tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83396737987689739942024-03-12T23:52:28.403-07:00Upper Iowa University's Intensive English Programbjorkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969287439402649586noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339673798768973994.post-36254752242168389242013-09-11T13:52:00.001-07:002013-09-11T13:52:54.365-07:00Fall is in Full Swing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The 2013 – 2014 school year is off to a great
start!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We have already had our first cultural field trip,
and it was to an American family’s home. We played yard games and ate good
food!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you Mr. Bicknese
(instructor) for a fun time had by all!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwC4z4_Yzs49kQXZn8Ur5uNP3d1QNxDvaViT2McFdkVXW1_baZBuHz7K5EY9DfdEkkY4m8FiG57lmbWRG3hYHX4ZY0xjN-1zqEGkYBqk2TYjvc7rvUNBw2ziViVrtlEDt1H0wGgZ6ZZxB/s1600/2013-09-04+16.52.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwC4z4_Yzs49kQXZn8Ur5uNP3d1QNxDvaViT2McFdkVXW1_baZBuHz7K5EY9DfdEkkY4m8FiG57lmbWRG3hYHX4ZY0xjN-1zqEGkYBqk2TYjvc7rvUNBw2ziViVrtlEDt1H0wGgZ6ZZxB/s400/2013-09-04+16.52.50.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As we begin this school year, I want to introduce
you to several new exciting things about our program:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
program name has changed to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Intensive
English Program (IEP)</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within the
U.S., this is now a more common name for our type of program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Intensive English Program is now housed under the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Center for International Education</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
Intensive English Program <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">webpage</b>
has been revamped, and now has a user-friendly interface to find the
information you need: </span><a href="http://www.uiu.edu/international/esl/index.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.uiu.edu/international/esl/index.html</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Intensive English Program now has a comprehensive <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">three levels</b>: beginner, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">intermediate</i>,
and advanced. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The intermediate level was
added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each level takes one semester to
complete.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Two
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">new instructors</b> have joined our team,
and their names’ are Kevin Moon and Irina Varzavand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pictures soon to come on the website!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We look forward to another great year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sarah Bjork</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Director, Intensive English Program<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="mailto:bjorks@uiu.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">bjorks@uiu.edu</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"> </span>bjorkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969287439402649586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339673798768973994.post-11828472973983970062013-06-21T14:41:00.003-07:002013-06-21T14:41:38.525-07:00Spring 2013 Service-Learning Opportunities: Good Samaritan Society<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">This past Spring 2013
semester at Upper Iowa University’s ESL Institute has included some excellent
opportunities for ESL students to be involved in service-learning in our
community! Each year, students have the chance to collaborate with a few
different groups in Fayette County, extending their hands in service and their
learning beyond the classroom. In fact, these service-learning experiences go
hand-in-hand with their American Culture curriculum and are included in the
semester’s field trip schedule.<span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This semester’s 3
service-learning opportunities each gave ESL students the chance to share their
cultures with community members of all ages through different avenues. Outings
to the Good Samaritan Society in West Union, Iowa; Oelwein High School in
Oelwein, Iowa; and North Fayette Middle School in Fayette, Iowa comprised this
well-rounded service-learning itinerary.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The students’ first
service-learning opportunity occurred in mid-March at the Good Samaritan
Society (GSS). To give a bit of background information, the GSS is a
residential home that primarily serves and cares for the elderly. The project for
the afternoon comprised of students sharing stories from their cultures with GSS
residents, followed by a sampling of cultural food. This visit to GSS was in
conjunction with the center’s Community Coffee event where residents, staff,
and local community members are invited to gather together to enjoy a special program
with different featured guests each month. For the past few years, students
enrolled in the UIU ESL Institute have been March’s featured guests.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Prior to their
afternoon here, as part of their American Culture classes, students went to the
UIU library to search for children’s books that told classic stories from their
native cultures. This past semester, 8 different countries were represented by
our ESL student body, and each of them was able to be well represented by the
books the students found in the broad children’s collection here. Students then
practiced English conversational and oral reading skills before preparing to
read these stories aloud one-on-one to GSS residents during their visit.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8Jeips2qT-5-0yhNqBEA1a9Y0zR3xmPSviqoVAKU5oYZwK720M1XzIFuYAj2Fh4e4L9gnp1wULOCt6w5rBNIz_xGk61CO-E24Z_wrnsbecvxmK6FAH3GVXSH2MMAhK6UsCf9GGBf31ON/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8Jeips2qT-5-0yhNqBEA1a9Y0zR3xmPSviqoVAKU5oYZwK720M1XzIFuYAj2Fh4e4L9gnp1wULOCt6w5rBNIz_xGk61CO-E24Z_wrnsbecvxmK6FAH3GVXSH2MMAhK6UsCf9GGBf31ON/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ESL student Chenle (Bill) from China reading to a Good Samaritan Society resident</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Students wrapped up
their time at GSS with some light refreshments they’d brought to share with the
residents they’d read to. The night before, 3 French ESL students prepared
crepes with the help of the UIU cafeteria. Heated and coupled with delicious
toppings, some students served crepes and tea to the residents while others
continued building relationships with those they’d gotten to know that
afternoon. Upon departure, the GSS staff and community volunteers also present
at this event thanked the students for their service with chocolate chip
cookies!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDG_ircm-yLcwNrtRvQXU9om2vsvuuln9CRLT0Jq2qI5kLeOXCcrvyaVGt0xB38rtzsww_RYpTLN5qL0qgknriIZmmcnrvOdk8V8QjdUwzz6KcvkMagLlpQsBTVVMY1uDbu8Tr_NC3U0Y/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDG_ircm-yLcwNrtRvQXU9om2vsvuuln9CRLT0Jq2qI5kLeOXCcrvyaVGt0xB38rtzsww_RYpTLN5qL0qgknriIZmmcnrvOdk8V8QjdUwzz6KcvkMagLlpQsBTVVMY1uDbu8Tr_NC3U0Y/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ESL students Johnathan from Martinique (left) and Romain from France (right) preparing crepes</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">ESL students expressed
that they all had unique experiences interacting with the residents. In fact,
some of them even stated they’d like to come back for another visit in the
future! In addition, many of them had never visited an American care center
before and learned about the differences between elderly care in their home
countries and the US. Grateful for this opportunity of service and reciprocal learning,
it was clear that both the ESL students and those at the GSS had a positive and
enjoyable afternoon sharing stories, cultures, and even a snack.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhqu5y-0KL6nlxTdzV70SIhCR8JN2_q1h087noYGepudzDbbUBw-3k8nktp_Cz-Wit2asLlkjFRa7bqaU0rr9wRFv082SrbT1qpry79AeKu7XozIJ_2dffUBAgMSv7YBziVkG3eMIYuoB/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhqu5y-0KL6nlxTdzV70SIhCR8JN2_q1h087noYGepudzDbbUBw-3k8nktp_Cz-Wit2asLlkjFRa7bqaU0rr9wRFv082SrbT1qpry79AeKu7XozIJ_2dffUBAgMSv7YBziVkG3eMIYuoB/s320/041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ESL student Lucie from France getting to know a Good Samaritan Society resident</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Next, check out the second
and third service-learning opportunities of the semester ESL students had at
Oelwein High School and North Fayette Middle School!</span></span></span>
</div>
bjorkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969287439402649586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339673798768973994.post-70161553396614303802013-02-14T15:04:00.005-08:002013-02-14T15:04:51.965-08:00First Spring Field Trips<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVRfVC6RQK3zQ6iUciEl-AeKVV5UuTmYvcLp4ZmIMLPG4wc5rPO46olH6humJgwf-Q_JCka0zpLT13h28xMT3zv7K6Fvk75dQlBRtqaAQ6ZZ-LSJ7eu93dIIUgHOj6DLmo6ukTvljO22E/s1600/Group+at+John+Deere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVRfVC6RQK3zQ6iUciEl-AeKVV5UuTmYvcLp4ZmIMLPG4wc5rPO46olH6humJgwf-Q_JCka0zpLT13h28xMT3zv7K6Fvk75dQlBRtqaAQ6ZZ-LSJ7eu93dIIUgHOj6DLmo6ukTvljO22E/s320/Group+at+John+Deere.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>ESL students and staff at John Deere Tractor Works</b></td></tr>
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Even as snow covers the ground and cool temperatures linger in the northeast Iowa air, the spring semester at Upper Iowa University is in full swing. Though it may not feel like spring, warmer weather will be here soon; however, ESL students don't have to wait for the snow to melt in order to enjoy the first field trips of the semester!<br />
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So far, ESL students have enjoyed 2 different outings this spring. The first occurred in late January during the second week of classes. The group took a short drive to West Union, a small town about 15 minutes north of Fayette, for a fun, casual afternoon of bowling. West Union has a nice bowling alley, and, during their visit, the group had it all to themselves. The bowling alley staff was very accommodating and even offered to open up early just for them; they were very welcoming and helpful to all the students and provided them with a very enjoyable visit!<br />
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Some of the ESL students had been bowling before either in their home countries or in the US; others had never held a bowling ball before. This allowed each student to have his or her own unique experience! The group of 22 students, 2 International Ambassadors, the ESL Program Coordinator, and an ESL instructor divided into six teams for some healthy competition, and each took their time playing two games apiece.<br />
<br />
Many of the students expressed how much they enjoyed the trip upon arriving back at UIU and seemed grateful that they were able to have both an educational and fun cultural experience while still having enough time in the day to relax with friends and do homework. Having many local travel destinations in the northeast Iowa area at their disposal is definitely a perk to living and studying at UIU. Having opportunities to experience some of them while learning about American culture is also just one of the many benefits students have while enrolled in the ESL Program!<br />
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Two weeks later, the second trip of the semester took the students to John Deere Tractor Works in Waterloo, a city about 1 hour southwest of Fayette. John Deere is one of the biggest companies housed in Waterloo and is an important component of northeast Iowa's economy. At their assembly plant (Tractor Works), the group was able to see the production of tractors and other John Deere products that are used around the world. Through an informational film, the students learned about the company's history and influence, along with the kinds of machines and tools they produce. This was a great introduction to what they were about to see next!<br />
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The group then divided up onto three separate trolley carts pulled by smaller John Deere utility tractors for a tour ride around a portion of the production floor, narrated by a very knowledgeable long-time employee who now works as a tour guide. A couple of the many components of the tour included seeing parts of the tractor frames spray painted their famous "John Deere green" by computer-guided robots and learning about the difference between the tractors John Deere manufactures for North American use compared to those they design for European use. At the end of the tour, the students had a chance to browse the company gift shop filled with various John Deere logo-ed merchandise and pick up a souvenir to remember their experience.<br />
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Some of the ESL students and International Ambassadors that joined them both expressed how much they enjoyed this trip as well. They liked the format of the film and tour, along with the opportunity to see a working production plant in "real life" compared to what they'd seen on television and online. They also were grateful for the chance to have a better understanding of a company that is so widely known and regularly visible around their current home in Iowa and the Midwest!<br />
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Within the next couple weeks, ESL students will have two more opportunities to experience new facets of American culture through field trips just like these. Want to know where they went and what they did? Check back soon for more updates!<br />
<br />bjorkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969287439402649586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339673798768973994.post-59566280164277941172012-11-01T12:19:00.001-07:002012-11-01T12:19:02.400-07:00Informational Essays by Our Advanced ESL Students<strong> Kentaro Harasaki - 1st Place</strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Japanese<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How did your language form? As you
know, there are many languages in the world, and they have different beginnings
from each other. They have their own ways of usage, and sometimes they are very
unique. Japanese is one of the most unique languages in the world in the form
of written communication. It has three different systems of writing: Kanji,
Hiragana, and Katakana.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kanji was brought into Japan from
China long ago. A long time ago, the Chinese used Kanji as the way to show the
shapes of things around them such as body parts, animals, and plants.
Therefore, it is possible for us to recognize what it means by looking at the
shapes of them. For example, “</span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">口</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">”
means “mouth” and “</span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">森</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">”
means “forest”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the Kanjigraphy
website in their article the “Origin of Kanji”, they report that a Chinese
historiographer named Ts'ang discovered how to represent things in writing with
a symbol called Kanji about 5000 years ago. He got a clue by a footmark of a
bird on the ground covered with snow (2005). In addition, the Japanese also used
a Kanji character to show different meanings. For instance, “</span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">空</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">” means “sky” and also “empty”.
In fact, this later function makes it difficult to learn how to read and write
Japanese. People use Kanji in the same way today as they did years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hiragana is the Japanese letters
which were made by Japanese in the 9<sup>th</sup> century, and it is very
essential for understanding Japanese. In the olden days, the Japanese tended to
write as fast as possible so that they could write a lot of documents in a
short time. As a result, its shape was broken down, and Hiragana was formed: </span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">安→あ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">. It was mainly used on
a personal level like a diary, which was more common among women than men.
According to Simon Ager (2011) in his article “Japanese Hiragana” from Omniglot
website, he says that the original name of Hiragana was “Onnade” or “women’s
hand”, and it was mostly used by women until the 10<sup>th</sup>. Now, its important
function is to be a connection between words and also within words. The
highlights in the following sentence shows how Hiragana connects words: </span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">私<span style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); mso-pattern: gray-15 auto; mso-shading: white;">は</span>音楽<span style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); mso-pattern: gray-15 auto; mso-shading: white;">が</span>好き<span style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); mso-pattern: gray-15 auto; mso-shading: white;">です</span>。</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">When
Hiragana helps to make words, it looks like this: </span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">愛<span style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); mso-pattern: gray-15 auto; mso-shading: white;">する</span>。</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hiragana can be
connected because it has no meaning unless you use it in a proper way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Katakana is another type of letter which
was made by the Japanese, and it is very useful. In the olden days, the
Japanese used to use Katakana to help them understand documents from China, and
it was also easy to write. Katakana was made from a part of Kanji. Today, it is
used to represent words from other countries. For example, “America” is “</span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">アメリカ</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">”</span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">and “food” is “</span><span lang="JA" style="font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">フード</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the Nihongo o Narau website in
their article “Katakana Writing”, they explain “Non-Japanese names are written
in <i>katakana</i>. Sometimes it is also used as a replacement for
‘difficult’ kanji or for emphasis. Animal and fruit names are often written
in <i>katakana</i> for these reasons” (2006).<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The Japanese use these three different types of
writing systems, which have their own origins and functions. Kanji was introduced
into Japan from China and it shows different meanings. Hiragana was made from
Kanji and it works as a connection. Katakana was made from a part of Kanji, and
it is used to show foreign words in Japanese. Therefore, written Japanese is
one of the most interesting and amazing languages in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 42pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">References<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Ager,
S. (2011, February 30). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Japanese Hiragana</i>.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Retrieved<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 42pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">September 27, 2012, from Omniglot website:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 42pt;">
<a href="http://www.omniglot.com/writing/japanese_hiragana.htm"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.omniglot.com/writing/japanese_hiragana.htm</span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<u><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Katakana Writing</span></i></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;">. (2006, September
9). Retrieved<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 42pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><u>September 27, 2012, from Nihongo o Narau website:<o:p></o:p></u></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 42pt;">
<a href="http://www.learn-japanese.info/writing/kwriting_rules.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.learn-japanese.info/writing/kwriting_rules.html</span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<u><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Origin of Kanji</span></i></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;">. (2005, November).
Retrieved<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 42pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><u>September 27, 2012, from Kanjigraphy.com website:<o:p></o:p></u></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 42pt;">
<a href="http://www.kanjigraphy.com/mainpages/info/history.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: blue;"></span></span></a><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.kanjigraphy.com/mainpages/info/history.html">http://www.kanjigraphy.com/mainpages/info/history.html</a></span><a href="http://www.kanjigraphy.com/mainpages/info/history.html"></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><strong></strong></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 42pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 42pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><strong>Dickson Paz - 2nd Place</strong></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="paragraph" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="textrun">Venezuelan Sports</span><span class="eop"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textrun"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Most
of the people in Venezuela like to have a sports life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Venezuela, most of the people like to play
sports because this is the best way to have a healthy life. However, a
Venezuelan baseball player needs to start to play at a very young age to get
new abilities sooner. Soccer in Venezuela is one the most played sports because
it is the oldest sport in Venezuela. Nowadays, some Venezuelans do not like to
play basketball because basketball in Venezuela only has a short tournament
each year, and athletes like to play all year. Venezuela has different kinds of
sports to play such as baseball, soccer, and basketball.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textrun"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The
most important sport in Venezuela is baseball because it is one of the oldest
and most popular sports in the country. Venezuela is like a factory for making
good baseball players because they begin to play very young, and that is the
reason that a Venezuelan baseball player gets abilities to play very well.
Venezuela has the most important little league baseball corporation, where
children play from three years old to eighteen years old. After this period,
some baseball players are chosen to play on a professional baseball team. The
Venezuelan Baseball Professional League is constituted by eight teams, and this
league has one of the most popular teams in the Caribbean, which is Leones del
Caracas. Venezuela has won seven Series del Caribe, and Leones del Caracas has
won three of them. This league has a high level of baseball teams, so Venezuela
has a lot of professional players playing in the major league such as Miguel
Cabrera, Carlos Gonzalez, and Felix Hernandez. Venezuelans also have a hall of
fame player, which is Luis Aparicio. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In the article “Sports
and Baseball,” the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela says that in
seventy-two years, 270 professional players from Venezuela have been playing
for many major league teams. In 2006 and 2008, eighteen Venezuelan baseball players
were called from the minor leagues to play at the highest level, and this is a
new record established by Venezuelan players.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textrun"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Soccer
is the oldest sport in Venezuela, and it is one of the most popular because it
has been played for over 100 years. A soccer player in Venezuela begins to
practice very young with a professional team, so each team has a lot of players
that can play at a high level. Venezuela has a professional soccer league, and
it is constituted by two divisions: Division I and Division II. Venezuela has
one of the most popular soccer teams in South America, which is the Caracas FC,
and this team has won eleven titles in Venezuela. Venezuela has a professional
team that represents Venezuela in international tournaments, and this team is
called La Vinotinto. When La Vinotinto plays, the fans fill the whole stadium
for support, and they scream at the top of their lungs.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">According
to Bell (2004) in the article “Soccer Report; Venezuela Showing Progress” from
The New York Times, Venezuela is the only country that has never participated
in the FIFA World Cup. Venezuela has a horrible record, 7-51-7, in qualifying
matches since 1965.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textrun"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Basketball
in Venezuela has been becoming popular through the years. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In
the article “Basketball Becomes Infectious in Venezuela,” National Public Radio
says that a few years ago, basketball became a domestic craze, one of the
reasons it is becoming popular is because of Greivis Vasquez. Greivis Vasquez
starts on offensives as a point-guard, and he plays for the University of
Maryland (2009). <span class="textrun">The Venezuelan Professional Basketball
League is the top competition in this sport. The Venezuelan Professional
Basketball League has a short tournament where the best team of ten teams is
the champion. The Basketball Professional League has one of the most popular
basketball teams in the Caribbean, which is the<b> </b>Marinos de Anzoátegui,
and they have nine titles in this professional league. Venezuela has a
professional basketball team with a high level of skill, and they play in a division
that is called FIBA. The Venezuelan professional basketball team has never won
an international tournament, so they are creating a corporation to promote
parents bringing in their children at early ages to learn new basketball
abilities so that the Venezuelan Professional League will be more popular.</span><span class="eop"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="paragraph" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="textrun">Venezuela
has different kinds of sports to play such as baseball, soccer, and basketball.
Venezuela has the most important little league baseball corporation where
children can begin to play to get new abilities faster so they can be a
professional player in the future. Venezuela has a professional soccer team
that is called La Vinotinto, and this team has been the motivation for everyone
in Venezuela; the fans fill the whole stadium for support, and they scream at
the top of their lungs. The Venezuelan professional basketball team has never
won an international tournament, so they are creating a corporation to try to
improve their talent. Venezuelans need to continue working hard on these sports
like they have been doing so that they can get to an elite level, and in this
way, they can start to win a lot of tournaments around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="paragraph" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 1em 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<o:p> </o:p>References<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Basketball becomes infectious in
Venezuela. (November 11, 2009). Retrieved<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">September 09, 2012,
from National Public Radio website:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120305038"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120305038</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Bell, J (April 13, 2004). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Soccer report; Venezuela showing progress.</i>
Retrieved<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">September 27, 2012,
from The New York Times website:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/13/sports/soccer-report-venezuela-showing-%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20progress.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/13/sports/soccer-report-venezuela-showing-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>progress.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm</span></a><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sports and Baseball</i>.
Retrieved from<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://venezuela-us.org/deportes/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">http://venezuela-us.org/deportes/</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<strong>Diego Castaneda - 3rd Place</strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Game
Consoles<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our ancestors played with stones, we play with
videogames, with what are our children going to play? Nowadays videogames are
very common in our homes and are a very easy way to be entertained. Electronic
games are one of the most popular ways of entertainment (Arriaga, Esteves,
& Gaspar, 2004). Every console has a different area were they are
specialized for. There are three major game consoles in the market that are frequently
played: PlayStation 3, Xbox, and Wii.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h1 style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0.67em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The PlayStation 3 is a very nice
console developed by Sony. It is probably the most common console because of
the PlayStation Network. The PlayStation Network allows you to play online with
players all over the world and it is free. You can also download games directly
to your PlayStation 3 using the PlayStation network. According to PlayStation 3
official website, the PlayStation 3 is the only console in which you can
reproduce Blue-Ray movies (2012).This makes the PlayStation 3 have good quality
graphics, making the player feel like it was real life. The PlayStation 3 has
the biggest amount of games, and also the biggest variety of game types.<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another good console is the Xbox. This console is
developed by Microsoft. It is very famous for having a game that no other
console has; Halo video game. Halo is a very recognized game for its multiplayer
maps and game types. The Xbox Live gives you the opportunity to play online
with other players, but the membership for the Xbox Live is $ 79.99 for one
year. The Xbox also has an application called “Kinect”. This application’s function
is to read your body’s movements without using any type of control on your
body. Xbox’s official website says “There’s just you. And if you ask us, that’s
all you need”(2012). Xbox is the first console to have this type of technology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The
Wii is a console developed by Nintendo, and this console is popular because of
its classic games. The Wii is a console in which you will not always use a common
control, and the Wii is more focused on using your body to play such as your
arms and legs. This works by grabbing a control and moving the arm in the
direction you are asked or with platforms in which you stand up and balance your
body. The Wii was one of the first videogames in history to bring us great
classics to play such as Mario and Donkey Kong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">All
three of these consoles accomplish their purpose to entertain people. We now
know that there is a console for every one of us. These consoles can call our
attention by their variety of games, multiplayer platforms and great classics. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot tell which one is the best because
each one has a unique feature. At least we know that there is not a specific
age for play video games, so we all can enjoy playing them.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">References<u>
</u></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="ES-GT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: ES-GT;">Arriaga, A. & Esteves, F. &Gaspar, A<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i> (2004). </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Playing with Violence. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Business, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 35.25pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Technological, and Dimension of
Computer: Multidisciplinary Developments</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> (Chapter 17). Retrieve
from http://uiu-sun.uiu.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=8&ti=1,8&Search_Arg=video%20games&Search_Code=GKEY^*&SL=None&CNT=10&PID=RvxWXMbiumsI3Kc5pfWaXsb&SEQ=20121009213359&SID=1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Xbox
360 + Kinect</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">.(2012). Retrieved September 17, 2012,
from <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Xbox
official website: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox360?xr=shellnav<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Long
Live Play</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">.(2012). Retrieved September 17, 2012, form<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">PlayStation
official site website: http://us.playstation.com/ps3/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
bjorkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969287439402649586noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339673798768973994.post-75889547011467211292012-10-03T12:29:00.000-07:002012-10-04T12:22:55.442-07:00Descriptive Essays by Our Advanced ESL Students: Who is a good language learner?<strong>Wu, Yuzhang</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 12.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Language
is </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">one of </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">the most important community
tool</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">s</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> today. </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Language
can help you communicate with everyone all around the world</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">. </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">A good language learner is someone who</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">cho</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">oses</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> different way</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">s</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> to learn </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">that encourages
them to grow</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">in communication</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Therefore,
a good language learner is someone who learns about</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"> the culture within the language to understand communication more deeply,
listens carefully to everything a native speaker says in order to improve
pronunciation, and takes every opportunity to speak in public to learn by error.</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 12.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">In order to learn how to communicate effectively, a good language leaner
takes interest in the culture of the language to understand the language at a
deeper level. A good language learner always goes to the library to find
history books. The history books have a lot of information about language
culture. From researching a lot of history books, the good language learner
knows part of the language culture and some background information about it. Therefore,
he can communicate more accurately because he knows what is behind the
language. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 12.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Every good language learner tries to master pronunciation so that others
can understand him. One way a good language learner does this is by doing to
the country of the language because he can then know the true pronunciation of
the language. Through</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> the daily talking</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">with local people, </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">he </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">can easily review what he learns. Also, </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">he</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> can record what </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">his friends have</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> said and spend time
imitating their talking habits and pronunciation. This will help improve his </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">pronunciation </span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">much more quickly</span><span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 12.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Learners have to learn the value of speech in public, which takes trial by
error. Sometimes errors cannot be caught in everyday conversation, so speaking
in public is a good place to study. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
can hear himself out loud and find his mistakes. Some language learners are
experts at expressing their thoughts, yet they worry about making so many
errors, so they do not speak their mind. A good language learner goes for it! The
good language learner has courage to speak publicly and looks for speech errors
to correct for next time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 12.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">The good language learner needs to learn about the culture within the
language to help him communicate more deeply. The learner should listen
carefully and try to imitate what native speakers say so that other can begin
to understand him more easily. In order to speak well, the good language learner
needs to take every opportunity to learn by error via public speaking. When the
good language learner begins to get a better meaning out of the language, he
can become a better communicator in the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 12.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Dotum","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"></span> </div>
<strong>Kim, Dongkyu</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">How
many people can say they work hard at learning and enjoy it? A lot of people
around the world are learning different languages. There are roughly 6500
languages spoken in the world today. Good language learners use their own way
of studying when they are learning a new language. A good language learner is
someone who researches language, enjoys learning language, and try to learn it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">A
good language learner is someone who researches language. One good language
learner that researches language is a man by the name of Vos.F. He started
Korean studies at the University of the Netherlands. He is western Europe’s
first professor of Korean. He taught the Korean language and Korean culture
through the Korean studies department. His students and many Europeans have a
lot of interest in Korea as a result his teaching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">A
good language learner is someone who enjoys learning language. My Grandmother
wanted to learn Korea. She couldn’t learn Korean when she way younger because,
at that time, she was poor. Eventually, my grandmother went on study at Soul
Academy. She was glad to learn Korean even though she was much order. She said,
“I’m so glad to learn Korean. It is a really enjoyable experience learning
language.” Her Korean language skills have increased a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">A
good language learner is someone who is trying to learn. ESL international
students try to learn English in class. It is the default posture of learning
the language in another country. They have learned the important things of
language through their teachers and with great effort. Good language learners
try to have a sense of responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The
best language learner keep on open mind for language. It takes a lot of effort
and sense of responsibility to be a good language learner. Anyone can have a
strong desire to learn a language. </span><br />
<br />
<div align="left">
</div>
<strong>Wang, Donghua</strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Who is a good language
learner?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can they become fluent more
quickly than the other language learners? A good language learner is always
good at finding and observing how to correct himself in the language he is
learning. A good language learner always can discover a correct way to study
the language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">As a good language learner, when
you study a language, you know yourself and your own personality; as a result,
you know your preferred learning style. Not everyone has the same preferred
learning style because we all operate differently and that is why we need a personalized
plan to study the language for ourselves. For example, a good language might
know he is an intense individual. Therefore, he recognizes that his personality
has a tendency to always pursue something. This good language learner knows
that because of this, his learning style requires a lot of goals. For <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;">instance</span></a>,
he might ask himself to speak with ten people in ten different situations in
two days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">A good language learner always can
use everything around them to help themselves learn the language. Actually, we have
a lot of things around us to help us learn the language such as the language
within sports, music, and movie For example, when the good language leaner is playing
basketball he actually has to communicate with his teammates, and therefore, he
has to use sentences and words in his target language. The good language
learner can also challenge his language learning through watching movies and
listening to music. The conversations and lyrics provide real life
opportunities for listening comprehension. Especially, with movies he can also
learn how to communicate with others. If the good language repeatedly takes
these opportunities, he will be able to commit his learning his learning to
memory at any time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The good language learner is not
afraid of making mistakes and not afraid of what they do not know. Furthermore,
he always remembers every mistake no matter if he is speaking, writing, or reading.
He actually not only remembers the mistake, but also knows how to correct it
and use it correctly to avoid making it again the next time. In fact, a good
language leaner desires these drawbacks in order to have an opportunity to
correct them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
good language learner should know himself and his own personality, as result;
he knows his preferred learning style. At the same time, the good language
learner is not only good at using a lot of things around him to help himself
learn the language but also is not afraid making mistake and not afraid of what
they don’t know. In the end, the good language learners always know how to
discover what is he actually need, and then control it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
</div>
bjorkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969287439402649586noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339673798768973994.post-1117329524953324962012-09-13T11:37:00.002-07:002012-09-13T11:51:03.115-07:00First Fall Field Trips<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Though it is only mid-September and still early in the fall
semester, ESL students have already enjoyed some unique and exciting events as
part of their studies at Upper Iowa University! As the new ESL Program
Coordinator, I have had the privilege of regularly planning and organizing field
trips for the students as an opportunity for them to personally experience the
richness of American culture. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So far this semester, our group of 30 ESL students has gone
on two cultural field trips and acquired an initial taste of what Iowa has to
offer beyond the city limits of Fayette. Our first trip occurred during the
second week of classes on August 29<sup>th</sup>. One of our ESL instructors
and his family invited all the ESL students to his farm in Elgin, Iowa, for a
welcome gathering that day. The students enjoyed a sunny afternoon of yard
games, a scavenger hunt, a home-cooked dinner, and a chance to become more
familiar with ESL staff, fellow students, and the beautiful landscape of
northeast Iowa. We all were grateful for the hospitality shown to us and the
opportunity to get a first-hand look at the uniqueness of rural living.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our field trip continued into the evening with a stop at a
local corn maze. The students divided into small groups and, with the help of a
map, weaved their way through the paths in the corn rows. The director gave
students a sheet of questions with answers hidden in the maze that they had to
search for in order to complete it. Once completed, everyone ended the field
trip by gathering around a bonfire to make their own s’mores – a delicious
American treat of graham crackers, chocolate, and fire-toasted marshmallows. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yard Games at ESL Instructor's farm</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Less than two weeks later on September 8<sup>th</sup>, ESL
students got to experience a new side of American culture during a field trip
to the Carriage Classic at the Villa Louis Historic Site in Prairie du Chien,
Wisconsin, and Pikes Peak State Park in rural McGregor, Iowa. The Carriage
Classic is a driving competition of different classes of horse-drawn carriages
reminiscent of the late 19<sup>th</sup> century. Competitors also dressed in
clothing and attire from this period in American history. After leisurely watching
the competition, students took group tours of the Villa Louis mansion. This
elaborately restored home is located on a private estate once owned by a family
who bred and raced horses in the late 19<sup>th</sup> century. The Carriage
Classic celebrates the nature and charm of this estate in its glory days. The
ESL students were intrigued by the history this event and site commemorates. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picnic at Pikes Peak State Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ESL students at the Carriage Classic</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After touring the Villa Louis, the group crossed back over
the Mississippi River to Pikes Peak State Park for a picnic dinner and to
explore nature. After the meal, many of them hiked the park’s main trail to
view a waterfall hidden amongst the forest and rocky cliffs. Without question,
the highlight of the park was the spectacular scenic overlook view of the river
and bluffs of Wisconsin and Iowa that stretched for miles. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvjwTNGCwsRqZAMNc1TPOKGrJPbBHmrxh_2FmRT5wIZKJK73hkO7hbHD3_6ioHqt6uXcpCOrF3TtQP40KKPNyvRe2xe48PyZmGD7HN4PWvhLjLxPiO-XA2WzL1-UuVHB6KqbdWmDhvWWh/s1600/Group+at+Overlook+at+Pikes+Peak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvjwTNGCwsRqZAMNc1TPOKGrJPbBHmrxh_2FmRT5wIZKJK73hkO7hbHD3_6ioHqt6uXcpCOrF3TtQP40KKPNyvRe2xe48PyZmGD7HN4PWvhLjLxPiO-XA2WzL1-UuVHB6KqbdWmDhvWWh/s320/Group+at+Overlook+at+Pikes+Peak.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlook at Pikes Peak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhApDysX2WlfLPm0Dp_qUBSwz3vjUA-JgLsb0rt_KvzLEtOuGv0j9Jr3lrKwMjxvL5DrXhRmCEpfpxENJx_2A1_fuSgx1w2cmEEijCM1_3OXReB7stUO9reEIW2JaJGj2aRtfs6g5xizyu/s1600/Bill+at+Pikes+Peak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhApDysX2WlfLPm0Dp_qUBSwz3vjUA-JgLsb0rt_KvzLEtOuGv0j9Jr3lrKwMjxvL5DrXhRmCEpfpxENJx_2A1_fuSgx1w2cmEEijCM1_3OXReB7stUO9reEIW2JaJGj2aRtfs6g5xizyu/s320/Bill+at+Pikes+Peak.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlook at Pikes Peak</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These two outings are only a mere sampling of all the
exciting events and field trips coming up this semester in ESL. The ESL staff
and I are looking forward to accompanying the students as they continue to
discover many more interesting areas of and aspects about American culture. </span></span></div>
bjorkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969287439402649586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339673798768973994.post-22998564106823584362012-05-24T13:58:00.000-07:002012-05-24T13:58:25.354-07:00International Ambassadors<h3>
International Ambassador Profiles</h3>
Within our ESL Institute, we have International Ambassadors that want to help ESL students adjust to university life both socially and academically. We would like you to have the opportunity to meet some of them. You never know, one of them may become your Ambassador!<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8-VGqmoElFExbFasORakZ4N2xH9iilocploAxA5Y4vnr0eksx_Hi4TYPbPtpmLve7gHkTJkq4pFGKwaFi8h_YPaBpVYfMBnTfGanoZq7LPfssixdVKbxfdaGDs8F_pQSAUZbywRHzR-N/s1600/Kayla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8-VGqmoElFExbFasORakZ4N2xH9iilocploAxA5Y4vnr0eksx_Hi4TYPbPtpmLve7gHkTJkq4pFGKwaFi8h_YPaBpVYfMBnTfGanoZq7LPfssixdVKbxfdaGDs8F_pQSAUZbywRHzR-N/s320/Kayla.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Name:</b> Kayla Ludwigson</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hometown: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Alma, Wisconsin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year at UIU:</b> Senior</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Major:</b> Double major in psychology and human services with a minor in sociology</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goal in Life: </b>To be truly happy </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite Memory in ESL (perhaps while on a field trip, or during mentoring, etc.): </b>After three years of working in ESL, it is difficult to pick just one favorite memory. However, one that is definitely at the top of the list would have to be from my birthday when some of the ESL students got me birthday cookies and had handmade me a big birthday poster. It was so sweet of them to do that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite Food: </b>Stromboli (actually, anything Italian!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite Past-Time: </b>Reading, baking, and watching scary movies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Number one country you would like to visit and why: </b>I would love to visit Norway most of all because that is where most of my ancestors were from. However, going anywhere in South or Central America would be amazing as well!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Your best advice to an International Student learning English: </b>Make sure to take advantage of as many opportunities as you can! Even if it seems uncomfortable at the time, it will make learning English (and making friends) that much easier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite Quote: </b>To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your own path, and don’t worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Best thing about working as an International Ambassador at UIU: </b>The best thing about working as an International Ambassador, for me, is getting to see the growth the students experience, both personally and linguistically, throughout the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Name:</strong> Joshua Beebe</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Hometown:</strong> Independence, Iowa</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Year at UIU:</strong> Will be a Senior in the Fall. Graduating in December </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Major:</strong> Business Management </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Goal in Life:</strong> Show God’s glory by doing my best at everything I do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Favorite Memory in ESL (perhaps while on a field trip, or during mentoring, etc.):</strong> Going on field trips with the students.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Favorite Food:</strong> Italian Food </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Favorite Past-Time:</strong> Spending time with friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Number one country you would like to visit and why:</strong> I will be going to Tanzania this Summer for a mission trip. I would like to visit South Korea someday to learn about their culture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Your best advice to an International Student learning English:</strong> Don’t be afraid to make friends with native English speakers. You will learn so much about the American culture and it will help you improve your conversation skills. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Favorite Quote:</strong> <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande";">"I thank God I was warring on the gridirons of the Midwest and not on the battlefields of Europe. I can speak confidently and positively that the players of this country would much more, much rather, struggle and fight to win the Heisman award than the Croix de Guerre." -Nile Kinnick (University of Iowa’s only Heisman Trophy winner)</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Best thing about working as an International Ambassador at UIU:</strong> The best thing about being an International Ambassador at UIU is learning about the students’ cultures while helping them learn a skill that they will be able to use for the rest of their lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Name:</strong> Nikki Boggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Hometown:</strong> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>De Soto, Wisconsin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Year at UIU:</strong> Senior</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Major:</strong> Art</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Goal in Life:</strong> To see the world and live happily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Favorite Memory in ESL (perhaps while on a field trip, or during mentoring, etc.):</strong> Having girl nights with my group members and playing Apples to Apples in the ESL Zone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Favorite Food:</strong> Pepperoni and cheese calzones</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Favorite Past-Time:</strong> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creating art.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Number one country you would like to visit and why:</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Europe because I would like to trace my ancestral roots and see all of the historical architecture and museums.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Your best advice to an International Student learning English:</strong> Do not be afraid to make mistakes, especially when you are talking with your instructors or ambassadors. We’re here to help you, we want you to succeed, and we love speaking with you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Favorite Quote:</strong> “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Best thing about working as an International Ambassador at UIU:</strong> Building relationships and learning about other cultures.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Name: </b>Kris Whitsell</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hometown:</b> Grundy Center, Iowa</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year at UIU:</b> Senior</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Major:</b> English, Communications minor</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goal in Life:</b> To love my chosen career, become a wife and mom, and live for a purpose beyond myself</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite Memory in ESL (perhaps while on a field trip, or during mentoring, etc.):</b> Getting to see the students’ first live experience with American hockey at the Waterloo Blackhawks game</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite Food:</b> Spaghetti</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite Past-Time:</b> Discovering new places on weekend mini-road trips</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Number one country you would like to visit and why:</b> Anywhere in Western Europe to take in all the sights and scenery and because so many people who’ve been there have told me, “You just have to see it for yourself!”</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Your best advice to an International Student learning English:</b> Practice your English skills whenever you can, even when communicating with fellow native language speakers; Make it a goal to “think in English” as well – this will help grasping concepts you already know (but now expressed in a foreign language) go much smoother</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Favorite Quote:</b> "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -Jim Elliot</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Best thing about working as an International Ambassador at UIU:</b> Seeing the students excited to learn and apply English and having the drive to excel in their language mastery; Seeing their faces light up when something “clicks” in their mind is so encouraging, too</div>
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</span>bjorkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969287439402649586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339673798768973994.post-30787070465759749802012-05-24T13:38:00.000-07:002012-05-24T13:38:53.522-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>First ESL Student to Earn a Bachelor's Degree</strong></div>
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Ms. Selena Davant from France is our first ESL student to earn a bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University. She has made history! Davant came to our ESL Institute in Fall 2009 (August), graduated from the ESL Institute in December 2009, became an undergraduate student in Spring 2010 (January), and graduated this May 2012 with honors and a major in communication. We are very proud of her accomplishments while she was here at UIU! Davant was very involved in a Greek club and student government. Davant will now pursue a master's degree in fine arts here in the United States. We wish her the very best!<br />
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You may have noticed that Davant graduated from the ESL Institute in one semester (16 weeks), and finished her bachelor's degree in two and a half academic years. Every ESL student's journey at Upper Iowa is a little different. Davant came to us with a higher English proficiency level, so she only needed one semester of ESL. Then, because she had obtained some post-secondary credit in France, she was able to finish her degree a little faster.<br />
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Every ESL student's English proficiency is assessed upon arrival; accordingly, each student is placed in the appropriate ESL courses. ESL students typically need one academic year (two 16 week semesters) to complete the ESL program before starting undergraduate studies. After successful completion of the ESL program, ESL students can become undergraduate students without taking the TOEFL exam. As an undergraduate student at Upper Iowa, you can earn your bachelor's degree within three years if you work quickly, but most earn their degree within four years. Then again, if you have earned post-secondary credits prior to enrolling in the ESL Institute, you never know, you may end up finishing even faster like Davant.<br />
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If you would like to find academic success at Upper Iowa like Ms. Selena Davant, please contact Dr. Madalina Tincu, Coordinator for International Enrollment, at <a href="mailto:tincum@uiu.edu">tincum@uiu.edu</a> to learn how to apply to Upper Iowa. <br />
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bjorkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969287439402649586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339673798768973994.post-29350717874250141262012-04-04T14:04:00.000-07:002012-04-04T14:04:31.613-07:00Chicago!<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmGu-Wv3oMIfAwbvQYeaZfxrkVdcIiYgyRx2-Emq68YBvLOIuP4pjvnYAkRvMigQwssRgiPF0xUtq4tcKQwLEl8RBdXZgsKTmqgnMumNtakJX2gO4baMLt5O3PlYhLBJzmYAlZ8qnF_r-/s1600/IMG_2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmGu-Wv3oMIfAwbvQYeaZfxrkVdcIiYgyRx2-Emq68YBvLOIuP4pjvnYAkRvMigQwssRgiPF0xUtq4tcKQwLEl8RBdXZgsKTmqgnMumNtakJX2gO4baMLt5O3PlYhLBJzmYAlZ8qnF_r-/s640/IMG_2015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tGZWsYdI9s5BDSPBk82oP7HQBfF9fC6E4R-O0VgDW5heGn06HcPBVGhN6QRS_j4D_CmhmSUKYZvJdvRK7qLtqT-JeCOOMcr16V53xekF0MWGB73sZHKwbhP_BMDdi-duMBCKkVDTOYZ2/s1600/IMG_1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tGZWsYdI9s5BDSPBk82oP7HQBfF9fC6E4R-O0VgDW5heGn06HcPBVGhN6QRS_j4D_CmhmSUKYZvJdvRK7qLtqT-JeCOOMcr16V53xekF0MWGB73sZHKwbhP_BMDdi-duMBCKkVDTOYZ2/s400/IMG_1915.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">This last December ESL students had the privilege of visiting one of America’s most famous cities: Chicago!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It was a dark and brisk Saturday morning on December 10<sup>th</sup>, 2011, when 34 ESL students crawled out of bed to brave the adventure that awaited them. Oh, and did I mention it was 4:00 in the morning? <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> <span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="Description: C:\Users\boyumm\Pictures\IMG_1819.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1032" style="height: 122.25pt; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-top: 87.75pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 183.35pt; z-index: -251657216;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="IMG_1819" src="file:///C:\Users\bjorks\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="through"></wrap></shape><shape alt="Description: C:\Users\boyumm\Pictures\IMG_1874.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_13" o:spid="_x0000_s1031" style="height: 196.5pt; margin-left: 332.25pt; margin-top: 197.7pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 131pt; z-index: -251649024;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="IMG_1874" src="file:///C:\Users\bjorks\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="through"></wrap></shape>I believe students, as well as trip leaders, were trying to calm the butterflies in our stomachs as we boarded the busses, checked off lists, and made sure everything (and everybody) was accounted for. With just a couple forgotten items that needed retrieving and a few minutes to spare, we were able to take off on our merry way. It wasn’t too long before the day started heralding it’s coming as the sky turned from black to lighter shades of grey, and then pink. It was going to be a beautiful day. Just as we had hoped!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the scenery changed from flat farmland to rolling hills, the students began to awaken and partake in a small breakfast of cereal bars, juice, and fruit. As peaceful as this mental image may appear, the moments never grew dull as the petitions for temperature change could not be settled. “It’s too cold in here! Turn the heat up!” “Hey, could you please turn the heat down? …turn on the AC!” Maybe someday we will get it right.<span style="background: black; border-bottom: black 1pt; border-left: black 1pt; border-right: black 1pt; border-top: black 1pt; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 0pt; layout-grid-mode: line; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-language: X-NONE; mso-border-alt: none black 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: X-NONE; mso-font-width: 0%; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After what seemed about half a lifetime on the road, Chicago’s skyline eventually started to take shape. It could be said that the rise of the student’s excitement grew in proportion to Chicago’s disclosure on the horizon! Shouts of joy and noise of gladness could probably be heard coming from each vehicle in the UIU caravan. Not only were the joyous noises increasing, but the traffic too! Soon one realized that he was in a crash course for Chicago driving! Let’s just say the keyword here is “Aggressive”. (Oh, and the word “crash” had nothing to do with vehicles, only lesson learning)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Once the students had packed away their things at the hotel, they were ready for their first day of Chicago. Half the students went to tour the Art Institute while the other half went to stroll around and enjoy the Field Museum of Natural History. Students came back talking of fine art they had seen as well as SUE, the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton ever discovered. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><shape alt="Description: C:\Users\boyumm\Pictures\IMG_1915.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_6" o:spid="_x0000_s1030" style="height: 246.75pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0.25pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 164.5pt; z-index: -251656192;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="IMG_1915" src="file:///C:\Users\bjorks\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="through"></wrap></shape>The next thing on the agenda was Chicago’s Shed aquarium! Here students got to see fish from all over the world, placed in environments that reflected their original homes. Neon colored jellyfish could also be seen as well as the fish’s, shark’s, and stingray’s lunch time - fed right out of the hand of a scuba diver. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><shape alt="Description: C:\Users\boyumm\Pictures\IMG_2046.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_8" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 148pt; margin-left: -172.5pt; margin-top: 275.25pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 222pt; z-index: -251654144;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="IMG_2046" src="file:///C:\Users\bjorks\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="through"></wrap></shape><shape alt="Description: C:\Users\boyumm\Pictures\IMG_1942.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_7" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 127pt; margin-left: 104.25pt; margin-top: 129pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 190.5pt; z-index: -251655168;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="IMG_1942" src="file:///C:\Users\bjorks\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="through"></wrap></shape>After the aquarium, students trekked up through Millennium Park viewing the giant, artsy, outdoor, theatre, as well as the “big silver bean,” or more sophistically entitled, “Cloud Gate”. Beautiful Christmas lighting could now be seen as the night progressed and even a collage of graceful ice skaters could be glimpsed weaving their way in and out of each other on the Ice Rink nearby. Though this night could have ended here, the John Hancock Observatory was still yet to go on the schedule. Going north on the famous “Magnificent Mile” students arrived to the Hancock Center and traveled 100 stories up to the top! While there, students were able to dine in at a café and enjoy the breathtaking landscape and audio tour of Chicago. After the descent back down to the street, the group headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest…especially for the feet! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Day two dawned just as brightly as the first and even greeted us with some warmer weather. Students were able to partake in a delicious continental breakfast as the group leaders bustled about for the day’s preparations. Once everyone was accounted for, the group headed off to Chinatown!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">In China town, students were given a brief historical overview of the place by one of the ESL instructors and then set free to explore the area. As students returned from their explorations, it was noted that many of the Asian students were able to buy things they had not yet been able to obtain since leaving their homes in Asia. It was fun to witness this as they were able to eagerly share and discuss a bit of their country with the rest of the students, and leaders too! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><shape alt="Description: C:\Users\boyumm\Pictures\IMG_2203.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_11" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 118pt; margin-left: 304.25pt; margin-top: 57pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; rotation: 748154fd; visibility: visible; width: 177pt; z-index: -251651072;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="IMG_2203" src="file:///C:\Users\bjorks\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image006.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="through"></wrap></shape>After the Chinatown excursion, one last destination loomed on the horizon: the Museum of Science and Industry. Students spent the remainder of the last day exploring the endless displays that filled each room. Walking through the museum, one could experiment with tornadoes, avalanches, fire, lightning, chemical balancing, and much, much more. One special tour gave the students a chance to see the ominous U-505 submarine that was captured in the Second World War. A state of the art walk through tour gave everyone a new respect for submarine crew members! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><shape alt="Description: C:\Users\boyumm\Pictures\IMG_2034.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_10" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 146pt; margin-left: 258pt; margin-top: 14.2pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 219pt; z-index: -251652096;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="IMG_2034" src="file:///C:\Users\bjorks\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="through"></wrap></shape>After two fun-filled days in Chicago, the trip was nearing its end, or was it? No way! As every Chicagoan could tell you, a trip to Chicago is not complete without trying Chicago style Deep Dish Pizza! Before heading out of town, everybody indulged in Lou Malnati’s famous Chicago style pizza. Cheese, Sausage and Pepperoni pizza was had by all until all could eat no more. Now the trip could end on the right note: a full stomach! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd0Zb3gYE8yOXNUZvRltV8oy8pdRJjRXhp4Z-I0uQQj6FLSdx6zfB_H3Oqxai_0BF68hBt89QsQE7xMDUXz2WZJtvXLNxq4_UapZdpJAAfi20Cc4EuQn-rKMKb5NsPytKT88QjKbiE09Y/s1600/IMG_1942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd0Zb3gYE8yOXNUZvRltV8oy8pdRJjRXhp4Z-I0uQQj6FLSdx6zfB_H3Oqxai_0BF68hBt89QsQE7xMDUXz2WZJtvXLNxq4_UapZdpJAAfi20Cc4EuQn-rKMKb5NsPytKT88QjKbiE09Y/s320/IMG_1942.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div></span>bjorkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969287439402649586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339673798768973994.post-18677083196276485932011-12-27T12:52:00.000-08:002011-12-27T13:21:01.803-08:00Fall Adventures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cJRUSyiD-Y0/Tvo1YKk4iqI/AAAAAAAAAEI/x_6cbVOJEJs/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cJRUSyiD-Y0/Tvo1YKk4iqI/AAAAAAAAAEI/x_6cbVOJEJs/s400/059.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtp28L4_uwg/TvoxbqwYMII/AAAAAAAAACg/kDNVytS7dwE/s1600/IMG_0208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 199px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 232px;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vtp28L4_uwg/TvoxbqwYMII/AAAAAAAAACg/kDNVytS7dwE/s200/IMG_0208.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--aijBkNaI3U/Tvoxgo2iC-I/AAAAAAAAACo/zZeWgpxxibk/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--aijBkNaI3U/Tvoxgo2iC-I/AAAAAAAAACo/zZeWgpxxibk/s200/IMG_0218.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you ever asked yourself why someone with a stove and microwave would ever want to brave the cold of autumn to cook their food outside… even over an open fire? How about tractors and trucks pulling wagons loaded with, not hay, but people! What of the act of picking an item from the household garden and giving it two eyes, a nose, and a mouth and involving it in the home decor? These questions are of common seasonal activities in America; however, for those crossing over from other cultures, these activities may be far from normal.</span><br />
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<div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As coordinator of the field trips, I have gotten to enjoy some pretty awesome activities with a wonderful bunch of ESL students this past fall. This fall we were privileged with 36 students to take around and to help discover what the world of American Culture looks like up close and personal. </span></div><div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our itinerary for the year started off with an afternoon visit to an ESL instructor’s home near Elgin, IA. Here, students enjoyed a sunny and pleasant afternoon playing yard games, eating home-cooked food, and just having a great time of fellowship; meeting and getting acquainted with the families, instructors, and staff of ESL. </span></div><div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On September 10<sup>th</sup>, ESL travelled to the Carriage Classic at the Villa Louis Historic Site in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. Here, there was a wide array of horse drawn carriage competitions as well as guided tours of the 19<sup>th</sup> century Victorian style mansion located on the grounds. Afterwards, a meal was served at Pikes Peak overlooking the Mississippi River and town of Prairie Du Chien. Not only was the meal good, but the view stole the show! One Japanese student said of the place: “I had never seen such a beautiful nature.”</span></div><div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Later on in the month of September, before the weather got too cold, students were taken out to the countryside to enjoy a more traditional/seasonal trip consisting of a hayride, bonfire, and pumpkin carving activity. Many students had only heard of these things and some had only ever seen them on American movies.</span></div><div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In October, students were taken to Elkader, Iowa to visit and learn of the American Civil War from the <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Co. A, 49<sup>th</sup> Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. </span>This trip will probably not soon be forgotten as students got to see and interactively discover what life would have been like during the civil war. Students learned how to load and set off a cannon as well as how to perform a civil war artillery drill and infantry drill. Probably the most captivating activity was learning how to dance the Virginia Reel. This was a country dance popular in the U.S. from about 1830-1890. Students also got to see and hold authentic and reproduced artifacts of the civil war. </span></div><div class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These are just some of the trips I have chosen to expound on that the ESL institute has provided for its students this fall, however, there are many more trips that will be opened up to ESL students in the coming months. Special thanks must be given to those families around Fayette who continually and joyfully give of their time and resources to help show each student all the good and wonderful things that go on in our little corner of Iowa. Because of these families, many ESL students have gotten to ride a horse, milk a cow, make apple cider and ice-cream, try buffalo stew, and much, much more! I think I can say that we are all looking forward to the times ahead of us!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>bjorkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06969287439402649586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8339673798768973994.post-59189276364440591672011-08-02T10:01:00.000-07:002011-08-02T10:45:45.121-07:00Welcome to Upper Iowa University!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcNYT-SO8wMxKzPrCqlOkm4gfSsaUOgfUN05USSc9lXIBZzXMcBCXjyHNc-q-yBhEUG7Ee9qJpvLW8KY2v3m4QN_rdtSLvsn1PnPQbEsnBQ45gC4y-V1Lt6lLTYxljoSsdEuVXDjh8Lns/s1600/Group+Pic+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcNYT-SO8wMxKzPrCqlOkm4gfSsaUOgfUN05USSc9lXIBZzXMcBCXjyHNc-q-yBhEUG7Ee9qJpvLW8KY2v3m4QN_rdtSLvsn1PnPQbEsnBQ45gC4y-V1Lt6lLTYxljoSsdEuVXDjh8Lns/s400/Group+Pic+2.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div>The goal of this blog will be to have posts that inform prospective and current ESL (English as a Second Language) students about Upper Iowa University and what is happening in our ESL Institute. <br />
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To start off, a little history is appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upper Iowa University's ESL Institute began in August 2009 with 14 students, but we are now expecting at least 40 students from a variety of countries for August 2011! This growth is a testimony to the great service our International Programs and university provides, our dedicated instructors, our strong curriculum, and our special programming (e.g. cultural field trips and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ESL Zone</i>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a link to our webpage: <a href="http://uiu.edu/international/esl.html">http://uiu.edu/international/esl.html</a><br />
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Students at both beginner and advanced proficiency levels take 5 courses: grammar, writing, reading, listening/speaking, and American culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students complete the ESL Institute academically equipped to succeed as undergraduates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cultural aspects of the program help students adapt to the demands of living in the United States and going to an American university.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you are looking for a university to study where there are no outside distractions, but plenty of opportunities to practice English, Upper Iowa University is for you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upper Iowa is located in rural scenic Northeast Iowa with many friendly Midwesterners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a very safe and peaceful environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are looking for a study break and some fun, you have plenty opportunities for outdoor and indoor recreation (e.g. canoeing/kayaking, biking, swimming, weight lifting, basketball, and badminton).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, there are many campus events and clubs that students can get involved in, and a mall trip every weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, students can enjoy four seasons – summer, fall, winter, and spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winter is usually an enjoyable new experience for students because there is a lot of snow in comparison to their home countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many build a snowman, make a snow angel, or go skiing for the first time! </div><br />
I can assure you that our new incoming August 2011 ESL students will find themselves pleased with their decision to attend Upper Iowa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I want to give a special warm welcome to them and a special welcome back to all of our returning ESL students!</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sarah Bjork</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Director, ESL Institute</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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