!!! IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT MIDTERM PROJECTS !!!

Students,

It is very important that your Midterm Projects be done and handed in to me no later than Saturday, February 26th. 

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

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

Basic Assignment Due 2/19/11

Today I would like you to discuss your favorite and least favorite restaurant. In a paragraph, write the name of your favorite restaurant? Why do you like it? How often do you go? What do you order?

Then, talk about your least favorite restaurant. Why don't you like it? What happened to make it bad in your eyes?

Holiday Traditions Intermediate Due 2/19/11

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

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

Fears and Phobias Advanced Assignment Due 2/19/11

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

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

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

Ablutophobia
Caligynephobia
Dromophobia
Hylophobia
Mycophobia
Rhytiphobia
Xenophobia

Intermediate Assignment Due Sunday 2/13/11

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

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

Basic Assignment Due Sunday 2/13/11

Today we are going to practice speaking about items we would like to order from different restuarants. 

1) go to http://www.grubhub.com/
2) type in any address and find a restuarant you might like
3) look at their menu
4) write down the things you would like to order
5) we will talk in class about those items/we will roleplay ordering from the menu

Advanced Assignment Due Sunday 2/13/11

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

Product #1
product #1 webpage

Product #2
product #2 webpage

Product #3
product #3 webpage

Product #4
product #4 webpage

Product #5
product #5 webpage

Product #6
product #6 webpage

Product#7
product #7 webpage

Product #8
product #8 webpage

Product #9
product #9 webpage

Product #10
product #10 webpage

Intermediate Assignment Due Saturday 2/12/11

For today's assignment you will each pick a holiday from around the world. I would prefer that each student pick a holiday from a different country.

First, post which holiday and from which country you will pick.

Then, research the holiday. When does it take place? Why does it take place? What is the history of the holiday? How do people celebrate it? Would you celebrate this holiday? Why or why not?

I expect each of you to write at least a paragraph (8-10) sentences IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Please finish your research and paragraph by 12:30 so we can present our findings to each other in class.

Basic Class Assignment Due Saturday 2/12/11

Hello Basic Class :)

Today you will be designing your own restaurant. You must do the following:

1) Choose a name for your restaurant.
2) Choose a location for your restaurant.
3) Choose what kind of food you want in your restaurant (specific)
       a. 3 appetizers
       b. 3 main meals
       c. 3 desserts
       d. 3 types of drinks (alcoholic or not)
       e. the prices for each item
4) What you want your restaurant to look like on the inside

Post all of this information to the blog. You should write it in Microsoft Word first, and then copy it into the blog.

Advanced Assignment Due 2/12/11

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

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

Then, find some superstitions you've never heard before. A cool website to check out is http://www.bored.com/oldsuperstitions/

Find two superstitions that you've never heard before and write about them. Do you think they're crazy? Do you agree with them? Why might someone believe in these superstitions? 

Write as much as you can about superstitions by 10:30. Then we will present our views on superstitions in the class.

The Best Advertisements: Basic Assignment Due 2/6/11

Look through the Internet for advertisements. Find one advertisement that makes you want to buy the product. Then find one advertisement that you don't like. Print out these advertisements.

Write down your reasons why you like and don't like the advertisements.

We will present our findings in front of the class.

Here are some pages to look at to get you started:

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/70-creative-advertisements-that-makes-you-look-twice/

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2008/06/28/24-unforgettable-advertisements/

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Bad+Advertisements&qpvt=Bad+Advertisements&FORM=Z7FD1

American Humanitarians: Intermediate Assignment Due 2/6/11

Humanitarians are people who have made or make important differences in the world. Many of you may know people like Gandhi, or Mother Teresa. For today, we will research American Humanitarians.

Your Task:
1. Choose a partner.
2. Choose a humanitarian (one per pair).
3. Research humanitarian.
4. Create 1 or 2 PowerPoint slides with pictures and text about the humanitarian. When were they born? What have they done to help people.
5. Please put information in bullet form. Do not copy directly from websites.

List of American Humanitarians:
Clara Barton
Bill and Melinda Gates
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Angelina Jolie
Eleanor Roosevelt
Susan B. Anthony
George Clooney
President Jimmy Carter

Simplify Your Life! Advanced Assignment Due Sunday 2/6/11

Henry David Thoreau was a famous American Transcedentalist. Transcendentalism was a movement which encouraged people to move away from society and into nature to live a more simple life.

First, click on this link about simple living from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living

Read some information about it, and then answer the following questions:

1. Why might some people want to simplify their lives?
2. What are specific things people can do to simplify their lives?(ex. disconnect their phones, unplug TVs,etc)
3. What are some benefits of simplifying your life?
4. What would be some drawbacks to simplifying your life?
5. Would you rather live a hectic life in the city, or a simple life in the country? Why?

Please answer all the questions as fully as possible.

Quarter Project Topics & Group Assignments Due Feb 5, 2011

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

Step one:  Form groups. Please post a comment below as to who is in your group by today, February 5th, 2011. If students do not post which students they want to work with, then I will assign students to groups. So, if you will be missing class, I suggest you post to the blog who you'd like to work with.

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

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

Project Living in the United States

Topics:

1. First Steps – General Information

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1.11          Electricity and Electronics (volts, AC, adaptors)

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

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

2. Customs and Values

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

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

2.3 Conversation Topics

2.4 Friendship

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

2.6 Personal Space and Privacy

2.7 Time (being on time, etc)

2.8 Equality

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Country Facts

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

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

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

3.4 Political Map (50 states)

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

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

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

3.8 Religion (freedom of religion)

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