The thanksgiving potluck

Last Monday was the event “The thanksgiving potluck”. It was in ODU Baptist Collegiate Ministry. Students and ELC staff attended this event. It started at 7:00pm and ended at 9:00pm.We began by setting the tables, decorating and putting the plates food. When the event began, we started eating food from different countries and turkey. There was also a part about the ELC Honors Program. Alex introduced the manes of students who had good grades in Fall 1. After that, we enjoyed eating the great food. Finally, we finished the event by cleaning the place.

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MacArthur Memorial

The MacArthur Memorial :

The MacArthur Memorial

Douglas MacArthur

Do you know who is MacArthur? Maybe yes, but if you don't know him, you  have probably heard the name of the Norfolk downton mall : "the MacArthur center". Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) actually was an American general who has participated in the main historical events of the 20th century (WWI, WW2, Korean War...).

MacArthur and his wife are buried here

Japanese gifts

The MacArthur pipe and cap

After his death, he was buried in Norfolk,VA, more precisely in the old City Hall, according to his wife wishes. This museum is not big, but almost all his life is recounted on two stairs. The explanations are clear and not too long, visual and audio supports are good for a better understanding and immersion in his life and his time. Besides, we have liked the quantity of original artifacts coming from or linked to his living : Asians weapons such as guns or swords, gifts from Japan, China, etc, and many things coming directly from him like his decorations, his footlocker, some emblematic artifacts like his pipe and his cap, or historically important objects like one of the five the ''surrender pen''. Finally, this museum has to be visited to improve our knowledge on the American history, learning the incredible life of MacArthur, an out of the ordinary general who has left his mark on the history.


 Written by ''the Expert''

If you want to visit this museum :

You can visit the memorial online (www.macarthurmemorial.org) or

free entrance for the real museum.

MacArthur Memorial (close to the MacArthur center)

MacArthur Square,
Norfolk, Virginia 23510

Phone : (757) 441-2965

Hours :
Tuesday - Saturday
10 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Sunday
11 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Closed Mondays Starting July 5, 2010

Making paper airplanes

A few weeks ago, the Intermediate students had a paper airplane contest.  Here's a short video from that day. Let us know what you think!

We have discovered America!!

Discover America: Thanksgiving
On Tuesday November 15th, there was a event at the intercultural center, Webb center. The theme was "Discover America: Thanksgiving". Actually, there is no Thanksgiving in our culture. This is our first Thanksgiving we have here in America. We haven’t known much about Thanksgiving culture, so it was great opportunity to learn about American culture, especially, Thanksgiving. When we got there, there were various traditional food looked delicious. It attracted our attentions enough to get there. Jane really enjoyed the food. There were sweet mashed pumpkin, cranberry sauce, sliced turkey, and apple pie, etc. We met some international friends there. The presentation was started. I liked comfortable circumstances there.

We listened carefully what he said. It was interesting to know origins of Thanksgiving.
He said that the Thanksgiving started in 1607, when the Englishmen were giving thanks to God for safe arrival and continual survival. In 1610, supply ships arrived at Jamestown, Virginia. The Pilgrims celebrated Thanks giving for three days, and had a feast for good harvest. The presenter said that the Thanksgiving settles down deeply in American’s mind.

We were very happy to know the origins of Thanksgiving. As long as we stay here, the U.S., I am sure that it will help us to understand better American culture. It was great opportunity to have some traditional food, knowledge of Thanksgiving. We hope we can go some other events on this campus.

Haul for Hunger

Last Saturday, some of us went to the Haul for Hunger at ODU.  It was a great volunteer opportunity.  Here are some pictures from the event.  Marion, a student in Advanced I, wrote about her experience with this event.  If you were there, leave a comment and tell us what you thought about the experience!

So many apples to bag!

From Marion:
The last Saturday, the event « Haul for Hunger » gathered almost three hundred people to help families in need. Among the crowd were mixed families, single people, friends, young, old, etc., everybody working together to help anybody else. The symbol was strong, and the experience exciting. In a world too often selfish, I’m proud of the ODU’s community for this brand of generosity.

I think some students were eating more apples than they were putting in the bags :)

Look at our hard work!

Apples of all sizes!

Thanks for helping out!

Okay, come on, back to work

Working hard and looking good

Also working hard and looking good - thanks for your help!

If I won $5 million...

Today, we have a special post from Pierre, an Intermediate student here at the ELC.  He wrote this paragraph in his Intermediate Writing class with Jane.  Thanks for sharing your writing, Pierre!

If I won $5,000,000, I would buy an island and live there with my family.  I would have a big house at the top of the mountain, a farm in the grassland next to the river, and an animal reserve in the forest. 

In my house, I would like to have a swimming pool, a lot of bathrooms and bedrooms, and also a technological kitchen.  One of the living rooms, would have a big window to see the island and I would have a painting workshop in the top of a tower on my house.

Next, in the farm, I would have enough food production to eat without outside help.  In my animal reserve, there would be a lot of endangered animals and I would like to preserve them.

Ha, I almost forgot!  The beaches would be beautiful, and everything would be in perfect harmony with the nature.  This island would be called "Esperance."

Ashley's note: What would you do if you had $5 million?  Leave a comment below and tell us how you would spend your money!

How to meet other students at ODU

Today, we have a special post from Nurah, an Intermediate student here at the ELC.  She wrote this paragraph in her Intermediate Writing class with Jane.  Thanks for sharing your writing, Nurah!

When you study English language at the ELC, you have to meet other students at ODU to improve your language.  First, you can go to the ELC office and ask about conversation partners.  After that, you can get the application and sign your name and complete your information.  Make sure you write your phone number and your email address.  Then, you have to wait some time because some students from ODU sign in at the ELC, and the ELC will try to contact you with them.  Next, check your email everyday.  If you have a message from the ELC, you can call your partner and try to find free time to meet him.  In addition, you can choose the time and the place for your meeting.  After that, you can talk with your partner and learn more and more to improve your skills.  Finally, don't forget your friends - tell them about this way.

Ashley's note: If you're interested in a conversation partner, contact Jamie (though you will probably have to wait until next session to get a partner, sorry!).  It's a great way to improve your English and get to know an American student!  If you have a conversation partner, leave a comment on this post and tell us about your experience.  Where do you and your conversation partner like to meet? 

Chrysler Museum of Art

When I heard someone talk about Chrysler, I thought they were talking about cars. Because my country has brand of the car named Chrysler. Here I would like to talk to you about Chrysler Museum of Art. What do you know about Chrysler? My group went there on Sunday November 6th, 2011. The Chrysler Museum of Art divides into many different galleries, such as glass, painting, and sculpture, etc. This museum collects many things which I never see before. Everything is interesting to see and to learn at the same time. It seems like the place to study about history each country or continent, such as China, Africa, etc. Look at some examples from the museum.

One of pictures, Firescreen, is an example of glass gallery. It look like collecting shady color of glass.

Next picture, Portrait of a Woman in a Pergola with Wisteria, is one of glass gallery that is beauty and worth to imagine. I feel like this picture to present peace in life.

Then, Moonrise on the Loire at Briare, is painting gallery. It is atmospheric picture that is presented to being looked the sun from sky. I look at this picture, it makes me miss my country.

The last picture, sculpture and the drama, are the pictures of sculpture. There are some examples that are interesting in the collection of sculpture. Some of which are marvelous and elegant to learn history.

These galleries are some examples in Chrysler Museum of Art. Moreover, there are many galleries which we did not explain to you at here.

If you need to know more information about that go to http://www.chrysler.org . Come on take your time to learn something that you never know before, so it might make you amazing !!!

By members of The Wire Group: Lingjing, Abdullah, Khaled and Khemmanant

Fads from around the world

The Advanced I Reading students have been learning about fads.  According to the Longman Dictionary, a fad is something that people like or do for a short time, or that is fashionable for a short time.  For fun, we decided to share fads from our countries (from our childhood or from today).  Here are our fads:

Ashley: My favorite TV show as a young girl was Saved by the Bell.  Here is a video of the theme song.  It’s really cheesy, but I watched this show every afternoon.  

Marion: Around the year 2000, in France, we loved musicals. One of them was Romeo & Juliette. Every (little) girls, like me, was in love with Romeo. That's why we wanted to look like Juliette, who wore all the time, a really strange cap with pearl.

Maha: This is Sally. It is my favorite cartoon when I was young. I was love her hair, face, clothes, and her style. I hoped to get one of her dresses with the hat. I was crazy in Sally and I still love her.

Sukainah: This is my favorite cartoon when I was a child. Its name is Haidi. I imitated Haidi in everything: haircut, clothes (tank top), even her attitude or reaction. I also attached my photo to see how I was similar to Haidi :)

Romai: This fad started in the 1990s. The boys or teenagers caught this fad from the prisoners because they worn the same size for all of them. Then this fad transferred to the world’s countries. Now, this fad be type of the crimes in some states, for examples Chicago, Florida, and Georgia.

 Jean Rene: This is a picture of a mule that people used for transportation. Today, this would be considered old-fashioned in Haiti!!!! Is that funny guys????

We hope you enjoyed looking at our fads.  Please tell us what you think.  Do you remember any fads from your childhood?  What fads are popular in your country now?  Why do you think something becomes a fad?  Should people follow fads and trends?  Leave a comment below and let us know!

More Halloween pictures

Halloween was so much fun this year.  A lot of students (and a few of our teachers) dressed up, and we all went outside and carved pumpkins.  Check out some of the pictures from such a great day!