Using the Hyphen

The hyphen (-) is a small mark or bar that can be used in several different ways, but always demonstrates that what it is attached to does not make up a word by itself. One important rule is that there are no white spaces on both ends of the hyphen.

Using the hyphen to write compound words

The most common use of the hyphen is to create compound words – that is, a word that is made up of two or more words. For example:
anti-aircraft, one-way street, well-known singer, sixty-eight, back-to-back
The hyphen prevents any confusion and makes the new compound word clearer and easier to read. However, you should not hyphenate to join the words after a noun. For example:
The street only went one way.
The lead singer was well known.
The rules for using the hyphen to create compound words are not that strict, and even different dictionaries will take different approaches, but the following principles should be apply:
1. Try and be clear
2. Only the hyphen when necessary
3. Try and follow established usage

The hyphen and word splitting

While there should never be white spaces on both ends of a hyphen, there are times when a white space can be placed on one end of a hyphen: when a word is split up at the end of a line. For example:
Major Daniels had done it, he had become the first person ever to reach inter-
stellar space.
This type of word splitting is far from ideal, but if it must be done, then generally try and cut the word into equal sizes.
Another important type of word splitting; call it, perhaps, “suspended affixation”:
We sell both right- and left-handed scissors.
Do you need four-, eight-, or twelve-foot boards?

Double-barrelled names

The hyphen is often used to write ‘double -barrelled’ names. For example:
Courteney Cox-Arquette, Jean-Claude van Dam, Catherone Zeta-Jones
But some people prefer their names to be written without the hyphen, such as:
Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, David Lloyd George, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
The preference of the individual should be taken into account and used.

Hyphenating compound modifiers

Hyphenating is very important when using compound modifiers. A compound modifier is a compound word (a word made up of two or more words joined together) that modifies a noun. For example:
He was wearing a light-blue scarf.
He was wearing a light blue scarf. 
Without the hyphen, then the reader might think that the scarf itself weighed less than normal. Hyphenation is very important when using a compound word to modify a noun.

Hyphenating prefixes

One especially interesting area is the hyphenating of prefixes. A prefix is something added before the root of a word. For example, unhappy; un is the prefix and happy is the word. You can use the hyphen to avoid confusion with prefixes. For example:
She managed to recover her cushion.
She managed to re-cover her cushion.
Hyphenating the prefix changes the meaning of the sentence. The first example suggests that someone has managed to recover her missing cushion, while the second example clarifies that she has actually managed to get a new cover on her cushion.
You should always hyphenate prefixes when either a capital letter or number follows:
post-Napoleonic Europe
pre-1960s popular music
You should also hyphenate if the prefix is added to a word that already contains a hyphen:
Their post-globe-trotting days
Finally, if the hyphen is added to a compound word that contains a white space then the existing white space should also be replaced with a hyphen:
He was a leader of the anti-cold-war movement.

Maribel and Daisy's record

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1ZsWMrFxKja

How Christmas is Celebrated

As you know, Christmas is one of the most important celebrations in many countries, like USA, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, German. People spend Christmas in winter in most of those countries. The family members gather together to share food at warm home. Kids can go outside to make snow men. But Australia is in the south of the earth, and Australian celebrate Christmas in summer. Instead of making snow sports, they make trips to beaches to dive and fish.
Not until now do I know how Christmas is celebrated in Canada because I am a newcomer, and people don't celebrate Christmas in my mother country. Christmas of this year is coming and all the Canadians are preparing for celebrating Christmas. I am much more aware of how to celebrate Christmas in Canada than used to be. Canadians buy tons of gifts for family members and friends. Shopping malls and stores are decorated with Christmas trees, and children like to take pictures with these shinning decorations. Canadians also decorate their homes, and kids are excited with the coming celebration. There is going to be a big vocation of about 20 days for everyone.
I have to admit that I am very very excited with the coming Christmas. It is going to be my first Christmas spending in Canada.

Difference between Complete and Finished

When you marry the right woman, you are complete. When you marry the wrong woman, you are finished. And when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are completely finished.

A letter

Dear friend:

Last week I was told that TPL MAP is very useful for our newcomers. Then I searched it on-line and made sure that it can give us a chance to journey through arts and culture in Toronto. Can I introduce it for you?

TPL MAP stands for Toronto public library's museum + arts pass. It lets you and your family (2 adults & up to 5 children) explore Toronto's arts and cultural treasures for free. With your valid adult Toronto Public Library card, you can take out a pass for your family at any Toronto Public Library branch.

There are some rules you have to follow. For example, misuse, transfer or sale of these passes is not permitted and will result in the Library taking action including the suspension of borrowing privileges.  When visiting a venue, you will need to show: MAP pass and date due receipt, your library card and ID(ID requirements may vary, we need to contact the venue direct.

Toronto Zoo is the venue I am most interested with. There are three passes per week available at 32 branches including Victoria Village which is close to your place and my house. Do you want to apply for the passes with me this Saturday morning? Should we meet each other at the parking lot of the library at 8:30 AM? Sorry for advising to meet so early. But the earlier we arrive at the library, the more chance we can get.

Have a nice day!

Your friend
Daisy

Living is like tearing through a museum - Audrey Hepburn -

"Living is like tearing through a museum. 

Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, 

thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering - 

because you can't take it in all at once." 

-  Audrey Hepburn -

Last morning we participated in a workshops on Employment Rights and Behavioural Interviews. The government officer who came to our classroom made a presentation to give us some information, and we were given some booklets about the topic to read. Because of the workshop, I've known minimax wages, parental and pregnancy leaves, our rights when we are fired or laid off. Unfortunately, the presentation had lasted for only almost an hour, and I still have confused with something, like working surrounding. By the way, if the office lady used projector and computer to present, we would get more details.

Three Questions about Workers' Rghts in Toronto

1.What's the maximum number of working hours ?
The maximum number of hours most employees can be required to work in a day is eight hours or the number of hours in an established regular workday, if it is longer than eight hours. The only way the daily maximum can be exceeded is by written agreement.The maximum number of hours most employees can be required to work in a week is 48 hours. The weekly maximum can be exceeded by written agreement and approval of the Director of Employment Standards. However, the ESA provides a limited exception where an application for approval is pending. If, after 30 days after serving an application for excess hours on the Director, the employer has not received an approval or notice of refusal, the employer  may require employees to start working more than 48 hours as long as certain conditions are met including, the employee does not work more than 60 hours in a work week or the number of hours the employee agreed to in writing, whichever is less.    

An agreement between an employee and an employer to work additional daily or weekly hours, or an approval from the Director of Employment Standards for excess weekly hours, does not relieve an employer from the requirement to pay overtime.

2.How much are minimum wages?

Minimum general minimum wage is $10.25;

Minimum student wage which applies to students under the age of 18 who work 28 hours a week or less when school is in session or work during a school break or summer holidays is $9.6.

Minimum homeworkers wage is $11.28. Homeworkers are employees who do paid work in their own homes. For example, they may sew clothes for a clothing manufacturer, answer telephone calls for a call centre, or write software for a high-tech company. Note that students of any age (including students under the age of 18 years) who are employed as homeworkers must be paid the homeworker's minimum wage.

3.What are the rights of pregnant employees and new parents?

Pregnant employees have the right to take Pregnancy Leave of up to 17 weeks of unpaid time off work. In some cases the leave may be longer. Employers do not have to pay wages to someone who is on pregnancy leave.
New parents have the right to take Parental Leave--unpaid time off work when a baby or child is born or first comes into their care. Birth mothers who took pregnancy leave are entitled to up to 35 weeks' leave. Birth mothers who do not take pregnancy leave and all other new parents are entitled to up to 37 weeks' parental leave.

What I Learnt in Skills for Life

Last week a nice facilitator Kathleen came to our class to teach us some skills for life. She told us it was time to step out of our comfort zone because we came to Canada and began to live in a totally different culture. She tried to let us understand the importance of manners and body language.What impressed me mostly is that all of us could express ourselves so well when Kathleen asked us to show our different feelings with body language. The only thing I regret is that the training is too short,  and I hope we have more time to take part in it.

A Sentence Using Prepositions as More as Possilbe

Our volunteer teacher discussed prepositions with us the week before last. She asked us to find or make a sentence using prepositions as more as possible. I find one on the TTC metropass, and I want to share it with all of you. It is that: “Adult metropass must be surrendered for inspection to TTC employees upon request on TTC property.” In order to explain the meaning clearly, there are four totally different prepositions in this sentence. Do you like my sentence? It’s like that we are playing a funny game to find our own sentence. Do you want to join in the game? Come on! Do it!

My First Day in Canada

I had been told that the winter in Canada is pretty grim by many a people before I came to Canada. In order to avoid the long and cold winter, my husband and I decided to land Canada in April. Finally, the landings commenced in the evening of April 10^th. Because of jet lag, we had a sleepless night after we arrived at hotel. I couldn’t believe that it began to snow at midnight. The snow was a bit of marathon and didn’t stop until the noon of the next day. Unfortunately, no food was brought, and we became very hungry. At that moment, we couldn’t go out to buy food because we had no vehicles and bus stops were far away from the hotel. A nice guy who lived next to our room gave us two bags of instant noodle. My husband and I shared the noodle with our son. It was the most delicious noodle I had eaten. My first day in Canada, for me, was so impressive because I was not only standing on the threshold of a new life but also more aware of the importance of giving and sharing than used to be on that day.

To be a Savvy Shopper in Canada

What’s more exciting than having our own place is to decorate it. It took me almost five weeks to furnish my new home, and what an amazing experience it was. I went to furniture stores and visited websites to search for the best deals. From my experience, it can not only save money but also help me learn Canadian culture to be a savvy shopper in Canada.

IKEA is a good place to buy brand new furniture. There are lots of items there that you can choose from. I have to admit that at first I was confused with so many choices for couches, love chairs, chairs, TV stands, coffee tables, futons, day beds, ottomans, bed frames, slats, mattresses, night stands, wardrobes, and drawers. It was good, lingering at IKEA, for enriching my English vocabulary. But I couldn’t find the proper items as soon as possible.  So I had to change my way of shopping and began to focus on the living room and bedroom furniture that was on sale. Then I found what I really wanted quickly and saved at least 15%. Another way to shop on a budget is to move and install the furniture by yourself. I was totally shocked by the high fee of delivery and installment and started accepting the concept of DIY.

Kijiji is a website that can give you a helping hand in your hunt for used furniture that is affordable but of very high quality. I felt free to mail, text or phone the sellers who came from different countries and settled down in Toronto. I was impressed at both the multi-cultural society and the low prices of items. For example, a Russian young lady sent me a used feather couch for free. I bought an almost new drawer that was still in its packaging at half price from an Indian gentleman. I learned the importance of DIY again. In order to save money, my husband and I took apart of the furniture and put it back together by ourselves.

We've worked hard for our money. Shouldn't we get to keep some of it? In my personal opinion, the feeling of saving money is so wonderful. In addition, trying to be a savvy shopper like most of the Canadians is a useful way to learn Canadian culture.

Schools as Necessary as They Used to Be.

1. Most of us had spent over 10 years in all kinds of schools, such as, primary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities. Few people can deny the fact that the schools play essential roles in our experiences and affect us on every aspect of our lives. For me, schools are as necessary as they have always been.
2. Instead staying at home all day, students tend to make friends and enjoy their lives more easily in school .
4.Teachers can give useful and personal advise when they meet the students in real life.
5.Teachers and students will become more creative when they discuss questions with each other in the classroom.
6.Although some opponents think that nowadays schools are not necessary because students can be taught at home with using iPads and computers. I still insist that schools are not an alternative.
7.Schools have always been essential and important until now. This sentiment inspires me to share my ideals with you.

Some Problems in Friendship

Few people deny the facts that friends will be a great support when life throws a curve ball to you and it is very important to have friend(s) to confide to. In other words, friendship is one of the most substantial and crucial relationships in our lives. Contrary to the fix relationship between family members which is formed by nature, friendship is a kind of flexible relationship. It probably means that it is up to you to choose who to be your friends and how to maintain the relationship. Of course, friendship is harder to be handled with than other relationships and there are always some problems in friendship.

First, it’s hard to different the straight and the judgment. I always want to count on my best friend to give it to me straight, but I hate to be judged. On the other hand, I like to have a frank exchange of views with my friends. However, I am afraid of being too criticizing to my friends. In my opinion, the solutions of this problem depend on different situation. I’ll become noncommittal, even dishonest to my friend in trivial matters. For example, I will say to my friend: “Blue looks great on you”, even though I think it’s awful. But I’ll try to, most of the time, engage with my friends and answer forthrightly and honestly.

Secondly, distance and time could destroy the friendships. No matter how close you and your friend were, it’s very hard to maintain friendship if you and your friend haven’t seen each other for ages or lived in different countries. As you know, time makes it’s difficult to catch up and distance makes it’s hard to stay in touch. However, we can contact each other conveniently due to current technologies, such as email, cell phone, Facebook, Twitter etc. In spit of juggling work, kids, and all of life’s other stresses on a daily basis, nowadays, we can be much easier to keep in touch than used to be.

In order to maintain precious friendships, we need to realize that there are some problems in friendship. How to be straight but not judgmental? How to overcome obstacles of time and distance? The solutions of the first question depend on different situation. And current technologies help us to solve the second question.

Is canada my dream place?

As a newcomer, I am attempting to overcome problems of not only settling in Canada but also finding the contentment of mind. Is Canada my dream place? Can I gain satisfaction of all my needs in Canada? Although I succeeded to immigrate to Canada and have lived in this country for almost 4 months, it is still very hard to answer these questions. In some cases, Canada is the dream place that I eagerly looked for in the past time. But in other cases, Canada isn’t the Garden of Eden or Utopia.

What attracts me mostly in Canada is the social core value of freedom and equality. From my experience of living here, I great fell that freedom and equality that I dreamed to have in my home country go deep into every aspect of social life. For example, wherever you live, a luxurious detached house or a small simple apartment, you can use the community facilities equally. Whatever religion you believe in, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, nobody will compel you to abjure your faith. Wherever you came from, Africa, Europe, Asia, South American, you have the same right to get education, community service and medical care.

On the other hand, living in Canada is not living in paradise. Contrary to the common myth, it is a big challenge for newcomers to live here. At first, the newcomers who are not used to the low temperature probably are unaccustomed to the long cold winter of Canada. When I think this land has been covered by snow for half a year, I can not help shivering. Secondly, it is hard to overcome language barrier in looking for jobs or contacting local people. Sometimes I am frustrated because the kids' English is much better than mine. Thirdly, it is a bitter experience to separate from family members. What really sticks in my mind is how sad my Mom looked when she said goodbye to me at the airport.

Rewards and risks are two sides of the same coin. It means that it is a great honor but also a huge challenge to live in Canada. I could breathe freedom and enjoy equality here and it is the first time I have them. Considering this dimension of the situation, I think Canada is my dream place. However, there are both natural and social obstacles I have to overcome. From this perspective, Canada isn’t my dream place.