The Conestoga Language Institute English Language Studies English for Academic Studies Newsletter Spring 2018 This issue of the Conestoga Language Institute English Language Newsletter was written by the students in the Written Communications II and III classes in the winter semester, 2018. The students wrote about the Olympics, and they also wrote about living in cold weather countries. The students are excited about sharing their work! 1
Our best advice for visiting or living in cold weather countries around the world People should go to Canada because they can know the value of winter weather. ~Musa If you go to Korea in the winter, you should bring the same clothes you wear in Canada. ~Namhee Sunglasses are very useful in the summer, but they are very important in the winter. ~Changlin You should bring a few kinds of shoes because Canada s weather changes suddenly. ~Zeynep If you want to come to Canada, don t forget to bring your camera because you will have a lot of things to photograph. ~Henry If you go to Korea in the winter, I recommend you eat bulgogi. ~Hee You must take your down jacket because winter countries are very cold. ~Andy If you go to Canada in the winter, I recommend you bring a jacket, a hat and boots because Canada is very cold. ~Hadel You should bring your thick clothes because Korea is very cold in the winter time. ~Kiyoung If you want to travel to Canada in the winter, you need winter boots and a big jacket. ~Nikolas If you go to Korea, you should bring a Canada Goose jacket because it is a lovely item. ~Hyunchul You should bring many hot packs when you go to watch the Winter Olympic Games. ~Julie You should bring hand cream because Canada s winter is dry. ~Jin When people want to go to Calgary to ski, they should take their gloves and boots. ~Gulbin You should bring thick clothes, and you have to bring thick boots. ~Tae Young If you visit Calgary in the winter, you should wear a few coats. ~Hasan You should bring a coat, and you must buy snow pants. ~Ghassan C You should bring thick clothes to keep warm because the weather is very cold. ~Hang You should bring boots and a coat because Canada is very cold. ~Budour People should bring a goose down winter coat because the winter in Canada is very cold. ~Hee Joung 2
When you would like to come to Canada, you should bring heavy clothes because Canada is a very cold country. ~Ghassan A Canada s weather is so cold in the winter, and you should bring clothes for the winter season. ~Nesrin People should wear a warm coat, and they should wear waterproof boots. ~Nadiye When you visit Canada, you have to wear good boots and a good coat. ~Nigar You should wear thick clothing when you go to Canada, for it is very cold. ~Muharrem Canada is a very cold country in the winter. You should buy a thick coat and sturdy shoes, but the houses are very warm. ~Ahmet When you come to Canada, please bring many clothes for winter because winter is long here. ~Altan The 2018 Pyeonchang Summer Olympic Games ~Maya What is the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Korea? Perhaps most people only know it as a divided nation. It is well known as having two separated nations: North Korea and South Korea. Often people think of the nuclear weapons war from Korean history. However, during the Pyeongchang Olympic Games, many Korean people praised the games by saying it was a good opportunity to introduce Korean culture and technology to the world. The 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games were a great opportunity for the world to meet Korea just as Korea greeted the world. Korea showcased its culture during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in three important ways. First, the opening and closing ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics not only showcased Korea's unique beauty, but also highlighted Korea s technological advancements to the world by presenting modern spectacles in the opening and closing ceremonies. As an example, the Olympic ceremony stage was decorated with multiple bright colours and beautiful lights that represented Korean culture. Performers wore a variety of traditional Korean clothing such as Hanboks and unique Korean costumes of animals such as tigers and legendary animals. Furthermore, the Olympic flag was beautifully displayed by placing over one thousand drones in perfect formation. During the spectacular two-hour closing ceremony, people around the world were shown dances and visual art that expressed Korea's past, present and future. Secondly, through the media coverage, many foreign athletes and tourists became aware of traditional Korean food. In the Pyeongchang athletes' village, Korean food such as Gimbap and Japchae were served, and Korean restaurants were 3
booming with foreigners who wanted to experience Korean dishes. In addition, street food such as Ddukbboki and fish cakes were popular with tourists. Another popular destination was the famous chicken restaurants that serve fried chicken with Korean beer and Soju. A reporter from New Zealand said that Korean chicken was the real winner of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Additionally, tourists had a chance to learn more about Korea by experiencing Korean dining culture such as chopsticks and floorseated dining. Thirdly, Korean music, known as K-pop, was played throughout the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. Spectacular performances by K-pop musicians were performed and engaged the crowd. For example, at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, K-pop stars such as CL, EXO, and DJ Martin Garlix performed their well-known songs. Korean pop idols proudly performed on the big stage, making many viewers realize the power of Korean music. Furthermore, Arirang, a Korean song that fuses traditional Korean sounds with contemporary pop culture songs like Gangnam Style were well received all over the world. When various K-pop performers came out, the audience became one with dancing and singing regardless of nationality or age. In conclusion, I was very proud to be Korean while watching the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Korea is a small country, but it has 5000 years of history and a unique culture. The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics made the hearts of people around the world expand, and the Korean culture will be remembered by people all over the world. The Olympics in My Country ~Alwan One of the greatest and most anticipated events around the world are the Olympics. The Olympics are a very big celebration across the world which means they give companies a large platform to advertise, increase the amount of tourism, and create pride for the host country. To begin, the Olympics give companies a large platform to advertise their products and services to a variety of target markets. For example, a company that sells winter boots would greatly benefit from advertising their product at the Winter Olympics. Many companies compete to dress the athletes as a way to advertise to viewers. For instance, Adidas and Nike have often competed to have athletes wear their running shoes. Secondly, the Olympics increase tourism in the host country. For example, during the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, tourists from all around the world came to visit Canada and spend their money at hotels and restaurants near the Olympic stadiums. In terms of transportation, it is not east to find a taxi in the host city. Lastly, the Olympic Games help create pride for the host country. For example, every time the Olympics are held, countries try to put on a unique and inspiring opening and closing ceremonies which highlights the culture, history, and traditions of the host nation. These ceremonies make citizens proud, and it also motivates other countries 4
to try and host the Olympics, so they can display their developments to the world. The Winter 2018 Pyeonchang opening ceremony included many culturally specific performances including acrobatics and light shows. In conclusion, the Olympic Games are a fantastic way for companies to advertise their products, increase tourism in the host country, and create pride for the host countries. The Olympic Games are a way for individual countries to rejuvenate their spirit and inspire the world. The Summer Olympics are an Important Sporting Event ~Aaron The Summer Olympics are a very important event in Vietnam because they are the biggest sporting event in the world for athletes, countries, and communities. First, the value of winning an Olympic medal is a significant goal for many athletes. When athletes win an Olympic medal, it gives their families and their country a great deal of pride. In addition, athletes can get a lot of money after winning an Olympic medal. For example, Hoang Anh Tuan is a weightlifting athlete from Vietnam, and he received the silver medal in the Olympics in 2008. It was an unforgettable achievement in his career as an athlete, and people in Vietnam remember him as one of the best weightlifting athletes in the history of the country. After his win, many advertisers paid him to promote their products. Next, the Olympics are a time to promote the host country to the world; in addition, it also demonstrates the strength of athletes in the host country. For instance, Hoang Xuan Vinh who is a shooting athlete from Vietnam, received a gold medal in the Olympics in 2016. It was the first gold medal for Vietnam in the history of the Olympics, and he highlighted the country with his achievement. Finally, this event can help people in the host country come together and share a common goal. For example, when Hoang Xuan Vinh shot the last shot in the finale, people in Vietnam could be seen sitting and praying together. I have never felt the national spirit as high as I did at that time, and it is a great memory. In conclusion, the Summer Olympic games are certainly a big event and they have been a positive influence on Vietnam. It is a time for athletes to prove their abilities, advertise their country, and unite people in the country. I hope Vietnam s teams will be stronger and get more medals in the Summer Olympics in 2020. The Summer Olympics in South Korea ~Amy There are many reasons that make the Summer Olympics more popular in South Korea than the Winter Olympics. Firstly, many summer Olympic Games are already popular sports in Korea. For example, baseball, soccer, volleyball, and basketball usually have a prevalent sports season all year round. South Korea s most popular sporting event is baseball. For example, many people go to the Jamsil baseball stadium to watch their favourite baseball teams compete during the summer season. Last summer I went to the baseball stadium to watch a game with my family and the stadium was full of people watching 5
and cheering. The food stalls and convenience stores in the stadium sell many kinds of delicious food and drinks. For instance, I often enjoy a baseball game while eating Korean food called half-half chicken and tteokbokki which are popular traditional Korean dishes. We cheered our support for our team of choice along with the cheerleaders representing each team. In South Korea, people do not have to wait for the Olympic Games to enjoy very similar sporting events. Secondly, in South Korea, people are more enthusiastic when supporting popular national sports during the Summer Olympic Games. For instance, at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, the Korean baseball team made it to the finals for the first time; therefore, South Koreans came out of their houses, gathered together, and cheered passionately for the Korean baseball team. People watched the game on massive TV screens in Seoul s biggest chicken restaurants. Lastly, there are more famous Korean athletes in the summer Olympics than in the winter Olympics. For example, Son Heung Min is a very famous football player in Korea and in England. He plays for the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Currently, he is eighth in the England Premier League player s rankings. Almost everyone in South Korea enjoys watching him play football during the Summer Olympics. Many people get together days after watching to talk about his many challenges and victories. In conclusion, people prefer the summer Olympics in South Korea because there are many established popular games, a lot of famous athletes and many opportunities to get together as a community to support athletes. Athletic Competition in the Olympic Games ~Tom The Olympics are a worthwhile opportunity for athletes to compete for several reasons. First, many excellent athletes long to participate in the Olympic events to display their abilities to the world. If the athletes are successful in winning a medal or highlighting their achievements and personality to the world, influential sporting organizations will notice and offer advertising contracts. As a result, popular athletes would be given a chance to create a fruitful career from their Olympic competition. For example, after winning the Olympic 100m and 200m race at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012, and 2016), the Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt was hired to play football for famous football organizations such as Man United and Dortmund. Second, the athletes who engage in the Olympics will have chances to make their countries proud. Their achievements are an honor for their nations, and they often become heroes in their homeland. To illustrate, Viet Nam stepped into the international sports community when the sports shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh won the first gold medal for his country in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. That moment was considered a historical victory for Vietnam, a small Asian nation. Last, when athletes compete in the Olympics they help promote sports around the world. An athlete s mission in the Olympics is not only to collect medals, but 6
also to build a better and more peaceful world by respecting the fundamental values of fair play, competition, friendship, team spirit, and equality. These athletes show the world that it is possible to overcome challenges and benefit from great effort. Therefore, cooperation in the spirit of athletic challenges can inspire and motivate people, especially a new athletic generation. Moreover, people are educated through watching athletes supporting each other despite their diverse backgrounds. For instance, one remarkable Olympic moment is when Jesse Owens broke tradition and made friends with his German opponent during a time when Germany was at war with many parts of the world. For these reasons, participating in the Olympics is a valuable occasion for all athletes. 7