Bahman's Writings

Dear Sue,
In Iran, our government sends some santa claus to streets and they give gifts to our Christian compatriots. They give gifts to children and their parents. One year I gave a Persian evangel from a santa claus. I think your Christmas will start about 12 hours later. Now, Iran time is about 11:30 p.m. only 30 minutes to new Christian year.
Merry Christmas,
Bahman

I am confused about...

Dear Sue,
I want you to know, never I don't forget your questions. If I answer a little late, I think about them and whatever I write.
You asked me:
"Have you decided what branch of computer work you want to specialize in?"
I loved to continue my course in the IT/Network but this branch is very young in Iran and its capacity is limited, about 17 or 18 in the nationwide. These conditions cause me to suspect about this branch.
This semester, I had a lesson, its name was Artificial Intelligence. I am interested in it too.
Now, I don't know which branch is better for me. I'm very confused and need to consult a lot.
I hope God helps me to find my way.

Dear friend, thanks so much for the beautiful poem. We will read it in the class and enjoy it a lot. You always write interesting things to us.
Your friend, Faranak.

Happy new year,

Dear Sue,
I hope that you have a nice year.

Bahman's letter to Sue,

Dear Sue,
A lunar year is 10 days shorter than a solar year. Therefore every year Moharram (the first lunar year month) is 10 days later from last year. This year Moharram’s month started in Azar month.
Flagellate (with a chain) is because our love to Hussein Ibn Ali.
Yazid Ibn Moavie was a wino man and he played with monkeys and he didn’t say prayer and he killed Muslims. Imam Hussein was an impeccable man. He is Mohammad’s daughter son.
Kofe’s people sent letters to Imam Hussein and invited him to Kufe. They told Imam Hussein that we want a good leader and an impeccable leader. Imam went to Kufe, but Yazid could buy them a man with Money and a man with rank. They went to war with Imam Hussein, an army with 72 solders against an army with 4000 solders. Imam Hussein’s army had not water, because their enemy made a dam. Imam exhorted them, but they were deaf on this time. Imam Hussein and his solders, children, family and brothers martyred in Karbala. It is a big tragic. It tragic is a reason for flagellate, but a really reason is love to Hussein Ibn Ali. Really Muslims should carry from this tragic.
Here our Christian compatriots bought their Christmas tree.
Our neighborhood is near Christian’s neighborhood. I have some Christian friends. Our government sent Father Christmas to Our city and they give gifts to Christians.
Our music group have not concert and we are waiting for a free amphitheater.
I practice by myself hard (about 2 hours in a day).
Thank you for correcting,
More letters,
Bahman

The answer of worksheet#3

Dear Sue,
This worksheet will be very informative for me.
It was difficult and I could just guess some corrections that I was not sure they are true.

"Entering the restaurant, there were a choice of sitting at chairs at a table, or in(on) the(a) carpet covered raised platforms lining walls. My guide who was going to be a familiar choice during her(my) trip, than(then) ran through (a/the) menu - kebabs -(,) chicken, lamb, minced lamb, chicken and lamb."

Thanks a lot for the useful worksheets.
Faranak.

Bahman's letter to Sue,

Dear Sue,
Sorry to take a while to answer your letter.
We want to read Walden in our classes and I am very glad for this idea. I printed Walden’s Sounds chapter.
Our first season in our calendar is Farvardin. Muslim’s calendar start from when Mohammad went from Mekke to Madina. It called Hejria (hegira) calendar. We have 2 kinds of calendars that they are solar year and lunar year. In Iran we use solar year. The first month of the solar year is Farvardin and the First month of the lunar year is Muharram. Therefore our new year is in the spring. There are many mans in these photos some of them play drummers some of them to flagellate oneself (with a chain) and some of them have banners.
I had 2 exams last week and I have 3 exams next week. My exams season is about 17 days later and I am very busy.
Take care,
Bahman

The Magi

“We three kings of Orient, are. Bearing gifts, we travel afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.

I have known the words to this Christmas song since childhood, and yet the magic and underlying message of the story didn’t really occur to me until recently. Here is the story of the three kings and the birth of Jesus.

Once upon a time, in Bethlehem of Judea, King Herod heard that a royal child was to be born, and that a glorious star, later called the Star of Bethlehem, would shine over his crib. He sent for wise men, called Magi, from the East, who were experts in astronomy, and instructed them to follow the star and report back to him so that he could find this new king and destroy him.

The wise men, reported to be three in number, had seen the star, and bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, they followed it until it stopped above a stable in Bethlehem where the baby Jesus lay. In their wisdom, they saw the love and worth of this baby and gave him the gifts they had brought. An interesting part of the story is that they then returned home without reporting to Herod, so it is possible they saved the baby Jesus’ life.

This year I began to look into the place from which the wise men came. There are many stories, but here is the one that seems most likely. The title, Magi, is plural for a Greek word, Magus, used as a title for Zoro astrian Priests, who were, by the way, some of the world’s experts on Astronomy. Many nations have claimed title to these Magi, but for me there is little doubt that they came from Iran, and from an area south of the city of Tehran. The gifts they brought are symbolic of what happened to that tiny babe. Gold, for strength and power, Frankincense, for wisdom and myrrh, for suffering. What the babe gave to the world was a life full of lessons of love, and he died on the cross because of the jealousy of men.
His final words were, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

December 25th, on our calendar is two days away and it warms my heart to believe that there is a connection between your people and mine that goes back to this event 2000 years ago. A star led the Magi West. I am looking for a star today that will bring us all together in peace.

Merry Christmas!

Niloofar's letter

Hello Sue

Merry christmas but I don't know the exact day of christmas.
In iran people have celebrarion in the first of spring.
I think christmas and norooz are interesting .
I like snows and sometimes I dream of being in a christmas celebration.
In norooz people usually buy new dress and clean their houses because people think with the new year every thing should be new.

I am very curious to know why you cut trees and bring them to your homes.
In iran we usually cook 'sabzi polo mahi' for norooz that is incloud rice and vegetable and fish, do you cook a special food for christmas?


Thank you

Niloofar's letter

Hello sou
Thank you for talking with us.
This is my answer to your home work.


There is not speial thing about the street on wich I live.
I have lived there for more than ten years, but the nighborhood is still strange.
Since big houses changed in to apartments it seem that my street has become a stranger to me.
There are many parks on my street , the scent of wet grass in the morning of spring in the middle of noisy cars is very pleasant.

Niloofar

Please Meet Mandy Harvey

I was driving home today when I heard Mandy Harvey on the radio, and I loved her positive look at life. Marty is just out of college at CSU here in Colorado. Three years ago she lost her hearing. Marty was, and still is, a Jazz Singer and she has refused to let her deafness affect her talent. She can hear nothing when she is singing, but has maintained a positive and loving way of viewing life in spite of...She reminds me of Emily Dickenson's " Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul."

Here are a couple of Utube entries that introduce Mandy Hardy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQR1uj5LUGU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIa5yA1_d-M&feature=related

This would be a good listening exercise for you. She pronounces her words clearly and is easy to understand. Let me know what you think of Mandy.

Worksheet # 3 A Tourist in Tehran

Worksheet #3

Here begins a story about a lady that visits Tehran. In this first paragraph, change the mistakes so that it will read well. The tourist is the writer: There should be 8 corrections. See how many you can find.


Entering the restaurant, there were a choice of sitting at chairs at a table, or in the carpet covered raised platforms lining walls. My guide than ran through menu, who was going to be a familiar choice during her trip- kebabs - chicken, lamb, minced lamb, chicken and lamb.

Ben Jonson in Thoreau's Walden

In chapter Sounds, Thoreau finds the owls sounds and singing to be "Ben Jonsonian." He was an English dramatist and poet 1573?–1637.Their dismal scream is truly Ben Jonsonian."

"When other birds are still, the screech owls take up the strain, like mourning women their ancient u-lu-lu. 

I love this poem from Ben Jonson very much:

Drink to me only with thine eyes,

         And I will pledge with mine;

Or leave a kiss but in the cup,

         And I’ll not look for wine.

The thirst that from the soul doth rise

         Doth ask a drink divine;

But might I of Jove’s nectar sup,

         I would not change for thine.

   

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,

         Not so much honouring thee

As giving it a hope, that there

         It could not withered be.

But thou thereon didst only breathe,

         And sent’st it back to me;

Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,

         Not of itself, but thee.

Let's go

In chapter 4 of Walden called Sounds, Thoreau says, "Regularly at half-past seven, in one part of the summer, after the evening train had gone by, the whip-poor-wills chanted their vespers for half an hour, sitting on a stump by my door, or upon the ridge-pole of the house."
This is my translation:

به طور مرتب در بخشی از تابستان در ساعت هفت و نیم، پس از عبور قطار غروب، مرغان پشه­خوار نیم ساعتی بر کنده­ی کنار کلبه­­ی من  یا بر تیرک وسط سقف آن می­نشستند و  سرود نماز غروب خویش را سر می­دادند 

And if you are all interested, here is the way the bird actually sings: 

http://www.soundboard.com/sb/Whippoorwill_sounds.aspx

Do copy and paste the address in your browswer and check the beautiful song of the bird.  Judge for yourself!  Who prays more beautifully?  We or the bird?  Forget about the engines roaring around you.  Forget about angry people shouting at each other in the hectic city in which we live.  Just follow the link, close your eyes, take a deep breath and find yourself sitting somewhere near Thoreau’s cabin in Walden or with Sue beside her beautiful small garden. 

A note from Sue

To Those on this Blog:  T has been working so very hard to create a bridge between our American Philosopher/writer and those in Iran that might be interested.

I have wondered how you could do so much, Ali, and I firmly believe that creating a Persian Walden is a work of a lifetime. Masnavi is a beautiful work that it is already available to both English speakers, and Persian speakers. Walden is the creation of a new bridge. I know we will all support you in your decision.

What you are attempting is a massive work! God bless you.
Sue

New plans for my classes: Reading Walden

Friends,

My chariot has been torn apart and the road lost by riding my horses in several different directions.  The translation of Walden has been delayed for too long and I do not intend to keep it that way.  This is to annouce that from now on I will not read Masnavi or any other books in any of my classes except Walden and Wild Apples.  I promise that you will never be able to forget the joys that these extremely faschinating books will leave in our hearts.

I have been fortunate enough to read Walden with Sue and a few other outstanding writers and scholars in the US.  In fact Sue is a pearl I managed to capture while swimming in the depths of Walden.  I assure you that Walden will sit beside Masnavi in out hearts. 

T

Asking for prayers for a loved one

Friends,

Sue's dear daughter Leslie has just come out of a sensitive eye surgery.   I know how Sue's heart is busy now.  Let us all pray for Leslie's eyes.  She is such a good writer and sees the world so beautifully.  Henry David Thoreau says, "The eyes are the jewl of the body."  May those jewls always shine on Leslies face.

Sue please tell us how she is feeling as soon as you have some time to talk to us.

T

Let's Write!

Hi Group,

I reviewed the requirements for the written part of the TOEFL Test that is necessary to show that you understand English. This test is accepted by many top universities in England and the United States. I plan to ask you to do writing exercises, beginning with one paragraph and then, when this is working well, we will do the three-to five paragraphs expected of you if you want to take the TOEFL Test.

Basic Directions:

A. I should be able to identify the introduction, development of your idea and a conclusion. Eventually I want you to be able to write three paragraphs, one for each section.

B. Include simple, compound and complex sentences in your writing.

C. Use specific examples or reasons to support your ideas. Personal thoughts and experiences always make your work more interesting.

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1. You will receive up to 6 points (This is just like the TOEFL.) 6 is superior, and an average student should score 3-4 points. A score of 1-2 means that you need to work on your writing.

2. I will correct your writing and issue you a point score. If you correct your writing, you will be able to earn more points. I will keep a record of the points earned.

3. Faranak earned 4 points on her last essay. Nice job! I hope you will correct any mistakes and return it to me.


WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT #2

Write a paragraph describing the street on which you live. (1 Paragraph)

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT #3

Write a paragraph describing your favorite meal: where you eat it and what are the different foods and beverages.


Have fun and, yes, you can ask Mr. T for help on these first easy assignments. Your friend, Sue

Introduction

Hello Sue,

My name is Marzieh Gholami. I am 24 years old girl. I have a masters degree in Persian literature and am trying to pass the entry examination for a PhD course. I wrote my first short story at the age of 10 and my first novel in 200 pages at the age of 18. It was a romance with a happy ending story.

I am happy to be in your company. I hope I can write my own posts in English to this blog pretty soon. So far I have only studied the Persian literature in only Persian. I have just decided to start learning English or I am about to make that decision!

What could be the best first steps towards learning English?

Many thanks and best regards,

Marzieh

An Italian proverb

Faranak,  You were speaking about how English opens windows on other cultures to us and sheds light on the world around us.  I thought I would share with you this nice Italian proverb " By asking for the impossible, obtain the best possible."

Nothing is more interesting to me than what others say is impossible.

T

Wild Apples

Dear Sue,
We have started to read your book today. You have very powerful pen. I enjoyed from every sentences of your book. Thank you for sending it to us. I'm sure it is one of the best books which I read and I will read in my life.
Your friend, Faranak.

Why I learn English

Dear Sue,
I wrote my essay about English, it is a little long. I didn't know how I had to start each paragraph. Please explain to me.

"I learn English for different reasons. One of them is when I want to learn new things like lessons, scientific subjects, software, games and other things I need to English because most of time a English version of them is available.
Other reason is my course, computer. These days a good engineer must know English very well.
The last reason is I want to know about other cultures and other people beliefs who lives in other countries and most of them know English. Now, I want to talk about my reasons.

First reason, all the time when I search a subject, I find a lot of valid source in English or when I buy a new sophisticated device, it has a English menu or a catalog in English. So I thought learning English can help me. It caused me to think about learning English.

Second reason, I have started to learn English since I was in high school. I studied it just for entrance exam and my activities in English limited to memorizing words. After that I went to university. All sources of lessons and powerpoint slides were in English and I had to study them. This need forced me to study English seriously. It was only a compulsion and I didn't enjoy of learning English.

Third reason, tow years after I went to university, I got acquainted with Mr. T. He is a wonderful English teacher. He talks about English and literature with love and uses modern methods to teach and dose not limit us to a lesson book. He teaches books like Masnavi and allows us to communicate with wonderful writers in the US, like Sue Mattews Petrovski.
After acquaintance with Sue, I interested to her personality and my view changed. I knew when we talk about love and human values, it is not important what is your religious or what is your nationality. All of us Say one thing. It was one of things that I understood by English.
I have learned a lot of things from Sue and Mr. T and they are tow of influential persons in my life.

As you saw, I study English because it is a world language and I can talk to great persons like Sue in the world. I enjoy English now.
Faranak."

Picking some wild apples

Today, instead of the drudgery of reading boring English textbooks, we are going to pick some wild apples in class with Faranak and Bahman -- that is we are going to begin to read the book Mrs. Sue Mattews Petrovski has written and sent us. 

In her preface she says, "Like our memories, it comes as it comes, showing little in the way of precise organization, but what lives in Wild Apples is there because it had meaning for me; i.e., individually and collectively these pieces and stories are just a part of who I am."  An Iranian who reads this can help but remember Rumi's Masnavi, for it, too, defies clear organization.  Such books are the onrush of lava from the volcanic eruptions of thoughtful, ponderous people. 

The book is so honest, pure and profoundly beautiful that it makes learning English a cinch.  "Wild Apples" is one of those things that you realize you had lost only when you find it and Sue is one of those people in the world you notice you have been missing only when you become acquainted with her.

Isn't it interesting?  Today we are going to study Sue's Wild Apples and Rumi's Masnavi both in the same class with Faranak and Bahman.  What a rich English class!

Ali

A quick look at the inside of the Iranian hearts

We have all heard of king Midas and how he turned everything into gold by his touch, but we have never seen it -- except, of course, here in the Persian calligraphy and the way it poured so much beauty in the Arabic alphabet.  In my personal belief, one of history's most intriguing facts is the way Iranians accepted Islam and then touched it with their own beautiful, poetical spirit.  Our architecture, calligraphy and literature are among the most essential parts of the Islamic culture.
The above poem says, "Other than art which shines like a crown on the head of all the creation, the foundation of no other virture is strong enough to last."

Here is another sample:

T

Worksheet #2 - Helping a Tourist in Tehran

Worksheet #2 Tourist Guide

I am a tourist unfamiliar with Iranian food. Please finish each sentence for me, and tell me what part of speech each word represents. Try to use nouns, adjectives verbs and verb phrases, as well as adverbs and conjunctions, articles and prepositions. You will get a point for each sentence written without error and a point for every different part of speech you identify in each sentence!

1. Adas polow is________________________________________

2. Nan-e keshmeshy is____________________________________

3. Mast is______________________________________________

4. Tas kabab is__________________________________________

5. Jujeh kabob is_________________________________________

Worksheet # l

Hi Group, I would like to see how well you can do on this short quiz. Please fill in the blanks and send it back to me:

Thanks, Sue

Worksheet #1

Earn up to 10 points. One for each correct answer. Fill the blanks with a part of speech for the adjective, noun, adverb, verb, conjunction, article or pronoun in bold print.

1. The__________ young man went to the store.

2. I searched for a____________new computer.

3. Andy knocked on the door but___________nobody answered.

4. I want to go to a university__________in another country.

5. If we finish our work quickly______________we can go to the concert.

6. I’m sure I have met__________ your girlfriends before.

7. I left my shoes under____________the kitchen table.

8. I bought a beautiful________________dress at the bazaar.

9. What did she_____________ask you to do?

10. On Saturdays I work_____________from 9 to 5.

Bahman's Writings

Dear friends,
Introduction
I read English because it is international language. I can find many friends by English. English can help me in my engineering. English is international language and I should learn English until can go to other countries. English can help me that can know other culture and other people and other countries. By English I can read other literature books and I can know other writers and other poets.
By English I can find many friends from different countries in the entire world. Sue is a good example for a good friend. I can ask my questions about many things from other countries people.
I am an engineer and I can use other countries technology by English. I can ask many questions from other engineers by English.
I think English is useful for me and other people that want use other ideas and other minds.
Bahman

The new blog

Dear Sue and Mr. T,
This is a good method that you give us practices. Thank you a lot for this blog. I'm sure these new methods will be more useful. I try to do better on this site.
Faranak.

A New Approach to Your English Lessons

To Bahman and Faranak, and others who wish to join in, and to those who Mr. T gives this assignment:

Here in America we are ending our old year of 2010 and getting ready for a new year to begin on January 1, 2011

And so, with a new year comes a new approach: let us change our method of learning English--just a little bit. I propose that I make an assignment, you complete it and return it to Leaves, where I will comment and mark errors as I see them. However, this time I will not correct your mistakes! (at least not most of the time,) You will correct your own mistakes, or ask Mr. T to help you.

When your mistakes are corrected, Ali will let me know and I will make another assignment. This first assignment is for everyone. After that, I will make individual assignments as you finish the first one. Remember, however, you are not competing with anyone. You are only competing with yourself: To make yourself a better reader and speaker of English.

In addition, now and then I will ask you to answer some questions for me and return them to me so that I can see how you are doing.

I think this will be of more help to you, and that is what is important. We all learn better when we learn to correct our own mistakes. It also helps give us a sense of accomplishment.

Your First Assignment

Write a 5 paragraph essay on why you want to learn English.

Paragraph I – Introduction and statement of your reasons.
Paragraph II, III, IV – Explain each reason in a separate paragraph. (You may have 1, 2, 3 or more reasons.)

Last Paragraph – Conclusion in which you restate your reasons and end your essay.

…Each paragraph must be at least 3 sentences long
…Each sentence must have a noun, or pronoun and a verb.

Good luck. If you have any questions see Mr.T or email me at spetrovski@comcast.net.

Your friend , Sue

Bahman's letter to Sue,

Dear Sue,
Thank you for correcting my last letter. I think it had very mistakes. I searched in internet about The Beatles band and I download a piece from them. Its name is “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and it is very beautiful.
I read about The Beatles band and I understood that The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music.[
When I listen to Paver piece (that piece that I sent it for you) I have a special fell. I think it has a secret. I should speak about it with my maestro.
My young brother goes to Setar class and I am very glad. I hope he can play Setar in future.
Did you read about Imam Hoseyn?
I am waiting for the first practice and the first subject.
Take care,
Bahman

Corrections on Faranak's letter

Faranak’s letter:

Hi Sue,

I haven't write a letter for a long time. I miss you a lot and have a lot of speeches to tell you.

I had a presentation today. It was the first important presentation during the university.

2 days ago, I wrote a letter to you and wanted you to guide me about this presentation. Unfortunately my laptop detected a problem and couldn't connect to the Internet.

Dear friend, I'm studying for entrance exam. I love to accept in the IT/Network major. Network is one of the branches of IT.
IT is a young field in Iran. In Tehran, one university just accept 17 students in the Network branch.

I started to study in middle of October and my exam is in middle of February. I Started late because I had the internship in the summer, so I'm a little hopeless.
Now, I go to the university and have 10 lessons to study for this exam. I think 24 hours are very few for me, specially that I'm very sensitive to sleep.
You have a kind heart, pray for me.

Dear Sue, Could you see the site about Leili and Majnun? Is it good?
Leili and Majnun is one of the best story in Persian, It is very nice and a little sad. I really love it.

Sorry, I try to short my letter but it is long.

Your friend, Faranak.

Sue’s Answer and Corrections:

Dear Friend, It is so good to get a letter from you. You are so very busy, I consider it an honor for you to even take the time to drop me a tiny note.

My son does IT work. He is a director of IT for a pasta company that has plants in 4 different cities. One makes good money on IT jobs in the US, but it is very hard work. You are on call 24 hours a day and never can be far away from your cell phone. He has been at it for over 20 years and is now very stressed out. He has made very good wages, however, and can now quit and take an easier job, now that he is older.

A few English corrections:
1.  >> I miss you a lot and have a lot of speeches to tell you. <<
I would say, "...and have a lot of things to tell you." “Speeches” is used if one is going to give a speech.

2.  >> I Started late because I had the internship in the summer, so I'm a little hopeless. <<
I would say, "I felt a little anxiety." Little modifies anxiety and should walk with it.

3. >> I love to accept in the IT/Network major. Network is one of the branches of IT. <<
"I would love to be accepted in the IT/Network major."

4.  Dear friend, I'm studying for entrance exam.
Remember articles a, an and the. "I am studying for the entrance exam."
These are just tiny errors, but I know you want to do your very best.

Your friend,

testing

testing