Worthy Or Not

Lately, I have been thinking about changing my job. I have been working at the school I am working for for 2 years. I don't know if I am doing more enough, but I know there are always a lot of things to do, a lot of activities to plan and open-house to present. The feedback from the parents is good. The English classes didn't go well before I came there. However, my salary is not higher because of that.
2 months ago, I asked my boss for a raise, and he told me he would think about it. Few weeks later, he said, "Julie, I really do care about what you think. But, there is nothing I can do about it now." Then he told me that he knew that I really work very hard for the school. Actually, I knew what he would have said before he talked to me.
What I care is not about the money, but the feeling of appreciation. I told him that all of the teachers here work their asses out for "your" school, but you don't even really show how much you appreciate them. No Teacher's Day gifts, not much year-end bonus, (We English teachers have none.) Is this really the place I wanna keep working at?? I am still thinking about it.

Grammar - GEPT Class

Dear All,
There are all the structures that we talked last Tuesday. I make examples with one verb, "work". Hope it will make you understand more.

1. Simple Present Tense - Talking about things you do regularly; or things you used to do it from time to time or something will never change.

I work everyday. / He works everyday.

2. Present Continuous - Talking about something is in progressing or something you can see that is happening.

I am working now. / He is working at the moment.

3. Simple Past - Talking about something happen in a specific past time.

I worked yesterday. / He worked yesterday.

4. Past Continuous - Talking about something is progressing in the past, however, you can't see something "WAS HAPPENING", therefore, there are two ways that you can make it. 1 is to use a specific time to talk about it. 2 is to use another issue which can emphasize what was happening.

I was working at 7 pm yesterday evening.

He was working when the power went off.

5. Future Tense - Talking about something happen in the future. There are two helping verbs that you can use to talk about "future". One is "WILL", the other one is "Be Going To". Generally, we use these two to talk about "future", but actually, there are some small differences. We use "WILL" to talk about something you "are willing to do". And we use "Be Going To" to talk about something that you plan to do it. No matter when you are going to do it, as long as it is in your plan, we use "Be Going To".

I will work for you. / He will work for you.

I am going to work tomorrow.
He is going to work tomorrow.

6. Present Perfect - Present Perfect is present tense, it is talking about the condition of the issue from a time in the past until now. The time that happened is NOT IMPORTANT but which the condition until now matters.

I have seen "Transformers" many times.
He has seen "Transformers" for 5 times.

I saw it last Sunday.
He saw it last Sunday.

7. Present Perfect Continuous - The same with Present Perfect but it emphasize more on "PROGRESSING" part.

I have worked as a teacher for 10 years.
( Means that I have the experience being a teacher for 10 years, doesn't mean that I AM STILL A TEACHER.)

I have been working as a teacher for 10 years.
( Means that I AM STILL A TEACHER.)

Community College - Monday Class - How to Improve Your Study Skills and English Ability

The class on April 17th, we talked about how to improve our study skills and then our English abilities. There are somethings we can do in our daily lives to have our English ability improved. These are the things that we think in our class. I believe if we spend some time to recite and preview, we can have English as the part of our daily lives.

How Do You Improve Your Study Skills and English

Group 1
How to improve your English	How to improve your study skill?
Live in an English environment Go to English class Watch foreign films Listen ICRT 30 minutes everyday Watch CNN, or marry to a foreign Join English chat room Learn English one by one Take GEPT or TOFEL exams Speak in English all the time	Practice and practice Enjoy your practice Need a good coach / teacher Write a composition (love letter) in English everyday Read more books Find out your interests Travel learning Sing English songs Learn in business
Group 2
How to improve your English	How to improve your study skill
Listen English songs Watch English movies Read English stories or novels Make foreign friends Take English class in community college Work in a foreign company Have a foreign boss / staff	Study more Listen more Practice more Read English book with your mouth Find a good English teacher
Group 3
How to improve your English	How to improve your study skill
Spend half an hour each day to study English Visit some good websites like http://www.eslpod.com/ Think everything in English in our lives Try to make foreign friends Install English version for your operation system and application in your pc	Listen to English CDs or radio programs Speak and recite vocabularies and phrases Read English books Write diary in English Sing English songs Watch movies without Chinese subtitle Keep your passion Make study interesting Make sentences

Those are the ways the collected by all of the classmates. I hope that you can find the way you like and study.

Community College - GEPT - Possible Questions & Answers

Speaking Exam - Possible Questions


1. What did you do last night?

A1) I went shopping with my family last night. We went to SOGO and bought a lot of things.

A2) I went out for dinner with my friends last night. I had a great time there.

2. How many sit-ups can you do?
A1) I can't do any of them.

A2) I can only do 5, I guess.


3. Do you work out everyday?

A1) Yes, I do. I do sit-ups.

A2) No, I don't. I don't like to work out.

4. Do you keep a diary? Why or why not?

A1) Yes, I do. I think it's good for me to record what I do everyday.

A2) No, I don't. I am too lazy.

5. Do you like to read poems or novels?

A1) Yes, I do. I like to read some love stories.

A2) No, I don't. I like to read magazines more.

6. Have you ever visited America?

A1) Yes, I have. I went to LA few years ago. I liked it there.

A2) No, I haven't. I have never been there.

7. Have you ever studied abroad?
A1) Yes, I have. I went to the college in the states.

A2) No, I haven't, but I want to go someday.


8. What is your favorite food?

My favorite food is noodles. I like to eat any kind of noodles.

9. Do you have any special talents?

Well, my friends say that I sing pretty well.

10. What kind of movies do you like to see?

I like to see action movies. (romance, comedy, detective, thriller .. )

11. Do you like tuna sandwiches?

A1) Yes, I do. I eat sandwiches for breakfast every day.

A2) No, I don't. I don't like to eat sandwiches at all.

12. If you want to buy milk in a supermarket, which section should you go to?

I think I should go to dairy section.

13. Can you play the guitar?

A1) Yes, I can. I can play the guitar very well.

A2) No, I can't. I don't know how to play the guitar.

14. Where do you like to go shopping?

I like to go shopping in the department stores because I can see a lot of different things.

15. Have you ever tried bungee-jumping?
A1) Yes, I have. I've tried once. It was exciting.

A2) No, I haven't. I am afraid of height.


16. Do you like to sing karaoke?
A1) Yes, I do. I go singing in KTV once a week.

A2) No, I don't. I don't sing too well.


17. When someone compliments you, what should you say?

Well, I think I should say "Thank You."

18. Do you jog?
A1) Yes, I go jogging 3 days a week. It helps me relax.

A2) No, I don't. I don't like going jogging.


19. What are you wearing today?

I am wearing a t-shirt with jeans and sneakers.

20. Have you ever tried street food?

A1) Yes, I have. I like street food.

A2) No, I haven't. I think it's dirty.

21. What is your favorite show on TV?
My favorite TV show is CSI. I like the serial film very much.

22. Can you play chess?
A1) Yes, I can. I can play chess.
A2) No, I can't. I don't know how to play chess.

23. Do you like shopping?
A1) Yes, I do. I can shop for hours.
A2) No, I don't. I think it's a waste of time.

24. Do you make your bed every morning?
A1) Yes, I do. I like to keep everything tidy.
A2) No, I don't. I am always in a hurry.

25. Have you read the story of Cinderella?
A1) Yes, I have. I love that story.
A2) No, I haven't. Is it a good story to read?

26. Do you like to chat with your friends on the phone?
A1) Yes, I do. I work too long so that I can't have time to meet my friends.
A2) No, I don't. It costs me too much.

27. What time is it now?
It is 10:45.

28. How long have you lived in Taiwan?
I have lived in Taiwan since I was born.

29. What’s your favorite fruit?
My favorite fruit is mango. I love mangoes.

30. Do you speak English well?
Well, I think I do. I can speak English pretty well.


31. What language do you speak? Which do you speak best?
I speak Taiwanese and Chinese. I think I can speak Chinese the best.

32. How did you meet your best friend?
Well, we were classmates in college. We helped each other a lot.

33. How are you today?
I am nervous today becasue I am taking an oral exam now.

34. How long have you been studying English?
I have been studying English since I was in junior high.

35. Where do you live?
I live in Taipei.

36. Do you take any exercise?
Well, I don't really like doing exercise, but sometimes, I go jogging.

37. What did you eat today?
I ate some bread for breakfast and some fish, meat and noodles for lunch.

38. How many people are there in your family? Who are they?
There are 5 people in my family. They are my parents, my two younger sisters and I.

39. How is the weather today?
It is a rainy day. I feel cold actually.

40. Which sports do you think the most interested?
I think soccer is the most interested, and David Beckham is very handsome.


41. How much money do you usually spend every month?
I usually spend 10 thousand every month.

42. Have you ever been to Ken Ting national park?
A1) Yes, I have. I have been there several times.
A2) No, I haven't. I have never been there.

43. Where are you from?
I am from Taipei, Taiwan.

44. What did you do last Sunday night?
I stayed at home and watched some nice movies last Sunday night.

45. Do you like to live in the city or the country? Why?
A1) I like to live in the city because it's very convenient.
A2) I like to live in the country because there is less traffic.

46. How many English dictionaries do you have?
I have several English dictionaries. They are for different usages.

47. Are you busy tomorrow?
Yes, I am. I am busy working everyday.
No, I am not. I don't have to work tomorrow.

48. What do you do?
I am an English teacher. / I am an engineer.

49. What is your favorite color?
My favorite color is red. It makes me look healthier.


50. What are you going to do tonight?
I am going to stay home and watch some movies tonight.

It's All About Communication

Lately, I've had the chance to talk to one of the other teachers in the community college I teach. The teacher used to be an orthopedist (a bone doctor) in Russia but is teaching international comity now.

We talked about how he started teaching international comity and he told me there are something we can do to make people feel comfortable being around us; and to make us more welcome. I found that they are some different ways you talk to others.

Have you even noticed what other people are doing when you are talking to them? Are they trying to get rid of the topic or interested in the topic you are talking about? Do they have the chance to give their own opinions? Do they have any response to the topic?

How can you make people like to talk to you? Or, how can you make yourself a good listener? When your friends have doubt on something, are you the one they often ask opinions for?

There are something that we can do.
1. Keep smiling. Listen more and speak less.
Always keep your smile when you meet people. Listen more in the conversation, don't be eager to give your opinion, if they want to know, they will ask.

2. Value your promises.
Don't make promises easily. Once you promise people to do something, means you care about them, you care about the things you promise them to do. So, don't break it.

3. Look at others when you are talking to them.
That is a very basic but important rule. Looking at the people you are talking to is very important. That tells them that you are really listening. If you think looking at them in the eyes is kind of rude, try looking at their ears.

4. See the good quality of people.
Being with your friends, always think about their advantage in stead of their shortcomings. You will like people more. Learn how to appreciate the virtue of people, you will find out that the world is prettier and better than you think it was.

5. Always remember the good that people do for you.
Always remember what other people do for you, or how they help you. Thank them again whenever you see them.

6. Never speak the evil of others.
I know that is sometimes hard to do, but I am trying to. There are different people in the world, in your office, even in your family. We don't always have the same opinion about something all the time. No matter what, don't speak evil things of others, you will never know when it will come back to you.

7. Repeat what other people when you are talking to them.
It is also good for you. When you are asked some questions you don't know how to answer, repeat what they say may not only show you really do listen, but also give yourself some time to think how to answer. I do this when I am talking to my friends, family and students. It makes others think you really do understand what they say, and you really think their opinion is important. You will have less mis-understanding.

There are still some other things the teacher told me. I will find some other time to post it here. I am trying to do what he said to me. I want to make others feel they are more comfortable and welcome when they are talking to me. It is hard, but I believe I can make it real.

For All

Dear All,
Lately, I have been way too busy that I seldom update my blog here. I feel really sorry about it. As you know, I have a new offer teaching GEPT at Taipei city hall every Thursday. After few weeks of the classes, I found that all of you really want to pass GEPT, however, you don't really have time to review or do whatever I have told you to.

So, again, how are you going to have your writing ability improved?? There is a very easy way to do it. When you go home every time, re-write the sentences or short paragraph that I corrected for you. And then, email me as I told you. Call me whenever you have any questions. If you are afraid to bother me, you can just email me.

In Reading, there is no other way only read as many as possible. Read the books with your mouths not with your eyes. And so does in listening. Most of the students don't really understand why I teach English songs. Actually, singing English songs cannot only have your speaking improved but also have your listening ability improved. Remember that I type down the lyrics as fill in blanks and ask you to write down what you hear; that is the way to improve your listening.

And also, write down what happen to you everyday. What makes you happy or what makes you unhappy, grumpy. Maybe your boss or supervisor says something you don't really agree with, write it down and email me.

If you really do what I say here, I assure you that you can really have your writing ability improved a lot and so do listening and speaking.

AGAIN, I won't force you to do whatever I told you. It is you who decide doing or not doing it. Attitude means everything.

"Lousy weapon cannot win the battle, enemies will overpass you if you keep still." Do you want to overpass others or to be over passed??

Community College - Tuesday

Dearest Friends,

This is the place you can post your writing stuff here. We talked about "Sandy who didn't prepare for the exam today." Please leave your compositions here!

Here are some of the sample sentences of "Noun Clauses"

1. What are you talking about? -- A Question.
- Can you tell me what you are talking about? -- Noun Clause

2. Where do you live?
- I don't know where you live.

3. Who are you talking with?
- I wonder who you are talking with.

4. Do you want to go shopping with me this weekend?
- I want to know if you want to go shopping with me this weekend.


Dear All,
I will post more usages whenever I have time. Please post your homework or the composition for Writing Practice 4 here.


Julie ^^

Community College - Monday

My dearest friends,

I am really sorry that I post what we have been doing so late because I have been tied up with my work. I am truly sorry!

For the past few weeks, we have talked about the usages of past tense. We use past tense to talk about something happen in the past. We also did crossword of irregular verbs.

November 5th
We practiced the usage of past tense and did "time-saver activity." We also learned the song, "Just When I Needed You Most."

November 19th
We talked about agree or disagree with the statements listed on the text book. We also talked about some common usages such as

I can't help it. -- Means that you can't stop doing or not doing something.
I can't hold it. -- Means you really really want to go to the bathroom.
I can't stop wondering that ......... -- Means that there is something you really want to know or something is bugging you and you are trying to find out the answer.

November 26th
We finished Unit 6, and practiced how to make information questions in past tense.
EX:
Who - Who did you go to the concert with?
What- What did you do last night?
Where-Where did you go last weekend?
When-When did you get up this morning?
Which-Which dress did you wear yesterday, the blue or the red one?
Why-Why didn't you come to class last week?
How-1. How did you go to the party last night?
2. How did I look on the play yesterday?



(I will post the following lessons later!!)

Community College - Monday Class

The "Free Response" on page 97

1. "Americans are very friendly."

Well, I think most of the people I've met here are friendly. No matter what races they are. Some of the students think that some of the foreigners are racialists. But what I think is we Taiwanese have racism.

2. "You need friends more than money."

I agree with that. But I have to say that money is also important. Sometimes, when you don't have money, your friends will leave you, too.

3. "Most people like their jobs."

According to the survey we did in class, only very few of them like their jobs. Most of the people work just for a living. They don't like what they are doing currently; and some of them think that they are not put in the right position. Luckliy, I am the one who enjoys my job. Teaching for me is not only a job, but it's also my career.
"There is always a choice about the way you do your work; even there is no choice about the work itself."

4. Candy is good for you."

I disagree with that. Candy will cause you cavity, over-weight, and other problems due to over-weight.

5. "English is easy."

I agree with that. Honestly speaking, everything is easy if you are interested in it. Once you start learning it, never give it up. You will find that it is easy for you.

6. "Most TV programs are boring."

I agree with that. I think that is because of the cable we have. We can adopt whatever we want to watch 24/7. Therefore, everything is boring if you watch it all the time. Especially news.

7. "Homework is fun."

Well, I am the teacher, what else can I say. Yes, I think homework is fun.

8. "Public transportation is terrible."

I disagree with it. I think it depends on different cities. In TPE, it is convenient to take public transportation to go wherever you want to go. The signs are easy to read and to understand. But in Taoyuan, it's not really that convenient; or maybe I just don't take it since I have my own transportation there.

9. "Most teenagers are good drivers."

I think it depends on different people. However, teenagers under 18 are banned to drive or ride.

Frustration 2

I can feel that Josh has been struggling as I have sometimes. I really do like him. Whenever I see him around, or when he is beside me, I feel happy and safe. I know there is someone who cares about me or my feeling more than others, even more than myself. Yesterday, when he read what I posted the other day, he thought that I regretted that decision I made and he is part of the "wrong decision". I really want to tell him that he is not. I know what I did is correct. Just sometimes, when I take the pressure from my folks or others, I really don't know how to talk about this with him.

I can feel that he is trying to accept all this, accept that I have a daughter, I once had a marriage. Whenever I talk about Allie, he has some opinions about it. Not like before, he had no response. I am really happy about it. I know he is trying hard. I am trying hard to prove that I am living better now. I word harder than before, I take all the job opportunities, I work about 12 hours everyday; and I am trying to save money. It just whenever I got my salary, I need to pay Allie's tuition for her painting class, or some daily supply. I will spend less, and I will work harder. I will make it. "Attitude means EVERYTHING!!"

And about Allie's dad, I really need to find a chance to tell him.--> (Why I always think about the way to fight back afterward..... ) He said that he has given up a lot of opportunities and he has wasted the work that he has done for the past 11 years. I really want to tell him, if he wants to be a dad, that is what he needs to compromise. He has wasted 11-year work, I wasted 11 years of my time. But I really appreciate that. He makes me know that there is nothing I can accomplish. I am really sorry that he can't appreciate that. He has no fortune to see or feel how good a woman I am. Sorry for him, but that is what he deserves. All I want now is he can really take good care of Allie, educate her well. Don't treat her like what he did to me. Teach her how to love and make her feel beloved, and be appreciated. Don't make her a stuck-up person. Teach her how to be humble. I think that is all I want my daughter to be like.

The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost

Few weeks ago, I taught my students in community college the poem written by Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken". It makes me think of every decision I've made during and after the marriage. When I decided to marry him, I knew that he was the kind of person who would abuse me or make me sorrow someday. I still married him. I hated myself more than I hated him, honestly speaking, I don't have any feeling on him now, not caring, loving or not even hating him. I hated myself for putting myself into that kind of situation, I hated myself for letting my daughter having the fear to her own dad. Moreover, I don't understand why my parents didn't stand out for me when they heard that I was abused.

So, I decided to run away; I wanted to run away from him, from my parents, from that hell. I just couldn't stand that anymore. I left without taking my daughter because I didn't want her to live in an unstable environment. I left with nothing. It was very difficult for me because I missed my daughter so much then. (I miss her all the time still.)

However, he still caught me back to the place he called "home". My life was okay in the beginning, but he became more like a control freak, even than before. I ran away again and told him that I would never go back unless he wanted to sign the paper. Finally, he said "yes".

I decided to divorce him without taking anything, not even the custody of my daughter. He said that is impossible for him to "give" me my daughter. He started treating her like his own property ever since then, I think.

The decision had made me a life that I didn't know how to deal with, I still don't know most of the time. When my parents told me how an irresponsible mother I am, I didn't know how to reply. When my ex-husband told me how much he has given up for our daughter just because he can't find anybody to take care of her, I didn't know how to reply.

Just like the poem, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

Getting divorced is not an easy decision to make in this traditional family or society. After over 2 years of divorced, I still believe that I made the "right" choice. It does make a big difference in my life; but it's sometimes too big for me to handle. I am tired of that.

Personality Will Never Change

I went out with Allie and her dad today. On the way back home, I told him that I went to Linkin Park's concert Friday night. I told him that my student bought the ticket for me, but I didn't go with him since he is kind of bothering now. I was trying to start a short conversation but he just replied that relationship is the only thing I am worrying about. He said I have no idea how depressed he is because he gave up an opportunity for being a manager with very high salary because he can't find anyone to take care of Allie. When I heard that, I just kept silent. I didn't know how to reply and I can't talk about this with neither my parents or Josh. I know what I will hear.

I want to have Allie with me aside for sure, but he doesn't want me to take care of her. I think he doesn't want to lose anything or anyone. Too bad that he is still the man I know, personality will never change.

Frustration 1

Lately, I have been feeling a bit frustrated about the current situation I have. I have been working too long hours and giving myself a lot of pressure on work. That makes my health condition getting worse. My cold has never been healed and I always feel tired. Last week, I couldn't even speak a word. I really want a break sometimes.

Two weeks ago, I didn't go back to Taoyuan because I was too sick and tired. I called Allie, and told her that I was too ill and wanted a break. But afterward, I felt quilty about it. I spent whole day alone; I went to the beef noodles, bookstore, did the laundry and watched TV all day. I enjoyed the time I had but couldn't stop feeling quilty at the same time. I felt that I am not a good mother, I miss Allie everyday but I really need to have my own time once awhile. I start questioning myself if I made the right choice or not. I want to talk about this with Josh, but I am afraid that may give him more pressure.

Trip to Angkor Wat - 1

I took a 5 days trip to Angkor Wat last week. It was the first time I paid for my own trip; I was very excited about it.

There were 10 people in the group. Two sisters, a couple, two school teachers, two men who are co-workers and us, Josh and I.

The tour guide is very interesting and educating. He used to be a history teacher therefore he knows a lot of things about the sculpture and the story about Angkor Wat kingdom. I learned a lot and took a lot of note.

However, on the forth day, one of the two sisters started to talk about what the other group had but we didn't. In the beginning, I listened and shared my opinion about the tour and the tour guide. They felt the tour guide only wanted to make money from us, but I didn't really think that way, so I said something different. However, they didn't listen. Josh told me to stop and only listened. I found that the two sisters only care about what we didn't have but they didn't really care about what we had but others didn't.

That was annoying; the worst part was the tour guide heard what we thought about him and started feeling bad about this. I felt very sorry because I said something about the same to him before I really knew him.

I always feel that I speak too much and listen less sometimes, and I hurt other people before I even notice it but I really don't mean to hurt anybody. I have to remind myself. Don't jump into conclusion before I know everything.

Feel so bad ~ ~

Linkin Park - What I've Done

What I've Done Lyrics

Dear Blog 2

Last Monday morning, when my daddy was driving me to the train station, he asked me if Johnny said something to me. I didn't get it, so I asked my dad what he was trying to say. My daddy replied, "You know, did he ask you to get back to him or what?" I was pretty surprised when I heard that. I just simply said no and told him that if Johnny really did ask, I will never go back to him. After all, the wounds that he caused on me are not that easy to be eased. I forgive him but it doesn't mean I forget it.

Then, daddy said, "I just don't think divorced is the right thing, it's not normal. It's not like what everybody does." "You did something really bad to Allie." When I heard that, it was like giving me another wound. "Your daughters were not born to be beaten, Dad." I replied. But daddy said something I really didn't know how to reply. "That's because you are both young, you need time to 修." Just like your mom and I, we've had disagreements all the time, but we've overcome it." (WHAT !!!) "You just need time, maybe he thinks in different way now." I wanted to say "修到我被逼死或打死的那一天嗎" But, I didn't. I don't want to say such a thing to my parents. So, I just told him that he didn't do it for once, and it would have happened again and again if I hadn't left."

Daddy said, "You know, I can still pretend that there is nothing happen and smile at you when you are back. But, I just couldn't smile when I see you." That is really cruel, (But not that cruel than what he said to me when he saw my bruise on my waist.) I didn't say a word and we were in train station. I said goodbye to my dad and told him to drive carefully.

On my way back to Taipei, I couldn't stop thinking what daddy said to me. I am the one who can't make my daddy happy. No matter how happy I am, how well I can do on my job, or whatever, they don't really care. Actually, I don't know what they care now. Maybe face, maybe ... I don't know. I want to tell Josh about this, but I think he will not like it. I don't want to see him being bothered by this.

All I want is to have them on my side, support me when I need. It was hard enough to fight with him without any supporting. I really don't want to do this alone. I want to be loved...

Dear Blog

Mother's Day is coming this Sunday. I still have no idea what my mom wants or what is the best choice for gifts. There are 4 different ideas in mind.

The first choice is a very nice pot which I saw it on a TV program whose host is 于美人. Maybe some of you have seen the program already. It is even better than 義大利樂鍋。 However, the price is very expensive.

The second choice is the shoes of a brand named "Born" which I found it last weekend when I went to see "Spiderman 3" in Mira Max Cinema. The shoes are really comfortable when I tried them on. Besides, they are not as expensive as the pot.

The third choice is a wonderful thing that I can use it too. (Hahahaha..) ---> The massage machine for your legs from Osim. The price is about the same as the pot.

The forth choice is going out for a nice dinner with my family. However, when I called my mom earlier today, I was told that we ARE planning to go out for dinner that evening already.

So, which one is the best choice for my mom?????????

The Class on May 7th, 2007

Dear All,

After a week break, we are going to start our class tomorrow. I am wondering if you are all ready for it. I guess you do. ^^

The activity we are going to do tomorrow here. Please take sometime preview it and see you all tomorrow.

Pair Work – Ask and answer questions using the verbs listed below. Begin your questions with what, when or where.

Ex:

eat

Q: What do you usually eat for breakfast?

A: I usually eat bread and coffee for breakfast.

1. live

2. work

3. play

4. get up

5. eat

6. go

7. study

8. watch

9. listen to

10. drink

11. read

12. meet

Pair Work – ask and answer questions using the verb “need”.

EX:

flowers

A: What do flowers need?

B: They need water, sun shine and fresh air.

1. cars

2. tires

3. a tired person

4. a sick person

5. you

6. your family

7. this school

8. this class

9. Taipei city

10. people in Taipei city

11. the politics in Taiwan

My Favorite Place to Eat

There is an restaurant called 巷子. It is located on the intersection of 民生 E. Rd and 三民 Rd. They sell spaghetti and pasta. I like the spaghetti there. I like the noodles they cooked because they are not too soft, not like the others I've eaten. Usually, I go there once a month. Even there are different branches in Taipei city, but I like this one the most. The quality and the taste are stable. I've eaten in the other branch near by the place I live, but it doesn't taste the same every time I went.

I always order "Curry with sea food". I like it a lot. I've tried almost every dish they have, and I like "Curry with sea food" the most. I always go there with my friends and we order differently, so that we can all have different taste. My friends and I like to eat in that restaurant, they play lounge music, and they have hand-made pudding for dessert. The prices are reasonable and the service is very good.

The only problem is that there is always crowded and you need to make a reservation before you go there, especially on the weekends.

I like to eat there and always enjoy the food and the atmosphere. Hope you like it as well.

April Fools' Day

April Fools' Day

If you like to play tricks on people, then you'll love April Fools' Day. It's a fun day for millions of people around the world.

On this day, people try to trick each other. For example, you could tell your friends that all classes have been canceled. Or you could put a plastic insect in somebody's drink!

Some people play bigger tricks, though. In 1957, a British TV show told a story about spaghetti trees. After this, hundreds of people thought that it was possible to grow spaghetti on trees!

April Fools' Day began in France five centuries ago. Back then, the New Year began on April 1st. The king moved the New YEar to January, but many people didn't know this.

Years later, some people still celebrated the New Year on April 1st. These people were called "April fools." People often played tricks on these "fools" to make them look sillier.

Today, April 1st is still a day for tricks. Some people won't believe any interesting news that's broadcast on April 1st. After all, nobody wants to be a fool!


Words you might need to know.....

1. cancel (v.) 取消
2. drink (n.) 飲料
3. spaghetti (n.) 義大利麵
4. possible (adj.) 可能的
5. century (n.) 世紀
6. celetrate (v.) 慶祝
7. broadcast (v.) 廣播
8. back then 回溯以往; 在當時