Aug 2nd, 2016 Tuesday

You're not ready to live until you're ready to die
In China, I heard the same sentence. That mean that you life is not very long like you thinking about. How long are you alive? You can be alive until you are died.

There wasn't much of a collection I'm afraid. Most of people who really liked you are dead.


Tasks:

1. Listening & Vocab: Our Aging Society

1. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]

What are the greatest issues facing senior citizens in the future in your country? 

Saving money for retirement called one's "nest egg," can be a critical concern. Although all problems can't be avoided, starting to save early can ease the burden later on.

2. Listening Exercises [Top]

1. What is the main topic of this address? C
A. the growing crisis of inadequate retirement pensions for the future
B. the problem of providing adequate medical care for the elderly
C. the need to reevaluate our attitudes towards senior citizens

2. What was the speaker's purpose in sharing the story about his grandfather? B
A. to highlight the difficulties of finding affordable housing in the future
B. to illustrate the preoccupations of older citizens with growing older
C. to describe the lack of public facilities designed for the elderly

3. Which of the following statements did Dr. Miller NOT mention when speaking of senior citizens' "golden years"?A
A. The loss of a person's self-identity is most prevalent in one's advancing years.
B. A person's declining health contributes to a feeling of inadequacy.
C. Self-worth is often tied to one's profession and social standing.

4. What do you think the speaker will talk about in the next part of his address?A
A. the contributions the elderly can make in our societies
B. the swelling burden of supporting welfare programs in the future
C. our responsibility of building retirement homes for our graying society

5. Where does this plenary address most likely take place?B
A. at a retirement home
B. at a conference center
C. at a hospital

3. Post-Listening Exercises [Top]

                                 Our Aging Society

One of the growing concerns around the world is the aging population of seniors and how to care for them in the future. At the same time, many seniors want control over their own futures and want to life comfortably during their golden years. Now, there are a growing number of assisted living centers for seniors in some areas of the world. However, do most people rather live with family in their latter years or take care of themselves in a senior citizen center? How does your culture view the care of the elderly?

Moderator: 
Hello Ladies and Gentleman. It gives me great pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker for today's plenary address, Dr. Howard Miller. Dr. Miller, Professor of Sociology at Washington University, has written numerousarticles and books on the issues facing older Americans in our graying society for the past 15 years. Dr. Miller:

Dr. Miller:
Thank you for that introduction. Today, I'd like to preface my remarks from a story from my own life which I feel highlights our common concerns that bring us here together. Several years ago when my grandparents were well into their eighties, they were faced with the reality of no longer being able to adequately care for themselves. My grandfather spoke of his greatest fear, that of leaving the only home they had known for the past 60 years. Fighting back the tears, he spoke proudly of the fact that he had built their home from the ground up, and that he had pounded every nail and laid every brick in the process. The prospect of having to sell their home and give up their independence, and move into a retirement home was an extremely traumatic experience for them. It was, in my grandfather's own words, like having a limb severed off. He was quite emphatic exclaiming that he felt he wasn't important anymore.

For them and some older Americans, their so-called "golden years" are at times not so pleasant, for this period can mean the decline of not only one's health but the loss of identity and self-worth. In many societies, this self-identity is closely related with our social status, occupation, material possessions, or independence. Furthermore, we often live in societies that value that which is "new" or in vogue, and our own usage of lexicon in the English language often does not bode well older for Americans. I mean how would your family react if you came home tonight elated exclaiming, "Hey, come to the living room and see the OLD black and white TV I brought!" Unfortunately, the word "old"conjures up images of the need to replace or discard.

Now, many of the lectures given at this conference have focused on the issues of pension reform, medical care, and the development of public facilities for senior citizens. And while these are vital issues that must be addressed, I'd like to focus my comments on an underlying issue that will affect the overall success of the other programs mentioned. This has to do with realigning our perspectives on what it means to be a part of this group, and finding meaningful roles the elderly can play and should play in our societies.

First of all , I'd like to talk about . . .

1. Role play: Planning for Retirement
1. How would you Canadianize the article?
2. Compare the article's retirement benefits with these.
2. Try this Canadian Retirement Income Calculator: Post your results and comment on others'.

July 25, 2016 on Monday

Tasks:

• List the types of public holidays in Canada.

Nationwide statutory holidays in Canada[edit]

Date	English name	French Name	Remarks
January 1	New Year's Day	Jour de l'An	Celebrates the first day of every year in the Gregorian calendar.
Friday beforeEaster Day	Good Friday	Vendredi saint	Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. In Quebec, non-federally regulated employers must give either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a statutory holiday, though some give both days.
July 1	Canada Day	Fête du Canada	Celebrates Canada's 1867 Confederation and establishment of dominionstatus. In Newfoundland and Labrador, observed as Memorial Day.
First Monday in September	Labour Day	Fête du travail	Celebrates economic and social achievements of workers.
December 25	Christmas Day	Noël	Celebrates the Nativity of Jesus.

Statutory holidays for federal employees[edit]

In addition to the nationwide holidays listed above, the following holidays are mandated by federal legislation for federally regulated employees. All banks and post offices commemorate these holidays, and they are statutory in some provinces and territories.

Date	English Name	French Name	Remarks
In lieu of Good Friday (Stat Holiday), Monday afterEaster Day	Easter Monday	Lundi de Pâques	Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. Not a statutory holiday in any province or territory; however, in Quebec employers must give either Good Friday or Easter Monday as a statutory holiday, though most give both days. Banks remain open (legally they cannot close for more than three consecutive days except in emergencies[citation needed]), but employees often receive a "floating" paid day off to be taken on or near the holiday. This is not one of the nine "General Holidays" as defined by the Canada Labour Code – Part III. As such, there is no legal requirement for private sector employers in federally regulated industries to provide Easter Monday as a paid holiday to employees. However, many federal government offices will be closed on this day.
Monday on or before May 24	Victoria Day	Fête de la Reine ou Journée nationale des Patriotes	Celebrates the birthday of the reigning Canadian monarch; however, the date does not change with the change of monarch, being instead fixed on the birthday of Queen Victoria, the sovereign at the time of Canadian Confederation and establishment of dominion status in 1867. Some French-Canadians celebrate instead Adam Dollard des Ormeaux a French-Canadian hero from the New France times. Statutory holiday in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec (coincides with National Patriots' Day),Saskatchewan, and Yukon. A holiday in New Brunswick under the Days of Rest Act. Not a statutory holiday in the eastern maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, andPrince Edward Island or in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Second Monday in October	Thanksgiving	Action de grâce	A day to give thanks for the things one has at the close of the harvest season. Statutory holiday in most jurisdictions of Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.[4] An optional holiday in the Atlantic provinces of Prince Edward Island,Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.[4] In New Brunswick, included under the Days of Rest Act.
November 11	Remembrance Day	Jour du Souvenir	Commemorates Canada's war dead. Anniversary of the armistice endingWorld War I in 1918. Statutory holiday in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. In Manitoba, an "Official day of Observance", not a statutory holiday. In Ontario and Nova Scotia, not a statutory holiday in that employers have the option of giving Remembrance Day or an alternate day off. In Nova Scotia Remembrance Day is covered specifically by the Remembrance Day Act [5]which prohibits employers from allowing employees to work and prohibits employees from working with exceptions for required services. Not a statutory holiday in Quebec.
December 26	Boxing Day	Lendemain de Noël	A holiday with mixed and uncertain origins and definitions.[6] Provincially, a statutory holiday in Ontario. A holiday in New Brunswick under the Days of Rest Act. Many employers across the country observe Boxing Day as a paid day off.

Other common holidays[edit]

Date	English Name	French Name	Remarks
Third Monday in February (BC 2nd Monday in February)	Family Day Louis Riel Day(Manitoba) Islander Day(Prince Edward Island) Heritage Day(Nova Scotia)	Fête de la famille Journée Louis Riel(MB) Fête des Insulaires (PE) Fête du Patrimoine (NS)	Statutory holiday under various names in Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. British Columbia celebrates its Family Day on the 2nd Monday in February, starting in 2013.[7] Not observed elsewhere.
First Monday in August	August Civic Holiday	Premier lundi d'août	Statutory holiday in British Columbia (British Columbia Day), New Brunswick (New Brunswick Day), Northwest Territories (Civic Holiday), Nunavut (Civic Holiday), Ontario and Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Day). Civic holiday (may be a paid vacation day depending on employer) in Alberta (Heritage Day), Manitoba (Terry Fox Day), Ontario (Colonel By Day + John Galt Day + Simcoe Day + Break for no reason day +others), Nova Scotia (Natal Day), Prince Edward Island (Federal Civic Holiday). Not observed in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, or Yukon.

Provincial and territorial holidays[edit]

Provinces and territories generally adopt the same holidays as the federal government with some variations:

• Date	English Name	French Name	AB	BC	MB	NB	NL	NT	NS	NU	ON	PE	QC	SK	YT
  January 1	New Year's Day	Jour de l'An	National
  Second Monday in February	Family Day	Fête de la famille	-	V	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
  Third Monday in February	Louis Riel Day	Journée Louis Riel	-	-	V	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
  Third Monday in February	Islander Day	Fête des Insulaires	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	-
  Third Monday in February	Family Day	Fête de la famille	V	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	V	-
  Third Monday in February	Heritage Day	Fête du Patrimoine	-	-	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	-	-	-	-
  March 17	Saint Patrick's Day	Jour de la Saint-Patrick	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
  Friday before Easter Day	Good Friday	Vendredi saint	National
  Monday after Easter Day	Easter Monday	Lundi de Pâques	V	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	-
  April 23	Saint George's Day	Jour de St. George	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
  Monday on or before May 24	National Patriots' Day	Journée nationale des patriotes	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	V	-	-
  Monday on or before May 24	Victoria Day	Fête de la Reine	V	V	V	V	-	V	V	V	V	V	-	V	V
  June 21	National Aboriginal Day	Journée nationale des Autochthones	-	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
  June 24	Discovery Day / National Holiday	Journée découverte / Fête nationale du Québec / Saint-Jean-Baptiste	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	-	-	-	V	-	V
  July 1	Canada Day	Fête du Canada	National
  July 12	Orangemen's Day	Fête des orangistes	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
  First Monday in August	Civic Holiday	Premier lundi d'août	-	V	V	-	V	V	-	V	-	-	-	-	-
  First Monday in August	Heritage Day	Fête du patrimoine	V	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	V
  First Monday in August	New Brunswick Day	Jour de Nouveau Brunswick	-	-	-	V	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
  First Monday in August	Natal Day	Jour de la Fondation	-	-	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	-	-	-	-
  Third Friday in August	Gold Cup Parade Day	Défilé de la Coupe d'or	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	-
  Third Monday in August	Discovery Day	Jour de la Découverte	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	V
  First Monday in September	Labour Day	Fête du travail	National
  Second Monday in October	Thanksgiving	Action de grâce	National
  November 11	Armistice Day	Jour de l'Armistice	-	-	-	-	V	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
  November 11	Remembrance Day	Jour du Souvenir	V	V	-	V	-	V	V	V	-	V	-	V	V
  December 25	Christmas Day	Noël	National
  December 26	Boxing Day	Lendemain de Noël	V	-	-	V	-	-	V	-	V	V	-	-	-
  Total Holidays			12	10	9	10	11	10	11	9	9	12	8	9	11

• Compare and contrast the public holidays in Canada with those of another country.

National public holidays in France 2016

• January 1: New Year's Day (Jour de l'an)
  
• March 25: Good Friday – applicable only to Alsace and Moselle/Lorraine.
  
• March 28: Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
  
• May 1: Labour Day (Fête du premier mai)
  
• May 5: Ascension Day (Jour de l'Ascension, 40 days after Easter)
  
• May 8: WWII Victory Day (Fête du huitième mai or Jour de la Victoire 45)
  
• May 16: Whit Monday – also known as Pentecost Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte).
  
• July 14: Bastille Day (Fête nationale)
  
• August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption)
  
• November 1: All Saints Day (La Toussaint)
  
• November 11: Armistice Day (Jour d'armistice)
  
• December 25: Christmas Day (Noël)
  
• December 26: Boxing Day/St Stephen's Day (Deuxième jour de Noël): applicable only to Alsace and Moselle/Lorraine.
  

Other important dates

• March 27: Clocks go forward one hour as daylight saving time (DST) starts.
  
• April 1: April Fool’s Day (Poisson d'Avril)
  
• May 29: Mother’s day (last Sunday in May)
  
• June 19: Father’s day (third Sunday in June)
  
• October 30: Clocks go back one hour (DST ends).
  

School holidays

School dates vary according to which ‘zone’ you’re in. The French Ministry of Education maintains a comprehensive list of school holidays in France.

• If you had a chance to change the calendar of holidays in that country, what 3 changes would you make?

• August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption)
  
• November 1: All Saints Day (La Toussaint)
  
• November 11: Armistice Day (Jour d'armistice)

• Discuss and publish your decision.

Thursday, July 20, 2016

Who is a Canadian? What are we as a country? How does this compare with another country and its citizens? These are just a few questions relating to citizenship. Discuss them with a partner.

Here are your tasks:

1. Publish yourchirbit.com audio links on your blog for:
1. Yesterday's conversation-extending Dictation Triptych exercise

Upload complete 
https://audioboom.com/boos/4845296-ling-and-ani-s-record-for-catalyst-chatter

1. Your singing of Canada's Royal Anthem, making sure to connect "save our," "live, our," and "reign over us."

Upload complete 
https://audioboom.com/boos/4845248-canada-s-royal-anthem
Upload complete 
https://audioboom.com/boos/4845344-ani-and-ling-sing-canada-s-royal-anthem-separte
Upload complete 
https://audioboom.com/boos/4845341-ani-and-ling-sing-canada-s-royal-anthem

1. Leave your feedback for the LINC class under Comments here.

1. Back to the Citizenship test, do your reading and listening of selected chapters here:
1. Who We Are
2. Canada’s History

1. Review your knowledge here: Video tutoria

Apr 15, 2016 ,Friday

What community service telephone numbers are best-known in your country of origin? Before the Internet era and when watches were expensive, Singapore used to have a time-announcement phone number. What number can you call in Toronto to get help on social, dental, legal, and other services in your neighbourhood?

In my country, the common service telephone is 114. It is for you to find the phone number of what you want.

Here are your tasks:

1. Sign up to study up, call up, and sum up on one of these 211 services.
1. With one partner at the computer, role play a 211 call from the other partner.

My classmate Ani chose the topic of Mental Health.

I chose the topic of Health Care.

we are praters.

1. Record your role play after 3 rounds of practice, and then reverse roles.

Upload complete 
https://audioboom.com/boos/4823641-ani-and-ling-for-the-211-services-record

1. Go make the phone call!

1. It's been a busy week. How about reflecting on its impact on you?
1. How did you feel about this exercise? Describe in no more than 30 words.
2. How do you feel about this week’s activities? What worked best? What could be improved? What would you change? Describe in no more than 30 words.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Tasks:

1. Identify what the Canadian citizenship oath says and doesn’t.
1. List 3 things it promises.

A. I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second Queen of Canada. Her Heirs and Successors 

B. I will faithfully observe the law of Canada.

C. Fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen. 

1. List 5 things it does not promise.

1. Never said you should not keep the religion of what you had.

2. It does not promise that you should against all enemies.

3. It does not promise you only belong to Canada.

4. It does not promise you should give up the rights if Canada needs.

5. Never said you should not get the other country citizenship.

1. Compare it to another country's citizenship oath

The following is the United State citizenship oath:

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

1. Listen to five stories, and upload your story.
1. Publish the link to your story.

1. Comment on your classmates' links.