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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. 2, Fall 2009

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: What I Like Most about My Country, Why I N eed to Improve My English, What I Like Most about the U.S., An Interesting or Funny Experience in the U.S., What Surprises Me Most about the U.S., Who is My Hero, This I Believe, and What Inspires Me. I hope you will enjoy reading these great stories. If you have any comments about the newsletter, please e-mail Anne Amis at [email protected].

What I Like Most about My CountryPatricio Bedon, Ecuador, Writing–High Beginning“With love today I want to sing, Yes sir, to my beautiful Ecuador and say that wherever I go, I am Ecuadorian.” These three lines are part of a song that we Ecuadorians sing with pride and with a strong voice to remember fondly our little piece of land. Ecuador is known around the world, despite the fact that it is a small country, no bigger than Colorado. However, with human warmth it welcomes the people of the world. We are located in South America between Peru and Colombia. We share the same culture, the same race and even the same blue ocean that bathes our beaches. It is the tall peaks and mountains that appear to interact with the stars at night and the lakes adorned with thick mist that make our land special. Atahualpa, the Great Inca King said, “Tahuantinsuyo, Llacta Cuna, Pacha Mama,” or “Tahuantinsuoy, My Cradle, My Mother Land.”

Alvaro Leal, Mexico, Writing–High BeginningHello! My name is Alvaro, and I am from Mexico. What I really like about my country are the rooster fights. In a rooster fight, two roosters fight with knives, and fight till death. The one that stays alive wins the fight and attends the “Palenque,” a big after-party. I like parties. The best time to party in Mexico is in September and December. September is the Patriot month, and every night there are fireworks, people drink all night and are very happy. December is a party month too, but this time we celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Besides parties, what I like the most about my country are the soccer games on the weekends, when people join each other to watch their favorite team. Oh, I almost forgot that Mexico is not expensive, and for all these reasons I like my country.

Maria Teresa Adams, Venezuela, Writing–High BeginningI like everything about my country, but I think the landscapes are the most beautiful in Venezuela. The beaches are the best in the world, and my favorite beaches are Morrocoy National Park, Sombrero Is-land, Mayorquina, Paicla, Los Juanes and many other beautiful ones. One of these beaches is all I need on a weekend. The Venezuelan plains are very beautiful, too, and they are homes to many animals and many exotic flowers and birds. The Andes has snow-covered mountains, and its climate is very pleasant. The Great Savannah is said to be the world’s oldest land, and its Angel Falls (Salto Angel, or Churum Meru) is very amazing. What matters the most about my country is that my family lives there, in the beautiful city of Barquisimeto. My city is musical; everyone knows how to play an instrument or how to sing. Also, I like Venezuelan food, such as arepas, empanadas, tostones, pabellones and Christmas food, like hallacas and ham bread (pan de jamon). And of course, I like the people that work to make Venezuela a better country day by day.

ContentsWhat I Like Most About My Country ............... 1

Why I Need to Improve My English ............... 4

What I Like Most About the U.S. ............... 6

An Interesting or Funny Experience in the U.S. .............13

What Surprises Me Most about the U.S. .............15

Who is My Hero .............17

This I Believe .............18

What Inspires Me .............19

ESOL Schedule Spring 2009 .............23

What I Like Most about My Country

Angela Gonzalez, Colombia, Writing–High BeginningA tropical country of incredible diversity and charm, situated in the northwest corner of South America, Colombia is a country with great history, culture and tradition. It is the only country in the region with coasts on both the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean. In most of the country, there are two rainy seasons – from April to June and from August to November – and two dry seasons. Co-lombia enjoys constant luminosity throughout the year, with an equal duration of daylight and night time hours. Colombia is the second most diverse country on the planet. Protected ecosystems, where scientific research or the simple delight of contemplating and experiencing are possible, make our country an exceptional nature destination. It is a country with incredible biodiversity, which is represented in 53 protected areas. With about 1876 species, equivalent to 20% of the word total, Colombia is the number one country in bird diversity in the world; it is a paradise for birdwatchers with innumerable options. Also, my country has some of the most beautiful flowers in the world.The people of Colombia are very intelligent, hard-working, cheer-ful and hospitable. We have beautiful music (Cumbia, Vallenato), dances, and delicious gastronomy.

Olga Caldas, Colombia, Writing–High BeginningI like Colombia because the people are very friendly there, and the families are close to each other. I love Colombian music, as it is one of the most beautiful expressions of my culture. We have a great variety of music genres, songs and dances. I love Colombian food because it is unique and healthy. We enjoy it at parties, which I like very much for the people are happy there. Colombia is a great place for vacation; it has a variety of climates, the beaches are pretty, and it has many holidays in the year. Also, I like Colombi-an literature because it portrays Spanish culture. I am very proud of our Nobel Prize winner author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Between Peru and BoliviaRomulo Lopez, Peru, Writing–High BeginningI lived half of my life in Lima, Peru, and the other half in Bolivia, Santa Cruz De La Sierra to be exact. In Peru, I had my personal and professional formation. Then, I went to Bolivia to look for a job for some months, but as Santa Cruz is a growing city, I stayed there for 17 years. That is where I found my wife, the mom of my two beautiful children. I would like to go back to Peru to visit my family, for my memories, and I would love to return to Bolivia, as it is also part of my life.

Julio C. Gonzalez, Cuba, Writing–High BeginningMy name is Julio C. Gonzalez. I was born in Cuba, in a town named Varadero. What I like most about my country are the beautiful beaches. Many tourists visit Varadero because of its beautiful beaches. The water is blue and green. The sand is white and very clean. I used to spend many hours on the beach. My house was only four blocks away. My very first job was that of a life guard. I met a lot of people from different countries. I was amazed at how many people loved to visit Cuba. Some other things I love about my country are the food and the music. We dance to salsa and merengue all night. I often dream about my country. I am planning to take a vacation to Cuba next summer. I cannot wait to see my family and friends whom I have not seen in years.

Hilda Gonzalez, Mexico, Writing–High BeginningMy city, Puebla de Los Angeles, is beautiful and interesting. It was founded on April 16, 1531, by Spanish conquerors. For us, May 5 is a day for big celebration. A lot of people think it is the Day of Independence, but it is not. May 5 is the day of a battle that happened in Puebla.Puebla has a beautiful landscape. It is known as the Valley of Cuetlaxcoapan. Puebla is surrounded by two volcanoes and one mountain. The climate is such that you can enjoy all year round, and the air is very fresh. If you ever get a chance, I would recom-mend that you take a trip over there and enjoy what Puebla has to offer.

Maria Tudor, Romania, Writing–High BeginningI love my country, Romania. My country has big cities. I lived in Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. The people in my country are friendly. They are hardworking and hospitable. They also like to travel. My country has beautiful places with mountains, forests, hills, beaches and plains. In the summer, people go to the Black Sea for vacation. We celebrate Easter, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. People are happy when they celebrate their traditions. We prepare delicious foods like cookies, sausages, cabbage rolls, bacon and soups. The people of my country are intelligent. Our history is interesting, and many people know about the monasteries of Moldavia, the Bran castle, or Dracula’s castle. I love my country and my people. I am proud that I am Romanian.

Nilsa Kleiber, Panama, Writing–High BeginningI am from Panama. It is a beautiful country. It is also a small country with only nine provinces. The people in Panama are nice and friendly. What I like most about Panama are the beaches. Panama has wonderful, beautiful and nice beaches. The water is clear and blue. The sand is white. People spend their weekends on the beach, and they have a good time there. When I go to Panama, I always go to the beach because I love it. I like to sit on the beach and put sand on my body and play with the sand by making sandcastles. I like spending my time on the beach. I love the beach.

Minh Nguyen, Vietnam, Writing–High BeginningI was born and raised in Vietnam. I like the food and beer of my country. I also like Vietnam because it has many beautiful places. I visited many famous places in my country. I usually go out on the weekend in Vietnam. I like to watch Vietnamese movies, and I often go fishing there too. What I like the most about my coun-try is that my family and friends live there. I like to spend time with them. I like it in Vietnam. I love my country.

What I Like Most about My Country

Sergio Ruiz, Mexico, Writing–High Beginning Hello! My name is Sergio, and I am from Guerrero, Mexico. I like Guerrero because it has a great culture and a great climate. Guerrero is not very cold or hot. Its culture is filled with different celebrations, customs and flavors. I like Guerrero for its food, as it is delicious and locally grown fruits are tasty, too. The fruits that are produced in Guerrero are watermelon, bananas, plums, avoca-dos, oranges, tangerines and cantaloupe. Guerrero is a beautiful place, and I would like to go back to enjoy its beauty again.

Graciela Mendoza, Mexico, Writing–High BeginningHi, my name is Graciela, and I was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon (NL), Mexico. The only thing I like about my country is the food. The most traditional dishes from Monterrey are cabrito (cooked goat kid), semita (bread without any leavening) and ca-pirotada (a mix of cooked bread, cheese, raisins, peanuts and crys-tallized sugarcane juice). Some other local dishes are machacado con huevo or carne asada, what Monterrey families traditionally eat on the weekend. These dishes are usually served with grilled onions, baked potatoes and sausages. Traditional desserts like glo-rias and obleas are made from goat milk, and both are traditional sweets from Monterrey, NL.

Petra Castrejon, Mexico, Writing–High BeginningIn Mexico, we celebrate las posadas, the eve of the nativity of Jesus, as a secular winter holiday. Christmas in Mexico is a time for special festive foods. The traditional dishes for this celebration are fried dough, bunuelos, which is a desert with powdered sugar and cinnamon, and tamale, which is corn meal dough, or “masa,” filled with pork and red pepper. Also, in Mexico, there are beauti-ful beaches like Cancun, Acapulco and Mazatlan. Our ancestors the Mayas were intelligent people who created their own calendar and were good astrologists. I find the ancient culture of the Mayas amazing.

Antonio Cuevas, Mexico, Writing–High BeginningIn my country, Mexico, there are many things to appreciate. I like its culture. I like reading about pyramids and the way they were connected to the world. Each spring, a lot of people go to see the equinox by the city of Chichen Itza, and they say that they feel very comforted in the center of the pyramid, in the so called “High Saloon”. Each step of the pyramid’s staircase represents a day of the year, and that is why there are 365 steps. On the top of the staircase, the Mayans sacrificed their princess to their god. Before their god died, he told them that he would come back, so the people were waiting for him to reappear in a new reincarnated form. When the Spanish people arrived, the Mayans though that Hernan Cortes was their god, Kukulkan, and they kneeled down to him. The Mayans also made their own calendar that was exact. Everyone is waiting for something great to happen when the cal-endar ends December 22, 2012.

Aliona Preutesa, Ukraine, Writing–High Beginning I am from Ukraine. Ukraine is the country where I was born. I love this country for its nature and its people. In my country, peo-ple prefer to buy fresh food. They eat meat, fish, meat dumplings, sausage, soup and pasta. I like pasta. My husband and my sons like to eat it, too. We have very good pasta in Ukraine. I could eat pasta every day because I like it so much. I can cook pasta too. Pasta is my favorite food. People in Ukraine eat a lot of vegetables and fresh fruit as well. Some people grow their own produce. I love the food from my country, but I also like to try new dishes and desserts from other cuisines.

Maria A. Silva, Mexico, Writing–High BeginningMexico is a great country. I love the beaches, tourist trips, disco parties, the people and the food. What I like the most about Mexico are its traditions. My favorite traditions are Christmas and the Day of the Virgin Mary. My favorite part of Christmas is the “posadas.” I love it how all of my family and friends get together, and we share the fantastic food we make for that special night. My favorite food shared that night is “tamales.” I love the tradition of the Day of the Virgin Mary, too. I love it when my family and friends get together at the church. All these are the reasons why I love my country, but most importantly, I love Mexico because my family lives there. I love to visit them during my vacation.

Audelia Yoc, Guatemala, Writing–High BeginningPeople in Guatemala are very friendly. We love parties and we have good traditional food. We like everyone to come and share with us the special time of Christmas. We make tamales and hot chocolate because everyone likes to eat tamales and drink hot chocolate in Guatemala. My country has a lot of beautiful things, for example, the weather is beautiful. A lot of people go on vaca-tion to Guatemala because they like not only its culture, but its climate, too. We do not need air conditioning; any day you can take a walk or take a nap outside, and you can feel the fresh wind. We have more than seven months of spring, and that is why we call Guatemala the country of spring, “El país de la primavera”.

Why I Need to Improve My English

Maria Garcia, Mexico, ESOL Reading–Intermediate I need to improve my English because here in the U.S. the na-tive language is English. English is the power to open doors to opportunities. The U.S. is one nation where a lot people come from different countries all over the world. A lot of them are good people, and if you communicate with them, you can have a partnership with people from different cultures. It doesn’t matter when you want to start to learn. It is a good idea for you and for your family to learn English. The most important thing is that, if you speak English, you have the opportunity to get better jobs and earn more money. This is the reason I need to improve my English and be able to enjoy life here in the U.S.

Balbina Monrroy, Mexico, ESOL Reading–IntermediateI need to improve my English because now I live in this coun-try and need to communicate with people who are around me. For example, some of my neighbors were born here, but others are from other countries with different languages and I can only relate to them in English. Also, when I go shopping in different stores and I’m looking for something special, I must ask in English where that section is or where else you can find it. Finally, in my opinion, if I improve my English, I will have more opportuni-ties to have better jobs, and, as a consequence, I will have a better lifestyle.

Najwa Abdallah, Lebanon, ESOL Reading–IntermediateEnglish is an important international language which people around the word use for business and other things in life. When I came to the U.S.A, I felt the importance of this language. I didn’t speak very good English, so I needed to do something to improve my English. I have started to take courses to learn the language because I cannot communicate with other people, and I can’t find a good job. For example, I had a bachelor’s degree in History from my country, but I couldn’t use it here because of my limited English. If I improve my English, I can take more courses or receive another certificate such as a teacher’s certificate or another degree so that I can teach and I can find a better job. In addition, when people move from their country, they have to learn the new country’s language because they need to use it every day, everywhere they go and in everything they need to do. Without language, I can’t start my new life. For this reason, I need to im-prove my English so I can live a better life, find a good job, com-municate better with the friendly American people, and so that I can feel more confident myself when I speak in English.

Why English is ImportantKarla de la Torre, Mexico, Oral Communication–High BeginningHi! My name is Karla de la Torre. I am from Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico. I have lived here for 3 years. I live with my parents, two brothers, and my baby. I work in a Mexican restaurant. I am a waitress and cashier. I would like to learn English because it is necessary for my life and work. I would like to have a good conversation with people. I am interested in learning more because it is an international language. I want to study at the University of Texas. I want to work with kids. I would like to have my own business. I would like to help my child when she has homework. After I learn English, I want learn other languages. I want to understand when people are speaking and I want to teach it to my parents.

English is Needed in My LifePatricia Garza, Mexico, Oral Communication–High BeginningMy name is Patricia Garza. I am 42 years old, married and have three children. I have one boy and two girls. I have lived in Humble, Texas for eight months. My husband’s name is Rigo-berto. I have three brothers and one sister. Most of my family lives in Texas. My father lives in Mexico and my mother lives with me. This is a little bit about my life. I want to learn English to help my children with their homework. I want a better job and I want to learn English because I like this language. I want to understand people that do not know my language.

Evelyn S. Talley, Colombia, Oral Communication–High BeginningI want to improve in reading and writing, because I want to com-municate better using those strategies. I want to get a Masters De-gree. Improving my English can help me write, read, and complete assignments and tests. It is very important in this country to know English, because you can find better jobs, you can communicate with others, find directions, and to help people that just came to this country. I want to improve my English, because I want to re-duce my accent, so I can advance in my career. I want to improve my English to feel more confident conversing during every day situations. I want to improve my English, because I love to learn. I want to be proficient in English first, so I can dedicate time to learn other languages. Learning English can also improve my con-versation skills to help me organize my thoughts and converse in a more natural way. I want to improve my English to help my stu-dents to be proficient in English and improve their English skills. I want to improve my English skills to be an English teacher. And I want to improve English to be a citizen, and be more proactive in my community.

English for CommunicationMaria Aguirre, Mexico, Oral Communication–High BeginningI need to understand American people. I would like to speak English with my son. I want to have a good conversation. I wish to have American friends. I want to do business in the United States. I would like to help my son with his homework. I want to conference in English. Because I live in Kingwood, I like music in English.

Hernandez Lucia, Mexico, Oral Communication–High BeginningEnglish is necessary, because I can talk with people from other countries. It is an international language. I take care of two children, but I want another job because I want to increase my salary. I like listening to English music, but I can’t understand the songs. I like going to the movies, but I don’t go often because I don’t understand all movies. In my house, I like watching TV but I don’t understand and I feel bad. I want to learn English because it is a goal for me. In Mexico, I can have a good job. Sometimes I go eat out, but I don’t understand some questions. I want to speak English very well because people do not understand me. I want to learn English, because I live in the U.S.

Why I Need to Improve My English

Beatriz Arceo, Mexico, Oral Communication–High BeginningI need to improve my English for many reasons. First, now I live here in the United States and I need to understand Americans and speak with them. Second, my husband is American and fortu-nately he speaks Spanish very well, but his family does not speak Spanish. I need to improve my English to speak with them. Third, my pronunciation is not good, so I want to improve my pronun-ciation. Fourth, I need to improve my grammar, because some-times I do not how to make a statement. I do not feel confident when I have to speak in English, because my pronunciation is bad and my grammar is not good. Fifth, I need to improve listening in English, because most often I do not understand movies. When people speak English, I feel uncomfortable. Sixth, I want to read any book in English. Seventh, sometimes I listen to music in Eng-lish and I would like to understand the songs. Eight, I would like take a cooking course in English. Ninth, I want to speak English with my husband, not only Spanish. Tenth, it is a goal that I want to achieve.

Samdy Tous, Cambodia, Oral Communication–High BeginningMy name is Samdy Tous. I am from Cambodia. It is my home-land. I came to live in the USA one year ago, but I can’t speak English very well. The question that I should ask myself, “How do I live in an English speaking country without English?” Go-ing to college is another goal. It is the other reason why I need to improve my English. Speaking and listening can improve at home with television and some people outside. But in writing, I can’t learn by myself. So, I must go to school. English is also an international language. Electronic machines such as computers, cars, telephones, etc. pretty much use English. To apply, most jobs require me to know English fluently.

English in My LifeHung Le, Viet Nam, Oral Communication–High BeginningMy name is Hung Le and I am fifty years old. I am married and have two children. I am living in an apartment. I get up early at 3:30 am to go to work at 4:00 am. I come back at 6:00 pm. I am very busy, but I like learning English because I live in America. I do not understand well because I am deaf. I may be a bad student, but I will try very much. I hope that I will understand a little more with your help.

English for My FamilyMinh Nguyen, Viet Nam, Oral Communication–High BeginningI usually spend time with my family on the weekend. I like to relax and also clean my house. Sometimes we go to parties. I cook and prepare meals for the week. I like to visit my relatives during the weekend. I watch movies, sports, and cooking shows on TV. I call different people I know. I like to go fishing with my son on the weekend, too.

Back to SchoolKimvan thi Nguyen, Viet Nam, Oral Communication–High Beginning This is the first time I go to school again. I go with my husband. Thirty five years have passed and I am in class again. I want to study English well, because English will help me get a good job. If I don’t understand English, I can’t understand everything my boss tells me like, “You do this!” and “You do that!” I can do better if you help me when I go to class.

English in the USA Maria Teresa Zambrano, Venezuela, Oral Communication–High BeginningI want to write, read and speak English because I live in Houston, Texas, United States. I want to help my children and I want to speak another language. I want to manage a business and want to understand English. I like English musicians. This is a great need for me. I want to watch TV and understand. I want to learn more everyday and to be a bilingual woman.

What I Like Most About the U.S.

Citlali Hernandez, Mexico, Oral Communication–Intermediate I am from Veracruz, Mexico. What I like most the U.S. are the op-portunities that it gives to all the people who want to make their lives better every day. It gives me a chance to realize my dreams. It is not easy, but it is not impossible, either. I like the US because it gives to us a lot of opportunities to do whatever we want. I have been here for five years. First, I was living with my mom and sisters in Tennessee, and now I am here studying. I would like to work on a college degree in this country, but first I have to learn English. My dream is to become a dentist, and I am working on weekends and studying during the week to achieve my goal. I also like the technology in the U.S. I think it is one of best in the world. And finally, I like the cultural diversity in the United States.

Sabrina Amlinger, Germany, Oral Communication–IntermediateThe thing I mostly like about the U.S. is the people. They are very friendly and open. They smile at you and start small talk even if they don’t know you. It seems that they are genuinely interested in other people. Another thing I like about the U.S. are the stores and supermarkets. They are so big and you can get almost every-thing. Also, the store hours are convenient. You do not need to worry if it is late and if you forget to buy something. You can do so because most supermarkets are open 24 hours every day. I also really enjoy the independence of driving by car everywhere. You are not bound to take a bus or a train. You don’t have to worry about any inconvenient schedule or missing the transport. You can go everywhere, whenever you want.

Erica Basuto, Mexico, Oral Communication–IntermediateOne of the things I like the most about U.S is that they have a good social system to follow. They also have a fair judicial system that considers a person innocent of a crime until he or she is proven guilty. This system is better than other countries. Defen-dants are humanely treated and their civil rights observed. They even have private prisons where the prisoners have the opportunity to get jobs after they are released. Private prisons are economically beneficial to government and the private sector. In my country, we don’t have anything like that. Although many countries may deny it, they look up to this country. The lifestyle here in the U.S. is 30 years more advanced than some other countries like in South America, for example. It is not easy to have control over more than 20 big cities in the same country, with millions of habitants in each; the U.S. has achieved it. Living in the most powerful country in the world makes me feel good, and that is what I like the most about this country.

Katja Himborg, Germany, Oral CommunicationI like mostly its great hospitality. People are very friendly and helpful. They show an interest in your life and background. I’m impressed by the variety of its natural beauty. I hope that the U.S will do everything to conserve the natural environment. Life here is really convenient. There are endless shopping possibilities, where you can buy everything around the clock. I’m amazed by its big highway system and the big cars. But don’t forget that they also need a lot of fuel. It’s wonderful that people from so many different nations live here peacefully together. And last, I admire the people here for their positive attitude towards life and for their strong belief in the country.

Esperanza Flores, Mexico, Oral Communication–IntermediateFirst of all, America is a great country. America has many in-teresting places and interesting cities. There are many places to go on vacation, such as New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, or Miami. It also has beautiful mountains, rivers, oceans, deserts, and forests. You can meet people from around the world of all cultures. There are many opportunities for everybody. Everyone wants to come to America for a better life. America is a country that is kind and friendly. Also, it is rich and powerful. America has the best hospitals and doctors in the world. Americans believe that every-one is created equal and everyone deserves an education. America has everything that you can find in other countries. This is what I like about America.

William Navarrete, Nicaragua, Writing–IntermediateAmerica is a beautiful country with many things that make it wonderful. One thing I like are the people. Everybody is respect-ful of each other, and I like that everybody is so friendly. Another thing that I like in the city are the malls and all of the sales that they have in stores. For example, if you buy a t-shirt you can get the other one for half price. Something else that I like are the restaurants. You can eat food from different countries, and many are open 24 hours. The one thing that I like the most here is that you can meet people from all over the world, which is something that you can only do here in the United States. You can discover different cultures. These are some things I like about the United States.

Nanchaporn (Pure) Sonriew, Thailand, Writing–IntermediateThere are many things I like in America. My first impression in the U.S. was the people. I remember the first time I arrived here in San Francisco. I had a hard time communicating in English. I was so scared because I didn’t know anyone. I was so lucky that anytime I asked American people for help, they answered my questions politely and patiently. They were very supportive. They told me not to be afraid of speaking English. Another thing I like here are the freeways. They are huge. It is easy to drive on the freeway. The last thing that I like in this country is the free high-speed internet. There are many places I can surf the web such as the library, an internet café or even some restaurants. In my country, you have to pay to use the internet. I am glad that I came to the U.S. I have learned a lot of things. It has been a good experience for me to come to study in the U.S.

My DreamSoner Dalyan, Turkey, Writing–IntermediateIt was my dream to see the United States. When I came to Texas, I smelled different air here. From everywhere in the world people come to the U.S. to live. They live together, and it does not matter what religion they have or where they are from. Here in the U.S. everyone is equal and everyone is free. Everybody respects each other. There are differences in culture, food, buildings, and many other things. To come and live in the U.S. was my dream. When I was a boy, I always watched American movies. I saw big cities and shiny cars. I dreamed of coming here, and my dream came true. I did not feel like a stranger when I arrived in the U.S. because I knew how to connect with people even if I did not speak or write or read very well in English. After I learned English and the American style, I felt more comfortable, and I am starting to establish my dream here.


Wei Ning (James) Zhang, China, Writing–IntermediateEven though I have just been in the USA for 9 months, I feel the USA is a good place to live. The first thing you notice when you arrive in this country is friendliness. When I just got out of the plane, I felt warm. Everybody took care of us. They always smiled at us, and it made us feel that we were home. When I arrived here, I could not speak English very well. I could not say some-thing I wanted to say, but people were very patient. They never got mad with us. They showed me the way and said it several times for me. If I still could not get it, they would take me there. They are so nice. In China this doesn’t happen. Everybody is on their way. So in my mind the best thing about living in the USA is the people. They are so kind. I love them.

I like the United StatesDeysi Velasquez, El Salvador, Writing–IntermediateI like the United States because it is a free country with liberty. I feel secure here. Thank God I have people and things that I never had in my country. This is a blessed country with many opportunities. I have learned many things here. I learned to drive eighteen-wheeler trucks, and I am learning to write English. In conclusion I feel fortunate living in this beautiful country. God bless the United States of America.

When I Came to AmericaGloria Wilson, Peru, Writing–IntermediateWhen I came to America the first time, I could not believe all the new cars on the roads. In my country, all the cars are small and dirty. But in the U.S., everybody has a bright and shiny car. I see them washing them in their driveways when it is sunny outside. But busy or lazy people take them to a carwash. Some people in the U.S.A think more about their cars than anything else. They have car shows to show off their cars. They try to impress people with their cars. It’s almost as if they think they are part of the car. They are all pretty and clean, but they are sad because they have a big car payment every month.

What I Like about the United StatesJoseph Gallegos, Mexico, Writing–Intermediate My favorite thing about the United States is the schools, espe-cially high school. The teachers at the schools are very responsible about the students’ education. For example, they care about the students’ learning. The schools here in the United States have many extracurricular activities and student organizations. There are many opportunities to get involved in school. In high school I used to be involved in student council, the Spanish club, and the tennis team. There are many resources available to students. Some resources are the library, the computers and the college room. In the library you can do research. The college room can guide you in how to apply for scholarships and college. This is why high school is my favorite aspect about the United States. High school really provides a good foundation for college and life.

Living in the United States is a Great BlessingMac Morales, Mexico, Writing–IntermediateI enjoy living in the United States for many reasons. For example, the roads are very safe, and they are usually kept in excellent con-dition. On every road, I can find signs that warn me if I am going in the incorrect direction. For this reason, driving a car or truck in the United States is very easy. Another reason I like living here is because the vast majority of people respect the laws. Nature is another reason why I enjoy living in the United States. Beautiful forests and colorful landscapes are powerful reasons for living here, because I love nature. The United States offers people diverse

opportunities for work. Everyone can have success in his life. Also the skyscrapers of different cities in this country, as in Chi-cago, New York, Washington and Houston, are truly impressive. In the United States we have excellent hospitals. The United States government helps people with low income. Here people have houses with big yards and beautiful gardens. The United States is a country with some pollution, but it is much cleaner than many other countries. Abundant malls, stores, restaurants and parks adorn every city. Additionally, living in this wonderful country is a great blessing. For me, the United States is one of the best countries in the world to live in.

Yuankan (Cody) Zhang, China, Writing–IntermediateNew York is a good place to live. New York has beautiful scen-ery and fashionable shopping areas. There are many magnificent buildings. It’s a wonderful place! New York is the largest city in the United States, so there are many businessmen doing business in New York, and there are a lot of tourists in New York. One reason I like New York is that you can buy a variety of brand-name items you want. Second, in New York you can eat food from around the world. It’s very cool. The most important reason is that they have a big Chinatown in New York. In Chinatown you can eat a lot of delicious Chinese food. We all know that Chinese food is very famous in the world. And we can meet a lot of Chinese friends in Chinatown. For these reasons I like living in the United States.

Susanne Voges, Germany,Writing–IntermediateWhen I came to the U.S. two years ago, everything was new for me. Nothing was as usual. But I got used to the good weather very fast. After living most of my life in rainy, cloudy and cold Germany, I enjoy the weather here in Texas. For example, I like to have barbeques. In Germany we can only do that in summer. Here we can barbeque all year long. I don’t have to remind my kids to put on their warm clothes when they go outside. The water in our pool is always warm and we never freeze. It is so wonderful to observe the hummingbirds while I relax in the hammock. I really enjoy my life here in Texas, but I also look forward to going back to Germany next summer. If I just could take the weather with me.

My New Country Olga L. Najar, Mexico, Writing–IntermediateMy life in the United States is much easier than how it was in my country. That is very important for me because I do not have any relatives here who can help me. One of the things I really like about this country is the easy way to make your payments and get access to public services. You can make payments by mail or on-line without having to worry so much about getting your money lost or stolen. If you want to contract electricity, gas and water for your home or business, you can do that with a simple phone call or internet. Another advantage of this country is the easy access to credit cards, student loans, home and car loans. That situation is very difficult to find in my country because if you want to go to college, you have to pay out of your own pocket. Even worse, credit lines to buy a new car or home are very rare to find. The government does not have this kind of benefit like here. One of the most important points about living in the United States is safety. You do not have to worry much about your personal belongings, robbery, or getting kidnapped. Although these unsafe activities exist and happen here, their magnitude and frequency are not as bad as they are in other countries. For all these situa-tions, living in the United States is very comfortable for me and my family.


New CountryNi Zhuo, China, Writing–Intermediate The thing I like most about living in the U.S is meeting people from all over the world. Being around people from different countries is very interesting. You will learn that the way they live is very differ-ent from you. And when they are talking to each other with their language, you won’t understand even one word. But you still listen, because you want to know what they are talking about. You will want to learn about their cultures because they do something that you don’t do in your country. Also, you can taste the delicious food from the entire world. Since we all come from different countries, sometimes it is hard to understand each other. But no matter what country we came from and what language we speak, we are still friends. If someone needs help we will always stand by them. That’s what I like the most about this country.

A Dream Comes True!Ruben Dario Manosalva, Venezuela, Writing–IntermediateWhen I moved to Texas last August I did not think that my dream would come true so soon. For the first time in my life I went to a professional baseball game in America at the Astros home club at Minute Maid Stadium. It was really amazing to be there because I always saw them on TV and not in real life. My family here in Houston said “It seems to us that you’re like a little kid again.” The things that I liked best were, for example, the incredible stadium capacity. It’s so big; it seats 45,000 people. Everything was just in its place, the stadium lawn was clean and very green, and all the players had their amazing uniforms. I ate a wonderful hot dog that tasted so good. Of course, I also had a very cold beer. This day, the Astros won the game, so people had a very happy celebration. I was so happy too because my childhood dream came true.

Dora Morales, Mexico, Writing–IntermediateI like many things about living in the United States. For example, I like the roads, as they are very safe. You can enjoy the country while traveling everywhere. Also, I like the houses with big yards and beautiful gardens. The skyscrapers in the big cities are awesome and their architecture, too. In the United States there are many shopping areas. I enjoy looking at many stores in my city because I can find everything that I need. There is a place that I really like in San Antonio, Texas: the River Walk. In this place you can ride in a boat through the river in the middle of downtown and admire the architecture and enjoy listening to the music of bands. You can enjoy many different foods in many great restaurants by the edge of the river. However, the most important thing that I like is the original American dream: people have the freedom to worship and speak about God. I love living in this country because there are a lot of things that make it very special to me.

Maria Teresa Clark, Colombia, Grammar Review I like living in the United States because this country has wonderful opportunities. There are many reasons I like living here, such as economic and education reasons. One reason is because the economic situation in other countries usually is very difficult. Many times it is hard to have a good quality of life. Also I like the quality of life in the U.S.A. I can have a good life in this country because there are more ways to purchase the necessities. It is substantially more difficult in other countries to get a loan. Another reason is education. Because there are better colleges and more scholarships in America, our educational opportunities are superior.

Jose Ventura, Venezuela, Writing–IntermediateI really like living in the United States. There are many reasons why I like living here, but the main reason is that I like how society works in such an organized fashion. The U.S. as a whole is com-posed of mostly law abiding citizens who make it a great country to live in. The services that the cities, counties, states and federal governments provide are always available and they work in a very orderly manner. Take for example the mail service. Mail service in the U.S. is efficient, attentive and organized. It is able to provide a service to the citizens of the U.S. at a very low cost and with a high degree of reliability. Another example is law enforcement. There are many laws, rules and regulations in this country, and all of them are enforced by the police and other agencies. You can always be sure that people are going to follow those laws, and if they don’t they will be punished for their infractions. In conclusion, I like living in the USA because services provided by the government work, and they do so in an organized manner.

Kimheak Him, Cambodia, Writing–IntermediateI like a lot of things about living in the United States. It is a beauti-ful country, safe and comfortable. The people in the United States are friendly. They have freedom and obey the law. I know a lot of people that come from different countries. Special for me is school because this country has excellent education. This country was in my dreams when I was young. It has conservation for animals and trees. It doesn’t have air pollution. The United States always takes care of people in the country. It has a lot of places to go to relax. It is very interesting for me.

A New Opportunity Guadalupe Francis. Mexico, Writing–IntermediateWhen I first came to this country, what I liked most were the jobs opportunities there are in it. For instance, I started to work in this country from the third day that I arrived here. I have escalated from a simple job to another with more responsibilities, but with better pay. Also I like very much that all people can study. I always wanted to learn English, and I have tried to do it. These are the reasons that make me love this country.

Corina Reichenbach, Switzerland, Oral Communication–Intermediate On July 29, 2009, in my first week in Texas, I wanted to buy a bottle of good wine for my godmother. I asked my cousin Kaila to help me. But we didn’t think about the fact that Kaila was only twenty years old. After I picked out a very good bottle of wine, we walked to the cash register. The woman at the register asked Kaila for her driver’s license. Surprise… she’s not old enough to be in this shop. She explained to the woman that she’s here to help me with my English, but no chance. The manager gave her the order to wait outside. So I was on my own. The lady at the register asked me for my driver’s license, too. I gave it to her and after a few seconds of searching for the date of birth, she told me with an angry expression on her face that I was not twenty one years old. I thought this must be a joke or this woman is very stupid, but she meant it. I showed her my date of birth again: 08.01.1988. What I forgot was that in America the month comes before the day and in Switzerland the day comes before the month. I tried to explain the misunderstanding to her. She called the manager again. My English was not so bad, and he understood what I said. I could buy my bottle of wine. For five minutes, I was twenty again.


Different CuisineKarla Reyna, Mexico, Writing–IntermediateWhen I first arrived in the United States I didn’t think that it had a variety of different kinds of cuisines. For example my first experi-ence with a different cuisine was with Italian food. My first Italian food restaurant was Olive Garden, and I liked it a lot. Another type of food that I already tasted is Japanese. My experience with this kind of food was at Benihana, but I didn’t really like it. Also I tried Chinese food at P.F. Chang’s and didn’t like it either. One kind of food that I like is steak. The place that I like to go is Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse. My favorite place to go eat is Buffalo Wild Wings. I have been living here for 9 years, and I’m still discovering new kinds of cuisines.

A Great CountryLucy Munguia, El Salvador, Writing–IntermediateWhat I like the most about the United States is that this country is full of opportunities. Those are found everywhere. For example, I registered for English classes this fall, and I was working full time. However, I enrolled and thought: “I am going to find a good job as a dental assistant in the afternoons.” Thank God and my friend Dr. Rodriguez, I found it! Now I work with her. Also, living here has given me a lot of friends from other countries, who in my country, I would not have been able to meet. I have shared good memories with them camping in San Antonio, Livingston and in Trinity Lake. In addition, this country had given me the opportunity to support people and children by volunteering once a month in Angel Food Ministries and supporting LIFE Outreach International Ministries. Career opportunities, multicultural friends, and volunteering pro-grams are what I like the most about this great country.

Trang Hoang, Vietnam, Writing–IntermediateWhen I graduated high school in my country, my parents allowed me to go far away from them. I decided to come to the United States for college. I felt very happy because I thought I didn’t have to de-pend on my parents because I was an adult. I came on 01/1/2008, a holiday in America. I didn’t go to school for about 15 days because the school changed from fall semester to spring semester. I stayed with my friend at home. We had a lot of free time and we went to a lot of places. Everything was very beautiful and exciting to me. I went to the store with someone to buy some things I needed. It was very amazing because I came about 10:00 pm, and some stores were still open. In my country stores are not open at night. At the end of the holiday I went to school to study. I like to study here because we have a long weekend and a lot of holidays. The students don’t study too much at school but they are knowledge-able about the lessons at school because they spend time studying at home. It is different in my country. In my country we study a lot of time in school from Monday to Saturday. The students depend on the teacher. The teacher teaches the lesson for the students. I think studying here is better than in my country. The education in America is the best in the world. I’m very lucky that I live here to study. I like to live in America. I do a lot of things by myself. I have the opportunity to improve myself. I can have cultural exchange with a lot of countries. Now that I live here, I know how to do a lot of things. My life here is better than in my country.

Victoria Howell, Mexico, Oral Communication–Intermediate I love how charitable the United States citizens are. A recent report reconfirmed that Americans give more private money to charity than the citizens of any other country. We also give our time and exper-tise. When we give to disaster relief, as we did for Katrina, we know

that some of it will be mismanaged, but we give it anyway. A lot of it will help out, and that is what matters. I love the self-realization that is possible here. Poor men from towns with no traffic lights have grown up to become president. One day a woman will take the job, and so will people of all ethnic backgrounds. Most millionaires did not start out wealthy. They make it on their own and they can do it because in America we have the opportunity to profit from our skills and effort.

Angela Viviana Rey, Colombia, Oral Communication–Intermediate I like the United States very much for many reasons. I like the U.S.A. because this country has a very challenging lifestyle. If I want to succeed, I must learn the language spoken in this country. I have learned to understand people from different backgrounds and traditions. Having to learn to drive my own car has been a priv-ilege because I had never driven a vehicle in my country. Also, this is a country of many opportunities for everybody. If you have goals and persist with them, your dreams can come true. The human rights laws in this country are more flexible and reasonable than in other countries. The living cost is more accurate with the wages of a regular salary. You can always find good deals with very little money, and that’s a great advantage. In conclusion, I like the U.S.A. because of everything that this country has given to me.

Nádia Pinheiro, Brazil, Oral Communication–IntermediateWhat I like the most about the United States is that it has the best and most modern equipment and technologies in the world, such as computers, video games, televisions, communication devices. It is really simple to communicate with the entire world from the Unit-ed States. You can use cell phones or the most modern computers. Traveling to any part of the country is very easy, too, because the freeways are large and it is possible to reach high speeds on them.I also like the people where I live, first because they are very friendly and kind, and second because this country is ethnically diverse and people from all over the world live here. Finally I like this country very much because it is the best place in the world to shop. There are a lot of stores where I can buy great clothes, shoes, electronics and much more at a very affordable price.

Bibiana Barajas, Colombia, Oral Communication–IntermediateI am surprised to see that this country has a mix of cultures, foods, and physiologies. But all these are working under the same lan-guage, and same identity. It is amazing that despite this variety, the American people still conserve their values. I believe that is the reason why everyday more people like me want to come to this country. I love three values from the people here. First, they are very organized, and there are rules and laws for all. This is good because nobody can cause damage to another without having to assume the consequences. In addition, people know the importance of time and respect this, at work and at home. They respect and believe the word of each other. For example, if I make a promise, it has to be real because the people here do not like lies or secrets. For me, this is wonderful because I can trust the person. And they can trust me. It is interesting to see the development of the social and cultural aspects of this country. But it is really remarkable to see how all of us can live here together without prejudice of race, religion, and culture. For all this, I like this country. And I am sure that although one day I will leave, I will have more reasons to follow the example of this country, and I am going to apply all that I am learning here in many aspects of my life.


Tina (Xi Mei Pei), China, Oral Communication–Intermediate I like living in the United States and Kingwood. I especially like the college where I am studying English. I am studying at Kingwood Lone Star College. There are many friendly teachers at Lone Star College. I like to study here because the teachers help me improve my English a lot. There is a very good environment. At Lone Star College, there are a lot of foreign students. They are very funny. I am able to learn more about different cultures. I also like the teachers at Lone Star College because they are responsible. Now my English has improved a lot. I have to thank Lone Star College teachers, “Thank you very much”!

Yudelmis McDaniel, Cuba, Oral Communication–IntermediateWhat I like the most about the U.S. is the freedom I obtain. I have the choice of being what I want to be, and I am not criticized for my decisions. I have the freedom of choosing the lifestyle I want. I also like the fact that now that I am living in the U.S., I have to become independent. Living in the U.S. has made me an independent person. For example, I have learned to drive, and now I don’t have to depend on anyone to take me wherever I want to go. Shopping is another thing I like the most about the US because I have the opportunity to buy any product whenever I want and wherever I want. I am also given the alternative of buying retail or by bulk. There is a variety of products at the stores at different prices, so I get to choose the product I like the best. Shopping helps me to relax my mind. There are many other things I like about the U.S., but the above mentioned are what I like the most because they are part of my daily routine.

Javier Correa, Colombia, Oral Communication–High IntermediateUnited States has many interesting places and things to know. In this country you have a lot of opportunities to study if you want to learn something. You can also find a job that you really enjoy. Another aspect that I like about the U.S is the variety of cultures that you can find here, and this is very important because you learn that everyone has different points of view about life. The people here are kind and friendly and always ready to help you. You can find all kinds of food and restaurants from all over the world and not just food. You can also see stores and buy clothes from any brand that you can imagine. Here are many different kinds of cars, from the most expensive luxury cars to the cheapest ones. All of these things make U.S. a wonderful and incredible country to live in.

Desyana Dewi, Indonesia, Writing–Intermediate I like some systems that have been established in the USA that somehow make life a little bit easier. For example, the highway system goes along from state to state and is very organized; people use it for free, and it is well maintained. I had lived in several countries and have never seen another highway system that is the same. Another good system is the communication system. It is one of the cheapest in the world. For example, with little money, people can stay connected to the Internet and telephone as much as they want, while maintaining excellent quality. Those two things are very important for the economic growth of the country. The USA is the strongest country in the world because they keep their transportation and communication systems as one of their top priorities; this should be appreciated by anybody who lives in the USA. No wonder the USA is still a favorite place to pursue one’s dream.

Angela Santos, Colombia, Writing–IntermediateI can list several things that I like about the USA, but as the purpose of this essay is to write a specific thing, I say that it would be the opportunities. These opportunities are found in different areas. For example, in the professional area, there are more jobs available in the labor market. Here you can find many opportuni-ties even though you have only one area of study. For instance, in the construction trade, people that have a background in architec-ture, civil engineering, and sales can find a growing industry with a variety of jobs. You can find a job that is outside your field of study. Conversely, in my country you are limited to working in your specialty only. Another important advantage in the U.S. is education. Education plays an important role in the development of the people. It seems to me that this country gives better access to higher education. However, it is not very economical. But the government provides a wide range of options to help students with the cost of education; for example, there are scholarships, grants, and financial aid to study. In order to complete your college degree or if you want to acquire a skill, you have to attend either a university or a community college. As a result, you will find a better job. There are many resources available to study by yourself. For instance, the libraries offer literacy and English as a Second Language programs to help adults with basic reading, writing, and spoken English skills, so they can reach personal and professional goals. Finally, I believe that the USA is a special land of opportu-nity, whether you take it or not, it is available for you. Just dare to dream, work hard and your dreams will come true.

Shu Chen (Kelly), Taiwan, Writing–IntermediateI like the education system and the wide open spaces. The school bus picks up children to go to school, which helps parents save time. The classes are small so that it is easy to take care of the chil-dren. The cafeteria supplies food to the children, and the children are able to choose what they like to eat. The U.S. has a twelve year-long system of education. In my country, there are only nine years. E.S.L. programs help foreigners overcome the language ob-stacle, and there is no age limit. Also, I live in house with a yard. My husband likes to plant vegetables in our back yard. In Taiwan it is so crowded, that we do not have the space to have a garden. What I like most about the U.S. is that the system of education has allowed my daughter to obtain a higher level of education. I also enjoy the wide open space and fresh air.


Kitanda Shotwani, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Writing–IntermediateMy name is Kitanda Shotwani and I am from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I have been in the United States since 2009, ten months ago. Let me tell you about something that I like most in the United States. In the United States, I like the educational sys-tem, specifically Kingwood College. There are many students who come from different backgrounds. One student comes from Korea, South Asia. Another is from Venezuela. When I arrived here, many weeks ago, I registered on campus with the little English that I stud-ied in my country. Every semester, I have a nice teacher and they teach me vocabulary and verbs. Using my experience, if someone from my country comes to the United States, I would tell him that he must begin with the ESL program, which helps international students.

Marco Ortega, Peru, Writing–IntermediateThere are many things I like about this country. I like the diversity of restaurants and job opportunities that are available. I like the diversity of cultures that come from all around the world; they have brought different foods, clothes and music. The U.S. has an open-arms policy to receive immigrants with growth opportuni-ties. People in the U.S. are very polite; they usually greet you with a smile and show their level of education. In addition, most of the people follow traffic laws and respect police officers and fire fighters. People in the U.S. have a lot of respect for animals; they love dogs, cats, and wild animals. There are many opportunities to study and to start a small business. These might be possible thanks to the fact that people in the U.S. have a credit system to finance cars, houses and business. Finally, I love the many different places that anyone can visit from Florida to Alaska and experience all different kinds of weather. I love living in the U.S.

Ana Guerrero, Mexico, Writing–IntermediateThe United States is a great country! People with disabilities are able to live a life as any other normal person. They are able to work and have transportation to any place they need to go, such as grocery stores, doctors’ appointments, etc. Basically, they can succeed in any area of their life. In addition, the United States is a great place to live. I feel secure, and I feel that no matter what happens, my rights as a citizen are well respected. I have the freedom to go and do whatever I like, and I feel like a blessed person. Another reason why I like the United States is because you are able to meet very interest-ing people and learn about other cultures. Diversity is what I like most about the United States. Finally, I like that the United States welcomes all the immigrants and gives opportunities to become a better and more educated person. I am glad that I came to the United States, and I am happy about all the great things that the United States has given to me. That is why I became a United States citizen, and I am willing to respect and protect this beautiful country.

Zulma Nava, Venezuela, Writing–IntermediateHello, my name is Zulma Nava, and I am from Venezuela. I came to Houston almost two years ago. When I first came to the U.S., I wanted to return to my country every day, but now I enjoy many things about this country. The thing I like the most about this country is the people. The people are very kind and friendly. Everyone has something nice to say, and if you need help, they give

it to you. I enjoy being with all kinds of humans. I really like this country because I find people from all over the world. Javier Barrera Betancourt, Venezuela, riting–Intermediate The thing that I like most about the U.S. is the wonderful people. Many people are friendly. When I came to the U.S., in the airport, many people were friendly and they helped me move my bags. Other people also told me where I could go to have a good time. One day, I felt bad and down because I was missing my country, but the people that I had met told me that I should feel good because this trip was going to help me grow as a person. For these reasons, I think that what I like most about the U.S. is the people, the culture, and the education. Everyone needs to be educated to be their best every day.

Mihir Patel, India, Writing–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 U.S. 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 interesting cultures. My dream is to 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.

Diego Tutiven, Panama, Writing–IntermediateFirst of all, what I like most about the United States are the op-portunities: college education, jobs, etc. I also like the people and their culture. I also like activities native to Texas, such as cars shows, the rodeo, and more. Being in the United States for me is a new challenge; everything that I have experienced in my three years here as been something that I never thought was going to happen. Being in the United States has changed my life in differ-ent ways, and the things I learn here will move me forward to help me accomplish my goals.

Josefina Chiccoli (Fina),Venezuela, Writing–IntermediateWhat do I like most about the U.S.? This is not an easy question, but I have to answer it. I like the day-to-day in this country, and now I will try to explain this. Every day you can see around you the ordinary people doing things that in other countries seem unthinkable. For example, in this country it is possible that your neighbors could be a young couple with two or three children, a big house, two dogs, nice cars, maybe a boat, but they are not rich! For instance, here you do not see people with handicaps living a quiet life. You see instead men/women with a prosthetic leg wear-ing short pants, or a family at a restaurant with a loved one in a wheelchair. Even though this person has a serious handicap, they do not care what others think. You feel how happy they are. Also, here in the park you can see many couples with their children en-joying playing games, running, riding bicycles, eating, and yet after they leave the park, the place looks as if nothing happened and there was no one there. So, in this country, life is difficult, the same as in others countries, but here you have a sense that everything is easier. People often smile at you, and for me this means that they are satisfied with their own life, and believe me, this you cannot easily see in other countries. I am someone that had never thought about living in this country, but now I think that I cannot live out-side the U.S. I like many things from this country, but it was not simple for me to select just one because I like the U.S. a lot.

I love teaching English as a foreign language. Every step my students take on the path of mastering this beautiful language reminds me of my own pains and delights as a learner of English as a second language. I was born and raised in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, where I grew to love English during my high school years. I became so fond of English that I set my heart on knowing more about the culture and the people behind the language. For five years at university, still in Hungary, I studied the literature and the history of the English speaking world; as well, I got familiar with how the English language evolved throughout the centuries. As I was also being trained at how English should be taught to non-native speakers of the language, and I was eager to put my knowledge into practice, I started teaching English in public schools during these years. After graduating, due to Jap-anese as my second major, I earned a scholarship from the Japanese government, and I lived in Tokyo for the next four years. While researching the sociology of education and earning a master’s degree in the field of international economics, I did not give up my true voca-tion of teaching English; I taught English to Japanese adults at a language school. Japan was also the place where I met my husband, Corey, who brought me to the USA. We lived four years in southern California, where I taught in the ESL program of the University of California, Irvine, and had my first baby, Zoli. We moved to Kingwood two years ago, and though primarily I am at home with Zoli and his little sister, Sofie, I very much enjoy my time away from them while I teach in our ESOL program at Kingwood College.

Featured ESOL Faculty: Katalin LeBleu

Student Work from Patti Kassner's Oral Communication–High Beginning class

An Interesting or Funny Experience in the U.S.

Getting Wet!Erzsebet "Liz" Halasz, Hungary, Reading–High BeginningMy friend and I love blueberries very much, and we like to save money. So we decided that we would go to the blueberry farm to pick our blueberries. One Sunday, when the weather was sunny, we went to the farm. We were already picking our blueberries when suddenly, it started to rain. We got very wet, but we didn’t get sick. Next time we will check the weather forecast before we go to the farm.

Galveston, TexasJohana Villarreal, Mexico, Reading–High BeginningOne time I went to Galveston, and it was my first time going to the beach. We went there so we could feel the water. I ran into the water, and then my family got me and laid me down on the sand. They put sand all over me, and it felt heavy on me. When I stood up, the sand started to fall off me. Next I put my daughter on the sand like me, and I put sand all over her. The reason why is because I wanted my daughter to feel how heavy it was. This story was funny to me because it was my first time in the ocean water.

Two Week Vacation: Guadalupe Lopez and Her FamilyGuadalupe Lopez, Mexico, Reading–High BeginningLast year I went to Jackson, Mississippi, for my vacation to visit my brother- in- law and his family. We went to the zoo, the amusement park, some beautiful lakes, and a water park. We en-joyed ourselves a great deal, and it was an unforgettable vacation.

Augusto Bovio, Uruguay, Writing–High Beginning I am from Uruguay, a little country in South America. I like to cook. When I was in the USA for a few days, I thought about sur-prising my wife one night with a special dinner. I wanted to cook estofado, which is the name of traditional dish from my country that my wife likes. This dish consists of meat, rice, vegetables and spices. When I opened the cabinet in the kitchen, I saw some spices. I said to myself this is fine because I have everything that I need. In my country we have red pepper and the only thing that this pepper does is to give flavor and color and thickness to the food, and it is very good. I saw this pepper in my kitchen and threw it in the food, maybe too much. When the food was ready I served the dish and called everyone to come to the table and eat the dinner. But in three seconds everybody ran around the house in search of water because it was too hot. I had not realized that this pepper here was from Mexico, and it was very hot. So we ended up throwing all the food in the trash and that night we had pizza for dinner.

Gloria Martinez, Venezuela, Writing–High Beginning.I am from Venezuela. I have been living here in USA for one year. I have many things to tell you. One day I was shopping with my daughter. I had only been here for three months and did not speak English. That day I bought a nice pair of shoes. When we came back home, I saw the shoes had a defect, and I needed to exchange them. I had to go back to the store by myself because my daughter had to go to work. She explained to me how to get there and what to say to the salesman in English. I studied all night, practicing how to talk to the salesman. The next day I went back to the store. I was very nervous to talk to the salesperson. So much that I for-got what to say. So I tried my best to explain to the salesman that I needed to exchange the shoes, but I was very confused. The funny part is that after trying so hard, the salesman said, “Don’t worry, I speak Spanish, too”.

Isabel Ríos Mangual, Puerto Rico, Writing–High BeginningI started my ESOL classes in Kingwood College this semester. I have a sister who studied in the same college and many people think that we look alike. Sometimes people get confused when they see us because they think we are twins, but we’re not. My first few weeks of classes a lot of my sister’s classmates talked to me as if I was her. Some times when they talked to me, I didn’t understand what they were saying because she knew more English than I did. Other times I would just go with the flow. My classmates would ask me why I would change my clothes so many times in the same day or why I would not say hi to them. What was happening was that everybody was confusing me with my sister, and I must admit, we do look alike. When they thought it was me sometimes it was my sister, and that’s the reason why people thought I was changing my clothes or that I didn’t say hi to them. Now every-body knows who we are even though they still think we are the same person.

Carmen Rosa Sierra, Colombia, Writing–High Beginning On August 1, 2008, my family and I arrived in Miami. As we got out of the airport, it was extremely hot so we got on a bus to my aunt’s house. The next morning my husband rented a car to start a 20-hour trip from Miami, Florida, to Houston, Texas, where he now lives. This was longer than my family and I had ever trav-eled. During the trip, my husband did a stop to eat in a fast food restaurant called KFC. I come from a country where we don’t eat spicy food, so when I ate the chicken I felt sick for the rest of the trip. I was crying from stomach pain. I learned that before eating in a restaurant, always question if it’s spicy food.

Jiseong Kim, South Korea, Writing–High BeginningOne of my classmates invited me to her house. It was my first time at a party in America. She lives in an apartment. Her name is Lilia. She comes from Brazil. She lives in Houston with her husband and her daughter. We met at one o’clock. There were fourteen people at the party. Among them, there were two teachers and the teachers’ families. We gathered in her apartment swimming pool. There were barbeque grills. Lilia and her husband made lunch and Brazilian barbeque. We ate a lot of food. It was very nice. I ate chicken heart barbeque. Its taste was very strange. The day was very hot, so we swam in the pool. The pool was big and beautiful. A Saudi Arabian guy, Truki, and a Taiwanese, Ivy, were playing at the outside pool. Truki didn’t like swimming. He got on a boat, but the boat was a very small, so the boat capsized. His clothes got wet. All the people laughed loudly at that time. We took pictures, and then came back home. I don’t forget my first barbeque party. It was very nice and exciting, and I don’t forget my classmate, Lilia. Truki, Ivy, Sue, and Teresa went back to their country.

Gloria Salazar, Mexico, Writing–High BeginningAn unforgettable experience that happened to me here in Houston was when I was going to my friend’s house because I was going to drive her to the clinic. I was driving when a truck hit me in the side of my car and made my car spin and it got me out of the street. I was 7 months pregnant. I got scared a lot but thanks to God the ambulance came and they hurried me to the hospital. I was there for one month under treatment. After I got out of the hospital they gave me a date for court. I couldn’t pay my ticket so they gave me a community job for two weeks. This accident put my baby in jeopardy, and it was horrible being in the hospital for a long time because that is where you notice how many friends you have but thanks to God my family was with me.

An Interesting or Funny Experience in the U.S.

Alan Ruy Sanchez Santini, Mexico, Writing–High BeginningI like going skiing in Colorado with my grandparents. In Decem-ber of 2007 we went to Arizona and we had Christmas there. On December 26 we arrived in Colorado by car. It was a long distance, so we stayed for one day in another ski park. On December 27 we went to Colorado and we skied for 5 days or 6. It’s my best experi-ence because I love snowboarding. We spent our New Year there, and there was a party in the town. All the people went there and everybody had fun. Then from there we went to Arizona, and we all stayed there for one week, and I was so happy because all the family was there. We played golf, swam in the pool, and we bought clothes and played video games. Then I went to Nogales, Arizona, to visit my cousins and uncles who live there and we had a lot of fun there.

Water Aerobics ClassWei Wei, China, Oral Communication–High BeginningOne day, our teacher Patti told us that she would be going to take a class in the water that evening and if she didn’t come to class tomor-row, to please ask people to look for her underwater. And she wrote the class name on the board for us. Embarrassingly, I didn’t know the word. Initially, I just thought she was going to take diving train-ing. “How brave Patti is!” I told myself. This was the kind of thing I wanted to learn when I was young.That same evening, for some reason, I communicated with Patti by e-mail. She explained to me that she was doing exercises in the water, and that it was 10 feet deep. People couldn’t stand up in the water and for 90 minutes, they had to keep moving to stay “up.” I thought I understood, but it seemed I did not. Later, she wrote that class name, “Water Aerobics” again in her e-mail. Oh, I finally realized that she wasn’t taking diving training in the water!The next morning, Patti came to class with a fresh face, and energetic talking, although she said she was a little tired after 90 minutes of staying “up.” Everybody likes her class and was glad she wasn’t at the bottom of the 10 foot deep swimming pool. Water aerobics is extremely good for people’s health. I’m happy for her.

Read First before UsingOmaira Hernandez, Ecuador, Oral Communication–High BeginningThis is a very funny story that happened to a couple of my friends who came here to spend the holidays at my house. I took them to Houston, and they were fascinated to see how organized and nice it is in this country. They visited many tourist sites and enjoyed the fa-mous BBQ. Here in Texas everything is big and clean. I always have Clorox wipes to clean and disinfect the toilet. My friend’s husband had been complaining of a red, burning problem. Then we heard high-pitched screams coming from the bathroom. He had confused the Clorox wipes with Cottonelle personal wipes and had been using them for several days. Now we can laugh about what happened, but he learned that everything has to be read first before using.

An Experience in the United StatesFlavio Calzini, Italy, Oral Communication–High BeginningIn my first weekend in the United States, I went to a restaurant with my family. I was happy because I like to eat different kinds of food. I have a sweet tooth. When the girl asked me what I wanted, I didn’t say a word. I was very embarrassed because I didn’t know how to say the name of the dish. I felt bad, but fortunately I was with my family and they helped me.

Two Events in the Atlanta AirportSandra Herrera, Colombia, Oral Communication–High BeginningWhen I first came to this country, my airplane stopped in Atlanta, Georgia. The first event was that the first thing I saw was so many overweight people. I never thought that the problem was so big in this country. Here, I learned that Mexico is the number 1 country for obese children and the second is the United States. I am sorry for this, but in my country, it is not the same.The second event was that I was lost for 20 minutes in the very big Atlanta airport. I didn’t speak English and I didn’t take the tram to the main terminal. I was so nervous because I was all alone. I did ask two people for help, but they didn’t understand me. I sat for 10 minutes, took a break, and relaxed. After the break, I found my exit.

The Fifth BlooperMaria Zenteno, Mexico, Oral Communication–High BeginningWhen I left Mexico City the first time to visit my boyfriend and to meet my future parents-in-law, I was worried about the ques-tions of the immigration officers. My boyfriend told me that if the officer asked me where I was going to stay, I should say that I was going to be at the La Quinta Hotel. So, when I got here and the officer asked me that question, I thought to myself that it was better to translate the name of the hotel. I didn’t know that the name of the hotel was actually, LA QUINTA. Therefore, I told the officer that I was going to stay at “The Fifth Hotel.” He didn’t react or say anything to me, but when I told my boyfriend, he laughed a lot, and then he proceeded to explain to me what I had done and then I laughed, too.

What Surprises Me Most about the U.S.

Marleny Knezek, Venezuela, Writing–IntermediateSince I came to the United States, I have been surprised by many things. I have been surprised by the number of opportunities available for people who want to work hard and be successful. Besides employment opportunities, there are many education programs available. In addition, it is easy to get loans for purchas-ing a car or buying a house. The education system is advanced. When students graduate from high school, they already have im-portant skills. The technology here is also very advanced, especial-ly medical technology. Also, the U.S. has a good system of trans-portation. Another surprise is how many people from different countries there are who speak different languages. The weather has been a big surprise. It is very different from the weather of my home country. I have had to get used to the changes in weather and buy clothes for the different seasons.

Sandra Rios, Puerto Rico, Writing–IntermediateWhat surprised me about the United States was the racial discrim-ination. I always read about it in the history books, on how people were treated differently because of the color of their skin, national-ity, and language. Every day and every place that I went to, I felt like nobody wanted to be with me because I was different. To be friends with somebody was sometimes very difficult. Racial dis-crimination is not always expressed in words. Sometimes, gestures expressed more than words. Sometimes, people acted differently when I tried to communicate with them because after they heard my accent they made funny faces. Also, people would sometimes say to me, after I had spoken to them in English, “I do not speak Spanish.”In order for me to be able to continue succeeding in this country, I have decided to disregard people’s negative gestures and reactions toward me. I cannot allow myself to be affected or intimidated by people who tend to treat others as inferior. For me to accomplish this, I must be strong, resilient, and tenacious. I must have a clear understanding of my strengths and potential. This is how I have been able to succeed until this point. However, I understand that I have to be kind to everyone, regardless of how they treat me. The best way to show racist people that we are not who they think we are is by giving them a good example of how to be a responsible and kind citizen of this country.

Elias Palacios, Mexico, Oral Communication–IntermediateWhat surprised me most about the USA were all the resources stu-dents have to attend school. In the United States, the government provides students with transportation, and students have breakfast and lunch during school hours. These services are provided for free or for a minimum cost, depending on the income of their parents. On the other hand, in Mexico, we don’t have the same resources and opportunities to attend school. For these reason, I believe that the USA is a country blessed by God.

Lydia Lizbeth Escalante Gutierrez, Mexico, Oral Communication–IntermediateThe first time I came to U.S., I was surprised at how time goes so fast. People are always in a hurry to get some place. Their jobs, most of the time, are far from their homes, which doesn’t allow them to spend time in the house with their families. I come from a small city in Sonora, Mexico. In Sonora, we don’t have to go far to buy food, or to go to school. Time goes slowly and you can spend time with your family.

Yexenia Slaughter, Venezuela, Writing–IntermediateWhen I came to the United States, I was amazed by the numbers of opportunities available for people who want to work hard and get ahead. Besides employment opportunities, there are many programs available for going to school and getting loans to buy a car or a house. In two to four years, if people are serious about succeeding, they can get a loan to get an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. With this degree, they will be able to pay back their loans and establish a good credit rating that can help them start their own businesses. With more hard work and good decision mak-ing, people can build up their businesses until they become a gold mine. Many immigrants in this country have become rich by sim-ply taking advantage of its many opportunities. In my country, these opportunities are not nearly as plentiful. I am so happy to be in the United States and to be a citizen.

Beatriz Arceo, Mexico, Writing–IntermediateI have had many surprises about the U.S. I have been living in the U.S. nearly two months now, but before living here I had come several times on vacation. The first time I came to the U.S., I was surprised by many things. First, the roads are very big and have various levels. In Mexico City, roads are flat. Second, the streets are clean. What a surprise! In my country, the streets have gar-bage. Third, the houses were a shock for me. They are beautiful and most are made of wood. Fourth, I was surprised that in the U.S. almost all people have a car. Fifth, the biggest surprise is how nice people are. I thought American people were cold and rude, and I was wrong. American people are nice, kind, and polite. Being in another country is a great opportunity to have surprises, and I have definitely have had many surprises about the U.S.

Oscar Hernandez, Mexico, Writing–IntermediateWhen I arrived to the U.S., there were many things that surprised me. The U.S. has beautiful freeways that my country does not have. The U.S. has huge skyscrapers with beautiful views. The U.S. also has advanced technology. In addition, the U.S. has great opportunities for people to take advantage of. Another thing that surprises me is all the different food from various cultures. That is why the U.S. surprises me. It is the different varieties that it has.

Maria Rosales, Mexico, Writing–IntermediateI have been amazed by the culture. It is so different from the culture of my native country. A variety of different ethnic cultures and people from all over the world come here amazed by the opportunities offered by this beautiful country, but the patriotism and American ideas still remain intact even after years and years of people from other countries coming and going. This country has a lot of different ethnic cultures. We need to adapt to this country and be a part of this amazing culture.

Santana Herrera, Mexico, Writing–IntermediateWhat surprises me about the U.S. is how clean people are. They have trash cans on every corner, and they are very strict about the places where people can throw their garbage away. American people also have volunteer groups to clean the cities. When I go to Mexico, I can see the difference. I wish my country would start a program to keep the cities clean. In Mexico, people try not to contaminate the environment by not using their cars every day in the cities or not using pesticides on their farms. They seem to for-get that littering is another form of contamination that hurts the environment and affects the view of the tourists that visit Mexico. In conclusion, the U.S. has good programs to keep cities clean, and it shows.

What Surprises Me Most about the U.S.

What Surprises MeLuis Fuenmayor, Venezuela, Writing–High IntermediateOctober 2009 marks the first anniversary of my arrival to the United States. The day I arrived coincided with the Fall Garage Sale at Kings Manor neighborhood in Kingwood. That day I thought it was a really smart practice, but one year later, I look at it with sadness, as it demonstrates a poor sense of financial planning and a waste of resources.The fact that families can sell their used, and sometimes unused, belongings seemed to be a very smart way of getting rid of things while making a profit. Such things can, in addition, be acquired at a lower price by people who need them. However, if we look at the background, we will probably realize that the need for selling is triggered by another circumstance: the need to create storage space in the house because so much space is used to keep the things that families do not use anymore.How does an average family come to accumulate so many things? How do they get to the point of having to leave their cars outside on the driveway because there is no room in the garage to park them? The reason is simple- we buy more than what we really need. We see it every year on Black Friday, after Christmas, after New Year’s, and during Spring Break. People go out to do shopping and end up buying things that they do not need, just because they were on sale. This situation sometimes gets so aggravated that it is necessary to rent storage space to keep their houses clean, adding an unnecessary burden on the family budget since they incur additional storage fees. Indeed, the money spent on useless stuff could represent a significant amount in the future if people were responsible enough to put it in a savings account. Let us try to become smarter buyers and not get caught in the “Big Sale” trap. The items that go on sale are the ones that consumers do not buy, so after a certain amount of time stores drop prices to sell them anyway they can, and by doing so, they will finally catch the people who thought that buying them at original prices was not a good idea. This sounds like a good trade, but there is a well-known behavior that marketing experts exploit: once you step into the store, you are likely to buy more than what you were planning to. In the end, people get lured into the “Big Sale” to save money and spend more than what they initially budgeted, having to store in the garage all sorts of useless tools, appliances, and clothes. After a few months or years, these items will be sold in a typical garage sale for less than initially invested.Next time you go out shopping, think about what you really need. Remember the convenience of having a really clean and organized garage, and most importantly, keep in mind that if you save fifty dollars a month in an account that yields a ten percent return, in twenty years you will have more than $370,000 in savings instead of a garage full of trash.

Degang Chen, China, Writing–High IntermediateI have now gotten used to women changing their last names. I know now what has happened if a woman suddenly changes her last name. Either she has gotten married, or she has gotten divorced. I remem-ber during my second year of graduate study at Middle Tennessee State University when Dr. Debord, who had taught me the previ-ous semester, changed her name to Dr. Harvey after the summer break. I was really surprised after my classmates explained to me that American women change their last names when they get married or get divorced. This happens very often around here. For example, one of my co-workers has changed her last name three times because of

changing her marital status. Before she got married, her last name was her father’s last name. After she married her first husband, her last name was changed to her husband’s last name. Then she changed her last name back to her original name because she got divorced. Recently, she has married again, so her last name is her second husband’s last name. Changing names is not an easy job. It appears in many areas, such as in your social security number, driver’s license, automobile insurance and registration, work-related information, insurance policies, bank accounts, utility bills, post office address, credit cards, and other things. A woman in the United States may change her last name many times in her life.

Sory Mingo, Dominican Republic, Writing–High IntermediateWhen I first came to the United States in 2001 from my county Dominican Republic, there were several things that surprised me a lot. I was surprised by the big buildings, the food, and the American culture.The buildings were so big. This surprised me a lot. I came from a small country, and I had never seen such huge structures like the ones here before in my life. I had not imagined that there were these kinds of buildings in the world.Another thing that surprised me was the food. It was so unfamiliar to me. For example, in my country, everyone cooks at home while here in the U.S you find a fast food restaurant on every corner. Americans’ favorite foods are: hot dogs, sandwiches, pancakes, hamburgers, and French fries. Also, I am not going to forget about their favorite drink–Coke.Finally, what surprised me most was the American culture. My main problem was the language. I did not want to go outside because I could not speak English fluently. Another cultural dif-ference was how everyone stayed busy and kept their own space, making people seem very unfriendly.However, one day I realized that everything happens for a reason, and I had to get used to it. Nowadays, I am not surprised about the big buildings. I am starting to like American foods, and I am feeling more comfortable with the language and more involved in this country’s culture.

Dora Arrieta, Peru, Oral Communication–IntermediateWhen I came to the United States, I was surprised to see how the people respect the traffic signals. In my country, Peru, the people drive too fast, and they don’t respect the signals. I’m very disap-pointed with how people drive in Peru. Talking about this subject makes me very sad because my two brothers died in car accidents. Last, I was very surprised to see that nobody walks to go anywhere here in Humble.

Diana Wong, China, Oral Communication–IntermediateThere are many things that have surprised me in the United States:1. The Golden Gate Bridge has surprised me because it is very long and it has an incredible red color.2. Houston freeways are very wide and very long.3. I have been very surprised by Houston’s China Town. China Town expands from Bellaire Blvd all the way to Sugar Land. I was very surprised to know that many people live in this area of the city.4. The San Jacinto Monument and the Museum to commemorate Texas’s Heroes and Heritage has also surprised me because it is twelve feet taller than the Washington Monument.

Who is My Hero?

Larissa de Athayde Bohrer Soares, Brazil, Oral Communications–High IntermediateMy hero is my grandfather. His name is Clóvis de Athayde Bohrer, and he is a retired pilot of the Brazilian Air Force. His father died when he was three years old, and his mother had to work very hard to raise her three sons. In the 1940s, when he was eighteen, he joined the Brazilian Air Force where he had a successful career. He is a very charismatic and intelligent person. He reads a lot, and he is always trying to learn new things. Now, he is 85 years old, but he has the appearance of a 65 year-old man. He works out every day at the gym and spends hours on the computer, exchang-ing e-mails with family and friends. He loves to use Skype to have videoconferences. Now, he is writing a book about his experiences as a pilot in the Brazilian Air Force. My grandfather has had a big influence on my life. He has taught me much about life, and he continues to be an inspiration for me. We love each other very much, and I am his biggest fan.

Rosa Santana, Mexico, Oral Communications–High IntermediateI have had many heroes in my life, and one of them is Princess Di-ana. She got my attention when she died in a tragic accident on August 31, 1997. It is not her death, however, that is important, but rather, her life. I want to recognize the fact that no matter how rich, beautiful, and famous she was, she dedicated her short life to humanitarian causes. She was a very devoted person who helped many people and charity organizations. During a visit to a hospital, and an AIDS patient began to cry when he saw Princess Diana. She gave him big hug, demonstrating to the world that they too are deserving of love, and physical contact with AIDS patients is safe. She also worked with hospitals for leprosy, let-ting reporters take photos of her with the patients to raise public awareness and collect donations for the cause. Her plan was suc-cessful. She also donated her clothes to auctions to raise money for charities. She always used her time to help those in need, like the victims of landmines. One day, Princess Diana was talking to Mother Theresa, and she asked her what she should do with her life. Mother Theresa answered that she should dedicate her life to helping others, and that is what she did until the day she died.

Sonia Calzini, Italy, Oral Communication–High IntermediateIn my English class, I had to write about my hero. I was staring at a piece of paper for long time without writing anything, and so I closed my notebook. I thought to myself, “How I can write about something that I don’t have?” The day to turn in the assignment was coming soon, and it still wasn’t ready. One night, I was think-ing about it, and I realized that I don’t have one hero; I have many heroes. For me, a hero is someone who supports, helps, and listens to another person. In each important moment of my life, happy or sad, I have had a hero. There have been many different people who have been a hero to me, because when something important happens, it is difficult or impossible to choose the person you want near you. I don’t want to name names, because they were, and still are, important to me in different ways, and writing their names would appear to put them in order of importance, and that is not fair. All of these people are very special to me, and I have learned a lot from them. They are my heroes, and I care for them deeply. I will be always grateful to them.

Gladys Sánchez, Colombia, Oral Communication–High IntermediateMy hero is my father because he taught me perseverance, values, and responsibility. He grew up in a small town in an underde-veloped country. His life was not easy. He had a fascination with learning, and he loved to read and write. He wanted to become a professional, but achieving this goal is very difficult in countries where people do not have many opportunities. He had to walk a long distance to get to high school, and he had to work very hard. After many difficulties, he became a successful professional. He worked as an engineer in a big company for 30 years. His life was full of responsibilities. He was never late to work. He was very successful, earning the respect of his boss, partners, and employ-ees. I learned by his example to have respect for different opinions and beliefs. He married my mother, who grew up in family with a different religion from his. I learned from him that people are worth what they have in their hearts. During a difficult time in my country, my father raised my family with perseverance, respect, and values. For this reason, my father is my hero. His beliefs and character gave me a perfect example to follow.

This I Believe

A Solution for CorruptionMiguel Reina, Venezuela, Writing–High IntermediateI believe in a solution for Venezuela. I believe in a country where the supreme power is vested in the people. I know that this belief will come true. Venezuela has become a world of mismanagement and corruption. But with the right leaders, the country can be changed for the best.Venezuela’s government has become a land of inequity. Most of the people have to agree with the abuses of politicians to get jobs. Many Venezuelans are part of the government just because they find money there, which is product of injustice. Politicians get rewarded for their corrupt bargains, so they need to get punished for their corruption. All the money that they get is because of their abuses. People need to open their eyes and finish with this corruption. I know that Ven-ezuelans can solve this problem because they have demonstrated so. Many people are afraid of the government, which is led by President Hugo Chavez. I think that they must be waiting for an appropriate moment because this situation is getting out of hand. If Venezuelans do not do anything against the government, there might be an in-tervention from the United States’ government, which has tolerated Chavez’s offenses. Hugo Chavez, who has said that Venezuela is a country of democracy, is totally demonstrating the opposite, which is communism. Venezuela is a consumerist country, but unfortunately sales have decreased very much, and this is product of the bad man-agement and abuse of this country.Government should be part of the people. I believe that with the right management Venezuela’s government, which should be exer-cised directly by the people, can be fixed and it will work great.

This is What I BelieveFanny Gotay, Venezuela, Writing–High IntermediateI truly believe in “God.” Why I do believe in God? Because I think He exists, I decided to receive Him as my Lord and my Savior. Since I received Him in my life, I have changed a lot.When I decided to believe in God, I started a relationship with Him. I knew it was not going to be easy because not everybody believes in Him and people have different beliefs. I am not talking about religion. I am talking about how to talk to Him, and how to be in communication with Him. For many people, God represents the solution to their problems, so they pray only when they have an emergency, or when someone is in a crisis. I think people use Him as a 911 emergency call, but I think it is not all.I believe in God because I had learned to be in communication with Him every day, every minute and have faith in Him. That way, I know something special is in my life because I can feel that He is like our parents. They always want the best for us. God is like that too, for He wants to protect us, and He wants the best for us because we are His children.Sometimes, when I am in situations that I cannot control, I just close my eyes and have a communication with Him. I ask Him to give me strength to support me through everything. After that, I know He is going to be in control of everything, and I feel more relaxed, thinking and knowing all is going to be ok.In my opinion, I truly believe in God because I have learned many things. One of them is to have a good relationship with Him every day, not only in bad situations. I know having a relationship with Him brings blessings to my life. I have faith in Him because He is my Father, and He will always protect me. However, the most im-portant thing is that we learn about love, and He shows us love.

Tieng Sok, Cambodia, Oral Communications–High IntermediateThere are many people who have influenced my life and made me a better person, but the people who have influenced me the most are my parents. For this reason, they are my heroes. If not for them, there would be no “me.” My parents have always been there for me when I needed them. They did a great job raising my brothers and me, and they worked hard to give us everything we needed and wanted. No matter what I do wrong, as long as I tell them the truth, they will forgive me. They have taught me many things. They worked hard to send me to good schools and bring me to the United States. All they want is for me to have a good life and be happy. I know it has been difficult for them to raise a family. I remember having a very bad fever for four days when I was 12 years old. My father took me to the doctor during the night, and they were very worried about me. My mother sat beside me, using a bag of ice and a towel on my forehead to keep my temperature down. That was a moment I will never forget, as she took care of me and made me feel safe while she was with me. I won’t have that feeling again because she has left us for the other world. Even though my mother passed away four years ago, she will always be in my heart. She was a wonderful person to have in my life. My parents are my heroes, and I love them very much.

I Believe in TravelUrsula Molski, Poland, Writing–High IntermediateI believe that travelers can learn a lot and help us understand other people’s cultures. Traveling encourages people to study more his-tory about these places because it is easier to remember and learn history if one sees the places in real life.If I travel to another country, it inspires me to study a new lan-guage. When I travel, I like to know the meaning of the places and to be able to communicate with the people living there. I remember when we traveled to Europe how important it was to know how to speak another country’s language and that knowing English would not be enough.Traveling also encourages people to study the country’s history. I remember how I went with my children to Poland for two months over the summer and how I tried to show them their family’s home country. Poland is not very big, but it is a beautiful and friendly country. I tried to remind myself of the places I had been in when I visited before, and I wanted to show these places to my children because I knew that it would be the best way to teach them history about my country. Many people make new friends when traveling to other countries. I visited my old friends and met new friends when I traveled to Poland. People are very interested in what happens in other coun-tries, and friends are made quickly and easily because of this.

What Inspires Me

My InspirationMartha Lozano, Colombia, Pronunciation I The man who inspires me is great. He is the epitome of humble-ness, determination, and intelligence. He does not care about appearances more than he cares about his soul. He treats people the same regardless of their position or class. His determination has led him to reach what he has wished for in life. He did not have the opportunity to study as much as he wished, but he is as bright and wise as one who studied his whole life. He is one of the major blessings in my life, but he does not even know how great he is. I wish someday I could be like him. I just wish some day he could feel as proud of me as I feel about him, and then, I will tell him that he has been my primary inspiration and I am what I am due to him. Looking to the future, I wish that someday my son will admire me as much as I admire the man who inspires me. This man who inspires me is my father, and I am proud to be his daughter.

My Inspiration Daniela Mocofan, Romania, Writing–AdvancedMy husband inspires me. Why? He inspires me because he is the strongest person I know. Life for him was not brilliant all the time. In May 1985, he illegally crossed the Hungarian border. He stayed in France and Germany for one year, and then he came to the U.S. What pushed him to cross the border illegally? In our country, the political regime was totalitarian, and Ceausescu governed Romania. In the night, the police came to my husband’s home and took him to jail. He was persecuted in jail. After a short time, he came home and started his daily routine again. But life was not the same for him. In April 2006, I met my husband in our country, and my life changed 360 degrees. Now, every day is a battle for my husband. He has atherosclerosis - coronary artery disease. This year he had two surgeries, and he has seven stents in his arteries. In spite of it all, my husband is a selfless and kind person. In whatever way possible, he helps me. We try to help each other with our problems and to balance life. He wishes for me a good and easy life. He encourages me to study. I never dreamed that my life would be changed permanently. We enjoy our life 100% every day. I hope we will have a long life together. He is my inspiration and my reason to be a good person.

College DegreeAdriana Lozano Sanchez, Colombia, Writing–AdvancedIn Colombia, South America, students who enroll in college ar-rive there with a goal in mind. The students are not financially prepared to pay for their courses. The majority of the students do not have access to financial support from the government or the college. Other students do not receive support from their families for food, books or transportation. The determined students who are fortunate to attend college must maintain an inspiration to achieve their goal.Every student has a dream to succeed in college. The students dream about the beneficial gains associated with success after grad-uating from college. Their overall desire is to be able to purchase the necessities in life. For example, the graduate wants to buy a sports car and a house or apartment with furniture. Next, the stu-dents deserve to enjoy the fruits of their labor. For instance, they might buy a beach house and a boat for recreational purposes.Dedication is essential to complete the college courses in order to graduate. Every course requires a high degree of research time to fully understand the textbook. Many hours of study must be invested to develop knowledge of the subject. In some cases, the students spend several hours a day to absorb the material of each chapter. The students must schedule a time period for rest and re-laxation during each study course. For example, the students could go to the college gymnasium to exercise and relax their minds.Determination is a strength that must not be broken in order to finish college. With determination the student can overcome failure during a weak period in his or her life. For example, deter-mination helps to complete the student’s commitment in spite of their limitations. Determination is a tool that the students use to manage time and prioritize goals. Determination can bring out the best in each person. In some cases, when students become discour-aged, they use determination to produce patience.Those students who are disciplined in college can achieve their goal through a dream, dedication and determination. The gradu-ates that receive their college degree have the most important tool in their life. Many doors are opened to college graduates to obtain employment. Efficient employees are promoted ahead of their peers. With the promotion, the employee gains more experience and pay. The employee will have stability and security in his job for many years.

Saurabh Patel, India, Writing–AdvancedI am Saurabh Patel from India, and I have been living here for ten months. Inspiration is the most important thing in our life in order to become a successful person. I have chosen my grandfather as my inspiration. He raised me with the best facility I could have wanted and fulfilled my every wish. He has every quality for be-ing my inspiration.Because I consider my grandfather as my inspiration, I have learned a lot of things related to life. In order to gain education, I always listen to his ideas and thoughts before doing any activity. He gives me lot of information regarding education and considers it as the success of life. So, I focus on my studies which will lead my life in a good way.Since he is my inspiration, I would like to live my life as my grandfather has with pride and honor. I will use his advice and his teaching, and I will make every decision as he would consider making it. I am really proud of having such a great grandfather, and I love him a lot.

What Inspires Me

What Inspires Me?Anna-Marie Madsen, Denmark, Writing–Advanced If I were asked the question “What inspires you?” I would answer: my children, traveling, or a wise person. I have met a lot of inspir-ing people through my life, but one is always especially on my mind. Her name is Jette Nielsen. She has always been a role model for me in my work as a nurse and has had a positive influence on the way I live my life as well.I met Jette at The Children Psychiatry Hospital twenty years ago. She was the manager for the children´s ward for young people with mental disorders where I got my first job as a new certified nurse. It was a challenging job, and it required a good manager to understand the issues of her employees. She was an amazing person with a charisma that gave you the feeling of confidence and assurance that you had done your best. She was a positive person who gave her full attention to listening to your work issues in a very respectful and appreciative way. At that time, I not only real-ized how important communication skills were for my work but also for me as a human being.When I later became a manager myself for a part of the Children Psychiatry Hospital, Jette was the one who supported me. I had a meeting with her once each week and she gave me supervision on my management style. I got the inspiration from her about how you could use communication skills to solve problems, and she taught me that no problem is so big that you cannot solve it. A few years later, she appointed me to a two-year communication training which gave me a lot of knowledge and skills. I try to be a positive, open-minded person, and I do believe that most people try to do their best. I have used the communication tools also in the upbringing of my children. I have always tried to appreciate the way they deal with their lives and have guided them with respect. I know that life can be challenging, and sometimes it can be hard to find the bright side of life. I have tried that myself, and then I am reminded of my wise, old woman who I got my inspiration from.

What Most Inspires MeVioleta Lanzas, Nicaragua, Writing–AdvancedIn my country, the family concept is a very important value. Twelve years ago I left my country, Nicaragua, and I began a new life on my own in the United States. It was very hard for me because I was far away from my parents and my siblings. I have my own family now, but I maintain the same values and feelings that I learned from my family when I was a little girl. The feeling of belonging someplace called home and the security of having people that love me make me a stronger person and a better hu-man being. My family is my inspirational source for all my present and future goals.I love the values I have learned from my family. I am a daugh-ter, a sister, wife and mother. I learned perseverance and respect as well as love for reading from my father. From my mother I learned hard work and responsibility. In addition, I learned from my brothers and sisters to be caring and tender, and my little girls taught me tolerance and patience. It is hard to believe that the simplicity of the family’s bonds like brotherhood or motherhood helps me out in difficult times, and without a doubt it evokes in me all those beautiful feelings of love and optimism.I consider myself a fortunate person because I have a beautiful and cohesive family. We are bonded despite the distance between us. We are always connected, and the most important fact is we talk

about ourselves, our dreams, our goals, and our needs. Thinking about the possibilities of doing something new or taking on new opportunities is much better because I have a caring family that not only supports me but also inspires me with their love and faith in me to fulfill all my goals.

Inspired by a Mother’s PrayerHeidi Herrera, Costa Rica, Writing–AdvancedMany times I have heard that little moments are what make life beautiful, and from my experience, it is unquestionably true. I have been privileged to meet wonderful human beings throughout my life that have enriched me with gratifying memories. People who have inspired me the most are extraordinary individuals. One of them is a woman named Elena whose testimony has impacted my life; therefore, she inspired me to think that I could make remarkable differences in other peoples’ lives if I chose to.In my neighborhood, back in Costa Rica, there is a place called Hogar Montiel. This domicile is a shelter for thirty girls who are in social risk. The story of this place is very fascinating and inspiring to me because before it became what it is now, it was a beautiful home for a family with two beautiful children. This house is spacious with a colorful garden in its surroundings. In the front, there is the tallest oak tree of our community. It was a lovely home for a family with two small children, but one day the owner of this little kingdom, Elena, became sick with cancer. The doc-tors told her that she did not have much time to live. The cancer was advanced; however, they told her that if she took the risk of surgery, they could prolong her life a little longer. Elena was only thirty-three then. As you might imagine, when she confronted the horrible idea of not seeing her children grow, she was devastated. In those agonizing moments, a childhood memory came back to her. She recalled that when she was in her early school years, her favorite teacher always talked about her dream of putting up a home for abused girls. Something happened in Elena’s heart, and she said a prayer one night. She was scared of the unknown, so she thought of an idea that might give her a second chance to live. Before she went to the operating room, she told her husband that she had offered God the promise to give up her house if he gave her the opportunity to walk out of the hospital alive. This lovely, old house meant a lot to her because it was part of the estate from her parents. It was the home which saw her grow up, but nothing was more important to her than her life. Miraculously, her prayer was answered, and Hogar Montiel is now a home to thirty girls who were saved by Elena’s generosity.Hogar Montiel is a story that touched me very deeply. I had per-sonal contact with the group of girls that live there. They all have a dark, sad past; however, they were born again in this beautiful house in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. The most amazing part is that El-ena did not realize how many lives she truly saved. She got to see her kids grow up, but in the process, she rescued strangers through her action. Her benevolence made it possible that these young women learned to dream, live, and laugh in Hogar Montiel. This is a story of a mother’s love for her children, and it is also a story of compassion and giving. I am inspired by Elena’s story in a very profound way. People like Elena are the ones who make this world a better place to live in.

What Inspires Me

What Inspires Me?Soledad Graciano, Argentina, Writing–AdvancedMother Nature inspires me. Being in a wood surrounded by trees, listening to the sounds of the animals, seeing a small bird fly pro-duces in me a feeling of calmness and fills me with joy and hope. I found in travelling as a way of connecting myself with nature. I travel anytime I have the chance. One of the trips I enjoyed most was the one I made to the west coast of Australia. There, nature could not have been closer.I always remember that trip to Australia as one of the best in my life. I took a plane to the city of Sidney. When I arrived to the city, I did not have any hotel arrangements because I decided to travel my own way. I bought a bus ticket from Sidney to Cairns that allowed me to get on and off the bus anytime and anywhere I desired. So, I set off on my journey, and the first stop was a farm near the city of Brisbane. There I could not have been happier. I spent the day playing with the wallabies and cuddling the koalas. I could also see a huge crocodile and many other animals that I had only seen in books. I thought I was in paradise. The following stops were at amazing beaches where I enjoyed the sun and met a lot of people from all over the world. The last stop was in Cairns, where I took an excursion to one of the most beautiful treasures of our planet, the Great Barrier Reef. There I swam in the middle of the sea and saw fishes of different sizes and colors as well as sea turtles very close to me. There are many ways to be connected with nature. When I am stressed or disturbed, I find peace in nature. If I do not have the chance to travel, then I go for a walk in the woods, or I ride a bike with my dog by my side. Or I transport myself to the place I would like to be with my imagination. My way is travelling to different places. This makes me feel alive. Thank you, Mother Nature.

What Inspires MeKatalin Bartha, Hungary, Writing–AdvancedWhen I lived in my country and worked there, a lot of things inspired me. Some of them lasted for only a short time while others inspired me for longer periods. But nature has inspired me all the time, practically from birth. I have admired the beauty, the diversity, and the changeability of nature. I have always been sad when I noticed a wounded animal or litter along the road or in a neighborhood. Therefore, I try to protect the animals and plants and the environment, as well.I almost never hurt or kill an animal or a plant. When I hike or walk in nature with my family, we do not make noise in order to let the animals live peacefully. At the same time, we do not gather wild flowers or break tree branches. We always collect our garbage and place it in the dust bin later. If we left a plastic bag in the woods, it would take at least three hundred years to dissolve. We taught our son how to behave in nature and why it is so impor-tant.In addition, I try to manage our household as environmentally-friendly as possible. When we moved into the US, I was so sur-prised that people did not separate the garbage and did not return the bottles to the stores. In my country, the schools collect paper and iron items regularly on a special day. This has two advantages. First, kids learn how to collect items and protect the environ-ment. Second, schools get money. Here, I was annoyed that the stores packed the purchased items in too many plastic bags. Later, I found several used plastic bag collectors, so I began to place my

waste there. One day I was so glad when I found the first waste battery collection container.In my household, I started to use green cleaning products, envi-ronmental products which contain less chemicals. Sometimes I simply use vinegar like my grandmother did instead of using any cleaning products. Furthermore, I try to buy only as many items as we can use. I think water is treasure. We try to consume as little water as we can. So, we only water our plants and grass when they need it. We use as many Energy Star products as we can afford. Moreover, we have switched to energy-saving light bulbs. We keep our home temperature 80 degrees, and we use fans which con-sume less energy than the air conditioner.Nature has always inspired me. To protect animals, plants, and the environment I have started to live in an environmentally-friendly way. I have taught this to my son. As far as I am concerned, pro-tecting the environment, thus saving the Earth, is one of the most important tasks in our life.

What Inspires MePatricia Flor, Ecuador, Writing–High IntermediateMany things might inspire me: a sunny or rainy day, a new friend, a sweet memory crossing my mind, a new love song on the stereo, or a little gift that comes from friends or relatives. A sunny day inspires me to do outdoor activities such as jogging, running, swimming, or cycling. A rainy day makes me calm and inspires me to do things such as read a book that feeds my thoughts, listen to peaceful music, and write about things I have experienced. A new friend makes me think of wonderful adventures to share. A new love song makes me remember the sweetness of first love when I was an adolescent. A sweet memory crossing my mind recalls anecdotes that I have learned in my life. The better gifts that I have received throughout my life such as a flower, a smile, a hug, a shared moment, or a piece of advice make me feel like a wealthy girl in this world because I store them in my mind and heart to bring them back as sweet memories when I feel weak. When I believe I am stuck or when I feel I cannot bear my sorrows, those details are my source of inspiration to help me to keep going and reach my goals, be unselfish, and accept people the way they are.

Who Inspires Me?Carolyn Mikhael, Syria, Writing–AdvancedI think many people do different things in my life, but my sister is the greatest inspiration of my life. Day-by-day I have learned from her, and she has taught me many things.I realized that I have a great sister because she is always looking forward. She knows that if she wants to have something, she has to work for it without leaving her family or values behind. Since she lost her husband, she works to care for her three daughters so that they can continue their education and get married; she does not think of herself. My sister inspires me every day to be an excellent person. She always gives me advice when I need it. I would like to be strong and confident like her. Finally, I would like to tell my sister that she has been such an inspiration to me. I just want to thank her. She is the greatest woman I have known in my life.

What Inspires Me

What Inspires Me?Kattya Flores, Peru, Writing–AdvancedWhat inspires me? I have many things to inspire me. Life, family, and my goals are really very important to me and also motivate me to go on with my daily life and education.For me, life is not only a living experience, it is a destiny, and we are responsible to make our life a joyful experience. Life is also a source of energy that inspires me to set and improve my goals, and from my point of view, life is something amazing. Another thing that inspires me is my family. My family is very important to me. They are my main support system. They have always helped me make important decisions in my life, and without their support, I would not be here studying English as a Second Language. But, the person who has inspired me most is my mother. She had an education and has good principles. She gave me all the tools to be strong and consistent. Also, she showed me the steps that I have to follow to be a better person. My mother is a big part of my life. In addition, my goals also inspire me. I want to be a successful person in the future, and in order to achieve my goals, I need to speak English for my career. I studied Commercial Aviation which is my professional aspiration.I believe that without these inspirations, I will not be able to achieve the things that I really want in my life. Having all these and watching them turn into reality also inspires me more.

What Inspires Me?Ali Ishtiaq, Pakistan, Writing–AdvancedThere are many things that inspire me. Sports, music, and my cul-ture inspire me a lot. I like to play sports; I play tennis, ping-pong, cricket, and I swim. I have done these sports for a long time. I may not be the best, but I am fairly good at sports. When you play any kind of sport, you feel your own strength, and it helps you maintain yourself physically and mentally. It is also good for your health, and you can make more friends by joining different kinds of sports clubs.I have been listening to music since I was four years old. I like every kind of music – classic, rock, pop, and many others. What inspires me are the words that singers use in their songs and the beat they create to make the songs flow; it makes me fall in love with music.

I belong to a Muslim family, and my culture is quite different from other cultures. Our culture is based on rules which have to be followed by every Muslim. The most important rule is that Allah is the one most powerful and merciful, and Mohammed is his last prophet. We also have to fulfill our duties according to our holy book, the Quran.These things inspire me. Sometimes you have to take a step out into your life, and you have to think of the many things that moti-vate you. Living life better by the rules helps you organize yourself.

An Inspiration in My Life Karen Gomez, El Salvador, Writing–AdvancedEvery person has something or somebody that inspires them. In my case, I have a special person that has inspired me since my childhood; that person is my mother. The way she taught me all the essential things in life and her confident personality makes her the inspiration in my life. My mother’s words and examples have been so powerful to me.My mother has always been there for me, despite the adversities she had to face in life. Since I was a child, she has been motivat-ing me to do my best, to try once or twice whether it is difficult or not. In addition, my mother herself is an inspiration in my life. All her hard work and sacrifices that she made to raise me as single parent are admirable. Even more, she constantly encourages me to study in order to have a better future.I will never be able to pay her back. Now that I am an adult and a parent, too, I want to demonstrate to my children that nothing is impossible in this life. All that it takes is perseverance. If I did not have a mother like I did, I would not be the person that I am now. She taught me that responsibility, dedication, and tenacity are things that are needed in life.

InspirationYasmin Leon, Venezuela, Writing–AdvancedInspiration not only helps to write beautiful poems, songs, or books, but it often helps us to daydream. Sometimes I daydream about my family because they are my inspiration. Every day I daydream about the ways in which they could be happy. I dream that my children are princes and princesses. I see them on the beach’s sand running free under a blue sky. I see them cheerfully running in the meadows. I dream of their laughter and their suc-cess. I dream of my children being honest, respectful, responsible, and happy.I also daydream about my granddaughters who are far from me yet at the same time very close to me. I daydream of them run-ning healthy, free, happy, and saying “grandma” again and again. I dream as the breeze moves their hair; they are always smiling. Many times I daydream of planning or doing funny things like donning a mask or wearing extravagant clothes because I want to see them laughing. I daydream about myself. I see my husband and me growing old together, hand-in-hand. I daydream of the kiss that my husband gives me every morning and every night like he has done for 29 years. I dream I am always young because that is my energy, strength, happiness and my inspiration.

Course Name CREDIT Number CE Number Day/Time Room Language Skills Workshop (48) – Pronunciation I ENGL. 0308, 21801, 10148 CENGL. 3100558, KC850 M-TH, 1:30-2:50 COT 101

Language Skills Workshop (48) – Grammar Review I ENGL. 0308, 21802, 10149 CENGL. 3100558, KC851 M-TH, 1:30-2:50 COT 100

Language Skills Workshop (48) – Learning Language & Culture Through Film ENGL. 0308, 21803, 10150 CENGL. 3100558, KC852 M-TH, 1:30-2:50 LIB 203

16-Week Classes–Day Classes: Start Date: 1/19/2010—End Date: 5/16/2010

Course Name CREDIT Number CE Number Day/Time RoomDevelopmental Reading II (64) For non-native speakers ENGL. 0305, 21E01, 10127 CENGL. 3000501, KC873 MW, 8:30-10:20 LIB 201

ESOL Reading High Beginning (80) ENGL. 0337, 21001, 10151 CENGL. 3003701, KC856 MTWTh, 8:20-9:30 COT 100

ESOL Reading Intermediate (80) ENGL. 0338, 21001, 10154 CENGL. 3003801, KC857 MTWTh, 8:20-9:30 COT 101

ESOL Reading High Intermediate (80) ENGL. 0339, 21001, 10157 CENGL. 3003901, KC858 MTWTh, 8:20-9:30 LIB 203

ESOL Oral Communication High Beginning (96) ENGL. 0343, 21001, 10160 CENGL. 3004301, KC866 MTWTh, 11:10-12:30 COT 100

ESOL Oral Communication Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0344, 21001, 10164 CENGL. 3004401, KC867 MTWTh, 11:10-12:30 COT 101

ESOL Oral Communication Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0344, 21002, 10165 CENGL. 3004401, KC868 MTWTh, 11:10-12:30 TBA

ESOL Oral Communication High Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0345, 21001, 10168 CENGL. 3004501, KC869 MTWTh, 11:10-12:30 LIB 203

ESOL Oral Communication High Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0345, 21002, 23519 CENGL. 3004501, KC870 MTWTh, 11:10-12:30 TBA

ESOL Oral Communication Advanced (96) ENGL. 0346, 21001, 10172 CENGL. 3004601, KC871 MTWTh, 11:10-12:30 TBA

ESOL Oral Communication Advanced (96) ENGL. 0346, 21002, 23523 CENGL. 3004601, KC872 MW, 1:30-4:20 TBA

ESOL Writing High Beginning (96) ENGL. 0353, 21001, 10173 CENGL. 3005301, KC859 MTWTh, 9:40-11:00 COT 100

ESOL Writing H High Beginning (96) ENGL. 0353, 21002, 10174 CENGL. 3005301, KC860 MTWTh, 9:40-11:00 TBA

ESOL Writing Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0354, 21001, 10177 CENGL. 3005401, KC861 MTWTh, 9:40-11:00 COT 101

ESOL Writing Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0354, 21002, 10178 CENGL. 3005401, KC??? MTWTh, 9:40-11:00 TBA

ESOL Writing High Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0355, 21001, 10181 CENGL. 3005501, KC863 MTWTh, 9:40-11:00 LIB 203

ESOL Writing High Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0355, 21002, 10182 CENGL. 3005501, KC864 MTWTh, 9:40-11:00 TBA

ESOL Writing Advanced (96) ENGL. 0356, 21001, 10185 CENGL. 3005601, KC865 MW, 10:30-1:20 LIB 201

Lone Star College - KingwoodIntensive English Program (ESOL) – SPRING 2010

First 8-Week Classes: Start Date: 1/19/2010 —End Date: 3/13/2010

15-Week Classes (Late Start): Start Date: 1/25/2010—End Date: 5/16/2010Course Name CREDIT Number CE Number Day/Time RoomDevelopmental Reading II (64) ENGL. 0305, 22E71, 22988 CENGL. 3000501, KC874 MW, 6:30-8:30 LIB 201

Developmental Reading II (64) ENGL. 0305, 23E01, 22993 CENGL. 3000501, KC875 S, 9:00-11:00 COT 101

Language Skills Workshop (48) ENGL. 0308, 21071, 21146 CENGL. 3100558, KC876 MW, 1:30-2:50 LIB 201

Language Skills Workshop (48) ENGL. 0308, 29071, 22997 CENGL. 3100558, KC877 F, 10:00-11:20 COT 101

ESOL Reading High Beginning (80) ENGL. 0337, 22071, 10153 CENGL. 3003701, KC878 MW, 6:30-8:50 LIB 201

ESOL Reading Intermediate (80) ENGL. 0338, 22071, 22967 CENGL. 3003801, KC879 MW, 6:30-8:50 TBA

ESOL Reading High Intermediate (80) ENGL. 0339, 22071, 22970 CENGL. 3003901, KC880 MW, 6:30-8:50 TBA

ESOL Oral Communication High Beginning (96) ENGL. 0343, 22071, 22972 CENGL. 3004301, KC881 MW, 6:00-8:50 LIB 203

ESOL Oral Communication Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0344, 22071, 22973 CENGL. 3004401, KC882 MW, 6:00-8:50 COT 100

ESOL Oral Communication High Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0345, 22071, 22975 CENGL. 3004501, KC883 MW, 6:00-8:50 COT 101

ESOL Writing High Beginning (96) ENGL. 0353, 22071, 22977 CENGL. 3005301, KC884 TTH, 6:00-8:50 LIB 203

ESOL Writing Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0354, 22071, 22979 CENGL. 3005401, KC885 TTH, 6:00-8:50 COT 100

ESOL Writing High Intermediate (96) ENGL. 0355, 22071, 22982 CENGL. 3005501, KC886 TTH, 6:00-8:50 COT 101

ESOL Writing Advanced (96) ENGL. 0356, 22071, 22985 CENGL. 3005601, KC887 TTH, 6:00-8:50 LIB 201

Second 8-Week Classes: Start Date: 3/22/2010—End Date: 5/16/2010

Course Name CREDIT Number CE Number Day/Time RoomLanguage Skills Workshop (48) – Pronunciation 2 ENGL. 0308, 21804, 21140 CENGL. 3100558, KC853 M-TH, 1:30-2:50 COT 101

Language Skills Workshop (48) – Grammar Review 2 ENGL. 0308, 21805, 21141 CENGL. 3100558, KC854 M-TH, 1:30-2:50 LIB 201

Language Skills Workshop (48) – Learning Language & Culture through Film ENGL. 0308, 21806, 22948 CENGL. 3100558, KC855 M-TH, 1:30-2:50 LIB 203

Lone Star College - KingwoodIntensive English Program (ESOL) – SPRING 2010

Acknowledgements: I would like to thank our ESOL student contributors, ESOL faculty, and Pam Clarke and Designs in Print intern Jason Watson 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.

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