Alfredo's story

The life of Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, a guy from a poor family in Mexico, may sound like a movie script, but it is no fiction.

Twenty years ago, he hopped a border fence from Mexico into the United States and became a farm worker.

Today, he is a doctor at a famous hospital and a researcher who is looking for a breakthrough in the treatment of brain cancer.

His remarkable journey began in a tiny farming community, 60 miles south of the U.S. border. Quinones-Hinojosa was born there, and by age 5, he was working at his father's gas station. His grandmother was a village healer and a midwife.

But in the mid-1970s, Mexico's economy collapsed, and his father could no longer keep food on the table for the family. Quinones-Hinojosa continued his schooling and became a teacher by the time he was 18, but he, too, was unable to provide for his family. So he made the decision — like so many relatives before him — to head north.

Quinones-Hinojosa picked cotton, tomatoes and cantaloupes, and lived in the fields in a broken-down camper he bought for $300. When his cousin told him he would be a farmworker for the rest of his life, he decided to change his life.

He studied English at a community college, where a teacher encouraged him to attend the University of California at Berkeley. At Berkeley on a scholarship, Quinones-Hinojosa developed an interested in science. He went on to Harvard Medical School, where he eventually graduated. It is also during this time that he received his U.S. citizenship.

Quinones-Hinojosa says he owes so much of his success to the many people who have helped him in his life.

[Youngjoo] Message C, Alfredo's story

1. What is the year Afredo came to the United States?
--> 20 years ago

2. The country he came from Mexico

3. His first job in the U.S. was a migrant farm worker.

4. The place where th works now is at John's Hopkins University.

5. The three parts of his present job is a doctor, professor and researcher.

6. What he is looking for in his research is a breakthorugh.

7. Distance of his hometown from the U.S. border takes 60miles.

8. His first job in his life (at age five) was his father's gas station worker.

9. His grandmother's two jobs were a village healer and a midwife.

10. Alfredo's age when he first become a teacher was 18 years.

11. Three crops he picked on farm in the U.S. is cotton,tomatoes and cantaloupes.

12. Price of the camper he bought to live in the fields in a broken-down camper.

13. What his causin told him is that he would be a farmworker for the rest of his life.

14. Where he studied English was a community college.

15. Where he attended university on a scholarship is Berkerey.

16. Where he studied medicine is Harvard Medical School.

17. Who Alfredo Quinones says he owes his success is many people who have extended a hand to him throughout his life.



Dear teacher,

Thank you for teaching me.

faithfully yours,

-- The End --

Living in New York

Please talk to your partner about someone you know who came to New York from another country. Maybe your friend. Maybe your family.

Finish the questions by speaking. (/) = 1 missing word. (//)= 2 missing words

What's his or her name?

Tell me about his life before he /here.

How long/he been in New York?

How long//take him to get to New York from your country?

At the beginning, was/easy for him to live in New York?

How old/he when he arrived here?

What/he do for a living?

Who/he come to the United States with?

Is / rich, poor or middle class?

/he have a successful life? Explain.

He came to the United States twenty years ago.

The country he came from___is__Mexico.
His first job in the U.S. He was a migrant farm worker.
The place where he works now is a Jhons Hopkins_University.
The three parts of his present job are a neurosurgeon ,professor and a researcher.
What he is looking for in his research is the treatment of brain cancer.
Distance of his hometown from the U.S. border is a 60 miles south of it.
His first job in his life (at age five) was a gastation worker.
His grandmother’s two jobs was a village healer and a midwife.
The year Mexico’s economy collapsed was in the mid-1970s.
Alfredo’s age when he first became a teacher was 18 years old.
Three crops he picked on farms in the U.S. were cotton, tomatoes and cantaloupes.
Price of the camper he bought to live in was $300.
Condition of the camper was a broken-down.
What his cousin told him he would be a farmworker for the rest of his life.
Where he studied English was a community college.
Where he attended university on a scholarship was the University of California, Berkeley.
Where he studied medicine was a Harvard Medical School.
Who Alfredo Quinones says he owes his success to the many people who have extended a hand to him throughout his life.

I am Rajiv Saini and I came from India.I worked in International car's & Motor Ltd. in R&D department(Design Department) on Sr. engineer post.so when I came in New York I realized that the major problem for me is communication .so I decide to take English learning classes after test I got 3.5 level .I hope i will improve my English skills & I have a confidence I will do it.After completion of ESL classes I will find the job in Automobile industries.

oscar alvarez

i have been learning english for two years,this is my second semesterat laguardia my last level was second,i am studyingin orden to get a better job,the most important skill for my is comversition ,the part of english find most difficulty is pronouncietion

I HAVE BEEN LEARNING ENGLISH FOR TWO YEARS, THIS IS MY SECOND SEMESTER AT LA GUARDIA , MY LAST LEVEL WAS TWO I,M STUDYING ENGLISH IN ORDER TO GET A BETTER JOB . THE MOST IMPORTAN SKILL FOR MI IS ,
COMVERSITION.THE PART OF ENGLISH I FIND MOS DIFFICUL IS GRAMMAR.

Ivana Milewska

I have been learning English for forth months. This is 2 semester at La Gurdia. My last level was III . I am studying English in order to study in College . The most important skill for me speaking . The part of English i find most difficult is grammar

Karin Contreras

I have been learning English for 4 months
this is my 2 semester at La Guardia .
My last level was III .
I am studying English in order to study in College.
The more importan skill for me is Understanding everything.
The part of English I find most difficut is Grammar

agnieszka

I have been learning english for 2 years, this is my 3 level at La Guardia,my last level was 2.
I'm studying english in order to get a better job, the most important skill for me is conversation, the part of english that I find is most difficult for me is conversation. I'm trying every day to improve my english.
Victor

my goals by Blanca Tamariz

I have been learning english for 3 months .

this is my 4 semester at La guardia .
My last level was 3.
I am studying english in order to get a better job.
The most important skill for me is conversation.
The part of english I find most difficult is pronunciation and grammar

Cesar Ortiz

I have been learning English for four month
This is my second semester at Laguardia, my last level was three, I am studying English
in order to get better job and continuum my education, the most important skill for me is conversation and grammar, the part of English, I find most dificult is hearing.

I living in queen new york, I come from Dominican Republic, I am studying English because,
I want to continuous my education in this country, When I finish and learning English I hope to get better position in my company.

Adam RAYMOND

I have been learning English for four months.This is my second semester at Laguardia.My last level was tree. I' am studying English in order to get better job.The most important skill for me is conversation.The part of English.I find most difficult is conversation.I live on Queens Village my address is 110 36 214 street Hollis. I come from Haïti I speak french, I'm a engineer

Lina valencia

I have been learning English for one year. This is my second semester at La Guardia. My last level was two. I am studying English in order to get better job. The most important skill for me is conversation. The part of English I find most difficult is pronunciation and know in English.

One article by Tom

I have been learning English for over 20 years.(since junior high school student)
This is my second semester at Laguardia community college.
My last level was four.
I'm studying English in order to speak more frequently.
The most important skill for me is speaking, grammar,writing and pronounce.
The part of English I find most difficult is conversation.
And my favorite sport is soccer.

Example: Jorge's Introduction

I have been learning English for three years and this is my second semester at Laguardia. My last level was two. I am studying English in order to improve my career opportunities. The most important skill for me is conversation. The part of English I find most difficult is pronunciation.

I will introduce my partner. Her name is buya .she is from monglia .She has been NY 2 years and half .She lives with her sister in Queen .She used to live japan ,so she speaks japanese well .Now ,she is studing English at Laguardia ,she will get better .

My classmate name is tanjim he is from bangladesh, he is been in new york for 6 month, he lives in the bronx and takes him like an hour to came to school in a train. he is working in the night and study in the day. he wants to improve his English because he wants to study a carrer in the future, he finish all his high school in his country, so i think he is just want to speak more english to help him in his carrer.

MY Partner

Let's me introduce my partner

Her name is Mai. she's from Tokyo, Japan. She lives in manhattan, New York. It takes

30minutes to get to school. She has been in New York about 2 years. She transferred from

other school to LaGuardia C.C as this Winter semester.She likes yoga. She wants to open nice

coffee shop in the future.

My classmate name is karen and she is from Colombia. She lives in Elmhurst. she lives with her family. she has father, mother, husband and a nice baby. I think she is very nice and beautiful. when i was talking with her i feel very happy. she is very familiar and friendly. I guess she can manage every body in a short time.Really i feel very excited for talking with her.I wish her good future.
BY,
TANJIM

My name is camila I am introduce ellie for you.

My partner name is Ellie from Korea.

She usually takes a subway. it takes 40 minutes.
She has just been 3 month in New York
she will stay in New York for 5 years. She want study in university of New York.
After graduate university she want in her future work in New York.

My name is Ellie I am introduce Camila for you.

My partner name is Camila from Colombia.

She usually takes a bus. It takes 1 and half hours to get to school.
She has just been 5 days in New York.
She will stay in NY for 3 month. After, She is going to go back to Colombia.
She is a student. She has just finished a high school in Colombia. I think she is pretty young.
She would like to study an International Business in her country.

for liz

Her name is Filiz she is from Turkey she has living in New York for 6 month she has 25 old she is married and she study

Juye Kim

My name is Marika Endo.My partner's name is Juye Kim.Her from is Korea.She live in Astoria with her husband.She has been stayed N.Y about 7months. She is student,She study English,then She will study fine art in N.Y.

My partner is Marika Endo and she is japanese. She lives in blooklyn with two roomate.
She's major is photograph and she wants to work in gallery. she prepare for curator.
She come 6 month ago in New york.

My Partners

My partner's name is Maria, she's from Ecuador, she has been in NY for ten months, the trip from her house until La Gaurdia is about 20 minutes by train, She studied tourism in her country, Maria wants to study nursing after got a really god english.

My another partner's name is Irma, she's from Ecuador too, she has been in NY for four months, the trip take her about fourthy minutes by train and bus, Irma studied low but she doesn't finish yet, she wants to be an American lower in a near future.

About my partner

Hi~!
Let me introduce my partner.Her name's Rampai.She's from Thailand.She came to the NY about 2 years.She lives in Brooklyn.She take the No.7 and G train come to the school.She said it's spend almost 30 minutes.She's going to study about nurse.Maybe she wanna be a nurse.I think it's a very good job.She doesn't like work in company.This idea is the same as me.I don't like company,too.Because I wanna do my own business.She said before she did the part-time job.But right now she hasn't.Because she start study in school.so she has no enough time to do work.She planning to enter the college.So she study hard now.

My Partner

My partner name is Sharon and she came from China. She have been in NY 7 months and live in Queen. Besides, she been living here with her mom and her dad just left to China.Moreover, she take the subway number 7 and about 30 minutes to get to TELC for where she live. Her graduate form High School in china and then move to New York. When she was in her country, she worked part time job and studied in the same time. Her destiny is having her own business about bar, restaurant and lounge. So, now she try to get to the collage here as soon as she can and the major that her want to attend is about Business. She doesn't like it here much.

My partner is ahmet.

He is Turkish. He has been here about 3 months.

He worked in turkey. he was interior architect.

He wants to stay in New York 1 year. and after he return to turkey, he want to works again.

1 month ago he went to turkey at vacation. and he brought a Turkish Delight. it was so delicious.

I think he is nice guy.!!

My partner is jihvun

She comes from Korea. She has been here 4 months. She is a Korean traditionaldesigner costume . She takes train 25 minutes to get to school. She finished school later came back to Korea. She worked in the Korea. She wants to her own design shop .

my partner from Ecuador

I would like to introduce my partner to you. Her name is Carolina. She is from Ecuador. She has been in New York for only three months. She doesn't know how long she will live in New York yet. She was a high school student when she was in Ecuador. She is going to study interior design later. She lives in Queens and it takes 35minites for her to come to school. When she has free time she likes go shopping. She doesn't work so she usually has free time.

Introduce for my partner

His name is Jose who is from Ecuador.He is 34 years old.He's been here for 13 years ago.He is a cooker who works restaurant.He lives Oueens.He comes to school by train that it takes him 15 minutes to get to school.He is learning english now in laguardia college.When he is going to finish his English class,he wants to be a businessman.

introduce about partner

My partner is Mariam from morwco.
She have been here for only 1month. She live in White stone near Astoria so she takes 45minits to get to school by train and bus.

She want to be a nurse. Before she came here, she had studied about nurse.
She can speak Arabic and French because her second language is French so English is third language for her.

introduce my partner

MAMIKO is my partner she is from Japan
she is living near to Laguardia she takes only 20minit by train ,she has been here for 5months,she used to study english in manhattan language, her major is design she wants to be a designer, she speaks two languages .japanese and english.

my classmate Jinhua

my classmate's name is Jinhua. she is from China. She has been new york for 3 years . She is living with her mother and father. She is enjoying to learn English. Before she studied in a other school for few years after that she changed her school . She so busy girl because she is learning English
in the morning and she works spa place for part time .

Introduce my partner!

Her name is Joanne who is from China. She's been here for three years ago. She worked all the time but she decided to star to improve her English .It takes her 25 minutes to get to be in the school by train because she lives in flushing. She's an esthetistion. Her hobby is going to shopping, she's enjoy it very much. In the future she's going to be a good businesswomen who can develop herself in many ways. Now, she don't know if she will be here forever .

my classmate

His name is Jay. He came from Korean.
He is living in Astoria Queens. It takes 30minutes from his place to ESL.

He has been here for 6months.
He came here to study English. He finishes to study,he'll be back to his country.

His hobby is taking pictures,so he enjoys doing that in NY now.

About Maria

I talk about Maria.She came from Honduras where is a republic in Central America.
She speaks Spanish.
She has been in NY for 5years.
She has marride and she have a son.
Why she want to learn English, because she want to get job and
son's teacher can't speaks Spanish.
Sometimes she has some problem to comprehend what teacher saied for her son.
So she learn English for son and job.

My partner (Ellie and Chanez)

Hello, my name is Diana, I''m from Colombia and today I want to talk about my two partners, their names are Elie and Chanez. Elie is fom South korea and Chanez is from Algeria. Elie wants to go to College and she plants to live here for 5 or 10 years. Chanez is psychologist and she wants to work here, so she needs go to school, she is married and she plans to live here for all life. I think they have many interest in learning.

my classmate

my classmate's name is Saehoon. He has been New York 2 weeks ago. He intend to stay NY

one year and he will study English in this one year. When he finish study English he will back to

his country to teach English. Saehoon live in Flushing. He takes one hour from Flushing to school

by train.

My partner

My partner is from Korea, his name is Kyu, He arrive in New York on September 5, 2010, four months ago; His intend to live here maybe for five years because he want to study in the college, He was studying in his Country computer programing for end He needs two years more. He was studying in the college in his country. He want to study in the future Economy here in USA, yet doesn't know where you are going to study.

Andrea

She's from Columbia and came to New York 4months ago. Andrea is doctor about a medicine in her country. she came here for studing English only because she want to read english books about her major. Therefore she is going to her country in this april, I think that is too short!.
Also her brother is studing Economics in Columbia, this is interesting for me because I'am studing same thing.

About partner

Today, we decide partner and introduce each other on blog.

My partner's name is Fredy.
He came from Colombia. Just 8days ago.
He has lived in Queens with his cousin.
He was a solder, but I couldn't believe that.
Because he is young and he has baby face also so cute.
I can't imagine.

He has one old brother and old sister.
We didn't have many time, so we just talked about a few things.

Fredy!
I want you to enjoy life in New York.
Good luck to you!



Kevin said, today's weather is beautiful.

to introduce 'ChiHo'

My partner name is ChiHo who came from Japan.
She has been in N.Y almost 2 years.
She intends to live N.Y over 4 years.
She is going to study Art therapy.
She was worked in bank.
Actually, She can not decide yet but, she want to go to college in N.Y and, she would like teach children or treat some people about mind.

Introduction

This is an example of a partner introduction:

Good morning. I would like to introduce you to my partner, Karen. Karen is from Berlin, Germany and has been in New York just six months. In Germany, she was a jazz singer ,and she hopes to continue her career in New York. She intends to live here for a long time and would like to make new friends. Her hobby is music. She is single, has a cat and enjoys going to movies. I think Karen will become fluent in English quickly.

Names

Please ask your partner:

1. What do you like people to call you?
2. What does your name mean?
3. Do you have a nickname?
4. What is your family name?
5. Do you know its meaning?
6. Do you like your name?
7. What is the name of the last school you studied at?
8. Where was it? What did you study? How old were you?
9. What is the name of your home town (city)? What does it mean?
10. Do people in your country ever change their names? Why? For marriage? Other?
11. What is the name of your best friend? Tell me about him or her.
12. What do people usually call the teacher in your country?

Welcome!

Welcome!

There are many ways to learn a language. The fastest is to use it.


Remember: On Tuesdays listening and speaking class begins in room 333.

Next Tuesday you will interview a partner, so please think of some good questions.