Take a long leave

Dear all:

I am not able to attend the meeting from tomorrow to mid-March because I am gonna go to America to audition. I may rejoin you on March 18. During this period of time, you can make any decision, such as recruiting new members, without asking me. You all are the administrators of the blog, so you can do whatever you want to it. Hope you have great time and Happy Lunar New Year.

Best,
Ariel

Result of The Currency War

Please read the articles in the following links for your reference:

http://www.hktdc.com/info/vp/a/hke/en/1/2/1/1X078XJQ/George-Soros-Targets-Taiwan-Dollar.htm

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-10/taiwan-dollar-pares-gain-on-speculation-central-bank-intervened.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i6C_KmdgrKS-NNT68daCnilAW93Q?docId=CNG.b5ae15c1b709a1743e2e17c6108aab09.311

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency_war

Discussions:
1. According to the news and your understanding, what are the speculators doing to NTD?

2. Do you agree with the actions of speculators to attack currencies? Are these actions ethical?

3. What are the possible impacts if the NTD:USD exchange rate appreciated to 27:1 or 24:1?

4. In your point of view, should NTD currency appreciate or depreciate? What is your reason?

5. Do you agree that the Central Bank should spend our money to keep the current currency rate? What is your reason?

6. If you know the NTD:USD is going to appreciate to 24:1, what actions would you take?

Bully.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/fashion/10Cultural.html?ref=bullies

Please read the article above or check the news about bully which happened in Taiwan recently in advance.

1. Have you ever been bullied in your childhood? How did you deal with it? Tell your experience.

2. Have you ever seen any of your classmates being bullied? And how did you react then?

3. Whose fault you think it is? Who caused the seriously bad behaviors teenagers did?

4. What will you do if you were the parents of kids bullying their classmates?

5. What will you do if you were the teacher being threatened to be shot by your students?

6. How can the society and government do to prevent bully from happening in campus?

Increasing tuition fee in the UK

http://www.economist.com/node/17680864?story_id=17680864

Questions:

1. How much is your tuition fee in college? Do you think it's cheap or expensive? Did you have a loan since college(or do you know anyone who is in the similar situation)?

2.Do you think it's appropriate for the government to increase the tuition fee by 100% in order to cut the national deficit? Why?

3. If the universities in Taiwan say they have to increase the tuition because of lack of funding, do you think it makes sense? Why or why not?

4.The minister of supervision yuan Wang Jian-Hsuan said college students who take part-time jobs to earn money are a bunch of fools. What's your point of view toward his statement?

5.Many people in Taiwan are studying master's program as thought they were studying bachelor's program. What do you think about it? Does a master's degree really promise you a better job?

Entertainment

We are going to discuss about entertainment this evening. There will be no reading material, just answer the questions with your experience and feeling.

At the same time we will try to answer these questions with fast pace. It is not necessary to avoid what another person has answered, just answer like no one else has answered that question. Try to image that your are talking with one person but not in a group. Keep your answer short and express all your points of view clearly.

We may not finish all the questions this evening if we do not have enough time.

1. Please list several kinds of entertainment.
2. What is your favorite entertainment? Why is it attractive to you?
3. What kind of entertainment do you feel is boring? Why?
4. Have you ever tried any dangerous entertainments? What are they? Why are they dangerous?
5. What is the most strange entertainment you have ever seen/heard amoung your friends/family? Please describe it.
6. Do you agree that students also need entertainments? Why or why not?
7. Are there some entertainments you would like to try in the future? What are they and why do you want to try?
8. Do you have any friends/family members working in the entertainment industry? What is his/her job? Describe some of his/her experience that impressed you.

Campaigns& Elections

Hey guys, if you really don't have time, please at least watch the short clip.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7710085.stm

Obama campaign blazes to victory

http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2010/11/more-election-campaign-posters/

Here are some examples of campaign posters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA4n9QcZP10

Cute Campaign Kid - By the People: The Election of Barack Obama

1.      In your opinion, what does it take for a candidate to win an election?

What’s the key to success in an election?

2.      What do you think about the campaign activities in Taiwan?

3.      Do you think the dramatic pleading from the candidate or his/ her family work?

4.      What are some impressive campaign posters/ flags/ slogans you have ever seen?

5.      Do you vote? Based on what criteria do you decide whom to vote for?

6.      Watch the short clip of a kid who worked for Obama during the presidential election, do you think it’s necessary to cause the attention from those who are unable to vote legally?

11/26 Topic: College Students, Living a Good Life.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2010-11/22/content_11585592.htm

1. Where did you live when you were in college, in a dorm or at home? Which do you prefer?

2. Have you ever had a roommate before? Do you like to live alone or not?

3. Do you support the idea to apply a system like the article mentioned to choose your roommate?

4. Do you agree that students can keep a pet in their room? Did you have the experience of this?

5. What's the last thing you can tolerate while living with someone else? Ex. Bring friends back very often or always leave dirty dishes in the sink... etc.

6. What's the most difficult things to live with others in your opinion? And what's the best thing?