2. Chris Searles, the student-teacher from Seneca College who did his practicum with us in February 2012, has kindly indicated his availability for private English lessons. Please contact him by email at 2012chrislsearles@gmail.com (delete "2012").
2. Due to TESL Ontario's annual conference, there will be no LINC classes Thursday and Friday, but you are welcome to come to our centre on the 9th floor on Thursday to make use of the Internet and reading resources there. Or you can work from home.
Here's the homework:
Correct the errors in Exercise 17 (20 questions) on pp. 147 - 48 of your grammar papers.
Ever wonder what Halloween is all about? Carved pumpkins ("jack-o'-lanterns") and kids going around the neighbourhood asking for candies ("trick or treating"), most people thinking of scary things, but some people not really interested--what a strange celebration this is!
A grinning jack-o'-lantern with an apparition, witches, and bats flying in the background
So, what is Halloween all about?
According to the Wikipedia article on Halloween, the festival has its beginnings in ancient European (especially Celtic) folk beliefs about floating ghost lights (will-o'-the-wisps), or Jack Lanterns, later known as jack-o'-lanterns, that appeared at the change of seasons from autumn to winter. At first, people would carve turnips to make lanterns, but later, pumpkins were used. Today, grinning jack-o'-lanterns are a universal symbol of Halloween all over North America.
But how did the name Halloween come about? For this, we need to look at the Roman Catholic belief that most Roman Catholics don't go directly to heaven when they die, but their souls must first go to a terrible place called Purgatory. These souls are remembered on a holiday called All Souls Day. But other people, who are very holy, who are saints, go to heaven directly when they die. So on the first day of November, just before All Souls Day, they celebrate All Saints Day, or All Hallows Day. And the day before All Saints Day, or Hallows/Saints Day, is called Hallows' Eve[n], or Hallow E'en, or simply Halloween. Halloween is a day for Roman Catholics to think about and pray to their dead, both saints and souls.
An illustration of Purgatory, with those finally going to heaven flying through a tunnel in the upper left corner
In 1517, a Roman Catholic priest in Germany named Martin Luther was unhappy when he saw how the Roman Catholic church was teaching things that did not go according to the Bible. The Bible teaches that all Christians go directly to heaven by faith alone, not because some people are better than others but because Jesus has done everything needed to save us. Jesus lived a perfect life and died a perfect death for our sins, which made God the Father no longer angry about our sins. No amount of good works or church donations can make Him happy or accept us. Instead of this, the Roman Catholic Church was telling its people to donate more money so that their ancestors' souls could fly to heaven from Purgatory. The money collected, of course, was sent to Rome to build the biggest church building in the world, St. Peter's Basilica, there. So, on Halloween 1517, Luther wrote out his protests and nailed the list to the door of his church.
That act changed the history of the world completely; Luther's Reformation marks the beginning of modern history. Those who follow Luther and the Bible rather than the Roman Catholic Church are known as Protestants, and some of them choose to celebrate Reformation Day rather than Halloween on October 31. People in countries affected by Protestant Christianity have the freedom to read and think about the Bible in their own language, to explore the sciences and move around, and to practise and spread their faith without persecution--just like here in Canada. Many of those new freedoms are still enjoyed and cherished in various countries to this day.
MicroSkills Small Business Forummers Jenan, Qiaoxia, Victor, Yan, and Eva, courtesy of Mizuho's camera
MicroSkills participants Eva, Qiaoxia, Mizuho, and Ling joined Jenan, Victor, and Yan in the South Building of Metro Toronto Convention Centre for Enterprise Toronto's Small Business Forum 2011. After registering and picking up our loot bags, we scavenged the exhibition hall for souvenirs before attending individual sessions on various topics. Hopefully, some of the tips picked up will translate into profitable business someday.
Courtesy Eva's camera
Courtesy Eva's camera
Courtesy Eva's camera
Courtesy Eva's camera
Courtesy Eva's camera
Courtesy Eva's camera
And then it was off to lunch via the PATH Underground City at Villa Madina at 7 King St. East. We all wound up eating shawarma. Arriving at St. James Cathedral late for the organ concert, we had to pass a battery of twelve bicycle-mounted Toronto Police on standby near the entrance.
Heading over to the park next to the church, we had a good look at the tent city that was Occupy Toronto. There was a food station with free, donated bananas, cookies, soups, etc. Under a tree were a group of people seemingly conscious of their importance discussing a handwritten schedule of events. Under a big pergola, someone was doing a chant-out-loud human mic check a la OWS (Occupy Wall Street). Cardboard signs with disparate messages littered the place, some about love and others against big business (thankfully, nothing much against small business!).
When asked if his art resembled Norval Morrisseau's, one artist said no and gestured mystically in the direction of some trees--"that's Morrisseau's style." A native group began drumming and chanting, apparently against the occupation by a regime called "Canada," with one lady standing behind the crowd holding up a sign with Micah 6:8. A big group of schoolkids from Mississauga arrived to watch and, said their teacher, "to support."
Some clueless tourist likes "Steve," courtesy of Mizuho's camera.
It was time to go. There was no march while we were there when we left (I guess not!). The police were still there, discreetly just out of sight of the encampment. I also saw a medical tent (no cameras allowed), media centre with wifi, and a women's safe zone, which called into question the rest of the camp and its inhabitants. They look ready for the long haul, but the true test might be the rain expected for tomorrow (so OWS). Main takeaway for me: next time check camera for SD card!
Mizuho, Ling, and Eva help MicroSkills Occupy Toronto! courtesy of Mizuho's camera
UPDATE on October 18, 8 a.m.: The field trip is on, today. See you at Yonge Sheppard and at MTCC!
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UPDATE on October 17, 4:30 p.m.: The weather's looking good for Tuesday! Bring along comfortable walking shoes, some snacks or lunch money, a camera, a light jacket, and a raring-to-go attitude!
Let's meet around 9:20 a.m. on the Southbound platform of Sheppard Yonge and leave by 9:30 for Union Station. If you'd like to make arrangements to go there from Don Mills Station, please discuss with your classmates. We're also planning to take a group photo at noon, around the registration counter on the ground floor.
In the afternoon, you may wish to see something of a contrast to hard work and making money. As the Occupy Toronto Market Exchange is planned to continue downtown on that day, some of you may wish to check it out at its website:
Rather than offering largely self-conceived, undirected thanksgiving, the original framers of the Thanksgiving Day petition to Queen Victoria clearly knew who they were giving thanks to: "Almighty God." Their choice of quotations from the Bible reflects that.
This Canadian Thanksgiving, 150 years on, I can't think of anything better than to give thanks to this same Almighty God who still vouchsafes to "Canada the blessings of an abundant harvest" and gives "meat (food) unto them that fear him."
HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2011! Thank God for not letting that original document get lost!
Bob Hilliard wins the vote with 19 out of 51 votes, roundly knocking out Liberal candidate Michael Coteau and Aren Bedrosyan of the Green Party, with 14 and 8 votes, respectively. Here's the final tally:
Electoral District: Don Valley East
School Name: MicroSkills Language Program
Vote Summary
Aren Bedrosyan - Green Party of Ontario - Votes: 8
Bob Hilliard - Ontario NDP/NPD - Votes: 19
Michael Coteau - Ontario Liberal Party - Votes: 14
Michael Lende - PC Party of Ontario - Votes: 4
Ryan Kidd - Family Coalition Party of Ontario - Votes: 4
Wayne Simmons - Freedom Party of Ontario - Votes: 2 Total accepted votes: 51
Rejected votes: 2
Declined votes: 0
Spoiled votes: 46
Unmarked ballots: 1
The people at MicroSkills Language Program have spoken!
Watch the video at StopCorruptingChildren and send an email to Mr. McGuinty, Ms Horwath, or Mr. Hudak. Or make a phone call from the Employment Resource Centre.
Rather than offering largely self-conceived, undirected thanksgiving, the original framers of the Thanksgiving Day petition to Queen Victoria clearly knew who they were giving thanks to: "Almighty God." Their choice of quotations from the Bible reflects that.
Michael Coteau
Wayne Simmons - Freedom Party of Ontario - Votes: 2
