world of words September 2012, issue 79 “The English Language Program’s student magazine – a compilation of the summer session’s highlights, student opinions and other features.”
EID MUBARAK Get to know
ELP Ambassador
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Mustafa Sarier
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ELP S WELCOME ROUPS STUDENT G UND FROM ARO D THE WORL
Instructor Evelyn Pedersen explains parallel structure in
GRAMMAR CORNER
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inside this issue: feature articles
August 28th, 2012: ELP students pose for a photo after the ELP Olympics.
student opinion
Eid Mubarak 4
Time to Give Thanks 29
ELP Ambassador Mustafa Sarier 6
Toronto Digital Stories 30 Saudi Arabian and Canadian Universities 32 My Graduation Day 33
student groups at elp Kansai University 9 Osaka University of Economics and 10 Law
My Friend 33 Teaching English to an Arabic Woman 34 Globalization 35
Nagoya University 11
Consequences of the Internet 36
Shenzhen Foreign Languages School 12
Saudi Marriage Customs 36
Kobe Shinwa Women’s University 14
Learning English 37
Sookmyung Women’s University 16
The Effects of TV on Children 37
Kwansei Gakuin University 18
Tarout Island, Saudi Arabia 38
City University of Hong Kong 19 International Christian University 23 Chukyo University 24 Jeollabukdo Office of Education 26 Meiji University 28
student life Volunteer Experience Program 40 University Application Program 42 Grammar Corner 44 Summer BBQs on Toronto Island 48
Disclaimer: Due to our diverse student population, we receive many opinion based articles relating to global and current affairs. The views expressed in this magazine are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the English Language Program. The English Language Program does not endorse, represent or warrant the quality of products or companies mentioned within.
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Eager Beaver’s Softball 50
issue 79, September 2012
ELP Director’s Message September 2012 Dear all, It is my pleasure to bring you a very special summer issue of our World of Words magazine (available in hardcopy as well as online). We have had a very busy and memorable few months at the English Language Program and I am proud to share it with you in our magazine. In this issue we get to hear from the many student groups that visited the English Language Program over the past three months: students from City University of Hong Kong reflect on their time at ELP and their experiences volunteering with charities around the city; teachers from Shenzhen Foreign Languages School (SFLS) share their joy of reuniting with former students during a day trip to the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus; and students from Kobe Shinwa Women’s University describe their journey to Niagara Falls. I continue to be impressed with the passion and excitement for learning that these students bring to the school. We also get to meet outstanding ELP student (and recently announced ELP Ambassador) Mustafa Sarier. We are all extremely proud of Mustafa’s success at the ELP and his acceptance to the University of Toronto’s Civil Engineering Department is a testament to his hard work and dedication. Mustafa is a fine example to follow, and we’re very happy to have him with us as an ELP Ambassador to help lead future students. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not give a shout out to our tireless, thoughtful, energetic, creative and just all around fantastic staff. These people care so much about the success of others and provide top-notch student and instructor services on a daily basis. Please join me in acknowledging their wonderful contributions to the ELP community. All the best, Sherry Yuan Hunter Executive Director, English Language Program University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
Christopher Chipman Editor and Layout Design Sana Ali, Maxine Bower, Staff Contributors Megan Chen, Lily Choi, Andrea Cuellar-Aleman, Erik Dean, Kimberley Hindy, Lily Meshadiyeva, Evelyn Pederson, Linda Prue, Darren Rigo, Becky Smith, Rolla Tahir, Victoria Young, Cindy Zhou
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EID MUBAR On August 21st, 2012, students from the English Language Program joined together for the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr. With food, music, and good friends, we celebrated. A very special ‘thank you’ to student volunteers Mohanad and Noora for helping to organize the celebration, and offering an information presentation.
RAK
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Mustafa Sarier, ELP Ambassador By Christopher Chipman
ELP Program Administrator If you’ve spent much time at the English Language Program (ELP), chances are you’ve met Mustafa Sarier from Turkey. Around the ELP, Mustafa is known for his infectious smile, his positive attitude, and his substantial involvement in ELP student life. Mustafa has attended nearly every activity offered at the ELP. From playing on the ELP Eager Beaver’s Softball team, attending the Winter and Spring camping trips, playing in guitar club or riding rollercoasters at Canada’s Wonderland, Mustafa has done it all. By getting involved in social activities early on, Mustafa was able to improve his English faster, and better prepare himself for academic study. Mustafa is a shining example of the success possible through the ELP, and for that reason we’ve made him an offical ELP Ambassador. Although he’s now moving on from the ELP to the Civil Engineering department at the University of Toronto, he will continue to participate in ELP social activities. Look for Mustafa on future ELP activities!
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issue 79, September 2012
An Interview with Mustafa Sarier Q: How did you hear about the English Language Program? A: I was awarded a scholarship from my government to study abroad. When I won the scholarship, I researched different schools on the internet. What I found was that University of Toronto is widely known as the best and most reputable university in Canada. Joining the English Language Program meant I could improve my English and prepare for my academic studies in Engineering at the same time. It made a lot of sense. Q: How long have you been studying here and what courses have you studied? A: I have been studying here at ELP for 8 months. I studied two sessions of Academic English (Level 50 and Level 60), one session of Comprehensive English, and one session of Speaking English. Q: What have you done to ensure your success at the ELP? A: When I meet new students at ELP, I tell them to follow two simple rules to be successful: 1) Try to be social and go to as many activities as possible. 2) Always speak English. ELP’s activities and Volunteer Experience Program events help to ensure your success because they let you practice English all the time. The Cultural Assistants, teachers, and employees are so friendly and helpful at ELP. They offer many opportunities to help you learn outside of the classroom, so make sure to get involved as much as you can. New students shouldn’t forget that they are here to learn and speak English as much as possible. Q: What has been your favourite social activity? A: My favourite social activities has been the Winter Camping trip at Camp Wanakita, Spring Camping at Glen Bernard Camp, the Toronto Island BBQ’s, and ELP Music nights. These are my favourites because you can do so many games in this activities. Q: What do you like the most about ELP overall? A: Most of all, I like the courses, teachers, CAs, employees, international students and being friends with them, social activities, and VEP events at ELP… it’s hard to be specific, there’s a lot to like at ELP. Q: What plans do you have after finishing at ELP? A: I obtained three acceptances from Canadian Universities. My first acceptance was from Carleton University, and others were from University of Waterloo and University of Toronto. I accepted the University of Toronto Civil Engineering Department’s offer. Starting in September of 2012, I am going to study Master’s degree and Phd. at University of Toronto Department of Civil Engineering.
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The English Language Program is proud to welcome student groups from... Jeollabukdo Office of Education
Kobe Shinwa Women’s University
Sookmyung Women’s University
Wayo Women’s University
International Christian University
ICBC
City University of Hong Kong
Meisei University
Kwansei Gakuin University
APEX
Shenzhen Foreign Languages School
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Meiji University
YO U
SHIORI, KENGO
Kansai University
Chukyo University 8
Nagoya University of Foreign Studies
Osaka University of Economics and Law
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Shenzhen Foreign Languages School By Andrea Cuellar and Erik Dean
This summer, the U of T English Language Progam had the honour of working with an excellent group of teachers from Shenzhen, China who share the same passion for education as the teachers here at ELP. For roughly 3 weeks, a group of 27 teachers from Shenzhen Foreign Languages School (SFLS), led by their vice principal Li Wu, took a specialized program at ELP focused on English for teaching. The teachers acquired skills and tools that helped advance their methods of teaching, aiming to make lessons more effective and more engaging for their students.
Teachers, now students, showing off their fresh Tcards
Fun times on the beach at Toronto Island 12
Attending classes at ELP was not the only thing the group did during their stay in Toronto however. The group of teachers explored different parts of Canadian culture and also several of Toronto’s popular attractions. Some teachers explored neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, Little Italy, and Greektown, while some other teachers attended festivals like Jazzfest. Together with ELP the group of teachers went through a whole set of interesting events. Together they raced upward in a 22 kilometer per hour elevator and stood upon the glass floor at the CN tower, ventured through the haunted hallways and stairwells at Casa Loma while guided on a tour, attended an action-packed and exciting Toronto Blue Jays baseball game, rode the classic ferry to Toronto Island for a day on the beach and a barbeque, and even went on a canoe trip from Toronto Harbourfront to Centre Island.
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A conversation between teachers about education at UTSC
A Green Path student reunited with former teachers
Despite all these exciting events, many of the teachers thought that the highlight of their time in Toronto was their visit to U of T Scarborough campus (UTSC). This campus visit was special to the teachers because it is the home of the U of T Green Path Program at U of T. This program accepts the brightest and most promising students from SFLS for a 12-week intensive academic english course at the Scarborough campus, in order to prepare them for entry into a four-year bachleor’s degree program at UTSC. Teachers were able to take a first hand look at the program that their students have been consistently graduating from year after year. They explored the campus and were able to sit in and observe classes in session so that they could experience the environment and learning process of their students. Some teachers were even reunited with former SFLS students they had taught in their classrooms back home in Shenzhen! This visit showed how influential the work of the SFLS teachers really is; They are responsible for their students’ success by thoroughly preparing them for their academic life at the University of Toronto. It also showed a bond between U of T and SFLS which is strengthened through their passion for education. Working together, SFLS and U of T are able to put the best programs in place in order to provide the necessary skills and promote the academic growth and success of their students. After observing their students in class, meeting the Green Path teachers, and listening to their former students’ give their soon to come graduation speeches, there was no doubt in the teachers minds as to how important they are in what they do, and how much of an impact their work has on these thriving students. A final graduation ceremony brought the SFLS teachers’ stay to a close. ELP sadly said goodbye to a great group of friends from whom we also learned a great deal.
SFLS teachers depart proudly showing their new UofT clothing
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A Journey to Niagara Falls with Kobe Shinwa Women’s University By Victoria Young
ELP Cultural Assistant
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n August 18th I had the pleasure of accompanying students from Kobe Shinwa Women’s University on their journey to Niagara Falls. We began our trip at 9:45 AM sharp, eager to get to our destination before noon. Our first stop: a Niagara region winery! We visited the beautiful Konzelmann Estate Winery established in 1984 by a German family. Here we were given a warm welcome and an educational tour along with a delicious wine tasting. We learned that because Konzelmann is situated so close to Lake Ontario the climate allows for the production of a uniquely fruity wine. True to their word the wine we sampled smelled of ripened grapes and tasted like juice. After the wine tasting we continued our journey in high spirits to our second destination of the day: Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was in this incredibly scenic town that we stopped to stretch our feet and have lunch. Niagara On the Lake is situated in the Niagara region where the Niagara river meets Lake Ontario. It is a historic
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town which took part in the War of 1812 against the Americans. Although hard to imagine now, this town was actually burned to the ground during the war and is now a National Historic Site of Canada. One of the girls mentioned that ‘they could really feel the history in this town’, and I couldn’t agree more. With the horse-drawn carriages, old buildings and people reenacting war scenes, it is impossible not to feel the past. Fuelled up on food and drink we finally made our way to the main attraction, our purpose of this excursion, the long awaited: Niagara Falls! Camera at the ready, the girls wait patiently for their first glimpse at the Falls. As the bus goes around the bend the 50-meter tall waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States come into view. I hear ‘ooo’s’ and ‘ahh’s’ as everyone takes in the magnificent view, I notice that no one is paying attention to what our tour guide is saying. Therefore I would like to take a moment now to recap what our guide was trying to explain:
issue 79, September 2012
“As we stood on the upper deck, nearing the falls, our ears were filled with the thundering sound of the water...”
Number 1: Niagara Falls is approximately 50 meters tall Number 2: The Canadian Falls are also known as the Horseshoe Falls and it is the bigger of the two. Number 3: The Hydroelectric facility controls the amount of water that goes over the falls. Number 4: On October 24, 1901, a 63-year-old school teacher was the first person to go over the falls in a barrel and survive.
I’d just like to say to anyone who hasn’t visited Niagara Falls, the girls from Kobe Shinwa and I definitely recommend you to go at least once! We had a fantastic time, never a dull moment. It is a must see, an exciting experience and most definitely one of Canada’s Greatest.
Easily the most enjoyable part of the trip was the Maid of the Mist ferry ride. Here we hopped on a ferry that would take its passengers right to the very base of the falls. Before boarding we were handed plastic blue ponchos, unbeknownst to the students, these flimsy ponchos would come in quite handy. As we stood on the upper deck, nearing the falls, our ears were filled with the thundering sound of the water, the boat took us into the dense mist of spray inside the curve of the Horseshoe Falls. Here we were drenched from head to toe in the spray caused by the mist.
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Sookmyung Women’s University
Looking Back on a Wonderful Adventure What I gained from my time in Toronto and at the English Language Program.
By Hana Kim of Korea, Comprehensive English
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t has been almost six weeks since I came to Toronto and there are only three days left before I’m going back home to Korea. When I was in Toronto, I learned so many things from people and experienced things I was never able to try before in Korea. First, I could improve my English skills because I had a lot of chances to use English in school, in homestay and even on the street. For example, even the announcements on the subway and bus made me practice my listening skills. The English Language Program was so helpful for me to improve my writing, reading and speaking skills, because it provided me with lots of opportunities for discussion with my classmates during our class and sometimes writing paragraphs or reading a novel as homework. Second, I made plenty of unforgettable memories while visiting famous places in Ontario. For instance, by joining the tour of
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Niagara Falls, I saw the most wonderful place I’ve visited during my stay here. I couldn’t forget about going on the Maid of the Mist ferry and into the misty falls in particular. In addition, I went to the CN tower, located in the heart of downtown. Although I went there in the daytime, I was amazed by the spectacular view of the city. It was so beautiful. I wish I had another chance to go there at night. I also visited Casa Loma, which is a grand castle owned by wealthy Canadian financier Sir Henry Pellatt. The ghost story I heard from the guide was most interesting to me. Third, I was able to learn not only about Canada’s culture but also about other countries’ cultures. In my homestay, I often tried to have typical Canadian-style meals to adjust to Canadian life and sometimes I would talk with my homestay mom about life in Canada.
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“I greatly enjoyed these six weeks in this amazing city, and I will not forget about my time here after going back home to Korea.”
Being friends with my classmates, I could experience food from other cultures such as Chinese food, Italian food and Thai food. Trying different foreign foods sometimes felt strange and tasteless because it was my first time trying them, but I think it’s very meaningful for me that I tried them at least once so that I can now tell somebody, “I’ve tried Chinese food!”, for instance. Furthermore, I was able to learn two or three foreign languages from my friends. If I wanted language education in Korea, I would have to pay money for it. But it’s free to learn foreign languages and practice speaking while staying in Canada with friends from different backgrounds. Not only did I have beneficial opportunities to enhance my English skills, I was able to enhance my Chinese and Japanese skills as well. Lastly, I was able to realize what friendship really is. Throughout my six weeks at ELP, I
met so many wonderful people. To me, they were like teachers because, from chatting with my friends, I learned so many things such as English expressions or about their own cultures and languages, and how to understand other friends. We shared the same memories and various opinions, and when we were in confusing situations, we helped each other out. Now, the friends who I met in this program are so important and close to me, and I can’t believe how we could become best friends with each other during such a short time. Through my experiences at the English Language Program and in Toronto, I gained valuable lessons for my life. I greatly enjoyed these six weeks in this amazing city, and I will not forget about my time here after going back home to Korea.
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Kwansei Gakuin students review
Kansai Gakuin Students Review Broadway Production the National Theatre of Greatthe Britain’s production of...
WarHorse Good. I liked the last scene. I thought Joey would be dead but he managed to survive! Takumi Ishimo Visitin
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Joey! The E english was really fast and difficult but it had a happy end! I liked when Joey and Billy meet again at the end! Chihiro Ikeda
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Its good! The story is sad but it has a happy end. I sometimes cried because of the shooting sounds! It was a surprise! Arisa Narita
I liked the last scene when he was blind and called his horse. It was very moving! Also the horses look like real horses! Haruka Morishita
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Step Up to Ace Standard By Wai Sum Liu (Coco) of Hong Kong, Comprehensive English
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eing an ELP student at the University of Toronto, I learned numerous things. Although I could only study in Toronto for 6 weeks, I liked the interesting, dynamic, and interactive learning environment here. Inside classrooms, a wide range of creative activities helps us to learn English in various aspects. When I went to school, I could not help myself thinking what kinds of unexpected surprises I would receive. I had never thought that what kind of activity the teacher would require us to do after watching videos, discussions and so on. What I impressed most was the poster presentation, which is uncommon in Hong Kong. I believe that it is better than only one group is using a projector to present in front of the whole class. Presenters in the trade show presentation can have more opportunities to present. They can do better and better after several times of presentations. Also, this enhances the interaction between audiences as the distance between audiences is closer. Also, for listeners, we can find out some interested topics to listen instead of listening to all topics in the class.
Taiwanese, and Korean, I had incredible fun in playing beach volleyballs, softballs, going to Toronto Islands and so on. Also, doing volunteering activities gave me many hands-on experiences in using English. For instances, I was a seller of souvenirs in the Jazz Festival. A guy came suddenly and asked us to sell him something but another seasoned volunteer went to the washrooms. Afterwards, my partner from Hong Kong and I needed to deal with him. Suddenly, two women came and complained about their caps bought a day before. All of a sudden, many unexpected things happened. Luckily, our speaking English could handle the situation. Great!
Outside classrooms, those workshops, coffee chats, ELP activities and volunteering activities boost my learning experience. By learning useful idioms and phrasal verbs, I know more about what usages that Canadians use to chat in daily life. In coffee chat, I like Tim Hortons’ delicious doughnuts. Of course, what I enjoy is not only the snacks themselves but the devotion of the Cultural Assistants on creating a comfortable, good-humored, English chatting environment to us. In ELP activities, I met with vastly different types of students. They come from various countries and are having varied personalities. I have greatly equipped with inter-cultural communication. Chatting with Japanese, French, Finnish, Italian,
Lastly, thanks you for all kind and approachable teachers, staff and Cultural Assistants I met here. Maria, Nick, Laurie, Bibian, Ennis, Megan, Sana, Cindy, Maxine, Vicky, Erik….Without you all, I couldn’t have much fun and happiness in the past six weeks. I would not forget all the delightful memories here. I hold them all in my heart. Although I graduated already and would go to work very soon, hopefully, I could really step up to a higher level and standard after joining comprehensive English. Hey Guys, I miss Toronto. I miss people I met here. I miss my cell groups in Christian’s church here. If I could have more chances, I would further improve English at ELP again. I like it very much!! I would love to go back to Toronto.
Apart from learning English in school, I could learn in my host family too. They served me like their daughter. They always chatted with me and played Scrabble with me. Their relatives living nearby also came frequently and hold family gathering. I then have chances to enjoy more delicious food. They even gave me a big present to me. How surprise!!!
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Reflections on Toronto and the English Language Program Vi s i t
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I experienced a lot in Toronto. Especially in the volunteer work, I have learned more socio-cultures in Toronto. For example, I worked with Cindy to distribute flyers in Salsa Festival. While distributing flyers, luckily, I had chances to chat with her. It was fun and I learned a lot.
Wai Sum Liu (Coco)
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This is my first time to Toronto. I am glad to study in University of Toronto and everyone here is so nice. U of T arranged lots of activities to us, for example we went to the Niagara Falls and had a chance to take a cruise to get closer to the Canada Fall. I really want to say thank you to all people in U of T because you really help me a lot. It is my pleasure to meet all of you and I really enjoy the days in Toronto!
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Ka Chun Lee (Ivan)
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I enjoy doing volunteer work, it is really meaning to my life. I have done several volunteer works, such as serving dinner in a church, promoting events and selling souvenirs to visitors.
I got precious experience from volunteer works, for example, the Dragon Boat Tournament, I saw one of the athletes is a blind person. He works hard to be a dragon boat athlete. I respect his sportsmanship and determination to overcome his physical disability. It shows that nothing is impossible if you work hard to achieve your goals.
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Pui Shan Tam (Kris)
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The best things happen to me in Toronto are my new friends. They are from different countries such as Canada, Japan, Vietnam, Finland and Spain. In fact, I do not care where they are from but who they are. Our friendships prove that there may be cultural differences or barriers, but if you respect and appreciate others, that is enough. Friendship comes from respect and appreciation.
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Chui Ting Chan (Miko)
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I enjoy my study in Toronto. Students in ELP classes are from all over the world and I can make friends with them to practise English and exchange our own cultures. The focus class I interested in is test preparation can provide practises and skills on IELTS test. Workshops and coffee chats provide more opportunity for me to chat with others and make learning English has more fun. I participated in some social activities and volunteer works. The culture assistants are friendly and encouraging. During these events, I could explore more about this city. Toronto is a lovely city with multi-culture.
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Wai Ying Mark (Viann)
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They are my host family in Toronto, Marguarite and Phillip. They treat me very well. It is very lucky to live in their house. I ate a lot of delicious food and experienced Canadian culture. They chatted with me during the dinner time. We just like friends. I love them very much. Thank you them for giving me a very happy time in Toronto.
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Po Lin Chan (Connie)
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Pride is one of Toronto’s largest cultural festivities. The parade is large and colorful. There are crowd of people in the two sides of road. Performers sometimes throw out gifts and shoot people with a water gun toy. Because of the water, my shirt and face get wet, but it is fun to protect my camera from the water! I like to hear the music from the car and enjoy the show very much although some performers use this event to promote their products. The event shows that Canada is freedom in same-sex marriage. People can have rights to choose their life style here.
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world of words A Q&A WITH....
ATSUMI, SHIORI AND KENGO FROM
CHUKYO UNIVERSITY CHUKYO U
FEATURING: ATSUMI, SHIORI, KENGO
Insider Info 1) What is your favourite memory from your trip to Toronto/Canada? A: The welcome party is one of the best memory, but is this a trip? I don’t know. S: It is that I went to Yorkdale mall with Chinese girl who lives in same house. K: On the street I saw a naked man. It is strange for me. If a naked man walks on street in Japan, maybe police will come and arrest him. Was he completely naked? K: No he was wearing pants.
Loving UofT
2) What is the most surprising thing for you about Toronto or Canada?
S: Canadian don't wash clothing every day!
A: I felt a lot of cultural differences. Especially, in Japan, when you want to get off a bus, you must not stand the step until the bus driver opens the door. But, in Canada, it’s completely opposite. If you want to get off, you must stand the step. Is this right? Or, there are many different race of people in Canada.
K: All canadians so crazy. Last summer I went to Victoria, I met Canadians who were crazy. Also there are a lot of races in Toronto. Chinese, white, black. Not in Japan.
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3) Is there a certain type of food you tried for the Þrst time in Canada? Did you like it? A: I’m sorry. I can’t remember exactly. Probably, I ate chickens. It’s good. S: I ate BBQ dinner. It's very delicious!
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The Trio From Chukyo
AROUND CAMPUS So Tired...
by Sana Ali Cultural Assistant •••
K: Canadians don’t eat enough vegetables. Japanese eat more vegetables. Canadians eat mainly meat and potatoes. How has your opinion of Canadians/Canada changed after your visit? A: Before coming in Canada, I heard people in Toronto is not so kind because Toronto is one of the biggest city and urban area. But now, I know almost of the people is kind. Sometimes, not. S: All people are so kind than I thought. K: Canadians are friendly when you meet rst time. Japanese are more reserved. They are always busy. They have something to do. Canadians in my neighbourhood sometimes sit on the chair in front of house and are relaxed. They can afford to be friendly.
Eating Junk Food ;) What is your favourite idiom or saying in English? A: I like “take it easy.” S: Don't worry, be happy! K: It’s raining cats and dogs.
CHUKYO U: WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK?
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Exploring St. George Campus at the University of Toronto
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Cindy Zhou, ELP Cultural Assistant
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he campus tour is a signature event for all new students at the English Language Program. It is designed to familiarize new students with the University of Toronto St. George Campus. Cultural Assistants lead groups of students on a 90-minute tour, visiting places such as Robarts Library, the Athletics Centre, Koffler Student Centre, University College, and Hart House. For our visiting teachers from the Jeollabukdo Office of Education, the campus tour was a great opportunity to explore the historic buildings here at the University of Toronto. Our first stop was Robarts Library. The University of Toronto has the third largest library collection in North America, spread over more than 30 libraries around campus. Robarts, standing at 14 floors, is the biggest among them and a hub of student activity. New students must visit the Tcard office on the second floor of the library with their Tcard letter and passport to obtain their official student identification. After everyone received their Tcards, we gathered on the steps to take several group pictures! Robarts Library It’s a turkey; it’s a peacock; it’s Robarts! Over the years, there have been a number of avian descriptors used to characterize Robarts. If you stand by the southwest corner of the Harbord-St.George intersection and look up, it’s fairly easy to spot the head and the fanning tail behind it. The library has
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also earned the name “Fort Book” because of its imposing, concrete architecture. There are some interesting rumours surrounding the building. One of the most popular says that the library sinks a little each year because the engineers who built it forgot to take into account the weight of the books. An interesting true fact about the library is that it was originally reserved for graduate students only. However, after student protests in the 1960s, the library was opened to both undergraduate and graduate students. Koffler Student Services Centre Koffler is also home to the U of T Bookstore, your destination for all U of T related merchandise, including t-shirts, sweatpants, notebooks, mugs, and many more. This is the perfect place to buy U of T souvenirs and they frequently host secret sales where items are listed at massively discounted prices. You can sign up for the bookstore’s newsletter on their website so that you will be informed of when the secret sales are taking place. At this point in the tour, we usually stop for about 10-15 minutes so that students can explore the bookstore. A fun fact about the Koffler Centre is that it was the original home of the Toronto Reference Library before it moved to its new location in 1977. The Centre for International Experience The Centre for International Experience, is
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home to all international students at the University of Toronto. Here, students can find out about events happening all around Toronto, hang out in the lounge, or play a game of billiards. CIE also offers drop-in visa counselling sessions for students who need help. During the school year, a bike-share program also runs out of an office by the CIE. Here, students can present their Tcard and borrow a bike for a couple of hours. Convocation Hall Convocation Hall is the building with the green-domed roof. It is here that thousands of U of T students attend their graduation ceremony. It is also where the largest first-year classes take place because the auditorium is so big that it can fit more than 1500 people! University College The story of the University of Toronto starts with University College, the iconic landmark that has become synonymous with U of T itself. The building was originally known as King’s College before it was renamed to University College and incorporated into the University of Toronto in 1853. One of the most frequent compliments I hear about University College is that its interior resembles that of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. A famous ghost story of University College involves two stone carvers working on the construction of the College: Reznikoff and Diabolos.
Reznikoff was a big man with a temper while Diabolos was young and handsome. Predictably, both fell in love with the same woman. Reznikoff persuaded her to marry him while Diabolos convinced her to run off with him and take all of Reznikoff’s money. When the two men confronted each other, a struggle ensued whereby Diabolos was able to kill Reznikoff and hide his body in one of the towers. Reznikoff’s bones were found after a fire burned down large parts of the building and was given a proper burial. However it is said that his head was never found and that occasionally, unexplainable sounds are heard in the building. Incidentally, there is both a Reznikoff Café and a Diabolos Café at University College. The fire which led to the discovery of Reznikoff’s remains occurred in 1890 and burned down the eastern half of the building, along with the college library. It is said that only about 100 books were rescued out of the fire, but the building was quickly rebuilt. Today, one can see a slight difference between the left and right side of the building. Hart House Hart House is another student centre on the downtown campus. It is home to the Hart House Theatre, various athletic facilities, a pool, several conference rooms, study lounges, and a restaurant. It is a popular hangout for students and many opt to drop-in for fitness classes every so often. The Hart House also has a Great Hall, which hosts many formal events and is one of the most impressive meeting spaces on campus. 27
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Hit Rewind:
A Tribute to Japanese Musical Genius By Tazuna Sakamoto of Japan tin
g st u d e n t
Av
hen you enter a foreign land using a different language, we suffer from trying to learn that language. However, living in a foreign culture can give you a chance to be introduced to new cultures. In return, I would like to introduce you to Happy End as an example of an aspect of my culture that I am proud of...
fr om
W
si
i
Speaking English
And indeed, they successfully achieved such a fusion, combining lyrics in traditional Japanese language with rock music. If you listen carefully, you can really feel the poetic beauty contained in their lyrics, because they used words and phrases that were sometimes difficult and nuanced in their deeper meaning. Their writing was truly epic and reflected the atmosphere of Japan at the end of the 1960s. In the late 60s, many students in Japan lost their passion and optimism for the future as a student activist movement saw its end. Happy End’s lyrics expressed these students’ feelings of emptiness and loneliness, yet spoke to their determination.
Meiji University
In the outskirts of the city As I was walking down an alley Beyond the patchy fog I could see the streetcar, just waking, crossing over the sea. And I gather the wind under my wings Gather the wind under my wings And I want to run across the blue sky, across the blue sky.
Do you know these words? These are lyrics from a Japanese song called Kaze wo atsumete (Gather the Wind) by Happy End, a Japanese rock band that was prominent in the late 1960s to early 1970s. They played an important role in Japanese music. Although the period over which they created music was not long, their effect on the next generation is immeasurable.
Simply put, Happy End sought to make great, innovative music by harmonizing the musical genre of a foreign culture with meaningful, Japanese lyrics and achieved exactly that.
The band’s history began in 1969. Together, Haruomi Hosono (bass), Eichi Otaki (vocals and guitar), Takashi Matsumoto (drums) and Shigeru Suzuki (guitar) created truly great music as Happy End. Following their break up, each member has been playing an active part of Japanese music. Haruomi Hosono, in particular, is now a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra, a world-famous group known for their great techno music. One of Happy End’s finest achievements was their contribution to establishing rock music in Japan and in the Japanese language. During the time in which they were active, British rock was popular all over the world, including in Japan. In Japan, a lot of bands that were newly born disappeared. Almost all bands needed to write songs in English in order to become successful in the world. In contrast to this fact, however, Happy End aimed to harmonize rock music with the Japanese language.
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About the Author: Tazuna Sakamoto, seen above with his beloved album ‘Is This It’ by The Strokes, is a Speaking English student from Meiji University in Japan, and a devoted music lover.
Time to Give Thanks By Ko Chi Hang of Hong Kong, Comprehensive English
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hank God! I don’t know whether you know God in the Bible or not, but I need to thank The Lord because he is the one who loves us first and makes sacrifices on the cross in order to shoulder our sins. Thank my parents. They love me and highly support me to take this Comprehensive English Program in University of Toronto even if they have to get used to leaving me alone. They worry about many uncertainties and missed me so much. Thank my university, City University of Hong Kong, for giving me a chance to study here. In order to organise the program, it needed a lot of effort. For example, it organised the talks before coming, a mid-evaluation, subsidized more than half of the fees. What it wants is: students can learn as much as possible. Thank University of Toronto for providing me those good teachers, such as Laurie, Nick etc, and culture assistant- Megan. What I realized is they are willing to do extra work which is beyond their job responsibilities. For instance, to mark extra homework, to invite you to visit her apartment. That is extra work. Who do you want to thank? It is the time to rethink as we sometime forget the past sufferings easily. We should not be ungrateful and selfish. As a result of their effort, we are able to face the world on our own, but we take what they have done for granted. That’s totally wrong. Only if we remember those sacrifices from others, we can realize their love. Love is accompanied with sacrifices. It is the time to give thanks!
Also, once you realize how you are surrounded by love. It can be transmitted to your energy and perseverance. Studying abroad is quite difficult. You will face different challenges. You will be lonely, isolated, discouraged by the environment and be meet with many other challenges. At that time, you will abandon your targets. However, please don’t give up! Remember those people who sacrificed for you. For them and you, keep going! Besides, you should realize your identity as a student. It is very important because it tells you your responsibilities and helps you to prioritize. It likes a map. However, it is easy to forget this identity. Before we came Toronto, we had claimed that we are student and our target is to improve English. In contrast, after arriving here, we behaved like a tourist. I don’t mean we should spend all our time on studying or only stay with foreigners but remember our identity and why we came here. Remembering the people who sacrificed for you can energize you. Realizing your identity helps you to find out what you should do. These are what I grasp in this short study trip. Honestly, sometimes I can’t do what I said. I wanted to stay in my comfort zone, to be lazy! We are human and we always make mistakes! However, don’t give up! Try your best to achieve what you want! I hope all of you can step out of your comfort zones and accomplish your dreams!
Digital
Toronto Islands
by Mustafa & Emma Is the city too crowded for your taste? Do you need a change of scenery? Well, the Toronto Islands are definitely the place for you! You can practice almost any outdoor activity there is including various water sports. You need not worry about food options there, the food selection ranges from high end restaurants to fast food joints to barbecue and picnics! The Islands also have a rich history, most interestingly is the fact that they were not always Islands! They were peninsulas attached to the mainland which were separated after a storm in 1858. The journey to this wonderful destination is equally enjoyable - you can take the ferryboat from the Harbourfront or if you are feeling more adventurous, you can take a canoe!
Toronto’s Waterfront by Ivan & Mathieu
Sugar Beach is a former parking lot, located near Yonge Street one side overlooking the Financial
District and the other overlooking the beautiful Toronto Islands. It is quite an unusual beach, it is a leisure place, not meant for swimming. It is located next to a Sugar refinery, which accounts for the enticing smell of sugar coming from boats delivering to the refinery. The Harbourfront centre located in Sugar Beach is ais a near Sugar Beach non-for-profit cultural organization hosting more than 4000 multi-disciplines events, such as music, film, and visual arts.
Toronto Festivals - BrazilFest & Jazz Festival by Pamela & Ligia Like many cultural festivals in Toronto, BrazilFest aims to introduce people to the rich cultures of Brazil, through food, music, shopping and of course dancing. Usually taking place in July, in 9 years BrazilFest attracted more than 20,000 visitors from all over the world. Speaking of music, imagine listening to jazz on a nice hot summer’s day on the beach? That must be why people flock to the Beaches International Jazz Festival in Toronto every year!
photos credit: fickr creative commons
Toronto Reference Library by Ahmed The library is a cultural and educational centre with its new books, digital interfaces and innovative library services. It hosts special events and exhibits on various fields such as arts, health and technology. If you live in Toronto, you can get a library card in minutes, which gives you access to numerous services provided by the library. Did you know, the library also houses a large selection of films for viewing and borrowing? It is a great place to prepare for class, study, or just wind down to read.
Museums & Architecture: by Veronica & Eason The Royal Ontario Museum - or the ROM - was recently renovated in 2007 and rename the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal.
Opposite to the ROM is the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art founded in 1983. It is the oldest museum of its kind in Canada. Similarly, this museum was also recently renovated. Considering how close these two gems are to our school here at the University, make sure to visit these unique architectural pieces with their rich history and spectacular collections of art. Also located on the University campus is the Centre Biomolecular Research, Research, a sustainable, for Cellular and Bimolecular transparent that promotes collaborative research with its spacious interiors. Built in interior gardens provide an environmental friendly solution to better ventilation! Further south of the University campus, is the Art Gallery of Ontario, more commonly known as the AGO. The AGO was transformed and redesigned in November 2008 by world famous Canadian architect Frank Gehry. The most spectacular part of the renovated museum is the glass and wood facade, a transformation that was made possible by many generous donations from Canadian families.
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The Difference Between Canadian and Saudi Arabian Universities By Arwa Alawdah of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 40
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ducation is very important for all people in this world. It gives us knowledge of the world around us. Our education helps us to develop a perspective of looking at life. For these reasons, all countries build many schools, colleges and universities. In addition, they now compete for the development of education more than they used to in the past and that includes Canada and Saudi Arabia. This paper will discuss the differences between Canadian and Saudi Arabian universities. First of all, when I came to Canada, I observed the difference between my country, Saudi Arabia, and Canada in the universities. There are more universities in Canada than in Saudi Arabia. In Canada there are 66 universities whereas there are 23 in Saudi Arabia; therefore, the specialization will be more professional. Secondly, Canada has joined the studies and the work experience together. If you study in Canada, you will know that fact because all universities focus on learning a lot of valued skills such as team working, volunteering and working in the lab; however, this idea is rare in Saudi universities. Thirdly, the method of teaching in Saudi Arabia, which relies on replicating the professor’s perspective, is very different in Canadian universities because the goal of education in Canada is to develop the students in their creativity and to write research papers. Finally, at the universities in Canada, you can add optional courses, and there are special activities such as music and sports that don’t exist in Saudi Arabia. In conclusion, Saudi Arabia now has to try to develop the education system under the leadership of King Abdullah l think there will be a significant change in the coming years.
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issue 79, September 2012
My Graduation Day from University By Anwar Alanazi of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 40
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or most people their graduation day is one of the best days of their lives. My graduation was one of the biggest moments of my life. How could it be otherwise? This day is considered the end of studies and the start of a new life. I celebrated 4 times, twice in the university and college, and twice with my family and my friends. My feeling of happiness was indescribable. On June 22, 2011, at 12 p.m. I finished my last test in the university. My feelings were mixed that day between happy and sad, confused and enthusiastic. It was my graduation day and that meant no more studying, no more waking up early, and no more stress. The first celebration was for all colleges, and the main guest at that ceremony was Husa, the wife of the Saudi King, who gave a speech encouraging us and helped distribute gifts to the students. At the end of the concert there was a big banquet for us. The second ceremony was the most important celebration because the certificates were distributed. It was a special day, so all of us were wearing graduation dress, as we walked toward the podium to the tune of a song composed for us. Hearing my name being called to the podium to receive my diploma made me realize that I was walking towards a new beginning in life; a new chapter that filled my body with excitement. At that moment I realized how fast the time had passed by. My family was very proud of me. We finished the ceremony by cutting a large cake inscribed with our names. This
celebration was the last day for us at the university. When I left the university I cried and my tears were a mixture of sadness and joy. A celebration with friends increases the joy; that day we had booked a large ballroom and invited all of our friends. Also, we brought a singer to enliven this ceremony, which was the celebration for me and my best friend. In the beginning we were wearing dresses, but after dancing and cutting a cake that was in the form of a book with our names written on top, we changed our clothes to a t shirt with the graduation date written on it. After a group photo of all of us, we had a barbecue party. The last ceremony was just for me. My family arranged the ceremony as a gift to me and they invited their friends. I was happier in spite of the past celebrations, since this event was very special, because first it was a surprise, secondly my family planned it just for me, and finally it was because they were proud of me. Everyone was happy for me, and I got many gifts. The best of all is that I will never forget these ceremonies and parties. Now I’m trying to get a master’s degree. I hope I can get it, so I can celebrate as in the past and make new memories.
My Friend By Cheng Cheng Liang (Joanne) of China, Academic English Level 40
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think everyone has their own friends, but maybe only a few of them are close friends. The person who listens to your private feelings and thoughts we call a confidant. My confidant was my classmate Nina; in fact, we studied together in junior high school for 3 years. We were also roommates in those years; for example, we learned together, ate together and played together. I think she is a really nice girl. Nina is an active girl; also, she is pretty, considerate and cute. We talk about everything including our secrets. We love to talk about fashion, people, our feelings, and school. Once we went shopping together in a shopping mall in China. When we passed a café we heard a man say we looked like twins. This is not the first time that people thought we are twins; however, I felt happy because we are really close friends. Every morning in my high school days she called me up. In school we lived together for 3 years; as a result, we built a close relationship. Although we don’t live together now we still keep in touch and nobody could displace her position in my heart. In conclusion, she is my confident and friend.
Nina (left) and Joanne (right).
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world of words
Teaching English to an Arabic Woman By Afnan Radwan Al-Abed of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 40
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pproximately, 175 million people around the world speak Arabic. Many Arabs need to learn English because English has become the first language on earth so, it is very important to know how to deal with others. Learning English in Saudi Arabia is available for all ages in many places like schools, private schools and universities. Teaching English to Arabs shouldn’t be difficult but it needs some time. The students learn in standard stages. Regarding my experience, I began learning English when I was 7 years old. At the elementary stage, my English teacher taught me the alphabet, numbers and simple vocabulary. At the secondary stage, they gave me some grammatical rules, spelling and more vocabulary.
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At the university stage, in the first and second years, the professors taught me English skills like writing an essay, reading, listening and speaking. However, in the third and fourth years they taught me English Literature through drama, poetry and novels. I also studied linguistics, semantics, pragmatics and I learned how to make presentations. In the last year, we practiced teaching English in the schools. My professors evaluated me on how I taught English. Learning English was difficult in the beginning but I find English a very interesting language to learn, especially when I reach a high level. In conclusion, after I graduated, I didn’t stop loving English so my government gave me a chance for postgraduate studies in a foreign country. They chose the University of Toronto as a good place to learn English where I hope to reach an advanced level.
issue 79, September 2012
Globalization By Yusuf Akcay of Turkey,
Academic English Level 40
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lobalization means in some ways countries and people around the world are becoming more similar. We often eat the same food, wear the same clothes, and listen to the same music. Turkey is one of the countries which is affected by globalization. Some people believe that globalization will inevitably lead to the total loss of Turkish culture which is a culture with a history of hundreds of years. In the Ottoman Empire, we had traditional clothes in the schools. However, today, we wear similar clothes to European and Western people. In addition, the Ottoman cuisine has very delicious dishes. Despite that, when we look in the shopping centers, there are the same places to eat everywhere such as McDonald’s and Burger King. Moreover, after coming to Toronto, I saw the same food chains in Toronto. These are some of the effects of globalization. However, I would argue that this is a very narrow definition of culture; moreover, cultural differences are as present as ever. Cultural identity is built on far more than just the meal we eat or the jeans we wear. When we look at Turkish culture, there are many differences between other cultures. For example, Turkish weddings celebrations are very different from other cultures. In addition, there is an art of calligraphy which is called Hat SanatĹ in Turkish culture. There is not any culture in the world that uses this art. This art was recorded in 1429, and continues to today. To summarize, although we see effects of globalization in Turkey today, there are lots of traditional things that are rooted in Turkish culture.
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Consequences of the Internet on Childhood Sexuality By Horatio Agustin Ganzalez Orellana of Chile, Academic English Level 40
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hildhood is a stage of the life of innocence. It is a time of playing, learning and exploring the world. However, according to a documentary showed on CBC Website, this concept has been changing in our society. In the past, children were often assumed not to have sexuality until later development. Today, the appearance of new technology has made possible that toddlers can acquire all kind of information from the Web. As a consequence, children are misunderstanding the concept of sexuality. To begin, the appearance of technology has allowed that children can have access to inappropriate contents such as pornography. This type of information is changing the concept of sexuality on children, misunderstanding the idea to be an adult. It is because of that, toddlers are reaching the teenagers suddenly. They want to be an adult as soon as possible, leaving behind the time of innocence. As an example, children are starting to dress different, specially little girls, who dress with small skirts, sexy or suggestive dress and using make up at earlier age, changing the attitude to be a child. Also, children are using a new vocabulary,
usually bad words when they speak with others of the same age. Another consequence, it is that children are not understanding the difference between public and private. The Internet, smartphone and social media like Facebook, have made possible that children not only consume all type of information, but they also can produce it. According to a new research, young girls feel pressure to show porn performance through out the Media. Children are sharing personal information with everybody, sending pictures of their naked bodies. As a consequence, these photographs can be spread everywhere, and anybody can see them, making comments highly harmful, affecting their mental health and self esteem. In conclusion, childhood is changing quickly, and the new technology had made possible that children are misunderstanding the concept of sexuality; nevertheless, it is important to remember that the role of the parents and school in our society are very important, and they have on their hands the solution to this situation.
Saudi Marriage Customs By Asma Alghamdi of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 40
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or many years the tradition of marriage in Saudi Arabia hasn’t changed much. When the man decides to marry he asks his mother to start looking for a wife. When she finds the woman she thinks is good for her son and her son agrees,they get permission from her family to see her. After that the engagement period begins. This is an “arranged marriage” and that’s the most common. If everything went well and they liked each other they start preparing for the wedding. At the beginning of preparations the man must give his future wife an amount of money called “Mahr” to get all her needs for the wedding. During the wedding the ceremonies are very different from any other country. First, men must be separated from women so the women don’t have to wear their hejab. In addition, the male ceremony includes bringing a Saudi traditional band using only drums and tambours. Often the groom receives congratulations with cash gifts to help him to pay for a happy honeymoon. On the other hand, the woman’s ceremony is very exciting. The bride usually gets “Henna” on her hands which is believed was
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brought from heaven and it colors the skin with a dark red or black color so it is more like a temporary tattoo. At the reception there are traditional dishes that are served which include “Al-Kabsa”, which is rice cooked with meat in a pot. Moreover, everyone dances and has fun until the sun rises. In conclusion, Saudi marriage has special distinctive traditions.
issue 79, September 2012
Learning English By Khaled Al-Qanber of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 40
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earning English in another country is an enormously good experience for most people for many reasons. If you ask people who have studied abroad, they will most certainly tell you that it is a life-changing experience and one of the most rewarding things they have ever done. There are a lot of advantages to studying abroad. It can be a good way to learn very fast and to make many international friends. Learning abroad can be an extremely useful way to learn the language very fast. These days if people want to learn a language, they like to go to that country which speaks the language they want to learn. People who study abroad have a great chance to improve their listening and speaking skills specifically because they can practise what they study at school with native speakers. For example, I am living with an English family, and they always try to help me to speak English. They know that I like soccer so much, so they usually try to speak about sports to let me practice more. Furthermore, they have helped me with my listening skill because they sometimes watch movies with me to improve my listening ability. Therefore, it is a very
pleasant way to obtain English skills quickly if you live with native speakers. After knowing this reason, it is easy to understand why studying abroad would be a good thing to accelerate learning. Learning abroad can be a good way to make a lot of international friends as well. Studying abroad can be helpful to make friends from all over the world. You can make friends with people who do not speak your first language; it would motivate a person to learn a common language. For example, I have made a lot of international friends from China, Japan, Spain and Turkey. As a result, I like to go out with them all the time because they force me to speak only English. We sometimes go out for dinner, to the cinema, or to watch soccer, so we have a good time together. Therefore, this is why learning abroad can be a good opportunity to make international friends. In conclusion, studying abroad is a very unique experience for most people because they can learn very fast and make a lot of international friends.
The Effects of TV on Children By Fatimah AL Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 40
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he TV has advantages and disadvantages for children. TV gives children the chance to travel the globe, and they learn about different cultures. Today all kids are working and playing video games full time with media. TV and electronic media can get in the way of exploring, playing, and interacting with parents and others. Also, the TV encourages learning and healthy physical and social development. TV can help you know everything about the news. In addition, TV can give you advice for your life. Sometimes TV gives you a key for your problems. Also, parents can help their children by selecting individual programs. They can ask their children about what they are watching, and talk with their children about realistic consequences. However, if children are watching TV all the time that is a negative thing. That means maybe the children watch scary stories which can cause bad dreams, anxious feelings and childish fears. They miss school and they may have sleep problems. They do not go outside, and they do not spend much time with family. Moreover, kids who watch TV are more likely to smoke tobacco because they see famous people smoking on programs and movies. After that, the young children do the same with their friends. To sum up, spending large amounts of time watching TV is both beneficial and harmful for children.
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Tarout Island, Saudi Arabia By Ahmed Al Abdulmohsen of Saudi Arabia, Academic English Level 50
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arout Island, which is located on the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia, is the second largest island on the Arabian Gulf coast after Awal Island, which is called Bahrain. It is approximately 70 square kilometers and it can be accessed by two causeways which are extended from Qatif. It consists of several villages and residential neighborhoods. The villages are Sanabes, Rabieyah, Daryn, and Alzoor. Tarout is characterized in many ways, one of which is its history. Archaeologists said that it was established more than 5000 years ago and was settlement by Canaanites and Phoenicians who called the island “Ashtarut”, goddess of beauty and love. Furthermore, it is well known for its fort “Tarout Castle” that was built between 1515 and 1521 AD by Portuguese when they had captured the island to protect them from Turkish. As an archaeological site, it became a good attraction for history lovers. While archaeologists were looking around and investigating, many old artifacts and inscriptions, which back to the Stone Age, have been discovered in Tarout. Islanders were working in agriculture and fishing in the past, but they tended to work in industrial fields due to the economic renaissance of Saudi Arabia. Tarout and Qatif are considered as the
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biggest fish and shrimp suppliers not just for eastern province but also for all provinces. Tarout has three sport clubs which are Al-Huda, AlNoor and Al-Jazera Club. These clubs provide a variety of sports and social activities. Clubs are considered as good places that allow people, especially young people, enjoy their time and protect them from danger. Almkhateer Theater Group, which Al-Huda Club is its official resident, is one of the foundations that provide theater shows in Saudi Arabia. In collaboration with ASSITEJ Saudi Arabia, a center out of 82 centers of ASSITEJ International organization, they both work to organize theater shows and festivals for young people and children. Their goals are to activate the domestic tourism, to develop the theatrical awareness through seminars and theater shows, to discover young’s talents, and other goals that lead to develop people’s personalities positively. Tarout Island has an amazing mixture in different aspects, including ancient heritage and modern architecture, arts and social life. It really worth a visit!
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v.e.p The Volunteer Experience Program By Chris Chipman and Megan Chen, Volunteer Experience Program
The Volunteer Experience Program (VEP) is designed to allow students to gain valuable volunteer experience at charitable organizations in Toronto. • Gain valuable work experience. • Practice speaking English. • Join exciting events happening around Toronto for free. • Meet new people. Students are awarded a certificate and reference letter upon completion of 20 hours of volunteer work which they can use when applying to academic programs in universities, or when seeking jobs in Canada and elsewhere.
The Volunteer Experience Program is proud to work with the following organizations: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Evergreen Canada Chinatown Buisness Improvement Area The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Yonge Street Mission Harbourfront Toronto Goodlife Marathon Waterfront Blues Festival Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship Great White North Dragonboat Festival Cultura Festival Dusk Dances Beaches International Jazz Festival Canadian Stage Theatre Company Heart and Stroke Foundation World Short Film Festival
Joining the VEP is easy! Attend the weekly meetings every Wednesday at 5:15pm in Room 4-160. Sign up for upcoming events, check the number of hours you have volunteered, or request a reference letter or certificate.
Rouge Park Wilderness Trails Rouge Park is a place of outstanding natural features and diverse cultural hertiage in the urban setting of Toronto. On August 21st, students from the Volunteer Experience Program (VEP) took park in helping to remove invasive species at the park. After the work was over, students enjoyed a fun nature hike along the trails.
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Pink Ribbon Party In Canada, a pink ribbon stands as a symbol for Breast Cancer awareness. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation requires millions of these small pink ribbons every year for their fundraising and awareness campaigns. On August 21st, 2012, students from the VEP came together for a pink ribbon party to cut, fold and pin thousands of small ribbons.
u.a.p The University Application Program By Lili Meshadiyeva and Ennis Blentic, UAP Advisors
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he English Language Program provides assistance to students who are interested in applying to university, through the University Application Program (UAP). This program offers oneon-one counselling that provides assistance with the application process, and any relevant questions that students may have. The UAP also provides info sessions and recruiter visits that assist with the application process for several institutions.
What You Need to Know about Undergraduate Studies: Types of Post-Secondary Institutions:
Colleges offer two (or more) year diplomas and certificates that focus on practical and technical expertise while university degrees, which are four years in length, focus on the theoretical aspect of post-secondary education. Universities can also offer co-op programs, where students are placed in internships, where they acquire hands on experience.
Research:
It is important to compare schools in terms of programs, extra curricular activities, professional faculty, research opportunities, coop opportunities, housing, etc. This research can be done by going to the school’s websites. Also, the ELP invites different universities to present information about their school and programs. These presentations provide students with the opportunity to speak with recruiters from many universitites. Visit the school for more information.
Admissions:
Undergraduate programs require a high school diploma. Some programs may have specific requirements, such as certain science or math credits. Some universities may also have different requirements depending on which country you have studied in. International students will need to prove their English proficiency by taking a test and meeting a set score determined by admissions. For McMaster, Trent, and the University of Toronto, students with a grade of B or higher in Level 60 of Academic English meet the English requirement for admission. Humber College will accept students with a grade of B or higher in Level 50 of Academic English. If you are applying to other universities, there is also a chance they accept our Academic English course to meet the requirement.
OUAC (Ontario Universities’ Application Centre)
All students applying to a university in Ontario must complete an application form through the OUAC (www. ouac.on.ca), the Ontario Universities Application Centre. On the OUAC website, students create a profile and submit their application online. One application is used to apply to multiple univeristies and there are limits on how many programs you can apply to. After submitting payment, the OUAC will submit the application directly to the universities. Any supplementary documents that are part of the application will cost extra. After submitting your online application, you will receive a notification of your document deadline. You must submit all other supporting documents before the stated deadline. There is a difference between an application deadline, which is through the OUAC, and a document deadline, which is specific to the university and program of choice.
What You Need to Know about Graduate Studies: Identify your Gradute Degree
There are research-based degrees, such as the MA, or PhD, and professional degrees, such as the MD, JD, or MBA.
Research
Find information about which schools offer your program of interest. Compare the programs in terms of faculty, research interests, funding, course content, specializations, etc. Connect with the department, talk to advisors and current students and potential supervisors. If you are doing a thesis program, remember to contact potential supervisors.
Application Package
Know the admission requirements. Make sure you have the required prerequisite courses, grade point average (GPA) and work experience that the program requires. If you are unsure about international equivalency, please check with the university that you are applying to. Transcripts will need to be submitted in a stamped and sealed envelope from your previous educational institution. If your transcript is not in English, you must get an official translation from an authorized translator. Some universities require your previous university to send the transcript directly to them. As an international student, you will need to take an English Language Proficiency test. For applicants to the University of Toronto, a grade of B or higher in Level 60 in Academic English meets the English facility requirements. For any other universities, check with the university directly to see if they will accept your Level 60 score.
You may also need to take a standard admission test such as the GMAT, LSAT and MCAT, in order to apply, as certain programs require test scores before considering the application. Remember to submit your references, in a sealed and stamped envelope, or electronically, with a valid institutional email address. A statement of intent should be included indicating why you are a suitable candidate for the program. In addition, you will need to include an academic resume highlighting your work, volunteer and research experiences, as well as publications. Note: Remember, always apply to more than one institution. Keep your options open in case you are not admitted to the university of your choice. You may choose to apply to other colleges, or universities. Good luck!
GRAMMAR CORNER Parallel Structure by Evelyn Pedersen, ELP instructor Are you interested in improving your writing? Here’s a simple way to bring your writing more in line with the North American writing style. First, hold out your hands, and have a good look at them. Notice how similar they are. Your left hand is the same size as your right hand, your left thumb has a similar shape to your right thumb, and the fingers on your left hand are the same length as those on your right hand. In nature, this is called symmetry. Your hands – and your arms and your legs and your feet! – are symmetrical. Left and right look basically the same; they are mirror images of each other. We can also say that they are parallel. Now have a close look at the following pairs of sentences: 1. a) Lydia is smart, friendly, and she makes everyone laugh. b) Lydia is smart, friendly, and funny. 2. a) His favourite winter sports are skiing, snowboarding, and to play hockey. b) His favourite winter sports are skiing, snowboarding, and (playing) hockey. 3. a) Jin has succeeded because of his honesty and he works hard. b) Jin has succeeded because of his honesty and (his) hard work. c) Jin has succeeded because he is honest and (he) works hard. 4. a) Toronto has long winters, humid summers, and spring is too short. b) Toronto has long winters, short springs, and humid summers. 5. a) Athletes from China and the United States claimed many gold medals in the London 2012 Olympics, and so did ones from the UK. b) Athletes from China, the United States, and the UK claimed many gold medals in the London 2012 Olympics. Notice how, in each of the pairs, sentence (b) is much clearer than sentence (a). The second sentence is much easier to understand, and somehow it just feels “cleaner.” Why is that? What exactly is going on? Let’s have a closer look at each pair. In sentence 1(a), you have a pair of adjectives – smart, friendly – followed by a short independent clause – she makes everyone laugh. In sentence 1(b), the clause has been replaced by the adjective funny. And what does that give us? A list of adjectives: smart, friendly, funny. Something similar is happening in the second pair. Here, we have a pair of gerunds – skiing, snowboarding – followed by an infinitive phrase – to play hockey. Better here just to write three gerunds – skiing, snowboarding, playing hockey. Better still, we can omit playing, as the noun hockey is quite happy to follow two gerunds. (Gerunds are, in fact, a kind of noun.) What have we now? A list of sports nouns: skiing, snowboarding, hockey.
flickr credit zigazou76
GRAMMAR CORNER And what of sentence 3(a)? Here we learn two reasons for Jin’s success. The first reason is presented using the two‐word preposition because of, while the second is presented as a clause. To clean up this mess, we have two options. We can either convert the clause he works hard into a noun phrase, (his) hard work, or we can convert the noun phrase his honesty into a complete clause – he is honest. In the first case, we use because of to present the two noun phrases – because of his honesty and (his) hard work; in the second, we present the two clauses with the subordinator because – because he is honest and (he) works hard. So much clearer! Would you not agree with me that sentence 4(a) is a bit of a disaster? ?? Yes, it is! Here we have a similar problem to the issue in sentence 3(a) – a mix of noun phrases (long winters, humid summers) followed by an independent clause – spring is too short. So how can we clean this up? It’s easy: just take the idea that spring is too short, and convert it into a noun phrase – short springs. Oh, one more thing: this sentence is all out of order chronologically (= the way things happen through time), so let’s put our winter first, followed by spring, and finally, by summer. Now we have a clean list of parallel noun phrases: long winters, short springs, humid summers. Sweet! The primary problem with sentence 5(a) also comes at the end: the addition of and so did ones from the UK appears almost as an afterthought! Oh yeah, I nearly forgot to tell you . . . . . . So let’s just move this tag‐along to the front end of the sentence, and relocate those athletes (ones) from the UK next to the fierce competition from China and the United States. What have we now? Athletes from three different countries – China, the United States, and the UK – all doing the same thing (it’s a plural subject, followed by one main action) – they are claiming many gold medals. Lovely! So, what is the lesson in all of this? Many sentences present a series of facts or ideas about one person, object, or situation. A series may have two, three, even four or more parts, but in the North American style of writing, it is important that all parts of a series follow a repeated pattern – just like your hands, left and right! That is, they must have the same basic grammatical structure. There are many possibilities: a sentence may have a series of nouns, noun phrases, noun clauses, adjectives, verbs, verb phrases, infinitives, gerunds, possessives, comparatives, etc. Whenever each part of a series follows the same grammatical pattern – whatever that might be – we say that the sentence has parallel structure, and North American readers like it! How important is parallel structure to the North American style of writing and organizing ideas? It’s this important: if the sentence you are writing presents an obvious opportunity to use parallel structure (as in the sentences above) and you ignore that opportunity, it is considered a grammatical error. So get comfortable using parallel structure. Use it regularly to make your writing clear and clean – ready for a gold medal!
flickr credit kcxd
SUMMER IN
N THE CITY
world of words
A Poem:
Summer BBQs on Toronto Island By
Maxine Bower, ELP Cultural Assistant There is one part about the beach that I could do without. The toil and strife and sweat and tears – Of the heavy cooler workout! Hi ho hi ho pull that heavy cooler! Up the stairs and down again, We pull that heavy cooler. Sizzles and smells come from the grill As we rush to the food, drinks will spill We eat until all are satisfied The perfect meal for big appetites. Hi ho hi ho we pull that heavy cooler But only if it means we get to eat sooner. The boys forgot swim-trunks and their pants are hung to dry While sitting on the sand watching sailboats go by. Playing soccer, throwing Frisbees This is the place to be, Hi ho hi ho, we pull that heavy cooler, But only if it means we’ll get to the beach sooner. Nevermind the part that I said we could do without The aforementioned sweat and tears of the heavy cooler workout Because the sky is blue and the sun is sunny, And Darren sings songs that are really quite lovely, Photos of Erik resemble the god Apollo, Andrea claims the beach lookin’ like a model. Sana BBQs burgers in a fatherly style, And Vickie can light fires in a very short while. Cindy gets the best snacks because she really does care. Lily’s in her element with long, black, mermaid hair. Megan is a mastermind. With her all plans run smoothly, Maxine will entertain and make you get groovy. However, there is one thing of which you should be warned …
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There are some who will keep us all surprised, Planning a wet and cold demise, You will not leave as dry as you came They’ll pull you into a water wars game!
issue 79, September 2012
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world of words
Eager Beavers Eager Beavers is the best team of softball!! Everyone can enjoy softball. I’m proud of myself for being a member of Eager Beavers. Being MVP on the last match this year is the best memory for me. I’ll never forget this team. Thank you so much Eager Beavers!! I love Eager Beavers!! Rie Nagaro
“Hi everyone, I am a former student of ELP, and I had great time there this summer. There were lots of fantastic events happening, and softball games is absolutely one of the parts that I liked most. There are many things that I like about it. First, everyone can be a part of the game and contribute to the game in their own specific ways. Students can not only participate the game in the field, but also off the field. Cheering up for the team is also one of the best way to be a part of it. They really bring the energy to the game. Secondly, everybody played the games with no excuse and learned from failure. I am so happy everyone challenged themselves by putting themselves into the game. I did not see anyone who played with reluctance and hesitation. Every move, every throw or every catch is made by hard time in practise and 100% concentration in the game. I have to admit that we lost many games, but we learned from them. That’s why we won the last game of this season. By the way, I was so happy about that. Last but not least, everyone had fun in the games. I can feel the happiness when we were playing the games. Score is a part of the game, but everyone having fun is even more important. Overall, I love softball so much, and I met a lot of great friends. You guys are amazing!” Zihua Yang “I really like softball and Eager Beavers because it is a group game, and everyone has their own position. This game lets me know how important cooperation is. I began to play softball this year. From the first game to last game, I obtain the trust and support from my friends, and I have improved a lot... especially the last game, I got 3 points, and we won the game. That is so impressive.” Leo Hai
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“My favourite part of softball is batting. My favourite position is 2nd base. Our t-shirts have the logo of the ELP Eager Beavers. It reminds me of team spirit and my first softball team. Before our wonderful team, I had no idea related to softball. I am really excited to play in our team again. My favourite memories from Eager Beavers are the two games which we won, especially our last game. Everybody was so happy, and I was telling to everybody that we won the last match of this season. Also my favourite moment is yelling together with all the teammates: ‘OOOOooooo Eagerrr Beaverss!!!’” Mustafa Sarier
issue 79, September 2012
I play second base but my favorite player is Ichiro Suzuki. I like fielding especially because I can’t really hit. My favorite memory about Eager B beavers is the the team huddle at the end of the game. It is really noisy and exciting! Kengo Kustuna
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Contribute to World of Words Magazine! 1) Email your submission to wow.elp@utoronto.ca 2) Attach your text submission to the email in a word document. Attach any photographs or artwork separately. 3) Include your full name, home country, and the course you’re enrolled in.
issue 79, September 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