Fashion - The Everyday and the Extreme

Hello friends.

Next week we're talking about fashion, so my writing topic for you today is to write about your thoughts on both everyday and more extreme fashion.

First, search the internet for some photos of fashion that appeals to you, or doesn't appeal to you. Post the photos to your blog and write about them. Choose several examples of both everyday fashion and more extreme fashion.

Then comment on your classmates' blogs.

Enjoy!

You're Invited!

To all Powerful Pre-Advanced students (past and
present):

You're invited!

...to happy hour drinks and tapas at Toratatsu Japanese Tapas Bistro on Denman Street just North of Robson. Follow the link to their website for more information and directions.

We'll meet there at 6:00 pm on Thursday, August 14. Please RSVP by Tuesday (Aug. 12) to let me know if you can come. Send me a text message or email, or leave a comment on the blog.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Memory

Hello friends.

Next week we're discussing memory, and so your writing topic today is to write about your strategies for remembering things. How do you remember dates, appointments, names, and past events?

Share some experiences you have had remembering and forgetting things.

Enjoy.

Do We Speak Different Languages?

Hello friends,

Today's topic is to explain and give examples of the way men and women speak in your languages.

Are there differences in their communication styles? How so?

Does your language make communication differences more or less noticeable than they are in English?

How can men and women work to overcome these differences and understand each other better?

Post your ideas on your blog, and comment on your classmates' writing.

Enjoy.

Your City

Hello friends.

This week we're talking about changes in the modern world, especially in cities. Today's writing topic is to write about your city. Describe your hometown and discuss how it has changed in the past 20, 30, 40 years (as far back as you can go!). Have the changes been positive or negative? What do you think will happen to your city in the future?

How is your city different from Vancouver?

When you're finished, go to your classmates' blogs and read their writing. Leave some comments.

Enjoy.

The Ideal School

Hello friends.

Since we're talking about school and education this week, I thought I'd give you a chance to share your ideas about the way school should be. Here is your writing topic for today: What is your idea of the perfect school? What kind of courses will it offer? What will the building be like? How many students will it have?

Describe your school in detail, then go to your classmates' blogs and read their ideas. Leave some comments!

The links to everyone's blogs should be up very soon.

Enjoy!

About a Movie

Hello friends.

Your writing topic today is to write about a movie you have seen from your country. In your writing, think about these questions:

1) Did you like the film? Why or why not?
2) What does the film say about your country and culture?
3) What do you know about the film industry in your country? Is it successful? Why or why not?
4) Are there are restrictions on what kinds of films can be made or shown in your country? Who makes these restrictions? Are they clearly written rules or just social guidelines most people follow?
5) What kind of films would you like to see made in your country?

Enjoy.

What's Your Style?

Hello friends.

Since we're talking fashion this week, I wanted to get you all thinking about your personal style. Do you think about fashion in your own life? What kind of clothes do you like to wear? Is fashion important to you, or are you indifferent to the whole thing?

Write about this on your blog, and share your ideas with your classmates.

See you soon.

What Is Canadian Food? or the Top Ten Restaurants in Vancouver

Hello friends.

By request, here's my Top Ten List of restaurants I like in Vancouver. All of them are affordable, fun, and serve great food.

1) Legendary Noodle -- Fast, tasty Chinese food, homemade noodles, amazing dumplings, tasty green onion pancakes, and a cute little hole-in-the-wall location at 26th Ave. and Main Street. Plus they make the best homemade chilli sauce in town.

2) Toshi Sushi -- This cheap, high-quality Japanese restaurant always has a line-up to get in the door at 5:00 when they open. Try the house roll! Mmmm sashimi. On 16th Ave. at Main Street.

3) Gyoza King -- Izakaya-style Japanese food, cheap drinks, and late hours! Try the ebi maya prawns, the asari garlic clams, the oysters, and just about everything else. On Robson Street at Nicola.

4) Cafe Zen -- Serves great breakfasts in the heart of Kitsilano, by the beach. On Yew Street between 2nd Ave. and Cornwall. Get there on the #22 bus. Awesome omelets, pancakes, and French toast.

5) Bo Kong -- Wonderful Chinese Buddhist vegetarian food, on Main Street near 13th Ave. I'm not even a vegetarian and I love this place. Try the ginger fried rice, the bean curd rolls, and the very very hot and spicy wontons.

6) Papaya Hut -- Tasty Thai food and great lunch specials on Burrard St. at 8th Ave. Also in this category is the family-owned Arroy-D Thai restaurant on Cambie and 15th.

7) Havana -- Yummy Latin food, great drinks, an art gallery and theatre in the back, and one of the coolest patios in town. Good fun on Commercial Drive at Charles St., right across from Grandview Park.

8) Fritz -- It's not fine dining, but you must try the poutine at Fritz on Davie St. at Granville. It's real Canadian food at its heart attack best. French fries + gravy + cheese curds = good Canadian times. Good for those 2:30 am snacks on the way home from the bar.

9) Me and Julio -- Wonderful modern-style Mexican food on the Drive. Better to go for dinner than brunch, and order the fish tacos. SO good!

10) Go Fish -- This tiny little seafood shack just off the docks on Granville Island is only open in the summer. Their seafood is fresh out of the ocean and super tasty. To get there, take the last left before you get to the big red neon sign by Granville Island, and walk until you see the place and smell the deliciousness.

This list is in no way complete, so if you guys find good eats in town, tell me about them. And if you visit any of the places on my list, leave a comment and tell me what you think!

Happy Eating!

The cafe list is coming soon!

Memory

Hello friends,

Since next week we're going to be talking about memory and the mind, I thought I'd get you to write something about the role that your memory has played in your education.

Think back to when you were young and going to school. How important was memorization in your class? Describe an average day at your school.

Then go to your classmates' blogs and compare your experiences to theirs. Leave some comments!

Oh, and I have left comments on all your blogs as well.

Enjoy!

Men and Women

Hello friends.

This week we're talking about men's and women's communication styles. In the English-speaking world, some people believe that men and women actually have very different ways of speaking to each other, and to people of the same gender as well.

This got me wondering -- do men and women communicate differently in your language? Are there different styles of speaking, or different words for men and women to use? What do people in your culture think of those who don't follow these rules, ie. men who speak "like women" or women who speak "like men?"

Think about it, and post your ideas on your blog.

Talk to you soon!

English Bay

Hello friends.

We're all heading down to English Bay this Sunday for hot dogs and a walk on the beach.

Meet at the Starbucks at the corner of Denman and Davie at 1:00, and we'll go from there.

Bring your friends, and wish for sun!

Shantel and her dog Huckleberry are coming along too.

If you get lost or have any questions, give me a call or send an email.

See you then!

Miley Cyrus

Hello friends.

Since we've been talking about fashion and image this week, I thought it might be fun to watch this video about a young star and think about the way she comes across to her fans.

First, watch and listen for gist. Then answer these questions:

1) Who is Miley Cyrus?

2) What did Miley do for Vanity Fair Magazine?


Watch again if you need to, then answer these questions:

1) Who is upset about the photos? Why are they upset?

2) How old is Miley Cyrus?

3) How did Miley feel about the photos a) when they were taken, b) now.

4) Does Michael Speier think that these photos will hurt Miley's career? Why or why not?


Listen for these words and try to guess their meanings.

squeaky-clean

role model

manipulate

deliberately


What do you think about this situation? Would this happen in your country?

Leave a comment and share your ideas!

Fun Weekend Writing

Hello friends.

What would you do with a million dollars? Would you buy a house? Spend it on the people you know? Give it away? Start your own business? Travel? Buy a million Tim Horton's doughnuts?

Tell us your plans.

I can already hear the cash registers ringing...

Brunch!

What do you get when you add breakfast to lunch? What happens when you're too lazy to get out of bed early on a Saturday? BRUNCH! It's a Vancouver tradition.

Join us for new Mexican food at Me & Julio on Commercial Drive. Follow the link for directions. We'll meet at 11:45 at the Starbucks by Broadway Station, or at 12:00 at the restaurant.

All are welcome.

See you there!

First Writing Topic

What do you love about Vancouver? What do you hate? Write a compare and contrast essay describing your opinions.

Your essay should be between 120-180 words, but feel free to write more if you like! Due on Wednesday, April 30th.

Enjoy!

Welcome!

Hello friends,

Welcome to the first-ever Pre-Advanced blog! This is a place for our class' students to meet, share their writing, read writing topics, make comments, and talk about their lives in Vancouver. As all of you set up blogs, they will be linked to this one so you can all read and comment on each other's writing as well.

Remember, this is your space, so make it fun! Feel free to add photos, video, audio, and anything else you can think of to your blogs.

This blog will serve as a meeting place and an online classroom. Let's take the walls of our class outside Room 1106 and into the online world!

Happy writing!