ESL Vocabulary (Miami Design District)

ESL Vocabulary ( Miami Design District )

1. Tenant - noun - a person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord

2. Boast - verb - talk with excessive pride and self satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions or abilities

3. Exhibitions - noun - a public display of works of art or items of interest; held in an art gallery or a museum

4. Provoke - verb - stimulate or incite someone to do or feel something

5. Intimate - adjective - close or personal

6. Ambiance - noun - the character and atmosphere of a place

An Italian Life in the United States: Interview with Alessandra

As an online English teacher for Cambly and Preply I talk to a lot of students from countries such as Saudi Arabia, France, Brazil, Japan and many others. However in my life offline I do not always get to meet people from different countries. Fortunately last semester I had the awesome opportunity to be classmates with Alessandra Monti, a lovely young woman from Italy. Talking with her over the semester I got the chance to learn a lot about her culture and explain to her somethings about the U.S.A. 

Interview

What do you think is interesting about your culture in Italy?

Italy has a very beautiful and ancient culture. What is interesting in our culture is that we really care about our family. Family comes first over everything. Also the food is amazing in Italy. People all over the world appreciate Italian cuisine.

What are some of the major differences you notice between the culture in Italy and the U.S.?

The major differences that I have found are the same of what characterizes Italian culture: food and family. The conception of food is totally different. When it comes to family, I have noticed that Americans usually leave their parents when they go to university. For Italians, it is really hard to stay away from family. We always try to stay close.

What are three things you like about the culture here in Miami?

Party. People. Weather. Every club has something crazy going on and everything is designed to be amazing. People are super friendly and they always give a warm welcome to foreigners. Plus it is always summer in Miami. It's easy to enjoy the beach because there is hot weather all year.

Would you recommend Miami as a good city for students who want to learn English? Why or Why not?

Absolutely not! Everybody speaks Spanish here and if there is somebody who speaks English, they speak with a South American accent. So it's really difficult to learn the real English here in Miami.

What has been your favorite experience so far in the U.S.A?

I have had a lot of experiences here so it's hard to choose one. But maybe the first time I went to a club in Miami with complete strangers. It was an amazing night because I discovered how Miami life works. Also because in my country something like that could never happen.

ESL Conversation Questions (Cultural Appropriation)

1. What is cultural appropriation?

2. Do you care if people disrespect your culture for their own benefit?

3. What are some common aspects of your culture you see people trying to make fun of or imitate?

4. How can people show appreciation for another culture?

5. What cultures are you interested in outside of your own? Why?

ESL Conversation Questions (Story)

ESL Conversation Questions

1. Why are stories an important part of culture?

2. What makes a story good?

3. Tell me one historically popular legend or fictional story from your country.

4. Do you prefer black and white stories or ambiguous stories?

5. If you were to write a screenplay or novel where would the setting be?

6.  What was your favorite story or legend as a child?

ESL Vocabulary Exercise (Living in the Dominican Republic)

ESL Vocabulary: (Living in the Dominican Republic)

Instructions: Choose the correct vocabulary word to fill in the missing blank. Some words may be used more than once.

1. This Spanish speaking country's economy relies heavily on the industries of ________ and tourism. (A. allure, B. agriculture)

2. Also another component that adds to the _____ of an island of paradise is the external beauty of the people. (A. allure, B. sporadic)

3. Most people from developed countries in western culture may _________ some of the basic necessities that a majority of the people in the Dominican Republic lack. (A. take for granted, B. paradise)

4. For example, hot and running water for the bathroom or kitchen sink is not always available and the electricity for lights and internet can be _______. (A. homicide, B. sporadic)

5. The Dominican Republic was listed in 2017 as the tenth highest leader in the _____ rate for a country by the World Healthy Organization. (A. homicide, B. hardships)

6. The beauty of the island and the people surpass the basic ______ from which the island suffers. (A. paradise, B. hardships)

Word Bank

1. Agriculture - noun - growing crops and/or raising animals

2. Paradise - noun - an ideal place or state; heaven

3. Allure - noun - quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating

4. Hardships - noun - severe hardships or privation

5. Sporadic - adjective - occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated

6. Homicide - noun - unlawful killing of one person by another; murder

7. Take for granted - idiom- fail to properly appreciate (someone or something), especially as a result of over familiarity