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Write about an item you have that isn’t expensive but means a lot to you

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Write about an item you have that isn’t expensive but means a lot to you

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When I was fifteen, my grandfather gave to me a beautiful necklace as a birthday gift. It's made of some piece of gold and has a crystal in the shape of a heart. This act, it is kind of a tradition for my family. I'm 25 now, and I always carry this necklace with me, because I remember all the wonderful time I spent with my grandfather when he was alive.

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Describe your favorite room in your home or apartment.

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Describe your favorite room in your home or apartment.

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My favorite room in my home is the kitchen. No only because I can have a nice meal, but I also have good conversations with my family while we are eating. Usually we talk about our routines in school or work, but there are always some fun random topics. Mostly about cultural impact, such as finding a right ingredient for a brazilian food and bought the wrong one or forgetting to tip someone. For me, the kitchen it's a safe and comfortable space in my home.

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Write about what you think the world will look like in 10 years.

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Write about what you think the world will look like in 10 years.

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I think the world will be even more technological in 10 years. Computers and smartphones will be small like a keychain and robots will dominate the commerce. In consequences of that, many people will lose their jobs. The cars will be in both aspects, by air and land. Maybe the weather will be more heavy and difficult to endure. These things all depends on how people are treating the world today. I hope it's still a good place to live.

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Cedar fever: seriously, who can handle that?

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Cedar fever: seriously, who can handle that?

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First of all, I wanted to make it clear that I have never been allergic to anything. And as soon as I stepped in US, I started experiencing strange symptoms when I was walking my dog (Jack) outside. So, I told my stepfather, who is from Texas, and he said it was probably cedar fever. My first reaction was, “What is this? Is it contagious?”. Then he explained to me how common this is in Texas in some seasons and how there are ways to alleviate it. All I could think about (after taking an allergy pill) is how the body reacts to new/different places.

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Write a review of the last movie you saw. 

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Write a review of the last movie you saw. 

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Last week I watched “Anyone but you”, it's a romantic comedy that came out in theaters recently. I went with some friends (also ELC students) and we loved the film. All because it is a film that is light, funny and a little romantic. What I liked most was this nostalgic “rom-com 2000s” feeling. It includes simple and meaningful dialogues, memorable songs and many situations that will make you laugh. Fun fact: One of the main characters (played by Glen Powell) was born in Austin and was a student at UT. I knew about this in an interview he gave to Vice Magazine. Another fun fact: people talk a lot of this movie on TikTok, so my friends and I were influenced by it too.

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I know it will sound like a Latin cliché, but the thing I most thankful/grateful for it's my family. I always thought that I had great role models growing up in my life, specially my mom. She was always very understanding of everything I wanted and chose, and if the situation was something bad, she would show me the reasons and make me change my mind (without having to yell or fight with me). And I think my mother was inspired by this model of conversation and guidance because of my grandma. She's the most patient person I ever met. Also, she's very religious. I don't know it's correlated, but she says a lot that if I really want something, I should pray and ask for it.

Now, going to my father's side of the family. I've learned on how persistence is the key to conquer something. My dad said that there are several chances to make a dream come true. (A little cheesy, but true) When I took the exam to enter college, I came in 2nd place and they only called first place. I was very frustrated and sad, but my father said that I would have another chance. On the next week, the university made a call, and I was accepted. So, he was right.

These are only a few people of my family that I'm inspired for, but have some more on it.

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What is trending right now on social media, and what are your thoughts on it?

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What is trending right now on social media, and what are your thoughts on it?

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There is a trend on TikTok/Instagram with the title “We are (somebody) of course that we (do something)”, and then they started to do a list of this subject on the video. Like “we're from Texas, of course we wear cowboy boots every day.”

For me, it's a fun trend to watch it, but most of these videos it's based on stereotypes. So, if a person particularly doesn't anything about the subject, she probably won't understand the joke. As the example previously mentioned above, not everyone in Texas wears cowboy boots, just a few. (I believe)

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That's a tough question. I always had this perception that I was building things in the present to have better things in the future. But a lot of the time, things in the present don't work out. So, I keep changing my plans constantly. I hope that in the future, I can have what I always wanted to achieve, like a master's degree in communications, a car, a house and good health (not so good at the moment).

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What do you hope you will always remember about your time at UT?

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What do you hope you will always remember about your time at UT?

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Friendships from different cultures, conversations about everyday life after class, learning a new language in a fun and right way, are things that I hope to always remember while I'm at UT. I think what fascinates me most about being in a language program is having this access to knowledge of different cultures speaking a single language. Having similar reactions to food, customs, or traditions in a foreign country kind of brings outsiders together.

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What is something we use every day that didn’t exist 50 years ago?

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What is something we use every day that didn’t exist 50 years ago?

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One thing that certainly didn't exist 50 years ago were smartphones. This device that brings practicality to everyone's lives is something that still conquers generations. I don't know how I would live without the help of a smartphone in today's time, because it is my alarm, calculator, card, and communication in general. The updates inserted into this device only tend to improve it even more.

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Would you rather live in the past or the future?

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Would you rather live in the past or the future?

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I would rather live in the future, because the past has had several turbulent moments, such as wars, financial crises and pandemics. On the other hand, future may be something that brings great answers to matters mentioned in the past. If I lived in the future, I would like to know how to try out all the new technological inventions. I would also be interested in knowing if any pop singer I listen to (Taylor Swift) would still be very successful.

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What helped you to get through this semester? (e.g. routines, boundaries, relationships, resources)

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What helped you to get through this semester? (e.g. routines, boundaries, relationships, resources)

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What helped me most this semester to improve my English were the friendships I made throughout the semester. I was able to use the vocabulary I learned during classes, not only in an oral conversation, but also through texting (it doesn't count as writing). Along with, explore Austin and chat with native speakers.

An incredible experience that happened to me recently and that helped me in a way was working as a volunteer at SXSW. I met people from several states and some locals, I talked to film editors and filmmakers. It was awesome! And because it's an area that I'm very interested in, the conversation became even more important, I'm almost sure I made mistakes, but what counts is the experience of practicing and learning new things. This made me reflect that I need to stop feeling shy when talking to someone in English.

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How will you commit to taking even better care of yourself from now?

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How will you commit to taking even better care of yourself from now?

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Going to bed early was something I always neglected, and because of that I realized it has a negative effect when I need to go to class in the morning. I was only sleeping 5 hours a night, and according to my mother you need at least 7–8 hours. I decided to put my cell phone aside an hour before bed, I think that way I'll be able to fall asleep and wake up more energetic. (I hope so!)

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Do you believe that having a vision for your future will help you to achieve your goals? Why or why not?

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Do you believe that having a vision for your future will help you to achieve your goals? Why or why not?

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I definitely believe that having a vision for the future helps a lot to achieve my goals. I think that's what keeps me motivated, because when you have a defined direction or purpose for your life, you just need to adjust yourself along the way to achieve that goal. When I was younger, my mother told me that having a goal and a vision for the future makes a person resilient. And I'm completely sure she's right, it's an important factor in continuing to move forward. Of course, it's not as easy as we imagine, but it's totally worth it in the end. (Until I find another goal to pursue).

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Does the future scare you? Why or why not?

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Does the future scare you? Why or why not?

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This is a tough question to answer because at the same time as I am anxious about what the future will be like, I am also afraid about the changes that the future will bring (I hope good changes!). I usually have a lot of good expectations about the future, because I really want to believe in a better future for the next generations.

And I know that thinking about the future as radical change can be scary, but perhaps it is necessary. For me, there is this pressure to think too much about the future, which ends up leaving the present aside.

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List 10 normal, everyday occurrences that make you happy.

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List 10 normal, everyday occurrences that make you happy.

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1. When I can wake up before the alarm clock and ready to start the day. (Very rare)

2. Having lunch with my family on Tuesday and Thursday is something that makes me happy, because it's more about catching up on each other's lives and making sure everything is okay.

3. Walking my dog, Jack, is something that makes me feel very good and happy. It's like something to relieve stress and accumulated energy.

4. Drinking tea while watching a documentary, I really like that (especially if it's about the Amazon).

5. I like it when I can finish all my homework even after working 5 hours straight.

6. I like it when I can meet a new person and communicate in English.

7. I like talking about cultures and religion after class with my friends. (this happens all the time)

8. I like to “FaceTime” with my best friend, even if it's just for a few minutes.

9. Sleeping with my dog brings me comfort.

10. Editing short videos for TikTok is another thing that brings me comfort and happiness, especially since I enjoy filming content about Austin.

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What are you frustrated with right now? Write about whether you’re in control of that frustration and what kinds of things you can do to work through it. 

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What are you frustrated with right now? Write about whether you’re in control of that frustration and what kinds of things you can do to work through it. 

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I've been feeling frustrated about applying for my master's degree in communications at UT or Texas State, I know I can fit into the requirements, but I need money to be able to pay for the GRE exam. I could hold onto that dream for a while, but it's something I'd like to start doing in the fall. I started a part-time job to help my mom at home, but I feel like it distracts me a little from my goal.

Furthermore, I have a plan B in mind, which would be to apply to Film School at ACC, but that also requires money, and I'm waiting for answers about scholarships at another university. Unfortunately for my country, they only offer 2 scholarships that cover all costs.

I think what can help me control this frustration is winning the lottery (just kidding). Seriously now, I think I need to find other ways to get more money or avoid spending money. Going to people who have gone through the same experience and asking for advice can be a good option too.