Final Project

My final project I want to introduce my country’s schooling system. Actually I study here want to compare the difference between the China and America. I will find many interesting information about my country’s education. I plan to post my outline on December 14. Then I will do some research for my last project.

My Third Winner

My third winner is Chenglong Mao. His interviewees come from Singapore. I like his interview because his interview includes much information about Singapore. I like the Singapore’s culture and history, this country is also a small country in the Asian. However in the Singapore the environment is very good and the population is too small. So it has good civilization actually, I also like this country as well. His make preparation for this interview very hard, from his report I can find the more information about the Singapore. And understands the culture better particular about the Singapore’s history.

Another one reason is that I can find everything what the teacher requested. At first I can read the preparation for the interview I can learn the steps about the interview. Next I can also find the important thing from his article for instance the interviewee’s background education and family tree. This point is what we interested in, so I can get much information not only about his interviewee but also about themselves background. Then I can read his interview easily because he is also a Chinese and use some language in Chinese way. It was easy and clear to read the questions he was asking his interviewee and wasn’t a struggle to read the response. In his interview some of the answers were getting longer and longer, which to me is a sign that the interviewee was becoming more and more comfortable with what was going on.

Overall I think he did a great job actually, so I chose the winner is him. In the same he did a lot of thing jump out of me, it is really good.

Third Interview Result

Here

My Second Winner

Longfe Ren wrote the Japan’s culture and population actually. So I like read his article about the country report and the interview. In his country report I can get a lot of information about the Japan. So this is good for other student to learn the information about the Japan. I learn the Japan is famous for its automotive and electronics industries in the world. And Japanese electronic goods are selling too many countries in the world market. In the same way, the tea in the Japan is good as well, The Japanese tea ceremony is also called the Way of Tea. It is an important activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcher, powdered green tea. And I understand the sport in the Japan is also a big event. The most common Sports in Japan include Football, Volleyball, Kendo, Baseball, and Figure skating. Some of the martial arts and Karate are also known by many people. There is no legally official Sport of Japan, but Sumo, is the national Sport in Japan, because of its Sumo Wrestling Association. Actually I like doing some sport in my daily life, so I am interested in other country’s sport particular.

He also did some compare between the Japan and American. For example his interviewee parents thought that the basic system of education in America is better than Japan; his interviewee can learn much knowledge which his interviewee cannot learn in Japan. And his interviewee can also improve his English level, you know, it is hard for him to study English in Japan. It is very import for the international student to learn the English skills when we speak the English in a country which is mother tong is English. His interviewee dislikes the food here and cannot adjust to the life here. Studying in the university is harder than his study in the mother country; this is also a big reason for him to chose the overseas study here. Because his interviewee wanted to learn independence as soon as possible when his interviewee studied in the other country. His interviewee and him wanted to graduate from school and work here. In his interview I really like the country report. 

Overall he did a good job actually, so I chose the winner is him. In the same he did a lot of thing jump out of me, it is really good.

Second interviwe Result

Here

Third Interview Report

Third Interview

Preparation:

              This is my last interview, I have made two interviews before so I have a lot of experience now. I want to make the last interview to be the best one. So I did much preparation before the third interview. Suain is my last interviewee for this interview, he is coming from Japan. Before I make the interview I did research on the internet in order to find some information what I have to know, such as the religion in Japan, population of Japanese and so on. I found that I wanted to know more about Japan. Then I also try my recorder again so that I can make sure the recorder is OK. By listening to the record of my first interview again and again, I have already found many disadvantages of my interviewing, so this time I can improve my interview go to better. I make the appointment with Justin ask him what time is work for him. At the same time, I asked him would him like to be interviewed about international students, for my English 191 class. He said he was willing to take part in my interview. We decided the time and place by e-mail, so we met at first floor of Library. I think library is a quite place for making the interview. He told me his English is not good so he hope I can ask him question as slowly as possible. I know my English is poor as well, so I have to practice in advance. So I listened my recorder again and again, I want to make better than before.

Description of the interview:

               Japan is also a Asian country, like China they have familiar customs and education system. This time I want to know more couture about Japan. I began the interview by asking him to tell me a little about himself and his country. I was surprised to learn that there was not much difference between my religion and Muslim. I am interested in his country’s schooling and education system. In their high they have to get early in the morning and work 12 hours a day. This is same condition like we have in China so we talk a lot about the schooling. In Japan they usually celebrate Christian festivals such as Christmas and Easter. Because in his country any festivals have been lost their true meaning in the same way  the festival was more likely a day to hold parties. When we talk about the relationship between China and Japan, he told something very objective, he thought China is a developing country it has became more and more strong. Japan is a developed country we have to get along with each other. I said I agree with him this is no problem between China and Japan. This is why we enjoyed our time when we talk about the culture.  

Third Interview Report

Country Report:

Japanese language:

The Japanese language has always played a significant role in Japanese culture. The language is spoken mainly in Japan but also in some Japanese emigrant communities around the world. It is an agglutinative language and the sound inventory of Japanese is relatively small but has a lexically distinct pitch-accent system.



Painting:

Painting has been an art in Japan for a very long time: the brush is a traditional writing tool, and the extension of that to its use as an artist's tool was probably natural. Chinese painting  to Japan around the 7th century by Damjing and several monks of Goguryeo.

:Architecture:
Japanese architecture has as long a history as any other aspect of Japanese culture. Originally heavily influenced by Chinese architecture, it also develops many differences and aspects which are indigenous to Japan. Examples of traditional architecture are seen at Temples, Shinto shrines and castles in Kyoto, and Nara.

Gardens:

Garden architecture is as important as building architecture and very much influenced by the same historical and religious background. Although today, ink monochrome painting still is the art form most closely associated with Zen Buddhism.

Traditional clothing:

Traditional Japanese clothing distinguishes Japan from all other countries around the world. The Japanese word kimono means "something one wears" and they are the traditional garments of Japan. Originally, the word kimono was used for all types of clothing, but eventually, it came to refer specifically to the full-length garment also known as the naga-gi, meaning "long-wear", that is still worn today on special occasions by women, men, and children.

Reference List:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Japan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kiyomizudera_sakra01.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Adachi_Museum_of_Art01st3200.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Japan-Kyoto-Geisha.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ch5_wakamurasaki.jpg

 

Third Interview Report

Third Interview report

Interviewer: Zhe Wang

English: 191

Interviewee: Suain

Interviewee's country of origin: Japan

Interview date: 11/7/2010

Me: Nice to meet you, my name is zhe, what is yours?

Suain: Nice to meet you too, my name is Suain, I am coming from Japan.

Me: when did you come to American? What is your feeling at the beginning when you live here?

Suain：Two years ago, I had been there to study English. I am in IEC for one and half a year. So this is my third year in USA. I cannot adapt to the life in America at the beginning. I don’t have the food here; the food here tastes so weird. And the winter here is so cold, I am almost frozen everyday when I just came here, it is terrible. Because of my country is warmer than Minnesota. Actually, at the beginning of the life in America, I always call my parents over two hours every day and cry to them. Although I am almost adapt to the life and environment in Minnesota now, but it doesn’t means that I can stay here for a long time.

Me: So it is means that you will go home when you graduate？

Suain: I want to get the master degree when I graduate from university. Or I will find a job to work first, when I earn the money can offer me the all tuition when I take the master degree. Basically, I want to go home when I graduation. Because, I have more opportunities to find a job as well in my country. In the same I miss my parents very much.

Me: So Can I know something about your family? Like how many people in your family, their jobs and how are your relations?

Suain: I am the only child of my family, we have good relationship. Actually, they are very busy for the business. So when I study in the high school I have been live on campus. At the same time I began to learn how to independent and to be a man. I know I am not a child any more. This is one reason that I chose the overseas study here.

Me: Why you chose overseas study here?

Suain: My parents thought that the basic system of education in America is better than Japan; I can learn much knowledge which I cannot learn in Japan. And I can also improve my English level too, you know, it is hard for me to study English in Japan. On other hand, I like the way of studying in America. Because it is free for students we have more time to do what we want. Here is more freedom than Japan.

Me: I want to know what your major is.

Suain: My major is Finance and if everything goes smoothly, I will be enrolled in my major. You know, most of the international students chose the finance here, because the current society many people want to earn more money, so they want to be a successful business man. I have a dream that I want to buy a house with a big garden in Florida. In that way I can see the ocean every day when I wake up on the morning. I hope I can make my dream come true.

Me: If you work hard every day in the university, and learn more knowledge in USA. I am sure you can make your dream come some true in the future. How do you spend your free time when you live here?

Suain: I like playing soccer, in my free time I always visit my friends and play soccer together. Soccer is very popular in my country. But the most popular game in Japan is baseball. Most teenage they play the baseball when they are very young. So this is why baseball is popular in Japan.

Me: what do you think of the most important festival in Japan?

Suain: New Year festival is the most important festival in my country. I think in China, the New Year festival is very important as well. Right?

 Me: Yes, so why the New Year festival is so important in Japan?

Suain: Almost all the family celebrate the New Year, this is the first day in the new one year. Most of us can have almost 7days off in this festival, especially the students in the school, so we have enough time to prepare for that day.

Me: How is the education here compared to back home?

Suain: At home if the professor just didn’t like the way you looked then he could give you an F if he wanted to. This is means that to have to build good relationship with every professor who teach your classes. You have no dignity because the professor is always right and you have no say in it. So it is a little tricky to graduate from there and plus what they teach isn’t that good. We have many good universities in my country. But when I graduate from high school I had to take the final test to decide who have the chance to go to the university. Every year almost 200million students graduated from high school, however, just 80 million students have opportunity to go to the universality. So in Japan we under great pressure when we study in the high school. Instead of Japan, America has more good university than my country, like Harvard University. This is many students’ dream in my country. In USA high most of high school students have chance to have high level education. They have open mind, and free educational pattern.

Me: Do you have any religion in your country?

Suain: Sure, we have many religions in my country. But I am not a believer actually. We believe that you have to be a good person. You have to do no harm to anyone, whether they are Christian, Muslim, Jews, etc. Although I am not a believer, both family and friends are very important for me. All of these things physically make you to be a good person.

Me: what is the weeding like?

Suain: It has a little bit different; first you gather your tribe and friends and then you can invite your uncle’s tribe and so on. There is a lot of traditional dancing and singing during the wedding.    

Me: how long it take you to learn English?

Suain: It almost takes me about 8 years to study English. In the middle school we have learned English and do some exercise for the test. This is why now I can study here and understand what you say easily.

Me: What do you think of the food? I am interested in your country’s food.

Suain: Sushi is the most important food in my country, so in the daily life we always cook the Sushi by ourselves. Sushi is made of rice, meat, fish and vegetable. You know, most Japanese like to eat rice and noodle. And our almost all the Japanese like to eat fish. Actually, in USA we can eat the Sushi as well, but is not good as I ate in Japan. Because some fish is not fresh when fish was made to Sushi.

Me: So will you go home this Christmas?

Suain: No, because it is too short for me to go home. In USA the winter holiday is too short that we have no time to go home to stay with my family. Actually I went to home last summer, so I did not miss my parents very much right now. In the same way, the ticket is also very expensive.

Me: I agree with you, thank for you time and useful information. This is good to understand a real Japan.

Suain: You are welcome.

Interview 1 result

here

Second Interview Report

Second Interview Report

Preparation:

In my second interview I have add more question on my questions list. And do more preparation for my second interviewee. Before the interview I have read the article about the Pakistan culture and their religion. Then check my recorder to make sure it is available during the interview moment. This time I chose other place to make the interview; this is in Atwood second floor. But here is a little bit noise. Because many people eat food here and chat each other here. Last time, my interviewee told to me some problems after the interview, sometimes he did not know what I am talking about, my pronounce are not good. So I found some of my American friends to practice the pronounce in order to make the interviewee can understand easily. I have no Korea friends any more, so I went to find another my ESL classmate. He is come from Pakistan, his English mane is Mota. I have emailed him on Tuesday and 2 days later he replied me that he can take part in my interview. Then I went online do some research about his mother country, and list the questions on the paper. And went to library read some article about Pakistan’s history and economic. I printed my questions into two copies. Last time I meet some suddenness problems this time I hope everything is ok.

Description of my second interview:

           This time I have prepared better than last time, I have more experience than I made the first interview. In the first time I felt nervous when we made the interview together. But this time have more relaxed because I made more preparation than last time. This interviewee is new friends who I have known him just a week. So I felt a little bit nervous as well. This interview I want to learn more information about his country’s history and economic. At the same time I would like to know what the difference between China and Pakistan is. Actually, I am interested in his country’s religion and development. Pakistan and China is all developing country in the world. They are all belonging to the Third world. But I know in the recently tears in Pakistan there are many conflict and war. So I do not want to mention about the sensitivity question. Made the interview give me a good opportunity to make new friend and practice my English. In the same way I can change my pronouncement as soon as possible. I also found the body language is very important and the eye contact is necessary when I made the interview.        

 Culture of Pakistan:

The society and culture of Pakistan (Urdu: ثقافت پاکستان ) comprises numerous diverse cultures and ethnic groups: the Punjabis, Kashmiri and Sindhis in the east; the tribal cultures of the Baloch and Pashtun in the west; and the ancient Dardic and Tajik communities in the north. These Pakistani cultures have been greatly influenced by many of the surrounding countries' cultures, such as the Turkish, Persian, Afghan, and Indians of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.

Literature:

Pakistani literature, that is, the literature of Pakistan, originates from when Pakistan gained its nationhood as a sovereign state in 1947. The common and shared tradition of Urdu literature and English literature of South Asia was inherited by the new state. Over a period of time, a body of literature unique to Pakistan has emerged in nearly all major Pakistani languages, including Urdu, English, Punjabi, Pushto, Seraiki Balochi, and Sindhi.

Recreation and sports:

The official national sport of Pakistan is field hockey with squash and cricket also very popular. The national cricket team has won the Cricket World Cup once (in 1992), were runners-up once (in 1999), and co-hosted the games twice (in 1987 and 1996).

Defense Day Parade:

September 6 is another patriotic day, when the Army of Pakistan is put on display for the general public to show Pakistan arms. All Government officials attend the ceremony and medals and recognitions are awarded to special people for their work.

Reference List:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Pakistan#Literature

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PakArmy.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Polo_pakistan.jpeg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iqbal.jpg

Second Interview Report

Second Interview report

Interviewer: Zhe Wang

English:191

Interviewee: Mota

Interviewee's country of origin: Pakistan

Interview date: 10/31/2010

Me: Nice to meet you, my name is zhe, what is yours?

Mota: My name is Mota, I am coming from Pakistan.

Me: well, can you talk about your family and your mother country?

Mota: Sure, I have two older brothers and one younger sister. This means I have a big family actually. My mother country is Pakistan, it is in the middle east of the Asian. It is a big country compare to the different country in the middle east of Asian. In my country we have about 50million people. In the same way my country has 3000years history. And my counter had been occupied and settled by many different peoples.

Me: when did you come to American? What is your feeling at the beginning when you live here?

Mota: I came here on 23 Aug last year. I lived here a almost one and half years. You know the winter weather in Minnesota is very terrible. I really don’t like. This first feeling when I came here so in winter holiday I will go home. Because of my country is warmer than Minnesota.

Me: I can understand your feeling when you came here. Because of I felt it very cold too. Can you introduce how to greet to other people when you meet on the street?

Mota: I think the way to greet is the familiar to the American. We always shank hands each other and say the how are you in Urdu. Urdu is the official language of Pakistan.

Me: What you mean the Urdu? I have never heard the language before, can you give me more information about this language.

Mota: It is the mother tongue of approximately 5 million people, but there are probably over a million people to be able to fluently speak Urdu they think of is as second language. Urdu and Hindi are very similar, their most important difference is that the former used Persian-Arabic letter writing, and the latter is used to writer Sanskrit letters. Urdu also contains many from Arabic and Persian sources of foreign words.

Me: What is your plan when you graduate from this university? Do you want take high level education or find a job after graduation?

Mota: Actually, I have not thought about this question when I am a freshman in university. But I want to continue to study for having higher education. This is why I am chosen overseas study here. As long as my parents support me to get the master degree I am willing to study continuously. However in case of my parents do not want to support me, I will change my plan. I will find a job first in America and earn the money to pay my tuition, I will go back to school.

 Me: Sounds good, so when you finish all the class where you want to go? Here or go home?

Mota: I think will go back home because my parents are all here. Not only I miss my parents very when I stay here but also in Pakistan also have many opportunities to find job. Another reason is that my mother language is Urdu, I am not good at English actually. So I think I will go home at once.

Me: I can understand why you want go home soon after graduation. So what you usually do when you are free in America. What you usually do when you are free at home. What is the difference between the American and home?

Mota: When I came here I always go to play football with my friends. At the beginning of the period I always sleep when I am free (ha ha). Because I have no friends at that moment so I feel lonely every day. But now I would like to go to the fitness center or play football. Before I came here I liked playing the badminton too. When the weekend I like I ways hiking with my friends. I felt as fit as fiddle after hiking in the weekends. I think the biggest difference between the two country is the way that the people how to spend their free time. You know sport and recreation have always been a part of university life. So how to use the free time is very important for us because as the saying goes “weekends are for catching up”.

Me: You have a wonderful university life whatever here or home. So what city do you live in? Can you give me some information about your hometown?

Mota: The capita of Pakistan in the north on a plateau; the site was chosen in 1959. It is my home town I was born here and lived here until now. Construction began on the city in1960, and it replaced Karachi as the capital in1967. Population is 201, 000. But the biggest city is the old capita of Pakistan, the largest city in Pakistan; located in southeastern Pakistan; an industrial center and seaport on the Arabian Sea. My hometown is the political center in Pakistan, so we have high level quality of life. This is why my parents can support my study here.

Me: You hometown like Bei Jing in China, right?

Mota: You are right! Before I came here Hollywood star and U.N. goodwill envoy Angelina Jolie asked on Saturday for increased international help to repatriate more than 3 million Afghans living in Pakistan. Actually my home was on war in recently years. So I do not like to stay at home.
Me: I want to know what the war in your country is.

Mota: I think we have some mistake between other countries. For example Pakistan establishes for itself a security buffer zone on its northwest frontier, which comes with a friendly auxiliary army -- the Afghan Taliban -- as a bonus. Actually there is no problem between Pakistan and other countries.

Me: I hope this war in your country can be over as soon as possible. So I want to know why you choose American to study.

Mota: Because I have many friends who are also choose overseas study here. When they go back home I find they have learned many knowledge and skills in USA.

Me: What you find from your friends when they back home from America?

Mota: I find they are all growing up to adult. They know how to make the best use of their free time. They can cook by themselves and they know how to make friends easily. So this is the advantages when they study here. Actually I chose here because I think America is the strongest country in the world. They have open mind and free way to learn knowledge. If one has an open mind, it is easy to appreciate another's point of view. Another reason is that I want to improve my English skills because I want to be businessmen in the future like Bill Gates.

Me: Oh you have a big dream. How many children do you have in one family?

Mota: It is depending on what you want. It was commonly have 2-4children in one family. But if you want more children it depends on your family economic power.

Me: How about your food? Can you show me some traditional food in your country?

Mota: Meat is a major part of Pakistani diet, whereas vegetables and beans are as important. Wheat is also the main staple of Pakistani diet, whereas rice is also popular. It is also depending on the region and people, of which many have evolved into their own unique distinct characteristics. Most of the people in my country have their own religion so they have their food habit.

Me: How do you greet to each other on the street? Do you use any body language or just eye contact?

Mota: Well, I always say “how are you” in Urdu. If this friend is the first time to meet we will shank hands with them. And tell my name to them.

Me: So what is your favorites sport when you lived at home? When you came here do you change you habit?

Mota: Sure in my country, my friends always play the English football. Because football can play anywhere, in my country the fundamental facilities are very poor. We have no court to play basketball and American football.

Me: I think Pakistan is like China, they are all developing country. So this is why we need to work hard here. Not only for ourselves have a bright future but also we can contribute to our knowledge to the build a new age.

Mota: You are right. I want to learn more knowledge in the university. As returned scholars we will try our best to make our mother country more and more strong day by day.

Me: Thank you for all your time and information.

Mota: You are welcome.