assignment 7

PenPal News Final Project Options:

1. Interview someone important to you. Use questions from this website to get you started.

Write up: 1) a summary of what the person said in the interview 2) what surprised you and what interested you most about you learned.

2. Write an opinion piece about a current event or an issue in your community or the world.Describe what is happening, how you feel about it and why.

You can read about things happening near you on these websites:
Taipei Times - Taiwan
Taiwan Today - Taiwan
The Slovenia Times - Slovenia

You can read about things happening around the world on these websites:
Yahoo World
CNN
BBC

3. Write an article about where you live.
Is there an event coming up? Is a big change happening?
What’s something interesting or challenging that your community is going through?
Describe:
What is happening? / What has happened? / What will happen?
Where it is happening? / Where has it happened? / Where will it happen?
Who is involved? / Who was involved? / Who will be involved?
Why is it happening? / Why did it happen? / Why will it happen?
Talk to people about your topic and write about what they said and how you feel about it.

4. Write about an issue that you discussed with your penpal. 
What is the issue?
Write what your penpal felt about it
Write what you originally thought about it
If your thoughts changed, write about why they did
If your thoughts didn’t change, write about why they didn’t

5. Write a personal news story. You can write about something that happened to you recently that was funny, sad, weird or surprising. (Must be appropriate for school) 

After you’ve finished this assignment, please complete this short survey about PenPal News.

HW#4 Tina

I think they will need help for their medical troubles and a place for them to live in.
There was an earthquake in Ljubljana many years ago, but today if there is an earthquake it's a very small one.
Yes we have donated some money to The Red Cross before.

Have you ever experienced an earthquake or typhoon, what did you do?
How does your country recover from an earthquake or typhoon?

HW#4 Katja

1. Emergency relief workers from all around the world are helping Turkish victim by sending them water, food, medicine and other things to help them survive these hard times. The most important is drinking water, because the quake destroyed plumbing system and infected water. I admire these workers very much!

2. The strongest earthquake on my territory was in 1895. It was a long time ago and I only read about it and saw photos. Whole town Ljubljana was crushed down and many people died. Since then, no such larger natural disaster happened here. Every few years there are some floods on some parts of Slovenia but fortunately not many people die. But there are some families left without houses.

3. Special bank accounts are opened for such families and we've already donated some money for them. Sometimes we gather some old clothes and take them to organization called Karitas, which also provides such help to these people in natural accidents.

HW#4 Petja

1.) Emergency relief workers provide food, clothes, tents,.. But some people steel all of them don't have shelter, so they have to fight the cold night under the blankets and in front of camp fires. I think, that is really nice that there are some people, that are willing to help the people that were hurt in earthquake.

2.) On April 14th, 1895, there was an earthquake that struck the Ljubljana, the capital and largest city in Slovenia. About ten percent of the buildings were damaged or destroyed, although few people died in the destruction. Slovenia is citied on earthquake area; we have about 1000 earthquakes for a year. But they are smaller so we can't feel them.

3.) Yes, we donated to UNICEF. In my school we collect school supplies which we donate to the one who need them. I like to help, because it's nice and if you have enough, why couldn't donate just a little of that to those who can't afford it.

4.) Hey! So i was wondering if any of the natural disasters ever hurt you? And if you could live anywhere on the world, where would it be?

HW#4 Tiona

1. Many countries helped Turkey by sending them money, food , water, clothes and other important things. They also need tents to sleep in because their houses are collapse. I hope they will be fine.
2. Slovenia lies on earthquake area. That means that earthquakes happen every day here but they are not very strong. The last earthquake was today at 5.40 AM near Grosuplje. We also have many floods. The most destroing flood was in year 2007 in Železniki. There were many victims.
3. No, we didn't helped anyone yet.

4. Did you ever be a part of earthquake?
Was there any tsunami in your county because you live on the island?

HW#4 Tjasa

1.  I don't know. Donating money, clothes, food and stuff.
2. Of course there was. The worst earthquake in Ljubljana happened in 1895. There are floods when it rains a lot... The worst happend last year and it was near me.
3.Yes, my family donated money for rebuilding the affected areas.

HW#4 Marija

It is horrible what I just read. The number of victims amazed me. I think it would be horrible for me if this would happened in Slovenia. I think people there right now need a big help . They need a lot of food, something to drink and things like that. In country where I live already happend disaster earthquakes. I think it must be really hard for them right now. Well my mom is really good woman. If she could help she would deffinetly help anyone. Well i wonder if there was any of natural disasters. Have you or your familiy ever experienced typhoon or earthquake?

HW#4 Gregor

Emergency relief workers are helping all Turkish victims by sending them emergency relief items such as food, water, medicine, medical supplies, hygiene kits, winterized tents, kerosene heaters/cook stoves and utensils to thousands of Turkish families who have been affected by the earthquake.

In Slovenia, the strongest earthquake was in 1895. I only read articles about it and I saw some photos. The capital city Ljubljana was crushed and there were a lot of victims. We also had floods in Slovenia in the year 2007. The town called ''Železniki'' was flooded. 3 people died and more than 300 houses were flooded. Every few years there are some floods in Slovenia but not many people die.

We have many organizations to help the victims of disasters. We donate food, water and old clothes to those organizations. There are also special bank accounts opened for those people. We once helped one family. Their house was flooded and we donated some money and toys.

Do you think we can prevent the damage, caused by disasters by inventing some kind of machines which would warn us?
Have you ever been in a natural disaster?

HW#4 Matjaz

1. I could probably donate to one of the many organisations that would then give money to the Turks. I could also donate some clothes.

2. Yes. There was a huge earthquake in 1900s. There are also many floods.

3. My family never donated, because we don't trust organisations. Many people take money for themselves so our help wouldn't reach poor people. But we sometimes go to the concerts that are organised in humanitarian purposes.

HW#4 Gasper

1. They help them by giving them things that they need. They give them food and drinks aswell as medical attention. Those who have friends or family try to relly on them for shelter and the other things.


2. There has never been a earthquake or any natural dissaster where i live. Where i live the most that could happen is an avalanche because i live under a hill. But 100 years ago there was a pretty bad earthquake in our capital city (Ljubljana).


3. I myself never donated money. In 4th grade i belive we donated some books and toys for the children of africa.

HW#4 Sara

1.) The emergency things for victims of the quake are food and drink and some more tents. Some of people have their own tent but they sharing those tent with some relatives. But some people does not have a tent and they are waiting to get one. Many of them need medical help.

2.) In our country are almost every day some smaller earthquakes, which havn't some big implications. The last strong earthquake was in year 2004 in Posočje. From the year 1348 to today there was 13 stronger earthquaken in Slovenia.

3.) No, but I was younger then and I wasn't realy know about earthquake and about victims. But now I would help if I could.

4.) Do you have experiance with earthquake?

HW#4 Peter

There is a lot of victims in Turkey and they need doctors because some of them are seriously injured. I think now they need as much as caring as they can get from other peopple.

 

Yes in Ljubljana there is every 100 years very strong earthquake that kills a lot of peopple and destroys a lot of bildings. Last earthquake was 120 years ago.

 

3. We did donate some money in school for poor peopple in Africa and for some peopple in slovenia that cant pay for school books.

HW#4 Anja

There were a lot of crews from other countires that rescued people out of the collapsed buildings. A lot of people need help and Turkish deliverd them tents because their homes are destroyed.
There was an eartquake before I was born. But when it rains a lot there are floods. It happend near me last year.
Of course, my family donated money to help who can't buy food for themselves. I also donated money for children in Africa.

HW#4 Blaz

1. The relief workers provide food water and shelter. They also help prevent sicknes and contageus disseases. I think that they are doing the best the can right now but its just not enough.

2.No. Luckely we have rare earthquakes and natural disasters. The only bad one was about a 100 years ago but it was so bad that we were rebuilding our capital for the next ten years.

3. Yes we often give second hand clothing and some money. My famliy thinks its important that we help those in need and we like to think that they would help us. Our school also gives donations to the needy every year.

HW#4 Emilija

Emergency relief workers are bringing victims food, water and clothes. They are also rescueing the survivors and giving them the care that they need.

In Slovenia natural disasters like earthquakes don't happen very often. If they do they don't cause a lot of damages.

Yes, my family donated money to children in Africa and I gave all of my toys and things that I didn't need or use to children which didn't have them or to the children with diseases.

Terry's HW - Assignment 6

1. I am on a social networking sites and I agreed that peers are mostly kind of social networking sites. I think the reason for that is because why bullying someone when you and me are already friends?

2. I have only seen bullying once, and it happened six month ago. At the time, I was eating lunch at school, then I heard a classmate yelling, so I went to check it out. Then I saw three of my classmates were grabbing one of my classmates, they forced him to open his mouth, and then they ‘feed’ a lot of foods into his mouth. I really believe that bullying is a very bad behavior.

3. I am on social networking sites, but I tried to control time spend using the site. I didn’t ‘‘friends’’ with my parents. The reason for that is because my parents think social networking site is not a good thing; that they think it is bad for students.

4. Is Slovenia a very beautiful place?

Have you ever visited USA?

Shelly's HW - Assignment 6

1.      Nowadays, almost everyone is on social networking sites. Social networking sites is very easy to use, Facebook for example, allows people to find their friend very easily. And yes, I feel that peers are mostly kind on social networking sites.

2.      I have not seen any bullying, and I think bullying is a very serious problem. Although social networking sites is very easy to use and peers on these sites are mostly kind, I think we should still protect ourselves while we are social networking online.

3.      Yes, I am on social networking sites, and I have added my parents as my friends. My father feels social networking sites is good because he found many of his former friends.

4.      Q1: What is Slovenia’s education like?

Q2: Are Slovenia’s people kind? 

Kiki's HW - Assignment 6

1. Ya I feel that friends are mostly kind on social networking sites. I think bullying is a bad behavior; people can’t just bully others because they hate someone.

2. I have seen bullying before, because one of my friends used to bullying others. However, because of this reason, everybody hates her. That’s why I think bullying is a stupid behavior and I never bullied anyone. So, do not bully others, bullying is a wrongful behavior.

3. I am on a social networking site called “facebook”. Many of my friends are on this site, and I think it is fun! No, my parents are not on any of the social networking sites.

4. Is there a special national holiday in Slovenia?

If there is, what Slovenian people normally do on that day?

Eric's HW - Assignment 6

1.      I think peers are mostly kind on social networking sites because many people like to use it to chat with their friends. Also, it is probably because that people can block others very easily.

2.      No, I haven’t seen any bullying. Yet I have heard about bullying, and I think bullying is very bad.

3.      Yes, I am on a social networking site called Facebook. That is because my friends are on the sites and my parents think that is okay for us. By joining the site, we find that it’s very convenient for us to communicate to one another.

4.      Can you tell me about life in Slovenia?

Do you know the anything about culture in my country? Can you tell me anything about culture in your country?

Rex's HW - Assignment 6

1. I think the communication nowadays is getting more and more convenient, for example, by using social networking sites; you can meet a lot of friends online. But in my opinion, I do not think making friends online is good an idea, because you can only communicate through typing. In addition, you can never know what is true, whether picture or viewpoint.

2. I do not have any experience about bulling or seen bullying, since I do not like to stay with arrogant people. If I see anyone bullying others, I will stop him right away.

3. Yes, I am on one of the social networking sites, and my friends and my parents are also on the websites. They all think that it was very convenient way to communicate with each other. By using social networking sites, I can share my problems and or feelings and a lot of people will help me answer it.

        4. Have you traveled to any other country?

        How many countries have you traveled?

Gao/Bolt's HW - Assignment 6

1.      I think that peers are mostly kind on social networking sites because most of their friends on social networking sites are either their classmates or family members. So why would they bully you since you are one of their friend?

2.      I have never seen any bullying because my classmates are kind to each other. I think bullying is a bad behavior and I hope I’ll never see it!

3.      I am on a social networking site called “Facebook”. I think this is a great way for people to communicate with their friends. And no, my parents allowed me using social networking sites.

4.      What you normally do on weekends?

What is your favorite activity?

Kiki's HW - Assignment 5

(1) The garden is established with small gravel roads, covered with wood and act as a barrier for the visually impaired students. There are also many flowers and soil along the roads. The garden is a nice way to train these students to walk.
(2)  Yes, our government has build many facilities to help visually-disabled people. For example, in my community , there are accessible stairs, and they are big and clean!
(3) I think my family will be sad if I am visually-disabled. The reason for that is because then I can't see anything, and most of the time I'll need someone to look after me. Not only that, they'll probably feel sad because I can't see all these amazing stuff and scenery.                   
(4) Do people in Slovenia travel to other european countries often? Because it is really close, like Italy, for example.                                                         What is your favorite European country? And why?

Shelly's HW -Assignment 5

1. The garden helps visually-disabled students to learn how to plant vegetables and fruits. First, they have to use stakes to build small stones lane, then simulate walking on the streets. The garden also provides other good lessons, such as to let the students learn music.

2. Taiwan government has made many facilities to help visually-disabled people, such as blind bricks and visually-disabled guiding dogs. Most of our tax money has gone in purchasing things such as facilities and buildings to help these people.

3. I think it will be terrible if I am visually-disabled. Because then it’s almost impossible for me to study, make friends, and to understand this big world. That’ why I think we should help these visually-disabled students, and let everyone accept them.

4.question1: Is everything orderly in Slovenia?

  Question2: Is Slovenia’s food delicious?

Gao/Bolt's HW - Assignment 5

1. The garden helps them to know the world because they can use their hands to touch and feel many different things. They will soon realize that even though they can't see anything, they can still touch something, and use this information to imagine the shape.

2. Our government has build bathrooms especially for the disabled. This way, they can use bathrooms easily. Our government has also created some activities to help the disabled, in order to train them to do things that most people can do.

3. I think it will be very difficult for me to be a visually-disabled individual. The reason for that is because then you won't be able to see anything, such as seeing the beautiful sky, sea, and people. Not only that, it will destroy my relationships because visually-disabled individual often have difficulties to make friends, that they don't like people to look at them. Moreover, because they aren't confident, they don't talk much. However, if their friends help them, they will start to like the world and themselves.  

4. Have you been on an airplane before? where have you been?
Have you tried any Chinese food before? What's your favorite dish? Is there any Chinese restaurant near where you live?

Rex's HW - Assignment 5

1. The garden helps visually-disabled students because it has a lot of facilities to train them. For example, there is a road with lots of woods and many dangerous things. In order to cross the road, the students' family or friends will help them, this can give these students an idea in how to avoid danger and walk safely.

2. Our government has made a kind of road that is specially designed for these visually-disabled. For example, there are yellow barriers on the roads; and when the disabled want to across the road, they can use a special stick to find out where these barriers are, or if there is anything that is danger. I think this is a great idea.                         
                      
3. I can never think about how it feels like because I know being a visually-disabled individual is terrible. For example, there's nothing you can see, and you have to work really hard just to know the environment. I don't know if there is anything else that can really help them.

4. What you want become in the future?            
Are you good at any other foreign language? Other than English.    

Eric's HW -Assignment 5

1. The garden helps visually-disabled students by providing an environment that allows them to train how to walk safely across the street. This is an amazing visually-disabled school garden!

2. Our government helps the disabled by building gravel roads. I think this is good because like the garden, the gravel road will give these disabled people a chance to learn how to walk safely.

3. I think it will be terrible if I am visually-disabled. Because then there's nothing I can see. This is the reason why I think we should help those disabled when possible, because what they need is love and caring from others.

4. How many famous places are there in your country?
Is there a lot of delicious food in your country?

Assignment 6

ASSIGNMENT #6

Read this article about a study about bullying on social networks. Answer the following questions in the box below (write at least 3 sentences for each one):
1. The study says that two thirds of teenagers say their peers are mostly kind on social networking sites. What do you think?
2. The study says that 12 percent of teens have experienced bullying in the past 12 months. Have you ever experienced bullying or seen bullying happening? If you did, what happened?
3. Are you on any social networking sites? Are you “friends” with your parents on these site? How do your parents feel about social networking?
4. Ask your penpal two questions about anything else you’d like to know about life in Taiwan or Slovenia

Terry's HW - Assignment 5

1. The garden helps visually disabled children to cross the obstacle on the road. It let them learn how to walk on the street, and teaches them talent. Not only that, it might let them to be able to find a comfortable job in the future.

2. In Taiwan, the government helps disabled to live in a special place, earn a special salary and provide subsidy. They also held some activity for them. Such as special works for them, and use their talent in suitable ways.

3. I think it is very terrible to be visually disabled. The reason for that is because, then you can not see anything. All you see is darkness. I will be very afraid of it, and maybe my relationship will go down because anybody may think I am a troublesome.

4. Is there any place you want go in or near Slovenia?

  If possible, would you like to study aborad?

Assignment: Assignment #5

Instructions:

This week you’ll be learning about a special garden that was built in Ljubljana, Slovenia for visually impaired children.

Watch a video about the garden here.

Answer the following questions in the box below (write at least 3 sentences for each one):

1. How does the garden help visually-disabled children?

2. The garden is one example of the government helping disabled people. How else does the government help disabled people where you live?

3. What do you think it would be like to be visually-disabled? How do you think it would change your relationships with your family and friends?

4. Answer the questions your penpal asked you last week and ask your penpal two more questions.

Eric's HW - Assignment 4

1. The emergency relief workers call the ambulance and helicopter to rescue the survivors after the earthquake strikes Turkey. However, I think what they also need is food, water and clothes, because this is human’s basic needs.

2. Yes, there was a big earthquake hit Taiwan on Sept.21/1999, the year I was born. It is terrible, because so many people were killed in that earthquake. I hope this kind of disaster will never happen in Taiwan again.

3. Me and my family has never helped or donated money to people in need. But, I think donating money to help people is a good thing. I think I’ll save money to donate in the future.

Assignment 5, a garden built for visually-disabled students

Okay. I actually found something else that I found interesting about a garden built for visually-disabled students in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where your student's penpals are from.  

http://www.cnn.com/video/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_freevideo+%28RSS%3A+Video%29#/video/international/2011/06/03/wv.seeing.other.senses.cnn

I think it is something both groups might enjoy and might spark some interesting conversations.

Shelly's HW - Assignment 4

1.      Many rescuers want to save people that are stuck in the rubble. Their houses are destroyed, and the emergency relief workers are delivering tents to people. The Red Crescent provides foods, such as soup, rice and beans to those who have nothing to eat.

2.      Yes, we had a horrible earthquake occurred on Sept.21/1999, it occurred in the middle of the night. It is measured magnitude 7.5 and killed many people. We also had horrible typhoons, for example, a typhoon named Morakot strike Taiwan in 2009, many places floods, and many people’s houses were destroyed. The Sept.21 earthquake and typhoon Morakot was horrible.

3.      Yes, we have donated money to those who suffered from typhoon Morakot. My relatives are the one who rescue the victims. I also have a cousin, he is a soldier at the time, and he goes to the disaster area to clean people’s houses.

Rex's HW - Assignment 4

1. Actually, emergency relief workers helped these survivors a lot. I think it is bad if we just say how terrible the quake was, but didn’t do any thing. We must do something, doesn’t matter if we just donate some money or clothes, foods, or anything else.

2. Yes, on August eighth last year we just had a terrible hurricane. It rained so hard and lightning was everywhere, that was a terrible day. Many trees, cars, and roads are destroyed. Lots of water flow into houses, and rivers immediately, but, some houses were okay. Luckily, the area near my home had not been destroyed that bad.

                  

3. Yes, we sometimes donated money to those in need. Although we did not give much, we are still happy that we could help others, and not taking anything from anyone. In the future, we will keep helping those who need help.

Kiki's HW - Assignment 4

1. Right now, emergency relief workers are providing clothing and foods to quake victims. I think this is important because no one can survive without foods, and clothing is what keeps people warm. And this is very caring because winter is coming.

2. Yes, there is a lot of natural disaster in Taiwan. For example, we had a hurricane two years ago and it is horrible. It destroys many people’s houses, and it brings a 2 billion loss.

3. Yes, me and my family has helped people in need by donating some old clothes. I think this is a great way to help people, other than donating money.

GAo/Bolt's HW - Assignment 4

1. They provide Turkish victims some tent, water, and food because the quake destroyed everything. I think right now, what Turkish people need is caring, love, and help from others.

2. Yes, there was a terrible typhoon hit Taiwan in 2008, named Morako, it destroyed most of south Taiwan. And not only that, it killed more than a thousand people.

3. Yes, this year there was a big earthquake hit Japan, and my family has donated more than ten thousand dollars to help. Thanks to everyone around the world, Japan is now recovering from the disaster.

Terry's HW - Assignment 4

1. The emergency relief worker provide life necessity and health care to Turkish victims of the quake. Though, the help they provide were not enough, every country is trying to help them. They also help themselves by settle its people and clean the environment.

2. Yes, I have experienced earthquakes and some other type of disaster, like typhoon. For example, typhoon always brings Taiwan strong winds and heavy rain. And because Taiwan is small, there are always floods everywhere. It was truly a disaster!

3. Yes, my family has donated money to people in need. Sometimes, I feel there are a lot of people who need help. So, why don’t we just give them a hand?