Week 13 Question

Wow! I really enjoyed reading your week 12 responses to the Hellgate visit. I'm happy that it was such a positive experience for you.

For week 13, I'd like to add one final piece to our Hellgate experience. This weekend, you are all doing your best to answer questions the Hellgate students still had for you. For this week's blog entry, I'd like you all to do the same. To be exact, I'd like you all to write two final questions for the Hellgate students. Your questions should be questions that you had wanted to ask, but weren't able to ask for whatever reason. These questions might have to do with your essay topic, or they could simply have to do with some issue you are still curious about. I will later forward these questions on to Hixson and ask her students to respond to them.

Week 12 Question

Once again, I'd like to thank you all for doing such a great job at Hellgate HS on Wednesday. I hope it was as fun/interesting for you as it was for me.

For this week's question, I'd like you to reflect upon our experience at Hellgate. Based on the observations you were able to make about the teachers, students, classrooms, and the school in general, what is the most significant difference between American high schools and high schools in your country? Please give specific examples to support your answer.

As a follow-up question: What was the best part (for you) of our visit to Hellgate?

Week 11 Question

This week's question is on the less-than-serious side.

Halloween is probably my favorite holiday (as far as holiday's go). Maybe it's the fact that I've got a huge sweet tooth, or it could be that there always seems to be something fun to do on Halloween night. Then again, it might have something to do with the fact that I love Stephen King, a famous horror author.

Anyways, this week's question comes in three parts: First, what did you think about Halloween before you came to the U.S.? Second, what were your impressions of the holiday after your first Halloween (for those of you who have been here for more than a year)? And finally, what are you going to do/what did you do for this year's Halloween?

Week 10 Question

On Nov. 3rd we will take a short field trip to a local high school. During this visit, you will have the opportunity to meet and talk to American high school students. We will also use this visit as a way to generate ideas for Essay #4.

As a prelude to this trip, I'd like for you to discuss your impressions of American high school students. More specifically, I'd like you to explain what stereotypes you have about high school students in the U.S. (your assumptions about what you think American high school students are like). These stereotypes can be based on movies, TV shows, pop music, hearsay, or personal experience.

Week 9 Question

This week's question is perhaps a no-brainer (you were probably expecting it).

Last night most of you were present for the play "Brighton Beach Memoirs." To be sure, there were some moments during the play when I was a little embarrassed due to "questionable" content. Conversely, there were times when I thought the play evoked the honest sentiment of a close-knit family trying to struggle through the Great Depression. My opinions aside, let's focus on your impressions of the play.

First, what was your overall impression of "Brighton Beach Memoirs"?

As a follow-up: Did you find any of the play's content inappropriate, offensive, or otherwise unnecessary? Why or why not?

For those who didn't attend: What movie have you seen recently that you felt "crossed the line" in terms of appropriate/inappropriate content?

Week 8 Question

I've enjoyed reading your entries for week 7. It doesn't at all surprise me that some you are less than crazy about American food. I myself have had trouble finding palatable food here in the U.S. since returning from Korea back in August.

On to this week's question......The fact that you've got mid-terms next week is something I'm sure you're all aware of. Good luck to all of you. This week's question pertains to what you do when you've got a stressful week of studying ahead (like mid-terms). To be exact, what specific studying strategies do you employ when you have a big test or even multiple tests coming up? What do you do to stay focused, motivated, and consistently engaged in your studies?

Week 7 Question

This week's question is different from previous questions in that it's a little less serious and it has nothing to do with any of our in-class topics.

You are all living and studying here in the U.S. Therefore, you are all (to some extent) forced to eat American food, listen to American music, interact with Americans, watch American TV shows/movies, etc. I'm sure a few of you may very well enjoy eating American food and listening to American music on a regular basis, but it is probably also true that a number of you miss your home country's food, music, social interactions, and so on.

Which part of American culture do you enjoy the most? Why?

Conversely, what aspect of your country's culture do you miss the most? Why?