The Many Golds of California
Named the Golden State for more than one reason, California has allured, transformed, and eventually enriched or destroyed the lives of millions of people, who in turn have helped to bring the state to its current prosperity. The nickname comes from the Gold Rush, when gold was discovered in the Sierra Nevada, but it also refers to the fields of golden poppies that can be seen across the state in the spring, the golden sunshine we can enjoy here every day, and the Golden Bridge, the symbol of its most beautiful city. Today, the state wins the gold medal as the number 1 economy in the U.S. and one of the ten largest economies in the world. In this essay, we examine the major industries which have shaped California since, if not before, the discovery of gold in 1848: agriculture and wine production, tourism including national parks and themes parks, and the high technology industries of recent decades, and take a closer look at how they started, what helped them grow, and how they contributed to the wealth of the state.
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This essay was written collectively by the students in ESL7/Transition-to-College at CE Mesa throughout the Spring 2015 semester. See here the many drafts we had written before we finished the essay. And that is what it looked like when we posted it at the CE Mesa hall exhibit.
Continue to read the whole essay.
This essay was written collectively by the students in ESL7/Transition-to-College at CE Mesa throughout the Spring 2015 semester. See here the many drafts we had written before we finished the essay. And that is what it looked like when we posted it at the CE Mesa hall exhibit.
Preposition and Gerund Stories
Words are like people. They like to be in the company of certain selected words but not others. They have their preferences and different tolerance levels with respect to other words. Prepositions are particularly selective. Although they are okay following nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, they will only allow nouns to follow them. Nouns or noun substitutes, like gerund. There is no point trying to figure out prepositional combinations. They are idiosyncratic and need to be memorized. To make this tedious task more fun and to boost perseverance, students in ESL7/Transition-to-College created a story-per-day practice series. Read and enjoy these stories, and then quiz yourself with a different story each day. There are enough for almost two weeks.
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Student StoriesCarla and Sang Bo wrote about a noisy neighbor. Melee created a Korean love story. Mayuko wrote about a couple's failed plan to visit Yosemite. Ibolya wrote about her annual vacation in Hungary. Hy and Berta described a couple's disagreement on whether to go or not to go on vacation. Gregorio and Nadia wrote about the ASB at CE Mesa. Alsher explained his plans for the future. Hannah recalled her son's dream trip to LEGOLAND. Rafah and Rosie wrote about hard beginnings in the U.S. and about a difficult person that is trying to change. Vicky and Seonjoo wrote about a mother's dilemma. Gabriela, Monica, and Madita described a couple's hiking trip to Grand Canyon. Limin wrote about a person wrongly accused of delaying a project.
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Culinary Secrets from Around the World
This illustrated cookbook of proven recipes from around the world is a record of a series of oral presentations on students' best culinary practices. People like to share food in many ways. We decided to go beyond the idea of exchanging recipes and having a potluck. Each recipe in this collection has been explained, demonstrated, and of course tried during a live culinary presentation.
Ruth demonstrated how to make the French Chocolate Mouse with eggs and chocolate only.
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Carla taught us how to make the Brazilian Pão de Queijo (Cheese Bread).
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Rodolfo prepared the Brazilian Brigadeiros.
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Ibolya made Hungarian mini sandwiches.
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Limin prepared a Lemon & Honey Drink.
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Sandra made the Mexican Hibiscus & Fruit Punch.
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My Favorite Love Song Project
For this project celebrating the upcoming Valentine's Day, each student was asked to choose his or her favorite love song in their native language, and translate the lyrics into a form in which they could be understood and appreciated by English speakers. In other words, it is an ambitious attempt to translate, and to some extent write, poetry. To read these poetic translations, click on English translation. To hear the song in its original, click on sound or video. You can also read about the reasons why each student chose a particular song.
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Melee's favorite Korean love song:
옛사랑 -- Yetsarang (Old Love) by IU. When I was in college, the songs of the songwriter Younghun Lee were very popular. Many college students including me loved them. The melodies were emotional and beautiful, and the lyrics were very poetic. I still love his songs and choosing one was not easy. Yetsarang reminds me of the time when I was young. The place described in the song, Kwanghwamun Street, was near my school and my work. It is a place from the times when I was young, ambitious and full of dreams. When I listen to the song, I get lost in memories. Another reason why I love this song is IU’s clear, resonant voice. original lyrics | English translation | sound & video Chia-Ling's favorite Taiwanese love song: 最重要的決定 (The Most Important Decision in Life) by Christine Fan The singer of this song, Christine Fan, is a famous Taiwanese female singer. Both Christine and her husband are artists. They had been together for 10 years before they got married. People admired them. The year they were married, she published this song to show her feelings about their relationship. The song speaks to many brides-to-be. Before long, it became very popular among couples who were going to get married. I chose it to be one of my wedding songs as well. original lyrics | English translation | sound & video Natália's favorite Brazilian love song: Oceano (Ocean) by Djavan Djavan is a Brazilian singer and song writer who combines traditional Brazilian rhythms with popular music from America, Europe and Africa. Oceano is one of his most popular songs and talks about the thin line that separates love from obsession and madness. It also talks about how life cannot go on without the loved person, but at the same time it is a task done in loneliness because you cannot force anyone to love you back. Loving hurts a lot, but when you are with the person you love, you forget about the pain. Love is like the ocean. The river has a long and hard way to go, but once it finds the ocean, all the hardship is forgotten. original lyrics | English translation | sound & video Seonjoo's favorite Korean love song: 변진섭 - 그대 내게 다시 original lyrics | English translation | sound Hy's favorite Vietnamese love song: Con đường tình yêu by Lam Trường I first heard this song when I was in high school. It reminds me of my first love and my first heartbreak. Its melody moves me and its lyrics fit with my situation. I like the thinking of the man in the song. He decided to go to the end of the road and wait for his love despite loneliness. I love this song very much even though it sometimes makes me feel sad. Check it out! original lyrics | English translation | sound & video Yoshi's favorite Japanese love song: Yogiri arigato (Night Fog) by Yujiro Ishihara This song made a big hit in my youth. Everybody loved to listen to it and sing it. The introduction is performed with a splendid saxophone, whose powerful low sound continues to fascinate me. The singer’s voice is also low and very attractive. It harmonizes with the saxophone so well. The lyrics express the lovers' shyness and palpitations. The movie which used the song as its theme also made a splash. The song has accompanied me since my youth and is simply unforgettable. original lyrics | English translation | sound Ruth's favorite French love song: Quand on n'a que l'amour (When Love Is All We Have) by Jacques Brel At a glance, love is a deep and romantic feeling. Love is magical and casual. But behind that, there is the hard reality of the world we live in. Since I became a mother, I feel more and more concerned about the future. I am less optimistic than I used to be. In moments of doubts I like to hear a powerful song like this one. Brel wrote When Love Is All We Have in 1956. The song is a crescendo in lyrics. It starts by describing the insouciance of two lovers and continues to other situations, such as illness, poverty, and war. It finishes with a positive message that one day we will all be friends and love will triumph. Jacques Brel (1929-1978) was a Belgian singer and songwriter who composed and performed thoughtful songs in France and throughout the world. He was also a successful actor. original lyrics | English translation | sound Fei's favorite Chinese song: 好久不見 陈奕迅 (Long Time No See) by Eson Chan This song talks about a reunion between a man and his first love many years after they broke up. I listened to it the whole night after I had a meet-again chat with my first girlfriend. original lyrics | English translation | sound & video Listen also to this love standard from the Great American Songbook:Stardust is an American jazz standard composed in 1927 by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. It is a song about a song about love, and with over 1,500 recordings, it is one of the most popular songs of the 20th century. Listen to this well-known interpretation by Nat King Cole and a more contemporary one by Katie Melua.
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Reina's favorite Japanese love song:
宇多田ヒカル (Addicted to You) by Hikaru Utada When I was in my early twenties, this song was released in Japan. I like it because of a bitter memory. At that time, I had a boyfriend who was much older than me. He was sophisticated, smart and rich. I was crazy about him and I wanted to meet him all the time. However, he was very busy with his job and we could not meet much. I lost a sense of what love is. When I heard the song, my heart trembled. The song expressed my feelings perfectly. Eventually, we broke up. Later I realized it was the best thing for me. The song taught me that loving somebody is a tough thing. original lyrics | English translation | sound & video Victor's favorite Brazilian love song: Apenas Mais Uma de Amor (Another One About Love) by Lulu Santos This song was composed by a famous Brazilian singer and composer Lulu Santos. I could not find much information about the lyrics or the origin of the song, but it talks about a person who is falling in love with another and is afraid to show his feelings. I really like this song because it talks about a situation that happens to a lot of people, and it has happened to me. Music is a powerful way to express one’s feelings. If you are too shy to confess your feelings directly, or if you do not know how to do it, let the music help you. original lyrics | English translation | sound & video Kanako's favorite Japanese song: 365 Days by Mr. Children In this song, 365 days stands for the days in a year when humans can love each other. Mr. Children, which is one of the most popular music bands in Japan, made this song to reduce the number of AIDS patients. When you love someone, you also feel responsible for them. This song is so sweet that many couples chose it as their wedding song. original lyrics | English translation | sound & video Rodolfo's favorite Brazilian love song: Insensatez (Foolishness) by Joao Gilberto Tom Jobim, who was inspired by Chopin's Prelude in E minor, is the composer of Insensatez. This Brazilian music genre, which is a mix of samba and jazz, was developed in the 1960's and is called bossa nova. In the lyrics, written by Vinicius de Moraes, the man talks about his regrets over the love he lost. It started as an affair and ended because of some foolish doubts, but he now realizes it was really the fear of commitment that caused the break-up. original lyrics | English translation | sound Tomoko's favorite Japanese love song: 平原綾香 (Song of Jupiter) by Ayaka Hirahara This song is based on a classical masterpiece The Planets by Gustav Holst. Many victims and evacuees of the Niigata earthquake in 2004 were consoled by this song. I listened to it a lot when I was pregnant. I liked the beautiful music and lyrics. At that time, I was very busy working and I had a lot of stress. Therefore, I needed something peaceful. While I was listening to this song, I had a feeling as if I had already become a mother. It was a happy moment for me. original lyrics | English translation | sound & video Vicky's favorite Argentinean love song: Gracias a la Vida (Thank You to Life) by Mercedes Sosa Mercedes Sosa was an Argentinean folk music singer (1935-2009) popular throughout Latin America and many countries outside the continent. She was known as the voice of the voiceless. The song I selected is a poem written by Chilean writer Violeta Parra, which she sang with great sensitivity and touching people's hearts with her deep and beautiful voice. The poem is about distinguishing between good and bad, the beauty of life, and the inner self. She is thankful for being alive, for crying and laughing and hearing the deep sounds of life, for having the ability to see life with the heart and to understand other people’s lives. original lyrics | English translation | sound & video Gregorio's favorite Mexican love song: Besame mucho (Kiss Me a Lot) by Consuelo Velazquez The songwriter, Consuelo Velazquez (1916-2005), was a self-made artist. She gave her first piano concert at the age of 6 and gained her music teaching diploma when she was 17. She was the soloist of the National Symphonic Orchestra of Mexico. Married, with two children, she was also a member of the Mexican Parliament. Although she was a prolific recording artist and composer, she is remembered for only this song. It has been recorded by the most famous singers, including Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Jose Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Joao Gilberto. In 1999, a Spanish television network named Besame mucho the song of the century as the most famous Spanish-language ballad in the world. In 2003, Velazquez was immortalized with a statue sculpted by a renowned Mexican artist. original lyrics | English translation | sound & video Carla's favorite Brazilian song: Olha (Look) by Maria Bethânia This song reminds me of a special moment in my life: the romance and enchantment I experienced with my husband when we met for the first time. This song was also the theme of our engagement party and I will keep it forever in my heart. original lyrics | English translation | sound & pics |
Heroes, Sheroes, and the Inspiring Messages
They Pass On to Us Every Day
The world today is filled with messages more than it has ever been before. From the moment the ring of the alarm clock tells us it is time to wake up in the morning and the dog barking outside informs us that a stranger is passing by, we are inundated with messages. The label on a box of breakfast cereal tells us what our daily nutrition needs are and how many calories we are just about to consume. On our way to work or school, with a push of a button we hear what just happened in Paris and whom the President is going to meet today. Our parents, children, teachers, colleagues, and classmates have tons of things to say and technology makes sure that they can do it at any point during the day or night. And if this were not enough, scientists are rapidly unscrambling the information coded in our own DNA, and deciphering the languages in which other species: birds, dolphins, and trees, communicate their messages. How, in this deluge of information directed at us, or just darting by us, do we decide which messages to listen to, and which ones to ignore? How do we know which ones are good and will makes us stronger, wiser, and better, and which ones will only slow us down, or maybe even hamper our growth?
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This essay was written collectively by twenty seven students in the ESL7/Transition to College class at CE Mesa and submitted for publication in Women's Perspectives, Issue #10: Messages.
Continue to read the whole essay.
This essay was written collectively by twenty seven students in the ESL7/Transition to College class at CE Mesa and submitted for publication in Women's Perspectives, Issue #10: Messages.
The Monkey Grammar Project
This picture of macaque monkeys with their offspring from the National Wildlife magazine became an inspiration which allowed several novice playwrights in our class to spread their wings. According to the magazine, "in macaque social groups, females, such as these mothers with their offspring, outnumber males by about four to one. While males leave their natal groups when they reach maturity, females usually remain together for life." They are "friendly and supportive of each other. Not only does a close bond develop between a mom and her baby but also between moms with babies of similar age."
If macaque monkeys could speak, what do you think they would be talking about? Starting off with this question, the students wrote scripts for a future science fiction movie in which the monkeys use complex grammar to express their daily joys and concerns. The grammar of English tenses, however, is oftentimes ambiguous, lacking a straightforward relation to the past, the present, and the future. The students worked hard to straighten it out. For that purpose, references to the past, the present, and the future in the script are coded in color according to this chart. And are YOU ready for a bit of a grammar workout? If so, try this exercise. |
Student ScriptsThe main character in Natalia & Chia-Ling's
script is a mother of a fussy eater. Leila & Mayuko write about a sick child. The two females in Ibolya & Eric's movie chat leisurely about their husbands, but those in Reina & Lily's story have a serious problem. Jose & Yolanda write about how hard it is to find bananas. Seonjoo & Hy's character is stressed out about his job. Finally, the female in Tomoko & Melee's script announces that she is pregnant. |
The Martin Luther King Jr. Project
This project started with a grammar exercise from Azar. Read these quotes from the speeches and writings of Martin Luther King, Jr. and underline all the parallel structures. You can check your answers here. Which quote speaks to you the strongest? Can you think of a leader in your country who could have used similar words?
MLK was a great orator. His speech I Have a Dream delivered in 1963 to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial was a defining moment in American history. Listen to the original recording of the speech and read the script. In addition to the powerful social message, what do you think makes the speech so effective? One thing that made MLK a great speaker was his ability to evoke strong images in the minds of the audience. I Have a Dream is brimming with such images. One of MLK's favorite literary devices was a metaphor followed by a prepositional phrase, e.g.: beacon light of hope, flames of withering injustice, or long night of captivity. Read the script again and try to identify all metaphors of this kind. How many can you find? Check your answer with the answer key. Another rhetorical device MLK used to enhance his message was repetition. For example, in the third paragraph of the speech, four out of the five sentences begin with the phrase One hundred years later, have the same subject, and are similar in length and rhythm. Parallel structure is of course another form of repetition. Why do you think repetitiveness enhances the message? At some point during his speech, MLK diverted from the prepared script and began to improvise. His speech became even more rhythmical and dynamic. At which point in the speech do you think it happened? Check your answer here. |
Student EssaysStudents in class wrote about activists in their countries who fought for the rights of others.
Ruth Ouzana wrote about Robert Badinter, a French lawyer who led the battle to abolish the death penalty in France. Here you can listen to him speak about his experience. Davood Torabi wrote about Mohammad Mossadegh, the Iranian Prime Minister who nationalized the oil industry. Melee Lee wrote about Jeon Tae-il, a Korean activist who burned himself to death to protest workers' rights abuses. More student essays coming ... |
Seven Successful Women Tell the Secrets of Their Success:
A Literary Puzzle
It was recently announced in the press that a distinguished Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Northern Carolina was caught, and later accused of and sentenced for, smuggling two kilograms of cocaine. The professor claimed that it was all in good faith and in the name of love, which blossomed when he met on an online dating site a gorgeous model. Unfortunately, what he thought to be a perfect woman turned out to be a scam.
Verbal communication can be deceiving just as it can be revealing. In the online messages, the professor saw what his mind desired. If he had read the words more carefully, he might have been able to see a different reality behind them. And if he had searched the online dating site with a more open mind, he might have been able to find that great women come with all kinds of photos attached. To take a closer look at what strong, beautiful, and successful women are like behind their pictures, we have asked a group of 27 talented ESL student-writers to get in the minds of seven brave women they had selected: the actress Angelina Jolie, the fashion designer Coco Chanel, the scientist Marie Curie, the social activist Mother Teresa, the talk show host Oprah Winfrey, the athlete P. T. Usha, and the singer Shakira. Using their research skills and imagination, the students were then asked to clothe the women in a verbal disguise. Can you match the resulting half-documentary, half-fictional interview vignettes with the women? |
The InterviewsEach interviewed woman responds to the same five questions.
Interview 1 Interview 2 Interview 3 Interview 4 Interview 5 Interview 6 Interview 7 Answer Key |
This is a project submitted to WE LEARN, and published in Issue #8 (2013) of Women's Perspectives 8: We Succeed. Twenty seven students in ESL7 at CE Mesa, working in seven groups, researched the interviews and other materials documenting the lives of some very successful women of their choice. Based on these documents and filling the gaps with their intuition and imagination, the students then wrote seven interview portraits.
A Week in the Life of Joan of Arc:
A Fictional Diary
As part of a secret genetic advancement program, an important U.S. military agency brought back to life a number of outstanding soldiers from the past. Among them was Joan of Arc, a French revolutionary leader who led the French army to several victories during the Hundred Years War. By an unfortunate error she found herself alone in the streets of San Diego. No-one seemed to know how she got there or how she eventually left. The following pages were found by an employee of a city park, where she spent some nights. While he thought her to be a miserable deranged girl, he was intrigued by her story, and when the news of the experiment leaked to the public, he came forward with the diary.
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The DiaryOn Day 1 Joan takes her first walk in the street. On Day 2 she visits a supermarket. On Day 3 she walks into Macy's. She visits another supermarket on Day 4 and
spends Day 5 at the airport. On Day 6 she stumbles into Starbucks. On Day 7 she finds herself in an ESL class at San Diego Continuing Education. |
This writing project was completed by students in ESL 6/7 at Clairemont and published in Issue #7 (2012) of Women's Perspectives: A Journal of Writing and Art by Adult Learners, the annual publication of WE LEARN, a Rhode Island-based organization for the promotion of literacy and education among women. The topic of Issue #7 was Women and Communication.
Upon giving some thought to the pre-writing questions offered by WE LEARN, the class decided to write about the 15th c. French heroine, Joan of Arc (see her picture). To connect it with our world, we added a science-fiction twist to the story and placed it in today's San Diego. The story consists of an introduction and seven diary entries, each created by a different group of students.
Upon giving some thought to the pre-writing questions offered by WE LEARN, the class decided to write about the 15th c. French heroine, Joan of Arc (see her picture). To connect it with our world, we added a science-fiction twist to the story and placed it in today's San Diego. The story consists of an introduction and seven diary entries, each created by a different group of students.