ELC News Summer I 2009

8/9/2019 ELC News Summer I 2009

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THE ELC NEWS A Publication by and for Students of the English Language Center, Old Dominion University

June 2009—Summer I

Yonhwan: Tell me about the foreign friends you

made for the first time in America.

Jihyun: It was hard to get acquainted with foreign

friends the first time, so I was hesitated; but after

meeting an

American

friend

named

Deloris,

I can

open my mind to foreigners. We come across at

the Webb center 'ODU after dark'. She showed us

each event and helped us to get along with her

friends. She was really kind to us and I really ap‐

preciated it.

Yonhwan: How about the first impression of

America?

Jihyun: I've visited America several times since I

was 7 years old. When I was young, America was

just an alien land to me, but now I really feel that

America is a real welfare state. As time goes by I

am fascinated

by

America's

culture.

Yonhwan: What is the purpose of your study in

ODU and what are you planning after studying in

ODU?

Jihyun: I came here as an exchange student from

Yeungnam University in Korea. I take ELC courses

right now. After this session, I will take regular

courses in the fall semester. I want to improve my

speaking English skills while I'm here and learn

American university culture by direct and actual

experiences.

Bader:

What

is

your

major?

Which

university

do

you

want

to

join?

Vali: My major is Logistics. I want to continue my education in

ODU. I want get a Ph.D. degree in Maritime and Supply Chain

Management.

Bader: How long have you been in the ELC? And which level do

you think is most helpful or useable?

Vali: I have been in the ELC for 6 months. I think the most impor‐

tant level is Intermediate. They explain everything generally. But

if you want to improve your skills you have to go higher.

Bader: What kind of food do you like? And how is it different

between here and in your country?

Vali: I like

Khinkal

(it's

traditional

Russian

(Dagestan)

food).

It's

very simple. It consists from dry meat and corn dough. In the US

they use many chemicals, but in my state everything is fresh; no

chemicals; also I have a big garden where we grow many fruit and

vegetables.

Bader: Have you felt homesick since you came to the U.S? And

how did you deal with it?

Vali: I have felt very homesick. I have never been so far from my

family for a long time. But every day I call my parents or friends.

Also I have some friends from my state in Virginia Beach. More‐

over, every week we cook something national and have fun.

Bader: Russia is famous for sports. Can you tell us a little about

it? Vali: In my state sports are very important. Every child, since 5

years old goes to sports like wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, and

karate. And old people don't respect you so you have to go. In my

small state we have thousands champions in martial arts. For ex‐

ample, all the Russian wrestling teams are from my state.

Bader: Do you have a role model in your life? Who? Why?

Vali: We have an astronaut. He is exactly from my village. Also,

he has broken the record for being in earth’s orbit for almost

one year. He is very famous in my village. Children want to be

like him. They understand that everything is possible.

Above: Bader Alhammad interviews Vali Sarkiev. Photo

by Abdulaziz Alsosui

This session, Advanced II students Bader Alhammad and Abdulaziz Also‐

sui(Saudi Arabia) interview Vali Sarkiev (Russia), and Yonhwon Chung

(South Korea) interviews UP student Jihyun Lee about their experiences

so far in America.



La Tomatina

By Paloma

Sanchez

Ibanez

L a Tomatina is a huge tomato fight in Spain. This

battle takes place in Bunol, a small town 30 miles West

of Valencia.

There are around 20.000 participants and people from

all countries are welcome. It is celebrated on the last

Wednesday of August, at the peak of tomato season,

and starts at 10 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. It is one of the many

celebrations during this week long festival with musi‐

cal bands, fireworks, food, and over all fun. The streets

turn into

rivers

of

tomato

juice.

There are lots of theories on how the festival started.

One of the theories is that it was started between two

friends who had a stand‐up knock downs argument

while sharing a meal. Most recently it has been said

that the festival started because some people had

many left over tomatoes.

The rules are very easy.

1. The participants just have to wear an old t‐shirt.

This is the required uniform for the festival.

2. Before throwing the tomatoes, the thrower must

flatten them. This is the reason why the tomatoes

must be

ripe.

3. One rocket is used to announce the star and an‐

other ones is used to announce the end.

The benefits of this festival are that it cleans the skin

and impurities, because the tomatoes’ acid is very dis‐

infectant. For this reason, the streets at the end of the

festival are very clean.

If you want to have fun and have different experi‐

ences, do not doubt in coming. This is the only war

where there are not losers, just fun.

Brazil

By Carine Goncalves

B

razilians are world famous for

soccer, Carnival, and Rio de Ja‐

neiro. But do you know something

that Brazilians love more than soc‐

cer, carnival and the beach? Holi‐

days! Yes, Brazilians love holidays! After only a short time

living in the USA, I could see how different our culture is

when we talk about “off” days. The U.S. has about eleven

dates that are holidays. However, just six of the eleven

dates are “official” holidays: Memorial Day, the Fourth of

July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s

Day. Brazil, in contrast, has eleven federal holidays: New

Year’s, Carnival, Tiradentes Day, Labor Day, Easter, Corpus

Christis, Independence Day, Our Lady of Aparecida Day, All

Soul’s Day, The Republic Proclamation Day, and finally

Christmas Day. On each of these holidays, all stores, banks,

public departments, schools, and offices are closed. Some

of these

holidays,

like

Carnival,

can

last

two

or

three

days!

So unlike the States, where you can’t really take a vacation

because you only get one “off” day, people in Brazil can

easily take a little vacation or just relax at home.

The History of Memorial Day in America

By Han Il Lee

Most of countries have Memorial Day. Do you

know when Memorial Day begins and why we don’t

forget the Memorial Day? The Memorial Day is honor

for all veterans. They died for our countries. Also, they

protected our countries and other countries. If, they

did not protect our countries we might not be here

(own countries) or we live another lifestyle. Therefore,

we do not forget the Memorial Day and veterans. The

Memorial Day begun on May. 30. 1868. after the

American Civil War. The late America had begun to

cerebrate Memorial Day after World War 1. In 1971

the U.S congress declared Memorial Day a national

holiday to celebrate the last Monday in May.

Virginia Beach Fishing

By Luan Tran

V irginia Beach is a good place to go

fishing. Virginia Beach is in the middle Atlantic; we are

blessed with both warm and cold water fish species. There

are many types of fish‐bluefish, catfish, flounder, read

drum, striped bass, tuna…. Which draw anglers to Virginia

Beach. Every

year,

there

are

a lot

of

anglers

that

come

to

Virginia Beach to enjoy fishing. You can enjoy by yourself

or you also can enjoy with some fishing tours on beautiful

boats. It can be easy to find a fishing tour online or in the

phonebook. This summer is a good time for you and your

family to visit Virginia Beach. When you visit Virginia Beach

for a fishing trip, you can also enjoy the beach front and

the boardwalk. Here you can find waterfront hotels where

you walk a few steps to the boardwalk. Virginia Beach has

a lot of beautiful harbors with nice sunshine. Virginia

Beach is the first choice for your vacation this summer.



Left: ELC Faculty and Staff say goodbye to stu‐

dents at the Spring II Farewell Ceremony at

Whitehurst Beach.

Below: UP student Junseong Kim arrives at the

party with his wife and son (left). Instructor

David Silvis attempts to block in an intense game

of volleyball (center). Intermediate student Chau

Pham enjoys a game of badminton (right).

Left: Students and staff pose for a picture on a beautiful day!

Above: Greg warns students that the burgers are not ready yet

(left). Students enjoy roasting marshmallows over the grill (center).

ELC Director Dr. Karen Medina and former Assistant Director Jason

McSparren congratulate Meric Arslan for his completion of the ELC

Intensive program (right).



ELC STUDENTS SAY...

THE ELC NEWSLETTER STAFF:

Advanced II Writing, Summer I 2009

Bader Alhammad, Abdulaziz Alsosui, Tzu‐Tso Chen, Yujin Choi,

Yonhwon Chung, Ren Jye Deng, Carine Goncalves, Wonsun Huh,

Giwoong Jang, Jiae Kim, Han Il Lee, Loi Nguyen, Nohyoung Park,

Sujeong Park, Paloma Sanchez, Luan Tran

EDITOR:

Charlotte Young, Jamie Sturges

PHOTOS AND PICTURES:

Bettye Hussey, Nohyoung Park, Abdulaziz Alsosui,

Jennifer Spiegel

The ELC News will return Fall I 2009. Remember:

Summer I grades available Monday, June 29th at 9 a.m.

Summer II registration starts June 29th at 9 a.m.

Summer II classes begin June 30th.

IntermediateWhat do you do on the weekends in the U.S.?

I go to the cinema with my boyfriend who is a Spanish boy. Sometimes

on the weekend, we go out to a night club, is ibi7d. In addition, , I usu‐

ally go to gym to protect my body and be healthy. (Zeynep, Turkey)

I watch TV, and sometimes the internet, and go to the gym, sleep, shop

but sometimes, I do my homework. (Aidos, Kazakhstan)

I run errands on the weekends and I go to little trips like the Virginia

Zoo, the beach or somewhere. U.S. villages are very peaceful so I am

very happy if I stay in the yard with the chipmunks. (Amy, South) Ko‐

rea)

University PrepWhat do you think about the U.S. lifestyle?

Most people work hard on the weekdays and enjoy the weekend. Many people

use the weekend to do many things. For example, household work (cleaning,

go to groceries, etc.,) or relaxing and doing some activity like swimming. Most

Americans watch

movies

at

home

to

relax.

(Parujee,

Thailand)

I like living in the U.S. First, the most important thing here is having a personal

automobile. I’m an exchange student and will go back to my country in 8

months. So, it’s too short to buy a car. But most of the people who are here

have their car. Without cars, it’s hard to live here. Second, they hardly care

about other people. For example, my roommate brought her friend to the

dorm and watched movies and talked together, I studied, though. (Minjeong,

South Korea)

It has a unique lifestyle. Most of the countries worldwide and trying to follow

the U.S. lifestyle. In fact, it is most convenient style ever. A person can do any‐

thing that it could go in their mind. Many people moved from their countries

to achieve a life need. Many of them moved to the U.S. in order to do the chal‐

lenge toward the American’s dream. In addition, many of them succeeded.

This is what is called the American dream. This is the story of the U.S. lifestyle.

(Maan, Saudi Arabia)

Advanced 1

If you have a chance to get a plastic surgery for free, which part do

you want to change (only one part) and why?

This is nice question, but I don’t think that I would live to change some‐

thing in my body because I like everything what I have now, even if this

surgery for free. (Tatiana, Russia)

I think I don’t need plastic surgery. How about Michael Jackson? He looks

so terrible. I hope I’m beautiful. I know Korea does very good plastic sur‐

gery, but I prefer a natural, beautiful face and body. NOT PLASTIC SUR‐

GERY. (Oogii, Mongolia)

There are only two men in the world. One man is ugly, but the richest

guy in the world. The other man is poor, but the most handsome guy in

the world. If you have to marry one of them, which guy do you want to

choose? And

why?

I think beauty is temporary, on the other hand money can last for a

looong time. In addition money can make more money. I don’t hesitate to

choose MONEY. (Donggyu, Korea)

I choose the poor girl because I’m a rich guy. By the way, I love beautiful

things. (Ahmad, K.S.A)

In my opinion, I will choose the handsome man because money is not all

in life, and he has a lot of possibilities to get a job. (Mariam, Morocco)

BasicIf a Genie comes to you, which wish will you ask for?

I wish to come back 10 years later. (Kenan, Turkey)

I will ask him to visit my country and come back, and finish uni‐

versity. (Randa, Saudi Arabia)

I would ask for beautiful shoes that don’t hurt my feet! (Jennifer,

teacher)

I want to visit all over the world, then finally go to Saudi Arabia.

(Abrar,

Saudi

Arabia)

University Prep

Intermediate

Documents

ELC News Summer I 2009