Age and Youth, Pablo Casals

Casuals, a cellist, conductor and composer, had considerably positive attitude toward life. He perfectly inspired himself to live and to work. Even though, he was ninety-three years old at that time, he still liked and was avid to do his job. He considered his work as his life. It, moreover, was the best remedy for age. Each day he was reborn because of doing his love job. Retirement for him, in contrast, means beginning to die.

Besides, Casuals also loved the sea. The reason why he lived by the sea was that he loved it. In the passage, he compared between his job and the sea to show us his opinion. Although capability to do the perfect job might be ruined by age increasing, his pride of the job he did remained intact. As one of his statement said, "My walks are shorter than they used to be, but that does not lessen the wonder of the sea".

American Values and Assumption

- Privacy -

Americans consider privacy important for life. They think that all people need some time to themselves and need some time alone. When other people like to be with another person, Americans will regard such people as weak. Americans seem open and inviting, but they always have boundaries in their minds. Sometimes their yearning for privacy also results in their aloof manner.

From my perspective, it is true that everyone needs some time alone. Likewise, I do not want to have a telephone call when I am hurry to finish homework at the last minute. In this kind of situation, privacy will become the first priority. However, I also like being with friends or family and definitely, I do not want anyone to look down on me that I am not strong enough. Than being alone, I only think that it must be better if I have a conversation with some people who care me. Being a social animal, I consider it mutual relationship.

Sunday in the park

On a Sunday afternoon, her husband, their son and she were at a small playground. There was a fatter boy playing the sand near her son and threw sand to her son. Therefore, she decided to prohibit the boy from doing that. However, the boy's father encouraged the boy to continue doing what the boy wanted and told them that the place was public. Against her deep expectation to fight, her husband gave in and forced their son to quit playing and go home. Concurrently, the husband explained to her many reasons why he did so. However, what she really thought then is included in the thesis statement that "She sensed that it was more than just an unpleasant incident, more than defeat of reason by force. She felt dimly it had something to do with her and Morton, something acutely personal, familiar and important". Moreover, she felt against her husband more when they all reached home but the son had still been crying. Her husband tried to exercise his power at home by ordering her to displine the son. Besides, he almost hit the son if she did not stop him. What she had seen that day made her unsatisfied and doubt in her husband.
(Sunday in the park by Bel Kaufman)

From my perspective, people can avoid arguments or fighting with many reasons. To keep world peace or to keep meaningful family and friends safe, it still sounds sensible. The reason why I take side of the wife is that he avoided fighting with other people but he blamed his little child who did nothing wrong. He should not have behaved like that. However, if I could hear what the husband was really thinking, I might be able to analyze the situation more thoroughly. Maybe, there were some reasons behind.

Loi krathong Great Festival 8-12 Nov 2008

http://www.loikrathong.net/en/history.php

“Loi Krathong” is a Thailand's festival on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month. 'Loi' means floating and 'Krathong' is a banana–leaf cup. Thai people's belief is to float away bad luck and to apologize the River Goddess that they might accidentally tarnish the river in the last year. Some believe that Loi krathong originally is to worship the Buddha's footprint on the bank of the Narmada River. On this ritual day, people usually make Krathong decorated with flowers and float them onto the river. However, there are some differences varied by certain communities. For example, in Tak province, people gather at the river banks and each brings thousands of Krathong made from dried coconut shells. When lit Krathongs are floated onto the right current, one after another, they make a beautiful and shiny line in the night. Sukhothai province also has a uniquely traditional procession of floral offerings carried by beautiful girls, called Nang Nopphamat. Generally, the bright candle light from the floated Krathongs and the cool breeze of November together captures all participants' pleasure. This year's festival takes place on November 8-12th.

I like this festival because it makes that night attractive. Candle light, fragrant of decorated flowers and sound of original Thai song freeze me with happiness. Resulting from this festival, fun stories take place. For example, Thai students traditionally invite the one whom they secretly admire to float Krathong together. I guess it is because the impressive surrounding environment in this festival will support their relationship stronger. However, there are rumors for some places that will curse any couples who float Krathongs together to break up. Moreover, some people believe that the candle light of their Krathongs brown up by wind, their Krathongs turned over by currents, or Krathongs of their partner floated apart can tell unsmooth relationship of the couples tending to happen in the future.

Second language learning

Summary

Both infant bilinguals and learners of an additional language can be called "Second language learner". Learning may be formal or informal such as in classrooms or in playgrounds. Nowadays, the most learned language is likely to be English. Characteristics of learners cause the differences between individual learners. Intelligence, language aptitude and language learning strategies definitely impact their performances. For example, learners who have more intelligence and more gift for language learning will be more easily successful than others. Moreover, the research found that those successful learners have different strategies from those who are not. Besides, language attitudes usually result in performances as well. The learners who are full of motivation devote enormous efforts to reach the goal. In contrast, the anxious learners dare neither to participate in English class nor even to ask when they are confused with how to use the language perfectly. Therefore, their performances tend not to be improved as the confident learners'.
(Mitchell & Myles, pp. 17-20) - Parenthetical citation

Personal Response

I almost totally agree with the above statement. First, good strategies lead us to the goals. For example, when I intended to take TOEFL, I had to draw a good plan to achieve it and I had to benchmark my strategy with others', especially successful learners' in order to be sure that my plan really made sense and had most probability for achievement. Second, good attitudes always support me to do to the best of my ability. Sometimes I lack of confidence to present something to others because I do not believe that I can make it. This bad attitude results in my worse performance. No one will be convinced of my presentation. In contrast, when I perform confidently, the reliability of my presentation is increased. However, I disagree with some of above statement. I think aptitudes and intelligences can be improved if we work hard. From my experience, I have many clever friends in my primary school. They were supposed to achieve in higher studies if their innate abilities really impact their performances. Nevertheless, they could not do it because they do not keep studying hard as other students do. Consequently, other students' performances of studying overpass theirs.