Journal Question #10

No Question, just: Happy New Year!  Have a relaxing, fun, wonderful break, everyone.  See you in 2010.  Thomas Griffin

Journal Question #9

What kind of Visual Art do you like?  Choose a painting, sculpture, drawing, design, etc.  Describe it briefly, and tell my why you like it.  For example, I was just looking at a Cezanne (French painter of the early 20th century) still life called "Ginger Jar and Fruit." (Cezanne.com)  It shows a table, on which are a number of apples and pears and a jar.  The background is gray with what looks like a spade (a kind of shovel) hanging on the wall.  The fruit are beautiful greens and yellows and are loosely arranged on a striped cloth.  The jar, a kind of urn, stands behind the fruit.  Like all Cezanne's work, there is so much life in each object - the painting almost vibrates or hums with life.  I feel as though Cezanne finds a soul or spirit in the most ordinary things, and brings that soul out in his work.   And his composition and mastery of color is extraordinary.   Your turn: describe a piece of art you like and tell me why you like it!  (Give me a website where I can look at the art, too.)    

Journal Question #8

If someone you know from your country was thinking of coming to Thornton Academy, what would you tell him or her?  What advice would you give this person about how to prepare to live and study here?  What could you tell him or her about TA, Saco, Maine, and the USA that he/she might not know?  What should he/she expect as he/she prepares to come here?

Journal Question #7

What did you think about Thanksgiving?  You have all now experienced an American Thanksgiving - or at least most of you have.  What did you think?  What was your favorite part of this holiday (Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, pumpkin pie, other food, or something besides the food; Black Friday maybe...)?  Write your thoughts about this holiday.

Journal Question #6

What's the best surprise so far?  Okay, you've been here for three months, enough time to experience a lot of people, places, subjects, food, activities, etc.  So, what has been the nicest surprise for you so far?  This could be a person, an activity, a moment in time, even an aspect of yourself that you didn't know before coming to TA.  Tell me your best surprise since August.

Journal Question #5

What is a friend?  How do you define "friend"?  Who do you think of when you think of a friend?  What makes a friend?  Do you have to know someone for a certain amount of time before you call him/her a friend?  Do you have lots of friends?  Or is it possible only to have a few people whom you call friends?  Talk about your friends.

Journal Question #4

What's your favorite Holiday or Tradition?  In a few weeks, Americans will be celebrating Thanksgiving, one of the country's most important holidays.  It commemorates the landing of the first Europeans in New England at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620, and the Native Americans who taught the Europeans how to survive in the "new world."  Today, Americans eat a huge meal the fourth Thursday in November, including turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, gravy, pies... Thanksgiving also is the "official" start of the Christmas shopping season.  This tradition began in the mid-1800's, when Abraham Lincoln was president.  

What is your favorite holiday?  What traditions do you follow on it?  What sort of food is eaten at that time?  Are there special feasts and parties and other events that happen?  Tell me about it!   

Journal Question #3

What makes you scared?  In honor of Halloween, write about things that scare you.  For instance, speaking in front of a lot of people scares me.  So do graveyards at night.  A nightmare scares me.  Walking on a frozen river or lake when I'm not sure the ice is thick enough also scares me.  Sometimes I'm scared when I'm driving in bad weather conditions.  Or when I feel lost.  You can also talk about a specific time you were scared.  I was scared the time I sprained my ankle really badly, for example.  What can you do to calm yourself when you feel scared?

Seasons - Journal Topic #2

What's your favorite season?  The weather is getting colder, summer is a distant memory, and we've even had a little snow already.  It's the middle of the fall which, in New England, is a beautiful time of year with the leaves changing colors.  What do you think?  Do you like fall? Maybe winter, with its snow and cold temperatures, is your favorite.  Spring and summer, of course, each have their fans.  Tell us what your favorite season is and why you like it so much.  Or, if you can't decide which you like best, tell us about that, too.

Journal Question #1

Why do you want to learn English?  

I already know that you all need to learn English to go to an American university.  Try to go deeper than that: Is going to an American university the only reason you are learning English? What are some other reasons - maybe even some you haven't thought of before now?  You could also say how learning English is changing you - the way you think, the way you act, the way you plan for the future, etc.  Is learning English changing the way you speak in your first language? Please post a response by next Thursday (10/22).