Part 1: Language Learning and Hosting
We will study English at Edenz School in Oakland.
The school is located in the heart of the city. It has a cafe and a rice shop.
Edenz's teaching is considered satisfactory. On the first day, we took a language proficiency test with 6 levels. We achieved level 5, upper intermediate. The test was not very difficult, mainly focusing on high school grammar. At the end of the test, there was a section asking why we chose to come to New Zealand.
The class we chose was a morning session from 9 am to 12 pm, followed by an afternoon session until 3 pm, if I remember correctly. (It's been a year since I returned to Thailand, so I've forgotten some things.)
The people are friendly. Most of the students are Colombian or from other South American countries. For example, in our class of 15 people, there are students from India, Thailand, Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam. The students are a bit older than me, as I am the youngest in the class. Most of them are in their late twenties or early thirties, and some are even working professionals. However, everyone gets along well and we are all friends.
The teachers are already experts in English. We had a Russian teacher in the morning class, who taught us grammar, listening, writing, reading, and speaking all in one week. For Thai students, we think we will be quite familiar with grammar.
Some days there are activities to play, like games. We really like the game Articulate.
The afternoon class was taught by a Chinese teacher who had been living in New Zealand for many years. He was a good teacher.
This class is more relaxed than the morning class, allowing us to exchange ideas with our classmates on the assigned topic or participate in other activities on some days.
Each month there is a test. If you score 80% or higher, you will be promoted. Before I returned to Thailand, I was promoted to level 6. However, it is a pity that I had to return to Thailand first. 😭 But the higher the level, the more homework and work there is, and it may be a bit more serious.
After completing the class, we truly felt that our English speaking skills had improved. This was due to the opportunities we had to present in front of the class to boost our confidence and to converse with our classmates. We made a conscious effort to speak in English and to avoid forming groups with other Thai students.
Our primary goal is to converse with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and enhance our ability to comprehend accents from various countries, extending beyond New Zealand. To achieve this, we have actively engaged in conversations with individuals from numerous nations.
The last day, my Colombian friend made me cupcakes, which made me very happy.
The translation of the provided text is:
"And they gave me a certificate and my friends threw a small party for me and let me say goodbye. I was so touched that day, I don't know why. I spoke with tears in my eyes, and some of my friends even cried. 5555"
This is a picture of our friends.
Let's move on to the topic of hosts.
We are staying with a New Zealand couple who are both in their late 70s. They are a female and a male who are partners. They are both very healthy and kind. The accent was a bit difficult to understand at first. Our host family lives about 40 minutes from downtown. We take the 966 bus.
For extended stays, consider purchasing an AT HOP card, a reloadable transportation pass that allows you to tap on and off buses and trains.
Fares are cheaper if paid in cash. This also applies to ferries.
The condition of the neighborhood around the host's house.
Our own host house
On the first day, the host took us to buy a SIM card and go for a ride in the city.
And then we went to our daughter's house. When we came back, we brought her the things we had prepared from Thailand, which were some Thai-style mats.
Our host is very kind to us, perhaps because we are 18 years old and may appear younger than other guests who have stayed here before.
He cares about us. I am truly touched.
On the first day, the male host drove us to the school and taught us how to take the bus back and forth. However, on the way back, we forgot how to get back, so we called him. He tried to explain, but we didn't understand the directions very well, so he drove to pick us up. When we got back, the female host was so happy that she kissed us on the cheek. She said she was about to call the police.
This is our bedroom.
Regarding laundry and dishes, the host family will take care of everything. However, this may vary depending on the household. Our male host was a chef at a former hotel and cooked delicious meals. He would prepare lunch for us at the hotel to save money.
Some days, the host family would take us to the bowling club, where we could practice our language skills with our host friends.
Some days, I have homework from school. If I don't understand something, my male host helps me. After dinner, we usually sit and watch TV together. If I pronounce a word incorrectly, he helps me correct it.
We were fortunate to have been placed with these two hosts. We encountered no difficulties whatsoever. Before departing, we were overcome with sadness and wept the entire journey home. We penned a letter of gratitude to our hosts, expressing our sincere appreciation for their efforts.
By NaliJourney
The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.
Nali
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 7:09 PM