ESL Web Site for Students and Teachers 

"Informational Essays" 

Level Two Students - Low Intermediate 

(mean TOEFL = 400) 

ACLP LEVEL TWO STUDENTS

The California State University, San Bernardino is located on a beautiful campus in San Bernardino with nice facilities so students can enjoy studying on the campus environment. They have Special programs such as ACLP, the American Culture and Language Program.

ACLP students study at the Yasuda Center of California State University. There are five level in this department. I will talk about the level 2 students and their activities. ACLP level two students are Fabiana, Koichi, Yi Ju, Suliman, Yousef, Jae Hee, Kelly, Judy, Attawut Alex, Yulilil, Kefayah, and Polo. They each have different cultural backgrounds. Yousef, Suliaman and Kefaya are from Saudi Arabia. They still keep their customs. Men wear moustache and women wear veils every day. Jae hee and Kelly are from Korea.. Alex, Polo and Yi Ju are from Taiwan. Attawut is from Thailand. Yumiko and Koichi are from Japan. They are all Asians with similar cultures so they use Chinese characters in writing and they have two different calendars. They also have similar customs. Fabiana is from Brazil, so she has a positive attitude and loves music and dance.

The Level Two Grammar class is taught by Cindy, the Composition class is taught by Dorothy, the Reading class is taught by Brian, the Conversation class is taught by Joseph, the Culture class is taught by David, and the Listening class is taught by Michael. Thev all have different speaking styles. We get different information from all of them. For example in Grammar class, we are taught the correct English and in cultural class we are taught about American culture. We also experience different cultures, languages, foods and more. These students are funny.

The level two students have field trips to the beaches of America and other famous places. These trips help us with stress and give us rest. The field trips also give us the opportunity to meet Americans and mingle with them. They students feel since we have many international students we are lucky to experience not only American life but also other cultures. Some times we feel homesick and miss our friends, but our friends know that time is very important in our lives so that we can speak English well. We can get a job, transfer to a university or college after graduating from ACLP. These students are my classmates and I enjoy studying with them.

Anonymous, Korea

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In general food is necessary for life. There are many kinds of foods including meals and snacks. There are different kinds of foods to purchase in the supermarket.

In the supermarket, there are many sections to visit, for example, so the Thai supermarket has foods from Thailand which you can purchase food easily from. In the vegetable section, there are a lot of vegetables, for example neem, banana buds, Chinese cabbage, corn, leade, cucumber, collard, egg plant, bamboo shoot, asparagus, broccoli, straw mushroom, cabbage, yard bean, garden pea, bean sprout, peanut, soy bean, ivy gourd, coriander and have kinds are herbs namely onion, lemon grass, holy basil, garlic, ginger.

Another area of the store is the fruit section. You can find yams, grapes, bananas, rose apples, apples, pineapples, peaches, cantaloupes, coconuts. There are also fruits with seeds and fruit without seeds. For instance, orange, tamarind, longon, lang sart, mangos ten, papaya, jack fruit, rambutan, derian, guava, mango. Vegetables and fruits are better purchased fresh.

Finally, Seasonings are necessary for cooking. They determine foods whether to will be tasty or not. For good example of Seasonings are salt, pepper, chili, sugar, paste, curry powder, soy sauce, vegetable oil, vinegar, syrup, fish sauce, lemon, tamarind, kaffir lime. Remember to read the label for the expiration date.

The Thai supermarket has a lot of food sections, where you can choose to buy a variety of foods from. They are useful but be careful in choosing good food for your health.

Anonymous, Thailand

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A new culture generally means a new language, but it also means other  factors, for example: customs, people, habits, foods, drinks, climates, music, TV, religion and also people from different countries. When you arrive in a new country, first of all you will have culture chock, because everything is different for you and sometimes you will feel lost.

My husband and I have been here for four and a half months. When we came here, we went to his cousin’s house in Corona. We lived there only for a month, because she and her husband moved to San Diego. After that we became frustrated, because we planed to living with her for nine months as students, and then we move to another place. We needed to save some money for our studies so we didn’t go to San Diego, because it is very expensive live there. We decided to move to our friend’s house in Riverside and we also for lived there for a month. Last spring was very difficult for us, because we didn’t have a clue as to how to live in a new country.

After the spring was over, we started another quarter at California State University, San Bernardino and we moved to a home stay in Rialto. We have been living there since June 14. I like living there, because we have a good house, privacy and we have a very nice host mother. She is a very good person and teaches us many things about the U.S.A. and English.

My life here in the U.S.A. is not easy. Everything is new for me and at the same time I miss my family, my friends and my country. Sometimes I feel alone and cry by myself, when I think about my family and my life in Brazil, because I had friends and a good job in America I don’t have these kinds of friends and a good job. This experience is hard for me, because many things have changed in my life. I have been married for only seven months and sometimes it is difficult to live together with another person, but I hope with time my life, will change for the better.

In conclusion life in another country is not easy, you need patience, determination and perseverance so you overcome your difficulties to reach your objectives and dreams. After this you are prepared to realize a good future for yourself.

Anonymous, Brazil

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ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS

The present technology is very developed. Electrical and electronic instruments are part of the new technology. They are both necessary for work and home life. People have many choices when it comes to these instruments.

Every home usually uses electrical instruments. so these electrical instruments can be separated into 2 groups. The first group, involves cooking appliances such as electrical stoves, microwaves, ovens, coffee makers, toasters, and blenders. The next group involves convenient appliances like refrigerators, washing- machines, and air-conditioners. Another group entails entertainment equipments such as TV sets, videos, and cassette tapes in almost every home.

Some people prefer home theaters. You can create room for a home theater by installing an amplifier, speaker, cd, dvd, md, mp3, tape player, and a breaker is necessary as a safety accessory. The electronic home theater is expensive, so it is important to know how to connect these instruments properly.

Other groups are electrical office products, such as computers, printing machines, scanners and generators. There are all necessary electrical equipments in the office. Additionally copy machines, typewriters, paper shredders are also office electrical products. Finally, communication equipments such as the telephone, the fax machine, and the internet help office and business people in doing their jobs easily. You can choose suitable electrical and electronic instruments for whatever job and study about how it read works, before installing it. Customers should ask for service after buying their equipments.

We have come a long way regarding development of electrical and electronic products. We as people have a better and easier lives because of these products.

Anonymous, Thailand

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I would like to introduce myself. I am a 22 years old woman and I am a foreign student who needs to look back this time at where I came from and where I plan to go in the future.

Firstly, I will introduce my family, they are a very important influence in my life. My family is very small; my father, my mother, my older brother and me. My father and my mother work in their own grocery store. My parents are very diligent and get along well. My brother dong young, is a university student. He is very intelligent and handsome. I had a grandmother but she passed away. During my childhood my grandmother took care of my brother and I because my parents were very busy and we needed money so I have good recollections of my grandmother. I miss her.

Secondly, I will take about my elementary school. It was a private school with very nice facilities, so I was able to enjoy my classes in elementary school, especially art. After school I went to a private art school because I wanted to learn how to draw. I went to a girls middle school which was near my house. Regarding High school, I have a lot of recollections. In high school started to draw because of my dream of being an artist. I chose oriental paintings. After high schools I went to a private school where I met many friends from different high schools. They had the same thinking as me. I was happy and confused at that time. At the university I changed my major because oriental painting was very difficult and because it is not easy to get a job in this field, so I changed my major to editing. During my studies at the university, I felt like an adult because of my many previous experiences.

Thirdly, after graduating from the university I had a chance to accept a job or go to America. I wanted a new chance in life so I chose to go to America. Now I am studying English at California State University San Bernardino, and I am enjoying America life. Sometimes I get bored, homesick, worried and impatient, but I do not regret making this choice. I have many international friends, teachers and I intend to improve my English. Before I did not like English so I did not study English hard but now I think, I understand English and speak English well.

Sometimes I worry about my life but I do not forget my dreams. Now I do not know exactly what my dream will but I hope to find it soon. Maybe I will finish ACLP and decide on my goals. What do I want? I will try to make my life better.

Anonymous, Korea

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The unforgettable day in my life was my wedding day. After six years and four months my boy friend and I decided to get married. For that occasion we began to prepare and organize for the wedding day, six months before it took place. First of all we had choose the day for our marriage. After that we chose a church, a place to party, buffet, guests, photographer, camera men, a decorator, music and songs.

The day we chose for our wedding was December 18. After that I was anxious to get my wedding gown. My friend Ana Lucia and I looked in many stores for a gown. After three days of search I found the perfect dress. It was white with details in gold. It was beautiful.

After that my husband and I looked for different places for the party, we chose different kinds of food for the buffet, chose a church for our ceremony, decoration, songs and photographers. This was hard work for us, because we did not have time to plan well, it was because we worked in a bank all day and we spent a lot of money, on this occasion and that was expensive. I even sold my car and part of the my salary every month went for this occasion. We were very stressed, because we did not have time for ourselves and every day we needed to pay for some thing.

After six months we were ready for our wedding day. On this day, I woke up early, because, I was anxious. After lunch I went to a beauty parlor to relax with I got a massage, make up and a hair do. At night I was ready for my wedding and I went to the church. When I got to there, I was very nervous and my father waited for me and said to me:" Don’t worry you are beautiful, good luck! ". After that I entered the church and looked for my family, my friends and for my husband, he looked very handsome. Then I began to cry and some people also cried. My ceremony was beautiful, the music and the decoration were perfect. After that we went to a reception and celebrated our wedding day with many kinds of music, dances, drinks and a delicious buffet.

In conclusion our wedding day was perfect for us. We valued our efforts for that realization. Sometimes I look at our pictures and I see my family, my friends and I remember how we were happy and how that day was important in my life.

Anonymous,  Brazil

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In Thailand you will hear the word "Sawadee" a word that means " hello" and "welcome to Thailand". You can see a variety of Thai foods, customs, culture, traditions, festivals and events that happen each month in Thailand.

Thailand is divided into four areas : The North has beautiful mountains, Central has fertile land for farming, Northeast has a semi-arid plateau and the South has a beautiful peninsula beach off the island. There are three seasons : the winter season is from November to February, the hot season is from April to may, and the rainy season is from January to October.

The Northern area has beautiful mountains, with provinces such as Chiang mai, Chiang rai, Lamphun, Mae hong son, Lampang, Phayao. Northeast has such as Udon thani, Nakhon Phanom, Khon kaeh, Nakhon ratchasima. Around, you will see beautiful natural Chiang mai, Chiang rai, Mae hong son and these areas festivals and interesting events, for example Loy krathong festival which has night shows with fireworks and folk dancing with spectacular lights and sound presentations. Another event in the winter is the sales variety of products. We also have "a miss beauty" contest and entertainment during these events. Regarding foods, fruit we have a fruit fair where can choose a variety of foods from. There is an important festival on December 5, which is the king birthday celebration. In April, during the hot season, you will enjoy Songkran and lannathai festival tradition of splashing water on all people so they can feel happiness.

The Central states include Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut prakan, Pathom thani. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. Some people think Bangkok is a paradise and most of the want to go to Bangkok because there are business centers, but there is a lot of traffic there also. In Bangkok you will find an interest night life and beautiful beaches. Finally, The South area has provinces such as Nakhon si thammarat, Trang, Krabi, Phuket, Phang nga, Suratthani, Ranong. The south also has beautiful beaches and offshore islands which has a variety of sea foods to welcome you. This location is occupied by fishermen because it is very close to the sea.

Thailand has many things to see and do. You can plan your trip or get information from the internet this address www.thairung.com . There is an amazing promotion going on this year for cheap fares, so be encouraged to go to Thailand and have a great time

Anonymous, Thailand

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Many people on vacation look for different places to visit in Brazil. There are many beautiful places to know, be entertained and relax. For a good trip, you need to plan the place you are going to visit, the type of transportation, and the type of accommodation, entertainment, and food for the trip, personal belongings and other necessities.

First of all you need to choose a place to visit. It could be north, south, east or west in the country. The most famous place in Brazil is Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, which are located in the east of the country. Parana and Rio Grande do Sul is located in the south of the country and Nordeste is located in the northeast of Brazil.

Rio de Janeiro is famous because of the carnival organized there every year in February. Sao Paulo is the biggest city. There are many industries, businesses, buildings and historic places. Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have many tourist attractions. There are beaches, restaurants, museums, theaters, concerts, parks and many nightclubs. Parana and Rio Grande do Sul, also have interesting beaches to visit. The people there have traditions and customs. The people also dance to different kinds of music from different region, and you have the opportunity to learn their cultures. Nordeste has the best beaches in Brazil. There are many beautiful beaches and sites. The weather is warm all year long and the people are very friendly. They plant their own foods is that from region, they usually prepare hot and spicy foods. There are many types of fish and shrimp for our taste.

After you choose a city to visit, you need to decide on how to go to the place. You have various options such as cars, airplanes, buses and trains. The best means of transportation is airplane, because it is comfortable and fast, but it is also the most expensive compared to other means of transportations. If you don’t spend a lot of money on transportation, you can travel by car, because it is cheap and you can save some money for entertainment. About accommodation, there are apartments, houses, hotels and motels. If you travel alone, it is better for you to stay in a hotel, because it is secure and you have opportunity to make a lot of friends.

In conclusion, traveling around Brazil is very good, because you have many beautiful cities to visit and many kinds of transportation means and different types of accommodations. You can visit the best places in Brazil, choose a good transportation means and stay in a comfortable accommodation.

Anonymous, Brazil

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