English

assignment 1: unlikely destinations

As the first assignment, everyone had to choose an unlikely destination. Then we had to create a travel blog about it. I had chosen New Hampshire, a beautiful small state in America. The assignment was a lot of fun and introduced me to a wonderful place in this world that I didn't know yet. If you are interested in what New Hampshire has to offer definitely read the text I wrote. 

Four seasons of natural charm

While the seasons paint a constantly changing work of art, New Hampshire remains beautiful all year round. This charming small state will steal your heart once you have visited it. Nestled in the heart of New England and mostly known for its scenic beauty, storied past and the loads of recreational possibilities.

Folks like to call New Hampshire 'the Granite State' since it alludes to its extensive granite formations and quarries, reflecting the state's historical importance in the granite industry. For those who have ever wondered what stone the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. is made of, today is your lucky day because it is, in fact, made of New Hampshire's granite.

The state's motto reads as follows: "Live Free or Die". This reflects the strong tradition of individualism and independence in the state. Residents are also proud of their personal freedoms and limited government intervention. Granite Staters are commonly associated with a willingness to help others and their friendliness, which adds to the appeal of visiting New Hampshire. Lastly, the locals are very community-oriented; this strong sense of community defines life in the state.

The outdoor life in this state is wonderful, you don't have to worry what season you travel here because there is always an adventure to go on. In the winter, the White Mountains are part of the Appalachian range and they dominate the northern landscape. These mountains have endless recreational opportunities for instance hiking, skiing and camping.

If you are afraid of heights, Lake Winnipesaukee bids a lovely alternative. It is utterly beautiful and perfect for fishing, boating, and swimming. Another option is Squam Lake, which served as the setting for the movie 'On Golden Pond'.

The Kancamagus Highway otherwise known as "the Kanc" provides breathtaking views every time of the year while it passes through the White Mountains. Just right for road trips if you ask me.

As a food lover myself, I can't forget to mention New Hampshire's culinary delights. They offer local specialties such as apple cider donuts, clam chowder, and lobster rolls that make my mouth already water just writing about them. Additionally, because the state is also known for its craft beer and cider, you could consider visiting local breweries and wineries as an activity.

Speaking of apple cider donuts, did you know that the state has one of the oldest apple orchards in the country? You can even participate in apple harvesting during the fall season. Many farms in the area also host enjoyable festivals, offer traditional hayrides, and serve up delicious homemade apple cider donuts.

Don't worry if you plan to visit New Hampshire in the winter because the state has wonderful recreational opportunities even then. It's known for its ski resorts, with destinations like Loon Mountain, Cannon Mountain and Bretton Woods offering fantastic slopes and winter fun. Snowmobiling, shopping, sleigh rides, visiting Christmas tree farms and dog sledding are other terrific activities you can enjoy in winter wonderland New Hampshire.

For those planning a trip in the spring and summer, are there fantastic opportunities to engage in maple sugaring, explore beautiful waterfalls, enjoy bike rides and hikes, and participate in various water activities, as I briefly mentioned earlier.

In summation, New Hampshire's remarkable charm knows no limits. Whether you're young or old, visiting in winter or summer, this exceptional state offers an abundance of experiences and natural beauty that could fill the pages of a book. Your adventure in New Hampshire is waiting to be written, and you'll never be bored exploring the wonders of this extraordinary place.

assignment 2: podcast 

The second assignment we had to do was very original. We had to make a podcast about a scene from Macbeth, one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies. I made this assignment with my classmate Do. If you are curious about the podcast you can find it below. Enjoy!

assignment 3: research project (research question motivation)

For assignment three, I am supposed to choose an interesting research question that I will then have to give a presentation on later. Here you will find my research question and my motivation for choosing this question.

(Research question: What is the importance of mastering the English language as a non-native speaker?)

How come so many people who do not speak English as their native language still master the English language? Why is English so important to learn, and why not another language? These questions are very interesting to me, which is why I chose the question 'What is the importance of mastering the English language as a non-native speaker?' to research.

What particularly fascinates me is the extent to which mastering the language affects our lives, which I think could be a good sub-question for my research. I think that the economic, academic, social, and global domains are engaging topics to include in my answer and I can easily create sub-questions for each. For example, how does mastering the English language affect our economy?

I am aware that some people could answer this research question without conducting any research. Therefore, I also want to challenge myself to uncover aspects that people might not immediately consider, making the answer to this question more captivating.

abstract: 

Many non-native speaking teenagers are working on mastering the English language. But how exactly does this affect their cognitive development? This research focuses on how mastering the English language affects the cognitive development of non-English speaking teens.

As we delve into this research question, it becomes clear that the benefits of language acquisition go far beyond improved communication. We can link learning a new language to a lot of cognitive improvements such as sharpening problem-solving skills. Studies show that learning a new language exercises the brain in some unique ways. Thus, young people who learn a new language develop a greater ability to identify problems and then also solve them in a solution-oriented way.

Another benefit is the promotion of cognitive flexibility. This is the mental ability to think about two different concepts at the same time which is enhanced by language learning. This mental flexibility provides young people with the ability to adapt their thinking to new and sometimes unexpected circumstances, a necessary part of efficient problem solving.

Learning a new language such as English also stimulates creativity. Divergent thinking is stimulated by language study. Because young people are exposed to different language structures and cultural expressions

This study can conclude a significant correlation between English language proficiency and cognitive development in non-native speaking teenagers. These findings highlight the importance of language education programs matched to the cognitive needs of teenagers.

presentation: