Advanced Assignment Due February 28, 2011

Read the following quotes. Which one to you agree the most with? Did you ever have to deal with a hassle while traveling? Do you ever regret going on a vacation or staying at a certain hotel? Talk about travel decisions you regret.
"I'd rather regret the things I have done than the things that I haven't ." Lucille Ball
"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
Alexander Graham Bell

"I have no regrets. I wouldn't have lived my life the way I did if I was going to worry about what people were going to say." Ingrid Bergman"Forget regret, or life is yours to miss." Jonathan Larson

"Make it a rule in life never to regret and never look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it is good only for wallowing in."
Katherine Mansfield

IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT MIDTERM PROJECTS!!!

Students,

It is very important that your Midterm Projects be done and handed in to me no later than Wednesday, February 23rd.

I must give Olga Midterm grades by Sunday, February 27th. If you do not hand in your Midterm Projects by Wednesday, I will be forced to give you a failing grade for my project class. PLEASE PLEASE make sure you are attending school this week (February 21st & February 23rd). If I don't have a project in my hand for you, I will be forced to tell Olga that you did not complete your assignment and thus you will have a failing Midterm grade in my class.

Let's make this a great midterm! Please, if you have any questions, email me or call me!

Your Favorite Holiday Intermediate Due 2/16/11

We all have holidays that we like the most, but what makes them special? I would like you to write about your favorite holiday and make it personal! Don't tell me you like Christmas because you get presents. Tell me you like Christmas because your mother used to bake a certain cake, or your father used to sing a certain song.  I am interested in hearing why holidays are your favorite, or about one specific holiday that meant a lot to you.

This holiday can be from your country, or an American holiday. The best answers will be the ones that people don't know much about, so be creative when answering the question.

Fears and Phobias Due Wednesday February 16th, 2010

All of us have things that we are fearful about. Many people say they are scared to die, and even some people are afraid of speaking in front of other people.  Think about your fears. What are you afraid of?
Some may be serious, and some may be silly, but it always helps to think about our fears.

So, after you think about it, write about them. I would like you to tell me what you are afraid of and why you think you are afraid of these things.

After you write, lookup some of these phobias and find out what they are. Can you believe that some people are afraid of these things?

Ablutophobia
Caligynephobia
Dromophobia
Hylophobia
Mycophobia
Rhytiphobia
Xenophobia

Advanced Assignment Due 2/14/11

Today we are talking about suspicious claims. Click on the following links to look at products. For each product write if you think it is a suspicious claim, or a reasonable claim. How can you tell? Would you buy the product? Why or why not? Make sure you write down the product name and the reasons why you find it suspicious or not.

Product #1
product #1 webpage

Product #2
product #2 webpage

Product #3
product #3 webpage

Product #4
product #4 webpage

Product #5
product #5 webpage

Product #6
product #6 webpage

Product#7
product #7 webpage

Product #8
product #8 webpage

Product #9
product #9 webpage

Product #10
product #10 webpage

Intermediate Assignment Due 2/14/11

Today we are discussing how to ask about the customs of another culture. Today's assignment is simple: just come up with five questions about culture.

Since today is Valentine's Day, you might want to consider asking questions about dating, love, and marriage, or you may come up with any questions you'd like. I simply want you to type the questions. We will discuss the answers to those questions next class.

Vote for Teacher's Midterm Project

I will be doing a presentation for Midterm Project just like you. Post your vote here. What would you like me to present?

Intermediate Assignment Due Wednesday February 9th, 2011

A famous holiday named Mardi Gras is coming up. As a comment below, post the answers to the following questions:

1. What does Mardi Gras mean?
2. Where is Mardi Gras celebrated?
3. Why do people celebrate Mardi Gras?
4. When is Mardi Gras?
5. How is Mardi Gras celebrated? What do people do to celebrate?

Advanced Assignment Due Wednesday February 9th, 2011

Hello students. Today we are talking about superstitions. What are some famous superstitions from your country? Do you believe them? Which superstitions do you believe, or not believe?

Write a few sentences presenting your views on superstitions. Why do you think people believe in superstitions?

Quarter Project Topics & Group Assignments Due Feb 7, 2011

Hello everyone! As you all know, every quarter CSI students prepare a quarter project. This quarter's project is named "Living in the United States."  For this project you will get into groups of 3-4 students, choose a topic, and create either an essay and poster, or a PowerPoint Presentation.

Step one:  Form groups. Please post a comment below as to who is in your group by today, February 7th, 2011. If students do not post which students they want to work with, then I will assign students to groups. So, if you will be missing class, I suggest you post to the blog who you'd like to work with.

Step two: Choose a topic. Once you have determined who is in your group, your group must choose a topic. Topics cannot be chosen twice, so any group who chooses a topic first will have that topic. Please see the topics below. Please note, you may choose a different topic not listed as long as you confirm it with me. 

Important: If your group decides to write an essay, the requirements are 2 pages, double spaced, with references. We will be talking about this later in class, but this means getting information from sources and including a references page at the end of the paper.  If your group decides to do a PowerPoint Presentation, the requirements are 20 slides, including a title slide, adequate combination of text and pictures, and a works cited slide at the end showing the sources you used. Please note: Direct quotations should be kept at a minimum. I am limiting the use of direct quotes to 2 per project, so information gained from sources must be changed into your own words.

Project Living in the United States

Topics:

1. First Steps – General Information

1.1  Money and Banks (cash/debit card/credit cards/ATM machines/ local and regional banks, hours of operation, saving and checking accounts)

1.2  Food (typical American meals, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, salads, cole slaw, corn, donuts, bagel, cereal, French toast, Pancakes, waffles, snacks, “junk food”, fast food)

1.3  Restaurants (Family Restaurants, cafeterias, steak houses, cafes, coffee shops, sandwich shops, delis, truck stops) What should you know about the American Restaurants (Smoking rules, menus in the window, “specials”, “doggie bag”, “tips”, meals tax, bus boys, “wait to be seated” signs, question at the restaurants, bar, breweries or pubs, need to be 21 to drink)

1.4  Drinking and Smoking Rules (show ID to prove you are 21, cannot sell tobacco to minors, open bottle in the car, smoking rules, drink and drive rules)

1.5  Hotels (motels, inns, hotels, check in/out, Wi-Fi, smoking/non-smoking rooms, overnight laundry service, telephone usage, “bell-hops’), youth hotels and YMCAs, Hostel Guide and Handbook, Bed and Breakfast or B and B.

1.6  Telephone (Yellow Pages, Cell phones, pay phones, collect calls, phone cards, calling cards, “touch-tone” phone, 800 number, three digit area codes, directory assistance, 911, four time zones)

1.7  Mail, Telegrams, Faxes, and Email (Post offices, red, white, and blue mailboxes, c/o General Delivery, Main Post Office, mailing address, zip code, sending packages, UPS, USPS, FedEx, DHL, telegrams, fax, email, Skype, social networking Facebook and Twitter.

1.8  Transportation (Air travel, “shuttle”, make reservations on-line, Amtrak, Grey Hound bus, Interstate Highway System, toll roads, EZ Pass, FastTrack, etc., traffic signs and regulations, rent a car, taxi/cab, subway, Metra, parking meters, public transportation system, hitchhiking)

1.9  Shopping ( retail stores, shopping centers, malls, supermarkets, specialty shops, chain stores, department stores, factory outlets, convenience stores, gas stations, Triple A (AAA), Drug Stores, sales taxes)

1.10          Health, Medical Care, and Safety (medical care and insurance system, outpatient clinics, hospitals, etc.)

1.11          Electricity and Electronics (volts, AC, adaptors)

1.12          Tipping ( rules of tipping, who we need to tip and how much)

1.13          Measures ( Linear Measurements, Liquid Measurements, Dry Measurements, Weights, Formulas for Approximate Conversions, Temperature, Clothing Sizes)

2. Customs and Values

2.1 Greetings and Leave-taking (Hello, Howdy, what’s up, etc.)

2.2 Names and Titles (Ambassador, Senator, Governor, Father, Rabbi, Imam, Mr., Ms., Miss, Mrs.)

2.3 Conversation Topics

2.4 Friendship

2.5 Invitations (what to do if you are invited to the party, R.S.V.P.,

2.6 Personal Space and Privacy

2.7 Time (being on time, etc)

2.8 Equality

2.9 Independence (personal independence and self-reliance, individualism)

2.10 Eating Customs (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack)

2.11 Family Life (Marriage, bring in up children, divorce, single parents, family pet, family values, senior citizens)

2.12 Leisure (Sports, jogging, skateboarding, fishing, exercise groups, sports clubs, television, video games, gardening, etc)

2.13 Holidays (National holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas), Special holiday celebrations and traditions: Valentine’s Day, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa)

2.14 Environment (Conscious of the natural environment, recycle, littering, green peace, etc.)

2.15 Business Etiquette (dress code, being on time for meeting, telephone ahead to cancel the meeting, handshake, “small talk”, business lunches)

3. Country Facts

3.1 History (First inhabitants, British colonies, Revolutionary War, declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, US Constitution, slavery, Civil War, Native American Indian Tribes, World War I, The Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, Vietnam War, terrorism, global warming)

3.2 Noteworthy American Presidents (George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin DelanoRoosevelt, John Kennedy)

3.3 Noteworthy American Prophets (Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr)

3.4 Political Map (50 states)

3.5 Land and People (Regions: New England, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Rocky Mountain, Southwest, South, Pacific and West Coast), land (geography), climate, population, largest cities, language, ethnic groups)

3.6 Government (federal government, executive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch, state governments, local government)

3.7 Economy (free enterprise, natural resources, services, manufacturing)

3.8 Religion (freedom of religion)

3.9 Education (public/private/parochial schools, elementary, middle and high schools, undergraduate, graduate schools. 

Class Cancelled Wednesday February 2nd

Hello Everybody. Class is cancelled for today. Have fun in the snow, but stay safe :)