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| Boston School of Modern Languages Newsletter |
October 2008 |
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 U.S. Presidential Election
The election for President of the United States is now upon us. In America, this election represents the most money ever spent on a presidential campaign. The visibility of the election around the world has reached extraordinarily high levels. It is difficult to know why. It may be because the issues are of such important global relevance and the stakes have never been higher, or that the current state of communication makes it easier for the global community to take an interest. Whatever the reason, it is an intriguing contest.
In this newsletter, we thought it would be interesting to provide a perspective on the election from two of our students. Because not everyone can express their view, we invite you to cast your vote in the BSML presidential survey and to compare the results with what the American voters finally decide.
To express your opinion, click on the following link and vote for your choice for President of the United States.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=zqcYeGiaSFvXSGfLaoBfTg_3d_3d
But hurry, the survey will be closed at the end of the day on Nov. 4th, or after 900 responses are recorded, whichever comes first. We will publish the results in our next newsletter.
In the meantime, here is what two of our students think about the election.
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My Reaction to the Elections in 2008 |
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Democracy in my country, Colombia, is very different from democracy in the U.S. Since I have been in the US, I have learned about the democratic process here. I am always trying to figure out how democracy works in the U.S., the most powerful country in the world, so I am confused but curious when I attempt to understand the elections.
It is strange to me that people vote, but at the same time there is an electoral college which chooses the president. When I went to New Hampshire with my host family, I saw a group of people working for the Obama campaign, so I decided to ask them about the electoral college. I asked five different people and even though they had a general idea about it, I could not get a clear cut answer about how the electoral college works.
I understand a little better now how Americans elections work. Athough the American democratic system is different and hard to understand, I feel excited to be in the U.S. during this most important election.
German Garcia Maya |
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Ayako and Masamichi met at BSML 8 years ago. They visited BSML on their wedding day.
From left: George Hungerford, Richard Mazel, Masamichi, Ayako, Bob, Marta O'Malley and Barbara Goodwin. |
 Graduates August 22, 2008 Israel, Venezuela, Brazil, Japan, Spain, Dominican Republic, South Korea, Italy, Togo, Peru, Germany and Colombia. |
Graduates August29, 08
Venezuela, Italy, Poland, Brazil, Cape Verde, Ukraine, Ecuador, Spain, Germany, Turkey. |
Graduates August 29, 2008 Children's Group: Jiseoh Han (South Korea), Jaehyun Rim (South Korea), Joseph Schiavonne (USA), Maria Iraburu (Spain), Siyeh Chan (South Korea) and Rocio Iraburu (Spain).
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I have been in Boston this whole year. I have seen the Red Sox win the Championship and the Celtics too. These events will be unforgettable because of the proud crowds of Bostonians loudly celebrating those days. I also participated in Boston's joy. Although both victories were great, I am excited about something even more important, the next presidential election in the United States of America. This election is unusual because women are able to compete, the process is different from in Venezuela, and the result will have a strong impact on the world.
Women have had a prominent role in this election. Obama won the nomination for the Democratiic party, but the fight was hard because Hillary had the support of the women. The Republicans thought they could win over women voters picking up Sarah Palin as a Vice-presidential candidate. These two women began a path to making it easier for other women who aspire to be president.
In Venezuela, my country, the election is always on Sunday. The army takes care of the process. The places are only private and public schools.We have many political parties and candidates. The election process in the countryside is on paper,because technology dosen't have place in it; and it is forbidden to campaign one week before the election.
On the other hand, in the United States the election is on work days. Voting can take place in schools, churches and other institutions. There are two main parties, Democratic and Republican. The process as a whole is computerized and people and candidates can campaign until the end.
The stage is set and the candidates are senator Barack Obama and John McCain.The first , a young African American who is graduated from Columbia University, has a law degree from Harvard and John McCain, a seventy year old who has been Senator for Arizona for twenty -one years. He was also a prisioner in the Vietnam War. One of these men will have the responsability to create economic regulations in order to improve this global economic situation which is affecting everyone.
In conclusion, as a woman, I agree with the representation of women in the field of politics. Also, there are many differences between the elections here and in Venezuela, but I believe that Americans are going to vote mainly for their concerns about economic issues and choose the candidate with the best plan to solve the financial crisis.
Segis Albornoz de Castro |
Graduates September 5, 2008
Fiorenza Betti (Italy), Daniela Guidotti (Italy), Daniel Tortosa Ilana (Spain), Mauro Fragachan (Venezuela), Carlos Nelsen (Venezuela), Jose Guillermo and Yina Briceno (Venezuela) and Barbara Calderon (Venezuela). |
Graduates September 19, 2008 Roberta di Leva (Italy), Maria Luisa Mazzi (Italy), Rossela Bessucshio (Italy) Carlos Umberto Acevedo (Colombia), Eleanor Vargas (Costa Rica), Ruben Ruiz (Mexico), Benjamin Werner (Germany), Maria Jose Gomez Bravo (Venezuela), Diojanys Gomez Bravo (Venezuela), Elisa Capra. | |
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 Lessons in English
Grammar Tip from Bob and George
When a noun is part of a hyphenated (compound) adjective containing a number, the noun is always singular.
Examples: She has a five-year-old daughter. They live in a ten-story building. He bought a thirty-thousand-dollar car.
Sandra's Vocabulary Words
To rave about something: If you rave about something, you speak or write about it with great enthusiasm.
Examples: The Globe's restaurant critic raved about the new restaurant that just opened on Newbury St.
We went to see the new play that everyone is raving about.
Intriguing: If something is intriguing, you find it interesting and are curious about it.
Examples: The entire world has found the 2008 American presidential election intriguing.
Agatha Christie wrote intriguing mystery novels.
Ines's Idioms
To come in handy: When something comes in handy, it means that it's useful or convenient.
Examples: This extra money will come in handy at Christmas.
Keep improving your English. It will come in handy some day.
Although I don't take public transportation to work every day, it came in handy whenmy car was being repaired.
To cost an arm and a leg: When you say that something costs an arm and a leg, you mean that it is very expensive.
Examples: The new car cost us an arm and a leg.
American presidential elections have always been expensive, but the 2008 election has cost an arm and a leg. |
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