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

I miss you, my beloved teacher!!

The next mini lesson is on the way.  As far as teaching methods, please consider the "Using Songs and Music to teach English" lessons.

Hello, dear Mr.Alston, how are you doing?:) Can I ask you some advice on the ways teaching clauses? Would be very happy if you post a mini lesson on it.

Regards

Turkan

Lesya, you have a deal, thanks!

Dear, Alston this day is for all of us. Keep on going that way

Lesya- Welcome home!  I hope you enjoyed your vacation.  While you were gone I posted mini lesson no. 6, here's the link.  All the "Regulars" missed your presence. 

http://www.englishbaby.com/lessons/5744/member_submitted/understanding_american_english_phrases

Manik- Thanks for your feedback and I hope you will continue to advance in your English knowledge.

Hello Irene- The photos you posted on your profile page were fantastic!

I am fine, just wish I had more time to learn and write!  Here the latest news with me.  As you may know, I was writing my first book entitled: "Understanding American English Phrases."  Well, it's on hold for the moment while I complete another book from my "Do You Understand This Dialogue" series lessons.  I've made this change because there was more interest than in the first topic.  I hope to publish it in ebook form within the next 60 days.

Enjoy your time off while you can, it will allow you an opportunity to get some things done during your down time.

The weather has been hot with daily temperatures between 90-105 degrees F (32-41 degrees C) with full sun and hardly any rain.  The whole country seems to be below average for rain and 26 states have been declared a natural- disaster due to drought.  However, some rain has begin to come in certain areas.

Speaking of gardening, there's nothing like eating fresh vegetables from the garden, your work there will be well worth it!

Finally, I really appreciated the "Lesson In Life" writing you posted, thanks!

Hello dear Alston,

Thank you for visiting my profile and wonderful comments. :) I always enjoy your wisdom.

How is your life going? What's the news? I am on holidays now. Too long for me, the whole summer without work is too much. I give only a few lessons a week.

The weather has changed to be colder, but I like it, at last I feel alive coz I I hate heat. What's the weather in your place? Therefore I spend a lot of time in the countryside and my soul have a full rest, but not my body.:) There is too much work in the kitchengarden.

Have all days full of happiness, dear Teacher.

With love and respect,

Irene

Hello! My dear sir greeting in Jesus name thanks for your kind information and love to all English baby user I would like to inform you when I join this web site I could not understand any things but by your time to time information. At present I have got little knowledge about English language thanks for that. 

Dear, Alston 

I got back and ready to learn English with you as before :)

With great respect to you 

Thanks Chris and its good to hear from you again!

Hello teacher, How are you? I hope everything is doing alright with you, My best wishes for you and family! Have a good day 

Lesya, thanks for the saying, although I would add:..."as long as it's the spouses'!"

Concerning wisdom, I'll let you in on a secret.  I read the Book of Proverbs which gives wisdom for everyday life.  Here's a link to many versions and languages.

http://bibleresources.bible.com/bible_read.php

Anja, thanks for the beautiful images of natural design.

Dear Alston..a mellow heart tries to express itself.

I've  sent the same image to all my dear friends here on English, baby to depict what you all mean to me.

I'm just glad we're friends, Alston :) Have a nice weekend :)  Love..Anja

Good evening USA from the morning Belarus

I'm sincerely glad that my comment made your day, dear Alston :)

As for saying about bird. 

We use the same saying here too.

"A tit in the hand is better than crane in the sky"

When we say it we usually mean we should be grateful for everything we have got right now in our lives. 

Lesya, your comments made my day!  A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush!

Thanks Julito and Snoopyboy!

Mr Alston

I hope you had a wonderful birthday bash ;)

I hope it's not too late , Happy Birthday!

Thanks for all you do, and thanks in advance for what you have in store for us

Dear Mr.Alston

happy belated birthday greetings. 

Dear, Alston you have got a talent to express your thoughts in several words. Your short but very powerful comments on my blog are still sounding in my mind. I do remember them all and it worth to keep them in memory – they are more than wise ;)

Let us enjoy the present day while we are here. 

Irene and Anja I thank you very much for your beautiful birthday presentations!

All learning begins with the words: "I don't know"..in my particular case  the simple past tense is needed " I didn't know it was your birthday". So please, accept my "belated" birthday wishes, dear Alston: 

"Happy Birthday...Wishing you many more years to come.

..and as we all know here, you take the "teaching is a work of the heart" quote quite serious..Thank you for engaging us always in the most challenging way :)

Hello dear Teacher,

Happy birthday to you! Wish you lots of happiness on your way!

Thank you for your wonderful lessons. I'm always greatful to you.

Irene

Thanks Lesya for your birthday wishes. Your electronic birthday greeting was beautiful!

This post is written with the intent to offer the reader an opportunity to become more knowledgeable of the United States and to relate the people and culture with the language.

Statistics are provided to help you become acquainted with the population residing in the United States as compiled by the US Census Bureau.

Subsequent series will be on typical experiences of living in the United States.

Total population    304,059,728 (2008)/ 308,745,538 (2010)
Afghan                         87,907
Albanian                     201,118
Alsatian                        14,337
American                17,927,125
Arab:                       1,549,725
Egyptian                      179,592
Iraqi                             69,277
Jordanian                      59,233
Lebanese                    501,907
Moroccan                      77,468
Palestinian                    85,745
Syrian                         149,541
Arab                           260,427
Other Arab                  189,300
Armenian                   464,264
Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac     90,342
Australian                    98,586
Austrian                     771,531
Basque                        57,599
Belgian                       394,987
Brazilian                     351,914
British                      1,113,762
Bulgarian                      94,288
Cajun                         106,295
Canadian                    716,075
Carpatho Rusyn               5,394
Celtic                           59,007
Croatian                    427,217
Cypriot                          7,643
Czech                      1,593,535
Czechoslovakian          320,210
Danish                      1,458,787
Dutch                        4,928,607
Eastern European          408,913
English                    27,516,394
Estonian                        29,045
European                  3,006,134
Finnish                        687,682
French (not Basque)        9,446,760
French Canadian              2,079,170
German                     50,271,790
German Russian               14,308
Greek                        1,350,600
Guyanese                     214,529
Hungarian                 1,538,824
Icelander                       55,166
Iranian                        439,913
Irish                       36,278,332
Israeli                        146,551
Italian                     17,748,513
Latvian                         93,498
Lithuanian                712,165
Luxemburger                 46,935
Macedonian                 48,841
Maltese                         50,691
New Zealander                 16,300
Northern European        226,503
Norwegian              4,643,339
Pennsylvania German        338,845
Polish                      9,887,099
Portuguese              1,419,428
Romanian                468,804
Russian                      3,129,738
Scandinavian                562,936
Scotch-Irish              3,538,444
Scottish              5,827,046
Serbian                        180,464
Slavic                        138,422
Slovak                        808,191
Slovene                        177,978
Soviet Union                  1,934
Sub-Saharan African:      2,890,967
Cape Verdean                 99,003
Ethiopian                165,419
Ghanian                         88,068
Kenyan                         41,632
Liberian                 46,356
Nigerian                265,507
Senegalese                 12,151
Sierra Leonean                 17,570
Somalian                 82,716
South African                 53,277
Sudanese                 36,150
Ugandan                          8,731
Zimbabwean                  6,177
African                      1,858,001
Other Subsaharan African    117,047
Swedish                      4,390,058
Swiss                        997,233
Turkish                        189,640
Ukrainian                998,246
Welsh                      1,980,323
West Indian (No Hispanic) 2,532,380
Bahamian                 44,952
Barbadian                 54,587
Belizean                 51,406
Bermudan                  5,972
British West Indian         84,921
Dutch West Indian         71,326
Haitian                        805,691
Jamaican                949,844
Trinidadian and Tobagonian  197,592
U.S. Virgin Islander         16,020
West Indian                272,883
Other West Indian          4,807
Yugoslavian                343,422
Other groups            112,172,354
unclass.not reported     35,056,693

Income Percentages ($USD)

10k-14,999      7.4%

15k-24,999      5.6

25k-34,999    10.8

35k-49,999    14.3

50k-74,999    18.7

75k-99,999    12.3

100k-149,999 12.1

150k-199,999  4.2

200k over        4.0

Average Income: $70,096 / Average Weekly Income: $617.00 (2009)  

Average Hourly Wage: $18.62 / Federal Minimum Hourly Wage: $7.25

Unemployment rate: 9.4% (National)

Total Private Sector Jobs: 108.5 million

Federal Civilian Employees: 2.2 million

Bachelor Degrees: 27.5% (2005-2009)

Prices:

College Expenses:

Public (4 year college): $9,000 (average tuition & fees)

Private (4 year college): $35,000 (average tuition & fees)

Junior College (2 year college): $2,713 (average tuition & fees)

Grade School through High School: No charge for public schools

Average Home Price: $216,700  /  Home Ownership: 67.4% (2009)

Average New Car Price: $26,477 (2008) / Average Used Car Price: $7,986

Apartment Rent: $800/month (estimated)

Gallon (3.785 liter) Milk: $3.00

Eggs (1 dozen): $2.00

Bread (1 loaf):  $2.50

Rice (white large grain raw): $0.75/lb

Drinking Water $1.00 (1 gallon/3.785liters)

Gasoline: $3.16 Average (1 gallon/3.785 liters)

Car Insurance: $100.00/month (estimated)

Legal Cost to Start a Business: $100-150.00 (estimated)

This is just a sampling of the statistics, it gets more detailed by States, Cities, counties, etc. but this gives you a basic idea.  If anyone wants any specifics, please do a search or inform me for any assistance.

Hello Shilifeng, I am fine, hope you are fine.  Welcome aboard!

hi teacher    how are you            it's nice to meet you

Land Information on the United States

Size: 3.79 million miles (9.83 million miles km2) 3rd or 4th largest in the world.

Division: 50 states, 48 contingious states, 2 separated from the main land, i.e. Hawaii which is located in the Pacific ocean and Alaska which is bordered by Canada and Russia.  Also, there are various territories of the US which are:

Midway Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

Also is the District of Columbia (Washington, DC) which is the capitol of the United States.

Division Regions:

Northeast, Mid-west, South, and West.  These four major regions are sub-divided into 9 regions.

Developed/Undeveloped Percentages:

Developed: Approximately 7% (less when including Alaska)

Undeveloped: 94.6% Open rural space

Location:

North America bordered by Canada on the north and Mexico on the south

Time Zones:

Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern, also Hawaii and Alaska

How cute!  Thanks and Happy Easter!