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Wednesday, November 5, 2014

English Express Chapter 2 Assessment

In the "comment" box below, post a paragraph about the question posed.  Use at least 5 of the vocabulary words listed in blue.

hub     complement     attribute   shortage  preservation    enthusiastic   apparently   landmark

Why do the Estonian House, and other cultural institutions like it, exist?  What purposes do they serve and how do you think their goals might affect cultural integration in New York?

 

21 comments:

  1. In my opinion the Estonian House and other cultural institutions exist because immigrants and other people with different cultural backgrounds want to honor their roots. I think that New York City is a hub of different cultures and a person might want preserve his roots. Also some people, who have been living in New York for a while, are enthusiastic about practicing their native languages.
    There is no shortage of cultural institutions in New York. Even Finland has one. Apparently it is a Finnish church and I would like to go there for a visit at some point. I think New York is a unique city because of the different cultures. Through the years of immigration people have affected each other with their cultures. I think that almost every culture in the world is somehow represented here. That is why I love New York. I can learn things about other cultures just by living here. I can have almost authentic Japanese food today and tomorrow I can have a good Jamaican meal. (Iina Akkila)

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    1. Really, excellent writing, Iina! You made two very minor errors that you can ask me about on Monday. If anyone else wants to try and spot them, I'll give you props!

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  2. I assume that the Estonian is a cultural hub, because it has some information and things that reminds Estonians about their culture especially when you find it NYC where you could forget your culture.

    Sometimes people in the US especially in NYC miss their city or their language and they need to be in a community that makes them feel like they are in their countries especially who came to study or work even the immigrants I presume they would love to eat food they used to be eat it in their countries.

    Place like Estonians house doesn't have to be a landmark it could be a small place nobody knows about it except Estonians or people from Saudi Arabia etc.

    It would be nice and happiness if most of the population in NYC know about my country and would make my life easier like having a soft conversation with someone interested in my country, so that what their goals are supposed to be.
    putting a positive mental image about their countries should be necessary.


    Abdul.

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    1. Very good effort, Abdul. I want you to read through this and see if you can work out where some sentences could be cut or made into two sentences. Double check your parts of speech too, but on the whole, I think you made a good point.

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  3. I think the Estonian and other culture houses exist in New York city because this city no shortage of many culture from around the world. The houses is a hub of their own culture to preserve it and teach it to the Estonian children. Also, It is enthusiastic to know about other's culture.

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    1. I see your point, Rawan. I applaud your effort to streamline the information you presented; however, I think your points would be clearer if you isolated the vocabulary from the list a little more.

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  4. I think this kind of institution exist to support people in their arrival to a new country.
    Specially in multicultural hugs like New York, it can be helpfull to find a familiar place.
    People go there enthusiastically to remember their country and its habits.
    I think the aim of those institutions is to preserve but also to share and show the culture.
    I also think they should be a complement to the new life of people arriving to The city.

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    1. Very well worded, Monica. You know how to express your ideas well - just pay attention to the use of prepositions as there are a few errors in that area.

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  5. Institutions like the Estonian House are cultural hubs where people with similar ethnic backgrounds or enthusiasts of particular cultures or languages can meet together. This centers work on preserving the cultural heritage of the immigrants arriving in the United States. In many cases they are also historically important landmarks located in important parts of the city. There is an apparent shortage of programs addressed to native speakers of certain ethnic groups and for this reason centers like this play a very important cultural role in the multiethnical NYC. (Aleksandra Walus)

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    1. Very good writing, Aleksandra! You expressed your ideas very clearly; however, there are a few redundancies that I want you to spot and fix. Also, one word here is not a word. Do you know which one?

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    2. The word that actually isn't one is "multiethnical". The right word would be "multiethnic".

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    3. Institutions like the Estonian House are cultural hubs where people with similar ethnic backgrounds or common interests meet. This centers work on preserving the cultural heritage of the immigrants arriving in the United States. In many cases places like this are also historically important landmarks. There is an apparent shortage of programs addressed to native speakers and for this reason this centers play a very important cultural role in the multiethnic NYC.

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    4. Good job finding the word that wasn't a word! In the revamp, you use the phrase "this center" when you should use "centers like these" or "these centers". Other than that - perfect!

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  6. Estonian people maintain the Estonian House and other cultural institutions because they want to preserve their own language and culture. In those institutions, they learn about who they were by reading their own literature. And they try to adhere their own identity by thinking deeply about themselves. It is attributed to the characteristics of New York. New York is a hub of mixed culture. In this situation, Estonian people try to keep their own color not only apparently, but also mentally. This is the purpose of maintaining those buildings. And I think this phenomenon can keep New York from integrating many cultures totally.

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    1. Really good effort, Sarah! I think you made your point clear and I like how you worded most of this. However, there are some awkward constructions that you can improve upon. When we work in class on common phrases and forms, I want you to really try to follow that part of the lesson and try to use them in your own writing.

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  7. Cultural institutions as Estonian house exist for its own historical and cultural preservation and also contribute to promote their culture widely.

    In such a cosmopolitan city New York, its exist meaning is more than that.
    For example Estonian house, since they often hold school,music or dance event related to their culture, it apparently became a hub communication spot for Estonians and the people who interested in Estonia. The place is very important for Estonian Society in NYC.

    If you go there, you can also enjoy traditional Estonian cuisine at the restaurant on the first floor. As one of their promotion activity, they offer a Estonian beer as a compliment for people who dined in the restaurant.
    As the Estonian beer named saku tastes exotic, if you had it once, you could be enthusiastic about it.

    About a building, because cultural institutions likely to refrect its own clutural design to their buildings and they have different taste from others, some of them became landmarks in the city.

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    1. Good effort, Seiko-san! I like that you tried to vary the theme a bit and write about the Estonian House from different perspectives. Structurally there are some issues you need to work on and I'd like you to start by thinking about your use of verbs throughout your answer.

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  8. As a cosmopolitan hub, there is no shortage of nationalities you can find in New York. Most of the countries, due to preserve their culture or history, have a house where people arriving to the city can meet others with the same nationality. Apparently, this tradition or costume of having a national house could be attribute to the fact that when the first inmigrants came, they need a place where they could meet people with their same nationality. So they set up a place where they could celebrate their historical festivities of their country, practice their typical activities or cultural events, just not to feel so far from their home and origins.

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    1. Good work, Arrate!

      Note: A "cosmopolitan hub" is a strange juxtaposition. The idea that there is a center of cosmopolitanism is counterintuitive because by definition a cosmpolitan place is somehwat isolated and therefore already a kind of hub. I would change the adjective. Also, watch out for errors in the use of the definite article and gerunds.

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  9. I assume that the Estonian House is a cultural hub, because it has some information and things that remind Estonians of their culture.  This is especially true since you find it in NYC, where one could easily forget his or her culture.

    Sometimes people in the US -especially in NYC - miss their city or their language and they need to be in a community that makes them feel like they are home. In particular, students or immigrants might love a chance to eat food they used to eat it in their countries.

    Place like Estonians house doesn't have to be a landmark it could be a small and simple place Or could be a restaurant or coffee shop with some paintings and books.

    I will be happy, if I meet someone knows a lot about my culture , so that what their goals are supposed to be, putting a positive mental image about their countries and correct the wrong information about them.

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    1. much better, Abdul. Remind me to work with you a bit on the last 2 paragraphs for missing words.

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