April 25th, 2010
Across
2. This state has the largest city in America.
4. This warm, Southern state is known for oranges and beaches, like Miami Beach.
5. Known for Detroit, where American cars are made.
7. More presidents have come from here than any other state.
8. Where the 1996 Olympics were (Atlanta).
10. Very small, but one of America’s original states.
Down
1. Started by William Penn (hint, hint), its largest cities are Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
3. The state where you now live.
6. Where the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bulls play.
9. America’s second biggest state in land area, behind Alaska.
Tags: crossword puzzle, usa
Posted in crossword puzzle | 2 Comments »
April 25th, 2010
On Wednesday April 7th we went to a Major League Baseball Game! Our local team, the Oakland A’s, beat the Seattle Mariners in an exciting game at the Oakland Coliseum. It is a special Wednesday night game promotion and also the opening of the first series for the season. The promotion was for $2 tickets and $1 hot dogs. It was a great way to start off your SPRING BREAK! The game started at 7 p.m , and featured some real star players such as #51 Ichiro Suzuki on the Mariners.
After spring break we will be spending a weekend in Los Angeles. On April 15-18 we will be in Southern California on our LA TRIP. The Trip costs $255 per person and the deadline is Wednesday, April 7th. We will rent a van to drive down south and there is limited availability of seats in the van which means only 13 students can go. The price for the trip includes all transportation, three nights stay at the Hotel (Anaheim and Newport), complimentary (free) breakfast Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, one general admission ticket for Disneyland, and a group dinner Saturday Night. On this trip we will visit some famous places in California like Disneyland, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Venice Beach. Come and see how beautiful California beaches are and enjoy the nice weather too!
Wednesday, April 21st, we will get together and play some volleyball after class. Come join us and learn how to play- it is a fun game! We will either play in the park in front of IEC or at the Pleasant Hill Park. This activity is free and IEC will provide the balls and the net to play volleyball.
On Thursday, April 22nd, we will have our end-of-session 3 Ice Cream Party. Come and say goodbye to your friends who are graduating as well as meet some of our continuing students. We will have ICE Cream and hang out together in the Todo Santos Plaza in Concord. Congrats Grads!
Friday, April 23rd, we will visit San Francisco for our SF Day Trip. On this trip we will be seeing many great SF landmarks. First we will take the BART to SF and get off at Embarcadero. We will go to Pier 39, a nice open shopping area located near Fisherman’s Wharf. We will also visit the sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf and have a chance to eat some authentic clam chowder for lunch in this area. Next, we will visit the Golden Gate Bridge by MUNI. See the most popular landmark of the West Coast! Then we will head back to the Fisherman’s Wharf to ride the cable car back to Union Square. In Union Square you can walk around the park or do some major shopping in some of the finest stores! The Trip Will be free- $5.00 Deposit fee for each student who signs up. IEC will pay for your CABLE CAR RIDE TO UNION SQUARE!!!
Thursday, April 29th we will go bowling! This activity is FREE!! We will play after class at Paddock Lanes right down the street from IEC. Come and play, see how well you bowl! Test your skills with other IEC students.
Friday, April 30th, we will go to Santa Cruz. On this Santa Cruz Day trip we will have the whole day to spend out on the beach and in the sun. We will be able to play at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk- it is one of the few amusement parks located on the beach!
By Nicole
Tags: california, santa cruz, sports, student activities, student life
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April 25th, 2010
For a long time, many people have thought about if should military service be mandatory or not. This is a controversial issue. I think military service should be required because people can learn be responsible and gain many different skills and experiences.
To begin with, mandatory military service is a good idea because people can learn to be responsible. Nowadays teenage problems have become more and more serious than before and the military is a perfect place to help them be responsible because in the army, people have to obey orders. If they disobey, they will be punished. For example, one of my friends, Kevin, is an irresponsible guy. However, since he joined the military he changed and he learned how to be a very responsible man. In conclusion, mandatory military service can help people learn about their duty.
Second, people can learn many skills from military, so military service should be required. If people are interested in some special skill when they enlist in the armed forces. They will be assigned specific duties according to their request. For instance, when I joined the army, I already had had a driver’s license for four years, so I chose to be a driver and I learned some skill about car, such as taking care of cars and how to check the cars’ conditions. Another example is my old brother. His major was accounting in his university, so he learned something about reporting taxes and rendering an account in the army. In short, people can learn some new skills for free in the military, so military service should be required.
Lastly, to have contact with different people through mandating military service is an advantage because people can learn from and understand others and make some new friends. First, people should have contact with other people and have some new friends. For example, if military service is mandatory, when people join the army, they will meet different kinds of people and try to understand them. To sum up, the military is a good place to have contact with others.
In conclusion, military service should be required because people can learn to be responsible and they will have different experiences with other people and understand them better.
By Yueh-Chen Wu (Jacky)
Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments »
April 25th, 2010
Every Thursday the IEC basketball club plays at 3:45 at College Park High School. The players are very friendly and kind. We think the club should have drinks for the students. Marshall, the most handsome teacher in IEC, is the teacher of the basketball club, We also have a great leader named Mark. Our clubs seems like a big family. We have several good players like Jacky, Mark, Thomas, John and Baihao. We have more than 15 players every time, and we enjoy our fun times.
By IEC’s Basketball Club Members
Tags: basketball, iec activities, sports, student life
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April 25th, 2010
“World Cup.” These two words excite people. Many people around the world really like soccer. The people of each country become one. Everyone cheers for their country, wishing that their country would win the tournament. If their team doesn’t win, everyone becomes sad and some people cry. If they win, everyone becomes very happy. The World Cup world is one of the biggest events in the world, so I had short interviews with some IEC students who are looking forward to seeing The World Cup games.
Richard (Korea): I will cheer for Korea because I’m Korean, although I’m not interested in soccer.
Klimof (Angola): I’ll cheer for Angola because I’m from Angola and I hope Angola’s team plays with other national soccer teams.
Isabela (Brazil): I will root for Brazil. The World Cup is fun and Brazil is a good team.
Jack (Taiwan): I will cheer for Brazil. Brazil is famous. If they lose a game in the World Cup I will feel strange because they usually win the World Cup.
Tommy (China): I will root for China because I’m Chinese and the Word Cup is wonderful to enjoy.
Jairo (Bolivia): I’ll cheer for Bolivia because I’m from Bolivia. Also, I like how they play.
Mori (Japan): I will cheer for Japan because I’m Japanese. I’m a nationalist. I like sports competition between country and country.
By Jang Won Suh
Tags: soccer, student editorial, world cup
Posted in soccer, sports, student editorial | 1 Comment »
April 1st, 2010
Hi! This is the IEC Board Game Club. Our club’s teacher is Anrisa, who is beautiful and kind, and we have 14 members. They are all kind and friendly, so if you come to our club, you can enjoy it and make good friends.
We have Monopoly, Clue, Jenga, Uno, Bonanza, Pictionary, chess, cadoo and Bang. We usually play Monopoly and Bang, games that are really good. Moreover, we have club meeting once a week, We always meet on Fridays from 1 p.m. to 5p.m. at IEC. If you don’t have plans on Friday, just come to our club. You can make friends and improve your English because we always speak English. If you want to have a good experience, come and join us.
By Kyoun Su Park
Tags: clubs
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April 1st, 2010
On March 12th~14th, 10 IEC students went to Santa Barbara on an activity. I interviewed a student named StarFace from Korea. He and his friends rented van. There were 10 students – six males and four females – which mainly consisted of French people and Spanish people. They went to a beach, Six Flag of Magic Mountain and UCSB.
StarFace had been interested in Santa Barbara, especially in 6 Flags. He tried Sky dive, which he had wanted to try. “ It was scary but exciting,” he said. The fee of Sky dive has 3 options. For one person it is $25, for two people it is $20 per each and for three people it is $15 each. Also, there were many beautiful girls outside of the UCSB campus. “I saw many beautiful girls in front of UCSB, so I was so happy,” said StarFace. In addition, they played volleyball and soccer. Starface said, “ I want to go again.”
by Jang Won Suh
Tags: iec activities
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April 1st, 2010
Wow! IEC offers some new recycle bins!
A few days ago, I heard that IEC bought some new recycle bins. It is pleasant to hear that. However, sometimes the recycle bins area full of the garbage. Is that really help for people to protect the environment?
The environment is important for us, that is what people know and that is also the only thing that some people know. They do not care about this issue because it is none of their business. The question is why do we have to protect the environment? It is everyone’s business, not just the government’s business. The reason is it effects our health indirectly. When the air pollution is very serious, the water that we drink is also polluted and then the food has a lot of chemicals. When it comes to people, we just eat the dirty food and drink the dirty water everyday. It is kind of chronic affect.
What have I seen in the USA? There are still a lot of people using plastic bags even they do not really need it, especially in Pleasant Hill and among students. The recycle bins are not enough for the apartments, houses and DVC, at least I could not find one near by ET.
What can we do to protect our environment? It is just very easy. There are 4R we can do for this. Firstly, Reduce. People can just reduce to buy the things that is not necessary and the garbage would be reduce too. Secondly, Reuse. Do not throw away the things that still work or we can use twice. Thirdly, Recycle. The things that you do not use anymore but still work, just give it to others and recycle the resources. Finally, Replace. Using other things to instead of things that cannot recycle.
For example, use e-mail instead of letters. Actually we can do it everyday and very easily. In our daily life, we just separate the waste material and using the recycle bays when shopping. The well-known brand also can design some beautiful recycle bags and encourage people to use them. This would be the best guidance for people who like to buy well-known brands’ products.
Some of the IEC students should improve their knowledge about being environmentally friendly. I strongly believe that we can do it well. There is one video from TED.com. I got this video from my afternoon class teacher. She is supposed to give us a harder job, however I like it a lot. It is about the chimpanzees and the environment. I would not tell how is the connection between the chimpanzee and the environment. If you want to know it just go to TED.com. The title is“Jane Goodall on what separates us from the apes.” It is interesting!
by Katrina Kwok
Posted in iec info, student editorial | No Comments »
April 1st, 2010
San Francisco's Japantown
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, the second largest one outside of D.C. will be held soon with the coming of spring. Each year, over 150,000 people participate in this celebration and appreciate Japanese culture and beautiful cherry blossoms. This festival will show you material arts, Japanese-style parade, traditional music, and so on. You will you have opportunity to see not only traditional Japanese culture but also up- to-date one. Moreover, there are food booth, live band, and annual queen, so men and women of all ages will enjoy this festival.
This year’s Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday April 10-11 and April 17-18, 2010. Besides, the festival will be held on post Street between Laguna and Fillmore Street. If you use bus from Union Square, you take the No. 38 bus on Geary Street, or the No. 2,3 or 4 on Sutter Street and get off at Laguna, Buchanan, or Webster.
For us, Japanese, cherry blossoms have much to do with our life. We find the coming of spring by cherry blossom bud, and sense spring as looking bloom of them. When the cherry trees are at their best, we hold banquet called “Ohanami” under these trees. People spread a picnic blanket, sit on it, and rejoice wealthy season as eating and drinking. I think this festival is pretty similar to “Ohanami”. They are different styles, but they have a common point that people come together, and share the joy of spring. What’s more, the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival waits for you with a lot of cultural events! This April, why don’t you join the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, and taste Japanese style spring?
By Ayumu Nanki
Tags: san francisco
Posted in iec activities, san francisco | No Comments »
April 1st, 2010
Many IEC students are interested in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Why are they interested in the DMV? The reason is they want to have a driver’s license, and they have to go to the DMV to get it. However, many students don’t know much about the the DMV, for example how to get a license. How long does it take to get it? I’ll write about my experience.
First, if you go to the DMV, you will see a line, and you should stand in line to get a number from the receptionist. Then, you should wait for your number. It takes an hour in general. If it’s your turn, you can go to the window shown on a kind of electronic display, and you will register and have simple eyesight test. Next, you will take a license picture. Here’s a tip: Don’t wear a cap when you go to the DMV. Next, you will have a paper test.
You can choose to take the paper test in your language if you are Korean, Japanese, Chinese or Spanish. You will have three chances. There are three different types of test. If you pass the test, you will get a temporary license, which lets you can buy and drive a car. You also can make a reservation for driving test.
Here are a few important tips. First, don’t go to The DMV late, especially after 3 o’clock. If you are at the DMV at this time, you can’t finish everything. They close The DMV at a fixed time even though there are waiting people. Therefore, if you don’t finish the test or get a temporary drivers’ license, you have to go to the DMV again. In the case of temporary driver’ license, you have to pay money for it.
by Jang Won Suh
Tags: student life
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