A Day in Vancouver

Fresh Air Cinema

On Tuesday night, I was walking through Stanley Park when I found something interesting. People were getting ready to watch a free movie in the park! What a way to combine three great things: movies, parks in summer, and cheap entertainment.

If you are interested, there will be many other movie screenings this summer. They start at dusk (15 minutes after the sun goes down). Bring a blanket or a chair to sit on the grass and enjoy! (Photo: flicker).



August 1 – Surrey. Movie: Annie. Venue: Holland Park Address: King George Hwy. & Old Yale (100 Avenue) in Surrey.

August 7 - Surrey (Fraser Heights Community Centre). Movie: Monsters VS Aliens. Venue: Fraser Heights Park Address: 10588 106th street Surrey, B.C. V4N 0A1.

August 8 – Tsawwassen. Movie: Grease. Venue: Diefenbaker Park. Address: Diefenbaker is at the corner of 56th street and 1st ave.

August 8 – Surrey. Movie: Mamma Mia. Venue: Holland Park. Address: King George Hwy. & Old Yale (100 Avenue) in Surrey.

August 10 – Vancouver Movie: Peter Pan (2003). Venue: Grandview Park.

August 10 – Vancouver (Hastings Racecourse). Movie: Oceans 11 (the original). Venue: Hastings Park.

August 11 - Vancouver (Hastings Racecourse) Movie: Alfie (the original). Venue: Hastings Park.

August 12 - Vancouver (Hastings Racecourse) Movie: Rebel Without a Cause. Venue: Hastings Park.

August 14 - Abbotsford. Movie: Horton Hears a Who. Venue: Abbotsford Exhibition ParkAddress: 32444 Haida Drive, Abbotsford.

August 15 – White Rock. Movie: Up! Venue: Central Plaza. Address: N bluff road (16th ave) turn right on Foster St. parking lot on your left.

August 15 – Surrey. Movie: Lion King. Venue: Holland Park. Address: King George Hwy. & Old Yale (100 Avenue) in Surrey.

August 17 - Vancouver. Movie: Finding Nemo. Venue: Victoria Park. Address: Victoria Park - Salsbury St. and Grant St.

August 21 – Richmond (Hamilton Community Centre) Movie: Monsters vs Aliens (not confirmed)Venue: MacLean Park. Address: 22500 MacLean Avenue.

August 21 - Langley/Mission. Movie: Up! Venue: Langley Events Centre. Address: 7888 – 200th Street, Langley BC.

August 22 – Surrey. Movie: Hannah Montana: The Movie. Venue: Holland Park. Address: King George Hwy. & Old Yale (100 Avenue) in Surrey.

August 24 – Vancouver. Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean. Venue: McSpadden Park. Address: McSpadden Park - Victoria Dr. and 4th Ave.

August 28 - Vancouver. Movie: Mamma Mia. Venue: Harbour Green Park or Coal Harbour Community Centre rainy day back up. Address: Harbour Green - Cordova & Bute Or Coal Harbour - 480 Broughton St.

August 29 – White Rock. Movie: Mamma Mia (sing-a-long version)Venue: Five Corners

August 30 – Burnaby Movie: Kung Fu Panda. Venue: Confederation Park. Address: Willingdon Avenue and Albert.

Weekly Assignment #3

This week, we have been discussing how process writing is often used to give advice. For your weekly assignment, you are going to give us some advice about or from your country. For example, you might describe a recipe, a travel itinerary (plan), how to apply for a job, or how to prepare for a special occasion like a wedding.

The process you describe should have about four to six steps. As we discussed last week, blog writing does not require the formal language or structure of academic paragraphs. (On the internet, processes are sometimes described using numbered points, as it is easier to read.) Nevertheless, try to use some transition words of sequence and some examples of the imperative. See my example below.

Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp is an easy, delicious dessert. Here's what to do:

First, find an oven-proof baking dish and grease it with a thin layer of butter.

Second, wash and chop four cups of apples. You will need about 3 large apples or 4 small ones. If you like, you can substitute other kinds of fruit like peaches or berries for some of the apples.

Third, mix 2/3 of a cup of brown sugar, 3/4 of a cup of oats, 1/2 a cup of flour, and 1/2 a cup of butter in a bowl. If the butter is cold, you can use your hands to mix it all together. The warmth from your hands melts the butter. Just make sure you wash your hands first!

Fourth, put the fruit in the bottom of the dish and cover it with the topping.

Fifth, bake the apple crisp in the oven for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sixth, let it sit for 10 minutes after you remove it from the oven before spooning it into bowls to eat. You may want to add vanilla ice cream to the top. Enjoy!

Weekly Assignment #2

This week, we have been discussing comparison and contrast paragraphs. I would like you to write a blog entry in which you compare your home country and Canada. Perhaps you will compare your home city and Vancouver, your national holiday and Canada Day, housing styles in your home country with housing styles in Vancouver, or something similar.

More specifically, consider two or three areas of comparison or contrast. Use your own observations. As we discussed in class, blog writing is not as formal as academic writing, so you can use informal language and paragraph structure. (In other words, for example, you can use contractions, "you," and "I," and you don't have to follow the guidelines for a comparison and contrast paragraph). That being said, please use a few transition words of comparison and contrast.

Sample:

I have never lived in a foreign country, but I have lived in a city on the other side of Canada where English is not the official language. Montreal, in the province of Quebec, is a fabulous city that is different from Vancouver. The most obvious difference between Montreal and Vancouver is the language. Whereas English is the official and most widely spoken language in Vancouver, French is the only official language in the province of Quebec and the city of Montreal. Almost everyone in the restaurant industry and at my university spoke English; however, I needed to learn some French. In fact, I can still remember how to say “I would like a date square and some mint tea” in French. The social atmosphere is also very different in Montreal compared to Vancouver. Vancouver has a lot of natural beauty, so people tend to spend time on the beach or in the mountains. In Montreal, however, the main attractions are cultural events, such as the Jazz Festival and Just For Laughs (a comedy festival). I have a great memory of sitting at a café table in the middle of one of the main streets during one of the summer festivals. Even at 11:00 at night, it was warm. While I love Vancouver, I consider myself lucky to feel like a local whenever I visit Montreal.

Weekly Assignment #1

This week, we have been discussing how to take notes from an article. This week, you are going to find an article that you like and tell us about it. More specifically, go to the Globe and Mail web site. The Globe and Mail is a Canadian newspaper that is often used in BCIT courses. Choose an article that you like. It should be at least three paragraphs long. Tell us 1) the title of the article (provide a link too), 2) what you learned, and 3) why it is interesting to you. Make sure that you paraphrase (rather than copy) information from the article, especially when describing what you learned.




Sample (177 words): Picture here.

My article is called "I know where you are, iPhone thief." I found it under the heading "Personal Technology" on Globeandmail.com.

In the article, I learned that smart phone owners can use technology to protect their phones from thieves. For example, iPhone owners can download an application called "Find My iPhone." If their phone is ever stolen, they can pinpoint the location of their phone and even delete personal information. One man in Chicago even had his cell phone returned by the thief after using this application! In fact, cell phone theft is serious for two reasons: cell phones are expensive to replace, but they also contain enough information to allow the thief to steal the owner's identity through, for example, bank account numbers.

I found this article interesting because I occassionally worry about being robbed. I sometimes avoid using my phone to text or play music if I am alone at night. While I will still be cautious, it is good to know that smart phone companies are making security solutions.

Ken's Blog Address

Please make sure that you have Ken's correct blog address. His English blog is at: http://www.masukenblog.blogspot.com/.

By the way, having both an English blog and a blog in your first language is a great idea!

Happy Canada Day!

What did you do on Canada Day? I went to the beach in Kitsilano. It was windy, but it was also very beautiful. Kitsilano is a great place to people watch. There were lots of people throwing footballs and walking dogs. Also, because it was Canada Day, many people wore red and white clothes. I have to admit, I completely forgot to wear red and white! Maybe next year.

If you want to spend the whole day at the beach, you'd better take lots of sunscreen, water, and snacks. When I go to the beach for a barbeque, I like to take Asian chicken pasta salad and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. What do you like to eat at the beach? What kinds of games do you like to play?

How do I edit posts?

Often, you will want to edit a post because you found a spelling mistake, or because you want to add some information. Here is how:

1. Choose "Edit Posts" from the main sign-in page.

2. Click on the box next to the post you want to edit. 

3. Make the necessary changes.

4. Publish your post again.

Hint: If you are ever lost or confused, click on "Dashboard" in the top right hand corner. (The dashboard of a car holds the important information like the radio, speedometer, clock, gas gauge, etc. Similarly, the gas gauge of your blog holds important tools too.)

Welcome, Writing 400!

It's nice to meet you all! I look forward to reading your blogs. Please add comments if you have any questions.


In the meantime, if you need a dictionary, check here.

Goats on the Roof

Have you ever been to Vancouver Island? There is a market north of Nanaimo called the Coombs Old Country Market. It has fabulous ice cream, but the most unique feature of the market are the goats living on the roof. They live there during the summer, and eat grass and occasionally tree branches. If you ever drive to Tofino, you should stop and check it out! It's a great place to take pictures. You might even try some of their famous ice cream or cheese bread. 

How do I add a link to my blog?

Adding a link to your blog is a great idea if you want to share the location of a web site with friends.

1. Go to the web site and copy the url.

2. Go to your post. Highlight the text (words) that you want to turn into a link. 

3. Click the image of the world with the black and white oval above it.

4. Paste the url into the blank and click "okay."

How do I add a picture to my blog?

Good question!

1. Click "create a new post."

2. Click on the small image of the mountain and sky.

3. Click "choose file" and follow the steps as you would for an email attachment.

4. Choose a layout (centre works well).

5. Choose a size (medium works well).

6. Agree to the terms and services.

7. Click "upload image."

Note: It should be a picture that you took yourself. If it isn't, make sure that you took the picture from one of the sites that Blogger recommends.