Volume 1, Issue 1

Spring 2009
Term III
Instructor:
Eli Dinamarca Clarke

ESL Inside this issue:

My Favorite Holiday

Newsletter My Birthday by
Hector Giron
2

Levels 4-7 El Dia de la

Familia by Karina
My Anniversary 3
Spring 2009 by Ofelia Salazar
Christmas by
Carlos Reyes
Christmas by 4
Gustavo Lopez
New Year’s Day
by Juan Ramon
Christmas by 5
Svetlana Alenina
Christmas by
Rosa Hernandez
New Year’s Day 6
by Thanh Tran
Christmas
by Erica Lozada
This holiday is very special New Year’s Day 7
for me because I get lots of by Co Truong
presents and my family Christmas by
makes me feel like a queen. Elvia Rodriguez
Christmas by 8
Hi, my name is last time I cele- day. This holiday is Elena Buelna
El Dia del Niño by
Norma Arreola and brated mother’s day very special for me Guisela Acosta
my favorite holiday was last May in At- because I get lots of Thanksgiving by 9
is Mother’s day. We lanta, Georgia. I presents and my Adan Perez
celebrate mother’s spent this day with family makes me
Writing about 9
day on May 10th my husband, my feel like a queen. My Country
and the second two year-old daugh- During the next
Sunday of May. On ter, my older sister one, we are going to Using Comics 14
in the ESL
the 10th because and my mother. I be at home, but for Classroom
I’m from Mexico always spend this sure we are going to
Read about our 18
and we celebrate day with my hus- my favorite restau- class and the
this holiday on this band and my rant. instructor

day. I also celebrate daughter. I love to

Written by Special points of
mother’s day on the eat at Olive Garden,
interest:
second weekend of an Italian restau- Norma Arreola Read about our new
May because we are rant, so we always president Mr. Barak
here the USA. The go there on this Obama on pages 12-13.
 My Birthday by Hector Giron
My favorite was in Oceanside, get lots of presents and
holiday is my California. I spent because is Mexican In-
birthday. In this holiday with dependence’s month.
Mexico, I cele- my friends and For my next birthday, I
brate my birth- my girlfriend. For may go visit my family
day on the dinner, we ate po- back in Mexico.
night of Sep- zole and salad.
My favorite
tember 12th. The holiday is my We always have
birthday.
last time I cele- Mexican music. I
brated my birthday was celebrate another year
last September and I God has given me. I also

El Dia de la Familia
By Karina Sandoval
ate tuna salad, green grandparents. This day
salad, beef with hot- is very special for me
pepers, roast beef and because that day all
My Favorite Holiday is broiled fish. As a des- my family gets to-
El Dia de la Familia sert, we ate pico de gether. For this holiday
(The day od the Fam- gallo (salad fruit). I I’ll go to Mexico whit
ily). The celebration of spent this last holiday my parents.
my favorite holiday is with my family: my
the first of March. The cousins, my mom , my
last time I celebrated dad , my aunts, my un-
this holiday was on cles, my sisters and
March 1th 2008. We brothers and my

Page 2 ESL Newsletter Levels 4-7 Spring 2009

My Anniversary by Ofelia Salazar

My Favorite holiday band loves dessert,

is my anniversary. so I made him a flan.
We celebrate our an- This day is very spe-
niversary on Febru- cial because we re-
ary 18th. We cele- member the moment
brated our anniver- we got married. For
sary last February our next anniversary, This day is very
(2008). I spent this we might stay here in special because
we remember
day with my hus- Oceanside and the moment we
got married.
band and we ate deli- maybe we will go to a
cious food. In the restaurant and
morning, we ate watch a movie after
grilled fish with salad that.
and rice. My hus-

Christmas Day by Carlos Reyes

My Favorite Holiday is on the night December

Christmas. My whole 24th . I feel happy on
family gets together and this day.
give presents. We spend
our money on presents, We spend our
money on
cards, food and drinks. presents, cards,
We celebrate Christmas food and drinks.

Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3

 Christmas
By Gustavo Lopez
My favorite Christmas with my friends brate this day
holiday is because my family is in with my family.
Christmas. Mexico. For dinner, we
In Mexico, have turkey, leg of lamb,
we cele- salad and we drink cider.
brate This day is special for me
Christmas because it is Jesus’ birth-
the night of day and the family gets to-
December 24th. I cele- gether and receives pre-
brated Christmas last sents. For the next holiday,
December in the city I will go to Mexico to cele-
For the next holiday, I will
of Encinitas. I spent go to Mexico to celebrate
this day with my family.

New Year’s Day by Juan Ramon

My favorite holi- brother-in-laws. For

day is New Year’s dinner we eat tama-
Day. We celebrate les and posole. We
this holiday the last like to drink punch
day of December and and coffee. This day
first day of January. is special for me be-
We celebrate this day cause I get new pro-
in my apartment in jects at work. For For dinner we eat tamales
and posole.
Vista because there this next holiday, I
is my family only my should go to Oaxaca
mom is in town. I on vacation.
spent this time with
my family and my
Page 4 ESL Newsletter Levels 4-7 Spring 2009
 Christmas by Lana
ber 24th. So, we sian soup and
celebrate Christmas Russian salad. This
twice. The last time I holiday is special to
celebrated Christmas me because we get to
was last January and open a lot of pre-
I was here in the sents. I adore this
USA. I spent this holiday for the won-
My favorite holi- holiday with my hus- derful decoration
day is Christmas. In band. Last Christ- outside and the feel-
Russia, Christmas is mas was very special ing of hope around
celebrated the night for me because it was everywhere.
of January 6th. How- our first Christ-
ever, my husband mas spent to-
celebrates Christmas gether. For din-
the night of Decem- ner, we ate Rus-

Christmas by Rosa Hernandez

My favorite holiday is my brother are there. I should go to Du-

Christmas Day. We I spend this time rango to visit my
celebrate this Day with my family and family.
the 25th of December. my daughter. We eat
We celebrate this day tamales and posole
in my house in for dinner. We like to
Oceanside because drink chanpurrado.
my family and only For this next holiday,

Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5


My name’s Tran. I’m
from Vietnam. My fa-
vorite holiday is New
Year’s Day. New Year
is celebrated on Janu-
ary 1st to January 3rd
every year. The last
time I celebrated New
Year was last January.
I was in California here
in the USA. I spent this
New Year’s Day by Thanh Tran
holiday with my mom, my
grandmother, my aunt
and my uncle. My family
gave me money as a gift.
For dinner, we ate meat,
potatoes, chicken, eggs,
rice, and drank wine. Fi-
nally, for dessert we ate
oranges, mangoes, and
some ice cream. On these
3 days I get very happy
because we get very
lucky. The next New Year
I’m not sure I will be here.
I might be in my country.

Christmas by Erica Lozada

My favorite holiday cake. This holiday is
is Christmas. Christmas special to me because I
is celebrated on Decem- get together with my
ber 24th the last time I family and we open
celebrated Christmas presents. On this holiday we
was last December. I go to church to celebrate Je-
spent Christmas with sus birthday. For
my family, my two sons, the next holiday
my daughters, and my we might be here
husband. During this in the USA.
holiday, I cook turkey,
potatoes, vegetables and
Page 6 ESL Newsletter Levels 4-7 Spring 2009
 New Year’s Day by Co Truong
My favorite holiday is ago. I spent the with pumpkin soup,
New Year’s Day. In whole day with my and drank red wine.
Hong Kong, family visiting This special day is
New Year is my relatives. the only day that
celebrated After visiting matters to our family
the first day relatives, we because we all get to-
of the Chi- went to cele- gether. Perhaps, next
nese calendar brate New holiday I will go back
year. The last Year’s Eve at a to my country.
time I cele- This special day is restaurant; we
the only day that
brated New matters to our fam-
ate chicken,
Year was on ily because we all fish, lobster,
get together.
February fried pork with
18th, 2007 two years celery, crab meat

Christmas by Elvia Rodriguez

My favorite Holiday is Christmas for several
reasons. We celebrate Christmas on December
24th. In my Country, Mexico, we call it Noche
Buena. We celebrated last Christmas in Ti-
juana, Mexico. We spent our money on pre-
sents, cards, food and drinks. During Christmas dinner, we eat posole, tama-
les, and drink punch. We always eat a lot of food. Christmas is very special
for me because it’s the biggest party of the year. My whole family gets to-
gether and give presents. I have great memories of Christmas and I think for
the next one I’m going to be in Tijuana, Mexico, again.

Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 7

 Christmas by Elena Buelna
My favorite holiday is Christmas. My family and I cele-
brate Christmas December 24th. The last time I cele-
brated Christmas was last December. I spent this day
with my daughters and family. During this holiday, we
eat different kinds of food for dinner. My favorite foods
for this holiday are tamales. This day is special for me because all
my family gets together and we have a lot of fun. We exchange gifts
and also we do a posada (Christmas carolers). Next Christmas, I
might stay home or go back to my country.

El Dia del Niño by Guisela Acosta

My favorite holiday is eat pizza, cake, ice celebrate El Dia del
El Dia del Niño cream and candies. Niño .
(Children’s Day). In We also visit different
Mexico El Dia del places for children.
Nino is celebrated on This day is special
April 30th. I spend for me because I re-
this day with my member when I was
daughter Kiara. child. This year we’ll
During this day, we go to Legoland to

Page 8 ESL Newsletter Levels 4-7 Spring 2009

 Thanksgiving by Adan Perez
my family. My family to church. We go to
spends a lot of give thanks to God
money on this holi- for everything. I
day. My sister and think that I’ll be here
My favorite holi- sister-in law make during the next
day is Thanksgiving. different kind of thanksgiving with my
I celebrate this day meals: Turkey, rice, family to celebrate
in my house and of- beans and salads. this day again.
ten I go to church. This day is special
last thanksgiving, I for me because my
celebrated this holi- family and I get to-
day in Vista, Ca with gether to eat and go

Salvador. I am from pupusas and tamales. I

SantaTecla. My city has recommend that you
a Population of 2,857 visit volcanic craters
people. As a first Lan- and the River of Lempa.
guage we speak Spanish By
I am from El Salvador. and Nahuat. The cur-
Juana
El Salvador has a Popu- rent president is Elias
Carrizales
lation of 5,744,113 peo- Saca Gonzales. Some of
ple. The Capital is San the regional foods are
Page 9 ESL Newsletter Levels 4-7 Spring 2009
 Mexico by Jesus Rodriguez
My name is Jesus Rodriguez. I’m
from Mexico. The population of
Mexico is of about 109 million
people. The capital of Mexico is Mexico city. The
primary language spoken in my country is Spanish. The president
of Mexico is Felipe Calderon. I’m from Arcelia Guerrero, Mexico. The
population in Guerrero is 3,079,649 people. My favorite city is Zi-
huatanejo Guerrero, Mexico. I Recommend Acapulco because is a
very nice city!

Hong Kong by Co Truong

I am from Hong people. Currently, Don-
Kong. The Hong Kong ald Tsang is Chief Ex-
Special Administrative ecutive of Hong Kong.
Region is a territory lo- My favorite city is New
cated on the Pearl River Territory of ShaTin be-
Delta in East Asia. It cause it provides a com-
has a population of plete shopping mall, Kong Heritage Museum,
6,985,200 million peo- comfortable weather Hong Kong Disneyland,
ple, and is one of the and quiet places. Al- Hong Kong Wetland
most densely populated though; Hong Kong is a Park, Ocean Park Hong
areas in the world. Hong small island city, it has Kong, and Tin Hau Fes-
Kong’s defacto dialect is optimal opportunities to tival.
Cantonese. Most popu- invest in financial busi-
lation speak Cantonese ness. If you’re going to
is as a first language. go to my country for
English is also an offi- traveling, I recommend
cial language for some that you go to visit Hong

Page 10 ESL Newsletter Levels 4-7 Spring 2009

 Russia by Svetlana Alenina 
I am from population. The capital of
Russian Russia is Moscow; this is
Federation my native city where I
or Russia. Russia is a used to live. The primary
transcontinental country language is Russian. We
extending over much of also have more than160
Northern Eurasia. Russia ethnic groups that speak
is the largest country in more than some 100 lan-
the world, covering more guages. The President of
than an eighth of the Russia is Dmitry Medve-
Earth’s land area. Russia dev. Moscow has
has 142 million people, it 19, 000, 000 people. In
is the ninth largest by Russia I have many favor-
ite cities,
however
I like
Moscow and S. Peters-
burg for their wonderful
architecture, very old his-
tory and amazing beauty.
If you plan to visit my
country I recommend
that you visit S. Peters-
burg, Moscow, Novgorod
and cities of “Gold Ring
of Russia”.

Vietnam by Thanh Tran

My
name The president of Viet- torcycles.
is nam is Nguyen Minh If you go
Thanh. I’m from Viet- Triet. I used to live in to Viet-
nam. Vietnam has a the Ho Chi Minh city. nam, visit
population of Ho Chi Minh city has my friends and go to
87,200,000 people. 6,650,942 people. Nha Trang see the
The capital is Ha Noi. There, I used to waterfalls and play
In Vietnam all people drink coffee with my games.
speak Vietnamese. friends and drive mo-

Page 11 ESL Newsletter Levels 4-7 Spring 2009

Every student wrote about our new president Mr. Barak Obama.
They had to go online and find the answers to nine questions.
Here are the results:

1. What is Mr. Obama’s full name?

His full name is Barak Hussein Obama.

2. Where and when was he born?

He was born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu Hawaii.

3. Is he married? What is his wife name?

He is married and his wife’s name is Michelle Obama.

4. Does he have children? How many? Names?

He has two daughters: Malia Ann Obama

and Sasha Obama.

5. What are his parents’ names?

His father’s name is Barak Obama and his

mother’s name is Ann Dunham.

Page 12 ESL Newsletter Levels 4-7 Spring 2009

6. What is his religion?

He is a Christian. He belongs to the Trinity

United Church of Christ.

7. To what political party does he belong?

He is a Democrat.

8. Where did he go to school?

He went to the Punahou School in Hawaii from the 5th grade to the 12th
grade . After high school, he studied at Occidental College in L.A. for
two years before transferring to Columbia University in New York. Fi-
nally, he went to Harvard to obtain a law degree.

9. Write 3 things he plans to do in the

future:

His plans are to raise taxes, introduce a

public health care system and maintain
the people united.

Page 13 ESL Newsletter Levels 4-7 Spring 2009

Page 14 ESL Newsletter Levels 4-7 Spring 2009
Page 15 ESL Newsletter Levels 4-7 Spring 2009
 MiraCosta College
Toll-Free (888) 201-8480
Main campus Oceanside
One Barnard Drive
Oceanside, CA 92056
Phone: (760) 757-2121
San Elijo Campus
3333 Manchester Ave.
Cardiff, CA 92007
Phone: (760) 944-4449
CLC Oceanside
1831 Mission Ave.
Oceanside, CA 92054
Phone: (760) 795-8710
the web
Find us on
osta.edu/
www.mirac
Visit my blog:
http://elidinamarca.blogspot.com
ESL Levels 4-7 is an ESL noncredit multilevel class that meets in the
Community Learning Center Monday - Thursday from 12:00 PM—
3:00 PM. These classes are free to the public and everyone is
welcome.
All the students col-
laborated for the
production of this
newsletter. They
wrote essays about
their favorite holi-
day, found informa-
tion on the internet
about our new
president Mr. Barak
Obama and also
wrote information about their
native countries.
I want to give many thanks and congratulate all my students for do-
ing such a great job! Well done!!!!
About the Instructor:
Elizabeth (Eli) Dinamarca Clarke
is a former ESL student who
moved to the U.S. from Santiago,
Chile in 2001. Eli has taught for
Santa Ana College Continuing
Education, Southwestern College,
and for the San Diego Community
College District Adult Education
Program. Currently, she teaches
ESL (noncredit) for MiraCosta Col-
lege. On December of 2005, Elizabeth earned her Master’s in Educa-
tion with an emphasis in TESOL at Alliant International University.
Don’t forget these important dates:
Spring Break April 16-22, 2009
Fall term IV April 23, 2009—May 14, 2009
Summer 2009 June 8, 2009—July 16, 2009