World of Words; Spring June 2011 by University of Toronto English Language Program

world of words June 2011, issue 74

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

Are You Getting Enough? A sleep deprivation survey

ORPHANS ON THE Focus on Japan, Greetings SILVER SCREEN from Camp France & Glen Bernard +more film reviews Toronto

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Inside this issue

A Royal Farewell Unlikely Classmates July Social Activity Calendar Oh, Baby, Baby, Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Wild World Are You Getting Enough Barbeque at the Toronto Islands Photo Club Gallery

Student Opinion Section Should Cell Phone Use be Allowed in Schools America and the Decay of Democracy Focus on Japan Focus on France Senseless Smoking The Historic University of Toronto The Volunteer Experience Program Orphans on the Silver Screen X-Men: First Class Review Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Review A Taste of Toronto: Moroccan Cuisine Congratulations to Academic Skills Students ELP Soccer Super Stars Boat Cruise Party Question of the Week Into Secret Doors: Doors Open Toronto Toronto Through the Eyes of ELP Students Greetings from Glen Bernard Camp

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Rolla Tahir Qasim Alibhai, Nanamoye Ascofare, Laura Brown, Cassie Cai, Karen Cao, Lily Choi, Kimberley Hindy , Monique Montgomery, Toni Papa, Evelyn Pedersen, Darren Rigo, Karen Thomson, Wilson Yu

Editor & Layout Designer Contributors

2011 upcoming WOW submission deadlines: September 9, December 2

ELP Director’s Message June 2011 Dear all, Street strolls, park picnics and Bixi bikes – it is undoubtedly summer in Toronto! In this issue of the WoW magazine, we invite you to spring forward into summer with us! We present a sliver of the exciting happenings at the English Language Program and we hope it will encourage you to contribute to future issues. As we prepare to welcome new and returning students from all over the world, we are also busy planning programs and activities for them to participate in and practice their English outside the classrooms. Each month we organize a wide array of activities to ensure everyone’s participation, so make sure to view our activities calendar inside this issue. With the Sports Club gaining popularity among our students, we highlight some of our soccer star players, while the Photo Club inspires students to explore Toronto and its historic architecture. This session’s highlight, however, was surely Spring Camping at Glen Bernard Camp, pictures of which are featured in this issue along with student testimonials. This issue also features testimonials from staff members as part of our royal farewell to one of the Program’s most valuable members. This past session Ms. Marjatta Holt, who has been with the Program for more than 30 years as a teacher and as a staff member, began her retirement. We wish her all the best! Moreover, in this issue we feature and congratulate ELP students who have been admitted into universities in Canada. As always, we urge you to share your success stories with us. Last but not least, we would like to thank all the instructors, staff and students who have contributed to the magazine. We hope you enjoy WoW and consider it representative of your experience here at the ELP.

All the best, Sherry Yuan Hunter Executive Director, English Language Program University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

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.

ARoyal

world of words

Farewell

On May 26th, 2011, the ELP had to part with one of its most valued staff members, Ms. Marjatta Holt as she began her retirement. Marjatta has been with the Program for more than 30 years, as a teacher and as a coordinator. She came to be known to everyone as a teacher, a mentor, a friend and of course, as the Grammar Queen. Students and staff organized a party to send her off with a royal farewell befitting of a Queen!

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Students prepare for the party.

“Marjatta gave me my first teaching position in the ELP and for that, I am eternally grateful. Marjatta loves grammar, and she loves teaching... mostly grammar! I was privileged to study Pedagogical Grammar with Marjatta in the TESOL Certificate program at Woodsworth College. I enjoyed every moment in her class. Marjatta makes grammar fun and it is much easier to learn when you are having fun. Marjatta’ door was always open to students, teachers, administrators, friends, anyone who needed help. No matter how busy she was, she always found time to help. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to work with Marjatta, and I miss her every day at the ELP. “

Mary Lawless. ELP Academic English Instructor Flowers: ready.

Anna Ngo with Marjjat Holt

Balloons: ready.

Camera: ready!

“I have enjoyed working alongside Marjatta. What a woman! “Marjatta knows everything there is to know about English grammar! Thank you Marjatta for your grammar lessons, guidance and advice, and the Coffee Chats! ELP won’t be the same without you!”

She was not only a colleague, but a friend ‘Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer’. This was Marjatta.”

Rosa Leo, ELP Program Administrator

Above: ELP staff and instructors celebrate and perform with Marjatta at the Duke of York.

Anna Ngo, Former ELP Speaking English Intructor and Cultural Assistant

world of words

Unlikely

Classmates

Q & A

Every once in a while, something special and out of the ordinary happens at ELP. This time around, one of our teachers found out that she is teaching a mother and her daughter in the same level and the same class! Monique, the teacher, tells us about her experience teaching the unlikely classmates, while Rouida and her daughter Sara discuss with us what it is like being in class together.

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Monique, the Teacher When did you first realize that two students in your class were mother and daughter? How did you feel about it? Was it the first time you teach close relatives in the same class? This is actually pretty funny. I sometimes have students come up to me after class to explain why they were late. Well, Rouida and Sara were late one day, so Rouida came up to me after class and tried to explain that they had been busy trying to get Sara enrolled in a class or a course of some kind. I must have looked skeptical, and I was kind of wondering why Rouida was speaking for both of them. They seemed to be friends, and I kind of suspected that they were both trying to get away with something! Rouida must have read my mind, because she smiled and said, «You know, I am Sara›s mother.» «Mother!» I exclaimed. I couldn›t believe it. Rouida did not look that much older than Sara. And then I found out that she has four other children. Five children! She looks fantastic. Has that changed the way you teach? Does the age difference between your students figure into your teaching methods? Do you know what? It has, a little. I always try to think of how I would feel if my mother were in class with me. I always try to be respectful of my students, but I think I give Rouida that extra little bit of respect you would give to someone›s mother. The age difference also affects learning. In our first conferencing session together, I told Rouida, «You know, younger people like Sara have brains that are still plastic (meaning they are still changeable). So they learn languages a little bit easier.» Then I looked at her very seriously and said, «You know, you are probably going to have to work twice as hard as Sara.» She looked back at me and smiled and nodded. The best part about it is that she has worked so hard, maybe twice as hard as everyone. I think she actually followed my advice. How is the interaction between them in class different from/similar to other students? No, I don›t think so. They seem to have a very beautiful relationship. It is a pleasure to teach them both.

Rouida, the Mother Tell us a little bit about yourself? My name is Rouida. I am a mother of five children. I have a bachelor degree in business administration. I am studying English to continue my studies to get

Master degree. I have chosen Toronto because it has good universities. I like Toronto because it is multicultural, nice and safe city. When did you first realize that your daughter would be attending the same class as you? Sara and I registered together at the University of Toronto and our results in the English test was the same, so we stayed together at the same class. How do you feel about attending class with your daughter? I feel alright to combine with my daughter at the same class. As you have attended more classes together, have your feelings changed or remained the same about being in class with your daughter? My feelings remained the same. What do you hope to achieve after completing this class/program? I hope to speak English fluently and enter the university. What do you think of your daughter as a student? I think my daughter is a good student, smart, ambitious and confident.

Sara, the Daughter Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? My name is Sara. I am from Saudi Arabia from Riyadh. Specifically, I’m studying English because I want to study university in Canada. I did not choose Toronto, my parents did. They thought that Toronto was a good city for business and multiculturalism. When did you first realize that your mother would be attending the same class as you? Since we came to Canada I knew that it is possible to be in the same class but when that actually happened, it was 6 months ago. How do you feel about attending class with your daughter? Honestly, it isn’t a good thing. I don’t have my freedom to do anything and I feel like a baby in front of other people. As you have attended more classes together, have your feelings changed or remained the same about being in class with your mother? Yes when we were in the previous English school. No my feelings didn’t change because we were very close all my life. What do you hope to achieve after completing this class/program? I want to be accepted by university in Toronto, especially Ryerson University. What do you think of your mother as a student? I think my mom is a very good student because she works hard and she tries to improve herself.

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International Students’ Social Activities Calendar

m ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM (ELP) 252 Bloor Street 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

issue 74, june 2011

EVENT MEETING PLACE TIME PRICE 1

Canada Day!

2 3 4

Start of Term: Registration

Orientation

Welcome Party

Pancake Brunch

3:00 pm

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

11:30 pm

CN Tower

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

5:15 pm

$21

Canada’s Wonderland

Yonge/York Mills

9:45 am

$49

Niagara Falls

Bloor/Queen’s Park

9:45 am

$49

Taste of Toronto: Sushi Night!

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

5:15 pm

$**

Caribbean Carnival Offical Lanuch

TBD - Stay Tuned!

TBD

Sports Club: Outdoor Soccer

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

5:15 pm

Bata Shoe Museum

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

5:15 pm

Baseball Night: Blue Jays VS Yankees

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

6:15 pm

$30

Toronto Island BBQ

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

11:00 am

$15

Toronto Zoo

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

11:00 am

$23

Sports Club: Tennis

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

5:15 pm

Riverdale Market

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

5:15 pm

Canoeing at Harbourfront

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

5:15 pm

$21

Beaches International Jazz Festival

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

6:00 pm

Movie Night: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

6:00 pm

Algonquin Park Day Trip

Yonge/York Mills

7:45 am

$80

BrazilFest 2011

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

11:00am

Taste of Toronto: Wing Night!

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

5:15 pm

$**

ELP Music Night

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

5:15 pm

$**

Art Gallery of Ontario

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

5:15 pm

Blue Man Group

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

7:00 pm

$55

Live Music at Yonge/Dundas Square

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

7:30 pm

Toronto Island BBQ

ELP Lobby 4th Floor

11:00 am

$15

Niagara Falls

Bloor/Queen’s Park

9:45 am

$49

** Make sure to bring spending money for this event. There may be added costs to the activity (drinks, cover charges, food). Unless otherwise stated, TTC transit or other transportation costs are not included. It is recommended that you bring pocket money to all events, just in case!

TICKET SELLING Location: ELP 4th floor - Main Lobby PLEASE READ CAREFULLY Tickets are sold every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 12:30 -1:30pm. CASH payments only. Tickets will not be sold outside of the Ticket Selling designated times. Spaces are limited for all events; be sure to buy your tickets well in advance as some events will sell out. The price listed on tickets does not represent the actual cost. Tickets are purchased at a discounted, group rate. We reserve the right to cancel or modify events. We will make every attempt to contact you in advance.

world of words

Oh, Baby, Baby, It’s a World

COPPER

The first friend we met was “Clover,” a large brown groundhog, a kind of “rodent.” From their name, you might guess that groundhogs live in the ground; in fact, they use their paws to burrow (= dig) not only holes, but entire underground tunnels! During the spring and summer, groundhogs “eat like a hog” J , in preparation for the long winter ahead. When the temperature turns c-c-c-c-ol-d, they retreat to their underground home and stay there until the following spring. Five months later they emerge, all slim and sexy, but very, very hungry! This cycle of eating and fasting, of activity and inactivity, is known as hibernation.

The third guest made some students shudder in disgust ~ “Copper” is a one-metre-long arboreal fox snake; snakes, of course, belong to the “reptile” family. If, for a moment, you can set aside your fear of snakes and try to look at Copper objectively, she actually is quite beautiful. Her snakeskin is a sort of soft yellow with big dark brown patches all the way along. Copper is cold-blooded, but is able to regulate her body temperature according to the season. She loves to warm up by basking (= lying) in the sun. The sunniest, warmest spot in rural Ontario is in the centre of a country road or minor highway, but you can see the problem with that: cars!! So Copper has to be really careful about where she goes for her vitamin D therapy.

And speaking of sexy, our next guest was “Hunter,” a sleek, long-legged lynx. The lynx is cousin to the cougar and bobcat; all of them belong to the “feline” (= cat) family. Now Hunter, like all Ontario lynxes, is an “ambush hunter.” She waits in ambush (= hiding) until her prey gets very, very close, and then she attacks. Her favourite lunch is a snowshoe hare, which is a type of rabbit. Unlike Clover, Hunter does not hibernate during the winter; on the contrary, she is very active. One of her most unique features is her enormous paws. These paws act like big, wide snowshoes, allowing her to move easily and swiftly across the deep snow without sinking down into it. Built-in snowshoes ~ how cool is that?!

DR. WHO “Dr. Who” got his name from his nighttime call ~ “Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!” Can you guess what he is? He is a gorgeous bird of prey (= a hunting bird) with huge green eyes . . . he is the majestic great horned owl. Dr. Who is quite large, but he weighs next to nothing. In fact, Dr. Who is mostly feathers ~ deep underneath all of those soft feathers is a small, extremely light skeleton. He has top-notch (= the very best) hearing, and uses it to locate the smallest field mouse scurrying through the dead leaves on the forest floor. As he swoops down to catch his defenseless victim with his sharp talons (= claws), the mouse won’t even hear the owl coming. The owl uses “silent flight,” that is, you cannot hear him at all when he is flying toward you. Now that’s a dangerous enemy!

Clover

Hunter

CLOVER

HUNTER

Dr. Who

Petunia

Copper

On Thursday, March 31st, Comprehensive English students were treated to a special visit by the team from the Muskoka Wildlife Centre. A two-hour drive north of Toronto, the centre’s mission is to rescue wild animals that have either been injured or orphaned (= have lost their mothers) and nurture them back to health. During the summer months, the centre is open for visitors to come and observe the 40 species that call the centre home. The team could not bring all of their friends down to the city with them, so they chose 5, just to give us a glimpse into the amazing variety of wildlife that inhabits Ontario fields and forests.

issue 74, june 2011

If you are interested in animal conservation, then you will love the April film release, Born to Be Wild IMAX 3D, narrated by Morgan Freeman. It shows the work of two scientists, one in Borneo, the other in Kenya, who devote their lives to rescuing orphaned orangutans (a kind of ape), and baby elephants.

PETUNIA

aim! That spray can cause temporary blindness (= for a short time you will not be able to see), and it can take up to a full month to get the stink out of your skin!

Our final guest was “Petunia.” Normally, petunia refers to a summer garden flower with a delicate fragrance (= a really nice smell). Well our new friend had a scent alright, but not a nice one. Petunia is a black skunk with a pointy nose, beady little eyes, and a white stripe down the middle of her back. She’s not very large ~ just a little bigger than a kitten ~ but wow! can she defend herself! Get too close to a skunk, and watch her turn around, lift that furry tail, and ayyyahhhhhh!!! she will shoot the nastiest spray at you ~ and she has excellent

As for Petunia, she could defend herself at one time . . . but when she first came to the centre the staff immediately had her de-scented so she couldn’t spray them ~ or the visitors! But you don’t have to go to the wildlife centre to meet Petunia. She has lots and lots of cousins right here in Toronto and Mississauga ~ just ask any family dog who made the mistake of getting too close!

Evelyn Pedersen teaches in the Comprehensive English program, and is looking forward to visiting the Muskoka Wildlife Centre this summer. To learn more about the good work of the centre, visit muskokawildlifecentre.com.

ARE YOU

world of words

SURVEY SUPERVISED BY ACADEMIC ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR QASIM ALIBHAI.

INTRODUCTION Do you often feel sleepy during the day? Do you have trouble keeping your eyes open during grammar lessons? Well, it’s not the grammar (grammar is awesome!), it’s you! You are probably suffering from sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is a common condition that people experience when they do not get enough sleep. Experts say that adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night to feel refreshed and to perform optimally through the day. Therefore, if you get less than seven hours of sleep on most nights, you will start to experience the effects of sleep deprivation.

CAUSES by Muhammad Kamruzzaman

causes. If you are stressed, you can’t sleep. If you can’t sleep, you get stress even more. Another reason is diet. Lots of fried foods and foods that are high in sugar often cause sleep deprivation. Caffeine which is found in coffee, tea, cola, and energy drinks can also contribute to poor sleep. Also drinking alcohol initially will make you fall asleep faster, but it will disrupt sleep in the night. Smoking not only disrupts sleep but also reduces total sleep time. Those who smoke have more difficulty getting sleep and wake up more often at night. Extreme temperature (too hot or too cold) may disrupt sleep or prevent you from falling asleep. Uncomfortable bed or pillows or too much noise can cause sleep deprivation.

grades in school. Secondly, on the job, sleep deprived workers cause many workplace mistakes. Doctors who do not get enough sleep are seven times more likely to make mistakes on long shifts than other doctors. Another impact of sleep deprivation is car accidents. In the U.S. 20% of car accidents are caused by tired drivers. That is about 1500 death, and 7000 injuries every year.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS by Zainab Al-Marhoon Studies show there is relationship between lack of sleep and weight gain. The people who get less sleep re more likely to be overweight. For example, when we are tired we get hungrier. So, we eat more than when we sleep very well, and have more time to eat because we are awake longer. In addition, people who get less sleep are more likely to have serious health problems and get sick. On study shows the women who sleep less than five hours a night are 40% more likely to have heart problems than women who get eight hours of sleep every night.

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS by Fahad Deham l Aledeilah Sleep deprivation has many immediate impacts. For instance, students lose many marks in school because they stay up all night to study for test. They don’t understand that when they do not get enough sleep, learning is very difficult. They do not remember information and get lower

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issue 74, june 2011

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A Sleep Deprivation Survey

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Figure 1: Are ELP students getting enough sleep?

Figure 2: Do ELP students feel tired when they get up in the morning?

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO TREAT SLEEP DEPRIVATION? by Miwako Imaeda One of the treatments is to reconsider your lifestyle. This meaning is to get up and go to bed same time including weekends. You need to try to keep a regular schedule. Second treatment is to try to do exercise in daytime. Regular exercise helps your sleeping, but you have to remember that don’t exercise within 3 hours of bedtime. Another treatment is to refrain from using computers, cell phones, smart phones a few hours before your bedtime. The reason is that their lights stimulate the brain. In addition, do something routine before you go to bed every night. It is important because a body can remember these actions and get ready for sleep. If you try these treatments, you will sleep better.

MORE WAYS TO TREAT SLEEP DEPRIVATION by Saeed Almarhoon       

Take a hot bath before going to sleep. Cut down on caffeine products, alcohol, smoking, and stresscausing situations. Avoid napping during the day. Try to finish housework, homework, etc. before midnight to have some time for you to relax before you sleep at night. Try to keep the room cool and dark. If you can’t darken the room, use a sleep mask. Try to relax. Worrying about falling asleep actually keeps people awake. Eating a balanced diet is important to overall health and sleep, like vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains but make sure your stomach isn’t too empty or too full before going to bed.

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Against the Toronto Skyline

Monkey Business

Firing Up the Grill

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issue 74, june 2011

Mehmet Sakura

Photo Club Gallery Photo club meets monthly to explore different Toronto neighbourhoods and parks. Check out the Photo Club board in the lobby or talk to Darren for more info.

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by bigburpsx3’s (flickr)

world of words

Should Ce Phone Use Allowed i Schools

by Nayoon Yang

about the author: Originally from Korea, Nayoon aspires to become a public school teacher in Korea, she says “my dream is to become a fantastic and passionate teacher in 2012”. Aside from learning English, she came to Toronto to relax, enjoy lfe in Toronto. She plans to go back to Korea in July and so she is hoping to spend the rest of the days in Toronto meaningfully.

Current advances in technology have made individuals’ life increasingly more comfortable and easy. A cell phone is one of the electronic devices that most citizens benefit from. Modern mobile phones include various functions such as the Internet, text messages and dictionaries. Due to these resources, students possess cell phones and bring them to their school. Some teachers argue that the use of digital phones in the classroom should be permitted for study purposes. However, allowing them to use this device during the class for any reasons should be banned for three reasons. Firstly, cell phones can distract students from their work. Although some teachers assert that these devices are essential to assist such studies as calculation function in mathematics and dictionary use in language subjects, it is hard to recognize whether students are really doing what they are supposed to do. Once students are holding their phones, they will be easily tempted to play games or send text messages to their friends. Exchanging text messages, especially, is one of the culprits that distracts students’ attention from their work. For example, if a student sends a message to a hard-working peer, the latter becomes disruptive because of the message from the former. Since sending messages to their friends interrupts not only the sender but also the receiver, cell phone usage during the class should be prohibited.

Another reason why mobile phones should not be brought to schools is that they might provoke cheating on exams. There are several means of committing this action. For instance, an advanced student can be forced by lower-achieving students to send answers to questions. Another way could be by accessing the Internet and use search engines to get clues about answers. Some teachers and students would suggest collecting cell phones during a test, and give them back to students after the exam is over. However, it is hard to ensure that all cellular phones are handed in to an instructor. Some might lie to their teacher that they did not bring theirs or keep their real phone in a pocket and submit a fake one. Lastly, teachers can be irritated if they see students touching and looking at their mobile phones during class time. This conduct influences their instruction because it might make them think that their lessons are boring. In addition, this will lead to less motivation in teaching once they find some students concentrating on their phone not on the lesson. In conclusion, despite the fact that mobile phones can be a great support in certain subjects, the use of this gadget should be strictly controlled in schools for creating a better academic atmosphere in classrooms, preventing cheating on tests and maintaining teachers’ motivation to deliver good lessons.

issue 74, june 2011

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by Daita Watanabe One of the most striking global incidents in 2011 is undoubtedly Osama bin Laden’s death. According to President Obama on May 1st, American Forces completed a high-risk operation in Pakistan: the killing of bin Laden. As soon as American citizens heard about this event, some danced and cried with wild joy because this man had been a symbol of hatred and evil for the US since September 11th, 2001. However, is it appropriate for them only to rejoice at this result? If the USA is one of the greatest democratic countries in human history, the military team should have captured bin Laden and taken him to court. Even so, his death sentence might be unequivocal. It is often said by supporters of this military operation that Osama bin Laden deserved assassination since he was one of the most notorious and inhumane villains. No one will ever forget this mastermind of acts of terror, September 11th, when over two thousand American citizens were killed. Without doubt, had the American Forces failed to capture him, he certainly would have conspired against the innocent civilians. Still, those who support this assassination have to reconsider what a democratic government has to fulfill in order to solve such a critical problem. According to Stephen L. Cater, in “the Burden of Victory” in Newsweek, May 5th, 2011, it was obvious that this team’s mission was commanded by the White House to put an end to bin Laden’s life. Based on Cater’s assertion, this issue could undermine the very foundation of democracy. The USA, always watched by other nations, has been the only superpower for a long time. Unless the US remains a global leader, the fact that American Forces killed bin Laden will not be as influential to the rest of the world as before. Yet, what they did has definitely become one of the cornerstones for how other democracies can behave.

To sum up, even though the time when this mission was completed could be the finest moment for President Obama in his presidency as well as for the American population, it also might mean a decay of democracy. Hopefully, this operation, which certainly will become part of history, should be an opportunity for the US to reflect upon what they have to be.

NYC Celebrates by NYCMarines

Furthermore, one of the most important foundations to drive democracy is a nation’s citizens. Even though they became mad with joy, has the complex problem of terrorism been solved through this mission? Indeed, this achievement could perhaps become trapped in a vicious circle: the fear of potential revenge. If the first priority for the US is to eradicate the possibility of September 11th happening again, Americans should consider how to reduce hostility directed toward their country.

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Disturbing the Peace: “Article 9” of the Japanese Constitution A problem in Japan centers on about Article 9 called the ‘Peace Constitution’ that renounces all wars. Some politicians state that, since it is impossible for the Japanese to participate in wars according to the terms of the constitution, the citizens should be proud of it. However, their boycott is not based on an autonomous decision. Without a doubt, this situation is one of the most serious issues facing Japan. After World War II, the US government created the Japanese Constitution, declaring that the Japanese should refuse to participate in wars in any situation. However, today the Japanese often encounter serious problems and compromises. Even though the US government created the Constitution, so far they have requested that the Japanese join wars with other nations. Article 9 makes it impossible for the Japanese to cooperate with the US military. Still, the Japanese cannot clearly refuse this request because the US has been protecting Japan for over 70 years; thus, the government necessarily has to behave with ambivalence. As one instance, although the Japanese Self-Defence Force, which is not regarded as military, become involved in the Iraq War in 2003, they were never stationed in a dangerous zone. What they were able to do was to support the rebuilding of Iraqi society in a safety zone, because it was impossible for them to kill the enemy. In such a complicated situation, the issue was undoubtedly due to whether or not they could make a decision

independently. One of the suggestions to solve this difficult problem is to re-examine and discuss Article 9. In order to acquire objectivity, Japan has to look back deeply to the past and make a strong new determination for the future. Unless the Japanese engage in a national controversy over what they did and what they have to do, they may not make up their mind when they face tough issues like the Iraq War. Based on the decision of whether they change the ‘Peace Constitution’ or not, they should choose with confidence what they have to do by themselves. In fact, if they judge to keep Article 9 and not to participate in wars, that process will be totally different from what they did before. Furthermore, their choice will be more valuable than the Japanese expect. No matter how much the US and other nations complain about their decision, they have only to cling to their unflinching refusal. On the other hand, if they determine to change the ‘Peace Constitution’ after investigation, they also have to be confident about their decision in order to tackle countless laborious issues. To sum up, so as to eliminate their ambiguity about Article 9 and decide autonomously what they will do, Japanese have to discuss and examine what is the best decision for their future.

“The Psychology of Recovery”: A Response In this article, “Lesson for Japan’s survivor: The Psychology of Recovery” in the New York Times on March 19, 2011, the writer implies the near impossibility for those who have experienced a catastrophe to truly overcome it through the example of the recent Japanese earthquake. According to him, this is because such experiences will become a traumatic identity for Japanese citizens, and the story will never end. However, even if world history shows several examples about the unending story, aftermath of the disaster, the Japanese will definitely alleviate their suffering and overcome this tragedy one day. First, this article should have referred to one of the most important periods of history no one will ever forget. That is World War II. In fact, Japanese citizens recovered from the damage of WWII, although there was much more serious suffering than this earthquake. They spent much more power and energy than we imagine, but it was possible for them to complete the most difficult task of all: to restore a nation. Second, this experience will become the identity of Japan, as the writer discusses. Still, even though it is regarded

as negative now, the Japanese will be able to change it into a positive one. In fact, they have already started to move forward to remake their society with the unity of most citizens. This is one of the typical phenomena about how positive they become to struggle with difficult issues. Furthermore, so far people from all over the world have made an effort to help Japanese citizens to rebuild their nation. It goes without saying that, if they join hands for one purpose, Japan will certainly get over this crisis. In other words, nothing will be impossible, especially when the world becomes one. This is the time that they become an inspiring example to show the story of complete recovery from a catastrophe. Background photo credit, JPBennett1 (flickr)

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e rov p im l to to o ho ns Sc pla h e g Hi w sh m o for ut n it on s, b ua nth rad mo g er r 6 r h y fo e t af sta ht to g i d y, r de ar ten u an y in n J onl i da ad na e h nto! a C sh o to ally Tor e France, an old country with many treasures such as its ti in s loe caming. Iniy level delicious cuisine and unique landscapes, has been criticized for e o h k it the high self-esteem of its citizens. This behaviour consists of a feeling of superiority over others. In fact, when foreign students imutor: Cd speanivers S move to France, their French counterparts take a long time to b an e u e i r o accept their presence. Several probable causes can explain this nt ing t th l o h e C rit g a negative French attitude. One of them comes from history. C w n h Because France played a crucial role during the First and Second bybout tnglish studyi World War, its culture became globally well-known. Indeed, A r E ue French civilization strengthened especially in the areas of arts e n i h nt and humanities such as painting, photography and literature. co

n o s

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FRENCH PRIDE:

“Vive la France!”

The Eiffe ff l To T wer by tibchris (flickr)

Artists like B. Vautier, R. Doisneau and G. Sand proclaimed their talent and their French origins. Consequently, the French language gained honour and became one of the most highlyesteemed languages. This helps to explain why individuals complain about the French who do not answer in English when it is appropriate. Their English level is poor because they do not have the interest in learning other languages. Another situation, which demonstrates French arrogance, happened during a famous public event. In 2010, during the World Cup Soccer, the French coach had to choose players who would represent the country. At that time, most of the soccer athletes who showed expertise had visible African or Arabic backgrounds. Unfortunately, the trainer, in favour of “a more French team”, rejected these players despite the fact that they could have brought France victory. Even though this type of reaction has been severely punished by the law, it is still not severe enough to make it disappear. Even French politicians have practiced this hostility against other societies. For example, Charles de Gaulle, president of France from 1959 to 1969, rejected several American political approaches since he expressed a great deal of disdain for the U.S.A. and its global cultural prevalence. In order to reduce this societal problem, the government should review some previous actions. One of them that must be stopped is constructing housing in the suburbs exclusively for immigrants experiencing financial difficulties. In fact, this creates a social division between the wealthy French living downtown and descendants of self-starters who came in the ’70’s and ’80’s from Spain, Italy and North African countries. As a result of this gap, children are raised separately, which contributes to a sense of intolerance. This is the reason why French youngsters and their peers from other communities should be educated together. If a person grows up among individuals with different habits and traditions, this person will be more open-minded. To conclude, the French would become less proud and distant from other nationalities by sharing the same social and educational atmosphere.

French Cuisine by Noonch (flickr)

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At the present time, millions of people, who realize that smoking is harmful, smoke cigarettes-white cylinders filled with tobacco leaves- on a daily basis; however, the legality of smoking ban has been one of the biggest controversial issues in today’s society. For some, smoking is entertaining and by Hamed Alnakhli necessary, whereas for others, it is very disturbing. Citizens were identified as smokers 400 years ago when Jaun about the author: Originally De Grijalua landed in Yucatan and observed cigarettes from Saudi Arabia, Hamed has smoked by natives, (www.cigarette-bellow-cost.com). been in Canada for 11 months. He Regardless of the personal views on smoking, it is obvious graduated from Biotechnology that smoking is considered a bad habit because of its and he would like to complete disastrous effects on human health. The proof of this is a master’s degree in Canada. the results shown by a significant number of studies Hamed’s favourite Toronto which verify that smokers are more susceptible to serious characteristic is the multiplicity diseases than non-smokers. For instance, according to of cultures, which he says “makes the Canadian Cancer Society, 90% of lung cancer in men, it easy to form relationships with and 80% in women is caused by smoking. This means that people from different cultures”. smoking increases 22 times the likelihood of developing lung cancer in smokers compared to non-smokers. By contrast, no study shows any usefulness of smoking to human health. Therefore, it is difficult to find logical reasons why people practice this habit. This essay will argue the urgent need to ban smoking everywhere as it will continue to threaten the health of humans as long as it is permitted. Opponents of smoking prohibition justify their arguments by saying that smoking is a matter of a personal choice, Expression Extracted: and governments have the responsibility to defend this freedom. They also claim that smoking is harmful and Second-hand Second-hand refers to something fatal but only after many decades, unlike poisonous foods or unsafe cars, which cause immediate risks. Moreover, that is passed on from someone they expect if governments banned cigarette sales, the else. Generally, the term is used crime rate would rise, and the individuals would treat to refer to objects and goods each other with antisocial behavior.

that are used or have had a previous owner. For example: You can find second hand clothes and objects in vintage stores or garage sales. In this article, Hamed Alnakhli refers to “second-hand smoking” (otherwise known as passive smoking), which means smoke that is inhaled involuntarily by non-smokers.

We all value personal freedom and deem that individuals should not be forced to quit smoking, but it is tobacco companies who we should be acting against. If a company produces contaminated foods, which cause food poisoning, the local government would immediately take the foods out of the markets, and such a company should be punished with penalties. Similarly, cigarettes and the other tobacco products, such as creamy snuff, shisha tobacco, and “Roll-Your-own,” are poisonous and lethal in the long run. For example, research by the American Cancer Society shows that in the USA, deaths caused by tobacco every year reach 400,000, more than by AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, and car crashes. In fact, smoking is not a real choice; it is considered an addictive drug. Once people,

particularly the young generation, start to practice this habit, they will not be able to stop easily because of the amount of nicotine in their blood. In addition to that, non-smokers can also be affected by socalled “passive smoking,” the involuntary inhaling of smoke from cigarettes smoked by other people. The fact that nonsmokers can be exposed to the same risks that threaten smokers’ lives is clear evidence for the need to ban smoking. Indeed, secondhand smoke is the main source of indoor air pollution. Because of this, children are the first victims. Their organs, especially brains and lungs, are at risk of growth retardation if they inhale the cigarette smoke. Unfortunately, not all parents are aware of such a negative impact, and children are not able to protect themselves from breathing polluted air. Unless smoking is banned, societies will keep suffering from having children with learning difficulties and chronic respiratory infections. The damage does not stop at this point, but even involves pregnant mothers and their embryos. In terms of mothers, smoking during pregnancy increases the chance of miscarriage and develops many kinds of birth defects, not to mention its effect on reducing milk production. Smoking is clearly detrimental to pregnant women, but it causes much more harm for the developing fetuses. For instance, chemicals, such as nicotine and carbon monoxide, are passed on to the fetus through the placenta causing serious harm, such as increased heart rate, and abnormal movements. Some chemicals which are known to cause cancers are concentrated in the blood of women who smoke, which of course transmitted to fetuses as well. To conclude, smokers, their partners, children, infants, and even unborn fetuses are all exposed to the consequences of smoking, such as lung cancer, chronic respiratory infection, and growth retardation in newborn children, either through smoking, breathing, or the placenta. The responsibilities of governments toward their citizens are similar to that of parents toward their children. Parents need to organize everything for their children and sometimes make difficult decisions for the benefit of their advantages; governments also have the same responsibilities for the sake of the public. The only solution governments should enact to protect their citizens from smoking is to ban import and sale of all tobacco products.

by Mohammed Jaser by Mohammed Jaser

by Mohammed Al Shehri

by Mohammed Jaser by chelseagirl (flickr) by Mohammed Jaser by Mohammed Jaser

The Historic University of Toronto

in photographs

by Mo ohaammeed Jaser

issue 74, june 2011

Our University of Toronto trip was amazing, because of three extraordinary aspects. First, there are many buildings in a very old style; moreover, some of these buildings participate with a new modern building because the policies of the city of Toronto do not allow builders to destroy the old structures. In fact, when we saw the view of the building, it was more attractive. Visitors can easily walk between the buildings, although they might scrutinize the old buildings. Many buildings were also hard to save, but the University of Toronto did. Next, the campus of university of Toronto is part of metropolitan Toronto; for example, Harbord Street goes through the university; as a result, many faculties are in different places. We also notice that there are residences for students on many areas inside the campus of the university. It is a great idea because the students walk to the class in a short time. Finally, walking between the buildings is very interesting because there are natural gathering places; for instance, Philosopherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Walk is a famous path. In addition, many benches have small plagues; furthermore, they have expression or advice. UofT also has a large area that is very natural places. I strongly believe that any university has a mission to the community. To sum up, the three aspects to our visit to Toronto University are saving history, mixing with society and maintaining natural beauty.

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Volunteer Experience Program 2011 The Volunteer Experience Program allows ELP students to volunteer in Canada. There are many exciting events that students and participate in, such marathons/runs, theatre production, and special events. These opportunities allow our students to learn English and experience Canadian culture and festivities! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great opportunity for anyone looking to apply to school or work.

Want to learn more? VEP Meetings are every Wednesday at 5:15PM in OISE Room 4-160. Or you can email the volunteer coordinator at vep.elp@utoronto.ca.

issue 74, june 2011 e Ca

Cass i

i (CA ) Cassie was a CA for VEP during the month of May assisting in many of the events. This is what she had to say about the program – “In the month of May, I joined hands with many ELP students from different levels of Academic and Comprehensive English to volunteer at different places in the city. Many of our volunteer spots are new to our students, and we had a lot of fun visiting unfamiliar but friendly neighborhoods. At Yonge Street Mission, we played and ate with little kids on a beautiful Saturday. We also met plenty of volunteers from elsewhere who were just as enthusiastic as we were. In sum, volunteering is a great way for out students to discover Toronto, engage with the locals, practice English and have fun at absolutely no cost. Come out and join us!”

nteer eral volu lk for Kids v e s o t t the Wa " I wen such as c Film Festival s ie it iv t ac r, t Do Howeve one, Ho Help Ph Ribbon Event. m: the he en and Gre forget two of t ing r e v a e r is in I will n while it oodlife g in t n Tree Pla ogs and the G use I had d ca cats and Kit Packing be am. I on in a te Marath working g not just e im t t a grea nteerin re end volu but also to sha m m o c re e t ces a n c xperie certifi to get a le and unique e ab memor s!!! " er t with o h

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Ever since O liver asked for mor Twist (the brave young homeless ch e soup ~ “Ple aracter crea ase, sir ~ I w in Western lit ted by Charle ant some mor erature. Now s Dickens) im e!” ~ the orph film is its ow with all of its plor an has been n literary form struggles an a recurring th ingly , as well as an d issues. As become the eme such, childre ex central char pr ession of mod n who have acter in a su recent instan ern culture, lost both mot rprisingly w ces. her and fath ide cross-sect er have ion of movie genres. Let’s look at four

No Reservations (2007)

The Blind Side (2009)

No Reservations (2007) “I have no idea what to do with a kid. Especially one who’s lost her mother,” moans an attractive brunette to her therapist in an afternoon counselling session. The speaker is Kate, an uptight, workaholic chef responsible for the kitchen of a high-end French restaurant in Manhattan. Used to being in charge of everything and everyone, she is at a loss when her sister is suddenly killed in a car accident, and her tenyear-old niece, Zoe, comes to live with her. What to feed the child? How to amuse her? How to form a bond of trust? And how to help Zoe deal with the sudden loss of her mother? These are some of the issues with which Kate grapples in this engaging human drama. Family, Kate learns in time, is what you choose to make it.

The Blind Side (2009) The Blind Side is also a modern drama, but unlike No Reservations, this film is based on a true story. Technically, 17-year-old Michael Oher is not an orphan. His drug addict mother is still

Jane Eyre (2011)

alive, and is living in Hurt Village, a housing project not far from the posh Memphis suburb where Sean and Leigh Ann Tuohy enjoy a very comfortable life with their two children.

when she was yet very young; her subsequent childhood was spent with an abusive aunt and her equally detestable cousins ~ not the adoptive family we would wish for young Jane.

But Michael is alone ~ he has been for years ~ and lacks all of the resources and tools a young person needs to find his way in the world. Leigh Ann Tuohy can see this, and acts swiftly, if not impulsively, to draw the youth into her family’s circle of provision and belonging. From the start it is a bumpy ride: “Big Mike” is the wrong size, the wrong colour, the wrong social class, the wrong grade point average, and even, it seems, the wrong temperament (=personality) to make it in a predominantly white world. But love always finds a way, and sometimes, it can sneak right up behind you . . . and get you from your blind side.

Jane’s circumstances only worsen upon her arrival to Lowood, a charity school. There she is falsely accused, shamed, and deprived of even the most basic necessities. For eight long years she endures the wretched institution before finally leaving to seek work as a governess (= a nanny and live-in teacher). The events that follow depict a young woman who, though not overly religious, does have deep convictions about right and wrong, and is prepared to make great personal sacrifices for those beliefs. As we watch Jane’s story unfold, we can’t help but wondering: How exactly does a young woman, in a patriarchal, male-dominated society, come to be so brave and so very, very strong? The answer lies in the terrible things that she has suffered as an orphan. Those bitter childhood experiences ~ events that would have destroyed most ~ turn out to be the very elements that pound and pressure and shape Jane into the wise and confident and compassionate woman we watch her become.

Jane Eyre (2011) Since its first publication in 1847, this classic feminist story has been told and retold countless times. And this, of course, is a testament to the story’s power to engage our imaginations. Jane Eyre’s parents both succumbed to typhus

issue 74, june 2011

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) “What on earth could this popular animation have to do with orphans?!” you’re probably wondering. “Kung Fu Panda is about . . . . . well, it’s about kung fu! You know, the good guys versus the bad guys, teamwork, all that kind of thing.” True, but have you seen the second instalment of Panda, currently playing in theatres? Not yet? Well, you are in for one big, squishy surprise! In the sequel, Po has a very strange flashback (=a mental picture of something that happened a long, long time ago) during a routine fight. That flashback leads him to start questioning his personal origins. Who am I? Where did I come from? Po muses. At the first opportunity, he returns to the noodle restaurant in the Valley of Peace and has a long heart-to-heart chat with Mr. Ping. (Really, it is very funny: we wonder how Po could have gone so long without noticing the in-your-face physical differences between him and his so-called father ~ a Chinese goose!) The time has finally come, Mr. Ping realizes, for him to have the talk with Po that sooner or later, all adoptive parents must have with their children: that conversation in which these selfless adults explain to their children that they are not their actual birth parent; that in fact, somewhere out there, there is another who is their biological mother or father. This is never an easy conversation, and it surely isn’t easy for Po. Mr. Ping can’t provide Po with any of the details concerning his birth parents ~

lights, camera, action.

he himself doesn’t know ~ and Po is propelled into a personal quest for the truth that will lead him straight into the domain of a menacing enemy.

So what’s the deal? Now we have looked at orphans in four different film genres: modern drama; drama based on a true story; historical fiction; and adventure/animation. The popularity of orphan stories that we have observed here begs the question, Why this great interest in orphans? Why do we simply refuse to tire of the “parentless-infant-is-one-day-noticedand-pitied-by-a-kind-benefactor” narrative? One reason may be their universal appeal. Orphan stories are bound by neither geography nor by language: every culture has its own heartwarming tales of individuals and families who have welcomed a destitute child into their homes and their hearts, making that child one of their own, with all of the same rights and privileges as biological sons or daughters. This tale has been told over and over again down through the centuries, and around the world. Familiar as we may be with it, each telling of this story feels like the first telling.

Kung Fu Panda (2011)

More significantly, however, in a world where accounts of betrayal and abandonment and destitution are too, too common, our hearts are refreshed, and our souls fed, each time we see one human stepping out of his or her comfort zone ~ a difficult thing for any of us! ~ and reaching out in compassion to embrace a young one in need.

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

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Toni: What did you think of the movie?

X-

Tomo: X-Men First Class was a very exciting movie. Unfortunately, I could not understand

all of the language in the movie because I am still learning English. The images in the movie

were great and from these images I was able to understand the story a little bit. Toni: What did you like about the movie?

Toni: What didn’t you like about the movie? Tomo: The scenes change a lot and really quickly so at times it was hard to follow the story especially because of my English skills.

Toni: What was your favourite scene?

R ev ie

all the time. There was lots of action and the effects were great!

r Fi

Tomo: All the scenes were really amazing, I was never bored because they were exciting

Tomo: The final action scene was fantastic! It was a good way to end the movie. Toni: Who’s side are you on, Magneto of Professor X? Tomo: Professor X of course! He is the good guy.

Rating: 4/5

X-Men First Class is an adaptation of the X-Men Marvel Comics; this film is meant to be a prequel to the X-Men film series that preceded it.

by Review

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Lily Ahoy, me hearties! With Johnny Depp Ch reprising his iconic oi role of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – in 3D, no less! – ELP scrambled to the movie theatre on Friday, May 27th to see if the fourth installment in the series lived up to expectations. One actionpacked, laugh-out-loud funny adventure later, CA Lily Choi caught up with two particularly enthusiastic movie-goers for their two cents on the film… Lily: So – what were your general impressions about the movie? Duc Do: Overall, great movie. The sound effects were really cool – they really matched the action sequences. Hery Sutan: Wow! That was my first time wearing 3D glasses. I felt dizzy at first but it was okay after a while. Duc: The special effects were really great, too, especially when the beautiful mermaid changed into a girl… Hery: [During a scene in which the mermaid, unable to walk, is carried] Duc turned to me to tell me, “I want to carry her”! Anyway, the movie was funny and creative. Lily: Was there anything about the movie that disappointed you? Duc: The storyline didn’t seem original. It was predictable; I knew what was going to happen in the end. Hery: Yeah, the plot seemed like it was derived from medieval stories. There was also more focus on humor than on action. More action would have been fun. And like I said, the 3D glasses made me dizzy, and they didn’t cover my peripheral vision. Maybe I’d recommend watching it in 2D instead. Lily: Do you have a favorite character from the movie? Hery: Jack Sparrow, of course! Duc: The mermaid. Hery: She has a name, okay? Duc: What was it? Hery: Syrena!

Do you like movies and would like to improve your writing skills? Join the ELP CAs and other students at any movie night event and share your opinions on the films by writing for WOW! And if you enjoy learning English through films, you can consider taking our English through Movies Focus class in the Comprehensive English Program! Reviews can be however long or short as you want them. You can submit your writing to wow.elp@utoronto.ca.

T r e g n a b ea r t S n: O n

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Lily: Who was your least favorite character? Duc: Penelope Cruz, who played Angelica [Blackbeard’s daughter and Jack Sparrow’s love interest]. Her acting wasn’t great in this action genre. She’d probably be better in another genre, like romance or comedy. Hery: Gibbs, Jack’s friend. You didn’t see him a lot, though. He only appeared a few times, but he would have been a funny character if he had tagged along with Jack Sparrow on his adventure. Lily: If you could take the place of a character in the movie, who would it be? Hery: The monkey, probably. He didn’t have to do much in the movie. Duc: The guy who got to carry the mermaid. Lily: Final question – do you have any predictions for what might transpire in the next Pirates film? Duc: I think Jack Sparrow will get a new crew together in the next movie. An old character might also come back to life…maybe Captain Davy Jones [from the second and third movies in the Pirates of the Caribbean saga]? Oh, and the guy who went underwater with the mermaid will show up again, maybe as God of the Seas! Hery: Jack and Angelica will meet again somehow. Who knows, maybe they’ll have a kid. Imagine three generations of Sparrows in the next movie! And of course, the monkey has to come back. Duc and Harry give Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides a rating of 7.5 stars out of 10, and would both recommend the movie to others.

issue 74, june 2011

A Taste of Toronto… moroccan cuisine Many of us had watering mouths on the long subway ride just thinking about dinner. The majority of students ended up having lamb over rice; others had chicken over rice- all with a small side of salad. A more adventurous group of girls, encouraged by Iman (an ELP student from Morocco) tried the hearty and deliciously looking vegetable tagine, and loved it. In my opinion, the best part of the whole meal would have to be “dessert.” Mint tea occupies a very important position in the Moroccan culture; the way Moroccan tea is made is almost an art to be mastered. It is served as a drink of hospitality at gatherings, and also serves as a digestive after meals. One of the students ordered a large tea and had many try it. Others chose to have shisha or baklavas.

ReviewedbyNan oyeAscofare am

Café Tangiers is located at 1385 Danforth Avenue; it is a small restaurant with a very oriental, cosy and casual décor. Ismael and Kamal catered to us for the night, and offered us three meal choices. It came to a very big disappointment when we were told that couscous was not on the menu.

Moroccan Tagine (stew)

A part of the African population of Toronto resides on the eastern side of Toronto, along the Bloor and Danforth line. After exiting Greenwood station, on a Taste of Toronto quest, we began our march towards Café Tangiers, a Moroccan restaurant. A sense of community could be felt around the area, as bits and pieces of French, Arabic, and Amharic were heard from passers-by and groups of men sipping tea and having light conversations on the patio.

Tent-like designs

Rice with Chicken

Hookah or Waterpipe

Canada, Ontario, Toronto. The Huron translation of Toronto is“place of meetings;”therefore it comes to no surprise that this city is one of the most cosmopolitan of the world. Its bustling energy and overly friendly population attracts citizens from all over the planet who exchange cultures, languages, ideas and food. There are over 10000 restaurants in Toronto. Depending on the kind of food you want to eat, different parts of the city accommodate different communities, which in turn open restaurants to help ease homesickness and sate the appetite of adventurers like our group of twenty people that went out to try North African food in early May.

Overall, Taste of Toronto: Moroccan Food was a very exciting experience. The atmosphere and staff were very friendly and welcoming. Had couscous been available, the whole experience would have been twice as successful! The students enjoyed themselves and are excited for the next Taste of Toronto event. Many other foreign restaurants can be found in Toronto, and they should all be tried! Let the quest for Toronto’s best couscous and mint tea begin!

Restaurant Highlight Hookah (also known as shisha, argile, water pipe or even hubbly bubbly! ) The hookah is a traditional smoking activity in many parts of the world, mostnotably in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. It is usually done with a group of people. Hookah is becoming more popular in the Western world, but due to smoking restrictions, cafes only offer herbal hookah (nicotine-free), which allows you to smoke indoors. (Pictured above left)

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Asma Alsulamy University of Quebec, Masters in Didactique des Langues Asma is from Saudi Arabia; she began her studies at the English Language Program in level 30 Academic English and completed the highest level in the Program. She also took Academic Skills for College and University Success. She would like to acquire a PhD in teaching languages.

“All the universities that I applied to asked me if I have English courses, tests… and U of T and ELP is stronger than other schools, academic English here is focused” “(ELP) goes from general to specific, Level 30 was so easy but the advanced level, like Level 60, you learn why it’s important to study English” “English has to be learned by practicing outside, not just stay in school and study” “ELP’s VEP has a club that helps students learn English and interact with Canadians” “I want to thank all the teachers that were suffering with me, I want to thank Rosabel, I was a devil in her class! Level 30” “I also want to thank Bernadette, she was very helpful and a wonderful teacher, also Catherine & John for Level 30, Level 50: Carolina & Laura, Level 60 for Yasseen and Karen for Post-60, Academic Skills”

issue 74, june 2011

ONGRATULATIONS

to our Academic Skills Students

by Karen Thomson and Kimberley Hindy, Academic Skills for University and College Success Kimberley Hindy and Karen Thomson would like to congratulate the hard-working students of the Academic Skills for College and University Success program this term. It’s been an exciting and rewarding experience for us, and we hope that you learned as much from the course as we did from you.

The research topics discussed this term were wide-ranging because the students were encouraged to choose a subject of special interest to them and their future

So, congratulations to all of the AS participants. We know that this course was very different from the courses you have taken before with its emphasis on independent work and self-motivation, but we are very proud of your hard work and perseverance, and we wish you every success in the future. Please keep in touch. We’d love to hear about your university and college experiences and how completing the requirements of this course may have helped prepare you for what is to come. Good luck and remember the golden rules – don’t procrastinate and always cite your sources!!

@ELPSCSUofT

Have you or someone you know been accepted into university? Has our Program helped you achieve your goals in life? We would love to hear your story and feature you! You can write your story for WoW or give a testimonial. If you are interested in doing so yourself, or in nominating someone, you can contact us at wow.elp@utoronto.ca. Or get in touch with us through facebook or twitter.

www.facebook.com/UofTELP

The students in the AS program have all met the proficiency requirements to enter the University of Toronto (as well as many other Canadian universities), many by successfully completing Academic English Level 60. Having reached their goals with regard to English language proficiency, it was our responsibility to prepare them with the research, writing and presentation skills they will need for their university courses. We did this by thoroughly working on a research topic, reading academic resources, and finally, writing a full-length research paper. Considering this course is only 12-weeks long, we were pleased to have such ambitious students who knew what they wanted and needed to learn and weren’t afraid to work hard to achieve their goals – skills that will serve them well in their academic futures.

academic life. Kimberley and I learned a great deal about subjects such as nanotechnology, mathematics, marketing, colour theory, violence in video games and learning motivation. Our students developed their research skills throughout the course. They researched their topics online and at Robart’s Library, wrote research proposals, literature reviews, prepared annotated bibliographies, presented seminars, and finally wrote a 10 to 14-page research paper and summarized their results in a formal presentation. That’s a lot to accomplish in 12 weeks! The results were amazing! Our students surpassed our expectations with their well-developed papers and professional presentations on complex topics.

world of words

Humeyra Kiyak University of British Columbia, PhD Humeyra has a Master’s Degree in Math from Turkey. She took Academic English level 30 and is currently enrolled in Academic Skills for University and College Success. Although Humeyra would like to return to teach in Turkey at a university, she is very tempted by the comfortable living in Canada and is thinking of staying.

“I chose ELP because it is in Toronto and Toronto is centre of everything, with lots of opportunities for students and U of T is the best university in Canada. Also my friends recommended ELP.” “When I came here, I couldn’t speak really well, and now I can and I can complete my work independently; this course is perfect” “I want to thank Naglaa, Kimberley and Erin; Kimberley is really good at academic English and research” “There are a lot of differences in language, in Level 50, thinking in my own language was a problem, but in Level 60, Erin helped me with that in writing; I can write after this course and I don’t think in my first language” “My ELP teachers were great because they speak clearly, were interested in all of their students and were friendly to students; they also provided good feedback on assignments and we did peer editing which were really important”

Ozlem Umdu McMaster University, Master’s in Number Theory

Ozlem is a Turkish student, who has completed Academic English level 60 and is now taking Academic Skills for University and College Success. She would like to acquire a PhD and return to her home country to teach at the university level.

“Before I came to Canada, my friends recommended University of Toronto and ELP so I completed Level 60, got accepted McMaster and then came back for Post-Level 60 in Academic Skills” “… and I liked my teacher a lot, Kimberley, she teaches both Level 60 and Level Post-60” “I learned how to speak, how to do academic research and it improved my writing and my speaking” “U of T has a lot of resources and a lot of activities for students to learn, before, during and after school... for example, there was a special day where we introduced Turkish food, clothes, drinks and culture to other ELP students” “I took 2 levels and I had the same teacher so I want to thank Kimberley, she’s funny, comical, she is not boring, when she teaches something, I don’t feel bored in her class and she has a Masters so she is very knowledgeable about a lot of things about writing”

Mohammed Alnowigy University of Ottawa, Undergraduate, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Mohammed is originally from Saudi Arabia. He has completed Academic English level 50 and 60 and is now in Academic Skills for University and College Success. In the near future, Mohammed plans to complete a math course at Ryerson, after which he will begin his studies at the University. In the long run, he plans to complete his Master’s and PhD to fulfill his dreams of becoming a researcher.

“I chose ELP because ELP teaches me grammar intensively and offers me flexible class hours with a lot of time to apply all the information I learned outside of the class, at home and independently, usually other schools offer only 9-4 or 9-3 classes, which takes all the time of the day” “All the weak points that I had were addressed, the program strengthened my grammar and speaking” “If you already have a good background, you should apply to the intermediate program at ELP, not the primary” “I want to thank all my teachers, John, Karen, Caroline, Marijke, Erin and Kimberley as well as Denise, she helped me get my acceptance from universities” “One of my weak points was my confidence in speaking with natives, VEP broke this fear, it opened up the society and community to me. The best one was the food delivery; we were going to each house and knocking on doors, asking them about delivering food. For me, it is hard to go to each house and face new people, so this is the best VEP experience.”

issue 74, june 2011

Amr Omar University of Toronto, Master’s of Civil Engineering, Specializing in Construction Management Amr is from Egypt, he is now enrolled in Academic Skills for College and University Success. After completing his Master’s Degree, Amr would like to pursue his career as opposed to getting a PhD.

“I’ve been studying English since primary school and since I graduated from university in 2010, I haven’t been practicing and when I moved to Canada in December and tried to pursue my career and Masters Degree in Canada, I noticed that I needed an English requirement and more practice on my research skills despite passing my IELTS exam so I took (ELP’s Post-Level 60 Academic Skills) this course” “I learned many new things about new research that I basically had no initial ideas about, I was able to practice research and presentation skills throughout the whole course which are going to help me in my Masters” “When I started, I started out strong and so I began slacking and procrastinating, which is completely wrong. You have to continuously excel in the course, not just at the beginning and end” “Listen to your teachers, they know better!” “I met a lot of people here; I made a lot of new friends, which helped me practice my spoken English” “I did volunteer work at my community centre, at the North York Civic Centre. I collected garbage and got to know what is volunteering and its role in the community, it was a social experience, I met a lot of people who wanted to volunteer for the same cause” “I would like to thank Kimberley Hindy, my teacher, for helping me out and guiding me throughout this course. As well as Karen Thomson, who helped us out with participation in class and getting more audience for presentations; organizing guest speakers and seminars for us.”

world of words

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The ELP soccer club is a great opportunity for our student athletes to get outdoors to show off their skills, learn new tricks, have fun, and meet new friends! The soccer club holds weekly pick-up games right on the U of T campus. Here are some of ELP’s super star players. CA Toni Papa asked them about their position on the field, their favourite team an why they love playing the game.

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issue 74, june 2011 M ch

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world of words

C t r a u o i se B

rty

On April 29th, over 50 ELP students marked the beginning of spring with another fantastic boat cruise party along Lake Ontario! The boys were all fancied up with their fitted suites and black polished shoes, it was like graduation! As we got off the streetcar and headed to the harbour, there was already a long line forming. It had begun around 5:15pm. The weather was almost perfect, a bit chilly but not cold enough to prevent us from seeing the CN Tower and the beautiful Toronto skyline and harbourfront light up! As the line ended and the captain honked the boat’s horns to signal departure, a breeze started blowing across the deck and we scurried inside. In the beginning the dance floor was empty except with the odd couple. Is dancing at 6pm a bit early? There was still light outside! Thus the first hour consisted of scouting out places to put our bags, coats, changing

shoes, finding the bathroom, lining up for drinks and food and in general, checking people out. The cruise was packed with nearly 400 international students from all across the globe, not including ISX staff and ship crew members. People came from China, France, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Brazil, Korea, Columbia, Japan, Argentina, Britain and the U.S. to name a few. The music started to pick up around 7:30pm and as the alcohol started to flow, the dance floor beckoned. Friends and strangers alike were having a grand time, Top 40 music bellowed from the DJ’s turntable into the warm inside air and ELP took it all in. Covering almost a quarter of the dance floor, we were a popular crowd. Groups like Big Mehmet, Small Mehmet, Sakura and Saki danced merrily together, along with Kevin, Kizuna, Cabi, Xintong, Ping Chia, Ayşenur and Tufan. KGU students including Atsushi , Moeno, Takuya, Bandou, Anna, Hiromi, Mami, Yuri and Daiki also made quite a splash on the scene.

issue 74, june 2011

K U

AP AN

A IK I

AP AN

U R I

AP AN

W A LK

Question of the Week

AP AN

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AP AN

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A N D

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H H AV IC ST R H ,J A E FR LI A IN A C ,I AL O T N O E CE H R E . ,S E R U A ST T R SW H E D N I N E W T I A Y G TR AD H Y AN TZ C H E E A U T , J T RL SE LT VE Y Y O A A IW U SE ND R MA I S TR E A D A E ... . NY V N D L E W T O O T R TO T H H Y , J O TO A ER AV U B T Y F TH R E G E K I A O B R ST O IN IS U E E E TO A TI ,J U D B U A U F LL E T O TI A .S U TR B F AU L U F . W R T ... U A FO T A IT E C L STR ., TI O IFU O A A N A D D I R I O A L N ,J W N N I TU LIA IC TH , !T S N A K TA .M ,L TO R E N T O LY O E Y AT T U I U W K T ! L E A TO O D TO E A RA N A ,J I T! TC W TH SE Y C L V C O IS O A H SI E E M F N I . G T S E AN T E M VI O H TI TO TO IF Y C TS C FE M FR E E SI B TO E AD E R U L IE S I Y N G R T N S T G A O D D O Q M ,F N E S A. W U TO E SI N E R A O S G R E R R . A N C E E E TH A G O E ST N A A M R XT G D E I S M N A B Y A T I A E ! N LS O G G N . E ? A

SA U

world of words

issue 74, june 2011

IN THE SUMMER, DO YOU PREFER TO SPEND THE DAY RELAXING AT THE BEACH OR HANGING OUT IN A PARK? THE PARK... THE BEACH IS TOO HOT! STEPHEN, JAPAN

THE BEACH... THE PARK IS TOO HOT! JIN, KOREA

BEACH! BEACH! BEACH! WHY WOULD ANYONE GO TO THE PARK? MIO&YUKO&RITA&DANIELLE&YUKI, JAPAN&ITALY&BRAZIL

I LIKE THE PARK, BECAUSE YOU CAN MEET UP WITH YOUR FRIENDS THERE SPONTANEOUSLY AND JUST CHILL OUT. DARREN, CANADA

BEACH. ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS GO TO THE BEACH. THE GIRLS IN THE PARK ARE UGLY LIKE A PUMPKIN. BYUNG–RYUL, KOREA

THE BEACH! THE SUMMER IS SHORT

AND WE CAN GO TO THE PARK ANYTIME. IZUMI&MISUZU, JAPAN

THE PARK... IT MIGHT BE COOLER AND IT’S MORE ACCESSABLE. KAREN, CANADA

IF YOU CAN’T DECIDE, HEAD TO TORONTO ISLAND. IT HAS THE PERFECT COMBINATION

35! OF PARK AND BEACH

world of words

“I WOULD BUY MAPLE SYRUP

“I WOULD USE IT TO BUY A SOME TOM’S SHOES. THAT WAY I

FROM

DARREN!”

AOI, JAPAN

GET SOMETHING AND SOMETHING GOES TO

“I WOULD GO TO ALGONQUIN PARK!”

CHARITY.” DUNYA, U.A.E.

YUKA, JAPAN

“TO BE HONEST, I WOULD GO TO

CAMTO.” DAHAE, KOREA

IF YOU FOUND $100 ON THE STREET, WHAT

“I WOULD

WOULD YOU DO WITH IT?

“I WOULD GET 10 000 PENNIES

TAKE IT TO

EATON CENTRE!”

THE

NASEEM, SAUDI ARABIA

AND GIVE THEM TO HOMELESS PEOPLE!” PING CHIA, TAIWAN

“I WOULD SPLIT IT $5 BILLS, THROW IT IN THE AIR, AND WATCH PEOPLE SCRAMBLE FOR IT!!” MIO, JAPAN

“I WOULD GO TO THE CASINO... ALTHOUGH I DON’T KNOW HOW TO GAMBLE!” SAKURA, JAPAN

issue 74, june 2011

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE

TORONTO

NEIGHBOURHOOD? “THE ANNEX. YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING THERE!”

“TORONTO ISLAND! THERE ARE

TUE SI, FRANCE

MANY BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF THE THE CITY, NATURE AND CUTE COTTAGES.”

“HIGH PARK AND ‘THE ISLAND’

RYO, JAPAN

ARE GREAT PLACES TO RELAX IN

“GREEKTOWN!

“TORONTO ISLAND, BECAUSE THERE ARE DOLPHINS... RIGHT

CHRIS?”

PING CHIA, TAIWAN

THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD, DELICIOUS, AND TASTY FOOD!” TOMOHIRO, JAPAN

THE SUMMER.” JAE, KOREA

“DOWNTOWN YONGE AND THE EATON CENTRE. THERE IS ALWAYS AN EVENT OR SOMETHING EXCITING HAPPENING!” BRUNO, BRAZIL

world of words

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE BEST RESTAURANT IN TORONTO? LEBANESE

PARAMOUNT

CHINESE MAJED

NEAR THE EATON CENTRE, IT’S AUTHENTIC ARABIC FOOD, AND THERE IS A GREAT VARIETY. THE HUMMUS IS REALLY GOOD TOO!

SAUDI ARABIA

JAPANESE

THE CHINESE FOOD TRUCK THE WHITE ONE, NEAR ROBARTS LIBRARY. MY COUSIN TOLD ME THERE IS A CHINESE VAN WHERE YOU CAN EAT VERY CHEAPLY. I TRIED THEIR FOOD; IT WAS SURPRISINGLY DELICIOUS! I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK FOR MORE EVER SINCE.

I LOVE THEIR TEMPURA, IT’S THE BEST IN TORONTO!

JAPAN

THAT GREEK RESTAURANT TOMOHIRO

SUSHI ON BLOOR IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO JAPANESE SUSHI.

GENZO RAMEN

JAPAN

NEAR CHESTER STATION.* THEIR PORK SOUVLAKI IS REALLY GOOD!

JAPAN

???

KOREA

THAT PLACE WITH THE GREEN SIGN. THE FOOD IS CHEAP, IT COMES IN BIG PORTIONS, ITS GOOD QUALITY, AND ITS DELICIOUS! BUT I CAN’T REMEMBER ITS NAME...

TOKYO KITCHEN IT HAS REAL JAPANESE TASTE!

KONNICHIWA

EFFIE

ON BALDWIN. IT HAS DELICIOUS NOODLES!

CANADA

SUSHI ON BLOOR

HIROMI

*THERE ARE ABOUT 22 GREEK RESTAURANTS NEAR CHESTER STATION

JAE

IN KOREA TOWN, IT’S CHEAP AND DELICIOUS!

KOREA

GREEK

MAMI

SUSHI ON BLOOR

BYUNG–RYUL

MIO JAPAN

IZUMI&MISUZU

ITS CHEAP BUT THE FOOD TASTES REALLY GOOD!

JAPAN

ITALIAN LA VECCHIA THEY HAVE A GREAT BRUNCH. IT’S NOT CHEAP BUT ITS VERY TASTY!

DANIELLE BRAZIL

DON’T FORGET, IT IS CUSTOMARY TO LEAVE A TIP OF ABOUT 15% AT MOST CANADIAN RESTAURANTS. TIPPING TELLS YOUR WAITER THAT THEY DID A GOOD JOB.

issue 74, june 2011

MANGO S! THE E E R T O IS MANG HE TREE FROM T T H IG A STR S PHILLIPINE T! TONI, S E B E H T

ANYTHING FROM YOUR HOME

E TH

E ER

ELL DC

, AR

I AB

Y. WA

J IN ,

KOR

ITALY TOS. RITA,

UB ES

TH IN IFI DW AN

ON PTI CE RE

CORENET AND THE

, BRAZIL

I MISS DIGITAL LOCKS, I HATE CARRYING KEYS. JOHNNY, KOREA

O APPUCCIN

A YH

E TH ISH IW

I MISS THE C

. .. S TE

AP AN

MISS THE F R E N C H STICK BR EAD. DANIE LLE

,J KA

YU B! TU TH BA DE EP Y

M S IS

I, . SATOR

J APAN I SUSH

AND JAG A NIKU MISS

IS THERE

COUNTRY THAT

YOU WISH YOU

COULD FIND IN

CANADA?

world of words

Church of the Redeemer by fullyreclined (flickr)

by Whitewall Buick (flickr)

by Michael Caven (flickr)

by Hyunsun Kim

When spring comes in Toronto, a lot of buildings open their doors to everyone only once and they want to show their secrets inside. That is “Doors Open Toronto”. This event in Toronto started in 2000, and it was the first Doors Open event in North America. Doors Open Toronto helps us to know about everything in Toronto such as history, the arts, architecture, beautiful nature, and our daily life I visited Old City Hall with my son on May 28th since I had visited the Legislative Building at the ELP, so I compared the two buildings. Old City Hall is located at 60 Queen Street West in Toronto. It was used for official work. It contains a Council Chamber, courtrooms and municipal offices, and then it became a courthouse for the Ontario government. Old City Hall was nearly removed because of the planning of the Eaton Centre; however, some citizens and community activists, known as the “Friends of Old City Hall”, convinced the city to preserve this important landmark, which complemented Osgoode Hall and the New City Hall. Old City Hall was declared a National Historic Site by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 1989. It is made of grey and red stone from Ontario’s Credit River Valley and New Brunswick, and it is a huge and grand building like an old castle. It is brown and gray, and it is very similar to the Legislative Building, because they were designed by same designer, Edward James Lennox, who was an architect in Toronto. At that time, Old City Hall was one of the largest buildings in Toronto and the largest civic building in North America; in other words, Old City Hall was one of the symbols in Toronto.

elaborate. It is fun to look at the variety of faces on the carved arches, especially on the west side of the centre arch where Lennox’s own face was carved. If you want to know the designer’s face, I recommend this place. When we go outside there is the monument in the centre. It was erected in 1925 to honour the dead from The First World War. Also Old City Hall has a Clock tower. The gargoyles are similar to those on the Peace Tower in Ottawa. We can view the Clock tower from far away. If you see it first, you want to know what this building is because it is so beautiful! There are some bushes and flowers in front of Old City Hall. It is very different from the Legislative Building which has a lot of parkland. So, if you like to go for a walk the Legislative Building is better for you. I felt that Old City Hall shows the authority of a grand city and the city’s history. Also it is the same as the Legislative Building inside. Most young people prefer brand new things to old things; however, I think old things are very important for us to be foundations of our life and our country although they are old fashioned. Old City Hall looks more beautiful and magnificent than many skyscrapers. After that my son and I visited New City Hall and we compared the two buildings. I thought that Old City Hall looked like my grandmother; the New City Hall looked like my brother. The New City Hall showed active and modern features. However, I didn’t feel the majesty and dignity that I felt in the Old City Hall. In the future the New City Hall will be another symbol in the history of Toronto.

It has carved arches and walls inside. There are entrances on all sides of the building, but the main entrance on Queen Street is the most

The Church of the Redeemer by Jalal Almusilet, Academic English level 40 When I visited the Church of the Redeemer I was interested in it because most people go there to pray to Christ . The small church is prominently located at the intersection of Bloor Street and Avenue Road, near the University of Toronto. It was founded in 1871 when the area was still on the fringe of the city. The Gothic Revival style building was completed in 1879. The church is the oldest church in Toronto. When they made it they used Georgetown stone, while the interior

features polychrome. It’s very amazing. The church has some ornamentation in the “ stained glass windows “. The design is wonderful because it is old style and also it was restored . The church also hosts a range of musical events and concerts . In conclusion, I have another religion but when I visited the church it was a good experience for me.

by Nidhal Alabri, Academic English Level 40

Elgin Theatre Ceiling Details by go ask alice (flickr)

On Sunday May 29th 2011, I went to one building from Doors Open in Toronto. It was a big chance for me to visit one of the great heritage buildings located on Yonge Street. This building is called the “Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre”. This is the last surviving Edwardian stacked theatre in the world. The building was designed by the famous architect Thomas W. Lamb in 1913. It was used for plays and vaudeville productions. The building consists of two floors and each one is a theatre. In the past, the lower floor was transformed into a cinema. The building was renovated by the Ontario heritage foundation in 1981 and 1987. In the 1990s, many musicians played their music in the Elgin theatre like “The Who’s Tommy musical” and “Napoleon”. In 2004, four episodes of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” were filmed in the Elgin theatre. I liked the hand-painted walls with garden scenery. Also, I was impressed by the branches and leaves decorations on the ceilings and the columns that have been turned into tree trunks. When I entered the theatre, I received a leaflet about the theater and I was asked to sit and watch a movie. I enjoyed my time. I hope I can visit it again. Finally, I continued my day visiting other great buildings in the Toronto area. It is still in my memory- the magic dramaturgic building of Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre. Then my friend and I had lunch in an Arabic restaurant.

Elgin Theatre by go ask alice (flickr)

Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre

issue 74, june 2011

Gooderham Building

ELP Photo Contest Submission, 2008

by stevenharris (flicker)

by KeunHee Lee, Academic English level 40 I’m really interested in old style buildings so I was glad when I heard about the event ‘Doors Open Toronto’. I went to the Flatiron building which is located at Wellington Street and Front Street. In 1891 the Gooderham family wanted local residents to recognize their success and the success of their distillery business, so they built the Flatiron building. Now the first floor is a pub area, and the other floors are offices. The building materials are red brick, iron and glass. It is a 5-story red brick building with 12-foot high ceilings and brass fittings. This building is Gothic style; also, the top of the building looks like an old church steeple. The rear of the building has a wall where someone drew a fanciful painting on the wall. The painter used an actual window to give a more realistic appearance. In this photo you can see there is a difference between the RBC bank building and the Flatiron. As you can see all the buildings are modern except the Flatiron. It is a little bit strange, however this is nice spot to take a photo. I love European style buildings, like this ‘Gothic building’ because this style is something that I’ve never seen before in Asian buildings. I hope you learn about amazing European architecture.

world of words

Toronto through the Eyes of ELP Students About the photogaphs:

by Marwah Khujah

Photography is a very common and effective way for our students to reflect on their experiences while in Toronto and at the ELP. We encourage their efforts by organizing the Photo Club, led by Darren Rigo (CA). It is free to join the club, so bring your camera to explore the city with us and learn key photography tricks!

About the photographer Marwah Khujah is an Academic English level 60 student from Saudi Arabia.

by Marwah Khujah

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love taking pictures because I feel that I have freedom and look at everything from my own perspective. In that way, my photographs reflect my mood. In fact, I love taking pictures of anything around me and sometimes I like to send messages through them. Also, I like each part of Toronto that I have visited and everything interests me!â&#x20AC;? Photo Credit: CN Tower by Marwah Khujah Fatimah Al-Sayoud is from Saudi Arabia as well. She is currenlty enrolled in Academic English level 50.

by Marwah Khujah

by Fatimah Al-Sayoud

issue 74, june 2011

by Fatimah Al-Sayoud

world of words

S p r i n g C a m ping: Glen Bernard Camp

In Sprin g 2011, ELP staff the ELP an be extreme fore, others ha d students emb ve been ly excite a desert c rked on a truly d kayakin amping g, canoe to try new acti , but for Canadian expe vities an ing, zip rien mo d lining, m ountain experience the st, this was the ce - camping! Some stu Canadia biking, first tim and roc k climb n wilderness. S e they have ev dents have exp ing! e ome of the num r been campin erienced winte g r campin erous a ctivities . Naturally the g with n availab le to us , everyone was were arc hery,

issue 74, june 2011 When we arrived at the camp site, we were divided into groups: wolf, with Darren as their leader; Fox, led by Laura; Eagle, led by Rolla; and Moose, led by Chris. The groups rotated between activities separately, but we all got together during meal times and free times. One very memorable night, everyone (including the Glen Bernard staff!) spent almost one hour playing “Move your body if ...”!

The Newb ie: Rolla, le ader of Ea g

ader of Fo x The Side K ick: Laura , le

Wolf

Laura Brown,

The Pro: D arren, lead er of

The Boss:

Chris, lead

er of Moose

Daiki, Left to right:

). met (bootom Kensho & Meh Laura, Rolla,

easure of end I had the pl “This past week Spring P EL e th on you joining many of mp. I am Ca d ar Glen Bern Camping trip to I felt a bit timid so ity un m m co new to the ELP y that the n confidently sa at first, but I ca e so friendly ar ELP program students of the tely felt like ia ed m im I that and welcoming t of us some lo a r . I know fo one of the gang Bernard were we did at Glen of the activities so many new g in do n uch fu new. It was so m found a few ve ce. I think I ha things all at on new hobbies. out out the trip with I cannot talk ab (or Foxy). x Fo am Te , tribe mentioning my s members be tri l of my foxy Thank you to al ly helped te iasm, you defini for your enthus p. tri orable make it a mem events with rward to more I am looking fo u all in the yo e Se . of friends my new group hallways!”

s e i t i v i t c A

world of words

Marwah Khujah is an Academic English level 60 student from Saudi Arabia.

Daiki

Serra

Mazin

Kevin

Archery Mastery

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spring Camping was the most truly Canadian experience that I have ever had. The campers, activities, environment and especially the nature of the scenery were all wonderful. I was touched by the connections and relationships I made. Thanks to all camp counsellors and all the ELP staff for such a wonderful experience!â&#x20AC;?

Naoki

Yuri

Shizue

Puzzled Paddlers

issue 74, june 2011 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went spring camping at Glen Bernard Camp from June 10 to 12. The camp is north of Toronto, so it took 3 hours by bus. I went with comprehensive and academic English students; moreover, there were 30 students so I met many people from different cultures such as, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Italian people. They were so friendly and kind. Glen Bernard Camp was an amazing place; in addition, there was a lake and garden similar to a jungle so it is a natural area. I did a lot of exciting activates; for example, I tried archery,tree climbing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming on the lake; in addition, I played sports like soccer and basketball. We slept in cabins made of wood. It was the most exciting weekend I have ever had. When I came back home I was tired and I took a shower and then I went to sleep. In conclusion, I will never forget this trip to Camp Glen Bernard.â&#x20AC;?

Mazin Binishaq is an Academic English level 40, from Saudi Arabia.

Mehmet

Kizuna

Serra

High Hopes for High Ropes

Daiki

Abdulrahman

Daiki

Zipping through the Zipper

world of words

issue 74, june 2011

. . . s e i r o m e m

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