Reading 04/25/2011 Summary The Pearl Chapter 6

Summary:

Kino, Juana and their son begin their long march north. They walk all the night and Kino try to hide their traces. They are afraid somebody can follow them. They stop on the roadside just before the sunrise, to sleep a little. They stay there until midday, Kino was sleeping when he wake up suddenly with a bad dream. He felt something bad. He asks to Juana to not move and he goes to check there are trackers. In fact, he saw 3 trackers on their way and one with a horse. They decide to change direction to lose them in the mountain. Finally, trackers stop just near Kino and his family, two of them are sleeping, Kino wants to kill the last one, for him it is their last chance to survive. But it is too late, the moon is already here. Coyotito cry, trackers though maybe it is a coyote, so to check that tracker take is gun and shoot on the direction of the cry and kill Coyotito. Kino is full of rage and kills them. Juana and Kino return to their village, Coyotito is on the back of Juana, but died. All the village understands and don’t move. They take the direction of the ocean and throw away this pearl and the music of the pearl disappear.

Vocabularies:

To gurgle :  to make a sound as of water doing this (often used of birdsor of human beings).

To struggle : to make (one's way) with violent effort.

Hibiscus : Kind of tree

Questions : 

Where do they stop to rest ?

How many trackers follow them?

Why trackers kill Coyotito ?

Interesting sentence:

"He looked into his pearl to find his vision. "When we sell it at least, I will have a rifle," he said, and he looked into the shinning surface for his rifle, but he saw only a huddled darf body on the ground with shinning blood dripping from his throat. and he said quickly " we will be married int he great church." And in the pearl he saw Juana with her beaten face crawling home through the night. "Our son must learn to read," he said frantically."

On this passage, we can see the determination of Kino. He becomes afraid but he doesn't want to scare Juana. He doesn't want to accept their actual issues and wants to believe in their dreams.

Reading 04/18/2011 Summary : The pearl Chapter 5

Summary :

Kino was sleeping when suddenly he heard a quiet noise in the brush. It was Juana, she tried to steal the Pearl and go out. Kino very angry wake up and follow her, when she tried to throw away the pearl into the ocean, Kino catch her arm and beat her.  While Kino was walking on the beach, a man attacks him for his pearl, for his survival Kino kill him. Now, they don’t have any choices they have to leave quickly the village before the dawn. While Juana has to take Coyotito and all the corn they have, Kino goes to the Canoe but he find a big hole on it. During this time, someone put the fire on their brush. Kino’s brother and his wife decide to help them. They are worried and they hide Kino and Juana in their brush until the nightfall.

Questions : 

1. Why Juana want to throw away the pearl ?

2. Does Kino put the fire himself to his brush ?

3. What is happened to Kino's canoe ?

4. Which direction Kino decide to take ?

Vocabularies :

Sluggishly = Slowly

Boulders = Big stones

Glimmer = a faint or unsteady light, gleam

Sorrow = (noun) distress caused by loss, affliction, disappointment. synonym : grief, sadness or regret.

Interresting sentence :

"It meant that Kino would drive his strenght against a mountain and plunge his strenght against the sea. Juana, in her woman's soul, knew that the mountain would stand while the man broke himself; that the sea would surge while the man drowned in it."

In this paragraph, the author wanted to show differents soul between a man and a woman. Juana seems to be more realist than Kino. Kino is a dreamer, he wants to believe and make the best of himself.

Writing 04/18/2011

What's your favorite season : spring, summer, fall or winter ? Give reasons and examples to support your answer.

Although I love winter spots, Christmas time and my birthday are in December, my favorite season is spring. In fact in my opinion the weather is good, spring is a colorful season, we can do lots of activities and finally a good period of the year.

First, usually during spring the weather is good. This means, it is not too hot nor too cold. Contrary to the summer we don’t need to stay in the shade, the heat is comfortable. After the winter and the snow, we are very happy when the first warm and sunny days arrive. Moreover, we are happy to wear summer clothes after a long winter.

The second reason is spring is a colorful season and we can do lots of activities. In fact, spring is the flowers season. We can see flowers everywhere. Public parks, gardens are multicolored. Lots of people love to spend time gardening. Moreover we can play sports outside like soccer, volleyball… On Weekends we can also have a picnic with family or friends or go for a walk.

The last reason is spring time is the best period of the year. In fact, it is the end of winter, the end of the cold weather. We are always happy to enjoy sunny days. Usually this period is also the end of school so students have a lot of joy to almost be on vacation. Finally, days become longer and sun is helpful for the spirits. In fact, we have more motivation and energy when the sun is present.

For all these reasons, in my opinion, spring is the best season. That does not mean other seasons are bad. We need all seasons to appreciate each time of year. Even though we are actually in spring the weather is warmer but not clear. I cannot wait better days.

Reading 04/11/2011 : Summary The Pearl Chapter 4

SUMMARY CHAPTER 4:

In the town, La Paz, everybody knows that Kino was going to sell his pearl that day. During this day, the others divers don’t go to dive, they are speaking what they would do if they had found a great pearl. In the village, they hope that the wealth will not turn Kino’s head. Since the morning, Kino and Juana are very excited by this day, for them it is like a new departure. Kino is accompanied by his brother. On their way, Juan tomas give advices to Kino. He is afraid that pearls buyers can cheat about the price because don’t know how cost pearl in another place. Kino and his brother arrive in the pearls buyer’s office. The man told them the pearl is big but too big so nobody will buy this, he doesn’t have the market for a pearl like this. Kino is angry so the man propose him to call 3 others pearls buyer to confirm his opinion. The 3 others buyers said almost the same thing to have this pearl for a lowest price. Kino is not stupid he understand there is collusion and angry he recovers his pearl and go away. Pearls buyers understand they played too hard and propose more money but it is too late. During the evening, all village speak about this story. Some are afraid Kino lost his reason and others are very proud. Kino wants to go in the capitol to sell his pearl. For the dinner, Kino heard a sound around his brush. He takes his knife and go outside. Juana tries to stop him. Finally someone beat Kino’s head and he is half-conscious when Juana come to help him. His wife asks him a second time to through away this pearl but Kino is Pigheaded. He decides tomorrow morning they will take the canoe and will go direction the capital together.

QUESTIONS:

What is a collusion?

What is the different reasons in the pearls buyers’ speech that the pearl has not a great value ?

Why do Juana want to do with the pearl ?

INTERESTING SENTENCE:

“This was to be the day from which all other days would take their arrangement.” (Last sentence page 43)

It is a sentence with a lot of hope. This pearl can permit them to change their lives forever.

VOCABULARIES:

Squat: (verb) to sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn upclosely beneath or in front of the body; sit on one's haunches or heels.

Throat : (noun) the passage from the mouth to the stomach or to the lungs

Dampness: (noun) moisture; humidity; moist air

Writing 04/11/2011

Each teacher has a different way to teach his subject. Some of them assign homework to everyday. In my opinion, it is necessary for several reasons: We need to practice every day to improve, it is a good way to remark improvement and finally lots of students are not already conscious about their studies’ interest so they don’t work at home if they don’t have homework.

First, in all subject we need to practice to improve especially for a new language. In fact, the best way to develop our skill is to practice every day. For example, for ELC students we need to read, speak, listen and write in English every day if we want to improve quickly. Sometimes we don’t have an occasion during the day to practice so it is essential to do that at home. Homework is a good exercise to continue to work at home.

Secondly, homework permit to remark improvement and check if we understand or not the lesson. For example, if we compare our first essay to the last one we observe a difference for the structure, the length and maybe also the number of mistakes. Moreover, homework is like training for the next quiz. It is a new chance to check if we understand everything before we get grade.

Finally, some students don’t work at home if they don’t have homework. I think it is important especially for ELC students who don’t English at home. Sometimes we are too lazy to work alone or we don’t know what we can do, which exercise.  In this case, homework is a good help to find motivation and the kind of exercises.

In conclusion, if we want to improve in any subjects we need to practice again and again. Homework is a good way to practice at home, to observe evolution or to find motivation or reason to work. Sometimes, we can think it is boring but we know it is essential.

Reading 04/04/2011 Summary : The pearl Chapter 3

In the city, everybody speak about Kino’s pearl. This new interest and shake all city’s inhabitant: Doctor, beggars, shopkeepers, pearl’s buyers. In fact when the doctor knows about the pearl, he decides to cure Coyotito. Kino and Juana are happy and they believe everybody have this attitude because they share their joy. Kino dreams about all that he wants to do with the pearl’s money. Principally, he wants to get Married Juana, buy news clothes and rifle and more especially to pay school to Coyotito. The happy couple receive two exceptional visits : The priest and the doctor. The doctor says to Kino his son is maybe still sick and needs to be cure. He proposes to do that. For that, he puts medicine in Coyotito’s mouth and come back one hour later. Coyotito looks now very sick, he vomits. Their parents are very worry. When the doctor come back, he gives to Kino’s son something else and says Coyotito is cured now. He asks to Kino when they will pay the bill. Kino answers him; he will sell his pearl tomorrow so he will pay him the next day. The doctor lies and says he didn’t know about the great pearl. He proposes to Kino to keep it in save place but Kino refuses. During the night, the couple heard strange sound around their house, Kino wakes up very angry but he cannot catch anybody. With this pearl, they sometimes heard evil’s songs. Kino and Juana are afraid and Juana asks to Kino to throw away the pearl because she is scared that it can destroy them.

Questions :

1. The author compare "Town" to something else. What is it ? (Page 21)

2.What do Kino want to do with his money ? (End page 24 to 26)

3. What is the doctor attitude ?

4. Who know about Kino's Pearl ?

5. Where Kino hide his pearl ?

Writing 04/04/2011

        In our life we are surrounded by friends, sometimes it is a long relationship sometimes it is ephemeral. This is unconscious but we choose our friends with their qualities. For me, the most important characteristics in choosing a friend is the sense of humor because we can spend good times with them and reliable because real friends should be present for the good as well as the difficult moments.

        First, a good sense of humor is a very pleasant quality. In fact, with friends who have sense of humor you can spend a good time and laugh during all the day. Moreover, if sometimes you don’t feel good, they can help you to feel better. F.or example, they can tell jokes to help you find your smile again or just help you to think about something else. These friends help create a dynamic group ads we never get bored with them.

        The second important characteristic is reliable. In fact, it is good to spend a wonderful time with friends but unfortunately we are not always in a good mood. In these moments, we need somebody who is present for us. Somebody with whom we have confidence and we can share our worries. Usually these kinds of friends become easily our best friend.

        Friendship is something very important for our balance. We need a Family but friends too. During our whole life, we meet unbelievable people who help you, support you, make our lives funnier. Moreover, we can learn a lot of things thanks to friends. Friendship is very rich in many domains.

        Finally, to have friends is essential. We choose consciously or unconsciously our friends for theirs personalities. In my case, the most important thing is the sense of humor and reliability o f them. However, we need to have different friends with different qualities. This makes life more interesting

Reading 02/28/2011 : Summary

Man has 39 wives, nearly 100 children

1. Website adress : 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/22/us-india-family-idUSTRE71L4VH20110222

2. Summary : 

This reading is about the Ziona Chana’s life, an Indian man who has 39 wives and nearly 100 children. They all live in the same building in the Northeast of India near the border with Myanmar and Bangladesh. Ziona Chana is 66 years and he met his first wife when he was 17 years old. Nowadays he heads a local Christian religious sect, his sect his about polygamy. They all live with their own resources in fact wives and daughters do the housework and sons work outside like farmer. They need lots of resources because they consume average 200 pounds of rice and 130 pounds of potatoes every day.

3. Vocabulary :

- Willing : (Adjective) disposed or consenting; inclined: willing to go along.

- Donation : (noun) an act or instance of presenting something as a goft, grant or contribution.

- Polygamy : (noun) the practice or condition of having more than one spouse, especially wife at one time.

4. Interresting sentence:

" "I once married 10 women in one year," he was quoted as saying. "

It's totally unbelievable, It is almost 1 new wife each month !

"He heads a local Christian religious sect, called the "Chana," which allows polygamy."

His name's sect is Chana like is own name, he supports his own way of life, it's logical.

5. Questions :

How is it possible to assume 100 children correctly ?

Is it the record of the bigest family or it exist a bigger family ?

Writing 02/25/2011: Journals

My future Home,

I am 23 years old so it is time for me to think about my future home. In fact, I often think, dream about my independence with a future apartment. To begin, the first apartment is very important in the life of somebody, it is the beginning of lots of things! I am going to tell you about my future home.

I imagine my first home like a modest apartment, two rooms maybe three. I will live with my boyfriend in France in the beautiful city: Annecy. Annecy is located on the east of France. It is very close to Switzerland (30 minutes) and Italy (50 minutes). Annecy is in the Alps, there is one lake and around this lake there are many mountain and ski stations. The landscape is very beautiful. This city is not too big not too small; it is the perfect size for me. I imagine my house’s inside with very pure color like white and black-- and a touch of color like red or orange… I already imagine my living-room with a wonderful black sofa, a big television, a big and modern bookshelf with lot of books because I love to read and in my opinion books are a very good decoration. In the kitchen, the furniture will be red and the domestic appliance will be stainless steel.  About the bedroom, I would like a big bed especially a fantastic dressing room. In this place, everything will be very organized and with lots of clothes, lots of shoes… (Sorry I am a girl). To continue, I would like to have a terrace to enjoy the sun during the summer. Can to read, to eat, to get a tan outside. I already dream of my future home and future everyday life.

Like a child who dream about his future toys, a teenager who dream about these first love stories, motorcycle… I Dream about my first and future home. I know it is dangerous because I can be disappointed if in reality it cannot be like in my dream for some reasons. We need dreams to advance and to advance to realize our dreams.

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My life in 10 years,

Everybody wanders one day: How will am I in 10 years? It is difficult to be realist because we can imagine how we want to be but we cannot know. It is my situation so I am going to tell you about how I would like to be in 10 years.

            In 10 years, I will be 33 years old so I hope to be married with my boyfriend. I would like to have a big and wonderful wedding with all our family and our friends. I will have 2 children. In my heart, my perfect family is to have for first child one son and for second one daughter like in my own family. Of course, I will be happy too if I have two sons or two daughters. I will live in a house with a garden for children. My major is Business but I also studied management, communication, etc… I worked 1 year like sales assistant so I would like to become sales or maybe in 10 years sales manager. I think it is possible because I will have lots of experiences and a time to show my ability. My boyfriend is real estate agent and he loves his job so I think he will continue in this domain. My brother will have children too so I will be aunt and I am already impatient to organize big family’s parties.

            In my free time, I hope to continue my actuals activities and try other. I wish to have lots of opportunities to travel around the world. I will try to organize my schedule to continue to play to volley-ball and make lots of exercises. I would like to continue to improve my English to have a perfect English and why not to learn others languages because now I realize the importance and a pleasure to learn new language. Moreover I would like to learn and try several news things like guitar, theatre…

            To finish, I hope to become this person, this family like in my dream. I will do my possible for that. Thank you for these topics which bring lots of dreams.

Writing : 02/21/2011

What are the most important things to consider when choosing a future career? Money? Job satisfaction? Other things?

Do you have a career dilemma? If so, explain.

It’s difficult to choose a career because we must make a choice very young about study but we don’t still know what we really want to do in the future.  Moreover, everybody would like to find a good job which permit to earn a lot of money and a job what we like to do. Since the youngest age we have dreams and sometimes it’s difficult to realize all our dreams. I am going to tell you about the most important things in my opinion for a future career and my career dilemma.

In my opinion, we need a long time of reflection before to choose a job. In fact, it is very important to like our job because in a life we spend a lot of time to work so if you don’t like your job, each morning it will be difficult to go to work and you cannot be satisfied.

Of course, money is important too, If we want have a comfortable life, we need money… For example, I love travel so I need to earn lot of money if I want enjoy my vacation by travelling. I think we should choose if possible a job with these two criteria.

I have one older brother, he was a very good student. My parents are very proud of him and I always have been jealous by that but I love him. My plan was to do everything like him to have admiration of my parents too. Maybe it is stupid because my parents are certainly proud of me too but I want to be proud myself. So my brother has master’s degree and I want to be graduate too. We have not learnt the same domain, his domain is computer science and mine is business, management and communication.

Actually, his English is good so when I will came back in France I wish to speak better than him. Today, I have the bachelor’s degree so I would like to continue my studies with a master. I found one: European course in business studies. It means each semester is in another European country. It seems a very good program but it means too I must continue my studies for 2 years again.

I have two career dilemmas. The first is about my boyfriend. He disagrees with me about my studies because it means I must be far of him for 2 years again. I need his encouragements to find motivation, to continue my studies so it is difficult to make a choice.

The second is for after my studies, my parents have a company. I worked with them during my last year of bachelor. I would like to continue with them but it is difficult to work with family and I would like to change lot of things about management in their company and my parents see me again like a child so it is difficult to be credible. I know they would like I work with them.

Moreover if I continue in this company, it means a must stay in my native city, so it is a little city and I want to live with a boyfriend in another city.

So, I need to make a lot of decision and I have not a time to think because my time is count. I hope choose best thing for my future.

Reading 02/18/2011 : Summary

Paris Fabulous: Le Shangri-La Hôtel

1. Website adress : 

http://www.time.com/time/travel/article/0,31542,2045946,00.html

2. Summary : 

This reading is about a new hotel/restaurant in Paris. This hotel belong to asian group precisely Hong Kong based group. Usually, it's difficult to emulate parisian hotel. This hotel is in the ancient residence of Napoleon Bonaparte and now we can find 81 rooms and suites. Lot ofs rooms are decorated with the european and chinese color. It means blue,white and red. The restaurant serves tow kind of food French and Southeast Asian. Today, it is the first asian hotel/restaurant with this success but maybe not the last if others asian group try their chances.

3. Vocabulary :

Landmark : (noun) a prominent or conspicuous object on land that serves as a guide.

Feature : (noun) something offered as a special attraction

Cupola : (noun) Italian Architecture

Frescoes : (noun) a picture or design so painted

4. Interresting sentence:

"Most rooms are decorated in blue, white and ecru, evoking at once European empire and classic Chinese color palettes."

It's the french color too ! I think it's good they find a similar things between France/europe and China/Asian !

"It will be Paris' first gourmet Cantonese establishment but presumably not, if the Asian invasion gains momentum, its last."

-> There are maybe an opportunity for others Asian group !

5. Questions : 

An Asian hotel in Paris, is it really a parisian hotel ?

Others Asian group can find a success in Paris ?

Reading 02/16/2011 : Magazine article

http://www.time.com/time/travel/article/0,31542,2045946,00.html

Writing homework, 02/14/2011

College can be one of the most exciting times of your life. Certainly college brings stressful times, happy times, tearful times and life-altering times. College can also lead to a more rewarding future. The book Understanding (1999) reports that men with a bachelor's degree earn US$21,984 more than male high school dropouts and women with a bachelor's degree earn US$17,527 more than female dropouts. It does not mean that the only reason for attending college is to make more money, this is a secondary reason, many other considerations are as important as money to a person's decision to attend college. Knowledge, sports and parental pressure are any of these your reasons for attending college.

Reading and Writing homework 02/09/2011 : My brief autobiography

My name is Maud Masciotra. I am 23 years old and I am from France. Right now, I live with a American family. We live together in Baldwin, a town in 30 minutes of Towson. I arrived in America one month ago. I study in ELC center just for the spring semester.

I have one brother, his name is Arnaud and he is computer engineer. I speak French, my native language and I learnt English and Italian at school. My major is business and I need to improve my English to find a good job. I already have to work as banker and sale assistant. I would like to be sales manager.

About my hobbies, I ski and play volley ball. I love travel, see new countries, new culture, etc... I love go kart and I would like try a race track. I like read novels, my favorite french author are Marc Levy and Guillaume Musso, they wrote a lot of best sellers. I love photography in particularly Portrait and landscape. To finish, I like go out with my friends and make activities.

Writing homework, 02/04/2011

1. If you could be any celebrity for one day, who would you be ? Explain why you would want be this person, and what you would do if you got to be this person for a day.

If I could be a celebrity, I would like to be Angelina Jolie because she's beautiful, famous and she's a good actress, she lives with Brad Pitt and she has 5 child from different countries.

First, Angelina Jolie is a very pretty actress and in movies she has always a good role, it's usually action's movies. This actress is famous for her physique and her talent. During one day I will appreciate her celebrity.

Moreover, Angelina Jolie lives with Brad Pitt, it's a couple very famous in the world. In my opinion he is beautiful and a good actor too. So it's a dream of a lot of person, be famous and live like celebrities.

To finish, Angelina Jolie is famous too because she has 6 child from different countries. In fact, Maddox from Cambodia, Pax from Vietnam, Zahara from Ethiopia and Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox her real child. It's a very cute family who show a diversity.

During this day, I wish to live a shooting. The actor's job is very an interesting job, we can be somebody else and change your personality, character, live during the shooting. It's a dream for me.

To conclude, if I could choose to be a celebrity for one day I will choose her but for a whole life I prefer to stay in anonymity. In my opinion it's too tiring to be famous, there are always somebody who follow you or take pictures so you can't live as you want.

2. "Even though a Bird can fly, it must land on earth". What do you think this saying means ? How does it relate to our lives ?


"Even though a Bird can fly, it must land on earth" : In my opinion this quotation mean, someone can do or live great things but he have prepare his landing in the reality. We can be scientist or lucky, at the beginning every body is equal and during our lives we live a good and bad moment. So we can know a celebrity one day, we have need to find our base of live ( Family, friends...)

I can relate this quotation to my live with my actual adventure in the U.S.A. Today we can imagine I am flying, I am in a new country, I learn a new language, I meet wonderful people, I live one of my dream but I must organize my landing in my country in five months where I should come back in France, in the reality and find a job, etc...

To conclude, this quotation is beautiful and true, we have enjoy each moment and stay always ready to land in the real life.