What Sign Are You?

The Chinese Zodiac
What sign are you? The Chinese have attributed specific characteristics to those born under the signs of 12 animals. The following is a brief description of the different animal traits and the corresponding birth years.

Year of the Rat

You are noted for your charm, work hard to achieve your goals and are likely to be a driving perfectionist, but easily angered. Although thrifty, but can be generous with someone you love, loves to acquire possessions as well. Usually very sucessful. Compitable with dragons, monkeys and oxen. Those born in the year of the rat are predicted to have a properous year.
Famous Rat people:Marlon Brando, William Shakespeare, Gene Kelly.
1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936

Year of the Ox
A strong leader. Patient and quiet; good listener and inspires confidence in others. Hates to fail or be opposed; angers easily. Tenacity brings great success in life. Compatible with roosters, rats and snakes. The Ox will enjoy a lucky and smooth year with job recognition and less worries all-around as good fortune will abound.
Famous Ox people:Adolf Hitler, Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Princess Diana, Napoleon, Dustin Hoffman.
1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925

Year of the Tiger
Courageous, aggressive and adventurous to extremes. Sensitive and generous to loved ones. Admired for playful personality. Compatible with dragons, horses and dogs. The Tiger won't find 1966 to be an easy year and will have to take great care in making personal and business choices.
Famous Tiger people:Alec Guiness, Karl Marx, Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Dwight Eisenhower.
1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926

Year of the Rabbit
Docile in appearance; Articulate, ambitious and talented. Well-mannered, admired and trustworthly - leading to business success. Wise and conservative nature. Compatible with sheeps, boars, dogs and monkeys. The Rabbit will sail through the year without any great upheavals nor big surprises. It'll be a great time for the Rabbit to embark on future plans and major purchases.
Famous Rabbit people:Ali MacGraw, Orson Wells, Bob Hope, Ingrid Bergman, George C. Scott.
1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927

Year of the Dragon
Most honored zodiac sign. Displays power and boundless energy. On the outside, short-tempered and confident. Inside, gentle and soft hearted. Symbolizes long-life and good fortune. Compatible with rates, monleys, snakes and roosters. Romance and business will dominate the Dragon's agenda this year. The Dragon's overall year promises to be smooth.
Famous Dragon people:Shirley Temple, Ringo Starr, Peral Buck, George Bernard Shaw, John Lennon.
1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928

The year of the Snake
Seductively charming and mysterious, possessing great wisdom. Outwardly clam and quiet; intense and pasionate on the inside. Sympathetic, determined and self reliant. Beware, good looks can generate vanity. Compatible with oxen, dragons and roosters. The Snakes will face an abundance of opportunities and activities for the new year. Dramatic events, including good and bad are on the horizon.
Famous Snake people:Henry Fonda, John F. Kennedy, Mae West, Jackie Kennedy.
1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929

The year of the Horse
Cheerful and gregarious, popular and loves to party. Perceptive warmth, but hot-blooded impatience leads to fiesty anger. Independent, ignores advices, skillful with money. Compatible with tigers, dogs and sheeps. The Horse should steer clear of confrontations and monetary risks, since the year may prove to be difficult one.
Famous Horse people:Pearly Bailey, Barbra Streisand, Rembrandt, Sean Connery, Rita Hayworth.
1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930

The year of the Sheep
Pacifist at heart; strives for a tranquillity and harmony with nature. Elegant, compassonate and kind-spirited. Timidity limits leadership abilities, but will always enjoy comfortable existence. Compatible with rabbits, monkeys, pigs and horses. Business opportunities and gifts will grace the Sheep this year as business, romance and social success are predicted.
Famous Sheep people:John Wayne, Brook Shields, Robert De Niro, Barbara Walters, Pieere Trudeau.
1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931

The year of the Monkey
Mischievous, inquisitive and adventurous. Quick wit and versatility bring success. Strong-willed and impatient, but temper cools quickly. Inventive, good common sense. Compatible with dragons, rats, rabbits, sheeps and dogs. The monkey will enjoy the new year with solutions to problems, advancements at work and financial improvements.
Famous Monkey people:Bette Davis, Leonardo Davinci. Omar Shariff, Julius Caesar, Nelson Rockefeller.
1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932

The year of the Rooster
Deep thinker, determined, busy and talented. A bit eccentric and self-centered, but always interesting and brave. Loner and often moody, but capable of being a loyal friend. Compatible with oxen, snakes and dragons. Roosters should keep a tight rein on finances and should take time out to carefully consider all major decisions before any are made.
Famous Rooster people:Peter Ustinov, Anne Murray, Carly Simon, Goldie Hawn.
1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933

The year of the Dog
Born leader, honest, noble, charismatic and loyal. Keeper of secrets. Can be emotionally cold, distant and studborn. Playful and cares little for money. Compatible with tigers, monkeys and rabbits. Health and business success will fall on the Dog during the year but should avoid making any loans to friends or family.
Famous Dog people:Harry Houdini, Shirley MacLaine, Judy Garland, Sylvester Stallone, Donald Shutherland, Michael Jackson.
1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934

The year of the Pig
Studious and gallant with tremendous inner strength. Will not retreat from goals. Quiet, but always well informed. Chooses few friends, but is kind, affectionate and loyal for life. Compatible with rabbits and sheeps. The Pig's intuitions if followed will pay off handsomely and the rest of the year bodes well in fortune and luck.
Famous Pig people:Fred Astaire, Henry VIII, Ernest Hemingway, Alfred Hitchcock, Stephen King.
1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935

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Comic Strip? Anyone?

   On the night of July 26, 2010 , the four young girls of  IVYTIMES e-newspaper club started creating comic strips for their blogs. It was the last day of the week for them taking the e-newspaper class before taking the most awaited holiday in this academy (Little Fox).  Everyone was so excited to draw and make some funny things out of their work of art. They were asked to make their comic strip funny, realistic, and colorful if possible. It was fun but it wasn't really easy after all. Due to lack of time, unfortunately the making of comic strip became their homework for their holiday. Probably next time, all they need to do is download a comic strip from the Internet.

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The Start of a New Beginning

 Starting from left: Amy, Cara, Ginny and Ellie

          Four (4) young girls of Little Fox English Academy has helped IVYTIMES' dreams come true by first starting up with their blogs on the night of July 21,2010. These four girls have been very enthusiastic learning what blog is all about and have been very eager to find out what our e-newspaper class is really all about. The goal of the class is to provide second language learners of English an autonomous learning environment through engaging them into online reading and writing activities which involves the use of authentic materials which is the newspaper or the news itself.  In the month of August, another student is expected to join the club. Let's hope for some more exciting news coming from these amazing young female journalists by checking out their personal blogs which will be published in IVYTIMES...SOON!!!

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South Korea Has Done it Again!

South Korea celebrates its victory on Saturday after they won the FIFA 2010 match against Greece. South Korea won by kicking off 2 goals against Greece. Ji sung and Lee Jung-Soo were the heroes of the match, which leads South Korea towards the victory. The soccer match was played in South Africa. This was one of the best starting matches of the tournament and still more to go. On Thursday South Korea kick start their next match against Argentina.
And once again, the red devils have gathered around the City Hall in Seoul to cheer for their country's team. More details on this one soon.

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The Cute Mashimaro

Do you know who Mashimaro is? Mashimaro is a fictional (imaginary) character who looks like a fat rabbit made by Kim Jae In. Mashimaro is also known as Yupki Tokki, in English "Weird Rabbit". It's animation series is mostly without a dialogue but occasionally there are Korean and English words present. The original Mashimaro cartoons are full of toilet humour and mashimaro himself is often portrayed with a plunger stuck to his head. These days, you can see Mashimaro everywhere even in a game machine on the street where you insert coins to pick the toy or thing you like.

Two weeks ago as I was taking a walk around the neighborhood, I have come across this machine and saw this very cute pink Mashimaro (the picture on the left). I couldn't take my eyes off the cute little thing so I tried to play the game. When I have inserted my last coin without hoping to get the Mashimaro, surprisingly the handle got caught with the Mashimaro's clothes and then...shoot!!!..right into the box!!! And now, I've got my own famous cute Mashimaro.

By the way, did you know how Mashimaro got it's name? The name Mashimaro came from the creator's niece/newphew mispronouncing the word "marshmallow".

Watch these interesting Mashimaro Videos:
Mashimaro Action
Mashimaro Goes Fishing

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Your Cover Story

You've just been assigned to write a story for your newspaper. Here are some tips to help you write a good one.

WHO-WHAT-WHEN-WHERE-WHY-HOW. Almost all newspaper stories start off by answering most of these questions. Try to answer these questions in your story. For example: "Sheeyy Smith won first place in the Cutest Pet contest yesterday at Columbia Malll." Check your local newspaper for more examples.

Accuracy. Your writing might be wonderful, but if you don't get the facts right, people won't believe what you write the next time. Make sure everything you say is true. And spell people's names correctly- they get upset when you don't.

What makes a good story? Anything that could interest or affect your classmates, teachers, school or family will make a good story. For example, science topics like the strange worlds of the planets and how the weather works...school activities such as fund-raisers, what goes on in music classes, and the importance of safety patrols...after school activities...a review of a book you enjoyed...or how middle school will be different from fourth grade all could make a good newspaper stories. Be curious. Ask yourself, "What would I like to know more about?"-then write a story about it.

Interviews. You may want to interview someone to get the facts. Here's what to do:
* Make an appointment. Call or meet with the person, tell then what kinds of a story you want to write, then set a time and place for the interview.
* Prepare questions. Write down the questions you want to ask. For example, "How long have you been working here?" What do you like most about your job?" and "Is there anything you would like to tell our readers?"
*Take tools. Take a small notebook and two pens or pencils to the interview.
* Write it down. Take notes as the person answers your questions - ou want to be sure to quote the person accurately in your story. It's OK to ask the person to repeat what they said or ask them what they mean if you don't understand them the first time. The main thing is to get it right.

Research. Use encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs and other reference materials to get the facts you need. More and more reporters are doing their research on the Internet. Research includes interviewing people- such as a professor or doctor or coach- who know the facts. And your research may be just your own observation of an event: for example, reporting on the visit of a policeman and his dog to your class.

Writing the story. Starting with a good lead - a sentence that grabs your reader and make her want to read more-for example, "The fourth grade class painted one wall of their classroom with a picture so strange that their teacher immediately sent for the principal." Write your story plainly so that everyone can understand it. If possible, use quotes in your story to make it more intersting - for example, "The flames were so hot I thought my helmet would melt," the firefighter said. And remember to answer the questions WHO - WHAT - WHEN - WHERE - WHY - HOW.

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