For more information, call 281-312-1578 or go to Kingwood.LoneStar.eduDiversity: The Intensive English Program Newsletter is published once a semester.

DiversityThe Intensive English Program Newsletter Volume 8, No. 1, Spring 2009

ContentsAn Interesting or Fun Experience in the U.S. ............... 1

What Inspires Me ............... 3

Who is my Hero? ............... 4

An Unforgettable Childhood Memory ............... 5

What I Like Most About the U.S. ............... 9

Why Do I Need to Study English

.............11

What I Like About My Country .............13

This I Believe .............. 17

ESOL Schedule Summer 2009 .............24

Editor's Note: The Intensive English (ESOL) Program at Lone Star College - Kingwood was founded in August 2001 to help immigrant and international students living in the community to learn and improve their English. One of the goals of the ESOL Program is to promote intercultural understanding and diversity on campus and in the community. Diversity: The ESOL Student Newsletter plays an important role towards this goal. This issue of the Diversity has several themes. This I Believe, inspired by a program of the same title on the National Public Radio; Why I need English, What I Like Most about the US; An Inspiration in My Life; What I Like Most about My Country. I hope you will enjoy reading these great stories. If you have any comments about the newsletter, please e-mail Anne Amis at anne.amis@lonestar.edu.

An Interesting or Fun Experience in the U.S.FunGladys Gomez, Mexico, Oral Communication High BeginningMy life in the United States is full of happiness and fun moments because I have a beautiful family whom I live with. On the weekend, we go to the park near the lake to barbecue, go fishing, and walk in the forest. We also play football and baseball and go swimming. At night, my sister, my friends and I go to dinner at a restaurant and afterwards we go dancing at the Latin Club. Last weekend when we went salsa dancing, two of our friends fell on the dance floor. We immediately sat down and started to drink in order to forget what had happened. It’s fun and happy every time.

Phu Vo, Vietnam, Oral Communication High BeginningI came to America two and a half years ago. I’m currently working at a beauty salon. I came to Houston from New Orleans 3 months ago. I want to learn English.

Happy ExperienceGloria Salazar, Mexico, Oral Communication High BeginningWhen I was thirty five years old, I didn’t plan to get pregnant, but it happened and that made me think about having a second child. After dealing with typical morning sickness for nine months, I gave birth to a beautiful girl. I named her Jennifer. She was a very lucky baby because everybody gave her toys, clothes, and money. When she was seven months old, I had to go back to work. My sister took care of Jennifer until she went to pre-k when she turned four years old. She is nine years old now and the most intelligent student in her class. I’m very proud of her. Jennifer is the reason of my life.

A Change in My Life Lucia Sanchez, Mexico, Oral Communication High BeginningWhen I first came to the U.S., I never thought I would go through a big change in my life. The culture was totally different from my culture and what I was accustomed to. I felt bad when people spoke to me in English because I did not know a single word. I completed the last two years of high school when I first arrived. My favorite class was P.E. because I did not have to speak English, and I loved to play basketball. One day the basketball coach called me into her office. I was scared because I thought I was in trouble. It turned out that she asked me if I would like to play on the school basketball team. I was nervous to be on the team because I could not speak English. I told her that I was not prepared to be on the team. When I left the coach’s office, I was sad. Playing basketball for my school was the best thing that had happened to me at the time. After that day, my goal was to learn English as soon as possible, so

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An Interesting or Fun Experience in the U.S.

I could be on the team. When I did understand English, I could not be on the team because I had to work after school, and the basketball practices were after school. My new goal is to improve my oral communication skills and attend college. This is my dream and I hope it becomes true.

A Funny Story on Valentine’s Day Minerva Sanchez, Mexico, Oral Communication High BeginningEvery year on Valentine’s Day my husband gives me a Valentine’s card on behalf of everyone in the family. One time my husband gave me a Valentine’s card and a book of love poems and two champagne glasses. I was happy because he gave me something different. I loved my gifts. He said he did not know if he should tell me the truth, but if he bought three Valentine’s cards, he would get the book of love poems and the two champagne glasses for free. He told me that he should tell me this in case I saw this special Valentine’s Day offer at the store.

My Funny StoryLesya M. Piamprasha, Ukraine, Oral Communication High BeginningHello! My name is Lesya. I am from the Ukraine. My young daughter Patricia and I experienced a funny incident in December last year. One morning after my husband left for work, Patricia, who had just turned three, and I were having breakfast and watch-ing my favorite show, “The Price is Right.” During a commercial break, I realized that it was garbage day, and our garbage can was still outside on the street. Without thinking, I rushed outside to pick it up and put it in the designated spot. The second I stepped outside, my daughter slammed the door and started to play with the lock. I can tell that she was having a lot of fun playing with the door lock. What I was not aware of was that she had locked me out. I had no keys or my cell phone on me. I could tell that my poor child could not understand why I was talking to her through the closed door. I do not know how much time I spent on the porch trying to get into my house. One thing I knew was that it was way past my show time. The reason I knew this was because

Patricia would periodically come to the door screaming though the door lock: “Mom, Mom! Come on, Sponge Bob!” I was trying to get her attention to the door lock instead of the “Sponge Bob Show,” but she was distracted by the show. I had no choice left but to go to my neighbor’s house and hope that they had my hus-band’s telephone number. My neighbor, who was luckily at home, thought the whole situation was hilarious even though I wasn’t laughing or being funny. I told him, “Gini, you need to call my husband and tell him to come home because I have been locked out, and Patricia is home alone.” He then realized I was not jok-ing, and he did have my husband’s phone number. Half an hour later, my husband came and unlocked the door. Until this day, I have this fear of being locked out of my house and leaving a three year old alone. Well, I did learn my lesson.

My Visit ContinuesTelma Perazzo, Brazil, Oral Communication High BeginningMy first visit to Texas was a year ago. When I arrived at the airport, the officer said to me, “Good luck!” One year later, it is my second visit and what the officer said to me still lingers. I am attending English classes at the college, and these classes are important to me because I like to communicate with teachers, students and my family. I enjoy watching television and movies. I go to Sunday mass. I had an opportunity to watch the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, but I could not understand all the topics that he mentioned in his speech. Another unforget-table experience for me was watching the Super Bowl. Never had I watched a game for four hours.I also have the chance to go to the library to read magazines and check out books and DVDs. I spend my time with my daughter and son-in-law. It is them who have invited me and made it pos-sible for me to have these experiences. I have visited some cities, San Antonio, Galveston, some lakes and resorts. I read about the history of Alamo which I found interesting. In each of my visits, I hope to discover why Texas is the Lone Star state. If God permits, in my next visit, I will be writing much better in English. §

Who knew that when Tricia chose to take French in high school that her life would lead her to Kingwood College? Tricia quickly discovered that French was more than just a class as soon as she realized that she loved learning about different cultures and her own language, English. Therefore in 1997, this native Houstonian began her travels abroad. She has visited various parts of France and Europe several times, and she lived in Bourgoin-Jallieu, France from 2002-2003, during which time she experienced her first teaching job: English. After re-turning home, she began looking to teach both English and French. While teaching English for College of the Mainland, she realized her love for foreign languages and cultures did not stop with French. She fell in love with her students and knew that teaching languages was a passion she had to pursue. Also at this time, Tricia reconnected with a high school friend and was married to Jonathan McLeroy in 2004. Jonathan worked in Utah at the time so Tricia found a masters program at Utah State University where she obtained her Masters in Second Language Teaching. Still hungry for more knowledge, Tricia and Jonathan moved to Illinois where she continued her education until last May; it was time to move home to Texas. Now Tricia teaches English for Kingwood College and loves reconnecting with students from all over the world. She and Jonathan are expecting their first baby in May: a new frontier! She also regularly travels (France, Canada, the Dominican Republic) and will continue to do so even as her family grows. Tricia strongly believes that through cultural experiences and exchanges one discovers oneself and develops the compassion necessary to be a citizen of the world; therefore, she will continue her journey with joy and enthusiasm. §

Featured ESOL Faculty: Tricia Bartz McLeroy

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What Inspires Me

Books Inspire MeJorge Lozada, Ecuador, Writing IntermediateBooks have always been my inspiration. I read my first book when I was eight years old. The title of that book is Lazarillo de Tormes. I did not read many books in high school. This situation changed when I was in college. I became a book addict. I really do not remember the quantity of books I read. Since then, I have not stopped reading. For me, there is not a friend like a book. I always have a book with me. I do not have a favorite book, because I learn something from each one. I have learned many life lessons from books.

My HeroCarlos Ruiz, United States, Writing IntermediateOne of my heroes is an ex-soccer player from Mexico, Hugo San-chez. He began as a dentistry student at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. While he studied, he also played soccer in the same university, becoming a great player and goal scorer. His greatest accomplishment was to play in Spain. He played in one of the best leagues of soccer in the world, in the Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid teams. He became the first and only player of the world to have earned the “PICHICHI” trophy, which is given to the best goal scorer in five different seasons. He also became the coach of the Mexican national team. Unfortunately, he did not have a good season as the coach. At the moment, he is the coach of a Spanish team.

Music is a Source of Inspiration Liz Salamanca, Venezuela, Writing IntermediateI love music. My life is always full of music, because music is my source of inspiration for almost anything in my life. It does not really matter how I feel, there is always a perfect song to listen to. Music always helps me organize my thoughts, feelings, and emo-tions. If I am stressed or worried, classical music will help me relax and clear my mind. It also helps me when I need to concentrate and be creative. Classical music or almost any kind of instru-mental music helps me focus, and new fresh ideas will pop in my mind. When I get lonely or depressed, I reach for songs with mo-tivating and encouraging lyrics. These types of songs usually help me change the perspective from where I am seeing things at that moment, and get me out of any kind of situation that is making me depressed. Music definitely moves my life, especially when I listen to tropical rhythms that remind me from where I am. Tropi-cal rhythms stir me up and get me full of energy for any physical activity that I might need to do. Music is my motor and source of energy where I always look to get inspired.

Things that Inspire Me Gloria Elizabeth Pedraza, Mexico, Writing IntermediateWhat inspires me? I have many things that inspire me. For ex-ample, I enjoy looking at the blue sky. I also enjoy walking in the green areas and seeing the beautiful scenery around Kingwood. This inspires me to take care of nature, throw away garbage in its place, and conserve water. Another that inspires me is my fam-ily. My family is very important to me, because they always help me when I need them. The most important person to me is my daughter, Yvette. She is 3 years old. Yvette is very smart. She is very observant and is always asking questions. She inspires me to learn English and study hard, so I can give her a better life. I am taking ESL classes because I want to teach her to speak and write English. Also, I am studying English so that when Yvette goes to school, I can help her with her homework. Yvette inspires me to get ahead in life.

What Inspires Me?Antonio Villalobos, Colombia, Writing IntermediateWhat inspires me every day is simply known as life. Life is not only beautiful, it is wonderful. Unfortunately, it is too short. Life is not only a living experience, it is destiny, and we are responsible to make from our life a joyful experience. Life is also a source of en-ergy that inspires me to set and improve my goals. It is positive or negative energy that can be generated, rejected, or attracted based on my mood. From my point of view, life is something amazing. It starts with the fact that I am able to breathe and see changes since early in the morning, during the sunset, and even in cloudy, rainy or foggy days. I face challenges during the afternoon and finish with peace in mind. During our life, we have to interact with our surroundings, natural resources, infrastructures, but mainly with people. And we need to try to leave a mark with those around us, leaving unforgettable memories in our lives. Life is so wide and it is not easy to define, but definitely, life is my inspiration.

The Person That Inspires Me Veronica Velazquez, Mexico, Writing IntermediateWhat does it mean to inspire someone? Well, according to the dictionary the word inspire means to encourage somebody to greater effort, enthusiasm, or creativity. Different people motivate me to go on with my daily life and education. Three of them are my three sons, Brandon, Bryant and Eddie. But, the person that inspires me the most is Jesus Christ. Jesus was born in Israel ap-proximately two thousand years ago. For his first thirty years, Jesus lived a traditional Jewish life. In his thirties, Jesus began preaching and teaching. The religious leaders and the authorities condemned his teachings because he claimed to be God. One of his friends betrayed him to his enemies. He was arrested, brutally tortured, and then crucified in a cross. However, Jesus returned from the dead three days later and left Earth alive by rising up into the sky. Because of his love for me and for saving me, he was sacrificed. I am extremely grateful to the person who died for me, and He is my inspiration.

My Dreams of Inspiration Miguel Reina, Venezuela, Writing IntermediateMy dreams inspire me. My family inspires me. When I think of my dreams, I feel something good. It makes me feel happy and strong. Having a dream and watching it turn into reality also inspires me. Seeing people working hard and facing up to their problems inspires me. My mom always asks me, “If he can’t, why don’t you?” Sometimes I feel bad and don’t want to study any-more, but when I remember my mom and my dreams, I think that I have to continue working hard in my life. I want to be the man that my mom wants me to be. I know I can do it. Now, I am inspired.

My Inspiration Blanca Martinez, Mexico, Writing IntermediateAlicia Alonso is a wonderful ballerina who inspires me. She was born in Havana, Cuba, on December 21, 1920. Alicia Alonso is a Cuban Prima Ballerina Assoluta and choreographer. She is considered a legend, and she is most famous for her portrayals of Giselle and Carmen. Alicia was afflicted with an eye defect and was partially blind. Alicia Alonso is someone that inspired me along my career. Her discipline and devotion with dance made me do my best. I feel fortunate, because I saw her work when I was a girl, and it always moved me to improve my technique and work. Alicia Alonso is a good example to follow.

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Who is my Hero?

Yudelmis McDaniel, Cuba, Oral Communication High BeginningMy hero is my mom! She gave me life and guided my steps to being what I am. As I grew up she saved me from injuring myself. She taught me how to live my life in a peaceful, healthy manner. Mom saved me from the hands of corruption and gave me love to help me overcome temptations which would not benefit me. Mom fought against the world to defend me; she risked her life and reputation to give me the best. While my mom was doing all these things for me, I thought she was the meanest person for not letting me do what everyone else did. Today I am so grateful for having Mom in my life. She made me who I am, a person of good.

Photo: Yudelmis McDaniel

An Inspiration in my Life Gloria Aragon, Nicaragua, Writing IntermediateThere are many ways people inspire me in my life. The person who has inspired me most is my mother. She had an education and good principles. She gave me all the tools to be strong and consis-tent. Also, she showed me the steps that I have to follow to be a better person. For instance, being honest, respectful, responsible, and humble are good qualities to live in a correct way. One day, in my country of Nicaragua, I went to the supermarket. A cashier gave her more change than what she paid. She told the cashier, “this money is not mine.” So the cashier told her, “Oh Thanks! It was my error.” I asked my mom, “Why did you that?” She an-swered me, “Because that is not mine.” Since that moment, I knew the meaning of the world honesty. I know one’s mother is special for most people, but for me, my mother is a big part of my life.

Hero in my Dream Samdy Tous, Cambodia, Writing IntermediateIn people’s realization, a hero is a person who makes a wonderful story. My hero is a man that makes me excited. One day, I was listening to the radio in Cambodia, my homeland. While I was turning the dial to find a station, I heard a loud voice of a man. He was talking about political and general problems in life. Every-thing he said created a fantastic new idea of life’s definition. His solutions revolutionized Cambodia’s political system. Everything I heard from him, I wish would happen in the future, and I hope that I am a person of his team to make a dream come true.

My Model of Life Alicia Esmeralda Ruiz, Mexico, Writing IntermediateSome of the qualities of this great man were that he was a bal-anced and reasonable being. He was an affectionate and pleasant

person, because it did not bother him when people approached to request his advice or to talk about their problems. One of his greater virtues was to put himself in the place of others to under-stand how they felt and to help them. He demonstrated his com-passion. He respected everybody, as well as women. He treated them with dignity. Another one of his qualities was to be a good friend. He never left them even when they made mistakes. These are just some reasons he is a hero or model in my life.

My FamilyYolanda Gonzalez, Mexico, Writing IntermediateMy family inspires me. They inspire me to do many things such as studying English. I have two teenagers, Carlos and Karla, and a nine-year-old daughter, Yovanka. I am a very lucky mother, because all my children are talented. Karla is very smart, Carlos is a great artist, and little Yovanka is great at reading and writing stories. So, every day I try to do something productive to give them a good example. I have to work with my children so we can all improve ourselves. One day, their dreams will come true and that will be my greatest satisfaction.

Maria J. Castro, Venezuela, PronunciationMy family and friends are those who inspire me to achieve the goals in my life. My family is my main support system; they have always helped me make important decisions to succeed in life. Without their support, I wouldn’t be here studying English as a second language. On the other hand, I’ve also been surrounded by good friends who have offered me their help, and I know that I can always count on them. I feel very glad to have met the friends I have and to be able to share my life with them. Also, it is a bless-ing from God to have such a wonderful family. §

What Inspires Me

Marie Howard, Mexico, Oral Communication High BeginningMy father-in-law is my hero. His name is Harold. He was a pilot in World War II. He flew cargo planes in the Pacific. He was shot down five times, and he received many medals. He received the distinguished-flying cross several times. He was wounded twice, but he survived and went on to become a math professor.

Angela Viviana Rey, Colombia, Oral Communication High BeginningI have two heroes. My first hero is God, my spiritual hero. He has given me all the things that a woman wants in her life to be happy. God has given me my human hero: my husband. My husband has given me what nobody else has: a committed love and a lot of happiness. He is the one with me at all times, in all circumstances, experiences, and situations in my life. He keeps me motivated at all times, supports me, and he gives me good advice about all the decisions that I need to make in my life. I don’t have to worry about loneliness anymore because he is always there for me. Now, I can enjoy a good family based on love and respect. Every day, I learn from him to bring out the best (Continued on page 16)

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An Unforgettable ClassroomMilly Santos, Honduras, Writing IntermediateMy best friend and I used to go school together on our bikes or sometimes even walk. Our school was two miles away from my house. One day it was raining. Still, in the severe weather my best friend and I decided to go to school on our bikes. When we got to the school, the teacher was not there, and only six of the students had shown up. A lot of thoughts were running in our minds, we even thought we should go and cut class. Then one of the students came up with an idea of painting this old and rusty room with new and fresh colors. Everyone had a lot of ideas. I said we should paint the walls like the color of the sky with beautiful birds, and trees with a lot of flowers, a bit of lawn with deer fetching on it, a wolf growling on top of the mountain, while a duck and his mother were swimming to their home. Once we finished paint-ing the room all of us put our initials on the bottom left hand corner. Then we decided to take a break. The next day when all of the class came back and the teacher was there too, they all were so surprised by what we had done. The teacher and all of the students admired the beauty of nature, and they all gave us compliments for what we did. Then the prin-cipal called us and gave us a certificate and called our parents and gave them compliments as well. That was my most unforgettable moment in a classroom, and I also learned that day that hard work pays off.

Selven Wolelmal, Micronesia, Writing IntermediateMy unforgettable childhood memory is about the friendliest peo-ple in my life. I know that most people have at least one or two unforgettable people in their hearts. In my case, it is all about my best friends. Since 1999, when I was in the 4th grade, I felt I was struggling and little sore about making friends. I was shy about conversing with new students. In the middle of the 3rd quarter, I got rid of my distrust, and I started making friends with others. At the end of school, I knew almost everybody, and most of them became my best friends. Then in the summer of 2000, there was a power failure at our school, so my friends and I could not use the computer. We went home and had a long chat. When we talked about the experiences which happened in childhood, all of us were excited, because everyone had a lot of pleasant memories of child-hood. One night, it was a warm night and we were watching stars on the beach. We thought about what life would be like after we separated. Now, I remember more of the details of these experi-ences today. I liked my friends better than anyone else.

Ana Lucia Salcedo, Mexico, Writing IntermediateI have so many wonderful memories of my childhood. When I was four years old, my family moved to San Luis Potosi, Mexico. For a few years, we lived in a small apartment. Then, when it was time for my sister and me to start school, my parents bought our first house. For the first time, I had my own room and did not have to share with my sister. I loved that room! My mother liked to sew, and she made a beautiful bedspread and matching curtains. I did not have a lot of free time during the week, but I would play basketball on Saturdays with my friends and not leave until it was night. Sunday was my favorite day because my family and I would spend time together all day. First we would go to church, and then after that, we used to visit family and friends. I enjoyed this time a lot because I used to have a lot of friends.

An Unforgettable Childhood Memory

Pablo Pineda, Colombia, Writing IntermediateThis memorable event happened when I was 10. My family used to go on vacation and one time we went to Cartagena. Every day I would swim on the beach with my parents and my cousins. We used to play soccer in the sand. One day, I decided to go alone to the beach. For me, this was normal but when I arrived to the hotel my parents were very frightened. It was scary because I did not know where the hotel was because we used to go to the beach on golf carts. Then a policeman saw me crying, and he asked me why I was crying. I told him the whole story, and he took me to the hotel. After that my parents used to go with me everywhere I went.

The House of my GrandparentsJosé Ventura, Venezuela, Writing IntermediateDuring my childhood, my father used to go to the home of my grandparents on the weekends. They lived in the countryside in a house that was very large and had horses, cows and dogs. My brothers and I enjoyed running behind the animals all day. One of the things we did not like was the night because there was no electricity. The house was lit by lamps and my grandparents’ kerosene lantern. In the morning, we were very happy watching the cows, and we got hot milk. That time will never come back, for my grandparents have died, and we do not get together often because we live in different countries. In addition, the house of my grandfather was sold after their deaths.

Isabel Meyer, Peru, Writing IntermediateI have a nosy brother, and his name is “Pocho.” He is four years younger than me. I love Pocho, but when I was around 12, he was very annoying. All day he wanted to do whatever that he wanted to do. My parents worked all day and when we came back from school, we stayed at home with my old aunt. Pocho didn’t care about anything, and all of the time he was looking around for something to do. I had my first boyfriend but my parents did not approve because I was too young. I took advantage when my parents were working to see my boyfriend. But Pocho would tell my parents everything if I didn’t bribe him. One day, when I had nothing to give to Pocho, he opened his mouth and told my parents everything. They punished me, and I cried so much. My boyfriend beat up Pocho. My little brother never annoyed us again. If you want to do something in secret, make sure that there are no spies!

Saurabh Patel, India, Writing IntermediateChildhood is a golden period in everyone’s life. We all enjoyed childhood very much and we did many unforgettable things in our childhood. I can’t forget how I learned to ride a bicycle. When I was five years old, I learned to ride a bicycle for the first time. I was very excited about it. When I saw my new bicycle, I just jumped on it and tried to ride it. For some distance I was okay but then there was a turn. I tried to turn but my speed was high, and I was not able to control the bike. So I fell down. I saw my hands were bleeding. Then my dad took me to the doctor. But on an-other day, after coming from school, I tried to ride that bike again. I tried my best to take that turn. I succeed in that examination. But after that I got overconfident and went on the road to ride my bike. I forgot to brake when I saw a car was coming towards me. And then I got a new wound on my leg. Today when I see that scar, I remember that street and my bike. Those days were very cool for me. I can’t forget those memories.

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Kattya Flores, Peru, Writing IntermediateOne of my most unforgettable moments in my childhood was the first day of high school. I remember that I was nervous and anx-ious. I sat alone the first day, and I was sad because I thought that I was going to meet a lot of friends, but it was not like that. The next day was much better. I sat with a nice girl, and we came to be friends. We were together nearly every day. We met a lot of friends and did many things together. One of them was when we were in biology class. We cut a frog in half. It was so funny because the frog was still alive. We took off its head and the frog still lived. We started to show it to everybody in the laboratory class. My entire class ran away immediately. That was so funny and unforgettable for me. We finished high school together, and we are still friends. I am in contact with her by internet. We will always remember what we did in high school.

Qing Cao, China, Writing IntermediateWhen I was young, I used to go to school like everyone else, and I was really frustrated about it. I used to wake up early in the morn-ing. I would do my homework and make sure it was all correct. As a child, I didn’t have much choice. I had to do what my parents told me to do. I didn’t have much freedom. However, the video arcade became an amazing place for me. I used to go to the arcade whenever I had time. My grandparents were really mad about it. I couldn’t read their minds, but I could tell what they really wanted. They wanted their grandson to become a scholar. My grandma said to me one time, “I will buy everything you want as long as you are doing well in school.” That’s why they didn’t want me to go to the arcade. They didn’t want me to waste time. Therefore, my grandpa used to hide in the arcade. Whenever I showed up, I would get arrested immediately. By the time I got arrested by my grandparents, I was really scared. I was scared about what my dad would do. He would yell at me sometimes or he would beat me. It all depended on his mood. For the rest of my life, my childhood will be my unforgettable memory. It was happy, sad, fun and so on. I will never forget it. I will tell my son and my grandson about my awesome childhood also.

Patricia Flor, Ecuador, Writing IntermediateOn the top of a big old tree, a special memory happened. We were seven years old. Dioselina and I were second graders. At least three times a week we used to do homework together. One day we saw a tree in her backyard and decided to do our tasks for school in a special and high place. We climbed the old high tree. We reached its peak. It was a beautiful view from there. We saw the square park of the city where we lived, the church next to the park, people walking, cars, and the sunset. We heard birds chirping, and we felt the fresh air. We sensed the purest part of life around us. Finally, we did our math homework and went down from the tree. From that time we made an unforgettable memory on the top of the old and rustic tree.

Ingrid Yepes, Colombia, Writing IntermediateWhen I was young, I loved playing with my bicycle, but it was very old and rusty. I wanted a new bicycle, but they were too ex-pensive. My uncle went on a trip, and I thought he wasn’t going to bring back anything. When he came back, he brought my family a new red bicycle. I cannot forget that bicycle.

Balbina Monrroy, Mexico, Writing IntermediateWhen I was six years old, I experienced an unforgettable child-hood memory. I had lived with my parents since I was born, and

I had never had a vacation until I turned six. My mom told me as a birthday present she would give me a trip to Mexico City with my grandmother. I was so excited that I prepared my clothes two days before the trip was scheduled, and I told my friends and sib-lings that I was going to have a great vacation. When I arrived in Mexico City, my grandmother was waiting for me. My mom told me she would come back in a of couple days to pick me up and that I should enjoy these days. I waited for my mom days and then months. She never came back for me. I lived with my grandmoth-er for years. When I grew up, my mom told me she did that be-cause she thought it was the best for me. My parents were so poor that they could not give me any education at that time, so I had to study in Mexico City. It was really sad for me because as a child I deserved to be with my parents. However, I learned to be indepen-dent, and I studied and worked at the same time. It was not easy, but I got to get into one of the best universities in Mexico City. Even though my unforgettable childhood was not happy, it was an experience which helped me to reach my study goals.

My Childhood Memories of HungerCarina A. Mier, Equatorial Guinea, Writing IntermediateMy most vivid memories were about the time that I was eight years old and lived with my aunt in Malabo, West Africa. I remember having to carry water from the river to drink and wash clothes. This was an everyday deal and became the job I had to do every morning before school. If I did not carry water for the house, I would be punished and not allowed to eat. I had to sleep hungry many nights. At that age, I was very hungry all the time and would go into the jungle where the bananas and mangos grew sweet and wild. I would eat so much that my stomach would hurt and I would throw up all that I had eaten. I also remember having fun with my childhood friends. One morning we skipped school and decided to go into the jungle to find something to eat. We were lucky and found a mango tree filled with ripe mangos. Before I could tell my friend to be careful, she was already climbing the tree. Before I could start climbing, I saw my friend climbing down the mango tree as fast as she could, screaming, “Let’s get out of here, let’s get out of here!” She jumped as fast as she could, took my hand and started running. While we were running, I ask her, “What is going on?” She didn’t answer me until we got out of the woods onto the highway. She told me then, that while she was climbing the tree, she saw some monkeys, but that did not bother her. When she was reaching to pick the mango, from out of nowhere a big snake appeared in front of her. I told my friend, “Thank God nothing bad happened.” We almost got punished for skipping school and we stayed hungry that day.

Sonia Calzini, Italy, Writing IntermediateAn unforgettable childhood memory was when my grandmother had a party for her birthday. It was unforgettable because she did not usually like to make a party for herself. That year it was different. I was too young to understand why. She thought of everything. We had a big family, and she prepared two tables in her backyard, one for the adults and another one for the kids. We arrived on time, and I met my cousins and started to play with them. I was happy and excited because I did not use to see them often. We found a little doll’s house, and I was surprised because on it was written my name. The same happened with my other cousins. It was very strange because it was her birthday and she gave us presents. We were very surprised and confused but happy. Some months later we understood why she did that. It was her last party, and I will never forget it.

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Ursula Molski, Poland, Writing IntermediateWhen I was a teenager, I had a bad experience when I went to camp during summer vacation. One year I went from Warsaw to the Baltic Sea in the north. The gorgeous place where we stayed was located on an island. Our camp was surrounded by a forest and ev-erybody slept in tents. We had fun and a good time. After breakfast we usually went to the beach to swim or play beach ball. We always came back to the camp for lunch, but one day when we decided to come back to the camp, our counselors couldn’t find two of the boys. Everybody looked for them, but nobody could find them. We all went for lunch and after we went back to the beach to try to find our friends. At the beach we were surprised to see that one of them lay on the beach, dead. Everybody was looking for the other boy in hopes that we might find him in time. After a few days his body was found in the sea. For me and my friends, that summer was very bad because we had to stay in the camp area, and we couldn’t forget our friends. When the camp ended, we came back home, and I couldn’t forget that terrible accident.

Raquel Alvarado, Dominican Republic, Writing IntermediateI was eight years old, and I used to live in a small town called San Jose de las Matas, geographically situated at the North Hillside of the Central Valley. As my parents were divorced since I was just a little child, I grew up in this town with my mother. I remember one day my mother had to go to Santiago, a big city of the island, to buy a few things and visit part of the family who used to live that far. She did not remember it was the Professor’s Day and I did not have a gift for my teacher! I felt I was in an embarrassing situa-tion because all my classmates bought something for her, but I had nothing to offer as a present. I asked myself several times, “What am I going to do now?” Before arriving to the school, I stopped at one of my classmate’s house and her mother was wondering what happened because I was almost crying. She sat next to me and asked what was going on. I told her I was sad because my mother

forgot the Professor’s Day and I did not have a gift for the teacher. She gave me a sweet smile, went to the backyard and gave me a rose from her garden. I thought it was not a gift, but it was much better than empty hands. No matter my decision, by the time the teacher mentioned my name I started to cry and stayed sitting in the chair. She went toward me, and I told her that I had only this flower for her but I couldn’t get another gift as she deserved. She laughed at me and taking the flower as an expensive diamond said, “Of all the gifts I have received today and in all my life, this one is the most precious one.”

My House Where I Grew up Ena Sibrian, El Salvador, Writing IntermediateWelcome to my house. It is a very special place. The incredible memories here are countless. I lived in that house with my family for many years. It sits untouched now, still as it was for all those years. Life and people have changed, but my house remains pre-served. The house was very cherished by my father, mother, and myself. It is a shame that the walls cannot talk, because the walls

have a lot of interesting things to say. It was fun to grow up there, none of which can be recaptured again. The house is still there for me to visit, and my friends are welcome to visit as well.

My ChildhoodJenny Barillas, Venezuela, Writing IntermediateSome of the memories that I have from when I was a child are great, the very special ones were our weekends. I enjoyed playing with my cousin and friends. We enjoyed so much playing in the backyard of my grandmother’s house. We would climb trees and build houses in the top of the trees, and we would spend time playing most part of the day. We also played the hidden ones. In my time we enjoyed ourselves with different things, and we did not need toys to have fun. We always found the way to have fun, to figure out something to do was our best game. Memories always come to my mind of my grandmother saying, “These children always invent something new, with them, you never know what comes next.” This

way the years of my childhood passed between studying, play-ing games and always inventing something to do. Then, we grew up and stopped climbing to and began to play volley ball and baseball, depending on the season. I’ll tell you, I have two pretty marks in my legs, for the practice of these sports. I remember that I visited the hospital in the following years. Time passes, but we still have the memories.

Amonrat Woranan, Thailand, Writing IntermediateWhen I was young, I used to live with my grandparents on my mother’s side; I was just a kid around the neighborhood in Khon-Kaen, Thailand. One day my friends and I were playing till dark, then I came home and started to be worried about coming home so late. My grandmother would be angry, but I was lucky this time that my grandmother did not yell or fuss at me because I did not get myself in trouble or hurt another kid in the neighborhood. I was happy that my grandmother was being so nice and also that

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she had cooked me my favorite dishes. One of them was steamed fish with spicy sauce. That day was absolutely perfect for a kid like me. As much as I can remember, every morning my grandfather would go out in the lake to fish, and he had always caught big fish. He was my hero, but he will always be in my memory because he is now in a different world. However, while my grandfather was out in the lake my grandmother would cook rice and pick some vegetables around the fence. After my grandfather got home, my grandmother would be ready to cook. Every meal of those days was so delicious and wonderful. It was such a perfect life that I would like to live it forever.

Thais Mendoza, Venezuela, Advanced Oral CommunicationMy first visit to the beach is just one of my many happy childhood memories. The night before I was so excited that I could not sleep, and I began to imagine how it would be. Early the next morn-ing, my parents packed snacks, swimsuits, and towels into the car. While my father was driving, my siblings and I were talking about what we would find to do there. When we arrived at the beach, it was amazing. I saw the beautiful light blue of the water, which contrasted with the white sand. I had never seen a landscape as gorgeous as this, and it surpassed my expectations. Next, my brothers and I ran toward the beach where we played, swam, and enjoyed everything. In addition, I discovered some little shells and smaller marine animals with which I played on the sand. Finally, my parents told us we had to go back home. At home, we shared and relived our great experience at the beach. That night I went to bed very tired, but at the same time, I was happy. I knew my mind would always remember this unforgettable childhood memory.

Susanne Voges, Germany, Advanced Oral CommunicationWhen I was 9 years old, and my sister was 16 years old, we were with our parents on vacation on a little island in Spain. That was our last vacation as a whole family, because my sister had interests other than family vacations. The only reason why she showed an interest in this vacation was that it was the first airline flight of our lives. It was a beach vacation for relaxing and not a mountain vaca-tion for hiking. That made the vacation more interesting. We had a very nice vacation: beautiful weather, sandy beaches, a blue sky every day and clear, warm seawater. We all enjoyed our holidays.Unfortunately, the day for us to fly back to Germany came. We drove in a taxi to the little airport on the island. We checked in and got our boarding passes. After checking our luggage, we still had enough time to drink something in the little airport café. Af-ter I drank my soda, I was a little bit nervous that we might miss our flight. I looked my dad in the face, but he looked very relaxed. Then I felt better.However, something was wrong. I felt it. I looked out of the win-dow and saw our luggage. Employees of the airport carried it onto the airplane. Still, my dad looked so cool and said, “The airline has a problem- maybe a technical defect on the plane, because other-wise they would call us over the loudspeakers when they are ready for boarding and taking off. We still have enough time,” said my father. I still felt anxious. I knew it would be a terrible day.After a long interval, my dad asked an employee about our flight. The woman asked for our flight number. As my dad told her the number, she pointed with her finger out of the window and said,

“There is your plane!” We all looked out of the window and saw our plane. It had just taken off, and we were still sitting at the airport! My dad nervously yelled, “What can we do now? Our lug-gage is on the plane but the plane left without us!” We went to the airline office and told them our story. We were so thankful that they found another flight to Germany that evening. They paid for our food for the day and for a taxi to the city. Consequently, we spent a beautiful day in the city and took the latest flight of the day to Germany. You see, sometimes it is better when adults listen to their children and believe their kids!

My First TrophyEdwin Rivera, Colombia, Advanced Oral CommunicationWhen I was eleven years old, I joined a soccer team in my neigh-borhood. The name of the team was “Red Panthers.” I practiced a lot on weekends and in my free time. I wanted to be on the first string. At every game, the coach said I would be the benchwarmer. This was because I was new on the team, and they did not trust my soccer skills enough to put me on the first string. This constantly disappointed me because I always wanted to be a soccer star.After awhile, my soccer team was in the finals. Once again, I was not chosen for the first string portion of the team. I really wanted to be on the first string team this time because my family and girlfriend were spectators at this particular game. The game was uneventful with no score. When the game had only fifteen min-utes left, one of our forwards twisted his ankle. The score was zero to zero. The coach then chose me to replace this injured forward. I was happy because my family and girlfriend were there, but ner-vous because this was my first real game getting to play.I got on the soccer field. The first thing I tried to do was to block a goal from the other team. I pushed the other player with my hands close to the penalty area. The referee blew his whistle. He exclaimed that this was a foul. He then waived the yellow card. If I got another yellow card, I would be kicked out of the game with a red card. I was feeling very ashamed and humiliated. Some of the fans were shouting at me from the stands. This caused me embar-rassment. When the player from the other team kicked the ball to resume the game, he made a goal. Now the score was zero to one, thanks to me. The fans were even madder at me now. The coach showed no expression on his face. Even my family looked a little disappointed. My girlfriend offered me encouragement by saying, “It’s okay honey, and it is no big deal. Keep playing.”At that time, the soccer game had only five minutes, plus any overtime. I kept playing. One of my friends hit a corner shot. I barely raised my head, hitting the soccer ball. This changed the di-rection in which the ball was flying. It went into the goal. I could not believe it! I made a goal with my head! Now the game was one to one. It was a tie. Fans for our team were very excited and hope-ful. The game went into overtime. We had an additional three minutes. I stole the ball from the other team and quickly used my soccer skills to dribble the ball to the other side close to our goal area. I then realized I needed to hit the soccer ball as hard as I could so I would not miss it. As I kicked the ball, I was thinking about my family, girlfriend, my teammates, and my coach. I was remembering my coach never let me play on the first string. I then kicked the ball with all my strength. It went in the goal! It was the happiest, most miraculous, unbelievable day for me! §

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What I Like Most About the U.S

Manuel Milano, Venezuela, Writing High BeginningI appreciate the educational opportunities the United States has. I came to the United States of America four years ago. Now I live in Texas, and I like this state. Three years ago, I found work in the Independent School District of Splendora. The schools in the USA are different from the schools in my country. The schools in the USA are very organized, and they have transportation. The students do not pay for school supplies, and the government pays for all their education. In my country, the government only pro-

vides the buildings and the teach-ers’ salaries. The students buy their school supplies and the necessities for their educa-tion. Considering these facts, some-times I do not understand why the students here do not appreci-

ate the free things they get, while people in other countries would need them. In my opinion, because of their lack of appreciation for their schools, the state should not give a lot of opportunities to the students.

Kim H. Lor, Cambodia, Writing High BeginningOne of the things I like most about the United States is that it is a safe and comfortable place to live. The U.S. is peaceful, and the people have freedom. Also, if I work a lot, I can earn a lot of money, and can help my family with the bills. I also like that by going to school and learning English, I can talk to my new friends, as the people in the U.S are friendly. I hope I will have a good future with my family in United States.

Maria Flores, Mexico, Writing High BeginningWell, what I like most about the United States are the job op-portunities and benefits for all the people that come from other countries. In my country, there are not as many opportunities as here in the U.S. People get less money in their jobs, and they also do not get loans. People live day to day. They cannot afford to buy fancy clothes, and the majority of the people cannot buy cars. That is why people leave their country and family behind just to come to the U.S., to “The Land of Opportunity.” I also like the U.S because of its security. There are cameras everywhere you look, and police cars are always on the road. For example, in my country, Mexico, there are a lot of robberies, kidnappings, and a handful of drug dealers right now. If the police see men robbing a house, they just let them do it because the police do not really care, and they are scared of anybody with a weapon.

Maria R. Rodriguez, Mexico, Writing High BeginningMy name is Maria Rodriguez. I am from Mexico. What do I like most about the United States? I like the United States because this country gives many opportunities to all the children. They can have an excellent education and build their future. In my opinion, having a profession makes people feel at home, which is the best for the country and its people.

Rosa M. Rodriguez, Mexico, Writing High BeginningMy name is Rosa Rodriguez, and I came from Mexico. On the one hand, I like the United States because it gives good education for my children. On the other hand, I like this country because it

can give a more prosperous life for my children. Also, I have more opportunities to find a job. If I have a job, I have money, and if I have money, I can provide better for my sons. In conclusion, the United States is the country of good opportunities for us.

Kitanda Abdenego Shotwani, Democratic Republic of Congo, Writing High BeginningI like the United States of America because there are many stu-dents living here who come from different countries, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Brazil, China, Italy, Japan… etc. I like the education system and the schools because they offer opportunities for me to learn, to write and to communicate in English. God bless our instructors.

Leny Gonzalez, Honduras, Writing High BeginningThe things that I like most in the United States of America are the many fun places in each city. I enjoy going on vacation with my family here. Every state is different and nice to visit. In each state, the people are very nice to the tourists, and that is why many people from around the world enjoy visiting the USA. Some of the cities I enjoy visiting are New Orleans, New York, Las Vegas and Orlando. In New Orleans, I like Mardi Gras. It is a lot of fun. In New York, I like to visit the Statue of Liberty. In Las Vegas, I enjoy visiting the casinos and seeing all the bright lights. Finally, my favorite place to visit is Orlando. I enjoy visiting the Disney Parks in Orlando.

Patricio Bedon, Ecuador, Writing High BeginningMy name is Patricio Bedon, I am from Ecuador, and I am the 3rd son in my family. I was born in a little town called San Gabriel, which is near Colombia. When I was 5 years old, my family moved to the capital city, Quito. It is a beautiful city, and some people might even say that “Quito is the face of God.” Now I live in the United States of America. I love this country, and I can ful-fill my dream here. My dream is to learn English, so I take English classes four times a week. I like everything around me: my city, my town, my school, my home. I am happy.

Yionary E. Reynaga, El Salvador, Writing High BeginningMy name is Yionary Reynaga, and I am from El Salvador. I have been living in the United States for about 17 years. I am married, and I have three children. What I like most about the United States nowadays is the status of women. There have been many important changes in the United States in the last forty years. One of these is the number of working women. In 1960, only 37 percent of women worked, but in 1990, 57.5 percent worked outside the home. However, not many women in the United States get promoted to management positions. Many experts think this is because women often have to leave their jobs when they have children. In 1995, 46 percent of the working people in the United States were women. Nowadays, 90 percent of women work outside the home. In my opinion, we will soon have a woman as the president of the United States.

Maria Elena Rodriguez, Mexico, Writing High BeginningMy name is Elena Rodriguez. I am from Mexico. What do I like most about the United States? I like this country because there are more opportunities for me here. For example, I can have a good job to earn a lot of money. Another reason why I like this country is that people can have freedom and safety. Also, children and women have better protection, too. I like this country, and I think America is the best.

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What I Like Most About the U.S.

Josefina Green, Mexico, Writing High BeginningThe most valuable things for me in the United States are the good schools and their high level of education. These are important for the children, and every child can study on a level that is best for them. This gives children a high level of security and self-reliance. I like that schools have teachers who can help children with differ-ent disabilities or problems.

Melissa Lujan, Honduras, Writing High BeginningI am someone who thinks positively and that things can always be achieved. What I like most about the United States are the opportunities that open up with learning English. A very important reason for me to learn English is that English is the primary language here, and it is a tool that moves your entire life and future. I have a dream of becoming a radiologist or a nurse. We must never give up, and we cannot say that there is not enough potential in us. The most important thing is to keep a positive attitude and have a vision of what we want. God makes no mistakes and does not call us to do something without giving us the ability or the ability to perform. Life brings us gifts to be valued, and opportunities are many. For me, learning English is necessary to overcome all obstacles that prevent us from succeeding. I always have to remind myself that if I have the right attitude, I will have more in the future than what I had in the past. Every day is a new day for learning.

Fina Chiccoli, Venezuela, Oral Communication IntermediateWhat I like most about the United States is the diversity of the people living here. I like how people here enjoy their own tradi-tions and mix them with the Americans’. People in this country are able to work with each other. In addition, the United States believes in its people and it does not matter if they are natives or foreigners. Here everybody can make their own dreams come true. Here all people have a chance for a good life. I like this country because it gives people hope.

Tina (Xi Mei Pei), China, Oral Communication IntermediateI like America and I like the Kingwood College environment. I like studying at Lone Star College. I think the teachers and students are friendly. I think the American culture is very interest-ing and different from the Chinese culture, which I also like. I am enjoying my life here, and my English is improving.

Elsa Ordonez, Guatemala, Oral Communication IntermediateI have been in the United States for three years. What I like the most is going shopping at the mall because it has many good stores where I can buy something special and have fun with friends or my family. Also, the United States has beautiful places such as parks, buildings, schools and good food. I like the school

because it has a good English program for us to help us get good jobs in the future. When I started going to school two years ago I saw how helpful everybody was when I couldn’t understand anything. The school has tutors for students who need extra help. That’s why I’m here to improve my English because they can help me to learn.

Claudia M. Quintana, Mexico, Oral Communication IntermediateWhat I like most about the United States is the opportunity to work. If you are intelligent, you can be whatever you want. In the United States most people respect the driving rules, and there are courts for people who do not follow the rules. In addition, I like the US because the people are friendly. What I also like is that you get to know people from different countries, and they all try to speak in one language to communicate. You learn about many in-teresting cultures. My dream is to be a bilingual person and travel all over the world because I want to learn about different cultures, and in the United States I can accomplish that part of my dream.

Jerry Ortigoza, Venezuela, Oral Communication IntermediateWhat I like most about the United States is that the American people show respect for everyone, and you do not have to be afraid when you want to say something or do something. For example, I can speak English in class despite the fact that I do not know how to do it well, and I can be sure that nobody is going to laugh at me. Also, I can wear the clothes that I want, and no one is going to care how I look. So I am very comfortable speaking in English and living in the United States. In contrast, in my country, Ven-ezuela, nobody has respect. If you make a mistake speaking, or if you wear something rare or crazy, you can be sure that everybody is going to laugh at you. §

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Why Do I Need to Study English?

Chintan Patel, India, Writing High BeginningI study English because now I live in the U.S.A. and it is the native language of the U.S.A., and without speaking I can’t do anything. Also, my dream is to become a good educated person and get a respectable job. Now in this generation the computer has taken over the world. If you want to know some information about anything, you can find out by using the computer. But you must know English to find that information on the Internet. So it is good for my life, my family and my kids. And last, my goal is to become a good speaker, and that’s why I study English.

Yudelmis McDaniel, Cuba, Writing High BeginningI study English to gain the skills needed to get employed in this country. In addition, I am studying English to help my children with their school work. When I go to stores or travel, I need to understand the different directions and rules. I need to speak Eng-lish to communicate with my husband fluently because he speaks little Spanish. Also, speaking English will help me socialize with American people. Learning English will make it easier for me to make appointments with the doctor, to develop my career in the future, to answer the service calls at home, and to fill out applica-tion forms. English is the native language here and everyone needs to learn it.

Alida Luciani, Mexico, Writing High BeginningSince I had a plan to get married with an American man, I knew that I needed to learn English. I have also decided to study Eng-lish because it has been difficult to resolve my daily things. For example, making a phone call to make an appointment, asking something in a bank, or going to a party or anywhere is hard because my vocabulary is poor. All my life I resolved my problems and now my husband resolves them and I don’t like it. I don’t feel good. I want to be independent again. Another reason is because my family-in-law speaks English and I can’t talk with them.

Mihir Patel, India, Writing High BeginningI study English to improve my grammatical mistakes and to fur-ther my studies. I study English because it is necessary for taking courses here. If I know English, I can communicate with other people who are from different countries. This language is easy for me, but there are some differences in the pronunciation of some of the words in my country and in the US. If I learn English perfect-ly, I can work everywhere in this country. Finally it is compulsory to take this course to further my studies.

Kimheak Him, Cambodia, Writing High BeginningI need to improve my English because I live here. I need English to be able to get a job. It’s an international language and I can use it anywhere I go. I can use English with my friends and the people in the U.S. I want to make new friends and meet people. I want to travel around the world and know a language that most people would know. It would be easier to have a relationship with some-one, and it would be easier if I know how to speak English. I want to show my friends in Cambodia how much I know whenever I go visit them. Finally, if I’m going to live here, I want to know English so I can help my kids when they are older. These are the reasons why I want to improve my English.

Zulma Nava, Venezuela, Writing High BeginningI need to study English because I am in the U.S. and I want to be able to talk to people who don’t speak Spanish. I want to be able to understand T.V. shows and movies. I also want to learn English

and complete my studies. Then, I can find a job in my country and feel more comfortable in this country.

What Inspires me to Learn English? Fabian Garcia, Mexico, Writing High BeginningI come from Mexico City. I came to Kingwood College to achieve my goal, which is learning English. My inspiration to learn Eng-lish is my mom, my dad, my brother, my sister, and my grand-mother, but my mom is the most important because she always cares about our education. My parents have always supported me. We are a united family and we always rely on each other. My fam-ily lives in Mexico City. Another person who inspires me is myself because I want to be a successful person in the future, and in order to achieve my goals I need to speak English. I like to speak English because I can talk with different people around the world. Another goal that inspires me to improve my English is to finish my train-ing as a commercial pilot and to travel around the world.

In photo: Fabian Garcia

Bibiana Barajas, Colombia, Reading High BeginningI need to improve my English because my major aspiration has been to improve my quality of life. I think that at this time it is very important to learn English because it is a language that is used in the world of business. The English language is spoken in many countries. I need to enter the world and there upon get the best income. Another important reason is because I wish to learn about other countries, and speaking English will facilitate com-munication with people in each country. It will also help me make friends. In my country, I studied Agrarian and Cattle Business Administrator. It is one career that has many opportunities in life, but it is necessary to strengthen my knowledge of English if I want to become the best professional. I believe this language will help me achieve my goal. §

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What I Like about my Country

Xiangling Deng, China, Oral Communication IntermediateMy motherland China is famous for her long history and huge population around the world. I love our typical customs, tradi-tions, festivals, food, languages and dresses. Each of them is unique. Out of all of them my favorite thing is our food. Before I came to USA I never realized that because Chinese food was a part of my daily life.Chinese cuisine is world-famous for its perfect combination of “color, aroma, taste and appearance.” Chinese cuisine gives emphasis to the selection of raw materials, the texture of food, the blending of seasonings, slicing techniques, the perfect tim-ing of cooking and the art of laying out the food on the plate. Among the best-known schools of Chinese culinary tradition are the Cantonese cuisine of the south, the Shandong cuisine of the North, the Huai-Yang cuisine of the east and the Sichuan cuisine of the west (the one I grow up with). These four major varieties of Chinese food have been traditionally noted as “the light flavor of the south, the salty flavor of the north, the sweet flavor of the east and the spicy-hot flavor of the west”.Well, my hometown Sichuan is just the spicy-hot flavor of the west. And girls from Sichuan are also called spicy girls.

Rosa Santana, Mexico, Oral Communication IntermediateHi! My name is Rosa Santana. I come from Mexico. I have been in this country for 16 years. Some of the things that I still remem-ber are from my childhood. They were different but wonderful experiences compared to the children here today. When I was child, I didn’t have any electronic toys. I used to play with my friends in the afternoon in the street. We would gather together holding hands forming a big circle and playing la rueda de San Miguel, Dona Blanca and El Congelado. We also played with yoyo, the ula-ula. I liked playing zancos. Zancos were some sticks made of wood where we would place our feet and then we would walk around feeling tall. We used our own imaginations when we played.Mexico is not very rich but our culture is unique and we have a variety of traditions. We are the descendents of indigenous Indian tribes and we are still maintaining our old traditions like how to cook tamales, mole, tortillas, fruit candies, beverages or juices like ponche, champurrado, tequila and pulque. Some people in my country can still speak our ancient language. I was born in Mexico and I still feel that I belong there. I’d like to go there and remi-nisce my childhood days.

Tieng Sok, Cambodia, Oral Communication IntermediateCambodia is not a big country, but its culture is unique and it has many tourist areas. The thing that I like the most about my country is the Angkor Wat temple. It is famous for its art and wonderful architecture. It is located near Siam Reap in northeast Cambodia. It was built in the 12th century. I went there once when I was 15 years old. It took me about 4 hours to see every-thing there. The sculptures were made from sandstone. Inside the Angkor Wat, there are many carved sculptures which tell us about the Khmer history. Outside the temple, people sell traditional Khmer food, post cards, souvenirs and other handmade products. At night time, during festivals and New Year’s Eve, people play traditional music and dance to celebrate. I also like the restaurants

over there because they have authentic Khmer food. I hope I get a chance to visit my country soon because last time I was not able to see everything.

Maria Heredia, Peru, Oral Communication IntermediateThis is Maria, I’m from Peru. My country is very interesting because of its history, food, and climate and also for its friendly people. We have coastal region, mountains and jungles. Its main attraction is Machu Pichu, the “old peak.” Last year, it was selected as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The food I like the most is ceviche. It is prepared with fish, lemon, onion, and chili. I also miss Huancaina Potatoes. It’s a traditional dish prepared with potatoes, cream, cheese, crackers and chili. My country also has beautiful beaches. Mancora is a place where many people go surf-ing. The most well known festival is Inti Raimi. It is the festival of the Sun (winter solstice). It is celebrated in Cuzco in June. Many tourists visit Cuzco around this time. I miss my country, especially my parents, my family and my friends and the festivals.

Jose Erazo, Honduras, Oral Communication IntermediateMy name is Jose Erazo. I was born in Honduras. I came to America when I was 19 years old. Honduras is a small country in Central America. We have only seven million people. People are very friendly in my country. There are beautiful beaches and mountains in Honduras. I miss my family, my friends and I miss food cooked by my mother. I remember her cooking baleadas for everybody. In Honduras the economy is very bad and the political situation is not good. That is why I have come to this country.In Honduras we have the ruins of prehistoric Mayan civiliza-tion. I remember visiting the city of Copan in western Honduras near the Guatemalan border. I went to visit this place when I was much younger. I saw the pyramids and it was wonderful. I went to Omoa and Ceiba, and I had a good time there.

Hermelinda Zeno, Mexico, Oral Communication IntermediateMy name is Hermelinda Zeno. I come from Mexico City. I came to Houston five years ago. Mexico City is a place where everybody can have fun. There are theatres, galleries and dancing clubs. Some of the nice places to visit are Reserva Ecologia del Pedregal de San Angel in Unam, Parque Ecologio de Xochimilco and Reserva del Ajusco. I like the uniqueness of our food, clothing, music and traditions. Spanish is the major language in our country. However, some people can still speak our ancient language.

Olga Nadaban, Romania, Oral Communication IntermediateRomania is one of the largest countries in Europe with a popula-tion of 22 million. It is located in the southeast of Europe border-ing the Black Sea between Bulgaria and the Ukraine. The capital of my country is Bucharest. There are resorts and modern hotels by the sandy white beaches. The Danube River flows into the Black Sea in the South East of Romanian territory forming a delta. There are many beautiful mountains with beautiful lakes. Skiing is the main attraction during the winter. There are many churches in Romania, which were built in the 16th century. They have frescos on the outside walls. I like Romanian food. I like stuffed cabbage, meatballs with potatoes and fruits from my garden. My son and grandson live in a city called Arad in Romania. I visited them last year. I miss my son, my grandson and my friends in Romania. Romania is a beautiful country.

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What I Like about my Country

Bérénice Fouquet, France, Writing IntermediateWhat I like the most about France is that it is full of diversity. First of all, the landscape can be very different. In the south, you can eat churros on the beach under a very hot sun. Then, if you go north you can go skiing in the Alps. And in the northeastern part of France, it is much colder but still charming. Second of all, France is a very old country, and the architecture reflects its age diversity. It can vary from antiquity with the Roman relics, to fortified castles, and finishing with the Haussmann buildings in Paris, which were built during the nineteenth century. Third of all, France shares a big cultural diversity with many countries from northern Africa, Western Europe and the United Kingdom. In conclusion, the thing I like the most about my country is that its diversity is a real enrichment. You can learn a lot from its history, you can meet people from different languages, and you can enjoy the sun as much as the snow.

Mónica Sánchez, Mexico, Oral Communication High IntermediateMéxico is a country where you experience very interesting places, such as rainforests, tropical beaches, deserts, and snow volcanoes. You can also walk along the streets to and get to know ancient ru-ins of beautiful places. Mexico has archeological places around the country for example, the Teotihucan Pyramids, El Tajin, beautiful Palenque, Tulum, and Chichén Itza. Cities are full of history from the colonial period. The state of Quintanaroo has a few of the most beautiful beaches in the world, such as Cancun, Cozumel, and La Riviera Maya, where you can enjoy bathing in crystal clear waters, In Los Cabos in the Pacific side, tourists can see and touch the blue whale. México is a country that has many places that you should know.Ali Ishtiaq, Pakistan, Writing High IntermediatePakistan is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It located in the Middle East (Asia), and it has four states: Sindh, Panjab, Balochistan, and N.W.F.Pall. Each state has different languages, but our national language is Urdu, so everyone in our country speaks Urdu even if their own language is different. I like a lot of things in my country, such as our culture and traditions, but what I like most about my country is our religion Islam.Although Pakistan is an Islamic country, some people live in there also have different religion like Hinduism and Christianity. They are in the minority, but they also have right to live and celebrate their culture and religion freely. In Islam we believe in one Al-lah, or God, and in his last prophet or messenger Mohammed (SAWS). In my religion everyone has their rights, like the mother, father, children and neighbors. It gives us the right path of trust which carries love, respect, behavior, and shows us how to love people. It also teaches us how to stop bad habits as most of things are not allowed in our religion, such as lying, cheating, and abus-ing others. Islam tells us all the right ways to spend our life easily and with pleasure.My Little Paris Daniela Mocofan, Romania, Writing High IntermediateWhat do I like most about my country? I like most my hometown of Bucharest. Bucharest was founded more than 500 years ago by Vlad Tepes (the legendary Count Dracula) and quickly became a great European metropolis. Bucharest is an exciting city with an opera house, museums, nightclubs, sidewalk cafes, parks, gardens, and plenty of luxury stores. The city is full of attractions to visit and places to be discovered. In the 30’s Bucharest was known as “the little Paris.”

Bucharest has a Triumphal Arch, and it is the little brother of the one found in Paris. We also have Unity Boulevard, the longest boulevard with 41 fountains, and it is one meter longer than the Champs Elysee. Another place to visit is the Parliament’s Palace, the biggest building in Europe and the second in the word after the Pentagon. Close to the Palace is the Cotroceni area with small streets and beautiful old houses. We also have the Govern-ment Palace found in Victoria Square. There, you can also see the Grigore Antipa Museum, the Romanian Peasant’s Museum and something you will never forget are the bullet holes in the build-ings that were made during and after the 1989 revolution.After, you need to go to Herastrau Park, the biggest park in Bu-charest, to visit the open air Village Museum with more than 300 houses. Then you should return to the heart of the city to find the University Square where you can stop for a walk in the historical center. Here there are many sites to see: the old orthodox Stav-ropolis Church, Hunul lui Manic, and the old court from the time Vlad Tepes, as well as the oldest beer pub Caru Cu Bere.I like to walk in my hometown, and I like to see the old buildings everywhere. Everywhere and everything is full of history. I like to walk in the heart of Bucharest, in the streets with small stores where I can buy attractive things. I like to walk in the fancy malls with luxury stores and try different foreign foods. When I walk in my hometown, I feel that I am in Paris and am enjoying a great European metropolis.

Yasmin Leon, Venezuela, Writing High IntermediateWhat I like most about my country is the special and peculiar manner that people in my hometown speak. We have a marked and particular accent. But at the same time we have our own vo-cabulary that makes us different from the rest of the country. For that, they say that we have a “Maracucho” dictionary that we have created and that the rest of Venezuela does not know. Maracucho and Maracucha are the people born in Maracaibo. It is our city’s name, so it is like calling the natives of Texas “Texans.”Maracuchos are very witty and entertaining. They like to speak in high voices as if they were arguing. When others listen to Mara-cuchos speaking, many ask if they are angry, but the truth is that they are speaking with confidence and love. Also, it is incredible how Maracuchos use slang daily.I have found many Maracuchos here in the United States just by hearing the manner in which they speak and their unmistakable slang. But they say to me that I do not seem like a Maracucha because I do not talk like them. In fact, when I tell them that I am a native from Saladillo (that is the center of the city where the Maracucho accent and slang are especially strong), they do not believe me because I do not speak with slang and I do not have a marked accent. The reason is that I was born in Saladillo, but I grew up outside of Maracaibo where people do not speak with a lot of slang.For that, when I listen to a Maracucho talking, I feel homesick because I remember my childhood, my relatives, my beautiful city, the bridge on Maracaibo’s lake, and our Basilica, the Lady of Chiquinquira.

Katalin Bartha, Hungary, Writing High IntermediateI am often asked here where Hungary is situated. My answer is somewhere in Europe or exactly in the Eastern part of Central Europe. And what do I like most about my country? Initially I thought Budapest, the capital of Hungary, which belongs to the

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What I Like about my Country

UNESCO World Heritage. But it is only one city. Then I consid-ered the castles, Lake Balaton, my relatives and friends … finally I chose the Hungarian cuisine because first of all, I like eating, and secondly it involves my country and its history, my relatives and friends, the traditions, and Hungarian produce and products.Hungarian cuisine is famous for mouth-watering spicy dishes, savory stews, tempting soups and yummy desserts. It contains a wide variety of fresh, unpreserved high quality ingredients like meats (mainly pork), seasonal vegetables, fruits, fresh salted breads, cheese and honey. It is based on centuries’ old traditions in spicing and preparation methods. Although the taste is exqui-site, it is not healthy at all. My cuisine has a long history, and has influences from different ethnic gastronomies. Our ancestors lived in the Euro-Asian Steppe. They contacted Turks and Bulgarians and learned much about cooking from them. The most popular Hungarian King, Matthias married an Italian Princess, Beatrix, and enriched the gastronomy with garlic, red onion, pasta and cheese. Turkish invaders inhabited my country for 150 years and left us with coffee and eggplant. We received paprika, the tomato and potato from Central America, and we eat them almost every day. The Habsburgs (Austria) also gave us several delicious recipes.The Hungarians usually eat five times a day. There is a large break-fast in the morning, a light meal about 10 a.m., a lunch, which is the major meal of the day and it is often heavy, a light meal in the afternoon and a light dinner. We eat the salads together with the main dish, and our soups are sweet; therefore the foreigners believe that they are desserts. The special Hungarian foods and beverages have a collective name: Hungaricum. The Fisherman’s Soup (halászlé) is one of the well-known Hungarian dishes. The base of the soup is a thick blend of different types of river fish spiced with world famous Hungarian paprika. There are two ver-sions of it. Besides the basic, the first version contains only fish, but the other one is prepared with fish and pasta as well. As far as I am concerned both are excellent. Of course, you can try excel-lent wines, like Tokaji, and unique liquors like Unicum, an herbal bitter made from more than 40 herbs and aged in oak casks, and Pálinka, a traditional, double-distilled fruit brandy made especially from pears, plums, and apricots. Lastly, my country is also very famous for its refreshing and tasty mineral waters. You can choose from among at least 20 brands.Hungarian cuisine is probably one of the world’s most unique. It reflects the history, traditions and creativity of Hungarians.

Anna-Marie Madsen, Denmark, Writing High IntermediateI have been almost half a year in the United States with my husband and my three children. My family and I feel comfort-able living here, and every day we learn more and more about the American culture. I think it is a gift and a huge challenge for us as parents and our children to move to a new country with a differ-ent culture. It really makes me think about what I like most about my home country.Denmark is a small country with only five and a half million citizens. The distance between towns or in towns is not that big. I really like to use my bike and I miss that a lot. In Denmark we had only one car, which my husband used, so my means of trans-portation was a bike, and I had to ride it 17 km to work every day. I also liked that it was possible to reach everything in walk-ing distance because the village we lived in was small. I could ask one of the children to get some articles from the grocery, and they

went there on the bike or ran over the green field to the grocery. We also used more public transportation. From our village Mårslet we lived in, we had a train and a bus with 2-3 departures an hour. In the States you always have to go by car and drive your children to everything. My daughter said one day: “I felt more indepen-dent in Denmark because I could do whatever I wanted to. Here, Mom, you have to drive me to everything unless you buy me a car.” When my son was eleven years old, he learned to go by train by himself for two hours to a unicycle club to practice unicycling. I think it is good to raise your children to be independent.Fortunately Kingwood has a lot of trails which I use every day, but it will never be the same as in my home country.

Kristina Kostova, Bulgaria, Writing High IntermediateHave you ever been in beautiful mountains and all around you are tall waterfalls? Well, that might sound like a story to you, but for me it is the most wonderful side of my country. My country is special for me because we have cheerful mountains with relaxing sounds from the waterfalls and amazing singing from the birds.I like to relax with a lot of energy. That’s why I love to be in the mountains as long as possible. They are the most natural equip-ment on earth. When I am there, I sleep less, eat more than usual but still lose weight. The climate is so clean, light and especially in the morning when it has a fresh, cold, breezy wind shining into my face. Every morning, I run 10 miles on the mountain. Almost every day I have a different activity. The most interesting museum that I have visited is in the middle of the Rila Mountain in Bulgar-ia. There, I saw different shapes of stairs that the water made many years ago. I stepped on each step on the stairs until I arrived at the middle of the museum. It was amazing experience for me.I have enjoyed every moment that I have had in the mountains. When I return to the city, I feel very different, full of energy and ready to solve all the problems in my live. Now I am in the United States where the mountains are not that amazing and popular as in my county, but I wish to visit them at least for a couple days if I ever have the chance. I hope you will have a chance to come and visit some of the mountains, especially Rila Mountain in Bulgaria.

Carolyn Michael, Syria, Writing High IntermediateThe thing I like most in my country is friendship. During my earlier life, I had many friends. Some of them have grown up with me and others I met later. Now, all of them are in my country. I miss when we met, when we played basketball, and when we went to eat sometimes. I only keep them in my memory, especially when I feel uncomfortable, when I need advice or when I have a problem. I believe that the language difference can obstruct friend-ship. Now, I am in the States and I live this fact, because I cannot communicate and convey the same idea to others like I do in my native language. I always feel I am missing something.

Nepal – My Birthplace Komas Shrestha, Nepal, Writing High IntermediateMy country is the home to limitless resources and blessings. Although very small by land area, it beholds the most abundant natural resources one can imagine. Nepal is holy with the teach-ings of Lord Buddha, the light of Asia. Nepal is a peaceful country. The national flag itself is one of a kind with a bi-triangular shape.Geographically, the small landmass is divided into three regions – the mountains, hills and plains. Although the largest popula-tion is made up of farmers, Nepal only has about 20% land that is cultivable. The plains are where major agriculture takes place

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What I Like about my Country

and hence serves as the “food house for the nation.” The hills are a chain of ranges. This occupies a major percentage of the total land area. Kathmandu Valley and the capital lie in this region. Northernmost are the mountains. With very little development and agriculture, tourism and small home business prove to be the major source of income. In this region, the mountains include the renowned nine highest mountains of the world, like Mt. Everest and Annapurna. This is where the source is for abundant water resources. Nepal comes after Brazil in terms of water resources although it is a landlocked country.Culturally speaking, Nepalese was previously categorized into four castes which form the structure of the society. Brahmins, Chet-ris, Baisyas and Sudras were the four classes, each assigned with a distinguished role in the society. Nepal, after a long history of monarchy, was just declared a republic in the year 2008.Hence, Nepal is significant country, culturally, naturally and his-torically speaking. It still is a developing country, but over the past years, the rate of development has been drastically increasing.Photo provided by Komas Shrestha, Nepal

Tania Lizbeth Pinedo, Mexico, Writing High IntermediateThe perfect place to take an amusing and entertaining vacation is in Mexico. There are a lot of things to do in each one of the 32 states; we have beaches, woods, valleys and forests, depending on what you want to do, and there are big cities and quiet towns, but I am going to explain some of the especially perfect places to visit in my country.Many people think that a beach is a beach but even within one coun-try, there can be diversity among them. Mexican beaches have some-thing special, perhaps the shine of the sun or their emerald waters.Acapulco and Cancun are the most acknowledged tourist centers in the world. Cancun, Quintanarro, Mexico, is the most famous beach, and nearby, it has a few islands like “Mujeres Island.” There are more than 150 hotels and 350 restaurants. Four million visi-tors arrive each year in an average of 190 flights daily. Also there are water sports and there is a 40 % discount to the Mayan ruins; Cancun is the gateway to the Maya Rivera. However, if you want a big city with a lot of different things to do, Guadalajara, Jalisco, is a wonderful city to visit with impressive ar-

chitecture. It is the second largest in population, and you can enjoy Mexico’s best known traditions such as tequila, mariachis and charros (a Mexican sport). Guada-lajara also has beach destinations, too, such as Puerto Vallarta, which is my favorite. Guadalajara has several shopping centers, and you can take a tour of the surround-ing areas and townships, such as Huentitan, Tonala, Tlaquepaque and the Lake of Chapala. You can also visit towns well connected by modern highways, such as the town of Tequila, where our national drink is made. There is a wonderful tour in that town.There are a lot of things to say about what I like about Mexico,

but I chose to share my feelings about Guadalajara and Cancun because I have several good memories there. This is why I like Mexico, and I want invite to you to visit Mexico. I am sure you will enjoy it.

Violeta Lanzas, Nicaragua, Writing High IntermediateI was born in Nicaragua, but I have been living in Houston for almost 12 years. I have suffered the sadness and the nostalgia that are characteristic of every person that leaves everything behind to begin a new life. Now, I have learned to accommodate all those sad feelings, but I still feel nostalgic about my favorite sensorial experience.Nicaragua, my country, is decorated with plenty of volcanoes, green mountains, lakes, lagoons and tropical weather. I’m very proud of the abundant natural resources of my country. Nicara-gua, like other tropical countries, has only two seasons, summer and winter. May is the rainiest month of the whole year; every-thing is green in May and full of life.I still remember the pleasant sensation of the sound of rain, espe-cially at night, falling on the aluminum roof and the chilly wind hitting the houses, passing through us, because the houses in my country are built differently. They have more open structures. The sound of the strong wind or slight beating of the rain helped me to relax. I could feel a connection with God, and I could feel peace and security in my bed, under my perfumed sheets in my home in Nicaragua. It was a wonderful sensorial experience because it trapped all my senses. It was very hard for me to accept the idea of leading my life far away from my country, and despite that now I live happily in Houston where it rains frequently all year, I can’t repeat the senso-rial experience like in my country. That’s why the winter season is, without any doubt, most what I like about my country.

Erzsebet Halasz, Hungary, Oral Communication High IntermediateIn Hungary, where I am from, the winter is very cold. For a few months, the temperature is below zero. Hungarians cannot plant vegetables during the winter time. Therefore, in the summer, we plant a lot of vegetables in the garden, more than we need for just the summer. When the winter comes, we collect everything from

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What I Like about my Country

the garden and store it in the cellar. We have a special way to keep the vegetables fresh for long time. For example, we put the potatoes into sacks, apples in plastic containers, and we cover them with cloths. Also we layer the carrots with sand. So this way, through the winter we have a lot of fresh vegetables until the next summer.

Bao Nguyen, Vietnam, Reading IntermediateAlmost everybody likes eating, and I’m not an exception. I’m from Vietnam. There are many foods and the taste is great. You can smell them when you are still very far away from them. The food which many visitors like very much is “sour soup with fresh water fish.” It’s natural. And another food is “fish cooked in brown sauce;” you can put in a little black pepper. It’s so good when you enjoy them together with boiled rice. I’m very hungry now, and I must go eat them. And I hope you will come to Vietnam soon. Vietnam welcomes you!

Desyana Dewi, Indonesia, Oral Communication High IntermediateIndonesia has 17,508 islands. It is the world’s largest archipe-lagic country; the 5 big islands are Java, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sumatera, Sulawesi and Timor, with an estimated total popula-

tion around 237 million people. It is the fourth most populated country in the world. Because Indonesia has so many islands, we have many ethnicities, lan-guages, and religions; and every island has its own language, cul-ture, ethnicity, beliefs. For example, on the occasion of a wedding party, there are many different ceremonies, and it depends on the island and even one the province. Indone-sia has 33 provinces, so this means Indone-sia has at least 33 dif-ferences of traditional wedding ceremonies.My family comes from Central Java Island and my wedding followed

that tradition. However, my brother’s wife’s family comes from Sumatra Is-land, which has 10 provinces. And his wedding followed the West Sumatra tradition. It has a very different culture, language, wedding dress, and not to mention the food. Believe it or not, the wedding ceremony always follows the wife’s family tradition. Most Indonesian culture is matriarchal.Indonesia has thousands of different kinds of food, and it depends on where people live as well. The foods use so many kinds of spices and are very rich in taste. As additional information about my country, it has more than 700 spoken languages, and I can speak three of them! This is why I like my country.

Janina Geise, Germany, Reading IntermediateI am from the north of Germany, and the Baltic and North Seas are not far away from my hometown. I enjoy driving in the sum-mers to the sea and relaxing with a good book at the beach. Two weeks in the summer is a very interesting time to be at the beaches because you can see the sailing boats from Kiel. Kiel is the capital of the state of Schleswig-Holstein where I live. It is a beautiful city seated next to the Kieler Förde and Kiel Canal. Once a year Kiel has a big city festival, which is called Kieler Woche. It is the biggest sailing festival in the world and the biggest summer festival in north Europe. People come from all over the world to watch the sailing competitions. Of course, it is a big party in general with a lot of food from different countries and shows right next to the sea. It is always a lot of fun and a good chance to meet people from abroad. Kiel is a very impressive city for me and always good for a visit.In the fall I usually go on vacation with my parents. We rent a little house in Harz which is an area in the federal land Niedersa-chen. It is about a four hour drive away from my hometown and has mountains to go hiking. It is beautiful especially in the fall because all the leaves on the trees are colored in red, orange and brown. They fall down as soon as a little breeze comes up. When you hike in the mountains and walk up and down the trails, every-thing is silent around you. All you can hear are the leaves on the trees and yourself walking through the colorful leaf piles. It makes a wonderful sound. When you live in Germany, you do not have to leave in order to have a good vacation. You can stay and experience everything in the different areas. Everything is very close. You really should visit Germany and explore the real beauty of my amazing country. §

in me. With him, I understand what true love really is. My hero is my husband who God predestined for me.

Kitiya Matthews, Thailand, Oral Communication High BeginningMy Hero, Michael Matthews.- Michael is my hero because he is a smart, strong man. He is honest and very loyal. He has a deep caring heart hidden behind his strong body. I love his voice. When he speaks with people, he is always honest and doesn’t lie. Michael helps me every day because America is very different from Thai-land. He teaches me to be strong and to not be afraid to do things by myself. He loves me and I love him. He is my hero.

Trang Thuy, Viet Nam, Oral Communication High BeginningMy hero's name is Han. He studied with me together in high school. He is 19 years old. Now, he is studying at the university in Viet Nam. He usually helps someone with their work. When someone has trouble in life, he will help him or her solve the problem. He isn't scared of many things. He usually is brave when he does something. He is a good student. My class in high school is proud of him. He is very friendly when he plays together with everyone. When he has free time, he likes to play soccer, listen to music, and read a book. §

(continued from page 4)Who is my Hero?

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This I Believe

My Desire Jaypee L. Navata, Philippines, Writing High IntermediateThis I believe. I already told myself when I was young that I would rescue my family and take them away from the poverty that we led. This was a promise that I buried in my heart, and that’s why I’m here in the United States. I am going to fulfill my motive here. My desire is to make all my dreams come true for my family and me.People ask me “What do you want to be?” I always say that I want to join the military. Since I was five years old, I wanted to be in the air force when I grew up. I always used to play with military toys. I also used to like to play war games with my friends. When I reached the age of seven, I started to watch action and war movies, all the movies that had fighting and shooting. My mom did not want me to watch them because there were so violent, but I could not resist. I really liked them.After my tenth birthday, my mom asked me what I wanted to be after I finished my apprenticeship. “I want to be in the air force, Mom,” I replied. She asked me again if I could change my idea because it was too risky. For the second time I replied, “No, Mom, it’s in my blood, this is what I want.” I have been dreaming about this since I was five years old. It is in my blood because my dad is in the Marines, and all of my uncles are also in the military, even my cousins. Finally my mother agreed, but I know she’s still frightened for me.I believe one day when I look at myself in the mirror, I’ll be wear-ing presentable attire. When I walk down the hallway, military people will salute me, and my family will be very proud of me, especially my mom and dad.

I Believe We Can Make this World a Better Place Heidi Herrera, Costa Rica, Writing High IntermediateWhat do you think humans would do if our entire planet was at-tacked by an extraterrestrial force? Do you think we would defend ourselves as earthly beings, or as Europeans, Asians, Americans, or Africans? It has been my experience that a difficult situation binds us together, so I wonder what is the reason that we are breaking apart from each other? It seems that as technology advances, we do the contrary. It almost looks like technology is taking the hu-man side out of us. Meanwhile, as I try to find answers to all these questions, I believe that through love we can make this world a better place.I think about the moment we are born, and when we come into this world, we are innocent, fragile and defenseless. We don’t have a notion, or understanding of what the world is like beyond our parents’ arms. I wonder what would happen if we managed to keep some of that innocence we started with. Maybe we could focus on helping each other more and leave behind our differences and selfishness. Perhaps we could focus on making this world a better place. Imagine what this world would be like if we all felt real love towards each other? The greatest teacher of our time came to this earth preaching love as a mechanism of change. What makes this world a difficult place is not our surroundings. It is our circum-stances. I got a dreamy idea that if each of us would make an effort to help the people close to us, it will make a positive impact in the world. Somehow I think it would turn into a snow ball difficult to stop. I believe something went wrong somewhere along our path. History teaches us we are going around in a circle, making the same mistakes over and over again. We are supposed to be the most intelligent creatures of the animal kingdom, but sometimes I wonder if through our actions we show a different face.

It is time to start wars based on love, harmony and appreciation. It is time to start a Revolution of Love. Jesus said, “Love one another.” It is a very simple rule, but it seems hard to put into practice. I often wonder what would happen if we were attacked by a different species. I hope we would join together and defend ourselves as humans as brothers and sisters. Because after all the difference we might think we have, we are the same. We are like flowers of different colors in a beautiful garden.

Chia-Ying Lin, Taiwan, Writing High IntermediateIn Taiwan, there is a phrase which says, “diligence makes up for deficiency.” I believe it because I have an example that can prove it. Also, it is a good phrase you can learn. Being a person, you needn’t feel disappointed at your ability. As long as you work hard, you will be able to succeed. Now, I am going to share an example with you.When I was studying in junior school, all my grades were good except for history. I was disappointed about this grade. No matter how I prepared for history exams, I always used to receive grades under eighty-five. I felt so hopeless that I wanted to give up. Afterward, I decided to ask my teacher for advice. My teacher gave me some instructions and encouraged me to keep studying hard. In the end, I received a good grade in history due to the fact that I kept studying hard.From here we can learn that diligence makes up for deficiency. Thanks to the experience, I learned the meaning of this phrase. I still believe it, and it will never change.

Rosana Leal, Mexico, Writing High IntermediateI believe in a good attitude. When I was a child, I remember my grandfather smiling all the time. I asked him why. He responded, “Little girl, you have to look at life with a good attitude.” He al-ways said, “Today is going to be a good day,” and believe it or not, most all his days were good days. Sometimes he had problems, but he always kept a good attitude. He simply affirmed that an ardu-ous day was going to leave us something to learn.I admire and respect people with a good attitude. I believe if a per-son keeps a good attitude, he or she sees aspects of life differently. A big problem can turn small just with a good attitude. I admire people who have an answer for everything in difficult times. They never give up just because they have good attitude about life. These are some of the phases that keep me going through life with a good attitude: “The bad things in life open your eyes to see the good things that you never saw before, “ and “failure is not the worst thing; the worst thing is not to try.”For me, these are perfect examples of a good attitude. Attitude is life. You chose between a good or bad attitude. This is what I believe.

I Believe in FriendshipElena Morante, Peru, Writing High IntermediateI believe in friendship because I consider this to be one of the values we learn in our childhood. Throughout our lives, we meet a lot of people, and we try to cultivate friendships with them, but they do not always work out. I consider myself a very fortunate woman because I can proudly say I have very good friends. The relationship with my best friend is about forty years old. We have made many memories and experienced a lot of things together. For example, we have learned how to play with puzzles, how to ride bikes, and how to play basketball. We even went to our first quinceañera party together.

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Those little things made our friendship grow stronger. But it wasn’t sugar all the time. We had our differences, and like all healthy rela-tionships, we fought, but it was over after a few minutes.I think the value of a true friendship is based on respect, loyalty, honesty, care, sense of humor, and trust. If we cultivate these values every day, I am sure we could make real friends. A friend is always there for you. A friend listens, gives good advice, cries with you, laughs with you, and helps you without caring how hard times can be.When people find a friend in their life, that friend becomes part of who they are. If your friend is happy, you are also happy. If your friend is sad, you are there to help overcome their sadness, and vice versa.It is not easy to find true friends, but when you are lucky enough to have them, they last forever. These are the reasons why I believe in friendship.

PowerlessMaria Vargas, Mexico, Writing High IntermediateHave you ever wondered what makes a person successful in life? Some individuals believe that the world revolves around power and money, which makes people enthusiastic. However, I believe in love, family, and achieving the dreams of oneself.There are some people that take love for granted. However, for me love is being content with myself and what revolves around me. Love is what makes you live at large, makes you wake up in the morning and love the sunshine. Love is the feeling that you get when you see a special someone. Love and life have a lot in com-mon because there are some things that are required to live hap-pily in the world. To love someone, however, you have to be alive and full of enthusiasm on the earth. Love can also be used as a sacrifice; for instance, if you love someone, you must set them free. For instance, we set them free when there are things in between, such as unachieved dreams. However, love is everywhere and it is not only necessary to be in love with a partner, you must love every person that once came across you and made a difference. The most important foundation in life is family, having the sup-port that one needs to become one. Family is often what individu-als rely on, such as when they have a problem. They always know that family will always be there to protect them and help them in what they need. The most memorable moments of my life have been those that I have spent with my family. It does not matter what you have done or how long you been away from the ones you love. Family will always be there for you. Finally, dreams are what keep us going day by day, removing any regret of being alive, and helping us to achieve something that at times seems impossible. It is up to you to achieve your dreams and up to you to make them true. The key to making a dream come true is working hard toward the things that matter most for your-self. Do you have a dream?Love is the most personal feeling that you can feel, family the most precious in life, and dreams what make you live day by day. Money is not always the most important in life; however, sometimes we forget the treasure in life is achieving the things that make you the happiest person in the whole world. Have you ever thought that you could change all that you have for a moment with a person you love, family or even making you dream comes true? I have and I would do anything in the world.

What I Strongly Believe Marina Calzini, Italy, Writing High IntermediateI strongly believe in friendship. I know that some people think that friendship does not exist, and they say that you should not trust others because when you are off-guard, they will do something behind your behind. I think that these people are definitely wrong, and I am really sorry for them. I think that life without friends is really unhappy. Probably I am a fortunate person because I have beautiful friends, and I trust them one hundred percent. Friendship is something that you have to build slowly. You cannot wake up one morning with a lot of real friends. You have to know them slowly, live some moments together and trust them. For a real friendship both friends have to demonstrate that they will be there to help each other. When you need them, they will be there for you, and you will be there when they need you, too. With friends you divide the happy moments and the bad moments. You go out all together, go on holiday and have a great time. You know a lot of people during your life, such as classmates, work associ-ates, and people of your same city, but not all are friends. You can call them friends, but you know who your real friends are. The majority of my old classmates are now only people that I know, and I used to shoot the breeze with them. Now I am proud to say that I have five real friends, and I trust them completely. I think that during my life I will know other people, and I will have more real friends, but until that moment I am very happy with my friends. I love them. I really think that everybody has to have friends. Friends are important, and I hope that the people that do not believe in friendship one day will believe and those that believe in it will keep on believing.

I Believe in God Lisai Goenaga, Cuba, Writing High IntermediateWhy does every human need to believe in something or someone? All people notice that men and women were created for living in community. The people who live unaccompanied generally are miserable or gloomy, so usually we put all of our faith in other people. However, there is a question in our mind which makes us believe in an unearthly person: Who are we, where do we come from and where will we go? By answering this question many religions and beliefs have arisen, for example, Muslims believe in Allah and Buddhists believe in the Buddha. I have also answered this question. I looked for my roots and found my faith: I believe in God, and I think the way to God is Jesus Christ.Not always have I believed in God. When I was born, people talked about God in an inaudible voice in my country. The government had prohibited belief in any god. When I was nine, I began to study shorthand and typing at the home of an evangeli-cal family. Often I did not attend the class and I was in the church hidden from my parents. I loved it. I enjoyed my visits to the church so much. However, I was very confused because in school they taught me that God did not exist. For many years I believed that we humans came from the monkey and that heaven was empty. But one day I met Jesus, and I had the greatest experience that I had ever had in my live. I cannot explain, but Jesus changed my life. I feel I am a better person after my encounter with my Savior.I encourage you to look for your belief, something that makes you change your life and way of seeing the world. Look at yourself, God is speaking to you. He can give you the answer to that ques-tion that you have asked so many times: what do I believe?

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Learning from Your LifeHsaiolei Lin, Taiwan, Writing High IntermediateI was a pessimistic person. I often thought about everything in a negative way. However, I believed I wasn’t born that way. The pessimistic personality might have been influenced by my back-ground growing up.In my childhood, my parents always fought in front of me. A little child didn’t understand the adult world, not to mention their problems. My mother left home because of my father’s affair.

Our three siblings lived in three respective places. Actually we moved frequently and lived in many places. I was finally able to live with my mother at twelve years old, but the time of bliss went fast. When I was fifteen, my mother left me forever by a traffic accident. After my mother’s death, we three sib-lings lived together. But the nightmare

didn’t finish. I found that my brother learned something from my father. He was violent to us like my father was to my mother when he felt uncomfortable about anything at home. In fact, he couldn’t control himself, which I felt. After I moved out, I still got calls crying for help from my sister. I asked my father for aid, but the only thing he cared about was if we could give him some money.Life didn’t just take without giving something in return. I worked hard in my career as a stock broker. Many people helped me in my trade that affected me, and I felt there was still a bright light in my life. And I became less pessimistic after I got married. Now I have learned to be confident from my partner, and I have grown into a more positive person than I used to be. There is always an exit for the desperate straits in your life if you face it, accept it, lay it down and deal with it.

I Believe in the Power of PerseveranceKaren Gomez, El Salvador, Writing High IntermediateI believe that perseverance is a powerful tool, and through it every-thing is be possible. However, it can imply a lot of sacrifices. But you would be amazed to discover all the things that we are able to do.Without a doubt I can tell you that when we put a lot of devotion, dedication, and enthusiasm towards our dreams, those efforts are going to help us in whichever goal we are pursuing. Also, we need to determine how far we want to go, and it is important as well to believe in ourselves. All of us need to keep working hard even when things do not look as good as we want, and even when our dreams seem intangible. I strongly believe that everyone can go as far as they want if they persistently continue to work towards their goals. It does not matter how big or small a dream is. For me, what really matters it is all the effort and the persistence that we put into it. This is what I believe.

Maria Garcia, Mexico, Oral Communication High IntermediateI believe in a good life. A good diet and exercise can be the key of good health and a longer life. I think if every one of us would do these two things, the world would be better than now. We are used to seeing sick people everywhere, without going to a doctor’s office or a hospital. I admire a lot those people who have a good diet, and they look good, too. I know then we are living a hurried life, especially here in the U.S. The life here is rich and hurried because everybody needs to take care of the family, the home, and the job. Still, God loves us, and He wants us to be happy and healthy for a long life, so we need to obey the rules that he gave to us for a better life.

I Believe in the Present Silvia Barrientos, El Salvador, Advanced WritingThree years ago, I had a series of events that changed the way that I thought. On the same day that my husband had to leave us in our country, my mother became sick. She had a high risk surgery, which required delicate procedures. The next day my pretty dog, Lulu, died. I was very sad at that moment. Nothing I have ever experienced, or have experienced since, has had such a powerful impact on what I believe.Until then, I saw my life from a different perspective. I had always thought that we had to exert effort to find what we want and work hard for a better future. I was always working, and sometimes I forgot about the balance of life. My mind was always in the future, anticipating what was to come. The present seemed to disappear between the past and the future. I had never known how short life could be.Since the moment that I felt I could lose my mother, I realized that everyone cannot be in this world all the time; nobody is for-ever. I started a new life by being present in my own life. I found a new world full of beautiful things. I thank God every morning for my life and for the life of my family.Nowadays, I do more activities with my family. For instance, I go with my husband and my youngest son, Roberto, to see Jose, my older son, play soccer. Roberto and I walk our dog together almost every day. On weekends, we go to the movies, enjoy shopping, or just find a place to visit. During the summer, the four of us travel to visit the rest of our family in El Salvador. We enjoy the com-pany of my mother, siblings, and many nephews and nieces.I am happier now than I was some years ago. Right now, I believe in the present and not only in the future. Years ago, I used to worry about the future and what it would be like. Today, I find pleasure in doing simple things and not working too much. I am enjoying every moment of doing activities that I like, and I always make an effort to improve my life. I try to create a balance, and I try to be responsible because I know my future will be my present one day. Moreover, I live every day like it could be the last one.

Maria Roxana Eduardo, Argentina, Advanced WritingHave you ever taken the time to consider your beliefs? Maybe your beliefs are influenced by your life’s story, your family or rela-tives, your home country, or your dreams and expectations. Per-haps they refer to people, feelings, or material things. In my case, I deeply believe in friendship. I will try to define what friendship means to me, how we might build and preserve one, and why you must have this important value in your life.

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To me, friendship means a great support, happiness, and com-panionship. It is one of the most indispensable values in my life. Fortunately, I have enjoyed a lot of friends during my life, and I hope to find more each day. Some of my friends were and are extremely important in my life; they have been with me since my first years and have grown along with me. They are a key factor in my memories of childhood, and, at the same time, they share my future and my dreams. Other friends are contemporary, but no less important in my life; they help me every day in my new life in the United States.

Friendship can relieve your pain with a simple, but affectionate, hug, a kindness, or a playful smile at the right moment. Some-times, friends only need to accompany you in silence. Some people experience many problems making friends, but I think it is truly easy. You must have your mind and heart open to new peo-ple in your life. Sometimes, you can make a friend with someone who is going through the same hard situation as you. The shared difficulty might be the first day in a new school or in a new job. Since I arrived here, I have made a lot of new, interesting, and international friendships. I enjoy these friends because I learn a lot from them. They made me forget my first, lonely days in Houston when I was far away from my country, family, and friends, and when my husband was working long hours. The most arduous work is to conserve friendships. Distance, language, and ideals may be different, or the opposite between friends. However, if you know and respect your friend, it is not a problem. Respect, generosity, companionship, silence, and words are simple tips that help me to conserve a friend. In conclusion, friendship is an invaluable gift in my life. Friends provide me with help, happiness, hopes, companionship, and motivation. These things are important in order to have a happy and content life. My friends enrich my life while teaching me interesting and useful things or while they simply accompany me along my life.

Quynh Pham, Viet Nam, Advanced WritingWhat is the definition of happiness? If we look up in the diction-ary, happiness is defined as “enjoying or showing joy…” When we think of happiness, we think about feeling good inside. There are many types of happiness, and each on is expressed in many ways.In scientific research, happiness comes from a chemical reaction

in the brain. These chemicals in the brain control your emotional system. It is why we feel sad or happy. As a result, happiness has different meanings to different people.However, in normal life, we define happiness in very simple ways. Happiness is just something that accidentally happens in daily life, such as when you can finish your assignments or when a quiz is very easy. You may just feel good because you read your favorite books, or talked to somebody you had not seen for a long time. Each person is different; they feel happiness in their own way. For example, person A is interested in sports, but person B enjoys reading a book. Some people are happy all of the time, but others say that they are happy for short periods of time. Fortunately, the people who are always happy are less stressed. They see life as more beautiful than it is. Nothing is overly important and unsolved in happy people’s eyes.I think we can find the way to experience happiness. I believe life is colorful, and we have our own happiness. We just find it in dif-ferent ways.

Zhiling Liang, China, Advanced WritingIf I say that singing is a key to long life, it may surprise some people. I believe that singing is the key to a long life and happi-ness. There are physiological benefits obviously. You use your lungs in singing, breathing deeply and openly, which brings more oxy-gen to the brain. Singing also strengthens the memory. By singing, your brain is active, and you keep a healthy state of mind. Singing causes the mind to focus and the body to relax. Singing develops our sense of accomplishment and our self-confidence.When I was still living in China, I usually went with friends or family to a karaoke club on the weekend. We really enjoyed those times. I will never forget them. When you sing with some friends or family, songs become more beautiful. You feel great and are happy to sing songs with the people you care about. Singing cre-ates a sense of togetherness.Singing cheers the spirit and lightens the heart. Do you remember how people got together to sing after the tragedy of 9/11? Sing-ing creates a bridge between generations. If we sing the songs that carry history and traditions in families and in nations, we become closer. Singing creates a strong sense of belonging in children, families, communities, cultures, and countries.I believe singing builds character more than anything else does. Singing encourages a taste for co-operation with others. This seems to be about the most important thing; it is something that you cannot learn from other activities. If singing can bring joy and beauty into our lives so easily, why should we not all sing?

Vilma Polanco, Belize, Advanced WritingWhen a couple decides to bring children to this world, they must remember that it is a huge step in life that they are going to take. Therefore, they need to be very responsible and patient to be able to make good creations, “children.” Before having children, parents need to plan how they will educate them. I believe there are three main things a couple must do in order to have great children: teach them to have a healthy life style, teach them reality, and show them love.As children are growing, parents must teach them to eat right. They must give them a balanced diet since the food consumed will cause a great impact in their future. Parents must teach their children that exercise is part of being healthy. They will not suffer from any sickness that will keep them back from participating in

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the activities they like. For example, if they like sports and they are obese, they will not be able to participate in what makes them happy. As a result, they will live miserably. Children are like trees. If the trees are not straightened as they are growing, they will become bent; then, it gets difficult to straighten them when they become older.While children are developing, there will be many changes which they will start noticing. They might feel scared or shy to ask their parents so they seek the help of friends. Parents must not hide or lie to their children about reality. Children have the right to know about the different changes that will occur in their lives before they take place. When these things occur, children begin to lose trust in their parents and tend to trust their friends more. Those friends can take children down the wrong path, or they can lead them to being righteous, responsible, and humble people. This stage is when mistakes occur in children’s lives. They develop bad actions that have serious consequences. They go against their parents’ will; they disrespect their parents and those who love them because they think their parents just do not want them to be happy. Teenagers think that negative actions will lead them to happiness, and they do not see truth until they stumble into a big rock. That is when their friends may no longer be able to help them. Children who grow up with the principles their parents taught them almost never get in trouble and always have the guid-ance of their parents. If they have guidance, it is because they seek it. Parents must show their children that, no matter what, they are always there for them. Many parents abandon their children when they stumble against a huge rock, and that is the biggest mistake they can make. If they do not abandon them, parents may demand to know too many things. The children may become worried and this causes the friendship, which is supposed to be between the child and the parents, to never develop. The angry faces of the parents scare the children away, and they begin to make one mistake behind the other. It is very sad for children not to have the support of their parents when they most need it. In conclusion, in all aspects parents are responsible for what their children become. It is not appropriate to allow others to teach your children the way life is. If parents allow that to happen, children will feel that their parents do not love them. To all those parents, please love your children no matter what. Remember, it is you who bring them to being who they are.

Maria Flores, Mexico, Advanced WritingThe United States of America has a new president. His name is Barack Obama. For decades, this country has been controlled by one person who is called the President. At this time, the new presi-dent promised a change for this country; he promised to improve the economy, to end the war, and improve healthcare. In this, I want to believe.The economy in this country is the most terrible problem that the new president has to confront. This is one of the richest countries in the world; this is a dream country for several people from other nations. Unfortunately, now everyone wants to run away from it because there are no jobs, several businesses are now bankrupt, and people have lost everything, including their houses. However, Obama promises to improve the economy; he affirms to work hard on these problems. One way in which he hopes to help Americans is through assisting them with mortgages on their houses. Also, he is going to create hundreds of jobs around the country. He is working with Congress to create a monetary stimu-

lus for each enterprise that needs these financial stimulations. Some people believe in his promises; I believe, too.The war in Iraq is another problem that Obama assumed when he became the new president. Since the war began, several hundreds of soldiers have died in combat. The country has not only lost people; it also has been spending billions of dollars since the war started in 2003. That is why Obama promised to end the war soon; he does not want more victims, and he is not going to spend more money on it. Everybody hopes he will fulfill his promise.These days, medical care is very expensive in this country. Several people do not have the means to pay for medical insurance. Mil-lions of children and elderly people do not receive medical care because the cost is too high. Some hospitals and doctors do not want to provide for the sick if the person does not have insurance. President Obama promised to pay attention to these big problems; he promised to make certain that all Americans will have access to these benefits.In conclusion, I believe in Obama’s promises. I hope he is going to complete them while he is in the White House. I know the politi-cians’ promises sometimes are not real. However, Obama wants to make a difference for everyone in this country, and I believe that he will do exactly what he has promised to do.

Mohammed R. Hossain, Bangladesh, Advanced WritingLife is wonderfully ridiculous; it changes every moment of the day. All over the world, people are moving, learning new languages, adopting new cultures, and changing their lives. All change is possible if you are motivated, are willing to work hard, and you are self-confident. Recognize your personal talents, and strengthen them with unique exercises.Belief is born on the battlefield, and it helps to change people. When I first came to the United States, I was very nervous about life in a new place. There were many things I had to learn. For example, I had to learn a new language and how to drive. I had to experience foods and a new culture. At first, I was scared, but I knew I could do it. I was determined to behave with extreme self-confidence in my new situation, while trying to reach my goal without giving up.I believe knowledge is power, and I already knew it could change my life and help me to achieve my goals. I realized education is necessary in order to become successful. As a result, I set a goal. I had to learn English and change my life. For instance, there were many questions stuck in my mind concerning where I should begin my education. How to start? I decided to go to school. I feel that receiving an education is the second journey in my life.Now, I wake up early in the morning and go to class. I always focus on what the professor says. I take class notes. I learn new vocabulary words and how to use them appropriately. I am also learning how to properly construct sentences. I read English language books and watch American movies, which have greatly helped me to learn and to communicate in English with other people. I feel happy when I can apply my knowledge. When I get out of class, I immediately go to the library to look for newly released books. Although I sometimes become tired, I realize that learning a new language is a big challenge for me, but it is worth the effort I must make in order to be successful.Everything in the world becomes obsolete, but knowledge does not. Education gives people the experience and the confidence they will need in many of life's situations.

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Reiko Minami, Japan, Advanced WritingI believe in me. I do not believe in any traditional and authorita-tive doctrine or any other modern and commonly held opinion that human beings have thought about. I believe in what I have seen with my own eyes. I do know that I am a person with a lot of faults, but, generally speaking, I think I can give myself an “A,” unfortunately not an “A+.” It was only recently that I began to hold myself in high esteem, but now I believe in the vessel named “me” and trust myself to guide me along the best road in my life. When I look back and contemplate a bit, I can see some character-istics which have formed me and made me who I am today.First of all, I have been successful in fostering my self-confidence, even though it has been sometimes groundless, self-contented, and even very haughty. When I was younger, I did not enjoy the self-confidence I have today; this deprived me of the stability of my mind. I squandered my energy and time by disguising my weak-nesses with bluffing, the intimidation of others, or doing useless and harmful things. I sometimes lost myself in mental confusion in this way. Self-esteem helped me to clear up the mist of shame; then I acquired a peace of mind and was able to see things as they truly were.Next, one of the characteristics that helped me acquire self-achievement was my endless curiosity. Thanks to this attribute, I kept on being open and flexible. If a person's character is not flexible enough, that individual will stop growing and become dogmatic and intolerant because of an inability to receive new information. This narrow-mindedness causes universal and global problems; all you need to do is read the newspaper to see the effects of close-mindedness. On the contrary, diverse informa-tion gives you the opportunity to see things from many points of view and allows you to constructively criticize what many people blindly accept without question. Skepticism is one of the impor-tant steps to intelligence.Lastly, and fortunately, I am fundamentally very optimistic. The grace of this characteristic is responsible for my ability to come through difficulties relatively easily. Besides, this aspect of my per-sonality has played a great role in helping me to achieve my goals. Even if I fail sometimes, this characteristic of mine encourages me to try again and again or rethink my goals. Sanguineness for my life is like a lever for my body. Thanks to my optimism, I am able to keep my healthy mind without giving up when other people might do so. I would like to live my life seeing, thinking, and judging for my-self as well as I possibly can. My judgments and decisions should be made, not because I am following the crowd, but because I believe in myself. To become a reliable “me,” I have to keep on ameliorating myself and making a lot of effort. Whether or not I always choose the right path for myself, no one knows. For the time being, though, I believe in me and will make my own deter-mination about my values and goals in life.

Marisela Rodriguez, Mexico, Advanced WritingI believe that the greatest way to have more energy and improve your heath is by exercising. For many people, exercise is not important, or they just do not have time for it. I understand them because that is the way I used to think. After watching commer-cials, reading fitness magazines, and attending a health club, I dis-covered the importance of exercise. The benefits that you receive are amazing; you have more energy, you can get a nice shape, and you can improve your health.

Nowadays, there are a lot of health clubs you can join and be able to exercise. Exercising helps you to have more energy throughout the day. I enjoy going to the gym because I can use machines that help me to be active; for example, I use the treadmill and the stairs. Gyms have all kinds of machines and, when I use them, I feel more energetic. I feel great after my exercise because I am able to do more things, and I do not get tired too easily. For some people, exercising could be a sacrifice; for me, it is just a lifestyle. When you exercise, you feel and look better.Exercise has helped me to be in better shape. Most people, espe-cially women, exercise because we look forward to having a nice body and looking good. Looking better than I once did has given me more self-confidence. I always try to be in shape. There are three reasons that people want to improve their appearance: to be slim, toned, and muscular. Looking good is not all that matters; what really matters is to stay healthy.Healthy is just a word, but all of us must exercise in order to be healthier. The most important gift we have in our lives is our health. I do not know why some people do not care about it much. Now that I exercise, I feel good because I relieve stress, I have low cholesterol, and I have a healthy body fat percentage. Unfortunately, some people do not see exercise as one of the most important factors of being healthy.Exercise has changed my life. Now, I am more energetic, my body has changed, and I am more concerned about my health. I always make time to exercise at least five times each week. Since joining a health club, I look through fitness magazines. Those models are my motivation, not just to look good, but to improve my health. Becoming motivated and thinking about how I want to live my life are the keys to success.

Branka Fanjkutic, Italy, Advanced WritingWhy are today's children so encouraged to read in school? Why are teachers so focused on teaching useful techniques of reading and comprehension? The answer is that, since the day you learn the alphabet, you start to build the biggest treasure of your exis-tence, your education. I firmly believe that reading on a regular basis will not only benefit you by expanding your knowledge, it will also facilitate you in expressing yourself and boosting your imagination and creativity.When you read books, magazines, newspapers, websites, or anything else you like, you are constantly collecting new infor-mation. This information, which is stored in your memory, is at your disposal to use in any circumstance of your life. You may it in school, at your job, or to lead an interesting conversation with your friends. I feel gratitude for all the authors who, by writing, have shared with us their experiences and thoughts.Reading is also a great method to enrich your vocabulary. Every time you read, you assimilate new expressions, terminologies, and combinations of words. As a result, your oral and writing commu-nication skills improve. Let us go back and think about learning a new language, precisely English. In the beginning, my vocabulary was so poor that I used to make very simple, and more often than not, incorrect sentences. Today, while I am writing this essay, I feel satisfied at how my vocabulary has grown. Besides taking indispensable ESOL classes, I forced myself to read a lot, starting from Level II ESOL books, which are available in the Lonestar Kingwood College Library. Today, I am able to walk into the bookstore and pick any book that inspires me the most.

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Nothing is more enjoyable for me than lying on the beach with one of these books in my hands (and a margarita on my table). During those peaceful moments, I can totally sink into the story the author is telling me. I imagine the characters, I imagine the scenes, and I can hear the sounds and smell the perfumes. I am dragged away from reality, and I am immersed in another dimen-sion. Reading makes my mind relax.Books are your source of knowledge, and reading it is a wonderful journey through the unknown. Pick up a book whenever it is pos-sible. Just imagine; every printed page is reserving something new and exciting for you. It waits to be discovered.

Dicson Leon, Venezuela, Advanced WritingI strongly believe in democracy, but unfortunately, my country (Venezuela) is now living under a communistic government im-posed by President Hugo Chavez. With the democratic govern-ments that we had before Chavez, we did not have to be afraid of saying anything against politicians. We did not feel limited when we bought our food and supplements or feel forced to watch communist television programs. Sadly, the government of Hugo Chavez changed the constitution of Venezuela, which allows him to control everything including the population, industries and corporations, and the television and radio companies.Chavez is controlling the population by telling the people, “If you vote against my government, you will lose your jobs.” As a result, the population is afraid of him because the people know that he is able to do this. For instance, my father worked for the Petro-leum of Venezuela Corporation for almost twenty years. He voted against the government in 2002, hence; he was fired from his job. He decided to go to court with some co-workers who were living in the same situation, and the judge could not help them. The judges could not proceed with these cases because Chavez did not want to pay the employees of this corporation. After this, none of the employees from Petroleum of Venezuela who voted against the government found other jobs in Venezuela again.Moreover, Chavez controls the industry sectors and corporations by threatening them with the cancellation of their contracts. The owners of the corporations do not have other options; if they want to subsist and to keep working, they have agree with the govern-ment and uphold its laws. Thus, Chavez is able to take the proper-ties of landlords and use them how he wants. He is ruining the economy of Venezuela. All the national and international finance investors do not want to invest their money because they are afraid of losing everything.Unbelievably, Chavez confirmed his communist ideology when he decided to close one of the most important national televi-sion channels, Radio Caracas Television. This channel transmit-ted many advertisements against the government; as a result, the government did not allow the channel to renew their contract. When Chavez wants to say something, he takes full control of all national television channels and radios. Then, he talks about his communist ideas and unimportant topics for hours; for instance, he starts to talk about his childhood, family, and travels. The gov-ernment of Chavez is restraining the freedom of expression, which leaves Venezuelans feeling hopeless. In summary, I do not believe in communism. Such governments try to convince you that the population has to be equal, but that

means all the people have to live in poverty while the government becomes rich. On the other hand, democracy is the ideology that allows you to express your opinions freely, and you do not have to be afraid if your position is against the government or not. It is difficult to believe all these problems were caused by one man. Do not allow this kind of government to be established; fight for the freedom you deserve.

William Contreras, Mexico, Advanced WritingI was 17, and I did not understand who I was yet. Life had been all about school and family matters. Basically, I followed life’s stuff, the rules, knowing no reasons. I attended school, but I did not really know why. I loved my family, but I did not really know why. I had a girlfriend, but I did not really know why. I had a religion, but I did not really know why. Finally, I found myself in soul, heart, and mind, and now I know in a better way who I am.I grew up in a family who inculcated me with the belief that there was a God, and that people should not sin. Likewise, I was taught that life’s objective was to achieve heaven once we were dead. I followed those beliefs because my family did. Fortunately, one anonymous person was able to truly convince me of the existence of God. If I pray, it is because I feel a true need to do so. In short, because otherwise we could not be here, God does exist. This is my soul.It seems that every aspect of life is taught to children as if they were unable to think and need only to follow a list of instruc-tions. I do not know who writes the rules or who decides why the rules must exist, yet a list seems to be present in every aspect of life. Children are continuously bombarded with a list of “dos and don’ts.” For instance, I went to school because that was what chil-dren did, but I did not understand why parents sent their children to school, Now, I study because I really want to learn, but I also am not afraid to learn by questioning. I have the courage to face up to every single obstacle and maintain my ideals. I support and defend my wisdom with no hesitation. My wisdom is my beliefs. This is my mind.I remember I had a girlfriend in high school because that was what boys were expected to do, date girls and build relationships. While I understood the definition of “relationship,” the word did not have a deep, personal meaning for me. Now that I am older and more experienced, I have a better understanding of the true mean-ing of attraction, a stronger basis. I have followed my personal desires and tried to be honest with myself about my heart while honoring the rights of other people to do the same. I am now more comfortable in my own skin, and, since then, I have been true to myself without worrying about the expectations of other people. This is my heart. I did not understand myself at all when I was younger, and I believed that I must become the person other people wanted me to become. Today I am 19. It has been a long journey to discover who I am, and the searching is not yet over. It has not been easy, but I have been strong enough to keep seeking my happy ending. I still do not completely understand myself; however, when I wisely follow my feelings, I know I am properly making decisions for my biggest project, my own life. When I guide myself by my heart, I know I cannot be wrong. This I believe. I believe in myself. §

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Acknowledgements: I would like to thank our ESOL student contributors, ESOL faculty, and Pam Clarke and Designs in Print intern Jay Cronin for their collaboration and assistance. Copyrights@2009: Lone Star College-Kingwood is the copyright holder of the materials in the Diversity. Any use of the materials in this newsletter is only allowed with permission from Lone Star College-Kingwood.

LSC - Kingwood Intensive English Program (ESOL) – Summer 2009

Academic ESOL

6-Week Courses (June 1–July 7, 2009)Course Name Credit # Reg # CE # Reg # Day/Time Room

Dev Reading II (64 hrs) ENGL. 0305, 21E01 96796 CENGL 3000501, 21E01 97032 MTWTh, 10-12:40pm LIB 201Dev Reading II (64 hrs) ENGL. 0305, 22E01 96798 CENGL 3000501, 22E01 97118 MTWTh, 6:30-9:15pm LIB 201Lang Skills Workshop (48 hrs) ENGL. 0308, 21101 96803 CENGL 3100558, 21101 97527 MTWTh, 8:30-10:20am LIB 203Lang Skills Workshop (48 hrs) ENGL. 0308, 21E01 96805 CENGL 3100558, 21E02 97528 MTWTh, 10:30-12:20pm LIB 203

12-Week Courses (June 1–August 13, 2009)Course Name Credit # Reg # CE # Reg # Day/Time Room

Dev Reading II (64 hrs) ENGL. 0305, 21ESl 96806 CENGL 3003501, 21ESL 97044 MTWTh, 8:30-9:50am COT 100ESOL Oral Comm. High Beginning ENGL. 0343, 21001 96807 CENGL 3004301, 21001 97529 MTWTh, 8:30-10:20am COT 101ESOL Oral Comm. Intermediate ENGL. 0344, 21001 96808 CENGL 3004401, 21001 97531 MTWTh, 8:30-10:20am COT 103ESOL Writing High Beginning ENGL. 0353, 21001 96809 CENGL 3005301, 21001 97533 MTWTh, 10:30-12:20pm COT 100ESOL Writing Intermediate ENGL. 0354, 21001 96810 CENGL 3005401, 21001 97537 MTWTh, 10:30-12:20pm COT 101ESOL Writing Advance ENGL. 0356, 21001 96811 CENGL 3005601, 21001 97541 MTWTh, 10:30-12:20pm COT 103

Continuing Education ESOL

6-Week Courses - Day Classes (June 1–July 9, 2009)Course Name CE # Reg # Day/Time Room

Comm. Improvement I CCOMG 2100073, KC301 97029 MTWTh, 8:30-11:15am TBAComm. Improvement II CCOMG 2100148, KC302 97034 MTWTh, 8:30-11:15am TBAComm. Improvement III CCOMG 2100456, KC303 97035 MTWTh, 8:30-11:15am TBAComm. Improvement IV CCOMG 2100562, KC304 97036 MTWTh, 8:30-11:15am TBA

6-Week Courses - Evening Classes (June 1–July 9, 2009)Course Name CE # Reg # Day/Time Room

Comm. Improvement I CCOMG 2100073, KC331 97037 MTWTh, 6-8:45pm TBAComm. Improvement II CCOMG 2100148, KC332 97039 MTWTh, 6-8:45pm TBAComm. Improvement III CCOMG 2100456, KC333 97040 MTWTh, 6-8:45pm TBAComm. Improvement IV CCOMG 2100562, KC334 97041 MTWTh, 6-8:45pm TBAEnglish For Healthcare Professionals CCOMG 2100674, KC335 97042 MTWTh, 6-7:50pm TBA