21 Comments

1. 

   Esteban Cubero

   On February 28, 2015 at 10:42 am Reply

   New Zealand; actually the kiwi (animal and fruit) has become a New Zealand icon.
   • 

     Sitzman

     On March 4, 2015 at 5:38 pm Reply

     Hey Esteban,

     That’s an OK start, but tell us more!

     Ryan
2. 

   Jonathan Rodriguez Delgado

   On March 3, 2015 at 9:17 pm Reply

   Hi girls and guys

   My presentation is about Belize, here is something interesting: it’s the only country in Central America with English as official language, but they also speak Spanish and other native language.

   Here are my five examples using conditional form:

   1. If I keep my job this year, I will visit Belize with my sister.

   2. If I was in Belize, I would do scuba diving!

   3. If I go to Belize, I won´t speak Spanish.

   4. What should I eat, if I visited Belize?

   5. If I met a Belizean girl, my girlfriend might be jealous!!!!
   • 

     Sitzman

     On March 4, 2015 at 5:40 pm Reply

     Hi Jonathan,

     Very good! I’d maybe make two changes:

     2. If I WERE
     4. if I VISIT

     But the way you wrote them also makes sense. Nice job, and see you in class!
     Ryan
3. 

   Angie Vega

   On March 5, 2015 at 2:37 pm Reply

   Hi!!!

   Like you remembered, my English speaking country was England.

   I am pretty sure that a lot of people wish to go there some day because in that country we can find amazing, magical and beautiful places to visit.

   So definitely I hope I go to England one day because from this country are a lot of my favorite writers, singers and actors. I want to meet the places where my favorite writers had their inspiration.

   If I go to England, I will be very happy.

   If I were brave enough, I’d visit the London Eye.

   If Jane Austen were alive, I’d like to know her.

   If I had the airplane ticket to England right now, I’d go there definitely.

   I hope I visit Stonehenge because I think is an interesting place.

   If I visit The Palace of Westminster, I will be excited for see the Big-Ben.

   Thanks, See you!!!
   • 

     Sitzman

     On March 6, 2015 at 11:59 pm Reply

     Hi Angie,

     Very nice work! Just a few comments about vocab:

     -You can see/visit/go to a place, but you can’t meet it.
     -For the Stonehenge one, “I think IT is an interesting place”
     -I will be excited TO see….

     Still, great job!
     See you in class tomorrow,
     Ryan
4. 

   Paola Chavarría

   On March 5, 2015 at 9:12 pm Reply

   My research was about Singapore and i think that i chose a great country with beautiful treasures, stable economy and educated people. If you are wondering what “Singapore” means i would tell you that it means City of lions, for that reason this animal is one of the main symbols in this country.

   If i had the opportunity to visit this place i would go to the greatest sites, for example, the Marina Bay Sands. This is a big building with many restaurants, hotels, casinos and stores. I wish i stayed in a fancy place like a diva (just kidding, but definitely it would be a great experience).

   Also, i wish i participated in cultural activities because i would tell fabulous stories if someone asked me about Singapore. I think that if i had to give you a reason to travel to this country i would say that this is a multi ethnic place and i wish i learned about people and cultures.

   There is important information about life style in Singapore. For example, if you wanted to visit a friend’s house, you would not enter with shoes. Or you would pay money if the police saw you throwing garbage on the street.

   Therefore, i think that Singapore would be the perfect place if you want to learn about an interesting culture that you’ll never forget it.
   • 

     Sitzman

     On March 7, 2015 at 12:01 am Reply

     Hi Paola,

     Great job! Just remember to capitalize the word “I.” Also, “this” is for things here, and “that” is for things there or in a place far away, so many of the times you say “this,” change it for “that.”

     The rest of it is good and interesting, so I’ll be eager to see your presentation tomorrow!
     Ryan
5. 

   Monserrat Pérez Avila

   On March 6, 2015 at 9:15 pm Reply

   My Country is Ireland.
   This is interesting because people in this country are very believe, In Ireland exist some superstitions and myths, related with “Saint Patrick´s day”, “Saint Brigid day”, Witches and elves. Also they have superstitions about the three leaf clover and four leaf clover, in fact, people of Ireland identify with the green color.
   Its very interesting because the Naconal Art form of Ireland is the story telling.
   “Every Irish meadow contains a story”.
   “There is a myth in every mountain”.
   This country is interesting also because is the only country in the world that the harp is the national music symbol. The music is very important in Ireland, in fact, everywhere you go, yo can find a bar with a live music. The nature of music in Ireland is the improvisation. The story says that all people in Ireland has a good voice.
   Its interesting because before people leaving the pub, they sing the national athem, they says that this is exciting moment.
   Well, this country has a lot of interesting things, but for me the superstitions and Myths has the things that Ireland identify,
   • 

     Sitzman

     On March 7, 2015 at 12:02 am Reply

     Hi Monserrat,

     Nice! Had you ever heard of St. Patrick’s Day before you started researching Ireland? It’s coming up soon–be sure you wear some green! I even got a new green Guns N’ Roses shirt just for the occasion!

     See you in class,
     Ryan
6. 

   Mau Espinoza

   On March 12, 2015 at 6:36 pm Reply

   Hi everyone! My English speaking country was Scotland, some of it´s more interesting facts are:

   Edinburg was the first city in the world with it’s own Fire Brigade, founded in 1824, Edinburg also became the UNESCO’s first City of Literature in 2004. Another interesting fact about Scotland is that the country was the host of the first Rubgy and the first Soccer international matches, both of them between the teams of Scotland and England.

   1) If I have enough money, I will visit Scotland someday.

   2) If I go to Scotland someday, I will never try Haggis.

   3) If I were Scottish, I would be a great Rugby player.

   4) I hope I visit the Bass Rock someday.

   5) If I were Scottish, I would wear a skirt and play the bagpipes.

   Ryan! I have a question for you! What kind of conditional is used in the following sentence?

   If the “YES” had won the referendum, Scotland would be out of the UK.

   Thanks!
   • 

     Sitzman

     On March 21, 2015 at 12:05 am Reply

     Hi Mau!

     Thanks for the comment. A few corrections:
     -it’s–> its (it’s = “it is”…I know, it’s confusing)
     -Edinburg–> Edinburgh
     -#5 the skirt is called a “kilt” (although you can still wear a skirt if you want)

     As for your question, the best conditional here would be the third conditional (past unreal). The condition should be in third, but the result could be in third or second. So, you could say:

     “If the referendum had passed,” as the condition
     and either
     “…Scotland would have left the UK.” (3rd)
     or
     “…Scotland would be out of the UK.” (2nd)

     It just depends if you want to focus on the past or the present in your result. We’ll talk about that more when we study the third conditional, though.

     See you in class!
     Ryan
7. 

   Zule K. Herrera

   On March 13, 2015 at 8:03 pm Reply

   I chose Australia.

   I think this country is really interesting,
   what I like of this, is that they have a lot of animals and take care of them. But something interesting that I found was that they eat Kangaroo and the Kangaroo is a national symbol. I wish this not happen and can see this and the others animals alive, and not been eating.

   This country is really huge, is the 6th largest country in the world, so I a went to Australia I would get lost really
   fast, I will need a map always. But wish I could go to this country anyways; it has amazing animals and amazing exotic flora I would be the happiest person If I go to this country.
   • 

     Sitzman

     On March 21, 2015 at 12:08 am Reply

     Hi Zule,

     Nice job! A few corrections:

     “I wish that didn’t happen, and that people kept the kangaroo and other animals alive, and didn’t eat them.” (it would all be mostly in the past for the wish phrases, since it’s not real or true)

     The second wish about Australia is a bit off–can you correct it? The second paragraph has a few errors that make it confusing.

     Thanks, and see you tomorrow,
     Ryan
8. 

   Jose Chaves Vargas

   On March 28, 2015 at 11:12 am Reply

   Hey Ryan sorry for the wait but I have been really busy with my school lately.

   My english speaking country was Australia and the interesting fact that I really like it is that in Australia you can be purchased for kangaroo meat from the supermarket, butcher and available on restaurant menus.

   And here is some of the information that I found.

   The geography of Australia covers a wide variety of
   biogeographic regions being the world’s smallest continent but sixth -largest
   country .

   Australia has six states New South Wales, Queensland , South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia and
   two major mainland territories the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

   The female population is majority, with 11,619,559
   women, which accounts for 50.23% of the total, compared with 11,511,341 men are
   49.76% for approximately 23 millions.

   Australia is a country with a very low population
   density, with 3 people per km2, is # 2 in terms of density is concerned.

   Australia has been habited for over forty two thousand
   years by the Australian Aborigines
   • 

     Sitzman

     On April 9, 2015 at 11:30 pm Reply

     Hi Jose,

     Nice job–I’d really like to visit Australia sometime! The only corrections I’d have to make are about vocab. For example, you can’t be purchased for kangaroo meat there, but you can purchase kangaroo meat. There’s a big difference.

     Also, no “s” in plural numbers (like 23 million) and at the end, you could just say “in terms of density.”

     Thanks, and see you in class!
     Ryan
9. 

   Luis Alejandro Zuñiga Arce

   On April 9, 2015 at 6:21 pm Reply

   Hi there,

   My English-speaking country was Jamaica. Why? Because it has a rich culture, even more if we talk about their language and their musical styles too.

   As you know my approach was the language, the modification on it, how the pronounce them and/or write them: let’s remember some of them: gyal, fi, selector, dj, me/mi, pon, memba, Jamrock, baby and so forth.

   The most interesting I had not known about Jamaica was that Christianity is the largest religion practiced there. And that the Rastafari is only a movement not a religion.

   I wish I were born in Jamaica.

   If I were born in Jamaica, I would like to get a training week (at least) with Usain Bolt’s team.

   If I were Jamaican, I would like to be Usain Bolt.

   I hope I can go to Jamaica someday in my life.

   I wish Usain Bolt had the chance to meet me. hahaha
   • 

     Sitzman

     On April 9, 2015 at 11:31 pm Reply

     Haha, I’m sure Usain Bolt would be honored to meet you!

     Nice answer. I’d only change that you wish you HAD BEEN born there, since it happened in the past.

     Good job!
     Ryan
10. 

    Javier Salazar Pérez

    On April 10, 2015 at 4:54 pm Reply

    Hello all!

    Sorry for the delay. My research was about Wales. I didn’t know anything about this country before doing this assignment. Basically what I did was to look for the most interesting facts about this country, and some them are the following:

    • Only the 21% of the entire Wales can speak the native language. The other 79% speak English.
    • Wales is really known because of its castles. Is the country that has more castles per square mile
    • Wales is the country where lawn tennis was invented.
    • The town with the largest name in the world, belongs to Wales.
    • Wales sheep population is four times greater than the Welsh population of humans.
    • Rugby is Wales national sport.

    These are my phrases:

    • If I were Welsh, I would not speak the native language.

    • If I visit Wales someday, I will see a lot of sheep.

    • I hope I visit Wales Castles.

    • If I were Welsh, I would be part of a rugby team.

    • I wish I knew something more Wales facts before doing this research.
    • 

      Sitzman

      On April 13, 2015 at 12:50 pm Reply

      Nice job! I’d like to check out Wales someday.
11. 

    Michael Badilla Elizondo

    On April 11, 2015 at 7:55 am Reply

    Hello Everyone,

    Looks like i’m the last one :P… Well, well, my presentation was about the great country of Canada.
    Despite that Ryan can think that Canada is not a Good country(just for a couple of person that were born there) that doesn’t mean that you can not find interest things to do in this place.

    Canada’s culture draws influences from its broad range of constituent nationalities, and policies that promote multiculturalism are constitutionally protected. In Quebec, cultural identity is strong, and many French-speaking commentators speak of a culture of Quebec that is distinct from English Canadian culture.

    What can I do if I go to Canada? Easy!!!
    -Go to Niagara Falls.
    -Visit Stanly Park
    -Go to Notre Dame Basilica.

    Phrases:

    1- If I go Canada, I will visit the most popular Falls in the World.

    2- I hope I can know someone that can invite me to go Canada.

    3- If I have enough money, I will pay a trip for my English group to know this beautiful place.

    4- If I were Canadian, I would not live in the north part of Canada.

    5-I hope I can get the Canadian Visa to go Canada.