English Language Program News Letter

ELP News June 2013

EAP students leaving green thumb prints in community garden

6 of our EAP students participated in volunteer work at the Blue Gecko Garden, a community garden for the Inglewood community. This is the second season EAP students, along with members of the local community, participated in this “volunteer day” to build new perennial beds, construct compost bins, plant flowers and herbs…and more! The main part of the garden is a series of raised beds that are assigned to families in the community to grow vegetables.

The gardeners of the Blue Gecko Garden wishes to thank the EAP students—Sun Jiahu, Zhan Xinda, Yang Di, Zhang Jialu, Zhuoma Lachu, and Wang Zhenning—for their help on what turned out to be a beautiful day. Great job everyone! If you’d like to see the garden, here’s where to go: 12525-116 Avenue NW.

ELP News June 2013

In Canada, camping is a hugely popular activity as the warmer months roll around. Many Edmontonians will happily load up their cars with tents, tarps and marshmallows, and head down to Elk Island, or even Banff and Jasper, where they would spend a few nights sleeping under the tapestry of the night sky. Recently, two of our instructors, who also happen to be avid campers, took part in a rather unique camping experience, not in Canada, but at a place where the distinction between the natural environment and historical monuments would fade away—atop the Great Wall of China.

The two ELP instructors, Torie and Priscila, camped on a section of the Great Wall near Huailai, Zhangjiakou in the Hebei province, northwest of Beijing. Rather than being immersed in the typical woodsy surroundings of a Canadian camping trip, these two adventurous ladies stayed overnight atop the Great Wall that, from their vantage point, would traverse over the undulating landscape, and eventually disappear over the horizon.

Recalling this once‐in‐a‐ lifetime experience, Priscila observed that “it was a little more rustic than camping in Jasper… It was a lovely hiking/camping trip: dry and not too hot with an amazing, unforgettable view.”

Torie and Priscila are currently teaching at China Foreign Affair University, one of our partner institutions in Beijing, China. They will soon wrap up their time teaching in China, and return to the University of Alberta at the end of the month.

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FUN IN THE PARK

"Let's go to the park and have some fun!" That’s what our students said… And that’s what they did at “Fun in the Park,” on Monday, June 17. The ELP office organized this outdoor event for all students to have a great time together while enjoying a beautiful summer day in William Hawrelak Park, away from their classrooms and books and computers.

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The circle of friends

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Team “GLASSES”

What are the two missing letters?

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Is the view better up there?

A Big Clean Up