Letter from Dave(Minsheng Junior High School)

Dear penpal:

Hello, my name is Dave. There are four members in my family; they are my parents, my sister and I. I think I am somewhat on the shy side. I study in Minsheng Junior High School, and my favorite subjects are physics and chemistry, I like physics and chemistry because they relate to our daily lives. They are quite practical. My hobby is listening to music and playing computer games.

The answers for the questions are as follow. I eat Chinese food every day, but sometimes I will eat some Italian, Japanese or American food. We have Chinese, English, math, biology, physics, chemistry, history, geography, music, art, counseling, P.E. and civics classes in school. I usually get around Taipei City by car or scooter because Taipei is not very big. I pretty like English football, but I rarely play it. In my spare time, I always read novels. I live in an apartment, and that is not big but very clean and new. Taipei City is very convenient but crowded and noisy; here are all kinds of stores here. I usually play basketball with my classmates, but I also play lots of kinds of sports. Look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely

Dave

Letter from Betty (Minsheng Junior High School)

Hello！Friend,

   My name’s Betty. I’m thirteen years old. My birthday is special, it’s on October 10^th . October 10^th is the National Day of Taiwan！ My favorite subjects are English and music. I live in Taipei. Our school-Minsheng junior high school is in Taipei, too. I’m a Buddhist. Our teacher is Miss Yeh. She is very kind and outgoing. We love our teacher^^.

  The above are the answers for you, and here are some questions for you:

1.   What is your impression of Taiwan？

2.   Do you like music? If yes, do you have any favorite singer

3.   Why do you want to join Connecting Classrooms Project？

4.   What’s your favorite country besides the UK？Why？

5.   Will you go to any of the Olympic Games in London？

6.   What’s your favorite subject？Why？

I have so many questions and I can't wait to hear from you soon.

Betty

Letter by Joyce from Minsheng Junior High School

A Shy Girl

From Mincing Junior High School

Fourteen Years Old

…

Dear friend:

I’m a shy girl from Minsheng Junior High School; I’m fourteen years old.

There are five people in my family, my mom, my dad, two sisters and me. My sisters are younger than me, Felicity is eleven years old; my youngest sister doesn’t have an English name yet, she is five years old. How many people are there in your family?

There are seven periods every day. In the seventh period every Wednesday, we have club class. After that, we have CC class. We need to go to school before seven fifty, when do you need to be at school?

In Taiwan, elementary school students and junior high school students have lunch at school. Some have school lunch, some buy their lunch at school store. Some students' parents bring the lunch over to school at noon, and some students have their lunch boxes with them when they come to school in the morning. Do students in your school all need to have lunch at the school restaurant?

Students in Minsheng wear uniforms to school every day. How about you?

In school, we study Chinese and English, because Chinese is our official language, and English is an international language. English is your official language, but why do you learn Spanish? Is it difficult to learn?

I’m Joyce Hsu. Nice to meet you! Hope we can be good friends!

                                                       Joyce Hsu

Letter by Tina Yu from Minsheng Junior High School

Dear friend from Stormont House school:
Hello! My name is Tina Yu. Nice to meet you. I’m a seven grader from Minsheng Junior High

School.
Here are my answers to your questions:
1. Q: What type of food do you like?

A: We eat all kinds of food, like rice, noodles, bread, milk, fruit, vegetables, pizza.

2. Q: How do you travel around your city?
   
   A: Some of us take buses, taxis, the MRT to travel around our city, some of us travel around our city in the parents’ car.
3. Q: What lessons do you do in schools?
   A: We have Chinese, English, PE, Math, Music, Health Education, Art, Biology, Geography, History, Performing Arts, Civic Education, Scout Education, Home Economics, counseling and career planning, Community activities, and club activities in school.
   
4. Q: Do you like English football?
   A: I know what English football is, but I have never watched a whole game, and I don’t know a lot (maybe I should say little) about its rules.
   
5. Q: What do you do in your spare times?
   
   A: I read novels, watch movies, or go for an outing or exercise in my spare times. 
   
   
   
   6. Q: Do you have a lot of technology in your schools? 
   A: Yes, we have computer class room, there are TVs in all seven grade classrooms, and there are projectors in all eight grade classrooms.

     7. Q: What are your houses like?  

      A: My family live in an apartment. There is a living room, three bedrooms, a dining room, a kitchen, two 

         bathrooms and a balcony. My grandma grows some plants on the balcony. 

 

8. Q: What are your cities like?
   
   A: I live in Taipei city. Living in my community is very convenient. There are a lot of trees and parks in Minsheng Community. Walk along the streets, and you can see trees all the way. We also have a lot of restaurants, convenience stores, and clinics.
9. Q: Do you play any sports?
   A: Yes, I swim, run, play tennis, play basketball, roller-skating, and baseball. 
   
   
   
   

And I have some questions for you:

1. What are “ICT”, “The Globe”, “The Tate”, and “rhubarb”?
   
2. What do you learn in “Religious education”, “Food Technology”, “Design Technology”,
   “Graphics”, and “PSHCE”?
   
3. Can you show me a picture of “solar dome”, “rhubarb”
   
4. I know the “rowing” word mean “rowing the boat”, but you say your hobby is “indoor
   rowing”, where are you rowing? In the swim pool? Can you show me the picture?
   
5. In your “Foods We Like” you say you are not allowed to bring in food from home, is there a
   rule for all school in U.K., or just your school?
   
6. Do you play any sports?
   
7. What are your favorite movies and novels?
   
8. What do you do in your spare times?
   
9. What are “flats”, and “maisonettes” different? Can you show me the pictures?
   

I know I have a lot of questions, and thank you for answering me those questions!!! I hope I can get your letter soon!!! Good Bye~

Tina Yu

Letter by Georgia from Minsheng Junior High School

Hi! This is Georgia Johnston. I will be your new pen pal. 

Now let's talk about my family. My father comes from America and my mother comes from Taiwan. I live with my parents and my cat, Twinkie. I love my Twinkie; he is cute and fluffy.

My favorite food is steak and pearl milk tea. My favorite movie is "The Lord of The Rings". Daddy says I'm crazy because I like medieval music and opera. I always talk about "Dungeon & Dragons". Well, it's true, but D&D is the best thing in the world!

Now I will talk about my hobbies: I like to read and take a nice long bath. I really like to sing and I have joined the choir in our school.

With Love

Georgia 

Letter by Judy from Minsheng Junior High School

 Hi! Everyone! My name is Judy Kao. I’m 13 years old and turning 14 on June 22th. I’ve got two sisters. I live near my school, Minsheng Junior High School. I’m year 8 in my school. There are 34 students in my class, and there are ten classes in each grade. So there are about 1000 students total in our school. I like my school and Connecting Classrooms Class a lot, even though there are always some rules. I like to play the piano and sing at the same time, but usually I do it at home. I like music, PE, and art. My favorite teacher is my year 7 room teacher- Mr. Liao. I like Mr. Liao because he always treats us like we’re his friends or even children. However, because of some reason, which I’m not very sure what it is, I have a new room teacher now. I miss Mr. Liao a lot.

      I’m not actually sure which religion I belong to, since I don’t know very much about religions. My parents are Buddhists, so I usually do the “ BaiBai” with them. BaiBai is Chinese and it means praying to the Buddha in the temple.

Wish we can be friends and learn together at Connecting Classrooms.

Yours faithfully,

Judy

Letter from Chris(Taipei Minsheng Junior High School)

Dear friend from STORMANT HOUSE SCHOOL:

    I’m Chris (I’m a girl) from Taipei Minsheng Junior High School. I’m eighth grade now, how about you? I’ve read the introduction of your school. It seems that your students have six different ages. In that case, does your school divide students into grades by your age or your scores?

    The subjects in your school are all really special. Like ICT, I thought it is one kind of abbreviation, what’s it? There are also food technology, design technology, religious education and Spanish. Why do you need to study all of these subjects? Does everyone of your age in your country need to study these subjects? We have Chinese, English, Math, Science Technology, Geographic, History, Physical Education, Music, Art, Scout Curriculum and Home Economics. I think your school curriculums are teaching things more professionally. In Taiwan, students take plenty of tests. We always have many pressures, so there will be classes that are not test-oriented to help us relax, like Physical Education, Scout Curriculum and Home Economics.

   Hope you won’t think it’s inconvenient to answer so many questions at the first time. If you think so, I apologize, but I’m excited to hear from you.

Sincerely Regards,

                                                                Chris

Stormont House Pen Pal Letter - Joshua

My name is Joshua, I am 11 years old and I live in Islington.I love to cook do you? I go to quite a few after school clubs, Cricket, Football and ICT. I really like playing football I support Arsenal Football Club. My best friend at school is Jorge. I also like to play basketball and cricket. I have just started playing cricket at school, we are going to take part in a competition in the Easter holidays in Canary Wharf, we will be playing against lots of other schools. I will try to take some photos.
Joshua

Stormont House Pen Pal Letter - Nathan

Hello
My name is Nathan and I am 12 years old. I live in Islington. I am in Year 7 and my form tutor is Ms Whitbread. I like being in my class I have lots of friends, but my best friend is George.I am going on a short hoilday with my school on Friday 30th March we are going to Tenterden in Kent. I am going with my mum. We will be going swimming, to the beach and countryside walks. I will take some pictures and send them to you so you can see where I went.
Nathan

Stormont House School Pen Pal Letter - George

Hello Friend
My name is George and I am 12 years old. I live in Islington which is the borough next to where my school is located. Stormont House School is in Hackney.My favourite subject is Dseign Technology because I like making things with my hands.I have lots of friends in school in my class, we all get on most of the time.My hobby is playing football, I like playing and watching football.
Hope to speak to you soon.
George

Stormont House Pen Pal Letter - Credo

Hello my name is Credo  and I am 11 years old. I live in Hackney, my parents come from the Congo and we speak english and french at home. I go to Stormont House School and I am in Year 7, my form tutor is Ms Whitbread. My favourite subjects are Science and PE. My favourite hobby is playing on my Playstation and going out on my bike in my local park. I also like to play football and cricket.I am looking forward to finding out more about you.
Credo

Stormont House Pen Pal Letter - Ayesha

Dear Friend
My name is Ayesha and I am 11 years old.I live in Tower Hamlets which is a borough in London, I travel every day to my school which is Hackney. I am in Year 7 and my form teacher is Ms Whitbread. Ilike all my lessons but my favourites are Cooking and RE. I like to play with my friends at lunch time , they are Lorell and Tia. We like to skip in a group with a very long rope. I have to be very careful what I eat because I am a diabetic.
I can't wait to get to know you.
Ayesha

Stormont House Pen Pal Letter - Lorell

Dear Friend
Hello my name is Lorell, I am 11 years old and I live in Islington, which is in London. I started at Stormont House School in September 2011. My favourite subjects are Maths, Art and PE. What are your favourite subjects. My hobbies are playing football and going shopping with my Mum, I also like to go swimming. What do you like doing in your spare time?
I like to play games on my DS, my best game is SuperMario. Do you like playing games if so which do you like playing the most. My best friend at school is called Tia.
Lorell

Stormont House Pen Pal Letter - Josephine

Hello my name is Josephine and I am 12 years old, my birthday was in February. I started at Stormont House School in November 2011, I really love my school. My best lessons are graphics, maths, cooking and art. I also really like PE. What is your best lesson and why?
I have breakfast and lunch at school and I like all the food that they serve, do you have your meals at school , if you do what kind of food do you eat?
Josephine

Stormont House Pen Pal Letter - Kian

Dear Friend
My name is Kian and I am 11 years old.I live in Hackney which is in London. I have lots of hobbies but my favourites are playing football and cricket. I am a member of the school cricket team which plays after school on a Monday. During our Easter holiday I have got the chance to play in a big competition called 'Hit the Top', we will be playing against other children from around London.
I love food ALL FOOD, what is your favourite food?
I look forward to getting a letter from you.
Kian

Stormont House PenLetter - Joe

Dear Friend
My name is Joe and I am 12 years old, I live in Hackney in London. I go to Stormont House School, my favourite subjects are English, Science Maths and cooking.
I really love my school, I like going to the after school clubs, my favourite is Indoor Rowing.
I like going to Nandos for lunch, do you have a favourite place you like to got to eat, and what is your favourite food.
I recently went on a white water rafting weekend with the Boat club that I go to on a Thursday evening, we went to to Devon, unfortunately I hurt my hip and had to have an operation. I have to be in a wheelchair for the next six weeks.
I would love to find out all about you please write back to me.
Joe

Stormont House School Pen Pal Letter - Tommy

Dear pen pal

I’m very excited about speaking to you again and I think you’re a very nice class. I wish that I could come and visit you’re country. Your school looks very nice from my view and also when we talk to you again or if you write back to me can you tell me more about you’re school? Because I want to know more about Taiwan and Vietnam, I can tell you what it’s like in London if you want and I forgot to ask, how are you?

See you soon and I can’t wait for you’re reply.

From Tommy Winter age 12, Stormont House School.

Stormont House Pen Pal Letter - Jack

Dear Friend
Hello my name is Jack, I was 12 in January. I stay behind school to go to lots of after school clubs, I go to Cricket, Indoor Rowing and animation clubs. My favourite club is animation where we create our own films. I like indoor rowing because it is making me stronger, we have to row a certain distance in each club.
What is your favourite food? My favourite food is fish and chips.
What is your favourite lesson at school? I think most lessons are boring.
What sports do you play? I like football and tennis.
What is the weather like in your country? at the moment it is quite warm in London.
Our school is getting knocked down in July so that they can build us a new school.
Jack

Stormont House Pen Letter - Michael

Dear Friend
My name is Michael Marynuik, I am 12 years old. I am really glad that I am writing to you guy's. There are lots of things I would like to know, what is your favourite food and drink? Do you like to read? I love to read my favourite book is Harry Potter (the series).What is your favourite subject at school?
Soon our school is being knocked down and we are moving to a different school for 18 months. A new school is being built for us we will move back into it in 2014 when I will be in year 9. What is your school building like, could you send me pictures?
Michael

Stormont House Pen Letter Timothy

Dear Friend
My name is Timothy and I am 11 years old. I am really interested in all types of transport - planes, trains and boats. I read alot about my favourite ship the 'Titanic', have you heard of it? Have you ever flown in a plane or gone on a long boat journey? What is your national airline?
I really like to build stuff out of Lego, do you have lego in your country?

Timothy

Stormont House School - Pen Pal Letter - Jorge

Dear Friend

Hello my name is Jorge Salvatore and I can't wait to be friends with you. Is it ok if I ask you some questions!
Is your country hot or cold?
Do you like football?
Do you go to the gym?
Do you have a Facebook profile? If you do I would like to get to know you better!
Have you got a Playstation?
I am originally from Spain I have translated my questions into spanish.
Hola me llamo Jorge Andreas Salvatore, y quero aser tu amigo.
Quero preguntarte unos questiones
Tu tiene su pais caliente of frio?
Uste fuega el futboll?
Tienefuerza? Porque yo voy el gimnasio?
Uste tiene Facebook porque?
Uste tiene Playstation?
I look forward to getting to know you.
Goodbye
Jorge

Stormont House School Pen Letter

Hi Friend
My name is Sebastian and I cannot wait to get to know you as a friend. Is your country sunny or rainy, at the moment it is quite warm and sunny in London. Tomorrow we are going on a trip to a museum, we will be seeing mummies, do you like mummies?, I find them quite scary, I always think that they might come alive.What is your favourite thing to eat and drink? I look forward to receiving your pen letter.
Sebastian

Dong Khoi school - Vietnam - Ha Phuong

Dong Khoi Pen Pal Letter – Ha Phuong
Dear Friend,
Hi! My name is Ha Phuong and I am 13 years old. I was born on December the 9th in Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam but I moved to Ho Chi Minh City when I was 2, so that’s where I’m living now.
I attend Dong Khoi secondary school, which is located in Tan Phu district (Ho Chi Minh City). It has about 2800 students. Our teachers are not the same, but they all very good and always care for us a lot, I like them all, especially my English teacher.
I love badminton and swimming. And I also learn karate, I fancy reading books, too. How about you? What is your hobby?
I want to know more about you, so please let me know more and we can be friends. How old are you? Tell me about your school and your family. I’d love to find out more.
I look forward to hearing form you.

Yours faithfully,
Ha Phuong

Dong Khoi school - Vietnam - Phuc

Dear Friend,
My name is Phuc, Nguyen Minh. I'm 14 years old. I was born on November 25th,1998 in Ho Chi Minh city and i live with my family here since then.
I'm studying at Dong Khoi secondary scool in Tan Phuc district ( Ho Chi Minh city - Vietnam ).
There are more than 2000 students study here in Dong Khoi secondary school. We all have to wear uniform to go to school, we also have to study on Saturday. However, students here are very friendly and kind, we can easily become friends. Teachers in our school are pretty strict, but they all love their students. I'm very satisfied to study in Dong Khoi secondary school.
My favourite sports are basketball and chess.
What about you ? How old are you ? Which school are you studying at ? What do you think about it ?

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Phuc

Dong Khoi school - Vietnam - Mai Anh

Dear Friend,

Hi! I’d like to introduce myself to you, my name is Mai Anh and I am 12 years old, my birthday is on the 1st of April so I will be 13 soon this year. I was born in HCM city where I live at the moment with my parents.
I am a student in Dong Khoi Secondary School which is located in Tan Phu district. We have about over 2,700 students in our school. There are 46 classes, we have about 47 students in average each class. How do you think about my school? Would you like to visit our school?
I love learning English, listening to music, chatting with my friends and surfing the internet. In the free time, I often play sports, my favorite sports are volleyball and badminton, … and so on. I'm funny and hard –working as a class monitor. I hate dogs most as I was bitten by 2 dogs at the same time when I was a child. Do you hate dogs like me? I like to make friend with everyone internationally.
I hope to hear from you soon
Yours faithfully,
Mai Anh

Dong Khoi school - Vietnam - Lan

Thursday, 8 March 2012

Dear Friends,
Hello! my name is Lân but just call me Johnny, that's my English name. I was 13 and I will be 14 years old this year. I was studying in Dong Khoi secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh City. There are 4 grades: grade 6, grade 7, grade 8 and 9. I was in grade 8. The teachers in my school are very kind and considerate to us. My school is very big and beautiful. More than 2700 students are studying here. I would love to study literature because I have a very humorous teacher who helps us understand the lessons easily. Our class has 39 students and all of my friends are very friendly. I prefer football or swimming in my free time. How about you? Tell me about you and your school ?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Johnny