Applied English for American History
Language Partner Assignment One ** Due Friday, September 30, 2005

TOPIC: American History / Immigration to the U.S.

Purposes

• To discuss what you are learning in American History
• To speak and listen to English, and to help language partners with their Japanese listening and speaking skills
• To have fun

Procedure

• You will have one partner in most cases.
• Divide your time so that you speak Japanese for about 1/2 hour and English for about 1/2 hour. Try not to mix the languages.
• You will have one or two more language partner assignments this term. You and your partner can meet more often if your wish.

Hints

• Contact your partner early and decide on a time and place to meet. Don't wait until the day before the assignment is due.
• Relax
• This is a conversation not an interview
• Look at your partner, not at the desk.
• The focus should be listening and speaking, not on writing. Take short, quick notes.

Use these phrases when appropriate

• Hello. I'm _________________________ . Nice to meet you. (If you don't know your partner.)
• Hi, nice to see you again! (If you know your partner already.)
• I remember you, but could you say your name again for me, please. (You recognize your partner, but you can't remember his or her name.)
• Excuse me. Could you please repeat that?
• Excuse me. Could you please speak more slowly?
• How do you spell that?
• I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I understand.
• I have a question.
• Hmm, let me think a minute.
• Could you tell me more about . . . .
• Could you give me an example?
• When? Where? Why? How?

Over Over Over Over Over Over Over Over Over

Your notes (below) are due Friday, September 30, 2005

Your name _________________________________
Your partner's name or your partners' names____________________________________
When did you get together (date and time)?

Where did you get together (place)?

Did you have any problems? Other things you want tell me?

Try to find out these things during your conversation. If you have time, of course you can discuss other things. Your partner will also have an assignment.

 

What's your major? What year are you at Willamette? Where's your hometown?

 

Where were you born and where else have you lived during your life?

 

Where were your parents born and where have they lived during their lives? Why did they live there?

 

Do you know where your grandparents and great-grandparents were born?

 

Who among your ancestors was the first to come to the U.S.? From where did he or she come? Where in the U.S. did he or she settle? Do you know why this ancestor came to the U.S. ?

 

What's the origin of your names?

 

Is there anything else interesting you can tell me about the history of your family with regard to their ethnic background or experiences with immigration?