Sunday, May 10, 2015
Journal Question #16
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Between now and the end of the school year, there are a lot of things going on at TA, including the International Fair (pictured above), Student Art Exhibit, Choral Concert, Dance Performance, Awards nights in Athletics and Academics, and, of course, Graduation. This weekend was Prom. The question: how many of these events will you attend or participate in? Is it important for a student to go to these events? Are some events more important than others? Why or why not?
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- TGriffin
- I have been a language teacher (ESL/ELL, French) for 30 years. I have taught in public and private schools, immersion programs, refugee programs, adult/continuing education, elementary, middle, and high school as well as university. Currently I teach ELL at a high school somewhere in New England.
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ReplyDeleteI will perform tomorrow and after for concern choir. I am a senior so I will attend graduation too. For me, the graduation is very important and I think it's important to any seniors too. I also like to sing too, tomorrow and after is the last time I sing in the high school. I will show the best yourself. In fact, any events are important for me too, because I just have 20 days in TA. I will miss here a lot in the future.
ReplyDeleteI joined Thornton Academy since two years ago. It's one of best decide in my life. I learn a lot in the TA. The life in the TA is wonderful. There have a lot of clubs we can join. I join the TA Chinese club. It's very interesting club. We often make some parties during the holiday, like last spring holiday. We made a Chinese food party in the cafeteria. The Chinese club is very important for me. I think events are very important for the international students because we can spend free time to do more things we want. I want to join more events because I still have a lot of free time during my life.
ReplyDeleteIt is really important for international students to participate in these activities because they, including me, will have a good opportunity to know more about the American life and Foreign Culture which is the International Fair. I particularly love to go to the Art Exhibit and International Fair. I hope who ever does the Dance Performance or Concert will have a great performance!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDong Jiayan(Angela)
ReplyDeleteELL III
ELL Journal
Mr. Griffin
May 14th, 2015
Events going on at TA
Between now and the end of the school year, plenty of events are going on at TA, such as International Fair, Student Art Exhibit and Awards nights in Athletics and Academics, etc. Participating in these upcoming events, from my perspective, is quite meaningful for us students for the reason that these events can not only enrich our campus life but also provide us with valuable opportunities to improve ourselves.
For instance, participating in International Fair has numerous benefits. We can learn how to cooperate with others. I’m preparing for international Fair with some of my friends. I’m responsible for preparing Asian games and typical Chinese dishes. At first I didn’t know how to translate the names of these Asian games and typical Chinese dishes into English at all. I used to be so stubborn that I could not accept the criticism from the team members. As a result, although I kept working in the library after school for five days, I still could not explain these Asian games and typical Chinese dishes concisely in English. I was so disappointed in myself that I almost wanted to give up. However, one of my friends kept encouraging me to face my defect correctly. She spoke softly. “As everybody knows, working in a group requires more cooperation in which criticism is inevitable. Accepting criticism from others is a wonderful way to realize our defect. Every bean has its black. We cannot avoid mistakes in daily work. We ought to face the fault rightly and correct it again and again. Only in this way can we make our teamwork successful.” She gazed at me with those intense black eyes, explained patiently. “Emperor Taizong of Tang, a particular case in point, was one of the most successful kings in Chinese history who liked to hear criticisms and learn from them. He encouraged and rewarded critic opinions in the morning meeting every day and made improvement in his work, leading his period to the peak of Tang Dynasty.” Through my friend’s patient explanation, I suddenly saw the light. Now I understand that if one finds it difficult to listen to other’s critic opinions, he or she will not be welcomed in this group, eventually hindering the whole team from getting success. All in all, by participating in the preparation of International Fair, I learned how to cooperate with others. Accepting criticism from others does be a wonderful way to realize our defect.
What's more, I hold the view that some upcoming events are more important than others. For instance, I firmly believe that graduation is the most significant event going on at TA because it marks the end of a learning phase and the farewell to youth. Graduation is also a turning point into adulthood.
All the above facts go to show that it is prime time that we should participate in as many events going on at TA as possible. Only in this way can we enrich our campus life and seize valuable opportunities to improve ourselves.
Im goin for the international fair. I usually don't go for any of events since I'm too lazy. XDDD But when I first heard Amy's description of this event, I felt it would be fun to go.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important for us to go those events since we need to experience different experiences.
For me, all those events are equal since I don't think we could judge any of them just by our opinions.
Alita
From my perspective,all the events in the school are not important.For example,you are a student who always participat those events.You might not be able to complete the homework and study for the quizs or tests.And in the end you will not able to get in to a good university,Once you can not go in to a good university,you will not have a brilliant life.After all your parents will be so upset that tell you the events you participated in your high school years were junks.After all you will so upset that lose your dream of your life,and the worst situation is that you will suicide.So,do not think those events are too important to you.They might kill you!
ReplyDeleteIf you are a social person that always likes to be active I think it's important to do some of this events. I am a social person but I am not in all of the things it's not too important for me. I am participating in the international fair representing Mexico of course, I also participates in the night of awards of Athletics. It also depends of what kind of person you are, if you are athletic and you win a prize, you must go to the awards of your team, or if you are a senior you are definitely getting a date for prom. There are no excuses to not going to these events.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe a year is gone, time is so fast. In the last of couple week of freshman. There are a lot of party or celebration in school. I would like to go to this kind of thing. I think this kind of event is good for us. I have some friend who speak other language, and come here just one years. I will miss them. I wish they will be happy every day and have a beautiful life.
ReplyDeleteThis school year will be end. Just one month it will be gone. There are lots of things going on at TA in this year. At the beginning of the school year, there is a homecoming at TA. I and my friends go to the homecoming. We dace together and make more friends. It is really fun.
ReplyDeleteWe also watch a football game at TA. TA was won! They also wen the 2014 state football champion. Some Seniors will graduate. We will miss you. The international fair is coming. We can join in the activity. We can know different cultures from different countries. Those activities are important. It can opens us eyes and we can know lots of things, make more friends.
Jack Zhao
ReplyDeleteELL 1
ELL Journal
Mrs.Englund
21 April, 2015
I think these school events are important for students. First, we might make more friends, because we have to talk with somebody in the events. For me, I am a freshman, I need to make friends. We may achieve some memories from the international fair. All the international students will be there, we will have fun over there. I am looking forward to attending the international fair. Second, time goes by really fast, don't have any regret. Some of the events are more important than other events, like graduation. People from every grade may leave next year. This could be the last event in high school life. I will attend the international graduation party and the international fair. I will also attending the academic athletic awards.
I am going to only the graduation. I do not like these events even they are helping me. It takes too long. I can spend this time on the basketball court But not trying to stay with too many people to talk to each other. It is such eating time. But these are just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI do think it's important for students to participate in those events because they are all parts of our residential lives. And it'll do good to us. I was part of the choral concert. It's my second time attend the concert, the last time was christmas concert, so I wasn't as nervous as that time. It's great to be part of the choir and it's actually quite exciting. I went to the pictures taking part of the prom. It's just nice to see the seniors dressing up. I also went to see the dance show which was so amazing!! Those are all great events and it makes me happy to attend them. Attending evens could help students have a better social life. Sometimes you just need to get out of your room and join different things to change the mood!
ReplyDelete----Nicole Ren
It is really important to attend some actives for us. For example, The international fair is good for us. We can learn numerous different countries culture in this activity. Also, We can make friends in it. Secondly, I went to see the dance show. It was awesome! And I see how awesome they did, and I know they can show their emotion with their bodies. I hope I can join some events in next year!
ReplyDeleteThe school year is going to the end. There are so many things going on. I participated in the choral concert, and I enjoyed it when we had some practice. It is so powerful and excited for a group of people to prepare one thing hard. It is the thing that I never did before. It will be a very excellent experience for me for a long time.
ReplyDeleteIn my options, Prom and graduation are more important than the other activites.I would still go to the other activity if I want, but it's just not that important to join in. Prom and graduation only have once a year, for those seniors who are going to graduated, it's very meaningful for them, cause I think graduation means high school's end, and parents would proud of their kids in the graduation. But I hate that some activities we must attend to, I hate be control by anyone!
ReplyDeleteI think that going to school events is part of the American experience. So far, I've attended to every single event that I've been invited, I admit that some are better than others however I think all the international students should go to all the events in order to meet more people, learn more about Maine's culture, see how parties are in the USA...
ReplyDeleteMy favorite event so far has been homecoming, it was at the beginning of the year so I got to meet many American students, besides it was the first party that I go outside my country and that was an amazing experience. This was a very important event for me, nevertheless for my roommates don't have the same opinion, they claim that the best event they've been is Spring Fling.
In my view, I think that some events are more important than others. We can not compare a dorm social with prom or a pep rally with the international fair, some events are a perfect way to show international students the American culture.
In conclusion all the events that I have attended this year will remain in my mind forever, all of them had something that made them special and I think that without them this school year would've been very different.
I don't participate any events because I always play video games in my room. In the last three weeks I will make a plan. I will make time rational. I'm not participate events, so I should do some exercise. I must go play outside, or walk around TA to widen my knowledge.
ReplyDeleteBefore the end of the school year, actually, there were a lot of things happened, and a lot of things will happen. I was in the concert, cause I am taking concert choir class. I will attend the international fair. It would be fun. I can eat a lot of delicious foods from different countries. I will like it!
ReplyDeleteI plan to go to senior art show and the awards nights in athletics and academics. But also every residential students are required to attend the international fair and need check in with Ms. Brewer. The importance for a student to go to these events are depended. These events are good chance to meet other people and make friends. But I get no interest in neither dance performance nor choral concert and I won't go. I have something important next week. I applied to the student council officers and became one of the student council officers. And there will have a pizza party next Thursday to analyze 14-15 school events and discuss next year school activities, and also is a congratulations graduates party for the senior student council members!
ReplyDeleteI this these are very important event to international students， It will become to a infrequent memory when we grow up, and I will go to the graduation and congratulate my friends graduated, and next year when I go to graduation, I'll invite my parents come to school.
ReplyDeleteThere are many school events recently. I think they are very great. For example, I went to the choral concert. It was very great. I think events are important for us. During free time, we should go to these events. I can feel relax and learn something. Also, you can make new friends. We have dorm Olympic this weekend. I am very excited. School events are very fun and interesting. We should all go.
ReplyDeleteAs a student in TA, I don't participate a lot of school events. I think it's more fun to go with my own friend rather than go with a lot of people who I don't know, because I always feel more comfortably when I am in a familiar environment. By the way, there are also some school events that I will attend like graduation party or the Olympic. Compare with other events, these events are more important to go as a student in TA, it's not only for fun to go, it's more like a responsibility of a student.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI attended Art Exhibit and dorm Olympic . It is important for a student to go to these events. Because it is a kind of experience and it is a good way to make friends. Also, we can practice English. Some of these activities are larger than the others, but they have the same meaning— helping people or making fun. So all the events are the same important. It is really a good way to have a communication with others, also they are really helpful on our lead ability.
ReplyDeleteI will represent Korea at International fair. When I heard that they've planed to do International fair, I thought it could be good opportunities to introduce Koran. So I am palning to make Korean food call "bibimbap". I hope American and other people who are from different countries enjoy Korea food.
ReplyDeleteI will not go any events this weekend. But I think these events are very important to international students. Because this is a very good chance to make new friends, and play together. Such as dorm Olympic, it is a great event. You know if you want to win the game, you should work with you teammates. Teamwork is a necessary to every bodies' life. So we can learn a lot from these events
ReplyDeleteBetween now and the end of the school year, there are a lot of things going on at TA.But I do not like to participate in these activities. I know that these activities are important, you can make more friends. But I prefer to be alone. I do not like very lively environment.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think there are no important events in this list. I didn't get into awards night for this year, so I don't feel I have to go to this event. Maybe graduation is the most event for me because lots of my senior friends will leave Thornton academy next year. I will miss them, and it's time for me to face my own future. International fair, which international students establish to introduce different cultures all around world. I'm not interesting in it, but I will go to visit it because my country's culture is part of it.
It is not necessary for all students to join these events because everybody may have more important personal thing should to resolve.
From my perspective,all the events in the school are important. Student can not study all the time, they need to spend time on the social activity. Those social events can help us improve our english quickly and we can get into American culture, the most important point is you can find more friends in those events. The prom is a good example for those events. you can go to the prom with your friends, you can find a lot of new friends while you are dancing.
ReplyDeleteAs an international student to come to TA, it will be more helpful to join these events and participate in. It is the fastest way to pracatice and improve English. But I am not going to participate on these event because i am an intervert, i need to spend a lot of time myself. If i am not going to be participate in these events, i will have much more time myself. I can learn and practive on my own, it‘s also a good way to study English. If I am going to these events, it will be hard for me to talk with those people that i am not really familiar with, it's not the best way for me to join those events.
ReplyDeleteClyde Qi
ReplyDeleteELL II
ELL Journal
Mr. Griffin
5/21/2015
TA Activities
School always has activities going on. For example, the International Fair, Choral Concert, Dance Performance, Awards nights in Athletics and Academics, prom, and, of course, Graduation. They are all good place to go during the school year.
I didn’t go to all the activities because I have no time for them all, but I wish I could. School activities are the best place for students to hang out or make friends. And they are also a good opportunity for international kids to get touching with day students. It helps international students improve English skills and get to know American culture better.
If I’m really honest to myself I will say that The “Home Coming” was the best thing I’ve ever done this year at TA. I went home coming with Abby and we had a lot of fun. Both of us didn’t know how to dance at first time. And we tried to dance like other guys. So we watched other people dance and tried to study. Some of them had bad dancing moves and we were laughing at them. Then we were holding each others back and starting to move slowly. We were so bad at dancing so we only danced for a little while. I wasn’t have enough courage to staring at her for the whole time because of some reason. After that, we had a very good conversation for the rest of time.
Let’s go to school activities and hang out with Americans and make friends with them. That’s the magic code why I improved my English skills so quick and had a lot of fun.
I will attend the International Fair on next Saturday, because I am a representative in Chinese booth. I am a member of Leadership Seminar, and I helped others to plan this Fair in the beginning of March. I just joined Dorm Olympics which is a sport competition for dorm students yesterday, and it was amazing. I want to watch the dance performance, but I missed that, because I need to review for my AP test. I believe it is important for students to go to these kind of events, because every event is unique and interesting. I think some events are more important than others. For example, the Prom isn't that important for me. First, I am a junior. Second, I am not a dancer. But I will definitely join the International Fair. I am international student who study in US, and the International Fair really gives me a chance to show my home country and let Native American students learn about my country. I love this event, I hope I can do a good job on next Saturday.
ReplyDeleteFor my part I don't have a time to participate to those events. Sport take all my time after basketball .I don't need those events to have more American friends. For me the most events in year it's the graduation which everybody should attempt .I never participate in art , and dance so I didn't try . I will always participate in sports events first .
ReplyDeleteI will suggest you to attend international fair at May 30th . Because I am one of the representatives in Chinese booth . It is a good opportunity to connect with different countries and get a special experience. You can enjoy the music , dance and national food . Although, you can talk with different international students face to face . I am very glad to tell you my special local culture . You also can play some games to get points and use those points to change price . In this week , I joined the dorm Olympic. My team is the fifth in twelve teams . We worked together, showed we are a team . Even we didn't get a good ranking , but it is still very fun ! This week is awesome , and I hope you can join international fair !
ReplyDeleteAt first,I just heard there was a volunteer job,so I attended it with Teresa.We did become volunteers because there were enough people in China team.So we became volunteers for Azerbaijan.We were so nervous because we didn't know anything about Azerbaijan.But it would be a good chance for us to learn its culture.I have to say we are lucky.I just hoped we won't ruin Azerbaijan team,just kidding.
ReplyDeleteI still want to work in China team.China is a large country with many different cultures.I come from Guangdong which is in the south of China, even though Shanghai is also in southern China.The culture in Guangdong is still very different in Shanghai.For example,People in Guangdong don't eat spicy food,we like sweet food.But people in Shanghai like spicy food.
Anyway,we will try our best to make it perfect.I'd love to make friends from all over the world and join as many activities as I can.
In my opinion, I think join an international activitie is a good way to realize different cultures of different countries. We have some activities which activities like international Fire in the thornton academy. I joined once this year, but this activity is different to international fire. This activity was created by Chinese club, I had a lot fun. You should join it if you have time.
ReplyDeleteAs we know,socialization is necessary for people live in this world.Of course,those social events in our high school are indispensable.In mt opinion,we need to find a balance between attending those social events and studying.For example,if one guy is not that good at studying and he is having a relatively lower grade than others,he should just attend those extremely important events such as Graduation.And for someone who loves art but also has a grade which is not that good,she could attend art events and save some time to improve her grade.For me,I would rather to go Graduation and sometimes a dance party I guess.Because I feel like those social party in USA is different from China,I think it is weird for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone, for your comments on school events. Speaking as a language teacher, I have to say those students who participate most in school activities outside of class are the students who most quickly pick up idiomatic English. So even if you fell a bit shy or introverted, I urge you to go out and participate!
ReplyDeleteFrom Veronika:
ReplyDelete"I will attend the International Fair, and it's important for a student to go to these events, especially for international students. In my opinion, the international Fair is more important event than the other events that are mentioned, we should go to support this great program. BTW, Dodgeball Club is the most important event, because I love dodgeball! "
Studying is not only thing in the school, I perform students go to activities in the school. TA is a multiple school, you can make many different friends by school activities. You can improve your English a lot, and you might learn other countries' language from other students. The most important reason for these activities that is a really good experience in your life, you can learn a lot, and you might won't forget in you whole life. I have joined Dorm Olympics this Friday. It was so funny. We played game as a team, and spent good time. If you have time, you would go to the school activities, it is worth for you.
ReplyDeleteI just went to my friends prom i. Minnesota. Its not a fantasic prom but i could never forget that feeling, to seeing a friend graduating. I think student should attend all those events, there part of the high school memory. Probably prom and graduation are the most important two, but the other could also be very interesting.
ReplyDeleteIn China, High school students of today participate in lots of out – of – class activities As we can see from the pictures, some students go to factories, the countryside and the army to experience the colorful life of workers, farmers and soldiers. In factories they make parts for machines under the supervision of the workers. They live and work together with farmers, helping them with planting, cultivating and harvesting. They have military drill in the army, learning shooting and marching.
ReplyDeleteBy taking part in all these activities, students can widen their horizon. They get to understand the life out of school which is unfamiliar to them. They can also gain knowledge that is never taught in class or learned from books.
I am going to the international fair. I think international fair is important because we are international and we ha to give a good impression. But I think the others events are not that important for us, except graduation. Graduation is important because that means that you finish one of the most important periods of your life.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to attend the international fair, I'm actually part of it, I'm working with Spain, I think that if you like geography and knowing about new cultures you should probably go there because who is best for telling about a country that one who lives there? I think they are all the same important because it's obvious that for me is better Spain but for a guy who lives in Vietnam he's gonna think that Vietnam is the best and same with the others so yes... i think they're all the same important
ReplyDeleteI will probably attend only 2-3 of these events because i don't like to be in a large group of people. Not all of these events are important, the Awards night for sure is more important than the dance performance or the art exhibit. I would be exhausted if i go to all of these events.
ReplyDeleteI really like these types of events, that I love representing my country and I feel that people are so open to meeting people and cultures important in the world , from my point of view doors, the best you can do is be proud of your home country no matter what happens , because if you do not you, nobody will do for you.
ReplyDeleteI am going to participate in the international fair because I want to represent my country and show other people what they don't know about my country and let them learn new cool things about other countries.
ReplyDeleteYes I think international fair is more important because you represent your country and show other people about your country and you do it with pride because of how much you love it, then maybe graduation would come second because you are moving into a different life without having someone to tell you to do your work.
I like these kinds of multicultural events that, you don't only learn from others but you can show them something from your own culture. I'm going to represent my country and I want to show the people our amazing cuisine. I can't wait to learn about other countries either.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sure that it's going to be awesome. I hope they do it next year too.
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ReplyDeleteThe international Fair has so much fun !
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a international students' activity is as wonderful as this. So many students joined us to share their great culture and delicious food. I'd like to share our tradition as well, so I helped the Chinese group as much as I could.
The most interesting thing I tried on that day is Azerbaijan kebab and yogurt. The kebabs are so tasty that I even want to eat them all. But the yogurt is very surprising to me. Before that day, Vivian introduced that yogurt in her presentation and I thought that is pretty sweet. However the yogurt is salty! SALTY! I was totally surprised.
Thank for everyone that made the international fair so unforgettable.
I was represent for Vietnam in that International Fair. In addition, I took part in the leadership seminar which is the group that held the international fair. Therefore; I knew this event long before it's announced officially. Honestly, It was my first time to work in group in create an event like this. Therefore; I know how important of this event. It is the place where you will find a different culture and tradition but it will be spoken by the one that you know really well: your friend. The most important thing in this fair is strengthen the friendship between American students and international students and among the international students. In my opinion this fair will be one of the most important event next year and we will try to do it even better than this year
ReplyDelete