Entry #7: Origami Workshop

 

Wednesday November 20, May Ann and I prepared an origami workshop to explain to the seniors "how to make many small stars with magazines". I had to do an internet search to find the origins of the origami and do a little presentation about it. As my research was easy, I thought that I didn't need to practice for my presentation, but I was wrong. When everyone finished eating or drinking their coffee, Sonia left us to enable me and May Ann to fend alone.

At the beginning, it was hard to get the attention of everyone, because we are both shy and we did not daring to start talking first. Finally, I started with my little presentation about the origami.

Hello everyone,

Today we will make many small stars in origami. The origami cames from the East Asia and Europe. In the Japanese language, the word "ori" meaning to fold and "kami" meaning paper…

I did not expect to be as nervous during the presentation. I underestimate my ability, because I know that I need a lot of time to be ready, before an oral presentation. When it came the turn of May Ann to spoke, one lady told me that we can't say the word "cames" in English, so she explained me many rules that I already know. I did this basic error that made me shame, because it was stressful to talk in front of everyone. However by politeness I thanked her.

Entry #6: Pumpkin + Sewing

Welcome Blogger!

Today I will talk to you about my two days of internships. It was Wednesday October 30 and November 6. 

Wednesday October 30, we did an activity about <<How to make a pumpkin for Halloween? >>. First, we were paired with a partner. Second, we cut out the pumpkin by removing the seeds and the flesh. Third, we chose a design in a paper to reproduce it by drawing on the side of the pumpkin. Fourthly, we cut along the lines and in the end, we placed a candle inside the pumpkin.

Wednesday November 6, we made baby hats for new born babies. When we finished, my host Sonia donated them to women shelter just in time for the cold weather. During the workshop, I learnt sewing and some new words as bib and pacifier.

All the words I have highlighted are the new words I learned.

I will employ them, maybe, when I will go shopping or when I will babysit. But, it is certain that one day I'll have to use those words.

How has my English improved so far during my internship?

Listening Comprehension

I still have misery with listening, but when someone repeated me the second time I better understand.  For example, a lady told me two times that she had an headache this morning. When I analysed the word "headache", I discovered that head is represent "tête", ache means "douleur" and overall this is equal "mal de tête".

Accent

In my opinion my accent did not change as much. By cons, I have some problem to pronounce the word "thought", "thus", "through", "taught", "threw", etc. Because of my pronunciation, when I write those words I do often many mistakes. For instance, I write the word thought and taught strangely like that "thougth and taugth".

Fluency

Before my internship, I was talking quickly with a basic vocabulary. Now, I don't talk too fast nor too slow, which allows me to choose my new vocabularies that I learned in class or in my internship.

Humour

Once when I was holding the door, an old man came to give me three dollar to thank me for having held him the door. He even said that I was a good "doorwoman”, but when I said “no thank you” for the three dollar with a smile, he took it wrong and he said that it was just a joke. I do not understand it yet how can I would react differently to its proposal.

I think there are no differences between the Francophone and Anglophone jokes, because both contain puns, the similarities and the differences between two or three objects, riddles, etc. Likewise both have the same topic.

Accuracy

In my English class, I did a work on the pronunciation sound. I needed to put the past tense verbs in three category which was [ed], [t] and [d].  As a case in point I put the word "parked" in the [d] category, but the good answer is the [t]. Also, I put "caused" in the [t] category, but the good answer is the [d]. In addition, I wrote "recorded" in the [d] category, but the good answer is the [ed].

 

 

Blog # 5 : Cultural Encounters

Wednesday October 23th I took on my fifth day of internship. My host Sonia decided to proceed with the activity of <<papier maché >>. Rather than participating in creating the masks, as I did the last Wednesday, I decided to observe the environment and ask some questions to my elderly friends.

My Cultural Observations:

During every class the yoga instructor plays soft music to allow the elderly people relax. During my observation I noticed that in this establishment we don’t have any cultural objects to respect other people who use the room after us. Also, I saw many flyers on the counter about alimentation, diabetes and about the schedule of many activities in the yellow door or in the social club.

Questions and Answers:

Kim and I:

Me: Hello Kim can I ask you three questions for my blog?

Kim: Sure, go ahead!

Me: Do you love to read books, if yes, tell me which types of books?

Kim: Yes, I like to read biographies of famous people, books about psychology and books about philosophy.

Me: Wow, that’s interesting. Where are you from?

Kim: I am from Malaysia.

Me: Do you celebrate Christmas or other holidays?

Kim: No, because I live alone now.

Me: Hmmm… Did you come, last year, to celebrate Christmas with the social club?

Kim: Oh yes, it was very pleasant. I hope they will do it again this year.

Me: So do I. Thank you very much Kim! I will let you continue your mask, it’s very beautiful.

Kim: Thank you Arina. Good luck with your blog!

Another Sonia and I:

Me: Hi Sonia, can I ask you some questions?

Sonia: Of course!

Me: What is your nationality?

Sonia: I am Armenian. I am from Egypt.

Me: Wow I didn’t expect that! What then is your religion?

Sonia: I am orthodox.

Me: What a surprise! Me to! Do you celebrate Christmas or Easter with your family?

Sonia: Yes, my family and I gather together for every celebration. We bring a lot of food, we chat, and we dance. Most importantly we have a lot of fun!

Me: I imagine a lot of love and laughter.

Sonia: It was a pleasure to talk with you Arina, but I have to go home.

Me: Thank you for answering my questions. See you next Wednesday!

Describe the types of English you have been exposed to:

I used 5 idioms from our class notes which are;

1.Against the clock: Rushed and short on time AND 2. Pig out: To eat a lot and eat it quickly: Before my internship which starts at 12pm, I had my exploration class and my meeting for Hawaii. Furthermore, many times, I have rushed to come earlier, because I didn’t want to disturb the seniors during their yoga class. Also, I need to eat quickly, because my internship lasts 3 hours.

3.A leopard can't change his spots: You cannot change who you are: One of my elderly friends came to talk to me about her life. She says that if she could change then people will not judge her. I tried to give her some advice that was; first, she needs to love herself, and second, ignore other peoples negativity because they are simply jealous.

4.Keep your chin up: To remain joyful in a tough situation AND 5.All in the same boat: When everyone is facing the same challenges: Every week I have a lot of writing, listening, and speaking exams as well as homework. When I then attend my internship I try my best to benefit from this time, to relax, and to enjoy the moment. On another note, even though everyone is not in the same grade, in my class we are still all in the same boat. We have the same goal to improve and do well in the class.

Rewards and challenges:

At the beginning the challenging part is to go talk to the elderly, because I am shy. But when the shyness is gone, I am more comfortable and able to improve my English