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June 2010
Corinna and Sara, from Rome - Italy
Read the interview in ENGLISH
ITALIAN
Un insegnante italiana ha intervistato due ragazze quattordicenni
in una scuola a Roma in Italia.
Ecco il testo dell’intervista.
1) Come vi chiamate? I vostri nomi significano qualcosa in italiano?
Corinna: Mi chiamo Corinna. Non significa niente, ma è il nome di una ninfa.
Sara: Mi chiamo Sara. Significa principessa.
2) Qual’è la lingua ufficiale del vostro paese? Parlate altre lingue?
La lingua ufficiale è l’italiano. Parliamo un pò d’inglese e un pò di francese.
3) Per cosa è rinomato il vostro paese?
Il nostro paese è famoso per la cucina e per posti magnifici e monumenti antichi, ricco di storia, per famosi paesaggi come laghi, montagne, coste, ecc. E per il modo gentile con cui trattiamo tutti gli altri.
4) Cosa vi piace della vita a Roma? Cosa non vi piace della vita a Roma?
Corinna: Mi piace che in qualsiasi momento si può trovare la vita mondana e ogni genere di divertimento e mi piace il fatto che è la capitale della nazione. Non mi piacciano il traffico e l’inquinamento.
Sara: Mi piace andare a fare le spese nella mia cittá!! Mi piace che nella mia cittá ci sono tanti monumenti antichi. Non mi piacciono l’inquinamento e i borsaioli.
5) Cosa fate nel fine settimana?
Ci piace andare con i nostri amici al centro o al cinema.
6) Quando andate al centro con gli amici, come andate? In autobus? In macchina? A piedi?
Andiamo al centro in autobus o con la metropolitana.
7) Descrivete un tipico giorno di scuola.
Noi arriviamo a scuola alle otto e rimaniamo fuori dalla classe a parlare, aspettando l’inizio delle lezioni. Abbiamo lezioni per tre ore e poi alle undici e cinque abbiamo un intervallo di quindici minuti. Dopo di che, secondo i giorni, abbiamo una o due ore di lezioni. Alla fine prendiamo l’autobus per tornare a casa.
8) Qual’è la vostra materia preferita e qual’è quella che gradite di meno? Perchè?
Corinna: Le mie materie preferite sono l’inglese perchè mi piacciono le lingue e latino perchè è semplice ma nello stesso tempo difficile e attraente! Non mi piacciono, invece, la matematica e la geometria perchè sono « troppo scientifiche. »
Sara: Le mie materie preferite sono latino e greco perchè sono lingue antiche ma non mi piace la matematica !
9) Quali sono alcune delle tendenze della moda per ragazze quest’anno? E per ragazzi?
Vanno di moda per ragazze e ragazzi i calzoni con la vita bassa.
10) Qual’è la parola o espressione più recente in gergo e che vuol dire?
“Bella” che vuol dire “Ciao.”
11) Qual’è il vostro film preferito? Il vostro libro preferito? Il vostro spettacolo televisivo preferito?
Corinna: Il mio film preferito è Ghost. Il mio libro preferito è Tre metri sopra il cielo. Il mio spettacolo televisivo preferito è Zelig.
Sara: Il mio film preferito è Pearl Harbor. Il mio libro preferito è Harry Potter. Non ho nessun spettacolo televisivo preferito.
12) Chi sono i vostri cantanti preferiti?
Corinna: Non ho nessun cantante o gruppo preferito. Mi piace musica pop, commercial, e house.
Sara: Non ho nessun cantante o gruppo preferito. Mi piace musica soft.
13) Qual’è il vostro piatto italiano preferito?
Senz’altro pasta! Specialmente con sugo di pomodoro o "all’amatriciana" con guanciale, cipolla, e pecorino.
14) Vi piace la cucina americana?
Non tanto per quanto qualche volta mangiamo hamburger e fries da MacDonald’s.
15) Cosa pensate dell’America?
Noi siamo affascinati di posti come New York, San Francisco, il Grand Canyon, i parchi nazionali, e da tutte le cose che vediamo in televisione.
16) Se uno studente americano venisse a Roma, dove lo portereste?
Certamente lo porteremmo al Colosseo, al Circo Massimo, Piazza Navona, e Piazza di Spagna. Dimenticavamo! Lo porteremmo a Via Condotti per vedere i magnifici negozi di moda.
17) Completate questa frase: "Tra 10 anni, noi ..."
Staremo cercando un buon lavoro.
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ENGLISH
An Italian teacher interviewed two fourteen year old girls in a school in Rome, Italy.
Here is the text of the interview.
1)What is your name? Does your name mean anything particular in your language?
Corinna: My name’s Corinna. It doesn’t mean anything, but it is the name of a nymph.
Sara: My name’s Sara. It means princess.
2) What is your country’s official language? Do you speak other languages?
The official language of our country is Italian and yes, we speak a little bit of English and a little bit of French.
3) What is your country known for?
Our country is famous for its food and for the beautiful places and ancient monuments, rich in history, for the famous landscapes, such as lakes, mountains, coasts, etc. and for the nice way in which we treat all kinds of people.
4) What do you like about living in your city? What don’t you like?
Corinna: About living in my city I like the fact that in every hour you can find worldly life and every kind of enjoyment and I like the fact that my city is the capital of the country. I don’t like the traffic and the pollution.
Sara: About living in my city I like going shopping!! And I like the fact that in my city there are lots of ancient monuments. I don’t like the pollution and the pickpockets!
5) What do you do on week-ends?
On weekends we like going out with our group of friends downtown or to the movies.
6) When you go out with your friends, how do you go? By bus? By car? On foot?
We go downtown by bus or by subway.
7) Describe a typical day at school.
We arrive at school at 8 o’clock and we remain outside the classroom speaking and waiting for the beginning of the lessons. We have lessons for 3 hours, and then at 5 past 11 we have a break of 15 minutes. Then we have one or two hours of lessons, depending on the day. Finally we catch the bus to return home.
8) What subject do you like the most? Why? Which subject do you dislike the most? Why?
Corinna: My favorite subjects are English, because I like languages, and Latin, because it is simple but, at the same time difficult and attractive! On the other hand, I don’t like math and geometry, because they are "too scientific."
Sara: My favorite subjects are Greek and Latin, because they are ancient languages, but I don’t like math!
9) What is in fashion for girls this season? What is in fashion for boys?
The latest fashion is low-waist pants both for boys and for girls.
10) What is the most recent slang word or phrase? What does it mean?
The latest slang word is "bella!” which means hello.
11) What is your favorite movie? What is your favorite book? What is your favorite TV show?
Corinna: My favorite movie is Ghost, my favorite book is Tre metri sopra il cielo, and my favorite TV show is Zelig.
Sara: My favorite movie is Pearl Harbor, my favorite book is Harry Potter, and I don’t have a favorite TV show.
12) Who are your favorite musicians?
Corinna: I don’t have a favorite musician or group. I like pop, commercial and house music!
Sara: I don’t have a favorite musician or group. I like soft music.
13) What is your favorite Italian food?
Pasta, of course! Mostly with tomato sauce or "amatriciana", with bacon, onions and pecorino cheese.
14) Do you like American food?
Not so much, although we sometimes have a hamburger and fries at McDonald’s.
15) What do you think of America?
We are fascinated by such places as New York, San Francisco, Grand Canyon, national parks and by the things we see on TV.
16) If an American student came to Rome, where would you take him/her?
We would certainly take him/her to the Colosseo, the Circo Massimo, Piazza Navona and to Piazza di Spagna. We forgot! We would like to take him/her to Via Condotti to see the wonderful fashion shops.
17) Complete this phrase: "Ten years from now, we ...
will look for a good job!
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April 2010
Many thanks to Ingvill, a teen-ager from Lom, Norway, for agreeing to be interviewed for this month’s Hangout. Tusen takk!
Many thanks to Professor Solveig Zempel of St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN for translating the original Hangout questions into Norwegian and then translating Ingvill’s responses into English. Tusen takk!
If you are a teacher or a student of the Norwegian language, you may download this interview for use in the classroom or for private study.
The Norwegian interview is followed by the English translation.
GENERELL INFORMASJON:
Ingvill
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Fornavn: Ingvill
Alder: 14
By og Land: Lom, Norge
Offisielle språk i landet ditt: Norsk
Morsmålet ditt: Norsk
Andre språk du snakker: Litt Engelsk og litt Spansk
INTERVJU SPØRSMÅL:
1. Hva er landet dit kjent for?
Naturen, fjell og fjord.
2. Hva er det beste med å bo i Lom?
Tryggt og rolig.
3. Hva liker du minst med å bo i Lom?
Ikke så mye tilbud til ungdommer fra 12-18 år.
4. Beskriv familien din.
Vi er en tullete familie. Jeg er veldig glad i familien min!
5. Beskriv en god venn. Fortell om hans/hennes personlighet og utseende. Hvorfor er han/hun din venn?
Sina. Snill, humor, utstrålande person, ho er ubeskrivelig! Hun er pen, har fin smil.
6. Hva gjør du og vennene dine i fritida? Hvor møter du dem? Hvor drar dere? Hvordan drar dere til forskjellige steder ( med bil, sykkel, buss, eller til fots)?
Vi er på kafè, er hos hverandre det er mye annet ogå, men kommer ikke på nå. Vi drar til forskjellige steder. Vi drar med bil.
7. Hvor mange ganger i uka går du på skolen? Hvor mange timer er du på skolen hver dag?
5 dager, mandag, tirsdag, onsdag, torsdag og fredag. Jeg er på skolen 7 timer hverdag.
8. Hvor lang sommer ferie har du? Hvor mange ferier har du igjennom skoleåret? Hvilke ferier er det?
2 måneder. 4 ferier gjennom skoleåret. Vinterferie, påskeferie, høstferie og juleferie.
9. Hvilke fag studerer du dette året?
Norsk, musikk, naturfag, matematikk, spansk, engelsk, RLE
10. Hvilket fag liker du best?
Norsk og musikk.
11. Hvilket fag liker du minst?
Naturfag, det er et tung fag å lære.
12. Hva har du somregel i skolesekken din?
Skolebøker.
13. Hva er favoritt filmen din?
17 again
14. Hva er favoritt boka di?
På Flukt
15. Hvem er dine favoritt musikere?
Stave Church in Lom
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Gaute Ormåsen, Alan Jakson og Garth Brooks.
16. Hvilken mat liker du best?
Fiskerull i pitabrød.
17. Liker du Amerikansk mat?
Ja, hamburger, pomfrites.
18. Hva synes du om Amerika?
Jeg har ikke vært i amerika, men har lyst til å dra dit. Jeg synest det ser fint ut på bilder.
19. Hvis en Amerikansk student kom til byen din, hva ville du ha vist han/henne?
Flåklypa bygda jeg bor i, Naturen vi har, Setra vår og mye annet.
English Translation
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Ingvill with her sisters
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First Name: Ingvill
Age: 14
Town and country: Lom, Norway
Official language of your country: Norwegian
Your native language: Norwegian
Other languages you speak: A little English and a little Spanish
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. What is your country famous for?
Nature, mountains, and fjords
2. What do you like about living in Lom?
It is a safe and peaceful place.
3. What do you not like about living in Lom?
Not so much to do for youth from 12-18 years old.
4. Describe your family.
We are a crazy family. I love my family very much.
5. Describe a good friend. Tell about his/her personality and physical appearance. Why is he/she your friend?
Sina is my good friend. She is kind, has good humor, is a warm person. She is indescribable. She is pretty, has a great smile.
6. What do you usually do with your friends? When do you usually meet them? Where do you usually go? How do you usually go places with them (by car, by bicycle, by bus, on foot)?
We go to the cafe, to each others’ houses, and lots of other things, too, that I can't think of right now. We go different places. We go by car.
7. How many days a week do you go to school? How many hours do you spend at school every day?
5 days, Monday through Friday. I am at school for 7 hours a day.
8. How long is your summer vacation? How many holidays do you have during the school year? What are they?
Summer vacation lasts 2 months. We have 4 vacations throughout the school year: Winter vacation, Easter vacation, fall vacation, and Christmas vacation.
9. What are the subjects that you are studying at school this year?
Norwegian, music, science, mathematics, Spanish, English, RLE
10. What subjects do you like the most?
Norwegian and music
11. What subject do you dislike the most? Why?
Science, that's hard to learn
12. What do you usually carry in your school bag?
Schoolbooks
13. What is your very favorite movie?
17 Again
14. What is your very favorite book?
På Flukt (English title: On the Run)
15. Who are your favorite musicians?
Gaute Ormåsen, Alan Jakson and Garth Brooks.
View from Borgen Farm
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16. What is your favorite food?
Fish roll in pita bread
17. Do you like American food?
Yes, hamburger and fries
18. What is your opinion of America?
I haven't been to America, but I would like to go there. I think it looks nice in pictures.
19. If an American student came to your town, where would you take him/her?
To Flåklypa, the area where I live, the nature we have, our summer farm, and much more.
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February 2010
This month's Hangout is with Hiroaki Higaki from Japan. (This interview appeared in a previous Culture Club.) He is pictured below on the left, with a friend.
You can also see this interview in Japanese, by downloading this PDF document
 1) What’s your name? Does your name mean something?
My name is Hiroaki Higaki. My first name means "generosity" and my last name means "cheerful"
2) What country are you from? Where on the world map can we find your country?
I’m from Japan. Japan is in East Asia on the world map. Many statues of Buddha made of stone stand on a hill near my city of Hiroshima and quietly welcome travelers.
3) What is your country known for?
My country is known for its hardworking people.
4) What is the official language of your country? Do you speak any other language (s)?
The official language of my country is Japanese. Yes, I speak English a little.
5) What do you like about living in your city? What don’t you like about living in your city?
I like to be surrounded by nature. I don't like the transportation facilities that are not quite good.
6) This is how you say "Good Bye" in my language:
sayonara
7) What’s your favorite movie/book/ TV show?
My all-time favorite movie is "Pirates of The Caribbean."
8) Who is your favorite musician or group? Describe their style of music
My favorite musicians are "Joanne D’Arc" and "Red Hot Chili Peppers"
9) Describe a typical school day.
In the morning I have three lessons (fifty minutes per lesson) and three lessons in the afternoon. I take a course designed for students who want to enter prestigious universities such as Tokyo University, Kyoto University, and so on. Being connected to a major cram school Yoyogi Zeminar, my school provides students with information about universities. Each class is small. The school helps students reach their own goals by the shortest way.
10) What are your favorite and least favorite subjects? Why?
My favorite subject is English. The reason is I’m interested in the world. I want to contribute to the world in the future. My least favorite subject is Math. The reason is I'm not good at studying math.
11) What are some of the fashion trends for girls this year? What about for boys?
For girls: roll-up jeans, frills, ribbons, vivid colors...etc. For boys: nothing special.
12) What’s your favorite Japanese food? Describe it.
My favorite food is Tendon. This dish is tempura, fried shrimp, and broth (dashi) on boiled rice.
13) Do you like American food? If so, what kinds?
My favorite food is Tendon.
14) What do you think of Americans?
I like them because I think they express themselves clearly and straightforwardly.
15) The latest slang word/phrase in Japan is:
The latest slang word is "Manifest" which means political pledge. It was used during the election for the House of Representatives last year.
16) What do you do on the weekends?
I usually study. Sometimes I cook.
17) When you go out with your friends, how do you get to where you are going? E.g.: Bus, motorbike, car,on foot, etc.
I go to see movies with my friends by train or bus.
18) This is how you say Thank you in Japanese
Arigato
19) If an American student came to your city, where would you take him/her?
I live on an island. So the sea is very beautiful. And I would take him to the beach. This island has many places with beautiful views. So I would take him there.
20) Finish this sentence: "In 6 years from now, I will...
In 6 years from now, I will study abroad because I want to know many things about the world. I will enter college. I’ll be majoring in the College of International Relations. In foreign country, I communicate with them and ask about their culture, eating customs, etc.... And I will come back to my country, get a job with a company which has markets in foreign countries in order to make use of my experience studying abroad.
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November 2009
This month's Hangout is in Spanish with Nelson, a 17-year-old from San Salvador, El Salvador. (This interview appeared in a previous Culture Club.)
Read the interview in ENGLISH
SPANISH
Nelson, es un jóven Salvadoreño de dieciseis años.
En la foto de abajo vemos a Nelson y su madre con la entrevistadora Christine Meloni (derecha)
 1) ¿Cómo te llamas? Tu nombre tiene algún significado en tu lenguaje?
Nelson Raul Carranza Aparicio y no tiene ningun significado especial.
2) ¿Cuantos años tienes?
Dieciseis
3) ¿De qué paíis eres?¿Donde se encuentra tu país en un mapa mundial?
Soy de El Salvador. Mi país se encuentra en América Central.
4) ¿Por qué se conoce tu país?
Por su gente que es muy amigable y con mucho calor humano, por la comida típica y por sus
playas, que son perfectas para surfear.
5)¿ Cual es el languaje official de tu país? ¿Hablas otro lenguaje(s)?
Nuestro lenguaje oficial es el Español.
6) ¿Cual es tu película o libro favorito?
Mi libro favorito es jesper y mi pelíicula favorita es corazón de caballero.
7) ¿Cual es tu canción o cantante favorito?
Incubus
8) Describe un día escolar tíipico
Entrar a la escuela a las 7 am, trabajar hasta las 4 pm después hacer las tareas y ver televisión
9) ¿Cuales son tus clases favoritas y menos favoritas? Por qué?
La clase de química es mi clase favorita porque entiendo lo que el profesor enseña. Sociales es la
que no me gusta porque es la más aburrida de todas.
10) ¿Qué está a la moda entre los jóvenes este año? ¿Para las muchachas? y ¿Para los varones?
Ropa semi formal, jeans, minifaldas y mini blusas, sandalias, shorts, usar camisas formales y zapatos de punta cuadrada.
11) ¿Qué deportes les gusta jugar a los varones? Y ¿a las muchachas?
A ambos les gustan el Bolibol y el fútbol.
12) ¿Cual es tu comida favorita?
Las pupusas, que son el plato típico de mi país.
13) ¿Qué haces los fines de semana?
pasarlos con mi familia o con mi novia.
14) ¿Cuando sales con tus amigos,¿ qué método de transporte usas?
El bus principalmente porque no tenemos licencia para manejar, todavía somos muy jóvenes.
15) Si un estudiante Americano te visitara, ¿a donde en tu ciudad lo llevarias?
A la Zona Rosa, es un lugar donde hay muchos restaurantes y discos para ir a bailar.
16) ¿Cómo se dice "Thank you " en tu lenguaje?gracias
17) ¿Qué te gusta y qué no te gusta de vivir en tu ciudad?
La contaminacion no me gusta y me gusta que es tranquila
18) ¿Cual es tu opinión de los Americanos?
Bueno no he conocido a muchos americanos pero creo que son graciosos y simpáticos.
19) Completa la oracion: En seis años estaré...
Terminando mi carrera en la universidad
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ENGLISH
Nelson is a sixteen and he is from El Salvador
In the picture we can see Nelson with his mother and interviewer Christine (right)
1) What is your name? Does your name mean something in your language?
Nelson Raul Carranza Aparicio; it doesn’t mean anything in particular.
2) How old are you?Sixteen
3) What country are you from? Where on the world map can we find your country?
I’m from El Salvador. It’s in Central America.
4) What is your country known for?
For its people who are very friendly and warm, for the typical food, for its beaches which are perfect for swimming.
5) What is the official language of your country? Do you speak any other language(s)?
Spanish. I am studying English now at school and in a private school on Saturdays.
6) What is your all time favorite book/movie?
My favorite book is Jesper
7) Who is your favorite musician? Incubus
8) Describe a typical school day.
Get up early, go to school at 7 am, study until 4 pm, do my homework and watch TV.
9) What are your favorite subject and least favorite subjects? Why?
Chemistry is my favorite subject because I understand everything the teacher explains, and Social Studies is my least favorite subject because it’s boring.
10) What are some of the fashion trends for teenagers this year?
Semiformal clothes: boots, sandals, shorts, jeans, mini skirts and mini blouses.
11) What sports do boys really like to play? What about girls?
Both play volleyball and soccer.
12) What is your favorite Salvadorian food?
Pupusa, the typical food from my country.
13) What do you do on the weekends?
Stay home with my family or go to my girlfriend’s house.
14) When you go out with your friends, how do you get to where you are going? Bus? Motorbike? Car? On foot?
We go by bus because we do not have drivers’ licenses. We are too young to have one.
15) If an American student came to your city, where would you take him/her?
To the Zona Rosa, which is a place with a lot of restaurants and discos.
16) This is how you say "thank you" in Spanish:
Gracias
17) What do you like/don’t like about living in your city?
I like it because it’s quiet, but I don’t like the pollution.
18) What is your opinion of Americans?
I have not met many yet, but I think they are nice and funny.
19) Finish this sentence: In 6 years from now, I will...
be finishing my university career.
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