Journal Question #8

Some people make "New Year's Resolutions" at this time of year - things they want to change to make themselves better people. For instance, a smoker might make a resolution to quit cigarettes in 2012; or an unhealthy person might decide that 2012 is the year he will get exercise and eat a better diet. More challenging can be resolutions to change one's personality (e.g., "I'll be less shy."), or to improve or add a skill ("I'm going to learn how to play the piano."). Do you have a resolution you could share with us? Or do you believe making resolutions is a waste of time, and you should work on improving yourself without telling anybody or making a list?

Journal Question #7

Here's a topic most of you will like: shopping. This is a photograph of people entering a store on "Black Friday," the busiest shopping day of the year in America. This year, some stores opened at midnight or early in the morning, offering sales and discounts and special deals. From now until Christmas, the stores will be very busy, as people buy Christmas presents and stores are open longer than normal. Did you go shopping the day after Thanksgiving? Was it crazy? Will you go shopping in the next few weeks? Do you like the kind of scene pictured above? Tell me about you shopping habits.

Journal Question #6

The Thanksgiving feast pictured above is a famous painting by the American artist Norman Rockwell, who made idealized scenes of American life. Here you have the happy family, sitting at a beautiful table full of typical Thanksgiving food (including a large Turkey), headed by the eldest of the family - grandmother has cooked the Turkey; grandfather will carve it. It is the archetypal "American Thanksgiving." Do you plan on participating at a traditional American Thanksgiving on the 24th? Do you look forward to it? How about traditions - especially traditional feasts - in your country? What might a painting of that tradition look like?

Journal Question #5

Nature had a trick for all of us this Halloween - a snowstorm! This is very unusual for late October, even in northern New England. It was a pretty bad trick for lots of people - as I write this, there are still many homes in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts without power. Anyway, for this journal, write about Halloween, snow, unexpected weather. Are you getting into a costume or did you wear a costume for Halloween? What do you think of this holiday?

Journal Question #4

This is Vincent Van Gogh's "The Mulberry Tree in Autumn." The date of this post is October 17, which is the middle of autumn, or fall. How do you feel about the season? What kinds of activities do you do in the fall that you don't do at other times of year? What do you like most and like least about autumn? Are there certain people or experiences that you think about now that perhaps don't come to mind in the summer, spring, or winter? Tell me your thoughts about autumn (and about Van Gogh's painting, if you want).

Journal Question #3

The journal topic is Homework. All students have homework, and all students have an opinion on homework. Tell me - honestly - what you think of homework. Is it necessary? How much is the "right" amount of homework? Should some classes have more HW than others? Should there be no HW at all? How many hours of HW, in general, do you have every night? Is it the right amount for you? Too much? Not enough?

Journal Question #2

I've always been afraid of sharks even though I've never met one while swimming! The closest I've come to a live shark was in the Boston Aquarium: they have a couple in their giant fish tank. Anyway, I'm interested in fear. What makes you afraid? For some, it's animals like sharks; for others, it's the dark; for others, it could be speaking in public. What's one of your big fears?

Journal Question #1

Welcome to TA, new international students, and welcome back to TA, returning international students! This is the first "ELL Journal" post of the year, and I'd like to hear some of your thoughts at the beginning of school. How do you feel? What are your expectations? Share some of the goals and dreams you have for the coming year - in academics, in arts, in sports, in life in general. Speaking for myself, I'm excited to get to know all of you, to learn from you, and to help you learn English. Let's get started!

Journal Question #37 (2010-2011)

It's time to say goodbye, which is not an easy thing to do.  At this time of year, as seniors graduate and everyone goes home for the summer - and, in some cases, never to return to TA - you can feel a little sad.  People you are used to seeing everyday, you won't see again for awhile, or perhaps at all.  Use this last journal to say your goodbyes!  

Journal Question #36 (2010-2011)

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer in New England - and much of North America as well.  While I want all of you to continue to work hard on school work, it's not too early to thin about summer activities, such as sitting in a comfortable chair overlooking a pretty view on a late afternoon.  Write about your favorite summer activities.  What do you like to do best when you have free time in the summer? 

Journal Question #35 (2010-2011)

This is a common sight at this time of year - graves of veterans with American flags stuck in the ground next to them.  Next Monday is Memorial Day, which is a holiday when Americans remember soldiers who died fighting in wars, starting with the Revolutionary War in the 18th century all the way up to our current war in Afghanistan.  Unfortunately, America has been involved in a lot of wars and has therefore lost a lot of young men and women in the process. Does your country have its own "Memorial Day"?  Write your thoughts about wars and soldiers and the ways countries remember their veterans - both alive and dead.  

Journal Question #34 (2010-2011)

It's a good time to talk about movies because summer is coming and lots of movies arrive in summertime.  So, tell me about your favorite movies, or favorite kind of movies.  Do you prefer action, romance, drama, sci-fi...?  What have been your best movie experiences?  If you want, you can recommend a movie that is out in the theaters now.

Journal Question #33 (2010-2011)

Vincent Van Gogh, the French Impressionist painter, loved irises, and he painted them many times, including the ones above.   This time of year, many flowers begin to bloom, including irises.  When you walk outside, do you notice or appreciate the blossoms around you?  Or do you walk right past them without even looking?  Do you have a favorite flower?  Write about why you like, dislike, or don't care about the blossoming plants that surround us these days. 

Journal Question #32 (2010-2011)

Osama Bin Laden is dead, killed by American Special Forces in Pakistan yesterday.  As you know, Bin Laden was the leader of Al Queda, the terrorist organization responsible for the attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001.  Al Queda has also killed any number of people around the world, especially in the Middle East, so Bin Laden can be seen as a mass-murderer. Americans are celebrating his death.  How about you?  What are your feelings on the death of one of the most infamous and violent men in the world? 

Journal Question #31 (2010-2011)

This is a picture of Prince William and his fiancee, Kate Middleton.  They are going to be married on Friday, April 29th.  It's not just any wedding; it's a Royal Wedding.  This means it's a big deal, and not only for the British, but for many people all over the world.  In America, for instance, the wedding will be televised and millions will wake up early Friday morning to watch the ceremony.  What do you think of all this?  Is it silly for so many people to take an interest in two people they don't know?  Are princesses (Kate) and princes (William), Kings and Queens (William's grandmother, Elizabeth), old-fashioned for this day and age?  Why are so many fascinated by royalty, when royals have little power and influence today?

Journal Question #30 (2010-2011)

This is the Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei, holding "sunflower seeds" that are part of his art installation in London.  Ai Wei Wei is also a political and social activist, and recently, he was detained by Chinese authorities - at the time of this writing, he hasn't been released.  Do you think artists have a responsibility to express their opinions on public matters, or should they just concentrate on their art?  Do governments have the right to detain people who criticize them, or should speech always be free?  Let me know what you think. 

Journal Question #29 (2010-2011)

This piece of art is called "Dream maker."  The subject of this weeks ELL Journal is dreams.  Everyone dreams, but not everyone remembers their dreams or considers them important.   Some people keep a "dream journal" by their bed, so when they wake up, they can record their dreams.  How about you?  Do you think your dreams are meaningful, and should you pay attention to them?  Have you had any recurring dreams - the same dream, over and over again? Do you remember your dreams, and try to interpret them?

Journal Question #28 (2010-2011)

Music - I don't know how I'd live without it: classical, jazz, rock, pop, blues, folk, bluegrass, hip-hop, R&B, soul, gospel, and on and on - there's no end to the types of music in the world.  Is music important to you?  Do you have a favorite kind of music?  A favorite musician/singer?  When do you listen to music - and does the kind of music you listen to change according to time of day, season, mood, etc? Talk about music!    

Journal Question #27 (2010-2011)

In New England, Maple Sugaring season is a symbol of early spring.  The picture shows a tap in a maple tree, and maple sap dripping out of the tree and collected in a bucket.   Later, the collected sap will be boiled down into maple syrup.  This is an old-fashioned way to collect sap; today, most sugarers use tubing, and the sap is gathered in huge barrels, then brought to the sugar house for boiling.  It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup.  Anyway, happy spring!  Write about symbols of spring in your country, maple syrup, or anything that spring brings to mind.

Journal Question #26 (2010-2011)

As you know by now, there was a terrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan on Friday.  The disaster has killed thousands of people in northeast Japan, and there is a danger that a couple of nuclear power stations that were damaged by the catastrophe might "melt down," releasing harmful radiation into the air.  The scenes of destruction are unbelievable and very scary and sad.  Please contribute any reactions you have to this event.

Journal Question #25 (2010-2011)

Lots of words have been said and written about friends and friendship.  "A friend in need is a friend indeed" is an old English proverb.  "Chance makes our relatives, but choice makes our friends" was written by the French poet, Jacques Delille.  Confucious said, "Have no friends not equal to yourself."  What about you?  What makes someone a friend?  

Journal Question #24 (2010-2011)

The title of this painting is "The Card Players," by a french artist named Paul Cezanne.  Cezanne lived in the late 19th into the early 20th century.  Currently, there is show of his card player paintings - he did a number of them - in New York City.  How do you react to this work?  Talk about its subject (4 men playing cards), its composition (3 figures sitting, one standing, the shapes of the hats, the pipes, the table, the curtain...), its colors (of course, the painting is a lot more vibrant in person), or anything else the painting brings to mind.  Do you like this sort of art?  Other kinds?

Journal Question #23 (2010-2011)

Happy Valentine's Day.  The red rose is a symbol of love, and many men will be giving roses to their sweethearts today.  Some people dislike Valentine's Day, partly because it can make people who don't have a sweetheart at the moment feel lonely.  Lots of men don't like Valentine's Day because of the pressure they feel to do something nice for their girlfriend/wife.  Maybe the best way to look at Feb. 14 is as a day to think of those you love (not just sweethearts), especially those you can't see this day.  What do you think?  Do you like Valentine's Day?  Why or why not?

Journal Question #22 (2010-2011)

After George Washington, Abraham Lincoln is probably the most famous American President.  He was president during this country's Civil War (1860-1865), signed the "Emancipation Proclamation," which abolished slavery, and gave several memorable speeches, including "The Gettysburg Address," possibly the most important political speech in American history.  This Saturday (February 12) is Lincoln's birthday.  Have you heard of Lincoln?  Can you think of a political figure in your country that has similar fame and inspires people to this day?

journal Question #21 (2010-2011)

This is a groundhog, and Wednesday (February 2nd) is known as "Groundhog Day" in America. The superstition says that if the groundhog comes out of his hole on this day and sees his shadow, then there will be six more weeks of winter.  Well, Wednesday is supposed to be snowy, so he won't see his shadow this year!  Anyway, think of important animals in your culture, and tell me what they represent or mean to you.  Why do you think humans all over the world make some animals symbolic, or meaningful, or in some way important to society?

Journal Question #20 (2010-2011)

This is a picture of Mars.  Have you ever thought about traveling to another planet?  Have you ever wondered if life exists on another planet?  There is some evidence that, at one time, there was water on Mars, which means there could have been life there.  Should we send astronauts there to find out?  How about you - are you interested in traveling into outer space?

Journal Question #19 (2010-2011)

The best cure for the "winter blues" is to get outside and play!  Sledding, skiing, snowboarding, having a snowball fight, making a snowman, taking a walk in the snow - it doesn't matter what you do, it matters that you do it.  If you get outside in the winter, not only will you have fun, but also you won't be as likely to catch a cold or a virus.  What do you like, or what do you think you would like, to do outside in the winter?  Give your friends some ideas!

Journal Question #18 (2010-2011)

A terrible shooting took place over the weekend in Tucson, Arizona.  A 22-year-old man shot 17 people at a political meeting, killing 6 people, including a 9-year-old girl.  His main target was a US Representative named Gabrielle Gifford, whom he shot in the head; she survived, however, and is in critical condition.  Clearly, this man was a disturbed individual, and many people think he should not be allowed to own a gun, especially an automatic weapon that can fire many bullets quickly.  What's your opinion about gun ownership?  Who can own guns in your country?  Do you feel America should restrict gun sales?

Journal Question #17 (2010-2011)

Many people make resolutions for the new year on or around January 1st.  That means they want to change something about themselves, or improve themselves in some way.  For instance, a smoker might decide to quit smoking for his new year's resolution.  Do you have any new year's resolutions?  If you want to share them, let me know.  (Or, write about the idea of resolutions - good idea?  not so good? why or why not?