You Are There! A Day In The Life In The United States

Hello Lesya, I am humbled by your honorable comments, I feel the same for you!

Thanks for being the student you are, you make teaching fun and enjoyable.

May you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Your Christmas picture is fantastic!  Thanks again! 

Dearest, Alston I'm honored to have you in my life.

May the miracle of Christmas and New Year fill your heart with warmth and love and bless you with everything this life has to offer. 

The best Christmas gift you can give to your family and yourself is the joy of being together.

The best Christmas gift you can give to your students is your innate talent to bring us together with your effective methods of teaching.

Dear, Alston the proof is in the pudding ;)  -  our knoweldge keep on rapidly increasing.

Yours truly student and faithful follower. :)

Irene, this is a gorgeous photo of a splendid winter scene.  Thanks for posting it!

Hello dear Alston :)

These last days of Fall are running to the end, and I'm looking forward to a snowy winter.

It may already snowy in your area. Winter is a season that not loved by everybody, some people have never seen snow. Once I showed snow to my Brazilian friend. Can you imagine it? :) I just went outside and brought a bowl of snow to show him via my camera. :))) He was amazed and asked me if it was cold. :)))

These cold days were darken by Anja's leaving Ebaby. I miss her too and waiting for her coming back.

I wish you all days full of sweet events and always be in good health.

With loads of love,

Irene

Thanks Lesya, keep hope alive for Anja's return!

Dear, Alston Anja was  an unique member not only for me but for many  members of English, baby.

Each time I see her avatar on my page or on pages of other people I can’t believe that there will not be any feedbacks from “Buttafly” anymore.

She is still active, quite clever, humorous  in my eyes. I’m still waiting for the miracle of her returning.

Time will tell.

Thank you very much for sharing my feeling.

Best wishes for new week.

Thanks Marice.A for your updated information and humbling comments.  I have made the change and recognize you as the "new you!"  Continue on!

My dearest teacher,

Thank you very much for reaccepting my friend request. Due to a terrible thing, making change of my profile was a must.  But definitely no change in me. I am still the same student regarding you as one of my greatest inspirations in teaching. It is you serving anybody else here with your great lessons and teaching without any discrimination but deep sincerity. As the sequence of my hearty gratitude, from Indonesia, I sent you my love and respect.

Dear Teacher

Thank you for being my wonderful teacher. See you soon..

Anja, I couldn't have said it better myself.  Thanks so much for your contribution in helping students to have insight into American political culture, thus, enhancing their understanding of American English. 

Sorry..I forgot to define the single terms. So here we go this is what I've found on the Urban dictionary:

Slick Willie: This is a nickname for former president Bill Clinton. he earned it for his ability to equivocate with words, make deals and commit acts which led to controversy, eventual impeachment proceedings against him.   

flip-flopper: someone who verbalizes contradictory statements with no reason for or acknowlegememt of the change in positions.

Chicago-style politics: see explanation below

vulture capitalist: Someone who is trying to buy a company when the company has gone bust, or is expected to (called a vulture because the company is dead or dying).

Dear Alston

if you'll please excuse my intrusion into your territory. I know I have only little to contribute to what it's like to live in the US. But I thought you and your students would be interested in parts of an article I read in today's morning paper. Due to the fact that the American people will soon elect or reelect their president, our papers and magazines are of course plastered with articles, predictions and documentaries about the two candidates. Journalists try to break down what it takes or better what to say to get the votes. The article I read focused on how important it is to have excellent rhetoric skills...to say the right things to supporters, say attractive things to undecided voters and to say nothing at all to everybody else, while still making it sound good :) But he claims the most potent weapon the candidates have is to define the opponent and with that to convince the votors that they can't trust him.

Here are just a few of the many verbal accusations of former presidents and the current govenor Mitt Romney. Enjoy!

George H.W.Bush called Bill Clinton " Slick Willie" and warned voters " Watch your wallet!"

George W. Bush called his opponent, John Kerry, a "flip-flopper", giving several examples of Kerry being for something and later against it.

Mitt Romney refers to  "Chicago-style politics", implying that Barack Obama, who is from Chicago, engages in the gangsterism, corruption and bribery ( for those who don't know: Chicago was once known for all these in the mid-20th)

And Romney's critics refer to him as a "vulture capitalist" for buying companies and laying off workers, while keeping the profit.

So you see..it's all comes down to the power of rhetoric ;)

Mariana, I'm delighted you learned the difference, research for further information.

Understanding American English Phrases Mini Lesson No. 8 is being written and should be posted within the next few days.  Please look for it in the Lesson Section on this page. 

Wow!

I always wondered what's the difference between the Demcrats and the Ripublicans.. For me I'd prefer the Democrats cause America is a home for all people from all around the world, That's what's very special about it, unlike many other countries, America provides to you a good live, giving you your complete freedom ^^

Thank you so much for this wounderful blog sir, Can't wait until you write more ^_^

2012 US Political Information

On November 6, 2012 Americans will be voting to elect or re-elect a president, vice-president, senators, seats in the House of Representative, governors, city officials, school board members and various other elected positions.  The President and Vice-President are elected every 4 years. 

The two major political parties in the US are: the Democratic Party (liberal ideology) and the Republican Party (conservative ideology).  The Democratic Party seeks to influence government policy towards the interests of people.  The Republican Party seeks to influence government policy towards the interests of business.

The current president is President Obama, the Vice-President is Joseph Biden both are Democrats.  The US Senate has a Democratic majority and the House of Representatives has a Republican majority.  The members of each party are voting along party lines which is resulting in "grid-lock" and major legislation is not being passed.  Therefore, the people are upset with Congress and seeking to vote for their candidate to implement change.

The political climate among the people is very intense, divided, and polarized along many lines.  However, you can categorize people into the following groups:

1. Democrats

2. Republicans

3. Independents (no party affiliation)

4. Not involved (don't believe any change will happen)

5. Swing voters (will decide at the last minute)

This campaign season has been a "knock-down, drag-out fight" among the candidates with a lot of mud-slinging and negative advertisements.

Nevertheless, if there is a clear winner, the opponent will normally congratulate the winner and hopefully "by gones will be by gones."  You are there!

Thank you Petarian, may you have a nice weekend too! 

My dearest teacher

Thanks Ezadmehr for your thoughtfulness and beautiful flowers.

Dear Irene, Ezahmehr and Petarian,

I am moved by your expressions of gratitude in honor of Teacher's Day, your gift is priceless!  Thank you!  

Dear Alston, thank you for the priceless contribution to all the students of English, baby.

I  wish you lots of happy days with your family and your admirers.

A Teacher is… A Friend…. A philosopher…A Guiding Light … An Inspiration… A Teacher is like a candle who burns brightly to enlighten others….A Salute to all the teachers.

HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY!

Irene

To my beloved and encouraging teacher....

Lesya, what can I say but thanks for your appreciation! 

TO THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC TEACHER WITH BEST WISHES!!! 

DEAR, ALSTON  following your complicated, humourous and interesting lessons is quite enjoyable for me. 

THANKS FOR THE  IDEAS ON YOUR LESSONS YOU BRING TO ALL OF US.

THANKS FOR MANY USEFUL IDIOMS!!!

THANKS FOR BEING NOT ONLY A DEVOTED TEACHER BUT A CONSTANT FRIEND AS WELL. 

KEEP ON BRINGING THE HOUSE UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME ;)

Thank you very much!

Hello Dear Alston. Wooow Nise to meet you again and thanks you for this comment Yes They are beautiful and lovely becouse I have a good sense when I posted on My blog, so This sensation is transmitted to others.

for you Dear Teacher:

Thanks Irene!

Dear Alston, it's  bliss to have friends like you are.

Thank you for the kind comment with care and love.

May every day bring you something new and pleasant to make your life desirable.

With love,

Irene

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/3Wz1rC/www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYzDo6p76BQ

Petarian, I miss you and all of the students too!  Have a nice day!