World of Words March 2012

world of words March 2012, issue 77

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

In this issue...

Winter Camping

Tourism in Toronto

Adventures in a Winter Wonderland

ICBC at the ELP

and more!

inside this issue feature articles Learn English 4 Chit Chat at Coffee Chat 5 Adventures in a Winter Wonderland 6 Tourism in Toronto 8

student opinion Yellowknife 46 My Travels/Online Gaming 47 Violent Crime in Venezuela 48 Obesity in Canada/Time Management 49

Interview: Lili Kozomara 11

Living Comfortably in Toronto/Insects 50

ICBC at the U of T 12

International Student/Restaurant Review 51

KGU 20

Museum of Anatomy 52

Jeollabukdo Teachers 24

Spectacular Korea 53

english outside of the classroom

Music Festival/Free Time/Differences 54 Niagara Falls/Manga and Anime 55

School Spirit 25

3 Women and MOVIE 56

Winter Camping at YMCA Wanakita 28

Dream Back to the Maya 57

Music Night 34

Beauty and the Best Review/Why Marry? 58

Darren’s Music Corner 35

Staying Healthy Through Winter 60

Memories of ELP Music Night 36

Ask Rosa 62

academic life Grammar Corner 37 University Application Program 38 Volunteer Application Program 40 Academic Skills Students 42

Disclaimer: Due to our diverse student population, we receive many opinion based articles relating to global and current affairs. The views expressed in this magazine are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the English Language Program.

The English Language Program does not endorse, represent or warrant the quality of products or companies mentioned within.

issue 77, March 2012

ELP Director’s Message March 2012 Dear all, The days are getting longer, the flowers are about to bloom and spring has arrived in Toronto, which means... it’s time for another edition of our World of Words magazine! We’ve had yet another busy and fun filled winter session at the ELP and I am proud to share our experiences and achievements with you.

In this issue we relive the winter adventures ELP students and staff have experienced over the past few months: Becky Smith’s incredible visit to a hotel in Quebec (Hotel de Glace)... made entirely of ice; the joys of our Winter Camping Trip to YMCA Wanakita; and the beauty of ELP students trip to Yellowknife. We may not have had much snow in Toronto, but there was definitely winter fun to be had in Canada.

Take a peek at the opinions and achievements of our long-time partner groups: ICBC, KGU, and Jeollabukdo. Marvel at the research topics chosen by our Academic Skills students and read through the academic articles written by our passionate and ambitious students. I am proud of the work our students have accomplished and I think you will be too.

As always, this issue would not have been possible without the submissions and support of our students, instructors, staff and friends – thank you!

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

Christopher Chipman Editor and Layout Design Ennis Blentic, Maxine Bower, Laura Brown, Staff Contributors Megan Chen, Lily Choi, Andrea Cuellar-Aleman, Jennifer Harris, Kimberley Hindy, Corrine Keogh, Tonia Kwok, Rosa Leo, Lily Meshadiyeva, Ted Mounsteven, Evelyn Pederson, Linda Prue, Darren Rigo, Becky Smith, Effie Touchings, Laurie Weber, Cindy Zhou

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Learn

By Loaloah Abdulaziz Alhejaili of Saudi Arabia Academic English Level 40

M

ost people want to learn English as a second language, but they do not have time or money to do that.

If you want to learn anything, you must have determination and you must feel confident to succeed. Sometimes you want to learn English, but you do not have money to register in a course. Also, you want that, but you do not have time . Actually, there are several methods to learn English for free, such as watch tv, read story or local newspapers, search in internet and talk to English speaking people regularly. First, you should always watch tv or listen to music because this method is the best way to learn English. You can see the education programs for English language, drama and news. In addition you should go to theater, and you watch movies. When you do some exercise or ride subway, you can listen to music. If you listen to music, it is enjoyable way to learn English. Second, reading local newspapers and books is an easy way to learn English because you can read it any time such as when you are standing in subway, and you are waiting in line. Before you go to bed, you can read some books. Third, on the internet there are many free sites to learn English. This is professional way. Finally, if you talk with English speaking people regularly, you can learn English more quickly than any other methods. You can meet with them in street, restaurants, stores, gym and any where. When you use this way, you can learn it quickly and well.

As you can see, you do not need time or money to study English language, you just need to know the appropriate method to do it.

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Chit Chat at Coffee Chat

By Maxine Bowers and Laura Brown, ELP Cultural Assistants

issue 77, March 2012

Can you spot the idioms and expressions?

On a wonderful Thursday afternoon, two lovely ladies were enjoying coffee and boston cream donuts while getting pumped up for Coffee Chat adventures.

The two ladies, Lollypop and Macaroon, hadn’t seen each other in a while. Lollypop thought something seemed a little different about Macaroon. Lollypop thought it might be the outfit Macaroon was wearing, so Lollypop asked her if she had bought some different clothes. Macaroon’s response was hardly a happy one. Here is how the conversation went down: Lollypop: “Hey Mac! You look a little different... I know, it’s your pants! They look scandalously snug.”

Macaroon: “What do you mean my pants look snug? Are you saying I look FAT?!”

Lollypop: “Oh boy, I just put my foot in my mouth.”

Macaroon: “I’m offended.”

Lollypop: “When I said your pants look snug, I meant to say you look like a million bucks. You don’t look fat!”

Macaroon: “Oh, good. I bend over backwards trying to impress people with my outifits!”

Lollypop: “Well don’t burn a hole in your pocket! A nice wardrobe can cost an arm and a leg!”

Macaroon: “I know, I know. Lately, all I do is hit the books! I won’t be burning a hole in my pocket as long as I have exams to worry about.”

Lollypop: “Well, at least your Renaissance studies exam will be a piece of cake.”

Macaroon: ”Very true. Alright, let’s get the show started.

Wooohooo for Coffee Chat!”

‘idiom’: words whose meaning are not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements

Is this conversation hard to follow? Come to Coffee Chat and become familiar with English idioms and expressions!

Coffee Chat is a place to relax and practice the art of conversation.

Join Maxine and Laura every Thursday at 2pm for Coffee Chat and learn the ins and outs of the English Language.

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Adventures in a Winter Wonderland

by BeckySmith, Smith, International Manager at the ELP

By Becky Marketing Director atMarketing ELP

D

espite the milder temperatures in Toronto this winter, there were plenty of places in Canada where snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures could be found.

In Ontario’s neighbouring province of Quebec, the temperature dipped to -25 degrees centigrade and there was plenty of snow on the ground from late December onwards.

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cargo or ferry ship ploughing its way through.

Towards the end of January and into February Quebec City hosts its annual Winter Carnival festival with the colourful snowman, Bonhomme, as its mascot. Ice sculptures, parades and canoe races across the frozen river are just part of the festivities.

Quebec City is the capital of French-speaking 8\LILJ HUK PZ H ZOVY[ VUL HUK H OHSM OV\Y ÅPNO[ North-East of Toronto or can be reached by road in a day. The name Quebec originates from the Algonquin word meaning “where the river narrows”, which is rather appropriate as the city sits on the banks of the St Lawrence River.

For visitors to the city during winter, another attraction is the Hotel de Glace or, in English, the Ice Hotel.

Each winter, construction starts on building a hotel made entirely from snow and ice on the edge of a park located a few kilometres to the north of the city centre. Guests from all over the world pay to spend the night sleeping on ice beds and to drink cocktails from glasses made entirely of ice in the hotel’s frosty bar. It’s even possible to get married in the Ice Chapel.

0U [OL ^PU[LY [OL YP]LY MYLLaLZ HUK PJL ÅVLZ JHU IL ZLLU ÅVH[PUN KV^U [OL YP]LY HSVUN ^P[O [OL VJJHZPVUHS

Some of the ice bedrooms are plain in decoration feeling a bit like an icy jail cell but others feature

www.quebecregion.com - www.carnaval.qc.ca - www.hoteldeglace-canada.com

VYUH[L PJL JHY]PUNZ ÄYLWSHJLZ HUK PJL M\YUP[\YL HZ decoration. Architecture students from universities across Canada contribute their designs and craftsmanship to the hotel each year as part of an annual competition. In 2012, the theme was celebrating the different native Canadian cultures of the Northern Quebec region. In the middle of [OL OV[LS `V\ ^PSS ÄUK HU PJL ZSPKL HUK SV\UNL HYLH complete with an icicle chandelier. It’s amazing to see what cannot be made from ice!

therefore discouraged and guests are told to ensure they are 100% dry after using the hot tubs and sauna to raise their core body temperature before going to bed.

To prepare for a night in the cold, guests are able to leave their suitcases, warm up, use the washrooms, shower and change in a heated building d Celsius. They are also given appropriately names, training in how to ensure the frosty temperatures do not bite in the middle of the night by ensuring their clothes and thermal sleeping bag, which is provided, do not get wet is any way. Any moisture will freeze and lower the body temperature. Sweating is

If a night in the ice hotel does not appeal, visitors are able to pay to tour the icy creation during daylight hours. By the end of March, however, the hotel will be no more as it begins to melt. It really is a unique experience as next year the design of the hotel will be completely different.

In the morning, a number of guests usually report they got the best night’s sleep ever due to the peace and quiet. Others give up part way through the night and can be found asleep on the sofas in the Celsius building as dawn breaks.

;OL 8\LILJ *P[` 0JL /V[LS HUK *HYUP]HS HYL ÄUL examples of how Canadians enjoy and make the most of the winter weather!

Tourism in Toronto Find out what to do, see and experience in the city.

Andrea Cuellar-Aleman, ELP Cultural Assistant

by

A Living City

Museums and Art Galleries

T

The following four museums and galleries are a must see when in Toronto. The giant crystal on Bloor St. and Avenue Rd is the home of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). The ROM is Canada’s largest museum of culture and history, with permanent as well as temporary exhibits. It will take more than a full day to appreciate everything this museum has to see. Another museum that will take more than a day to appreciate is the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) which houses upwards of 73,000 works of art. It is located on Queen St. East around the corner from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) building and is surrounded by several smaller independent galleries.

oronto is an incredible city for both residents and tourists alike. With so many different attractions, events, varieties of cuisine and cultural experiences, it is impossible to get bored. From restaurants to entertainment to shopping, every corner of the city has something unique to explore, and the ELP Cultural Assistants are the experts you need to help you get the best Toronto city experience.

Toronto provides endless entertainment for everyone in the city all year around. The leisure activities and attractions in Toronto are some of the biggest and best that Canada has to offer. Featured here is a selection of the most prominent and popular features to visit in Toronto, and some of the CAs’ favourites as well. For more exploring on your own, an excellent website to inform you about everything going on within Toronto right now, as well as coming up in 2012 is www.seetorontonow.com . Also, several tours are available for those interested in experiencing Toronto with a professional guide before exploring on your own, such as Toronto Hippo Tours, and City Sightseeing Toronto.

The leisure “activities and

attractions in Toronto are some of the biggest and best that Canada has to offer

”

The Bata Shoe Museum is an internationally acclaimed museum revealing over 4500 years of history regarding shoes pertaining to the world’s various cultures. This museum is a very unique, educational and interesting experience found at the corner of U of T campus (Bloor and Spadina). The Ontario Science Center is slightly removed yet worth the trip to see. This museum is full of interactive exhibits explaining many of the world’s processes through science.

issue 77, March 2012

Theatre and Performing Arts

Neighbourhoods and Historic Sites

For lovers of theatre and classical music, Toronto offers world class venues and productions. The Princess of Wales and Mirvish Theatres are where you can find current Broadway theatrical performances, such as The Lion King and the Phantom of the Opera which have passed through town a few times. The Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts down the street from Nathan Philip Square houses performances by the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada, which have some of the best talent and largest productions in the country.

The Royal Conservatory of Music and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra perform different pieces throughout their season for audiences interested in experiencing a classical symphony.

The Distillery District and the St. Lawrence Market are fun during any time of year, as they showcase old Toronto and its history through the architecture, neat shops and restaurants. It is nice to go for the day, sightsee and explore, and remember a camera as there are excellent photography opportunities. Casa Loma is a castle which is open to the public for tours year round, The building and extensive gardens provide great photography opportunities as well. It is a site which is often booked for weddings and private events due to its grandeur and rare timelessness within the big city, also one where scenes in several movies and shows have been filmed.

“ For lovers of

theatre and classical music, Toronto offers world class venues and productions

�

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world of words

Entertainment Sites, Landmarks and Other

Points of Interest

The Rogers Center and Air Canada Centre (ACC) are home to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team, the Toronto Raptors NBA team, and the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL team. These provide excellent opportunities for sports fans to experience one of Canada’s most popular games. The pride Torontonians have in their teams, especially hockey—Canada’s sport. The Hockey Hall of Fame is an interactive museum where you can experience hockey, the history of the game and the great players of the past.

The Harbourfront Center at Queens Quay on the lake offers many activities for visitors depending on the season. From boat cruises to ice skating, the area always has something going on.

The CN Tower is naturally the most well known landmark in Toronto. Now offering the option of walking outside on the edge of the tower, this freestanding structure is incredible to see from the outside firmly on the ground, or experience from the top out on the observation deck.

Shopping in Toronto Shopping in Toronto is not in short supply. For all styles and price ranges there is somewhere perfect for you. Young- Dundas Square, Toronto’s mini version of Manhattan’s Time Square, has the Eaton Centre at the heart. Several floors of shopping are available which take up almost an entire city block, and the shopping continues with outdoor shops going north on Yonge St. The Eaton Centre is also connected to the famous Hudson’s Bay Company (The Bay) by an above ground and underground tunnel. Yorkdale Mall is located at the Yorkdale subway stop on the University- Spadina Line. Slightly higher end and having undergone renovations, this mall has similar stores to that in the Eaton Centre, plus a few more... including a movie theater and a Rainforest Café.

Queen St. East where the famous City TV complex is located, is lined with stores for anyone’s taste in shopping. Bloor St. West is the trendy and luxurious spot to shop in the city. This is where Yorkville begins, highlighting Holt Renfrew surrounded with high-end stores like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, as well as small yet exclusive boutiques.

Amusement Parks and Zoos These attractions are offered between the spring and fall seasons only. However if you are in the city during those times and are an animal lover or thrill seeker, these are perfect for you. African Lion Safari and the Toronto Zoo let visitors experience animals from all over the world up close.

The roller coasters at Canada’s Wonderland will test even the most hardened daredevil with its thrill rides and massive, nerve wracking water park. Ontario Place is a smaller version of Wonderland located right downtown overlooking Lake Ontario.

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“ The rollercoasters

at Canada’s Wonderland will test even the most hardened daredevil...

”

issue 77, March 2012

Lili Kozomara An Interview with ELP student and international model,

Q: QUESTION A: ANSWER

Q: How did you first get involved in the modelling Q: industry?

What kind of photo shoots have you been involved with recently?

A: I’ve liked fashion since I was a child, but modelling A: I worked with many national and international was never my dream career. Europe has influenced me most, and my love for fashion comes directly out of my having lived there. I first became involved in the modelling industry when an owner of a hair salon asked me to be its exclusive model; after, I was scouted by a local agency. Later, I signed a national contract with a Toronto modelling agency, Shok Models, which launched my career internationally.

clients, such as Elle Canada Magazine, McKinnon Hair Design - National Competition, Lancôme Paris Cosmetics, Hair Shows by Daniel Benoît - Montréal (Art Director for L’Oreal Professionel in Canada), Chanel Jewellery, The Hamilton Spectator - Fashion Editorial, L’Oreal Paris Cosmetics, “Novine Toronto” National Weekly Newspaper - Fashion Editorial and Interview, Chanel Cosmetics, to name a few.

Q: What sort of challenges have you faced working Q: Ultimately, what are your goals as a model? Do as a model?

A:

There is no denying that modelling is an incredible career; however, the modelling world can be a bewildering place. Modelling is a business, and it’s always challenging starting out in new profession.

Knowledge of the industry and learning about it was the most challenging. Like any other business, the more an individual knows about the modelling industry, the greater the chance of success.

you have any dreams to work in exotic locations or shoot with famous photographers?

A: When I first started modelling, I did not know

what to expect. Working as an international high fashion model gave me an opportunity to surpass my goals and dreams working in beautiful exotic locations with the world’s top clients. My career highlight was modelling in Paris, France. I feel blessed and truly thankful for these opportunities.

Q: Is it a career you would recommend to others? Q: What advice do you have for those that want to A: Modelling is magical - it opens doors, you meet get into the modelling industry? interesting people, it is impressive, and an incredible A: “How does modelling work? Who can I trust? status symbol. The money a model makes, even for doing ‘average’ by industry standards, is amazing, but it depends on the individual. Many girls dream to appear on a magazine cover or walk down the runway in a famous designer’s fashion show. A person must have a professional attitude, discipline and perseverance. It is a very hard business to enter, survive and to succeed. Get to know yourself. The most beautiful women are those with a real sense of self.

What are my chances (realistically) of making it?” I am asked these questions on the regular basis by aspiring models, their parents, family, and friends. My answer is always, ‘if a person does not possess a competitive nature, perhaps this is not an appropriate profession to tackle’. Be prepared for a lot of hard work. Successful models manage to navigate the many minefields facing aspiring models while learning the business.

Ljilja Lili Kozomara divides her time between international modelling, studying at the University of Toronto English Language Program, and working as a Head Pharmacy Technician.

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ICBC

International Leadership Development Program at the University of Toronto

W

e are a group of 17 persons, all of whom come from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (ICBC). ICBC is now not only the largest commercial bank in China, but also the largest commercial bank in the world, in terms of the market value. As our bank is developing and becoming more and more internationalized, we were selected and sent here to further our studying. We are now studying in the “International Leadership Development Program� established by the University of Toronto (U of T) and our bank. With great thanks to U of T, we have not only enhanced our oral English, but also learnt tremendous knowledge about international work place culture, leadership and financial literacy.

What’s more, upon landing on the territory of Canada on September 17th, 2011, we have never stopped discovering, both academically and culturally. We study hard, and live happily.

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issue 77, March 2012

Our Journey with the School of Continuing Studies

By Chunhui Jia (Charles)

W

hen it flashes back to 18th September, 2011, the opening ceremony of our ICBC international leadership training program, where we first met all the people who would accompany us through our journey at the Universality of Toronto, we never imagined we could go that far and how colorful our academic journey would be. What we did feel at that moment is the warm welcome from every one of the School of Continuing Studies and the excitement of being one of the first cohorts from the biggest bank in the world- ICBC. “We will make a difference”, I spoke to myself.

We have been taking many courses from wonderful professors with expertise and passion, and they are so different from the ones we took in China. Most of us were shocked at the beginning. In the classroom, there is no such thing as teaching, the one-way communication we are used to. We are kept pushing to communicate, ask questions, give input and feedback. Oh, there is a lot of homework to do - don’t forget. It’s painful at first, but day by day, we began to love the feeling of participation in the class. The most wonderful thing is along the way, we have been able to make friends with our teachers and classmates coming from different parts of the world.

With the help of the School of Continuing Studies, we could have the opportunity to visit some financial institutes and attend some workshops from local professionals. We could see the real stuff in the business and discuss the hottest topics in the industry with the experts in the field. How exciting when we stepped into the RBC Learning Center or BMO branch, and learning the daily practice from the professionals working in the organization. Everything is so real and cool!

We are learning to express our own ideas much better. Our teachers even generously gave a prize to the team who delivered a wonderful presentation. Most of us are now glad to share our ideas with each other, and learning from the process. Thanks to the School of Continuing Studies, we are making progress each single day, and we really enjoyed the journey with you.

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The Marshmallow Challenge H

ave you ever tried to build something with spaghetti, tape, string and marshmallow?

This is the marshmallow challenge. On leadership class, we were separated into 4 groups. Each group had 4 or 5 team members.

Every team must create the tallest building out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow within 18 minutes. The marshmallow should be on the top.

I worked with Kate, Mike and Thomas. At first, we tried to make a plan and execute it, but we found out it was not feasible immediately and we were far away behind other teams, because they started building during our discussion. The worst thing was we broke one of the spaghetti carelessly. However, no team member complained about our problems. On the contrary, everyone tried his or her best to create the building and contribute ideas. We adjusted our plans continuously according to the present situation. Afraid of the weight of marshmallow destroying our building, we kept testing the holding ability of our creation all the time. Fortunately, our 21 centimeter building turned out to be the tallest among the 4 groups.

Actually we’re not the only one who plays this interesting game. Business school students, kindergarten kids, lawyers,

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architects and engineers, and CEOs have tried the marshmallow challenge too. Guess who is the best and who is the worst? The architects and engineers’ building is the tallest that is more than 30 centimeter. To our surprise, kindergarten kids’ building has an average height of 28 centimeter, which is much higher than business school students’ average height of 10 centimeter, and become the second tallest. It seems that CEOs should work very well. However, they achieve a height of 22 centimeter which is just a little bit above the average height of all groups. It’s interesting that if you put an executive administer in CEOs team, they can improve their building to 30 centimeter magically.

Isn’t the game fascinating? It’s not only funny but also meaningful. Through the game, we learned how important communication and collaboration is. They are the essential essences to facilitate team work. Openness and every team member’s commitment are also the keys to team success. Everyone’s idea has his advantages and unique perspective.

Opening your mind and listening to others opinion carefully can ignite your ideas as well as stimulate the whole teams’ creativity.

Special Skills+ Facilitation Skills= Success

by Wenlan Han (Jane)

issue 77, March 2012

One day at the ROM

by Hui Liu (Vince)

R

oyal Ontario Museum (ROM) is one of the must-visit places once you are in Toronto. So on a beautiful day, when the sky couldn’t be bluer, my classmates and I visited this awesome place together.

The museum is divided into several parts by nation, like China, Japan, Egypt, and so on. As a Chinese, the most important stop for me is definitely the Chinese collections area. Before the visit, I had already prepared myself with the thought that there must be a lot of fabulous Chinese antiques inside, nevertheless, when I set my eyes on the delicate works of art, I still couldn’t help but felt overwhelmed. All the fantastic jade-wares, potteries, paintings, although some of them have existed for thousands of years, they are all very well preserved and showing how intelligent the ancient Chinese people could be. They were all made in China, buried in earth or handed down by Chinese, somehow they were dug out or traded, at some point they were taken on a plane or ship, crossed the Pacific Ocean, and finally settled in ROM. How many stories are there during the whole process? Nobody knows. I suddenly felt so tiny.

The guide for our group was an elegant lady, although she was already at her 70s, she was still so energetic and told us all the interesting historical stories, which gave us more understanding about the exhibits.

One day in ROM is definitely not enough to appreciate all the beauty in the exhibits, so another day is already on my schedule. See you soon.

A Volunteer’s Day at St. Alban’s Boys and Girls Club

by Xi Zhang (Linda)

T

he first time I walked into St. Albans Boys and Girls Club, I was very excited, a little nervous though. I was told a thousand times that doing volunteer work is very common in Canada. However, I still worried whether I would be accepted by local professionals, and more importantly, accepted by kids.

Laurie, the volunteer coordinator, greeted me warmly and gave me a grand tour of St. Alban’s. It is a two-floor building with classrooms, computer room, swimming pool, and gym.

Kids aged from eighteen months to sixteen years old spend their spare time here, attending various kinds of programs and activities. I was introduced to Kristen, the counselor, and Andre, the team member. “Kristen and Andre are very experienced”, Laurie said, “It’s your first class.

You don’t need to worry too much. Just have fun!”

She was right. It was such fun to play with those kids. They were all so happy and satisfied. Even a trifle thing could make them laugh for a long time. Andre helped me to memorize kids’ names by telling me the special manners of them, such as “Jim always bring new toy” or “Kate is smart but doesn’t talk much”. After a while, we were like old friends.

Before the day finished, I help Kristen to line-up the kids in front of the door. To my surprise, a little girl suddenly came to me and gave me a big hug. At that moment my heart was full of joy. The nervousness and worries were all gone. I owed so much to people of St. Albans. They gave me such a real feeling of belonging and satisfaction.

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TSX: No More Than A Digital Venue

by

Zhonghua Wang (Mike)

M

any people may be fascinated by the old textbook pictures of old-fashioned trading floors of stock exchanges, hoping to see it in person one day. So I had been expecting to pay a visit to the Toronto Stock Exchange since my arrival in Toronto. I had thought that it must be a very busy, noisy place with a large crowd of dealers making phone calls, staring at the quotations, and so on.

When my colleagues and I reached the exchange building, none of us had any idea of what it looks like. Personally, I wished to see a real live trading floor; it would be totally exciting to see how dealers buy and sell stocks. Entering the exchange, what we could see is not a big trading floor but a small area with a tiny digital quotation board. We realized that TSX has gone digital. It’s kind of disappointment and disillusion. However, it is good to know what a modern exchange really looks like. In an information era, everything is easily digitalized.

Gym, Life and Beauty

W

ant to have some fun? You don’t have to go out of the campus. The Athletic Centre, which is located beside Robart Library, can be of great fun if you go and take advantage of it. As an old proverb says, when you are in Rome, do as the Roman’s do. Gym is considered as a life style by many Canadians.

When you are here in Toronto, to follow their life style is definitely not a bad choice.

Therefore, I made the decision: go to gym!

I go to swimming pool and the cardio exercise area frequently with several other class mates.

The swimming pools there are gorgeous.

There are two swimming pools with different opening hours: one is 25 yards long, the other is 50 meters long. I have to mention that there is steam room in the shower area. The swimming team of UofT does their training in the 50 meters long pool almost every day.

And the water polo ball team also trains there often. Therefore, you need to check the time schedule before you go.

The cardio exercise area is located on the third floor. It is multifunctional, including running tracks, a basketball playground, surrounded by various kinds of equipments to work out

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by

Xiaolu Zhang (Daniel)

on. Be careful about what you wear, because walked out of the gym, I feel revived. I suddenly jeans are not allowed there, even if you wear a realized that I had been busy dealing with my loose one in which you feel comfortable. work before, but I didn’t pay attention to pick up There are other exciting options also, such as any exercise. That might be why I felt like more drop in dancing classes, squash, registered and more tired day after day. Nothing is more classes and so on. It makes me feel refreshed to important than feeling good, like revived. Pick do some exercise and make myself sweat after up some exercise, and enjoy life, because life is spending hours in library studying. Every time I beautiful.

issue 77, March 2012

A Tour to Cobourg

by

Sha Li (Selina)

C

obourg is a lovely small town nearby the Ontario Lake and famous for its beaches.

We chose it as our first destination for trip after we arrived in Toronto. It took us one hour and a half to be there, and we luckily took comfortable and spacious family seats on the train. We did not book a hotel in advance because it was Thanksgiving Day holiday and most of local hotels were all occupied. We got some help from local people and found a delicate house with perfect internal decoration. I still remembered the breathtaking European style room, which was covered by sea green wall paper and was decorated with French mirror and furnitures. Few people lived in that small town and the night was so tranquil that it reminded me of my hometown when I was a child. The night of my hometown was extraordinarily peaceful and my only hobby at that time was to count shining stars in the sky.

The owner, who used to do the catering, of the house we found just wanted to enjoy relaxed life after retirement. She offered an amazing breakfast for us and showed strong interest in Chinese cuisine.

No wonder why Cobourg is well-known for its beaches after we spent whole day in an unknown park. You could hardly see people there and only hear the sound of wave. We think that we will be there again before we left Canada.

The CCFA Annual Christmas Party

C

hristmas is a time for parties. The best party I ever had in Canada is the Canadian-Chinese Finance Association (The CCFA) Annual Christmas party. The CCFA is an organization founded by Chinesefinancial professionals in Canada.Their members are Chinese people working in finance and other related fields. Every year, members gather together to celebrate the passing year.

It was our first time attending a Canadian formal party. For the girls, the party began even before it started because the process of dressing up is already full of fun. We put on our finest dresses, helped each other make up for a sparkling look. So when we showed up in the party, people were impressed by the gorgeous image of the ICBC team.

by

Qiqi Lin (Kate)

I talked to people working in different banks and other financial organizations. It surprised me that there were a huge amount of Chinese working in finance and most of them had already achieved a successful career.

I love the nice talks with people. It was an unforgettable night, for having a wonderful chance to celebrate the fruitful 2011 together.

The party had lots of interesting shows, including Chinese talk show, comedies and traditional dance. There was a game asking people sitting in the same table introduce themselves and see which table could memorize most. Our table won it! We all cheered up and got familiar with everyone quickly.

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world of words

Glide with Snow Skiing in Snow Valley by

Qi Shen (Andrew)

Snow Valley is a famous spot for the fans of skiing.

I learnt skiing as a beginner there, which brought joy and excitement for me. Three colors of tracks indicate the rising levels of difficulty: Green, Blue and Black. Fortunately, I managed them all.

The coaches of Snow Valley are friendly and helpful. On our arrival, we learnt some basic moves from the coaches on the ground and applied those moves on the beginner’s track.

Thanks to the experience in skating, we did not find the beginner’s track too hard to handle but really enjoyed the feeling of speed.

Therefore, the second time we went to Snow Valley, we wanted to push the speed and passion

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to the limit - the black track. It is the most difficult and steep track. We tried some skiing on green and blue tracks, getting familiar with the skills of turning zigzag on the track to control the speed. Finally we got on the starting line of black track.

Adrenaline began to run… and so did we!

Manage body correctly and carefully… leave the rest to gravity… eventually, we made it! Though one tumble for me.

And I totally understood the obsession of Canadians with skiing—Glide with snow!

Anyway, just leave the tumble for improving next time. And maybe next time, Blue Mountain!

issue 77, March 2012

H

ow times flies. Six months has passed. We sincerely write down the above as the record of our happiness and gains in Canada. We love the beautiful city, and the openness of the society. How we wish that time could go slower and slower. And the happiness stays. We are going back to China in four months. We are looking forward to applying what we have learnt here to our daily work in ICBC.

ICBC

International Leadership Development Program at the University of Toronto

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KGU-K world of words

Students from Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan spent their first week with us exploring Canadian culture and customs, before joining the Comprehensive English courses.

At the end of the week, we asked each student to write down five things about Canada or Canadian culture that they found interesting or surprising, and to tell us why. These are some of their observations...

ON PEOPLE...

“Canada accepts 200,000 people’s immigration every year. They are asking for the better life. I think they have strong aspiration. Therefore the industry and technology is improving in Canada.”

KAZUKI HASHIMOTO “Marriage: when a man and a woman get married, they don’t have to change their family name. For example, my host mother didn’t changed her family name when she got married with my host father. In Japan, husband and wife should have same family name, and especially, women changed their family name. I think its interesting because they both have own different culture of their family, and they can marry with having their culture. “ RIKA TANAKA “Canadian washing laundry once a week (or twice). Japanese washing everyday and hang out below the sun. “ SAKI OTA 20

“Canadians are kind!! Everytime I can’t understand them, they are so nice to me and try hard to make me understand. My host family, my teachers at ELP and people in Toronto are very kind so I am always happy. I think this is because they have many cultures in Canada and they respect others’ cultures.”

KANAKO USUI “I was surprised that Canadian people often hugged. My host mother hugged her husband every morning when she goes to work. My host brother and I are same age, but he hugged his mother, too. It’s rare in Japan. It’s very nice affection. I think, Canadian national character is active and not shy.”

SHOKO KAWATA “If I ask how to do something, Canadian people teach me, so they are very kind. If train has many people, Canadian don’t ride this train. Many people read newspaper in the train. They wash their clothes once a week. “ MACHI WATANABE “There are many races in Canada. So I think I’m regarded as Canadian. When I was taking a walk, I was asked the way. But I’m Japanese. In Japan, it is impossible to ask a foreigner the way.”

MISAKI TANADA

“When I arrived the airport on my first day in Canada, I noticed that everyone were smiling at me when our eyes met.

It almost never happens in Japan. This is an excellent culture I think. I am always feeling pleasant about this. I like it.” : ) SAE YASUDAI

“I noticed that most Canadian wear black color clothes and coat. I had thought they wore light color clothes until I came here.

I want to know the reason why they wear black color. I consider this to be strange. “ RIKA MIZUNO “I’m interested in Canadian life. I was surprised at Canadians who don’t put up an umbrella while it snows and rains. In Japan, most Japanese put up an umbrella while this situation. In Canada, people aren’t surprised at snow. “ ASAMI YAGI

KGU-K issue 77, March 2012

ON HOMES...

“There are a lot of animals in Canada.

Especially, I think squirrel is very cute. I have never seen wild squirrel in Japan. But I can see the squirrel everywhere. They aren’t afraid of people. I want to see white squirrel someday. “ NANAMI YOSHIOKA

ON TRANSIT...

“In Toronto, TTC has only 2 lines (northsouth, west-east), so it is very easy for new comers. However unfortunately, subway is always late. Almost everyday. It was surprising for me. “ SATSUKI KUSAKABE

ON ANIMALS...

“I think all Canadians have pets like dogs, cats, hamsters, and rabbits. I’m always seeing on my way to U of T, my neighbourhoods take a walk with their pets. And every morning I see wild squirrels on the tree. Japan hasn’t wild squirrel so I was amazed that. And I can enjoy seeing squirrels!”

YURINA NAKAMURA “I had never heard the name of coyote. In Canada there are many kinds of animals.

I’m surprised to hear that in Toronto if we hurt or kill wild animals, we have to pay, and what is worse, there was a man who had to went into jail because he killed raccoon.”

NATSUMI UEHARA

“After arriving at Canada, I was surprised to know that there aren’t exact timetable.

We Japanese are tied to a schedule everyday, so we need to know exact time. However there are no timetable in Toronto, so we have to work relying on our own time. At first it was very inconvenient for me to go out and take the subway or bus without the timetable, but I feel it’s convenient now. Because in other words whenever we arrive at the subway or bus stop, we can take them. I this timetable show the difference of the national character between Canada and Japan.”

AIRI TAKANAGA

“Many Canadian people decorate their own houses with lights and some ornaments.

In Japan some people do it, but it is only during Christmas. Most Japanese people usually don’t make their houses showy on an ordinary day. This action is a nice culture because it makes the town bright and impresses us.”

MIZUKI SEGAWA

“I don’t often see the basement of house in Japan, I think. However, in Canada, almost all house have this. Moreover, this is very clean and have big room. I think this is very useful. However, it is a little cold in winter in this.”

NATSUMI SAKAI “Canadian house are different from Japanese one. In Japan, there are houses, but many of houses are linked in Canada.

At first, I thought that a house was very big, but to tell the truth, it was two houses like a house. There aren’t such houses in Japan. “ SAAYA TANAHASHI

ON EDUCATION...

“Canadian government think that education is most important things in the country. So up to high school, education expense is free. So in Canada tax is very high. But I think it is good. “ KENTA TAKAYA

“In Canada, if we show a weekly pass to driver, we ride subway, buses, street car. In Japan, we have to buy a pass for subway, a pass for buses and a pass for street car.

A weekly pass or a monthly pass is easy to use transportation.”

HIROKI UENO

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KGU-K world of words

ON COFFEE...

“There are a lot of Starbucks in Japan. But there isn’t Tim Hortons in Japan. It’s so cheap and delicious. So I wonder why there isn’t it in Japan. “ CHIEKO IKUMA “I often come across people who have a tumbler of coffee and many coffee shop, Starbucks coffee, Second Cup and Tim Horton. In Japan I don’t see this sight. So I think Canadian people love coffee more than Japanese people. “ NAO SAKASHITA

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ON FOOD...

“There are many food wagons along the street. In Japan, food wagon appear only at festival. So, I felt that it’s like holding festival everyday in Canada!”

NATSUMI HASHIMOTO

“When I went to Starbucks and ordered a cup of latte, the maker asked me my name.

And she write it down on a cup! I was very glad. Like that, in Canada, it’s more important to entertain customers than to look up to them, I guess. “ KAJORI SAWABE

“Canadian food is bigger than Japanese food. I was surprised about everything food, especially the size of meat and a hamburger was very big. I couldn’t eat everything. But Canadian food is very good.

I want to eat more.”

NAOKO AIBA

“Most of coffee shops sell muffins. In Japan, there no muffin in coffee shops. I got the reason why Japanese people who went to Canada became fat.”

HIKARI MATSUDA

“In Canada, especially downtown, there are so many kind of restaurants. Because a lot of people who came from around the world gather in this town, I think.”

CHIE HAYAKAWA

“I like cookies the best among sweets.

There are many varieties of cookies in Canada, so I was very delighted! I eat it every day. I buy it at Tim Hortons, Starbucks and Second Cup. Among cookies Starbucks cookies are very delicious!”

MIKA YONASHIRO

“In Canada, we don’t see Canadian eat a lot of food for lunch. They just eat a muffin and a cup of coffee or something for lunch and no rice for dinner.”

YING RUI WANG “Speaking of Canada, maple syrup is famous production. Most of the maple syrup in the world made in Canada.

Actually, my host family eat maple syrup on the pancake every Sunday morning. I think maple syrup is an indispensable thing for Canadian.”

MAI AKEMATSU

“In Ontario, people can only buy spirits in the LCBO and bars usually close at 2.00. In Japan, I can buy everywhere and anytime. It different from Japan. So, I was surprise at Canadian drinking system.“ ANNA KOBAYASHI

ON THE SITES...

“When I went to there for the school activity, I felt strong emotion because of the large scale and beautiful landscape sights.

And Niagara Falls play a role in border that separates Canada and USA. It was very interesting for me. Because I had never seen a foreign country from Japan that is island.”

MAYU YAMAMOTO “I saw a policeman on horseback on the street. I usally see patrol car and police motorcycle in Japan. So, I was surprised to see the man.”

Mayuka Seigo

KGU-K issue 77, March 2012

ON LANGUAGE...

“It’s interesting for me that there are two official languages in a country, because that is just like there are two different countries. I knew that it has a historical reason. Now I’m in Toronto, but I would like to visit French Canada, too, and want to really feel their differences.”

NAOKO INOUE

ON HEALTHCARE...

“We can take a medical examination for free. We don’t have to pay. Even me. But when you want to take it for free you have to have insurance. In Toronto there is “walk in clinic” which we can go there without appointment.”

MASAKO FUJIHARA

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world of words

Jeollabukdo Teachers at the ELP

by Effie Touchings, ELP Instructor

W

henever people ask me what I do for a living, I’m always proud to say that I am an instructor in the English Language Program at the University of Toronto. The best part of being an instructor in this program is meeting the wonderful students we get from all over the world. The beginning of this year was no exception when I had the pleasure to teach a group of elementary school teachers from South Korea. Twenty teachers from the Jeollabukdo Office of Education were chosen to come to Toronto to take our English for Teaching course. This course is designed to enhance participants’ knowledge of English for classroom use. These elementary school teachers have taught English, are currently teaching English, or will be required to teach English in the future in their classrooms in Korea.

Other important goals for these teachers were to learn about Canadian culture, Canadian classrooms, teachers and students, and to share their Korean culture with Canadians. In our very first class, I learned that the Jeollabukdo Office of Education had indeed chosen a wonderful group of students for they were all eager to learn, participate and share. Even though it was a challenge for many of the teachers, they tried their best to use English every day. They shared with me their teaching experience in Korea and we talked about the challenges facing elementary school teachers in Korea. We also compared the education programs in Canada and South Korea. One great benefit of this program was their opportunity to visit local elementary schools and meet Canadian teachers and students. In preparation for these visits, four of the Korean teachers had

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prepared a presentation about Korea. Once they arrived, however, it was discovered that ALL of them had to do the presentation. They were nervous; they prepared their presentations in small groups and practiced in our classroom. There were a few sleepless nights and upset stomachs; however, on the day of the presentation the nervousness melted away and they shone like stars. The Canadian students loved learning about South Korean culture (food, clothing, language, children’s games, and martial arts) – the teachers proved to be great ambassadors for their country. Like all students enrolled in courses in the English Language Program, the Jeollabukdo teachers had the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities. Among other things, they went to Niagara Falls, toured around Toronto and even went to a University of Toronto Varsity hockey game – now that’s Canadian! The four weeks simply flew by and we were all sad to see our course come to an end. I really enjoyed my teaching experience with this group of teachers and I hope they learned a lot from the course and all the instructors who participated in delivering this program. The true winners, of course, are all the elementary school children in South Korea who are lucky enough to be the students of these twenty dedicated and enthusiastic teachers. I’m sure the teachers are sharing their Canadian experiences with their students and one day some of those students may come to study here. We look forward to meeting them.

issue 77, March 2012

English Language Program School Spirit Thao Huynh of Vietnam, Academic English by

H

ave you ever participated in any ELP activities? These activities are sooooooooooo much fun. Can you count how many “o”s I used? The ‘o’s represent my interest. Joining ELP’s activities give me many benefits which I cannot find from classroom.

ELP activities are a great opportunity to discover Toronto and Canada in general. We can get to know the sights of Toronto and the culture of people here through these activities. Algonquin Park is the first activity I joined. It is one of the biggest parks in Canada. Autumn is the most beautiful time to go there and see the fantastic colors of the maple leaf, the symbol of this country.

Another interesting activity was the Santa Claus Parade. I bet you would be surprised how crowded the streets were and how cheerful Canadians are at this time. Many Torontonians participate in the parade, and thousands of people watch. The people in the parade wear colorful and funny costumes and dance to Christmas songs on the street to welcome the biggest holiday of the year. Of course, I didn’t miss my chance to see the real Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

Joining in the ELP activities is also a good opportunity to learn about the cultures of ELP students from other countries. One of my favorite activities was the Turkey Festival, held by Turkish students in ELP. We learned some interesting information about this beautiful country. I also had a chance to enjoy their traditional music, as well as their tasty food. It was an awesome experience.

Attending these activities is a good choice for people who want to make new friends and practice English outside the classroom. I have many new friends from many different countries due to joining the ELP’s activities. I have many valuable experiences and I always enjoy myself. Why don’t you get involved in it at least one? I guarantee that it will just be the beginning….

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Learn English Beyond the Classroom world of words

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issue 77, March 2012

Learn English Beyond the Classroom

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Winter Camping at YMCA Wanakita O C

n the morning of February 24th, students from English Language Program departed Toronto and travelled to Camp Wanakita for a weekend of winter adventures, games and delicious food.

anakita W p n m a liburLtao ad e k Ro

aKoshlong H 1883

D ELLE s) V A R CE T 131.7 mile N A T DIS metres ( ilo 212 k TIME L E V TRA1/2 hours 3

West treet S r o lo 252 B

o t n o Tor

issue 77, March 2012

DID YOU KNOW? At YMCA Wanakita, students sleep on bunk beds in heated cabins.

Each cabin is equipped with bathrooms, showers and electricity.

A Real Canadian Experience

by Ruicheng Jia of China, ICBC student

T

his is the first time I am in Canada. I’ve always heard that I should experience Canadian winter if there is any chance so I joined a trip to Wanakita for winter camping.

It was perfect for newcomers. This trip broadened my horizons, enriched my experience of life and expanded my scope of knowledge about Canadian Culture.

The trip provided opportunities for me, a newcomer, to taste different local food and to experience local games and winter activities. We played “go fish”, a card game, and “Stella Ella Ola”, a hand-clapping game, indoors.

Luckily, the basic game rules are easily understood.

Playing the warm-up games made it easier for us to get to know each other.

In addition to indoor activities in the warm cabins, we tried almost all the winter fun activities outside, which included snowshoeing across the thick snow in the forest, cross country skiing around the hills, tobogganing, and star-gazing on the lake.

The most challenging activities were playing broomball, snow-soccer and climbing on high ropes. These activities, during which I made lots of friends who came from all over the world, require communication skills and cooperation between team members.

The most exciting and memorable part was the camp fire night. We stayed up very late at that night, chatted with new friends, enjoyed the music, and told interesting stories. At that very moment, I realized that although we grew up in different cultural backgrounds, we treated each other like brothers and sisters and shared the pains and joys in our life.

This journey was truly enjoyable and memorable. It was so Canadian, and some of us even did not want to leave.

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world of words

Snowshoeing

If you have never tried snowshoes before, imagine tying two big tennis rackets to your feet! As you can image it makes it a little difficult to walk but if you are in deep snow it actually makes it much easier. This is because the greater surface area of the snowshoes spread out your weight allowing you to walk on top of the snow. They were invented by native Canadians and were essential for winter travel in the days before there were roads. At camp we went for a long hike across the lake and through the woods in snowshoes. When we stopped to visit a quincy and took off our snowshoes I was surprised to find the snow was 50cm deep! We had been walking on top of it!

Broomball

Even though Canada is a young country, we are responsible for the creation of many famous international sports like basketball and hockey, but there are also a few other Canadian games that are not as famous. At Camp we played one of these: Broomball. Broomball could be described as the poor man’s hockey. Like in hockey you play on an ice rink with two teams of six. In Broomball however, you do not wear skates, just shoes, the hockey sticks are replaced by old brooms, and the puck by a bouncy rubber ball.

When we played at Camp it was lots of fun. It is an easy game to learn because you do not need to be able to skate, but you have to be ready to fall a lot because the ice is still very slippery.

It is really hard to control the ball while walking on the ice, so you have to work as a team to get a goal. There are a lot of changeovers which makes for an exciting and faced-paced game both to play and to watch!

Cross Country Skiing Cross Country Skiing is a fun and fast way to travel through trails of snow. To cross country ski, you need specialized ski boots, two long pairs of skis and two long poles. Your ski boot is attached to the ski at your toe and acts like a hinge, allowing your heel to move up and down when you push forward. The bottom of the skis are designed like the scales of a fish, they allow you to gain traction by pushing the ski forward, but slide easily against the snow. The most difficult part of cross country skiing is learning how to stop.

The best way to slow down on cross country skis is to ‘snow plow’, which means to move the points of your skis together and create a ‘v’ shape with your skis. Snow plowing on skis isn’t as easy as it sounds, which is why many beginners choose an alternative way to stop... falling down.

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issue 77, March 2012

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world of words

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issue 77, March 2012

Sledding Sledding is a popular Canadian winter pasttime for the young and old. It involves sitting on a smooth, flat object and sliding down the hill. At Wanakita, there was a variety of sleds available to use.

More modern designs include flying saucers, crazy carpets, bat wings and even plastic mattresses! One of the best sleds we used was a traditional Canadian toboggan (pictured right). A toboggan consists of bound together wooden strips with a large curl at the front. Toboggans can carry multiple people at once and are often faster than more modern designs.

Snow Forts and Snow Balls On our second day of camp at Wanakita, we decided to organize an epic snow ball fight. We spent time planning and building two opposing snow forts (walls of snow to hide behind) and even took time to create a reserve of snowballs before the fight began. The snow was powdery, soft and dry so it wouldn’t hurt if you were struck by a snowball. Once all preparations were made, we started the battle and students took turns launching snowballs at the opposing team. The stakes kept getting higher and higher with students using snow shovels as catapults to launch large blocks of snow at the opposing team. The snow ball fight was a lot of fun and by the end everyone was smiling, laughing and a little bit snowy.

High Ropes High ropes is alot like rock climbing, but instead of climbing on man-made rock walls, you climb on man made obstacles built into trees. At Wanakita we used the ‘teeter totter’ element at the High Ropes course.

This element looks like a big ‘T’ (pictured left) and involves six people acting as ‘belays’ (holding on to the safety rope) and two climbers that have to carefully balance their weight on a teeter totter beam in an attempt to hit a large bell.

It was a particularly difficult challenge in the cold and snow, but students were successful by overcoming their fear of heights and working with their peers.

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world of words

ELP Music Night One of the best (and free!) events t English we have on the schedule at The Language Program is ELP Music Night, but many students do not know what it is. Music Night is a live music show that is run by me, Darren, with help from other CA’s, teachers, and ELP students. We hold this event at a music club that is a ten minute walk down Bloor St. called Tranzac. We offer the stage to anyone from our school who would like to show off their musical talent.

While the instrument of choice is acoustic guitar, many other instruments have been used. Piano, ukulele, harmonica, drums, electric guitar, a cappella vocals, trumpet and many others have all made an appearance. If you would like to play at M music N night be sure to let me know ahead of time so I can make sure to add you to the schedule and get you the appropriate instruments. If you are shy and would like to just come to be in the audience (you may have to sing and clap along) that is fine too, just grab a ticket in the 4th floor lobby at ticket selling hours.

ELP Music Night is held at 5:15 pm on the last Tuesday of every Month.

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issue 77, March 2012

s ’ n e r r Da Corner c i s Mu

The instrument I play most often is acoustic guitar. It is a very versatile instrument because you can play many different songs with it. I learned how to play guitar on my own, by studying chord diagrams, tablature, and practicing a lot! If you would like to learn guitar here is a lesson on how to read chord diagrams to get you started.

You need to hold the guitar with the biggest string (the low E string) on the top. The names of the strings from top to bottom are is E, A, D, G, B, and e which refers to the note the string plays when you are not touching it.

A chord diagram is a visual representation of the end the neck of your guitar. The six vertical lines represent the strings, the horizontal lines represent the frets, the thick line at the top represents RFC @PGBEC #?AF BMR PCNPCQCLRQ ? NJ?AC RM NSR WMSP †LECPQ RM K?IC the chord. Take care to touch only the strings indicated. The number GLQGBC RFC BMR GQ RFC LSK@CP MD †LECP WMS SQC

MP 1RPGLEQ without a dot will be marked at the top of the diagram with either a O (which means play it) or an X (which means do not play it).

Find song lyrics and chords online at: musicnotes.com 35

world of words

Join us for ELP

Music Night!

Held on the last Tuesday of each month, meet us on the 4th floor at 5:15pm.

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Autonomous Grammar Learning

by Ted Mounsteven, ELP Instructor, Comprehensive English

A

utonomous learners are self-directed learners. They decide what they want to learn, find the materials to help them learn, and test themselves to see that they have indeed learned it.

We teach ourselves all the time. I have taught myself how to use my iPhone, how to operate a microwave, how to drive a car, and how to make good coffee. None of these are unique. We all teach ourselves many things, sometimes very complicated and difficult things, without the aid of formal instruction. If I wanted to build a house or fix my car, I could probably figure that out too. I know other people who have done so.

Learning grammar is no different. Many students feel that it is necessary to study in a language school or to have a private teacher in order to improve their English.

Autonomous learners, on the other hand, are responsible for their own learning. While there are many ways to learn, one of the best ways is to be aware of resources that are available on the Internet.

First, you have to decide what you want to learn. There are many websites available, and if you type [ENGLISH GRAMMAR] into the Google search box, you will find more than 31 million to choose from. You should start by exploring some of these websites, looking for ones that are wellorganized, so that you can easily find the topic you want, and that have clear explanations, so that you can then understand the topic. Look for ones that explain and then offer exercises that help you practice the grammar point.

Here are five excellent websites you can start with: http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/grammar_topics.php http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/ http://www.grammar-monster.com/ http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/

If you would like further practice after you have learned something, or if you would like to check how well you already know it, there are many websites that have grammar quizzes. You can do the quiz, and then it will be scored, sometimes with explanations of why the answer is right or wrong. This is very useful, because if you take a quiz and learn where you are having problems, you can do further work in that area and then take the quiz again.

Here are five websites that offer a wide range of grammar quizzes:

http://a4esl.org/q/h/grammar.html

http://www.rong-chang.com/quiz.htm http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/ http://www.eslcafe.com/quiz/ http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrammarquiz.htm

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time searching for a particular quiz on the websites, you can do a direct search.

For example, if you want to test your knowledge of the present perfect tense, you can type [ESL QUIZ PRESENT PERFECT] in the Google search box. Get into the habit of typing [ESL QUIZ X], where X is the grammar point you want to work with. Each quiz takes only a few minutes, is fun to do, and helps reinforce your knowledge of English grammar.

When you find a website that is particularly useful, either for explanations or quizzes, don’t forget to bookmark it to help you find it again. You can add the website to your web browser, keep a list in a Word document so that you can connect with a click, or even write the URL down in your notebook.

Becoming an autonomous grammar learner takes a little practice, just as learning to ride a bicycle takes practice.

One you have developed good habits, however, you will realize that you have learned much more than some grammar points. You will become more confident in your own abilities and look forward to further success in your independent learning.

corner

grammar

u.a.p The University Application Program Ennis Blentic Coordinator of Student Services by

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

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

Some friendly advice....

• Know your deadlines (there are no exceptions for submitting late documents when applying to universities).

• Attend information sessions and workshops as well as recruiter presentations.

• Know the university/program requirements. Certain universities and programs have higher academic requirements than others.

• Have a back up plan (college, TOEFL, etc.). It’s a good idea to apply to more than one university/program. You should consider other options in case you are not admitted to the university or program of your choice.

ELP students take part in a UAP student panel.

issue 77, March 2012

Tips for the University of Toronto Undergraduate Experience Lily Meshadiyeva University Application Program Advisor by

As a University of Toronto undergraduate student, there are certain measures you can take to make your experience here more fulfilling and rewarding. Here are some tips that could help you have an enjoyable time at U of T.

1

Take advantage of the freebies on campus!

• • •

2 3 4 5

If you are a full-time student, you can go to the Hart House or the Athletic Centre gym as many times as you want within the school year. *ELP students must purchase a monthly membership.

There are free movies on campus every Friday hosted by the Cinema Studies Student Union Clubs are a great way to meet new people and get some memorable university experience!

Don’t be afraid to approach others!

•

At a largely populated school like this, it is hard to meet new people and fellow classmates. The classrooms can be extremely large and intimidating... but relax, the other students feel the same way.

Remember why you are here!

•

Try not to waste time doing something that you may regret later. Remember to study hard, but do not forget to be happy with your experience. This is an opportunity that only a few people get, so do what makes you happy and what contributes to your self-growth. You are at one of the best universities in the world; make the experience memorable and rewarding!

Take courses that are not directly related to your program of choice!

•

Perhaps an area of study that you have always been interested in. You can never go wrong with film, economics or philosophy courses as additional credit courses!

Embrace your home away from home!

•

It might be difficult being away from family and friends while studying in Canada. It will take some effort to get adjusted to a new culture. Get involved in your local community, attend fun traditional events around Toronto, and explore what Toronto has to offer! Do your best to stay healthy and motivated!

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v.e.p The Volunteer Experience Program The Volunteer Experience Program (VEP) is designed to allow students the opportunity to volunteer at charitable organizations in Toronto.

Joining the VEP is as easy as coming to the weekly meetings every Wednesday at 5:15pm in Room 4-160.

Sign up for upcoming events, check the number of volunteer hours you have so far, and request a reference letter or certificate.

• Gain valuable work experience.

• Practice speaking English.

• Join exciting events happening around Toronto.

• Meet new people.

Organizations we volunteer with:

Students are awarded a certificate and reference letter upon completion of 20 hours of volunteer work which they can use when applying to academic programs in universities, or when seeking internships or jobs in Canada and elsewhere.

• Evergreen Canada • Chinatown Buisness Improvement Area • The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation • Yonge Street Mission • Harbourfront Toronto • Goodlife Marathon • Waterfront Blues Festival

ELP students volunteering for the Manulife Walk for Memories

issue 77, March 2012

The Volunteer Experience Program: Manulife Walk for Memories Cindy Zhou ELP Cultural Assistant with the Volunteer Experience Program by

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arly in the morning of January 28, a group of ten enthusiastic students met up in the lobby on the first floor of OISE. ELP students Susanna, Alena, Gabriela, Qingyu, Kai, Leo, Abdulla, Aidaroos, Faisal, and Abduljaleel joined us for the event. We were heading over to volunteer at the Manulife Walk for Memories, a fundraising event for the Alzheimer Society of Toronto.

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia whereby the patient gradually loses cognitive abilities and suffers from memory loss. It is an illness that places great stress on the patient and their family members. Unfortunately, an estimated 500,000 Canadians have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. In Toronto, there were over 40,000 patients suffering from Alzheimer’s in 2011. The Manulife Walk for Memories is an opportunity for those who have been impacted by Alzheimer’s to gather together in solidarity and raise money for further research and treatment. Participants walk through the Toronto underground PATH walkway, which runs through the Downtown core.

Our job as route marshals was to guide the participants of the walk in the right direction and to welcome them and cheer them on. I was stationed at the beginning of the walk with Alena, Gabriela and Susanna. We turned out to be four very hyper girls cheering and dancing, saying hi and giving out high-fives to the participants who walked by us. We even shouted good morning to people who weren’t participants of the Walk for Memories. Our cheer was infectious as everyone who walked by was drawn into the happy spirit. It also helped that we were stationed at the atrium where a band was playing, which really got us into the dancing mood. Since we were stationed near the beginning of the route, we were able to get dismissed early as the final walkers left, which gave us plenty of time to goof-off and check out the other entertainment.

Overall, it was a very fun event and I hope that everyone can join the Volunteer Experience Program so that they will experience the awesomeness that is volunteering!

Our volunteers woke up bright and early in order to arrive at OISE by 8:00 a.m. We arrived at Brookfield Place at around 9:00 a.m. There, we received our volunteer nametags, dropped off our coats and bags and were directed to the volunteer meeting area. Although it was only 9:00am in the morning, there was already a flurry of activity in the lobby of Brookfield Place. We saw people dressed up as Darth Vaders from the Star Wars franchise, or as Marilyn Monroe, people on stilts, and various other performers, such as singers and violinists. It was a photo opportunity that many of our students took advantage of.

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world of words

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

“My main research interest focuses on using micropalaeontology to interpret both palaeoenvironments and palaeoecology in order to understand major mass extinctions in ancient earth history...”

Majed Nasser Turkistani from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

“I plan to study my higher education in micropalaeontology in Canada because I want to try the North American learning style, even though I used to follow the British learning styles.

I found that micropalaeontology helps me to understand ancient earth history, and it helps me to understand organisms’ evolution during the earth’s lifetime. I hope to obtain acceptance at one of the best Canadian universities, and I will apply to graduate programs. My first choice is the University of Toronto, department of Geology, graduate program.

My main research interest focuses on using micropalaeontology to interpret both palaeoenvironments and palaeoecology in order to understand major mass extinctions in ancient earth history; Saudi Arabia is the perfect place for this kind of study because there is a lack of research on mass extinctions in my country.

Mass extinction is my chosen topic for both my master and Ph.D degrees. This major is important for both academic and petroleum experts, and it helps to reconstruct data from ancient climates

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and environments, and then predicts the earth’s future. Also, this major is part of my geological skills, so I am looking to integrate micropalaeontology and other sciences, in particular computer sciences.

As many micropalaeontologists, I am looking forward to work on micropalaeontology as my major both in master and Ph.D degrees, so I aim to find that this research would be my first step in this field because it could meet my interests. As a geologist with quite extensive experience in palaeontology in general and micropalaeontology in particular during my B.Sc. studies, and I worked as a teacher assistant in palaeontology, which improved my knowledge in this field. Also, I have been reading about micropalaeontology in books and research papers, so I will be able to adopt this research from the beginning to the end. I worked with a micropalaeontology professor who taught me the principles of this science, and I taught the laboratory skills in both micropalaeontology and sedimentology, which are more helpful to me to do such research.

The methodology of my research consists of two kinds of work: field work, which are the main and

issue 77, March 2012

“This major is important for both academic and petroleum experts, and it helps to reconstruct data from ancient climates and environments, and then predicts the earth’s future.”

the most important part of any research. Also, the field work simply is the geological observations, sampling, mapping, drawing and managing time. The second part is lab work, which is also an important part because it provides significant results. Also, the lab work will take each microfossil through certain procedures starting with preparing the sample, observing, describing and other analyses. Both parts end with interpretation, which illustrates the results in order to understand the events in the study site.”

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Academic Skills Students “My research topic is on the Analysis of Permanent Scatterers and improving the accuracy of PS-InSAR technique”

Koichi Yamakawa from Nagoya City, Japan

“I am going to study in a graduate program at the Faculty of Engineering, Nihon University in Japan. My research topic is on the Analysis of Permanent Scatterers and improving the accuracy of PS-InSAR technique, Permanent Scatterers Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSAR) technique is the most significantly effective method to detect deformation, especially in large areas of the Earth’s surface.

The PS-InSAR technique was developed from the InSAR technique, which uses two SAR images in order to extract certain elements included in images. Although this technique has proven to be useful for observing changes on 44

issue 77, March 2012

!

“Koichi studied basic satellite remote sensing principles and processing methods through laboratory seminars, which helped him to understand InSAR imageprocessing”

the Earth’s surface, the conditions for successful implementation of this technique need to be investigated. To apply this technique, a sufficient amount of satellite images are required. In addition, it is unpredictable whether persistent points (PS) will appear in the target site until processing is completed. In order to improve the points above, it is important that the property of persistent points (Permanent Scatterers: PS) in the target sites is determined. This property will be analyzed by comparing the location of PS in images with the condition of the real structure on the Earth’s surface. The findings from the identifying property of PS contributes to observation of deformation on the Earth because of the improved accuracy and applicability of the PSInSAR technique.”

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

InSAR image-processing. Koichi will work on this research theme as a meaningful use of the result of undergraduate research “Visualizing Campus Lidar Data.” Using its three dimensional models within campus, he will specify and analyze the characteristics of Permanent Scatterers, which are the consistent reflection from objects that appear in the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) images. The improvement from this research is beneficial to further applications in the remote sensing field.

In addition to undergraduate research, Koichi studied basic satellite remote sensing principles and processing methods through laboratory seminars, which helped him to understand 45

world of words

CANADA

A Supernatural Event

ife

kn Yellow

Yasuhisa Kato of Japan Academic English Level 50 by

approx.

4500Km or 2800Miles

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ormally, we can have fun in the snow in winter, but Toronto was free of snow this year. Since winter didn’t come to us, my friends and I decided to go to winter... in Yellowknife. Before you continue reading, I suggest you look at the map of Canada on the right. When you see how far north Yellowknife is, you’ll be surprised. I heard that most Canadians have never been that far north.

In early February, we went to Yellowknife to see the Northern Lights, sometimes called Aurora Borealis, which people can see in the night sky and only in a limited area. Our destination was Yellowknife, the capital city of the Northwest Territories in Canada. It was 5 ½ - hour plane ride from Toronto. My first impression of this city was not good because there was nothing but hotels and small restaurants. However, thinking back now, that was enough for me because we really just stayed there to sleep.

The place where we saw the Northern Lights, Aurora Village, was about a 30-minute bus ride from Yellowknife. During the daytime, there

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to Toron were several activities such as dogsledding and snowmobiling. At night, it was time to see the Northern Lights. When I saw the Northern Lights, I was really excited. It was like looking at a curtain, but it was moving in the sky. The Northern Lights are a ‘supernatural event’.

If you cannot see the northern lights one night, it is not a big problem because you can see them 97% of the time if you stay there 3 days. Also, just watching the starlit sky from Yellowknife is very different from looking at the Toronto sky.

The trip cost a great deal of money, but I will never forget it. If you want to go there, I have to mention that it is a particularly cold climate.

It was -30o when we stayed there - so cold!

Despite the freezing temperature, my friends and I decided to take our shirts off. My picture is a little out of focus, but look at a map of Canada to see how far north we were, look at a thermometer, and then check out our picture. They say, “You only live once!”…. and we enjoyed every minute of this trip.

issue 77, March 2012

I Will Never Forget My Travels Seo Jung Il, Kaden of Korea Academic English Level 40 by

I traveled in south east Asia with my family as soon as I finished military service. Our family wanted to make a good memory, so we decided to take a cruise. It was an impressive trip, and I will never forget this dream vacation. After this trip, I always recommend cruising.

There are a few reasons that I want to recommend this trip.

morning, we could have a breakfast at the buffet, but the food changes everyday.

At dinner time, we are supposed to have dinner in a luxury restaurant. At that time, we should dress up in suits; in addition, there is a waiter at each table. If you want to get something, you can be served by the waiter. During this trip, I gained around 5 kgs.

First of all, you can use very comfortable facilities. When I saw the cruise ship, I was very surprised because it is really huge. It has eight decks. After entry, I was surprised again because there is everything in the ship; for example, there are swimming pools, spa, gym, and the climbing wall. There are restaurants, buffets, duty free shops and lots of convention halls. You can use all the facilities for free. When you pay the travel fee, everything is included. That means you should hang out and enjoy everything on the cruise. If you just stay in your room, it wastes money and time.

Last, the best thing during cruising is the comfort. Our schedule is usually that after breakfast, we are supposed to tour some country and then we come back to the ship after the tour. During that time, the cruise ship is anchored at the dock.

Second, the food is very delicious and amazing. When we got up in the

While we are enjoying programs like musicals, shows, and a circus at night, the cruise ship moves to another country.

Then we can visit the other country after we get up in the morning.

To sum up, if you want to make an unforgettable memory with your family or love partner, and you get a chance to go on a cruise, you must go. I really want to suggest that you should do this voyage at least one time in your life.

Online Gaming Lu Zhao (James) of China, Academic English Level 40 by

Technology grows rapidly, we can choose more ways of amusement. More and more people spend their free time playing online games. The first goal of game companies is to make money, and second goal is to relax people. But many young people like online games so much that game companies do many things to stop young people from indulging in games. For example, they make an ID system to prevent players from playing more than 6 to 8 hours. Also game companies put “stop excessive game play” warnings in games. Because playing online games long time will injure young people health. But self control is a problem for young people. They sign in many accounts to get more game time.

They even pay 10, 000 dollars to buy a game account, and pay more money to buy virtual gaming currency. Of course, young people who indulge in excessive gaming are just a few people. Most people who play games for self-relaxation exhibit good self-control and don’t over indulge in games.

Online games give them happiness and smile. To sum up, are online games bad or good? The answer is really up to you.

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world of words

VIOLENT CRIMES IN VENEZUELA by

Gabriela de la Oliva of Venezuela Academic Skills

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oday, violent crime represents one of Venezuela’s most significant social issues.

While in other countries around the world governments have been implementing different strategies for ensuring safety in the streets and neighbourhoods, in Venezuela murders and weapons have been threatening the safety of its citizens regardless of race, gender or social class.

Statistics have shown that Venezuela is the most dangerous country in Latin America; last year the number of murders climbed above 16,000 (Simon Romero, 2010), and this number is steadily rising.

The reasons that could explain this problem are complex and “...last year varied.

the number of murders climbed above 16,000...”

Primarily, the differences between rich and poor people have increased during the past years because Venezuela has not been able to diversify its economy. Additionally, the police force is not developed enough to fight against crime.

Besides, the salaries paid by the government to the members of the security forces are too low to cover their basic needs and to support their families.

Finally, this country does not have an independent judiciary system since its members are completely politicized. The combination of these three factors, in addition to the highest inflation rate in Latin America (over 30 percent), and one of the highest unemployment rates may result in violent crime (Romero, 2010); citizens and even police officers tend to supplement their incomes with criminal activities, such as kidnapping or contract killings.

Recently, the government has created a new security force, the Bolivarian National Police, and a new security university where the police recruits receive special training and preparation from mentors from Cuba and Nicaragua. This solution is paradoxical; Nicaragua has experienced a significant rise in thefts, break-ins, and muggings since the beginning of 2008, and Cuba is a nondemocratic country.

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A possible solution to this problem is a plan that has three pillars: education, employment, and justice. The investment in higher education is directly related to the future success of the country.

The Venezuelan government must ensure that its society “A possible solution is prepared and equipped to to this problem is a manage different social issues.

Supporting higher education is a plan that has three key component of improving the pillars: education, level of competitive presence in the global markets. At the employment, and same time, the government justice.” needs to implement different incentives, encouraging companies to invest and employ more staff; however, in order to do this it is necessary to reduce the instability of the economy.

During the last decade, President Hugo Chávez has violated not only individual property rights, expropriating the most important companies in the country, but other human rights, such as free speech and health care; Chávez has created an environment where the public and private sector cannot combine their efforts to reduce the gap between rich and poor. Finally, the Venezuelan judiciary system needs a complete overhaul because “A serious 90 percent of killings remain problem like this unsolved (Romero, 2010).

Eliminating the impunity of this requires serious system, the government will attention and new be able to control the problem. approaches. It is not A serious problem like this requires serious attention enough to continue and new approaches. It is not the status quo.” enough to continue the status quo. The only solution to significantly reduce the amount of violent crime in Venezuela must include these three dimensions.

References:

Romero, S. (2010, August 22). Venezuela, More Deadly Than Iraq, Wonders Why. The New York Times.

Access online @ <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/world/americas/23venez.html?pagewanted=all>

issue 77, March 2012

Obesity in Canada

Ljilja Lili Kozomara of former Yugoslavia, Academic English Level 60 by

A

ccording to the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), 15.2% of Canadian individuals aged 20 years or older are considered obese. Obesity causes an economic burden of $4.3 billion, representing 2.2% of the total health cost in Canada. Its rates are reaching an epidemic proportion in industrialized countries, especially in English-speaking ones such as the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. The clinical definition of obesity states that to be considered obese, more than one third of a person’s body must be made up of fat. Calculating an individual’s weight include: the measurement of BMI - body mass index - based on individual’s weight and height, as well as the WHR - waist hip ratio - used as an indicator or measure of human body fat. Causes of obesity include: unhealthy over processed foods, low physical activity lifestyle, high rates of low consumption of fibre found in fruits and vegetables, the advertising and consumption of “junk food” (hamburgers, hotdogs, fries, cookies, pizza, cake, candy, Big Macs, chocolate), dining at fast food restaurants (McDonald’s, Burger King), the loss of family connection and the lack of time to prepare food.

Obesity is the most important predictor of chronic ailments and quality of life. The long term impact of the typical North American diet affects overall health, and it manifests itself through health problems such as diabetes, angina (and other heart diseases), depression, hypertension (high blood pressure), allergies, fatigue, digestive issues, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis and many others, including cancer.

Even a basic concern such as constipation is affected. These health problems increase the death rate in all ages in almost every ethnic

Time Management L

group and both genders. The majority of adults and children are overweight and undernourished. While high quality nutritious food is available throughout Canada, both rich and poor are drawn to eating unhealthy food. Top calorie sources for Canadians include many items that are not considered “real” food by dieticians, nutritionists or doctors: Coca-Cola, sugar, white bread, margarine and pasteurized, processed North American cheese. Poor nutrition can also result in less productivity at work and school, hyperactivity among children and adolescents, and mood disorders. These heighten feelings of stress, isolation and insecurity.

Previous solutions include a vast number of diets that have little proven basis in physiology (effects on the internal organs and/or body fat). Also, individuals choosing the Atkins diet (and other diets rich in animal products and low in fruits and vegetables) have a higher risk of developing digestive issues. Therefore, more desperate Canadians are turning to drugs and surgical procedures for weight loss. Clearly these solutions are temporary at best, and dangerous as well.

We should combat obesity with a broad-based program that facilitates healthy eating and physical activity for all age groups.

Secondly, we need a national effort to raise awareness about the danger of being obese. This also includes education in schools, and a promotion of better health and nutritional habits. A tasty meal plan and dietary guidelines should be instituted, and physical exercise has to be encouraged. Processed foods must be avoided. This would be beneficial because the more nutritious food an individual consumes, the more they will be satisfied with fewer calories. Therefore, the body will not crave fat and high calorie foods. We should also advocate about the rich nutrients and phytochemicals available in fresh foods.

As individuals and as a nation we cannot ignore obesity in the Canadian population. The most overlooked tool in the medical field is letting the body heal through proper nutrition. Hippocrates (c.460-c.377 B.C.), the Greek physician who is considered the father of modern medicine said: “Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food.”

Kwak MinJeong of Korea, Academic English Level 40

by

iving in modern society means dealing with many things at the same time. Actually, we all have various things to do every day.

However, if we don’t use time wisely, it can become a mountain of work that can’t be finished easily. Therefore, time management is important in a busy life. It is important for people struggling with time to understand why time management is needed.

Moreover, we need to manage time in order to use spare time efficiently. We tend to underestimate the importance of commuting time and waiting time. It means that we don’t do anything for 20 or 40 minutes in a bus or subway on the way to work or to school. However, we can utilize these times to read a book or have an additional nap. It is not a huge thing, but it is influential in our lives.

First of all, we need to manage time for not forgetting our daily schedules. As I said, we are dealing with many things, so it is impossible to remember everything without making a to-do list. By using a planner or diary, you can arrange everything from monthly events to a pop-quiz tomorrow and you can work more successfully than by not using a planner. You can divide your work into “big, urgent” or “small, steady”, and do it in order.

Furthermore, we should manage time in order to balance between work and rest. If you write down a to-do list on your planner, finish one task after another, and do not waste spare time, you will notice how you spend your time by watching your organized plan. Then, you can decide whether to focus on work or rest. If you feel exhausted doing it this way, you can make your too-tight schedule loose, or if you feel lazy, you can tighten your too-loose schedule. In fact, feedback makes your life more organized and comfortable.

In addition, we had better manage time in order to avoid delaying assignments. You already have a to-do list for each day. If you don’t finish it on time, you might postpone concluding your work next time. However, each day has its own schedule. Consequently, when it is piled up, you may have difficulty or want to give up your work.

That’s not good. Although there are a lot of enjoyable things around you, you ought to finish your work first.

In conclusion, managing time is integral to success in modern life for several reasons. We should manage time for keeping our schedules in our mind, meeting deadlines, using spare time and balancing between work and rest. As the proverb says, “Time is gold.” If we waste our time, it might mean that we waste our money, energy, and opportunities. That is why we have to use time purposefully.

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world of words

Living Comfortably in Toronto for International Students by

Mario Wang of China, Academic English Level 50

A condo is a kind of apartment, which belongs to an individual owner. A condo building usually has facilities including swimming pool, gym and so on. Some luxurious condos even have movie rooms, table tennis and badminton courts. Apart from that, a 24 hour security is also characteristic of a condo. Many condos are close to public transportation, which brings much convenience to the residents. However, it is often a little expensive to live in a condo because the owner has to pay expensive maintenance fees, and he/she passes these costs on to the renter.

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Renting a room in a house will give you more space, and it will probably cost less than a condo. The slightly uncomfortable thing is that you usually have to share the washroom and kitchen with your roommates. Public facilities are usually further away because houses are not usually built near bus or subway stations. One more thing I would like to say is that living in the house requires more inside and outside housework such as shoveling snow and mowing grass.

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Renting a Room in a House

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Condominium (Condo)

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It is essential for an international student to choose a place to live. Living comfortably can make one’s life simpler and happier.

I’m going to talk about three different options and hopefully give you a few helpful tips:

Homestay

Some people think that living in a homestay is the best option for a student abroad because homestays include meals made by ‘host-mother’ or ‘host-father’. Homestay offers a special opportunity for second language learners to improve their English skills, which other living arrangements do not have. While some homestays just regard the arrangement as a way to make money, most of them are reliable and friendly. In my opinion, one should meet the ‘home family members ‘a few times before moving in. I also recommend choosing a home that is located downtown or very close to a subway station.

Compare and think clearly before you decide where to live. Safety is always the most important factor, no matter where you live.

I hope that everyone finds a comfortable home in Toronto.

Insects

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Abduljaleel al Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 40 by

Many people around the world do not like insects in spite of their because it is cheap and a natural weapon. To sum up, insects help benefits. Once a scientist said on a TV program that insects look like us so we should change our thoughts about the gift of insects. a treasure for future science. First of all, people in antiquity utilized insects’ as food or medicine; for instance, honey comes from bees and it is not produced in a factory. There are many kinds of bees in our environment. Some of them live in deserts, forests, or caves, so they have different honey because of the different location and what type of food they consume. They are very smart because they find a way to adapt to the hard conditions of life. Secondly, we can say most inventors have taken features from insects’ shape or its style of living or camouflage ability; for example, modern cars, trains or even airplanes were designed depending on insect’s dynamic body in order to diminish fuel use. Actually, fifty years ago, aircrafts consumed larger amount of fuel than they do now. Lastly, we are able to use insects as weapons because they work with fewer side effects; for instance, many farmers in South Africa often choose to use genetically modified insects to kill or eat other harmful insects who can destroy the crops. They would prefer using this method

issue 77, March 2012

The Challenges of Being an International Student

by Abeer

Mohammad Bokhary of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 40 Being an international student is one of most interesting events that can happen in any studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. However, there could be many challenges that face students in different aspects of their study life. These challenges can be related to three important aspects; learning a new language, finding university acceptance and dealing with the weather. When students travel to new countries to complete their studies, they must learn a new language besides their native language.

It is necessary to learn the host countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s native language to communicate with people and study. The difficulties in learning a new language are learning the basics and rules of language. For example, when Saudi students travel abroad to North America or Europe to complete their studies, they have to learn English or French so they will be able to live in these countries. Second, students who are seeking post-graduate studies face some difficulties obtaining an acceptance. For instance, international students could not find acceptance if they do not pass the English proficiency test, or they could not find an available supervisor for their Masters or Ph.D. degrees.

Finally, the weather is different in many countries. It will be a big change for the student who moves from moderate to cold temperatures, or the student who moves from cold to hot weather. In particular, it is difficult for Saudi students to get familiar with the Canadian winter at first because they come from moderate and hot to cold weather. Similarly, it would be difficult for Canadian students to familiarize themselves with Saudi Arabian hot weather, especially in the summer season.

To conclude, many challenges face any international student who travels overseas to complete university studies.

Restaurant Review Chuan Wang, Academic English Level 50 by

JOY FORTUNE CHINESE CUISINE Rating: YUM, YUM, YUM Location: 3453 Victoria Park Avenue Scarborough, ON

There are many famous Chinese restaurants in Toronto, but I recommend that you go to Joy Fortune Chinese Cuisine. Joy Fortune Chinese Cuisine is a great restaurant for trying some traditional Chinese dishes such as melon duck stew, steamed sea bass and desert sand chicken. The JFCC chefs are also pros at cooking many different kinds of seafood for customers such as spring onion ginger lobster, garlic fan scallops and fresh oysters. After you finish your main course, I recommend that you order their delicious syrup. In addition to their incredible food, the service is excellent. The servers are all very friendly and passionate. They are always willing to help you choose your dishes. Last, but not least, you do not need to worry about the price of the food because all of the food here is very cheap. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great place to go with a group of friends.

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world of words King Abdel Aziz University Faculty of Medicine, Anatomy of Department Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The Museum of Anatomy

By Hani Turkistani of Saudi Arabia Comprehensive English Student

Introduction: The Anatomy Museum is one of the most popular attractions of King Abdul-Aziz University. If you are interested in the knowledge of Anatomy and student, pay a visit to the museum all throughout the year. Medical students train in courses at the Museum of Anatomy.

The museum uses different types of solutions to preserve the human bodies. In this Anatomy Museum the visitors can also glance at the plastic replicas of human organs.

The Idea of Establishing a Museum of Anatomy: The idea of establishing a museum of anatomy was to give medical students full detailed information about the human body.

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Included in the Museum: The Museum of Anatomy contains many of the samples, bones and skeletons, and other parts of the human anatomy, It is used for teaching both medical students and medical science. And also contains a collection of human embryos which have been preserved in boxes filled with liquid (preserved in formaldehyde) And there is also a special repository for human bones.

Who are the Visitors to the Museum?

Visitors to the museum are often students of the Faculty of Medicine and also specialists in the science of anatomy. There are many visits from school students as well.

issue 77, March 2012

Spectacular Korea

by Seoeun Yang of Korea,

Academic English Level 50

W

hat kind of images do you have of Korea? Usually most people think of microchips or a divided country. Of course, Korea is well-known for microchip technology. Korean companies, such as LG and Samsung are known for their high quality.

What else do you know about Korea?

Korea is 230 thousand km2 and has 73 million citizens. Moreover, Seoul is the capital of Korea where a majority of the population lives. Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, has a long history.

The three kingdoms of Korea were first united during the Silla dynasty under King Munmu of Silla. In 1392, General Yi Seong-Gye established the Joseon Dynasty. In 1897, the Joseon dynasty proclaimed the Korean Empire. Even though the aftermath of World War II left Korea partitioned along the 38th parallel, it still has historical places to visit from past eras. Furthermore, wherever you go, most people will welcome you. My friend Alena, from Russia, who stayed in Korea for one year, said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Korea is the best country I have visited in my life. If I could choose one country to travel to, I would choose Korea without hesitation.â&#x20AC;? Like Alena, I strongly recommended that you should visit Korea!

night as evidence. Additionally, it would be a good idea if you plan to go traveling with your parents to choose Korea because this country has been called the country of courteous, kind people in the East. For instance, there are elderly seats in all kinds of transportation and transportation fee is free for people above the age of 65 years. Wherever you visit, you and your parents will be First, Korea has various unique places respected. to visit. It has a long history, so you can visit palaces and historic sites. When you visit any of the palaces, you are able to eat traditional royal Korean cuisine.

Once you taste this food, you will be enamored by the colorful Korean food such as Shinsunro, Japchae, Bulgogi and Bibimbab. In addition, if you like a charmingly natural environment, you can find it in Korea. Seventy percent of the land is mountainous and hiking is a popular activity. Also people like to visit the West Sea and the East Sea. You can All in all, it would be a good idea if you find various marine life in the West Sea choose Korea for your vacation. You can and tranquil scenery near the East Sea. enjoy elaborate and historical places.

In addition, you can enjoy various kinds In the future, it will become a common of valleys as Korea has many large rivers country to travel to. Tour prices will that cover more area than the land itself. become expensive and you might wait You can also visit islands; such as, Jejudo, a long time for a reservation, so you Ullengdo and Dokdo. Not only can you should hurry to book your holiday! visit unique palaces, the mountains, you can also visit Seoul. If you want to enjoy the youthfulness of Korea, Seoul, the capital, is recommended as it has a large number of shopping places, good restaurants and a culture promenade.

More importantly, Korea is very safe and has a polite culture. Street lamps are very bright at night, some areas even have surveillance cameras and owning a gun is restricted by law. You can find a lot of people in the street at

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world of words

The Kenting Music Festival Yu-Chian Wu of Taiwan, Academic English Level 40 by

T

he Kenting Music Festival is one of the popular festivals in Taiwan, and it started in 1995. Every year thousands of tourists visit it. It always starts in April and chooses to start on the Saturday which is nearest April 5th. April 5th is a holiday in Taiwan, so sometimes people have a continuous three day vacation to visit the Kenting Music Festival. Most of the university students like going to Kenting because there is a beautiful beach and lots of foreign style restaurants. Every summer Kenting is full of tourists and it has many kinds of activities.

I have visited the Kenting Music Festival several times. Every time I take different friends who have never been there. My last time was in 2010. I remember I went with a girl who went there for the first time. We spent three hours getting there by motorcycle, although we usually go by bus or drive a car. Because we drove a motorcycle, we avoided a traffic jam and had more free time because we didn’t need to find a parking space. There are several different music parties at night in Kenting, so we went to eat lunch and then we took a break. After, we went to the beach, played in the water, and enjoyed the sunshine. When the night was coming, we found a famous Thai food restaurant to have a wonderful dinner. There is a main street in

Kenting and it is full of foreign style restaurants and stores, and it also has a night market. During the Kenting Music Festival, the main street has more extra activities for tourists. We walked around this street, and bought many kinds of Taiwanese snacks, and we saw lots of show girls and girls in bikinis dancing on trucks. Some singers sang rock songs, and some party hosts gave us free gifts. After we were tired, we chose a good viewing place to see a singer who sang until the middle of the night. Because we didn’t book a hotel, we needed to go back home that night. Even though I was tired, I drove my friend home on my motorcycle. That was a nice experience.

Difference Is Not Bad How to spend our free time?

Sahar Rajeh

of Saudi Arabia

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Meshari Alkurbi of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 40 by

Everyone has free time, but not all know how to spend this time. There are several activities which you can do to utilize your time proficiently. One of them is sport. People who like sports can do a lot of interesting activities such as, in summer they can enjoy swimming, camping, doing crafts, or running, but in winter they can do other things, for example, skiing, skating or making a snowman. For other activities, we can read an interesting book, or learn a new language to challenge ourselves. Third, I really suggest that we try doing a new hobby, for instance, painting, doing crafts, woodworking, or sculpting. If you feel that is hard, you can buy a book to learn more about the hobby. I think you’ll enjoy it. For another thing, try to think about your goals. If you don’t have a list, start now to make one. For people who like business, I advise them to begin making money with a small project. Step by step it will progress. Finally, for people who are learning English like us, let’s read an English newspaper to develop our reading skill, let’s participate with volunteers to improve our speaking, or let’s enjoy watching movies together to improve our English. In conclusion, these are some useful ways to spend our leisure time.

Academic English 40 A

S

audi Arabia is located in the Middle East, the centre of the universe. I love my country, my hometown, my people, my family, and my friends. I know we are not the best, but we are trying.

My country is evolving into a more diverse country through educating people and increasing the overall human capital, which, in turn, will help build a better place for us, our children, and their children. In order to achieve our dream of a peaceful place where everyone can feel safe and can call home, we need to acknowledge our differences and learn how to live with these differences. Different doesn’t mean wrong, it only means an independent opinion. This doesn’t mean we should leave people who make wrong choices in life be, but rather we should come to a comfortable area of agreement, where everyone knows their limits and tries to be civilized. We also need to make sure that people don’t misinterpret culture for religion, because this would not be fair, especially in Saudi, where the majority is Muslims and the country is ruled by Islamic law. Religion should remain the same over time, but culture, on the other hand, changes with time, and if we mix those together, it will be a lot more difficult to change old and wrong habits because people consider them part of our religion. We, as people and part of this world, should learn to live in peace and be friendly with other people, and accept our differences.

A Trip to Niagara Falls

issue 77, March 2012

Neil Wu of Taiwan, Academic English Level 40 by

N

iagara Falls is one of the places which the tourists want to visit in Canada because Niagara Falls is one of the famous landscapes in Canada. Also, I have been there several times.

The first time I want to Niagara Falls was twenty years ago; therefore, I only remember there was floating ice on the water, and I was shaking because I felt cold. Last year was the second time I went to Niagara Falls. After twenty years, it is totally different now. Although I couldn't remember what I saw twenty years ago, I still know it only had several buildings at that time; however, it has not only the movie theaters but also a casino now. The last time I went to Niagara Falls was on Family Day. My friends and I went to the casino. There was a fine view of the falls from the casino; however, we walked to the falls because we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to spend the whole day in the casino. By the way, one of my friends won five hundred dollars in the casino.

At the falls a sea gull stopped in front of us; in addition, everyone was taking pictures with it.

In conclusion, although I have been to Niagara Falls several times, I have never been there in the summer time. Therefore, I am planning to go to Niagara Falls this summer.

Japanese Manga and Anime Yuma Iwaki of Japan, Academic English Level 40 by

I would like to introduce Manga and Anime.

They are getting more and more popular around the world. Manga are Japanese comic books, and Anime are a style of animation originating in Japan, characterized by colorful graphics and often featuring themes intended for an adult audience, and are based on popular Manga. Some people mistakenly believe that comics are for children, but in Japan, people of all ages read Manga. That is why we spend a lot of money on Manga each year. We usually start to watch Anime when we are children, and we start to be interested in Manga because we cannot wait any longer for the episodes to come out each week. Therefore, we find a solution by reading Manga, and we can be further ahead.

They have many genres: action, adventure, romance, sports, comedy, and horror. There are many fine works of the Manga and Anime being produced in many places around the world. However, as far as I understand, the roots are in Japan, and Japan is still considered the center of Manga and Anime world. By the way, what is the difference between Japanese Manga and American comics? Even children's Manga and Anime in

Japan sometimes depict death while American comics are determined to run away from such realities of life. In addition, when most people think of comics in the United States, they probably think of superheroes, but we don't.

Although most American people do not think of them as art or literature, we are respectful of them. I often read American comic books, so I know about them, and I love them. However, I think Japanese Manga and Anime are much

more interesting than them because they are not just entertainment but one of the deep cultural expressions of Japanese people. I am really sure you are going to be crazy about Japanese Manga and Anime once you know them. To sum up, if you do not know about Japanese Manga and Anime yet, I would highly recommend reading Manga and watching Anime to lead a more exciting life.

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world of words

3

A short story...

Women and MOVIE

s usual, Kumiko woke up feeling very happy when the alarm went off at 8 o’clock. As soon as she got up, she took off her pajamas and put on her favorite shirt and boots filled with a feeling of well-being. Now, she enjoyed the happiness in every moment. Just a few months ago, she never imagined that she could feel happy like now because she was under a lot of stress with her job and relationship with her boss who was very selfish and often bullied her. However, since she discovered the organization called MOVIE, her life has totally changed. MOVIE helped out Kumiko, who was mentally and physically weighed down at that time. MOVIE, which stands for Marvelous Occupational Victory In the Earth, was an organization founded to help out people who are annoyed with vicious companies and stupid bosses.

Now, in order to repay MOVIE, she belonged to MOVIE as a staff member and worked hard to help out the sad victims of many companies. Today, she had a meeting at MOVIE. She checked out her schedule and called up Emiko, who was her friend and also a MOVIE staff member, to confirm when the meeting would start. As soon as she hung up the telephone, she got into her car, turned on the engine and drove off. On her way, she picked up Emiko and they headed for MOVIE’s head office.

Soon after arriving at MOVIE’s head office and getting out of the car, they ran into Kazuko in the lobby. Kazuko was their classmate in university and one of the most successful women among their friends.

“What a surprise to see you here!” Kumiko said.

Kazuko looked so terrible and totally beaten.

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Yuka Kita of Japan, Business English by

Editors Note: This story was written to practice phrasal verbs. Can you identify the phrasal verbs and their meaning?

“What happened to you?” Emiko asked.

“It was a nightmare. I was laid off. I could not get along with my new boss and often had argument with him. And finally, he booted me out of the company blaming me for embezzlement I didn't do!

So, today I came here to ask for some help.”

“It’s too bad. But, don’t worry, Kazuko. We also had similar experience, but MOVIE got us out of difficult situations and gave us a big opportunity to get a new start,” Emiko said.

“Please cheer up, Kazuko. Don't think of it as losing your job, think of it as a time-out," Kumiko said.

“Thank you. But, I cannot exactly figure out what kind of service or support I can get from MOVIE,” Kazuko said.

“MOVIE will give you some counselling service and assign an attorney for free if you want to sue your company for unfair dismissal. And also, you can get information about job hunting. Calm down, it will all work out,” Kumiko explained.

“We will do our best for you. We can help you out,” Emiko said.

Then, they walked into the office in order to look for good solutions for Kazuko and other victims of vicious companies and bosses that are rampant in the world!

DREAM BACK TO THE MAYA

issue 77, March 2012

When referring to The Maya, the first picture to arise in my mind is the movie 2012 in which The Maya foretold that 2012 will be the end of the world.That negative feeling impacted me, so I have a lot of conflict with nearly everything about The Maya. After I went to The Maya exhibit in Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, I totally changed my impression; on the contrary, I like the exhibit and have become interested in the Maya by degrees.

by Qingyu Liang of China, Academic English Level 40

Since I have been a student in ELP, I have been surprised that there are so many different kinds of activities, but the visit to The Maya was the one in which I am most interested.

When we were guided into the exhibition hall with the twilight lighting, the mysterious atmosphere made me hold my breath.

Honestly, I was shaken by the sculptures and the frescos with Mayan symbols. During the guide’s introduction I learned that The Maya was a mighty civilization which had a mythical past. I also learned something about their religion, people and the royalty. The Maya have their own words and language; they also had many inventions. At that time, earrings were very ‘popular’ and the bigger the holes in their ears the more important the person was. In royalty, the members’ heads would be bound into the shape of corn as soon as they were born. It meant that the country would have a plentiful harvest and was following the religion.

I couldn’t understand their behaviour at first until the guide explained that it was the same as ancient Chinese foot-bindings. It may not make sense to us now, but it was the culture of their time. The Maya has many ancient structures such as pyramids, but they are different from Egypt’s because of two reasons: one is they have four edges; however, Egypt’s have three edges. Another difference is Mayan pyramids were used for prayer yet Egypt’s are the kind of tomb, but all of them are magnificant.

After finishing our visit. I nearly couldn’t wake up from the gorgeous Maya-dream as if I just lived there and went through the Maya culture from their origin, climax and wane. I will never forget this experience and appreciate that the ELP gave me this opportunity to learn about The Maya.

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Beauty Beast

world of words

An ELP Review of...

and the

S

uccumbing to a bout of childhood nostalgia filled with Disney fairytales, Cultural Assistants Lily and Megan took Sayuri Ishida (an ELP student who has just returned home to Japan) to watch Beauty and the Beast in 3D, currently in theatres. The following discussion is what took place while reflecting upon the movie immediately afterwards…

by

Lily Choi, ELP Cultural Assistant Megan Chen, ELP Cultural Assitant and Sayuri Ishida of Japan, Comprehensive English

Q: There were many catchy tunes in the movie, the theme song being a great example. What was your favorite song from the movie?

A: I liked all the songs! But I especially liked “Be Our Guest” – it was so exciting!! You would know what I mean if you watch the movie.

Q: What did you think about the 3D effects? Was it more enjoyable to watch a movie in 3D rather than in regular format?

Q: What was your favorite scene from Beauty and the Beast? Why? A: The 3D effects made me feel as though I was being invited into their A: My favorite scene was the one where the Beast was trying to world. It was fascinating for me, even as an adult. feed the birds with Belle, because he looked so cute trying and this is the moment when their relationship became closer.

Q: Did you cry at the ending? Didn’t you think it was beautiful?? Lily sure did (although Megan seemed rather unaffected).

Q: What was the difference between watching this movie now (as A: Yes, I thought it was so beautiful!! You have to watch it if you never an adult) and what you remember from watching it as a child? have, and watch it again if you have!

Was it funnier when you were a child? Was it more romantic now?

A: I felt more emotional watching it now. When I was a child, I Sayuri, Lily and Megan would recommend this move to others focused on the talking dishes, furniture and things like that. They because, as Sayuri remarks, “Some people may think this movie could dance, sing... it was wonderful! But now, I kept thinking is childish, but it reminds me of pure love!” about their feelings, and how the curse placed upon them would have been affecting them.

by Tonia Kwok,

ELP Cultural Assistant

N

owadays, marriage is most commonly acknowledged as the contract to bind people and create kinship. However, due to differences in culture, there are distinctive restrictions and reasons to marriage in various countries. Some countries allow same-sex marriage while some do not; some countries allow polygamous marriage (marriages that include more than 2 partners) while some do not, etc.

Polyandry has been a rare type of practice throughout the history. It is essentially a marriage describing a woman with multiple husbands at the same time. The Hephtalites, originating from northern China, lived in Persia during 400-500AD, were one of the few societies that practiced polyandry.

On the other hand, polygyny, the type of marriage where a man has multiple wives, is more widely accepted as compared to

58

polyandry. This practice was historically recognized worldwide, but declined as countries developed. Today, some Muslim countries in the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa are permitted to have polygynous marriages.

In America, the history of marriage is particularly interesting, explaining the reasons to marriage other than “love”. People married for reasons such as financial benefits, social status, family ties, reproduction, and personal satisfaction. Back in the days before the 20th century, marriage was often involved in economic benefits rather than for the purpose of emotional satisfaction and love. Marriage was a method to tie two families together to build a stronger financial or social status, and/or producing offspring. Contrary to the belief today, emotional attachment was not encouraged in marriage. Instead, marriage was

a business. Moreover, married men and women were viewed as having a higher social status compared to single men and women in certain countries.

Hence, people would marry for selfsatisfaction. Today, some still believe in their own cultural view in marriage, some believe in free love. Marriage does not necessary only have one single implication; each couple marries accordingly to their own beliefs. Yet, all the stories behind marriage are fascinating.

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world of words

Staying healthy through a long Toronto winter, Part 2

By Evelyn Pedersen, ELP Instructor for Comprehensive English

In Part 1 of this series (in our December 2011 edition of WoW), we outlined specific precautions newcomers can take to prevent a prolonged visit from that miserable Canadian houseguest, the common cold or flu. But what if you have taken all of the steps we outlined, and still you wake up one morning to the grim realization that you really are coming down with something (= you are getting sick). You stay home for a day or two, but instead of getting better, you find you are only getting worse . . . . . what to do??!!

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to head to the local walk-in clinic. DO NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL ~ this is not an emergency. (You are not going to die!!) Talk to your homestay, and find out where the nearest walk-in clinic is, OR ~ go to the U of T medical clinic.

The U of T student clinic is up on the 2nd floor of the Koffler Student Services Centre, at St. George and College ~ use the St. George Street entrance. Their hours are 9-5, M-F. Sometimes you can walk in and be seen right away; however, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to call ahead and make an appointment ~ 416 978 8030. Bring your T-card and GuardMe health insurance card.

The doctor will ask you about your symptoms (= physical signs of sickness); here are the most common symptoms of cold and flu ~

runny nose, sneezing itchy or watery eyes general tiredness, lack of energy congestion (= feeling all stuffed up, or not clear) in head or in chest fever loss of voice headache, or ear pain muscle or joint pain chills (feeling cold from the inside) sore throat, with difficulty swallowing voice dropping unnaturally low-low-low difficulty breathing, especially when lying down coughing (especially that sounds like a seal barking!)

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issue 77, March 2012

Now it’s time to visit the local pharmacy . . .

Most probably the doctor will give you a prescription (= a written doctor’s order for some specific medicine); you must go immediately to the nearest pharmacy (= drugstore) and get the prescription filled (= get the medicine).

Tell the pharmacist about any other medications you are taking ~ that’s really important! ~ and ask him to explain to you how to use the medicine (how often, with or without food, etc).

Begin taking the medicine immediately; if he has given you a round of antibiotics (= a kind of superdrug) you must finish all of it ~ even if you start to feel better quickly. Finish your meds!!

(If you don’t finish them, you may get sick all over again ~ but this time it will be much worse.)

There are some things you should just keep for yourself In general, sharing is a good thing, the defining quality of generous individuals.

But when you are sick, chances are (= it is probably the case that) you are also highly contagious, that is, you can easily give the infection you have to the people around you. What can you do so that you don’t infect others?

First, stay home. No one ~ not your boss, not your colleagues, not your teacher, nor your classmates ~ will thank you for giving them what you have! You CAN MISS a day or two of work or of school ~ you’ll live!! Stay home until you are well, at least until you’re no longer contagious.

If you absolutely MUST go out, cover your mouth when you cough, so that you aren’t spreading your germs into the air around you ~ the same air others are breathing. And HOW you cover your mouth is important: if you cough into your hand, and then put that same germy hand onto a door handle to open the door, the next person to touch the handle will pick up all those nasty germs. / Rather cough into the inside of your elbow. (You can wash your shirt later!)

If you must sneeze, turn right away from others, and sneeze into a Kleenex. If you need a good long messy blow, leave the room and go blow in the washroom. *** Always sanitize your hands after you blow your nose or spit up some phlegm (= the yellowish-green stuff . . .yuuuck).

Finally, keep your distance from others; don’t breathe on them when you speak! Sanitize your hands often, especially if you share equipment such as keyboards, telephones, and copiers.

Evelyn Pedersen teaches in Comprehensive English and is really trying to follow her own advice! 61

world of words

Ask Rosa

“Hear me now, believe me later...”

Question:

Dear Rosa, I’m a student from South America, where the weather is always very warm. Now that I am in Canada, in the wintertime, I need to wear boots.

This is a problem for me because I LOVE shoe fashion and I don’t know how to look stylish in cold weather! What should I do?!

Winter Fashionista

Answer:

1. Tana All Protector Spray (for leather/ suede/nubuck) 2. Collonil Nubuck and Velours (waterproofing spray for suede and nubuck with color activation/renewal) 3. Collonil Water Stop (heavy duty waterproofing spray for smooth leather) 4. Winter Trax Shoe Tread or Yaktrax (helps reduce slip and falls) 5. Visit Kaner’s in the basement of 110 Bloor St. West for shoe supplies and repairs.

“Dining during off peak times can land you a decent meal at a lower price.

Visit restaurants early in the week, when foot traffic is slower, and take advantage of dinner specials or promotions.”

Final tip: a cotton swab dabbed in a Dear Winter Fashionista, few drops of water and vinegar mix can I hate to be the bearer of neutralize/remove salt stains. bad news: Canadian winters “Unless you have Question: leave little in the way of your own personal Dear Rosa, fashionable footwear. chauffeur, to drive Unless you have a personal There are so many restaurants in you door to door or chauffeur, to drive you Toronto! After a month living in Toronto, lay his coat down door to door or lay his coat I am finding that restaurant hopping over snow laden walk down over snow laden walk with friends on a regular basis is putting ways, you’re going ways, you’re going to have a strain on my bank account! Do you to have to make do to make do with footwear have any advice for a struggling student that will be eroded by salt, (and foodie) like myself? with footwear that stained by slush water and will be eroded by Financially Frustrated cracked by the deep freeze. salt, stained by slush However, it’s not all bad water and cracked Answer: news. Canadian retailers by the deep freeze.”

Dear Fiscally Frustrated, are amply prepared. Shoe Many individuals are feeling the outlets, such as Aldo Shoes, financial pinch these days. You are not alone. If have the market cornered -- they sell everything you are a strapped-for-cash student, being frugal from ankle flat boots to mid-calf rain boots to is imperative. Don’t be shy to ask restaurants if high heeled fashion boots, in leather, suede or they offer student or group discounts. Many nubuck. restaurants do! You simply need to ask.

For Canadian winters, your best bet (or rather Future’s Bakery & Café serves $5.00 breakfast best buy) would be a lined (for warmth) water to students from Monday to Friday. Café proof boot.

Diplomatico (Italian cuisine) offers lunchs for Please note, ‘water proof’ is not the same as ‘water under $10.00. On Wednesdays, the Hot Yam at resistant’. A water resistant boot will repel water U of T Cumberland House, serves vegan lunch so that it soaks into the boot slowly. Waterproof for $4.00 between 12:00 – 2:00pm. Innis Café, boots are made of a material that doesn’t absorb also located on campus, offers breakfast and water at all. Therefore, water doesn’t sink into the vegetarian/halal lunch meals at a reasonable fibres of the boot, thus keeping your feet and cost. socks dry in snow and slush puddles.

Dining during off peak times can land you a Generally, these types of boots are hiking boots/ decent meal at a lower price. Visit restaurants all-terrain boots and aren’t quite as chic as your early in the week, when foot traffic is slower, and thigh high stiletto boot. Their function rates a 10, take advantage of dinner specials or promotions. their appearance a 5.

Mezzetta Restaurant (Middle Eastern Cuisine) Since it’s fashion (and not function) that you’re offers Toonie Tuesday dinner-- spend $2.42 per after, any boot that catches your eye will do, tapas dish (maximum 25 dishes). Pogue Mahone provided you take the following protective offers .40 cent chicken wing Tuesdays (with measures: beverage purchase), after 4:00pm. As well, Il Fornello offers $10.00 pizzas every Tuesday.

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For a list of Toronto restaurant specials and daily deals, visit the link below: w w w. r e s t a u ra n t s t o r o n t o. c o m / specials

If you don’t have energy to cook, some restaurants offer discounts on takeout orders. Tandoori House (Indian Cuisine) offers a 20% discount on take-out orders (cash only). Coupon can found at:

www.dine.to

Additional coupons for a collection of restaurants can be found at the following link: dine.to/dine_and_save.php

If you have a favourite restaurant that you frequent, get on their mailing list. Restaurants often advertise specials or weekly/monthly events to their loyal customers first.

Finally, for great savings on name brand foods, check out Almost Perfect: www.almostperfect.ca

Products that are cosmetically flawed, over produced, or have undergone a packaging face lift are shipped to Almost Perfect and sold at a discounted price.

Dollar Saving Tips: * For student discounts, be prepared to show your TCard to verify your student status. * Order dishes that are easy to reheat. If there are leftovers, you’ll have food for the next day. * Alcoholic drinks can run up your bill, so consider a cheaper alternative, or a restaurant that allows you to bring your own bottle of wine.

Questions featured within “Ask Rosa” have been composed for the purpose of this column.

Rosa Leo has been serving

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

issue 77, March 2012

Memories

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

@ELPSCSUofT

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