TOEFL Write Up

Q. Some students prefer to attend a small university. Others prefer to attend a big university. Discuss the advantages of each. Then indicate which type of university you prefer? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

ESSAY

            Entering and graduating from universities is crucial in 21^st century. One is often judged from his or her background, what kind of universities they graduated from. Ones who are able to graduate from a well-known big universities, are often considered to be more talented and of better worth. Sometimes though, this is not always the case. Just because one has graduated from a small university for instance, doesn’t mean he or she has no talent. Because of this, from time to time, people who have graduated from small universities may put a façade, stating that they have graduated from a big university. Of course, big universities have more advantages than the small universities. However, it isn’t the matter of big or small universities, as long as the person is qualified.

            Small universities have its own advantage despite the fact that it is ‘small’ and may not be known so well. For one, small universities may help the students to focus on their studies and graduate with high grades. In a big university, one might be too occupied with friends or other things in their private life they don’t study like they’re supposed to. Two, small universities may focus on one specific field that it is small. One might enter a small university because he or she wants to focus on their field intensely without being interrupted on their studies. Just because one has decided to graduate from a small university, it doesn’t mean that one is fatuous- it may be the other way around.

            Advantages are seen more easily in big universities. To name a few, big universities have a bigger campus and more people, which means that students can enjoy their school life more than they can in small universities. Big universities contain huge number of resources, which will help enhance students’ studies. Also, graduating from big universities means a broader range of careers or occupations one can get- since it is, well, bigger. Lastly, big universities create more chances and variety of subjects for one compared to small universities, where subjects may be limited.

            As for me, I would choose big universities over small universities because as stated above, it has more variety of subjects than small universities might have, and also it might have a better atmosphere of being in a college. For example, if I find out that dentistry is not for me, I can change my courses to education field. It can help me do what I enjoy and what I tend to do best for my future jobs. Big universities will allow me to do various studies and also will allow me to gain experience with my social life which can help me to adjust easier when I get a job after I graduate. Although small universities aren’t bad in my opinion, if I were to choose, I’d choose big universities.
            As a laconic recapitulation, I would like to mention a few points. Each university have their own disadvantages and advantages. But if they were to be divided into two different sections- small and big, here is the abridged difference. Small universities creates quiet and cozy atmosphere where students can focus on their studies. On the other hand, big universities create a teeming atmosphere of jauntiness and fun, at the same time studying what one can enjoy. If I were to choose one from these two, I would choose big universities.

Podcast for Hamlet

Podcast for Hamlet

Act 2
Scene 1
Ophelia- Jung
Polonius- Julianne
Reynaldo- Duangkamon

Scene 2
Hamlet- Julianne
Queen- Jung
Guildestern- Duangkamon




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Response Journal - Hamlet

Response Journal for Act 1, scene 1 to Act 1, scene 5

Q1. How does the play make you feel at this point? Record your emotional response(s) in a few sentences and then explore them for a few minutes, trying to figure out why you feel as you do.

Ans.) In act one scene two of Hamlet, it gave me feelings of distrust and rage when I found out that Hamlet’s uncle- Claudius- became king of Denmark and married Hamlet’s mother- Gertrude, I could nearly feel the feeling that Hamlet might have felt then. I felt anger, disappointment, and even a bit of hatred towards both of them, because I saw things going on in Hamlet’s position.

Q2. In what situations have you felt similar to the characters? What persons, places, or ideas from your own experiences came to your mind while you were reading this portion of the play? Try to list at least three associations, but don’t worry about trying to figure out why they came to mind. Just accept that they occur.

Ans.) 

A. I have a sister and a brother, both younger than me. I give them, or at least- try to give them as much as advice to them as possible so they won’t repeat the same mistakes I did. One advice I gave to my sister is that when she comes to grade 9, she must watch out for every tests and quizzes she take and be responsible for it. I told her whatever GPA she will get, it’ll follow her everywhere, attached like a tail on the back of her. This can relate to scene 3 act 1, where Laertes give advice to his sister, Orphelia. I understand the feeling how Laertes is worried for his loved sibling, as it was for me.

B. I had a very trusting friend back when I was young. I told her some of my secrets and things that I didn’t even tell my mom or dad about. I trusted her and she trusted me. But one day, just like every story you see about betrayals, I heard a gossip about me and what I had told her. I felt anger, betrayed, and absolute disappointment for her- not that she let me down, but that I could not trust the way I did for her again. I believe that when Hamlet knew about his father’s death that it was a murder by Claudius, he must have felt the sense of betrayal uncle and also from his mom- by marrying his uncle so easily- once her half brother.

C. Everyone has a time when once in their life they want to do things their own way. I had felt the same when I was a little kid. I wanted to go out with friends rather than studying, I wanted to watch television shows rather than reading books. However, my mom adviced me and told me how I’d regret later if I didn’t do things right while I’m still young. So I tried to understand the meaning, feel it, and follow her advice. How I wanted to do things my way was probably same for Ophliea. But she followed her dad’s advice, and agreed not to meet Hamlet again. I believe Orphliea and I share same feelings of how we must endure and put things aside and set priorities.

Q3. What portions of Shakespeare’s language attracts your attention? These might be individual words, phrases, lines, scenes, or images. Make note of whatever features draw your attention. Speculate for a few minutes about what you think they might mean.

Ans.) In this play Hamlet, the language of Old English attracts my attention the most. However, the use of adjectives and symbols representing something in the story also is interesting. One of the features that draws my attention is in scene 5 of act 1 when the ghost speaks to hamlet about his death and how he should plan revenge on Claudius. “Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast….” This part showed me how real the ghost of Old Hamlet felt towards Claudius. I believe it is a good choice of words, helping me with my imaginations and such.

Q4. Make note of any portion of the play, its language, or events that cause you problems. Note any questions that you might ask.

Ans.) I am confused and not sure about why Hamlet must make his best friends- Horatio and Marcellus agree to swear not to speak of the sight of seeing Old Hamlet’s ghost appearance. And I also would like to know why the ghost only wanted to speak to Hamlet alone, not around Horatio and Marcellus. 

Spectator Sport- An Amusement Park

I got this from here

           The car pulls to a stop and I wake up from the uneasy sleep during the ride to see what’s waiting for me outside the window. I spot people, people, and people. I open the car door and step out lightly. I can feel the hot, burning sun on my face. I walk toward the flamboyant blue castle gate, like I’ve seen in movies. I see lines of people, crowds of people. Their faces are lit up with expectations and excitements that wait for them behind that blue gate. I, too, walk toward one of the small entrances where people are lining up. The lines are so long, I already am sweating so heavy from the heat around me- the people, the sun, the anticipation. It’s finally my turn to step into the gate, to see the wonderful things that’ll be waiting for me right there, for some fun.

            Red, yellow, blue colored balloons float in the air. I see happy couples with their couple t-shirts, kids running around with pink and white cotton candies. In the air I smell buttered popcorns, sweetness of cotton candies. All around me I hear strident screams, shouting, high-pitched shrills from the rides that look so much fun. People line up orderly and patiently for their rides but they can’t hide the fact that the air seems to be burning around them. Fanning each other, sipping on drinks, sweat running down their cheeks. I buy myself a cup of ice-cold coke. It’s there in my hands and I can feel the coolness it gives to my warm hand. Within seconds my hands turn cold, I bring up them to my neck and the coolness again spreads to my body, freeing me from the heat, satiating my dreaded thirst. I walk around a little bit more, until I come across this ride that catches my attention.





I got this from here

            Lining up for 30 minutes under the blazing sun with all those people around you feeling packed and hot isn’t an easy thing. But patiently I do, and it’s finally my turn to step on to the roller coaster. One step at a time dubiously, I put my feet closer to the coaster. As I slowly get closer to the roller coaster I feel my heart beating fast. I choose my seat, put down the safety belt, “Click.” The operator checks on every lock, making sure it’s tight. I feel apprehensive and my heart starts beating faster and faster every second. “Cluck. Dr-rrr-rr-rrr.”  It starts to rise, I feel my heart stop, I hold on to the handle so tight. It continues to rise and it stops for a second, together with my heart. I close my eyes. Then down it goes. I hear screams from my mouth, person next to me, from every side. I let it all out, the stresses, worries, all those heavy burdens I have been keeping to myself. I can feel the air rushing up on my face, I feel so pressed down on to the chair. Left, right, down, up, in circles it goes. And when I open my eyes again, I realize I am still, we all are. I lift up the belt that was on me, and step out of the ride feeling really light.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog everyone!

My name's Jung, just call me Alice if it's easier that way. :) I live because I still have a lot to learn, to experience, to smile for, and to enjoy. :D I'm not really good with writing, but positive that I'll be improving as I do blogging... if I have the time to do so. As for now, this is for my English II class, but I'll see if I'll keep it going. ^^

-Alice Y.-