These slides are for our free group class. They are multi-lingual–the flags are language buttons.
I’ve been bicycling more the last few days. I go around Thai Nguyen, sometimes a little bit outside of it. I’m thinking about going on a longer bicycle ride during the Tet holiday. Maybe just for a couple days. I’d like to wander further out of the city, maybe out of the province. Tet is when all the stores are closed, so people have warned me to prepare to have some food at home. They said that the stores will…
The motivation to learn a language can be external and internal. I’ll talk about each one today. External motivation is wanting to learn because you want to pass a test or get a better job. I think that this is what is emphasized to students. Internal motivation is wanting to learn for your own self. This could be because you enjoy it or are very interested in something. I think that this kind of motivation leads to better outcomes for…
If it’s really late and I’m hungry, I go to Michi mart for instant noodles. My favorite brand is Siu Kay. The seafood flavor tastes good. I think I might go there tonight. I won’t stay out very late, because tomorrow I have work. My job has been going ok. Things are manageable now. I might extend my contract for 3 months. Yesterday I had the day off, and I bicycled North about 5 km. It felt nice to get…
On weekday mornings, me and the cat go out. We usually go to the coffee shop. This morning I had a sweet potato and a coffee. I was thinking about some things I had to do today. I got several things done today. It was a really peaceful day. I don’t think I spoke much at all to anyone all day. Now I’m back home. The cat is sitting in my lap. I’m writing on my computer. Q. What were…
The mind is a mysterious thing. Mine often doesn’t work correctly. The buried things don’t stay buried, and the things that aren’t buried keep getting away. I keep forgetting to go to work meetings. I keep forgetting to show up to class. My mind stays in its corner and plays with its toys. Maybe better dig some things back up. Q. Are you generally optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Why? Q. Are you organized? How can I become more…
At my work they’re doing a secret Santa. I drew a name from a hat and I know that the person whose name I drew really likes earrings. Today I’m going to go to a shop and try to buy some simple earrings. I’ll make banh chung ornaments and glue them onto the earrings. This morning was nice. I sat in front of a fire with my coffee and my cat. Someone was boiling papaya in a coconut, which is a…
This morning the coffee shop owner was boiling coconut and papaya for her son. The cool weather and warm fire reminded me of somewhere else. Sometimes I think about that place. I think about the things I left behind. I used to have a propane stove and a frying pan. I loved cooking with it. The cat doesn’t see enough nature, so I took her into a grove of banana trees. She explored a little bit. It was interesting for…
I spent the whole day at the cafe, working on my computer. I ordered lunch from Shopee food, so I could stay and work. At home, the cat goes crazy when I turn on the computer. Her fur puffs out and she bites my hands. I have to work at the cafe because I can’t work at home. Q. Have you ordered food online? What? Q. Who is it important to spend more time with?
Soon it will be time to move again. I need to get ready. I can only take what I can carry. I need my computer, my microphone, my violin. Now I have a cat. That’s pretty much all I can carry. I can picture in my mind the kind of place I want to find. There’s a room somewhere. There’s time to study. When it’s time to get on the train, I’ll go. I know where I want to go….
At 5am, this restaurant opens. I’m usually asleep at this time, but this morning I was awake. The sun came up and it became light outside. I usually don’t see this time of day. I like it. My day felt really long today. Q. When was the last time you stayed up all night? Q. Tell me about your favorite show.