Dear Ai

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My new e-mail address!
2006-01-13 06:58:00
Hello readers,Check the Province on Sunday (January 15, 2006)!! I was interviewed by Peter about "Dear Ai" and he told me that I will be quite busy answering questions! So I created a new e-mail account. Please send me your questions to aiuchiyama@hotmail.com. My New Year resolutions? Yes, I will write more. Happy New Year!http://ping.weblogalot.com/rpc.php http://rpc.technorati.jp/rpc/ping
More About: Mail , E-Mail , Address

I have a Canadian boyfriend, but....
2005-10-13 01:57:00
“Dear Ai, I have been in Canada since February 2005. I have a Canadian boyfriend. I am very happy to be with him, but it is very difficult to socialize with his friends. None of his friends are ESL students. When I come to school, I have no problem of talking with my classmates because they all make mistakes. My boyfriend wants me to be more talkative and friendly to his friends. What should I do?” -Sue from Korea“Hi, Sue. Thank you very much for asking this question!! I had the exact same problem! It is very hard to start a conversation with a stranger. You may also worry about your accent and incomplete sentences… since English is not your first language. Your boyfriend’s friends would like to know you. If you are not good at talking about current events or news, read the newspaper. Talking about Korean culture, food and travel tips would be the best topics for you! Try to listen more than talking. People feel good about themselves when there is an audience. You can be t...
More About: Boyfriend , Adia

Should I accept this as their culture?
2004-08-14 01:16:00
"Dear Ai, my homestay family is very nice, but they give me pasta everyday. In my culture, I eat rice everyday. I paid a homestay fee that includes 3 meals, so I don't want to use my money for food. I respect them for their culture, but I would like to eat different kinds of food. Is it rude to tell them that or should I accept this as their culture?" -Lin in Vancouver."Hi Lin! It is not rude to tell them at all. Your homestay family probably doesn't know what you would like to eat -- and they won't know unless you tell them. You are not a guest in your homestay family. YOu paid the homestay fee, so negotiage (make arrangements through discussion) with them. In Western culture, you don't have to assume, you can say what you think."http://ping.weblogalot.com/rpc.php http://rpc.technorati.jp/rpc/ping
More About: Culture , Accept

How do I cope with homesickness?
2004-06-10 00:15:00
"Dear Ai, I came to Vancouver one month ago and I'm homesick. I'm not sure if I can stay here 6 more months to study. I heard that you have been here for more than 6 years. How do you cope with homesick?" - Takako from Japan."Hi Takako. Actually, I've been homesick several times during the past six years. But here are some things to do to make the most of your time in Vancouver.1. Rent Japanese videos and watch them with your friends.Sometimes, I will translate a whole drama series for my Korean friends. Some videos have subtitles, so you can enjoy watching them with non-Japanese friends. One type of film you can easily find in Vancouver video stores is Hayao Miyazaki's animation(e.g. Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke). He's quite popular in North America. By the way, my roommate's favourite Japanese film is, Shall We Dance?2. Get recipes from your mom.When you're not eating properly, you can become sick. I have ten Japanese cookbooks, but mom's cooking is still the best!3. M...
More About: Ness , Homesick , Sick , Cope

How ESL students study in Vancouver???
2004-05-07 00:39:00
"Dear Ai, I am preparing for the TOEFL test to enter university in Vancouver . I have never been outside China. I am very nervous about communicating with local people in Vancouver. Could you tell me how ESL students study in Vancouver? Is there a different study method between a non-English country and an English speaking coutnry?" -Vicky from China"Hi Vicky. Thanks for your e-mail. Many EGG readers live outside Canada and hopefully this answer will help other students like you. If you are currently in a non-English speaking country, try to build your vocabulary. If you are planning to to go to university, then you will need to know many academic terms. In university, you are required to read English textbooks quickly and efficiently. Also, many students put pressure on themselves to make the perfect sentence or else they do not speak up in class. However, even if you do not speak in perfect sentences, you can still say enough words to communicate. Most English-speaking people can g...
More About: Study , Students

What kind of Accommodations do you recommend?
2004-04-07 23:12:00
"Dear Ai, I'm planning to go to Vancouver this summer for one month. Because its a short time, I want to enjoy Canada as much as I can. What kind of accommodations do you recommend?" -Cathy from Taiwan"Hi, Cathy. There are many types of accommodations, but most students choose homestay. I had four different homestay families in Vancouver: one with two young children, another with older children, one was a vegetarian couple with a dog, and the family I stayed with for almost two years was from Portugal.Homestay is an excellent way to see how Canadians live. There is a homestay placement fee, but you'll be treated like one of the family and efforts are made to place you with a homestay that maches your needs. For example, would you like to live with a family who has younger, older or no children at all? Do you mind living with a dog or cat, or sharing the house with other students? Also, it's important to tell your homestay family if you have allergies. After you are assigned a hom...
More About: Comm , Dati

I would like to improve my reading skills, but...
2004-04-07 23:01:00
"Dear Ai, I would like to improve my reading skills, but I don't know what level I am. I tried some books, but it's too difficult and I gave up on reading. Is tehre any book you can recommend?" -Ji-Eun Kim from Korea "Hi Ji-Eun. Many ESL students have told me they "hate" reading because they tried some English books and found them too difficult. But one bad experince doesn't mean that reading is horrible. You simply haven't found the right book. Finding an interesting, well written book takes time and patience, but it can help improve your English skills. When you pick up a book, look at the back cover. There's usually a summary of the book or comments by a popular newspaper. These will give you a general idea of what the book is about. Next, skim one page and count the number of words you don't know. If you're not sure about a word, include it anyway. If there are more than 3 words you don't know on one page, the book is too difficult. If you don't know 5 words on each pag...
More About: Reading , Improve , Skill , Skills , Kill

Why should I use a English-English dictionary??
2004-03-03 20:24:00
"Dear Ai, I have been in Vancouver 6 months and my teacher told me to use an English -English dictionary, not a Japanese-English dictionary. I feel more comfortable and memorize the vocabulary better if I know the meaning in Japanese. Why should I use a English-English dictionary?" -Mari, Japan "Hi Mari, when you translate words from English to Japanese, your mind switches to Japanese. This is not a very good way to improve your English. Translating words means you are still thinking and memorizing words in Japanese. Unless you are going to be an interpreter or translator, you do not need to know the Japanese meaning. Many English words sometimes do not have meanings in Japanese at all. Speak English, dream in English and make English speaking friends! There are the best ways to learn English."http://ping.weblogalot.com/rpc.p hp http://rpc.technorati.jp/rpc/ping
More About: Dictionary

I feel my English level is the same as before...
2004-03-03 19:52:00
"Dear Ai, I have been Vancouver for more than 7 months. I have improved my English a lot since I came here, but I feel my English level is the same as before. I usually use the same structure and same vocabulary when talking with friends. I do not have any idea how to improve my English not only in speaking but also reading. Do you think I should memorize vocabulary as much as I can? What I can do to improve my English? Thanks for your help - Penny from TaiwanA: Hi Penny, thank you very much for your question. This is a very good one and in fact, many students asked me that. When people learn a new language, they often reach a plateau (a level where there is little or no change). You feel you are not improving, even though you are actually continuing to improve. Once you pass the first plateau, you will be surprised at how much you have actually learned. You already know what your weaknesses are. Most students do not know their weaknesses. These types of students usually ask me "H...
More About: Feel , Same , Fore

Should I cut out all Japanese friends???
2004-03-03 19:43:00
"Dear Ai, I try to speak English as often as possible, however, when I hang out with my friends - mostly Japanese friends- I speak Japanese and I feel guilty about it. Do you think I should cut out all Japanese friends and start spending time with non-Japanese people?" Satoshi, Vancouver"Good question, Satoshi. It is hard to speak English all the time, but you and I know speaking English all the time is the best and fastest way to improve your English skills. When you were in Japan, you likely anticipated having many Canadian friends and speaking fluent English. You probably did not expect to meet so many Japanese people in Vancouver. Do not cut out your Japanese friends, but try to maximize the benefit of being in an English speaking country by meeting as many non-Japanese speaking people as possible. You are here to learn the language, but also to know the culture and make friends!"http://ping.weblogalot.com/rpc.p hp http://rpc.technorati.jp/rpc/ping
More About: Friends , Ends

I feel my English hasn't improved....
2004-03-03 19:38:00
Q: Dear Ai, I have been in Vancouver for 3 months and I feel my English has not improved. I go to the library every day, even weekends. I am planning to go back to Japan before the summer. What should I do to improve English quickly? -Miyuki, VancouverA: Hi, Miyuki, I assume you spend most of your time studying grammar, reading and writing at the library. Generally, Asian students know English grammar and can read English, but the problem is there is no connection between the brain and tongue. If you make the effort to speak English, you can connect what is already in your brain to the part of the brain you use for speaking a second language. A good way to make friends and practice your English is to attend local activities or do volunteer work. This will help your brain decide which sentence to use in a situation. Use this opportunity of living in an English-speaking country to speak as often as you can; you can save the studying for the library in Japan!http://ping.weblogalot.com...
More About: Improve , Feel , Rove , Improv