dancers can always practice while imagining that they are on the stage. In addition, not only this studio but other studios each have a piano; therefore, the dancers can practice whatever they like. For example, they can ask a pianist to play what speed they want and to play the same part many times or something or that. For performance days, the building has a big elevator to move the pianos from there to a hall.

The building also has the National Ballet School offices to make better performances. One of the jobs for the workers there is to make all schedules carefully for dancers and people like stage directors who are related to the performances. They always continue practicing if they don’t think that dance is their best, so it’s difficult to carry out the time schedule. Thanks to them, the dancers and the audience can enjoy the ballet.

For the dancers, there are some places where they can take a rest. Some people were sitting and having lunch before or after practicing when I visited the school.

Actually I am going to see their performance in June so it was a good chance to know them in advance. I really look forward to seeing them on the stage soon.

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Doors Open Toronto

issue 78, June 2012

Campbell House Museum

By Maha Alossiami, Academic English Level 40

M

ay 26th and 27th were the days of Doors Open Toronto. More than 135 architecturally and historically building opened their doors to the public.

I chose to go to the Campbell House Museum.

Campbell House is the oldest building in Toronto. It is at 160 Queen Street West. The house was used by Sir William Campbell and his wife Hanna who were the richest family in Toronto. William Campbell was a lawyer for several years and then he became a judge.

They built the house in 1822. They lived in the house before they had children. They had two girls and two boys who lived with their family in this house.

The Campbell House is built of wood and has three floors with a basement. On the first floor of the house were the living room and the dining room; then in the second floor were the bed rooms and the kitchen was in the basement. The Campbell family was interested in antiques so there were antique pieces of furniture in every room. The walls and ceiling in the entire house have beautiful ornamentation.

The square brown and white house has all the original pieces of furniture. Nothing in the house has been rebuilt or changed .There is a big garden in the front of the house and the house has a back yard.

In conclusion, I visited this interesting place which has a lot of history.

The Dining Room

The Living Room

The Kitchen

The Bay

By Yuko Kuga, Academic English Level 40

T

his building is near the Queen subway station and it’s in front of Old City Hall. It is a department store. The building is 8 stories high. Men’s fashions are on the second floor and women’s fashions are on the third and fourth floor. There are a lot of brand name boutiques used by people of all ages. There is a café on the first floor so if you want to take a break, you can go there. If you find a light which is colored purple and pink and red, it is the company’s entrance.

A policemen stands in front of the entrance. There are computers available, so if you want to look for a person or product, you can use these computers. This brown building is made of concrete/blocks but the top of the building is covered with windows. The signboard’s color is yellow so you can find it in a moment. This building is right on the street; therefore, there is no room for a flower garden or art.

I think this building is very beautiful and it is easy to find a shop that I want to visit. On the other hand, near the building, there is a big shopping mall, the Eaton Centre, so many people will go there. I think it is a problem for this business. There are a lot of high quality items at the Bay so if you want to give something to your friend or family, you should buy it in this store.

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world of words

Doors Open Toronto

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario

By Keito Maniwa, Academic English Level 40

G

eorge and I went to The Legislative Assembly of Ontario on May 27th. May 26th and 27th were the days for “Doors Open Toronto 2012”. We were able to go to lots of place in Toronto without a fee. We wanted to go to many places, but we didn’t have so much time, so I consulted with George about where we should go. Finally, we decided The Legislative Assembly of Ontario because we have never been there. That’s why we chose this place.

The building has been the meeting place of Ontario’s parliament since 1839. It was designed by architect Richard Waite. It has very beautiful architecture; for example, the inside was made of stone, timber, and marble. It was very gorgeous and elegant. In contrast, the outside has a very solemn atmosphere. It was also made of stone, and the color was brown. If you go there, you can feel two different types of atmosphere. In addition, the building has a cafeteria-style Quorum Cafe and full-service dining room which is open to the public, so if you are hungry, you can eat something.

This building is near Queen’s Park, so it is surrounded by so much relaxing nature. There were some people who were reading a book, jogging, and taking a nap. It was a very good environment to do something. Next time I want to go there for a walk.

If you like art, you may be able to have fun because there are lots of beautiful bronze statues near the building and in Queen’s Park. Of course the building also has artistic merit.

I had a good time with George on May 27th. If I get free time, I want to go there again. I hope the day will be fine.

The Church of the Redeemer

By Atsuki Karitani, Academic English Level 40

I

visited a building with my friend on Sunday May 27th. It was a day called “Doors Open Toronto” which celebrates the anniversary of 200 years of building Toronto city. We could look around buildings in Toronto. We visited The Church of the Redeemer.

It is located at 162 Bloor Street West. This is a huge white and brown church, made of stone and brick.

This church is at the corner of Avenue Road and Bloor Street. It is an old-fashioned building; however, there are a lot of modern buildings around this church. In 1878, the cornerstone was laid. This church was built by Smith and Gemmell. When I walked into the church, I was surprised. I saw a big chapel in the church, and everybody was praying to God. The church was holding a service because we visited on Sunday. They were singing hymns. It was very beautiful. A woman who was staff was very kind. She explained to us about this church. There are some big colourful stained glass windows which were installed

32

between 1904 and 1929 inside the church. I have never seen such wonderful stained glass windows.

I have visited a church several times in Japan, but I have never seen such a big church. It might be because of a difference of religion. In conclusion, we visited the beautiful Church of the Redeemer.

Doors Open Toronto

issue 78, June 2012

Osgoode Hall

By Yeseul (Jenny) Lee, Academic English Level 40

T

he more I see of Canada, the more I am delighted with how much beauty and history it has to offer.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit the incredible Osgoode Hall. Osgoode Hall is a court located at 130 Queen Street, West. It is the oldest building in Toronto and it is used as the highest court of the province. When I got to the court, I noticed it was surrounded by an iron fence. This is because there were farms surrounding the building and therefore the fence was made to protect the building from these cows. The gate of the fence is very unique, and behind the fence, there is a little garden with some trees and flowers. I thought that this view was very beautiful. The building’s façade remains essentially the same as it was in 1860. The building itself is made of Caen stone and has stained glass windows which illustrate Canada’s legal heritage. The overall predominant colours of the building are ivory and creamy white. The shape of the building is big and square. After I entered the building, I noticed that the building had tremendously high ceilings, which makes the inside look even bigger than it appears on the outside. There are many rooms for trials and people can experience wearing a judge’s clothes.

Many people were taking pictures. There is a spacious library in the building which seems to be filled with an endless variety of books. Particularly breath-taking and spectacular is the ceiling of Osgoode Hall. It is designed with unique patterns and I was in awe upon seeing it. I could not stop looking at it for a long time.

On the sides of the library, there were bookshelves as high as the upper floor. However, I wondered how to go up to get these books because there were no ladders or stairs that were visible. I asked the people who were volunteering there, and they kindly answered my question. They said the books

are private; therefore, at the side of the library there are no ladders and stairs. Next to the main library, there is also another smaller sized library, which has a curvy staircase going up to the second level of shelves, which also reminds me of the movie “Harry Potter.” I made good use of my time while visiting Osgoode Hall. It was stunning and I had a good and unforgettable opportunity to see and understand this marvelous Canadian historical building. I loved the patterns illustrated on the ceilings and the stained glass windows, which gave a sense of calmness to the place. The design was very detailed and gorgeous. If anyone ever has the chance to visit a place connected to Canadian history or is wondering where to go, I would definitely recommend Osgoode Hall as one of the most magnificent places that one could visit.

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Doors Open Toronto

world of words

The Canada Life Building

By Kozue Kokubu, Academic English Level 40

I

went to the Canada Life building with my classmate on Saturday. Canada Life isn’t usually open to the public, and we always need ID to enter there. But the days didn’t need ID, so I went there. The Canada Life office is like a hotel; in addition, the ornamentation is very beautiful. I couldn’t believe that it’s a company.

It’s still used as an insurance company that was formed by Hugh C. Baker who was a bank manager in 1847. It is all restored all now.

I visited two rooms. First was a video room. I learned about the history of the company. This insurance company is the oldest company in Toronto. After that I went to top floor of the company. There are a lot of big windows and I could look over the downtown from there. There are very beautiful lamps, and the ornamentation is also very detailed. After I was satisfied with the amazing view, I asked the staff about the company which has three other buildings. The others are also very historical buildings, but the first one is especially old and the most historical building of the company. I couldn’t see the others, but I could feel the history. I was glad I visited the Canada Life building.

Casa Loma

By Saori Kageyama, Academic English Level 40

I

went to Casa Loma which is located on a small hill between St Clair West station and Dupont station. I walked down a gentle slope from St Clair West station with my friend.

After we arrived at Casa Loma, we were very surprised because it was beautiful and very big and beyond our imagination. I had thought it is a castle but it is really a house. The owner was Henry Mill Pallett who brought electric power to Toronto, gained huge wealth, and became a millionaire. The construction took 4 years, but he lived here for just 10 years.

Before we entered the building, we saw a garden and a small fountain and many flowers. People were taking pictures here so I took a lot of pictures in the garden with my friends. After taking pictures, we went into the building. There are 98 rooms, a greenhouse, stained glass and a lot of ornamentation. The interior design was very beautiful and it looks like European style. Next we found a very long underground passage. The passage is 240 meters long and through it we can get into

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a big stable. When we entered Casa Loma, we had to pay $18 but the stable was free.

The stable was made of brick and it had high turrets and a small greenhouse.

The site around of Casa Loma is very quiet and there are a lot of trees. People enjoy their great visit. If I have time I want to go to Casa Loma again.

Doors Open Toronto

issue 78, June 2012

Old City Hall

By Tomomi Matsuda, Academic English Level 40 I visited Old City Hall with my friend on 27th May. The day was ‘Doors Open Toronto’ so there were crowds of people. By the way, what’s ‘Doors Open Toronto’? It is an annual event when we can get in historically and architecturally important buildings for free.

Old City Hall is located at Queen and Bay Streets. It was one of the largest buildings in Toronto and it was designed by local architect Edward James Lennox. It took over a decade to build and it cost over $2.5 million. It was used for the city council from 1899 to 1966 and it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1984.

This building is in the Romanesque style, considered more masculine and bulkier. The interior has stained glass and some wall paintings. The entire building has ornamentation coming from ancient Roman art. There are structural decorations highlighted by the different colors of stone.

There is a monument to honor people who died in the First World War and the Second World War at the foot of the front steps.

Also, there is a clock tower that is visible from Queen Street.

The clock room houses three bells, the largest of which weighs 5443 kilograms. In 1992, the clock was stopped for the first time in more than a century for repairs. The small square room at the top of the tower has 4 timepieces, one on each side.

Instead of Old City Hall, Toronto City Hall is the current city hall; however, Old City Hall is still an attractive piece of architecture.

New City Hall

By Huo Siyuan, Academic English Level 40

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n Doors Open Toronto day, May 27th, Keito and I went to the New City Hall for our visit. The building is located at 100 Queen Street West, which is in the downtown area. As we all know, the City Hall provides a place for the municipal government to work.

The building has a two-story hall at the bottom, with two towers standing on the east and west sides separately; the tower at the east side is five floors higher than the other. The building is made of iron and cement, and because of the material, the building is gray in colour.

Different from the Old City Hall, there is not much ornamentation.

The artwork that impressed me most is a wall painting that is made of nails. It shows fantasy pictures when you look at it from different directions. There are many other artworks which interested Keito but not me.

There is a sculpture which looks like a distorted bronze block.

Also, beside Queen Street, there is a bronze statue of Churchill’s famous pose in that photo.

In front of the building, there is a big square, and many contemporary tall buildings, expect the Old City Hall, stand around the square.

In my eyes, the City Hall building looks great, but in my mind, the building feels frozen and stiff.

After we came out of the building, we went to a Japanese restaurant and had noodles for our lunch.

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Doors Open Toronto

world of words

Bloor Street United Church

By Halah Al Zawawi, Academic English Level 40

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oors Open Toronto is commemorating the war of 1812 bicentennial with the theme of 200 years of building our city. Many of this year’s locations were selected for the stories they have to tell about the history of Toronto, the personalities who built them and the communities that reside within them. Doors Open Toronto was started in May 2000 by the city of Toronto and has attracted more than 2 million visitors since it began. This year a citywide celebration of Toronto places and showcases more than 135 venues of architectural, historical, cultural and social significance.

One of the most attractive places that I visited was Bloor Street United Church. It’s located at the corner of Bloor Street and Huron Street, just one block west of the St George Subway station. The church was established in 1886 by a group of lay Presbyterians to serve the fast growing neighborhood of Spadina and Bloor. In 1925, the church joined the United Church of Canada. In 1945, it was badly burned, damaged and most of the sanctuary was destroyed and then rebuilt.

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It has a classical exterior, the stone bricks are from dark quarries, and it has really magnificent decoration inside. It’s so big, consisting of two floors, with each one covered by red carpet. It has exquisite wood seats and the capacity of this church reaches to 1200 people. All trim stones come from Ohio. All windows are stained glass windows; in my view, the most astonishing one was the balcony window. The balcony window was created by skilled craftsmen. In fact, there are more than 2000 soldered joints in those windows which were formed by hand; moreover, the window has a huge artistic circle above and plenty of windows below it.

It was really a good chance to visit a historical and religious place in Toronto.

issue 78, June 2012

The Food Experience of St Lawrence Market

By Victoria Young, Cultural Assistant

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oronto is a diverse city, filled with people from all over the world. Thanks to its multiculturalism we are able to enjoy cuisines from all over the world, but what about the local food? Well if you're looking to taste the local produce and have a little fun while you’re doing it, why not take yourself down to St. Lawrence Market?! Just a short walk from King Station, you will find yourself at Toronto's largest indoor food market taking up a whole city block!

On Saturdays the market comes alive with shoppers, tourists and local farmers all looking to sell and buy freshly grown food from Ontario. You can find every kind of food possible, whether it is meat, fish, veggies, fruit, bread, pastry, you can find everything, it's incredible. In fact when I went, I found Kangaroo meat and Ostrich meat! On the lower level you will find yourself browsing through the endless aisles of candy, chocolates, dried fruits, and nuts at one of the bulk stores. If you are looking to stock up on food, St. Lawrence Market is definitely the place to go!

If freshly grown organic Canadian food is not what you are looking for, then fear not, St. Lawrence Market is also a fantastic place to grab a bite with your friends. Among the countess stalls selling freshly

baked bread, hand picked vegetables, and incredibly fresh meat are restaurants all ready to fuel your need to eat! Here is a list of my 3 favourite places to eat when I go to St. Lawrence Market: •

Future Bakery

(serving mostly fresh bread and pastries)

•

European Delight

•

Busters Sea Cove

(specializing in European Food mainly Ukrainian dishes) (serving delicious and fresh sea food)

Busters Sea Cove in my opinion is definitely a must visit at St. Lawrence Market! It is indeed, a delicious little place. In fact Cindy, Chie and I stopped to eat here and we all agreed that it was very good.

Cindy even complimented the place by saying “my opinion on seafood has definitely changed”. Busters Sea Cove may be little, but their taste is huge! Here you can find your usual fish and chips but you can also get a tonne of variety! Cindy and I both had the clam strip and fries and the lobster bisque soup was delicious. Even if you’re not a fish person, you can still eat at Busters as it offers quite a variety of foods.

You really feel like you’re in a tiny fishing town having 37

world of words local cuisine when you dine at Busters. For some reason, I felt like I was eating in Nova Scotia.

St. Lawrence Market is bursting with food and incredibly friendly people eager to give you samples of their produce. At the mustard stall you can sample around 15 different mustards, while at the fish store people will tell you how to cook the different seafood they sell. If you are like me and do not know how to cook, you can always ask the people there. The Cheese stalls let you sample tiny blocks of cheese while the wine place gives you tiny cups to sip wine from. The atmosphere at the market is very warm with people eager to help. When you are at St. Lawrence Market, you'll find that you just won't be able to stop your mouth form watering.

After all, the abundance of food all under one roof is quite overwhelming...in a good way of course!

Flavours of the World

If you are in Toronto and find yourself free on a Saturday then you should without a doubt treat yourself to the delights of St. Lawrence Market! I promise you won't regret it!

TURKEY

By Lily Choi,

Cultural Assistant

Chef Leyla Kandemir shares three simple Turkish recipes anyone can follow to recreate her favorite dishes from home…

BABA GHANOUSH à la Diyarbakir Baba ghanoush is a dish of eggplant (aubergine) mashed and mixed with olive oil and various seasonings. A popular preparation method is for the eggplant to be baked or broiled over an open flame before peeling, so that the pulp is soft and has a smoky taste. Often it is eaten as a dip with bread and sometimes added to other dishes.

Ingredients: • • • •

3-4 medium eggplants 2-3 tbsp olive oil 2 whole garlic gloves, finely minced Salt, to taste

Instructions: •Grill eggplants; Chef Leyla recommends using an outdoors barbeque grill

•Preheat oven to 200°C (if you prefer to use an oven) •Prick the eggplant with a fork in a few places on its surface. Chef Leyla’s Note: Eggplants may explode in the oven if you do not prick holes in the skin first – careful!

•Roast them in the oven for about 45 minutes, turning them over 2-3 times, until they are extremely soft and have collapsed in on themselves •Remove the eggplants from the oven and let cool completely •Separate the eggplant meat from the skin •Mash the eggplant with a fork or chop with a knife •Add the eggplant, olive oil, minced garlic, and salt to a bowl and mix quickly •Serve hot, with bread

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YAYLA CORBASI (yogurt soup) Try this popular comfort dish from Turkey!

Ingredients: • •

1\4 cup rice 5 cups water (if you wish, you can use half chicken

stock, half water for greater flavour)

• • • • • •

5 cups plain yogurt 1 egg 2 tbsp flour 2 tbsp butter 2 tsp dried mint flakes 1 tsp salt

Instructions: •In a bowl, beat the yogurt, flour and egg well.

•Add cold water slowly to the bowl and mix.

•Put the yogurt mix into a pot and start cooking over very low heat. Chef Leyla’s Note: It is important that you start with low heat and keep stirring, otherwise yogurt will curdle. Give yogurt some time to get used to the heat.

•Add rice and keep stirring. Cook on low heat until boiled and keep stirring.

•Let the mixture boil over medium heat, then turn heat down and cook for another 15 minutes.

•Heat butter in a pan. Once it sizzles, add mint flakes and stir for 20-30 seconds (don’t let it burn).

•Pour the butter mixture into the soup. Enjoy!

IRMIK HELVASI This delicious dessert dish is one that can’t be beat!

Ingredients: Main • • • Syrup • • •

1 cup semolina flour 125ml unsalted butter 2 tbsp pine nuts 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1 cup milk

Instructions:

•Cook the main ingredients on medium-low heat until golden brown in a large pot, constantly stirring.

•In another pot, mix the syrup ingredients until boiled.

Mmmmm

•Pour the syrup mixture very slowly into the pot with the semolina while stirring with a long wooden spoon.

Chef Leyla’s Note: The mixture will be bubbly and will spit, so be careful!

•Stir until the mixture leaves the sides of the pot (in other words, it will become doughy). This shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes.

•Then place away from heat with the lid on, wait for 5 minutes and put in a bowl, leveled.

•When cooled, present it upside down on a flat plate.

Serve in slices.

world of words

The Janadriyah Festival

By Aldana Almudaiheem of Saudi Arabia

Academic English Level 50

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he Janadriyah Festival is one of the largest festivals in Saudi Arabia, which is held every year in the winter season from 12th to 26th of February in the capital city, Riyadh. Since it started 27 years ago, it has been the main cultural presentation for Saudi Arabia, exhibiting the heritage and Saudi civilization. Visitors can enjoy a number of cultural activities that can’t be found anywhere else.

The festival starts with camel racing which is an ancient sport in the Arabian Peninsula.

The 20-kilometer race, with up to 3,000 camels and participants from several countries, is the largest camel race in the world. The camel race is one of the reasons for the festival’s existence.

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After the camel race is the concert, which king Abdullah attends. It begins with famous Saudi artists and ends with the “Ardah”, which is a traditional type of dance in Saudi Arabia.

Inside the Janadriyah village is the market, which is well worth the visit. Here one can enjoy the traditional and ancient Saudi dresses, dishes and utensils that are colorful and have Saudi engraving.

Most of them are handcrafted.

Following the market, Janadriyah village also reveals the cultural activities, such as poetry sessions, lectures, art exhibitions, book fairs and finally the traditional food stalls from all the Saudi regions.

A visit to the Janadriyah village is an excellent way to get to know the Saudi culture and history and also to get familiar with the Saudi lifestyle. Finally, we are proud of the development our country has made. We are even more proud of our past, which is the foundation of our culture and our heritage.

issue 78, June 2012

Our Minds

By Abdulrahman Aljuhani of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 40

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s humans, everyone has a great blessing which is the mind. Furthermore, we have to maintain and enhance it. How do we maintain our minds and how do we enhance it?. To answer these questions, we have to look at our statuses with reading, observing, meditation and creation. In the beginning, reading means we feed our minds with knowledge as we usually feed our bodies with food. This leads us to observation and meditation: observing the events and then meditating on them. We can’t reach this level without knowledge. In other words, we have

Life

to read a lot to catch the right way to meditate. It is likely that we will reach this point, if we read more and give sustain effort. Then, all of these will qualify us to transfer to a very high level creation. Reading a lot, observing events and meditating on them, we will reach this level; otherwise, only “gifted people” will be able to reach creation. Eventually, if we go through the reading, observing, meditating and creating stages respectively, we will maintain our mind and fly to distinction.

By Maria Alejandra Ortiz of Colombia, Academic English Level 40

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ife has different periods; one of this is when you are studying in a school. That is a bubble. All the time you are with your friends, your parents, your teachers, and so on. They help you, they take care of you, and you only need to learn. When the bubble breaks and you pass from the school to the university, you have to do many things by yourself. You learn how to be selfsufficient. You meet new people, new teachers and new methods. Your parents continue taking care of you but in a different way. They chose the best for you, but now you have to choose the best for yourself. Another thing that changes is the way how you see the world. The world becomes bigger and not so easy. However, the life goes on; therefore, you also need to continue.

When you are growing, you forget how it is to be a kid. I don´t mean that you have to behave like a child.

I mean that you forget the special qualities that every kid has. When you become an adult, you have more responsibilities. For example, you have to work; you have to cook, and so on. You have to do multiple things because you have to do it, not because you like to do it.

All of that makes you forget the kids’ qualities. What are those qualities? How do they see the world? Anything makes them happy easily. They see the positive side of the world: they don’t discriminate; they help; they play; and they are open-minded. You shouldn´t forget those things.

Japan

By Hideka Hamada of Japan

Academic English Level 40

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heard the news that there were about fifty public servant employees in Osaka city who had a tattoo. The citizens claimed that it was a serious problem that there were tattooed people. Therefore, a bureau gave directions to erase their tattoos as soon as possible.

However, I often see tattooed people in Toronto. I think that a tattoo is a kind of fashion or identity. Why is it a bad image in Japan? In addition, most schools in Japan don’t permit students to dye their hair and pierce their ears. Why are there rules which are related to appearance in Japan? I think that the reason is Japanese culture. Also, the number of people

who worry what other people think of personal appearance is bigger than in other countries.

These rules are a matter of no importance, but if someone violates these rules, he or she tends to be regarded coldly by other people.

Japanese have mistaken the point which we must focus on. Japanese are strict with things which are a trifling matter. Now, Japan has a lot of difficult problems, so there are important things which we have to consider. Even though everyone in aware of that, why is no one doing that? It is necessary for Japan to root out deep-rooted prejudice, and consider that what the most important thing is for us.

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world of words

Arabic Calligraphy

By Eman Al Amer of Saudi Arabia,

Academic English Level 40

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rabic Calligraphy is based on the Arabic script. The word calligraphy is taken from the Greek word callous (beauty) and graphe (writing), which is considered in western society as beautiful (hand) writing of the Arabic language. The common observation is connected with handwriting as more of a type of lettering. Historically Arabic script change, due to the influences of regional writing styles, as well as due to the conquest and conversion to Islam.

The Islamic calligraphy is developed from a square and angular writing and it is decorated alongside geometrical shapes, patterns and Arabesques. One of the main reasons that the development of art of calligraphy in the Islamic world is to write the holy Quran. The human or animal representation is forbidden in Islam which leads to the use of geometry patterns, etc. Arab script is more aesthetically pleasing and more beautiful. It is used in writing the holy scripture of the Muslims, the holy Quran and decoration of monumental buildings.

The traditional instrument of the Arabic Calligrapher is the QALAM, a pen made of dried bamboo. The ink is a color and different intensity can be chosen. Arabic is written from right to left. The full alphabet of 28 letters is available by placing various combinations of dots above or below some of the letters.

There are several types of Arabic Calligraphy such as: Kufic Script, Geometric Kufic, Nasakh script, Thuluth script, Riqa’ script, Shikaste script, Ta’liq script Tughra script etc.

One of my favourite hobbies is Arabic Calligraphy and I hope I don’t lose this hobby due to a lack of practice these days because I study English language and the current time I write in Arabic is rare.

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issue 78, June 2012

Playing Lacrosse in Canada

By Ryoichi Kondo, Academic English Level 40 I play lacrosse in Toronto twice a week.

Playing lacrosse in Canada was my dream because lacrosse is Canada’s national sport. Actually, it is wonderful for me to play lacrosse in Canada.

First, the level of their play is higher than Japanese players. Most Canadian players begin to play lacrosse at the age of 5 or 6 years old. They have played it for a long time. Therefore, their stick work is amazing. In addition, they have great power because their bodies are bigger and stronger than Japanese players. For example, they can push the opponent easily, and their shots are so fast. Because there are many good players in Canada, I’ll be able to improve my skill by playing

with them.

Also, I can enjoy lacrosse easily in Canada. I have to join a lacrosse team and practice hard with the team to play it in Japan. As a result, the population of lacrosse players isn’t high. In contrast, in Canada, I can play it easily if I go to a community centre or fields near my homestay. In these places, there are a lot of good players.

However, various people including elderly people and women also play lacrosse. Everybody enjoys playing lacrosse in Canada.

Finally, it is a good opportunity to practice my English. I can make friends with native English speaker by playing lacrosse. They teach

me how can I improve my play, and they often drive me to my home.

Sometimes, we drink together. Thus, I can communicate and have many conversations with Canadian people.

I talk with them about lacrosse, Japan and so on. I study in Canada, but there are not so many chances to talk with Canadian people at school. Therefore, playing lacrosse is a good way to practice and improve my English.

In conclusion, there are some advantages to playing lacrosse in Canada. The level is high, we can play it everywhere and we can practice speaking English. I’m glad that I have a chance to play lacrosse in Canada.

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world of words

Toronto’s Historic Elgin Texts & photographs by Becky Smith

W

alking into the foyer of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre on Yonge Street the swag chandeliers, gilded mirrors and marble columns are reminiscent of a golden age. An era when gentlemen had slicked back hair, ladies wore long dresses and glamour was all the rage.

C

ombined into one opulent yet functional building, the Elgin and Winter Garden make up the only double-decker theatre complex currently operating in the world. The two theatres are literally stacked on top of each other and share an entrance on Toronto’s main avenue at 189 Yonge Street.

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he width of the entrance is deceptive and its position was a cunning act on the part of the man who decided to build it, Marcus Loew. An American entrepreneur, Loew chose to expand his theatrical empire by opening a venue across the border by building a theatre in Toronto. In order to be a success he felt that his theatre needed a prestigious address. At that time Yonge Street was the place to be but land prices were exorbitant. Loew managed to negotiate the purchase of a 55 metre strip extending back from the main road to a plot of land large enough for his architectural vision on the side street behind. The long entrance foyer now leads you deep into the heart of the building through stained-glass doors and the elegance of the Elgin’s auditorium is eventually revealed.

S

even Áoors above and accessed by a twisting marble staircase sits the Winter Garden. Visitors are often heard gasping in amazement as they enter the fairy-tale like interior of the theatre for the Àrst time.

Its frescoes, hanging tree branches and suspended lanterns all add to the illusion that theatregoers are actually watching a performance in an outdoor setting.

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B

uilt in just a few months with both theatres fully functioning by February 1914, the two venues

originally presented vaudeville productions and silent movies. The Elgin was originally known as the Loew’s Yonge Street Theatre when it opened.

It would run shows on a cyclical basis for ten to twelve hours per day with no intervals.

Customers paid one price and could stay as long as they wanted.

Upstairs in the Winter Garden, wealthier Torontonians paid more for their one-show only ticket and sat in greater comfort.

Performers worked hard for their money and would run up and down the stairs between the two stages to do their acts.

T

hree restored backdrops found in the theatre are now on display in the modern extension Àtted with escalators and connecting both theatres today. The sets are part of 150 pieces of vaudeville scenery found during the Winter Garden’s restoration and considered the world’s largest collection from that period. Visitors to a performance in either theatre or on one of the tours lead by knowledgeable volunteers are able to view the three works along with a number of other treasures from the theatres’ past.

issue 78, June 2012

& Winter Garden Theatre Texts & photographs by Becky Smith

grand staircase and Sam the Saxophonist, who lost his life by falling into the orchestra pit, is said to play a haunting tune on occasion.

D

ue to the invention of the talking movies, vaudeville and silent movies declined in popularity during the late 1920s. The Elgin was rewired for sound and converted into a full-time cinema showing such family favourites as Gone with the Wind and the Wizard of Oz but later taking on a seedier tone.

The Winter Garden was closed altogether and stayed in the dark silently decaying behind closed doors for over half a century.

D

uring the 1980s, the whole building was sold to the Ontario Heritage Trust who, together with a team of dedicated volunteers, set about restoring what is now a National Historic Site. The $29 million (Canadian) dollar project involved the cleaning of original frescoes using 1500 pounds in weight of bread dough and the suspension of 5000 beech leaves from the ceiling in the Winter Garden in order to revive Thomas Lamb’s original decoration. The handoperated lifts are original although the seats are not.

Those in the Winter Garden were purchased from the Biograph Theatre in Chicago outside of which the infamous bank robber John “Jackrabbit” Dillinger was gunned down by police after watching Clark Gable light up the screen.

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hese days it is the stage rather than the screen which once again brings in the patrons. Arnie Lappin, the Centre’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator, explains that the two theatres now offer, “a wide range of entertainment that appeals to a broad audience.” Opera, ballet, musical theatre, comedy and the annual pantomime are all regularly scheduled. Film screenings are no longer allowed in the theatres although there is one exception and that is during the Àrst two weeks of September when much of the world’s Àlm industry heads to “Hollywood North” as Toronto has been dubbed.

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oth theatres are screening venues for one of North America’s glitziest Àlm star gatherings, the Toronto International Film Festival. Jennifer Lopez, Brad Pitt and Sean Penn have all passed along the red carpet in recent years. It’s ironic that the industry which could so easily have caused the demise of such an architectural masterpiece is now celebrating within it.

Theatre Tours Thursdays at 5 p.m. and Saturday mornings at 11 a.m.

Admission: Adults: $12, Students and Seniors: $10.

D

on.

illinger’s ghost is not known to haunt his chair’s new home but there are a tales of ghostly goings A lavender lady is said to climb the sweeping

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world of words

The Distillery District Texts & photographs by Becky Smith

I

n her 1997 Orange prize-winning novel, Fugitive Pieces, Canadian author Anne Michaels describes Toronto as, â€œâ€Śa city of derelict warehouses and docks, of waterfront VLORV DQG IUHLJKW \DUGV FRDO \DUGV DQG D VXJDU UHĂ€QHU\ RI distilleries, the cloying smell of malt rising from the lake on humid summer nights.â€?

F

RU D IUHVK RI WKH SODQH YLVLWRU WR 7RURQWR ÀUVW LPSUHVVLRQV are more likely to be of a metropolis dominated by towering skyscrapers, architecturally daring museums, an easy-to-navigate transport system and a redeveloped waterfront bordering Lake Ontario. It’s perhaps hard to match the reality of the downtown core with Michael’s industrialised imagery.

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ne of North America’s most economically booming cities may have smartened up its central business district but dig a little bit around the edges and remnants of its industrial heritage can still be found.

H

eading east from the centre on the King (#504) streetcar you soon pass a number of the warehouses Michael’s refers to. These don’t look derelict though. They’ve been converted into trendy loft-style apartments.

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nce you alight at Parliament Street and head two blocks south further glimpses of Toronto’s industrial past start to peek out between the construction cranes and half-built condominiums.

Distellery Lane

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small alleyway to the left leads to an area known as the Distillery District which bills itself as having the, “best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America�.

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he Distillery District, celebrates its 180th birthday this year.

Unlike many of its industrial neighbours it was saved from the wrecker’s ball and is now cultivating a reputation as a pedestrian-friendly cultural village.

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rt galleries, design outlets and performance venues are spread amongst the 44 buildings. Throughout the summer, the old bricks resonate with the sounds of blues, jazz and drums during the regular weekend music festivals held here. This arts scene is bolstered by a variety of eateries and watering holes as well as a spa and speciality shops, all of which have opened up in the last few years.

I

n 2001 the decaying distillery buildings and the 13-acres of land they stand upon were bought by a development company for what Kyle Purcell, one of the Distillery’s guides describes as, “a steal of a deal�. The price tag was $10.7 million dollars and over three times that amount has since been spent on transforming this national historic site.

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Brick Street Bakery

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urcell and his colleagues from the Visitor Centre lead walking tours around the recently cobbled streets which up until a few years ago were muddy lanes. They also offer a rather novel tour option for those who prefer two wheels to two feet using a Segway, an electronic people transporter. Whichever method you prefer, the tours provide D GHWDLOHG H[SODQDWLRQ RI KRZ WKH RQH WLPH Ă RXU PLOO JUHZ WR be the largest distillery in the British Empire and then fell into decline after Prohibition began in Canada.

issue 78, June 2012

Soma Chocolares

Mill Street Brewery & Brewpub

Pure Spirits Patio

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y the 1990s a guillotine was hanging over the Distillery District’s future when it was saved from GHPROLWLRQ E\ WKH JURZWK RI 7RURQWR¡V ÀOP LQGXVWU\ )RU most of that decade the site operated as a closed movie ORW DQG KDV EHHQ XVHG DV WKH ORFDWLRQ IRU RYHU ÀOPV including Chicago and Cinderella Man.

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oday, the old buildings are once again manufacturing alcohol and cooking up addictive substances. The Mill Street Microbrewery produces an array of award-winning beers on sale locally and in its RZQ EUHZSXE ,W ZDV 7RURQWR¡V ÀUVW QHZ EUHZHU\ LQ years when it began in 2002.

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pposite is the handmade chocolate shop, Soma.

Delicious wafts of chocolate tempt customers inside as the door opens and closes. Ann Ward, a Marketing Executive for Mars, is in Toronto on holiday but FDQ¡W UHVLVW VQLIÀQJ RXW WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ 6KH¡V WHPSWHG to purchase a Mayan Hot Chocolate Shot, which Purcell describes as making him feel a little emotional just to talk about. Ward plumps for a Willy Wonka style chocolate bar instead. She must be pleased that there don’t appear to be any plans to prohibit the sale of this particular addictive substance.

B

Interior of the Boiler House

oth the brewery and chocolate shop are located on Tank House Lane. Many of the street and business names indicate which part of the distillation process was previously undertaken on that spot. Inside The Boiler House restaurant, which serves up an extensive buffet-brunch on Sundays, the original boiler has been carefully integrated into the contemporary design.

Similarly, the linear layout of the Pure Spirits oyster house and grill has echoes of the past when rail tracks were EXLOW LQWR WKH Ă RRU LQ RUGHU WR UROO EDUUHOV DORQJ HDVLO\

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races of the Distillery’s legacy can be found everywhere. Original loading machinery is on display in the Case Goods Warehouse alongside the retail workshops of the Distillery’s resident artists. Marks can also be seen on the windowsills of Balzac’s CafÊ where ropes ate into the walls as they pulled boats in for loading and unloading. The water no longer comes DQ\ZKHUH QHDU WKLV IRUPHU 3XPS +RXVH /DQGÀOO KDV pushed the harbour further out into the lake along with WKH VLORV DQG VXJDU UHÀQHU\

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vidence of Toronto’s industrial past may still be found but the cloying smell described

by Michaels, is not so apparent. Instead the air LV ÀOOHG ZLWK PRUH SOHDVDQW DURPDV ´,¡P GUDZQ to walk in this direction,� announces Jon Bedford from Windsor, UK, as he strides towards the Distillery District’s Brick Street Bakery enticed by the smell of freshly-baked bread and pies.

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world of words

above photo by Azer Mutlu

above photo by Azer Mutlu

above photos by Azer Mutlu

above photo by Azer Mutlu

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SO

above photo by Azer Mutlu

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issue 78, June 2012

above photo by Azer Mutlu

above photo by Azer Mutlu

English Beyond the Classroom

above photo by Kaede Oyama

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world of words

A Long Weekend at the Circus:

The Toronto International Circus Festival By

Andrea Cuellar, Cultural Assistant

Whenever a long weekend comes around and gives us an extra day off of work and school to relax, the city comes alive with activities for those who are staying downtown, especially in the summertime!

The Victoria Day long weekend is when the annual Toronto International Circus Festival takes place at the Harbourfront Center. Both indoors and out, this free weekend-long festival is full of fun circus entertainment and interactive activities.

Two large stages have special performances going on at the same time throughout the day, all weekend. This is a special chance to see professional circus performers and their highly skilled acts up close. Specially trained acrobats from the Zero Gravity Circus and the Canadian National Youth Circus swing across the stages on ropes and hoops while doing special tricks in the air, all while holding on tight so they don’t fall! These death defying performances are not ones you should try at home. There are also talented jugglers who can juggle over 5 bowling pins or tennis balls at a time, and even knives and chainsaws! If you can bare it, you can even watch daredevils eat fire and swallow swords!

Walking from one stage to another, the paths are full of activities and things to see along the way. Magicians and illusionists 50

are walking around making things disappear, doing card tricks and reading minds. Puppet shows are happening in one corner while a clown makes any figure you want out of balloons, another rides by on a unicycle, and men walk around on giant stilts that make them look over ten feet tall!

When you’re finished with all there is to see, taking a walk along the Harbourfront is perfect for taking in the scenery of Lake Ontario. With all the boats sailing on the water towards the islands, and the planes landing at the nearby airport it is a perfect photo opportunity when the weather is nice. It is a completely different side of Toronto that has activities going on all summer long.

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The CN Tower

Did you know...?

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l n look out leve ...that the mai t ou ok lo t es isn’t the high ronto from spot to see To ? The elevator the CN tower higher up to can take you ch is as high hi w the Sky Pod g stories! That as 147 buildin lookout point is the highest e main look th compared to is as high as out level which ories.

113 building st

...that th e 117,910 m CN Tower weig hs etric ton ne built us ing 40,5 s? It was 24 m3 o concrete f , 128.7 k tension m of post ed stee l, 4,535 tonnes metric of and 544 reinforcing ste el .2 metric tonnes structura o f l steel.

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ft, 5 ...that at 553 m (1,815 wer To inches) tall, the CN lest tal rd thi is the world’s the er aft s me co It tower? ytree Sk o ky To w ne nd bra lest which is now the tal ed low fol m, 4 63 tower at r at we To n nto Ca the by 600 m.

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N the C …that has r towe tely 2 xima al p ap ro ternation in n ? millio rs a year visito

3 million cost $6 ...that it er? This the tow costs to build a tal of ll to e h t is the 40 se over build that aro it took to months r. e the tow

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By Andrea Cuellar, Cultural

...that tower issuethe 78,CN June 2012 is not just used as an attraction for visitors enjoy and overlook? It was actually built as a communication platform. The very tall antenna at the very top of the tower makes it a transmitter for all major broadcast AM, FM and DAB radio stations, as well as wireless service providers.

It was also built to show the strength of Canadian industry at the time.

…that th glass fl e special o or give bird’s sa ey city th e view of th at e anywh you can’t ge ere els t e in th city? It e is as h igh as 112 bu ilding stories !

...that the Edge Walk is the world ’s highest full-cir hands-free walk? cle It opened on Au gust 1st 2011 and visitors the chan gives ce to walk on to p of the main po tower during th d of the e spring/ summ er months. A gu group around th ide escorts your e pod, and talks you through lean so that it feels lik ing over the edge e you are soarin g above Toronto. cord that attach There is only on es your body to e the overhead ra il system. Yikes!

Assistant

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Soccer Starsu Sports Club

by Darren Rigo

Mustafa Sarier Turkey Position: Defender Team: Galatasaray SK Player: Lionel Messi “I just like running an kicking the ball, it’s amazing! I also like the combination of strategyand quick thinking.”

Khaled Ould Isselmou Mauritania Position: Striker Team: FC Barcelona Player: Lionel Messi “I like soccer because it’s a team sport. I enjoy watching it on TV, I like the strategy and the goals are very exciting.”

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Azer Mutlu Turkey Position: Striker Team: FC Barcelona Player: Georghe Hagi â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soccer symbolizes collectivism. We get very used to playing and watching it.

These days I watch more than I play.â&#x20AC;?

1DPĂ&#x2014;N .RWDUR <DQJ China Position: Point-guard Team: I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know any.

Player: I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know any. â&#x20AC;&#x153; My favorite sport is basketball.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never played soccer, this is NZ mSTU UJNFĂžw

Abdulrahman Saudi Arabia 1PTJUJPO .JEmFMEFS Team: Al-Hilal FC Player: Yousef Al-Thunayan â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been playing soccer for many years.

When I was younger Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d play 3 hours day. All of my family fmaily and friends â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; in my bloodâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;? play so its

6KXQVXNH 6XNHVXNHPDQ Japan â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love sukesukeman. Its sooo good. So good! Yes! Yes! Yes! Sorry. Actually... I cant speak English.

Sukesukemanâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?

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Take me out to the ballgame Erik Dean

ELP Cultural Assistant

B

aseball is a popular sport that has a significant part in western culture and history. Its origin stretches back hundreds of years and the game is rich with its own terms, slang, and traditions. Just being exposed to baseball in small doses growing up I had learned a few things about baseball culture: it’s referred to as “America’s favourite pastime”, it has its own unofficial anthem “Take me out to the ball game” (which was written way back in 1908!), and there is usually a mascot on the field acting wild during major league games. Until recently I had never attended a baseball game (I have a cousin who claims he went to a game with me when I was three years old but I don’t think that counts), but with ELP I was able to finally see one. I attended a Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Mets game and discovered some more things about baseball culture I didn’t know before, which I found to be very interesting.

[Chorus] Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd; Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don't care if I never get back.

Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don't win, it's a shame.

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, At the old ball game.

At a baseball game, the audience usually substitutes the home team’s name in place of the lyrics “home team”. ex. “Let me root, root, root for the Blue Jays…”

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One of the things I never knew about before was the seventh inning stretch. In the middle of the seventh inning the game takes a pause and everybody in the audience stops what they’re doing to get up and stretch. Music plays during the stretch and everybody moves in rhythm to the music, guided by people on the playing field.

Afterwards the aforementioned song “Take me out to the ball game” plays and everybody sings along; the whole song doesn’t play however, only the chorus. The seventh inning stretch followed by the singing of baseball’s anthem (or in some cases people apparently sing the anthem during the stretches) is an old tradition practiced in both the United States and Canada since before 1920 where the first record of the phrase “seventh inning stretch” appears. Another thing I learned at the game was that the letter K represents a strikeout. At first I was confused when I suddenly saw K’s all over the stadium and on the gigantic screens but I was informed about what it meant pretty soon after.

The seventh inning stretch is composed of stretching left and right as seen here, followed by some energetic fist pumping and then repeating from the stretches until the game restarts. It wasn’t nearly as fun to do it here without the music and the whole crowd going with me

Having only experienced baseball by playing in the streets or rarely at school, I didn’t know a lot about baseball’s stadium culture and it was a lot of fun to see it all live. I would say it was as much fun to learn about the culture, the traditions, and to participate in them, as it was to watch the game itself. Don’t get me wrong though, just because I enjoyed being part of the traditions so much doesn’t mean the game I watched wasn’t eventful. It was a high scoring game with all kinds of home runs. The Mets scored with a grand slam at one point and somebody just seats away from me even caught a fly ball! Ultimately though, despite all the action stealing the spotlight, the traditions were a lot of why I enjoyed being at that game so much. I just feel that culture is one of the most interesting subjects to learn about since it is such a critical part of being human.

Didn’t get the baseball lingo in this article? Don’t worry!

Strike-out: Grand Slam: Bases Loaded: Home run: Fly Ball:

When a player fails to hit the ball after three tries and gets an out A homerun hit with all the bases loaded When each base is occupied by a player from the scoring team A hit that guarantees a batter to run through to home plate and score A ball that had been hit with a bat up into the air

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Spring Camping at Glen Bernard Camp

X_A R3c JV? @Mh `{>

By Chris Chipman, Program Administrator

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n the morning of Friday, June 8th, students from the English Language Program departed Toronto for a weekend of spring camping at Glen Bernard Camp (GBC). Located on the sunny shores of Lake Bernard (the largest lake in the world without an island), Glen Bernard Camp offers an experience that is impossible to find in urban Toronto.

-

On the Road

We left Toronto at 9:30am and were northern bound, all the way up to Sundridge, Ontario (a three hour drive with good traffic).

To help the time go by, Cultural Assistants played Daifugo (a japanese card game) with students on the bus. When we stopped for a quick break at Weberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Burgers in Orillia, we made sure to sing Happy Birthday to Shihoko, and even provided some birthday cake!

56

7

High Ropes

After arriving at the camp and grabbing some lunch, we were ready to tackle the activities the camp had to offer. The first on the list was the high ropes course. Students challenged themselves to climb ‘the log’, ‘the wall’ and the ‘the bridge’ and were kept safe by using a belay system (where one person on the ground ensures you don’t fall through a rope and pully system).

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Low Ropes

We challenged ourselves even further by trying the low ropes course. The low ropes course does not require the use of a belay system (but it’s a good idea to have some friends spotting you). The challenges required lots of physical strength, but also a great deal of problem solving skills.

X

The Zip Line

The zip line was the highlight of the trip for many students. The way it worked was very simple, you would climb to a platform suspended in a tree, get clipped into a very long cable, and you would push yourself off of the platform. Gravity and momentum do their thing and suddenly you enjoy the experience of flying (zipping) through the trees!

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Camp Fires and Sunsets

Our first evening at camp was spent enjoying the beauty of a place along the shore called ‘Alter Rock’. It’s called Alter Rock because each winter the ice changes (alters) the shape of the shoreline, so it’s different every year. At Alter Rock, we ate smores, we sang songs, we watched the sunset - it was wonderful.

3

Canoes and Kayaks

On our second day at camp, we ventured into the lake on canoes and kayaks. For some ELP students, this was their first time paddling.

Everyone had a great time, but some of us did get wet!

V

Bows and Arrows

At GBC we were given the chance to try compound bows (the same bows hunters use).

ELP students were excellent archers, and often hit the target better than ELP staff members.

Oh, and don’t worry - no students were harmed during the archery lesson.

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`

Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball is an ELP favorite and we made sure to organize a game while we were at camp. We held a mini tournament where the team that won a game would stay for another game and the losing team would move off the court to practice. Maxine and Darren’s team could not be beat!

r

Nature Hike

We took a break from our fast paced activities for a stroll through the forest. It’s easy to forget how beautiful and relaxing the wilderness can be and we were very grateful for the reminder. It’s just too bad we didn’t see a moose!

A

Bird Watching

One of my favorite places at GBC is the tower called ‘Cosmos’. The tower reaches above the trees and affords a great vantage point for seeing across the lake or bird watching. Unfortunately the boys had trouble knowing which way to look...

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F

Group Initiative Games

On our second night at GBC, we tried group initiative games. Initiative games don’t require any special equipment and can be played almost anywhere. One of the most interesting games was called ‘the chair sit’. It involved four people sitting down on chairs and leaning back on one another. The chairs are then removed and it’s up to the team to stay up in the air as long as possible. It was fun, but it wasn’t easy!

@ _ c

Thank You Glen Bernard Camp

We had a fantastic weekend at Glen Bernard Camp! Thank you to the staff and students that made it all possible.

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Summer Flicks:

issue 78, June 2012

The Gang’s All Here

By Evelyn Pedersen, Comprehensive English Instructor

Summer is finally here, and with it, a great line-up of new dramas and action flicks. There will be strange spins on childhood tales (Snow White and The Huntsman), several charming animations (Brave, and Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted), the return of some legendary crime-stoppers (The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Bourne Legacy), and fiery battles against terrifying alien invasions (Men in Black 3, and Battleship).

This last theme – Aliens come calling! – resonates with many movie-goers as it hooks into those age-old questions: Is there anyone out there? Are we all alone on this spinning ball, or are there other life forms, even other civilizations somewhere in the universe? Are they peaceful, or must we be wary of them? Based on the Marvel comic book series by the same name, in this season’s blockbuster The Avengers, all alien hell is unleashed on an unsuspecting Manhattan. SHIELD director Nick Fury is – well, he is furyous – and calls in an eclectic mix of superheroes to save the day. Problem is, each of them comes with a personal agenda, an enormous ego, and a powerpack full of unresolved issues. Iron Man, Thor, the Black Widow, Hawkeye, the Hulk, Captain America – these guys – these guys all know of one another, but have never played together in the same sandbox. Petty and suspicious, they immediately take offense and slash out at each other, never stopping for a nanosecond to understand that in so doing, they are playing right into the enemy’s hand. What will it take for these gifted boneheads to wake up and get it right? Can the Avengers learn to cover each other’s backs and work as a team before it’s too late? Or will the enemy’s divide-and-conquer tactic result in the forcible takeover of Planet Earth by the hellish aliens?

Where alien forces bring the battle to the previously unacquainted superheroes in The Avengers, a quite different scenario is unfolding in the colourful drama, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The aliens in this film are not flying monsters clad in metal, but rather, in the oldest sense of the word, they are a group of aliens (that is, “ones who are not from here”) transplanted into a foreign country. This brilliant story rallies together a cast of veteran actors as a hodge-podge of British retirees. As with the Avengers, these folks have never met before; their first introductions happen during a gruelling trip to the bustling city of

Jaipur, India. Each has come on a one-way ticket, lured by the promise of idling away their twilight years in a luxuriously restored historic hotel. But the exotic marigold turns out to be a dilapidated disappointment, and as will happen whenever you try to cram too may monkeys into one barrel, our seniors begin to agitate. Some of them find themselves at cross purposes, while others persevere in their individual quests for love, for health, for perspective, and for peace of mind and heart before closing the book. A touching and very human story, a fascinating glimpse into life in urban India, and a thoughtful reflection on the challenges of aging, The Best Exotic is, hands down, a summer must-see .

Evelyn Pedersen teaches the English through Movies class in the Comprehensive English program.

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Ask Rosa

“Hear me now, believe me later...”

Question:

Dear Rosa, I am feeling frustrated with a younger class mate, who has also become a friend to me over the past several months of study. Without going into detail, my friend did something to upset me.

I want to believe it wasn’t intentional because she’s been a good friend overall. However, I feel upset with myself for not having raised the issue at the time that it happened. She doesn’t know how I feel. I want to address it with her, but I fear it’s too late to bring up now, and that that I will rock the boat and possibly lose her friendship.

Any thoughts?

Suffering in Silence

Answer:

Dear Suffering in Silence, To speak or not to speak, that is the question. In my opinion, you have two choices: A) Purge. In choosing to remain silent, you don’t give your friendship the gift of unconditional love or forgiveness. If you’re unable to talk about the issue at this present time because you’re too hurt or too upset and don’t wish to say something untoward or something you’ll regret, then take a few days to calm down and sort out your feelings. However, if you wait too long to raise the issue, your feelings of upset may turn into resentment. Not only that, but your friend will feel robbed of the truth (especially if she values your friendship as much as you value hers). She’ll wonder why you weren’t honest at the time the issue was unfolding. Moreover, she’ll wonder why you didn’t trust her with your feelings. Allow this growing moment (open communication, honesty and vulnerability) to strengthen your friendship so you can move beyond a place of frustration and onto newer things. You can live in the past and be angry (to yourself, silently), or you can share your feelings and trust that your friendship can handle it.

hit the refresh key and not address the issue but instead wipe her slate clean, then you must allow her the space to develop and catch up to where you are. If you hit the refresh key, you’re allowing her room to grow and not holding her youth, lack of life experience or ignorance against her.

If you hit the refresh key, you’re agreeing to be supportive as she progresses through levels of maturity and not punish her for the time it took her to complete the journey.

Question:

Dear Rosa, I heard that you recently attended Oprah’s Live Life Class that was held in downtown Toronto. I saw coverage (and crowds of people standing in line) on the evening news. What life lessons did you take away from the experience?

Curious Learner

Answer:

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“We have to meet people where they are in their evolution and if it’s not where we are, then we must hope that they catch up.”

Emotion is created by motion--the direction you move in is the way you’ll feel.

The fastest way to change your state is to do something radical: body movement (walk tall and confidently, smile at others or dance your way out of your state). Movement will change your current state and infuse you with energy.

– Tony Robbins

“What other people think of you is none of your business.

If you make it your business you will be offended for the rest of your life.”

- Deepak Chopra

Dear Curious Learner, The experience was truly uplifting! I was inspired by each of the four motivational speakers: Deepak Chopra, Iyanla Vanzant, Bishop T.D. Jakes and Tony Robbins. The mega media mogul herself, Ms. Oprah Winfrey, was also present, stepping out on the main stage to a roaring crowd in the final two hours of the event. The fabulous four shared personal and career life lessons they have learned throughout the course of their lives.

Approximately 8,500 loyal fans (mostly women), packed the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on April 16th, with the excitement and anticipation of a two year old on Christmas morning. The half day event ended with a two hour live broadcast of Oprah’s Life Class featured on the talk show host’s OWN Network. My top 5 favourite life lessons are as follows:

OR B) Refresh. Depending on the gravity of the transgression and your willingness to forgive, you may simply decide to hit the refresh key.

By that I mean, you say to yourself: everyone is evolving at a different pace. We have to meet people where they are in their evolution and if it’s not where we are, then we must hope that they catch up. If you choose to

We need to take risks to succeed and grow (push yourself outside of your comfort zone).

– Tony Robbins

Iyanla Vanzant used an enlightening acronym for us to remember at the crossroads of any conflict, S.T.O.P. Stop, smile Take a deep breath Observe yourself (and/or situation) Proceed with kindness

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Forgive, but never forget. Learn from it so it will never happen again. Find wisdom in all things. Turn wounds into wisdom.

– Bishop T.D. Jakes

What other people think of you is none of your business. If you make it your business you will be offended for the rest of your life.

– Deepak Chopra Don’t share your vision with naysayers. Never judge your destiny based on someone else’s response.

- Vanzant

Do you have a question for Ask Rosa? Send an email with ‘Ask Rosa’ in the subject to wow.elp@utoronto.ca

Rosa Leo has been serving

the students of the English Language Program for over 8 years. Visit Rosa in the office for student services or registration information.

issue 78, June 2012

Memories

Stay in touch through... facebook.com/UofTELP

@ELPSCSUofT

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM 252 Bloor St. West, Suite 4-106 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1V6 t: 416.978.5104 f: 416.971.2839 e: learn.english@utoronto.ca w: learn.english.utoronto.ca SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES 158 St. George St. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2V8 t: 416.978.2400 f: 416.978.6666 e: learn@utoronto.ca w: learn.utoronto.ca