Three Places From My Country

Beitedding
Beitedding

Cedars

Jeita Groto

The Cedars

This area is 140km from Beirut. You can go in summer and enjoy the green around and

you can go in winter and enjoy the skying.

The Cedars area is not only for fun. This area has lots of Lebanon's history because

Lebanon was well Known by its Cedar trees and they were known as Cedars of God

because lots of princes has built their palaces from this trees or their ships like

Solomon used some wood of this Cedars to build his Temple and Egyptians used it for

their "Sun Ship".

Jeita grotto

Jeita Grotto is to the north of Beirut. Jeita is a natural Cave. It has two caves the lower galleries were discovered in 1836 and opened in 1958. You can see 600 metres by boat, but the cavern is 6,910 metres.

The upper Galleries were opened in January 1969 and they can be seen on foot.

Beitedding

Beitedding is an historical palace. An old prince built the palace. It has huge rooms and very high ceilings, lots of balconies and one of the balconies is where the prince always used to attend. Which is on the right side.

In summer people go to "Festival Of Betiding" because the palace has a big Oval and it fits lots of people.

The palace is built from Polychrome Marbles and Ochre Stone Sculptures.

SPECIAL PLACE.

A VILLAGE SIMILAR TO MY VILLAGE

THE SNOW IN MY COUNTRY LEBANON.

I have a special place like everyone in the world.
My special place is where I spent my childhood. It is a very special place where I had my
family my brothers, my sisters and my grand-mother.


My hometown was in between four mountains very high from the beach but near the sun
because the sun rose early in the morning from behind the mountain in summer.

We had snow in winter and the snow used to cover the mountain and it covert the roads.
We had a good time when exclude not go to school because of the snow.

In spring the flowers start to open and the green start to show like a bride walking in a
big garden. At the front of our house we had lots of trees and three kinds of grape vines
and each vine was a different cooler and different flavor.

I used to climb on them or to be more specific I used to climb on the wire frame for the
grapes and I used to be in trouble with my mum. The cherry tree that we had was very big
and I enjoyed eating the green cherries and my auntie used to get very mad.

My grand-parents house was always closed in winter but in summer my grand-mother
came to the village to make the jams and all kinds of food that she used to prepare for
winter time. She used to come with lots of sweets and cakes and best of all the fresh bread
that you could smell from faraway.

I used to enjoy my grand-mother's company and I always listened to her and did what she
told me. I was the first grand-child for her and she used to spoil me and she used to make
me the food that "I" liked the most.

I was very cheeky and my hometown is a very special place for me. It was like a part of
my heart and I hope that one day I can take my children and show them where I was
brought up and all the trees that I climbed which got me in trouble.

MY BACK-ROUND.

My name is Djimi Bou Abboud and I come from Lebanon.
I have been in Australiafor about nine years. I speak Arabic and I learnt French in my
country.

I got married in Lebanon and I came with my ex-husband to Australia because he was born in
Australia.
I have got three children with him, two girls and a boy, the oldest is a girl then the boy and
then a girl.

I started studding English from the beginning of the year with AMEP course and I would like
to continue to study and go to university.

A LETTER FOR FRIEND.

Dear Joelle,
How are you? How's your family and how's your work?
I hope you and your family are good.
I miss talking to you and having a good time.
I like to tell you about me and my educational plans. I'm doing AMEP classes and
this is course to improve my English skills and my writing, as you know.

I am happy and I am enjoying this courseit helped me a lot and I improved a lot after
that course, as you know I want to do Child-psychology so I need one more course
before I can do TPC.

I am going to try the test for a course name EFS. It is English for Futher Study.
I hope I can pass this test because it will be very good preperation for university.

After six months and when that course is finished I will be doing TPCand this degree
will allow me to get to university. I hope I can do it in one year because as you know
I have three children to look after and I heard it's hard course.
Don't worry, Tony is a very good helper and I can rely on him with the children's
homwork but my homwork.

Anyway, I have to go and pickup the children now from the schools.
I would like to see you soon maybe, but until then send me letters as much as you like.
I live reading your letters.

Love.
Djimi.

Miguel's Questions: Interview With A University Student.

1. What is he studying?
He is studying Building Construction Manegment.
2. What year is he doing?
Final year and the fourth year.
3. What subjects has he done?What subjects has he enjoyed the most?
Architecture Engineering every thing got to do with Construction Engineer. He have
enjoyed the Structural Engineering and the Architecural subjects.
4. Is the course a practical course?
The course is a bit of both practical and theoretical.
5. Has he done any subjects from other degrees?
He have done a Law subject.
6. Has he got any plans to continue studying?
No, not sure, he would like to go to the Industry and experience many different tipe of jobs.
7. What are his plans for when he finishes uni?
He doesn't know now but he likes to go for holiday overseas, it depends on the money.

Nicole's Question.

1. What's her job?
Secratery work.
2. Does she like it?Why?
She likes her job because she is always learning.
3. What type of people does she have to deal with?
People from inside the TAFE and people from outside the TAFE and non english speaking
backround.
4. Where is she from?
She is from Ballena.
5. Why did she come to Sydney?
She came to work in Sydney.
6. How old was she when she came?
When she was 19.
7. What does she miss?
She missed the country and the beachs.
8. Where would she like to live eventually?
She likes to live in Port Maquarie.
9. What's wrong with Sydney, according to her?
Sydney is very busy and it's getting old.
10. How long does it take her to get to work?
It take her 35 minutes.
11. What about the things she likes about this city?
The Habour the Zoo the multicultrulism.
12. Now write 4 or five more questions for the last part of the interview.
a. Why wont you go and live in your home country again?
b. Do you feel sorry because you came to Sydney?
c. If the years gone back would you like to stay in your home twon or would you do the
same as you did?
13. Find out where her town is and get information about it on the Internet.

Barbara's Questions.

1. What languages are spoken in your own communities?
The laguages that are spoken in my community, here in Australia, are Arabic, English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese .
2. Is the official language of your country the same as your mother tongue?
Yes, in Lebanon-where I come from-it is, I speak Arabic and that is the oficial language. But here in Australia it isn't. The official language is English.
3. What are the reasons for this?
Australia was funded by the English as a convict colony.
4. What language and culture best represents you?
Now I have two languages and two cultures because I'm living in Australia for these reasons
both of them represent me.
5. Are there any languages you are averse to?
The Turkish language.
7. Can you explain why?
I found it very heavy on my ear.
8. Do you have a public and a private identity?
No, crazy people stay the same. NO, seriously, I'm comfortable the way I am, I don't need tow personas.
9.Do you think foreign language learning should be fostered? Why?
I think language should be fostered so people can undertand each other.
10. What is the foreign language policy and practice in your country?
I don't know if there are any policies but I know that schools have started to teach different languages.
11.What choice of foreign languages do you have at secondary school?
In Lebanon I didn't have any choice, if you are in a public school you have to learn Arabic and French. If you are in a private shool you'll learn Arabic English and French.
Here in Australia there are many options, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Greek, Italian, Servbian, etc.
12.What is the attitude of people towards learning a foreign language in your country?
The people in my country like to learn different languages and it's very normal for people to
know a second language.
13. Does speaking a foreign language give you a better status?
Yes, it does because I need to know different languages to reach my goals.
14. Are there languages which are more privileged and others that are looked down upon?
Yes, there are languages that are looked down upon, like African languages, and some that are privileged, like English and French.

15.What is the perception of foreign languages/cultures in the country you are now living in as
compared to your own?
Some people complain if you are not talking English but most people accept it. I've heard bad comments when I was talking to my kids in Arabic. I think that is racist, but I switch to English because I think it is easier for my kids.
.
16.What were the main challenges and discoveries when trying to adapt to a new language and
culture?
The language, the way of living and the food. I have found many new things since I moved to this country.
17. Do you think you that your studies prepared you for it?
Yes, they did. I learnt French but it helped me a lot to learn English. Once you have learnt a language it is easier to learn a second one.But the communication with others prepares me more, I think.
18. How would you define intercultural competence and how do you think it can be developed?
The intercultural competence is very hard but if you live in the country for a bit of time you
will develope the way of living.
19.Is it possible to create an identity in a foreign language? Can you be yourself in English for instance? Is it possible to create an identity in a foreign language?
I like living in Australia because you can have friends from different cultures and different
languages, in my country I only had Arabic friends from the same culture and the same
language. I think I'm the same in English and in Arabic because I have been here for a long time.