GM Foods

Genetically modified food is becoming more and more available in our markets and we might be consuming it without knowing it. Firstly, GM food is about inserting some chosen genes from some plants or even animals into other plants to provide them with some attributes in order to be more resistant to diseases.

Those who support the issue say that we can solve the worlds hunger problems through producing higher yields of all kinds of crops which are more healthy, more resistant to insects and diseases, more plentiful and more importantly use much less amounts of herbicides and pesticides which, per se, presents many medical and environmental problems to both farmers and consumers.

On the other hand, critics and opponents to GM food claim that it might generate new serious diseases, or lead to congenital problems in our offspring or developmental abnormalities in our children. It could destroy wildlife, evolving new strains of insects and superweeds that resist herbicides. Some of them say that the antibiotic resistant genes can cross from our food to our stomach, possibly making antibiotics ineffective. They assure that our problem is not the scarcity of food itself, but it is the maldistribution of food.

Lastly, I support those who say that many people are undecided about GM food and they can't make up their minds until more tests have been conducted on for example, the effects of GM crops on human health. The debate should be widened beyond GM to look at how we regulate and produce our food and how we tackle health problems through diet.

Abduallah ElHammali
IELTS Preparation

Tripoli, Libya

Describing my ideal room

My dream room has to be imaginative. Not just for studying or sleeping, it should be functional, suitable for more than one or two purposes. It will be all of that if it has a king-size bed with colorful sheets, duvets, blankets and cushions, lots of cushions! It's not important to be full of expensive things and lots of furniture but my room must be peaceful and relaxing for me.

It's a good idea if it has some comfortable chairs, a big sofa and a coffee-table so I can invite my friends to sit and have fun or watch television and play games.

But the most important thing that must be in my dream room is a big balcony or window with a view of the seaside or a lovely garden. Just make my dream come true and I promise I will keep tidy and clean!

Samar Aldebre
FCE

My friend

My oldest friend's name is Ahlam, we met at school about 16 years ago. We were together nearly every day until we went to university She went to the engineering college and I went to the veterinary medicine college, then I moved to the agricultural college. We are both 26 years old. She's an engineer but she's teaching now.

She's married her husband's name is Adal, he's a businessman. He has a jewelry shop, he's a rich man!!! They have one child, Malak, a lovely and beautiful baby.

Before she got married I visited her and she visited me a lot because her parents home is near my home, but now she doesn't visit me a lot. We sometimes talk on the telephone a longtime and now I have a lot of new friends and my college.

Aisha
Elementary

My oldest friend

My oldest friend is called Rema. We met 13 years ago at school and we went to university in the same year and graduated the same year.

She is a teacher. I saw her everyday but now she's married, she hasn't got children and she lives in London, so don't see Rema always. She speaks to me every week by telephone. When Rema visits Libya I feel very happy because I miss her very much. She visited Libya last month and I visited her in her house and we went shopping. She is like a sister to me.

Najla Rahal
Elementary

My teachers

I see Mrs. Khadija as very kind and never shouts in the classroom and is so friendly with us. I like her manner in using simple ways for explanation such as some pictures, stories and songs. But the one thing which Mrs. Khadija does not do is joke and this is one of the best characteristics of Mrs. Alea.

Hala Mustafa
FCE

Genetically modified food

Nowadays, we are becoming more and more ahead and eating genetically modified food without even knowing that we do. But with the increasing awareness these days, people have started to question the effects of these foods on their health and whether they can be consumed safely.

On one hand, biotechnology companies and some scientists say that these crops are produced in a more efficient and environmentally friendly way. In addition, they argue that GM foods are more cost-effective because they are using less pesticides and herbicides and a yield much more crops than the usual ways, so it can help the developing countries by solving the problem of hunger and poverty as the products are more and cost is less. Furthermore, specialist in agriculture have said that using the technology of GM crops will allow efficient use of existing farmland thus it will help to preserve more natural habitats. Moreover, GM crops can be enriched with nutrients, in that way it may benefit human health.

On the other hand, organic farmers are complaining of being out of work and they are afraid from destruction of their trade if GM foods flood the markets with their cheaper products. Friends of the environment also have some debates around the issue, they said that the ecological balance could be affected in some way by tampering with Mother nature. In addition, they are a bit concerned about the use of pesticides and herbicides on resistant breeds which could lead to a paradoxical increase in their use. Other campaigners point to the unpredictable health risks that may happen. They also assure that these crops will not help the developing world as the cause of hunger is not scarcity of food but its the maldistribution of food; however, they believe that these crops will only benefit big biotechnology companies.

In my personal opinion, I totally agree with the first party who says that GM food is very helpful because I think that modified foods have been used for centuries in many ways such as crossbreeding, eliminating of weaker varieties, etc. and if we had not done that we would probably be eating grass instead of the variety of food crops that we are enjoying now.

Ehab Al-Shelly
IELTS Preparation

Ain Zarah, Tripoli, Libya

Fifty years from now

Life will be completely different fifty years from now when I am in my seventies. Almost everything will have changed by that time.

First of all, my appearance as well as my character will have definitely changed by the time I am in my seventh decade of life. I suppose that I'll be a bit short, moving with the help of a walking stick. Short gray hair will cover my head with a small area of baldness at the top of it. My face will be full of wrinkles but my eyes will be the same as now, sparkling with life. I think I will have a stronger personality with great experience in life. However, I'll be easily excited and nervous, and this will put me in a lot of trouble.

Secondly, I can't imagine how my social life will be like! Will I be married to an old annoying woman with my grandsons and granddaughters filling the house, shouting, playing and destroying my quietude? Or will I be married to a beautiful old lady enjoying the rest of our lives together? Or maybe I'll be single or a widower and my heart burning with sorrow?

At last, I think that science will have reached the stage that cannot be imagined. Streets will be full of skyscrapers and apartments will be all computerized. Transport will be very easy using flying vehicles. A lot of diseases will have been eliminated, furthermore cures for cancer and AIDS will have been found. The cloning of humans may become real. Humans may colonize space and other planets.

To sum up, life will be much more easy than now. However, no one can expect what will happen 50 years from now. In addition, no one can know whether he will live to witness that or he will be just a part of his offspring's memories.

Ehab Al-Shelly
IELTS preparation

Test Your Grammar

Here's an online grammar test - 50 questions. Take the test and bring your results to your teacher! http://www.anglolang.co.uk/cgi-bin/web_test.cgi/grammar.html

The Libyan Family

Family’s relationships are no doubt the fundamental base that a society is built on and therefore; this society’s strength and lasting depends strongly on this smaller social structure.

I personally come from a typically traditional society, where the relationships are closely embroidered between its members, all the family members, headed by the father, live under one roof and comply with family rules. Important decisions concerning any of the family members are discussed by everyone and taken democratically, though the final word always depends on the head of the family’s acceptance.

Different from the other societies, especially of the modern world, Libyan family relationships are amazingly strong. People’s loyalty to their families is surprisingly unlimited, one would sacrifice his life and give up anything for another and this reveals the importance of the family relationships and more importantly their reflection and influence on the society’s structure.

Similarly to all other human relationships and activities, family relationships in general, particularly in my country have advantages and disadvantages. Being a member of a typical Libyan family for example is enough to make you feel secure, all the family gives unlimited support for you in all aspects, you feel cared for, thought of and never forsaken by all of them, in other words; you feel that you literally live in a community.

On the other hand, the same family can be a source of frustration and disappointment for some of your dreams and ideas in view of the fact that at one point you don’t actually have a personal viewpoint, your decisions can never be taken independently. You simply lack a space of privacy, the case that might be unbearable for some people.

As a result of the communicational revolution and the rapid changes that have happened and are still happening as a response to its requirements, the way of life and its styles have had to be modified and so have the relationships between people accordingly. Fortunately or unfortunately - I can’t really be sure. The case is similar in my country to some extent, people have changed and are still continuing to change, selfishness has started eating into the beautiful core inside us, people are being very materialistic, all they think of is their own benefits. Ethics, principles, dignity, love and fairness are lost or ignored.

To put it differently, notwithstanding the change is a must to cope with modern life, the challenge remains of how we can modify our life to meet the necessities of the modern world without losing humanity.

Abdurahman Abudeyah
Advanced

My School

My school's location is in Benashur zone near the Al-Mukhtar clinic. It's a very large building, two floors, each floor has many classes. The number of students in each classes is between 12 and 15 students.

There are several English teachers in my school. Mrs. Alea, Mrs. Asma, and Mrs. Cynthia are from the UK, Mrs. Khadija is from the USA, Mrs. Carolina is from Argentina and Mr. Salah's from Libya. Besides them there is an important person who takes care of the students and the system of the school. Yes, it's Thureya the secretary. I call her 'The dynamo of the school'.

I want to talk about my teacher Mrs. Alea. I won't say she's beautiful and funny and she has blue eyes - like Elton John's song 'Blue Eyes' - because she knows that and she knows I love her, but what I really like in Mrs. Alea is that she's very clever and has a strong personality.

In my school there are multinational students from Libya, India, the Ukraine, Korea, Egypt, Sudan, etc.. And I like that because I can make friends from other countries and cultures. I can see their countries through them. I can improve my English language by dealing with them and this is making my communication skills better.

The courses in my school are useful for any levels and these courses can improve your English language. You can get a certificate from the University of Cambridge by doing some exams through my school.

I hope you like my school. Come to visit my school and you will see that by your self.

Sara
B3

English is my favourite class

My favourite class is English language and I take English classes three times a week at seven o'clock to nine o'clock on Sunday and Wednesday. Mrs Alea from the United Kingdom teaches us on these days and Mrs. Khadija from the United States teaches us on Monday from five o'clock to 6:30. I'm studying with a small group and the students are intelligent.

I like the English course very much because I'm learning more new vocabulary every day, grammar, how to pronounce words, we practice together and the teacher uses modern methods for teaching, such as for example, we answer a lot of exercises on the computer in the computer lab, we listen to CDs, tapes and we also use the Internet to see some of our homework on our schools weblog. All this makes my mind refreshed. As you know for any language - "If you don't use it you will lose it."

Finally I hope to learn English and speak English fluently.

Elmahdi Mohamed
B3

My favourite subjects

My favourite subjects are music and language. I love music, because when I was in Korea I was a student at music University. I can sing but not very well and I can play the guitar and the piano.

I love language, too. Especially English because it's an international language. If I don't know English, I can't communicate with foreigners or get a good job. Of course I want to get a good job. I want to be an interpreter.

My favourite teacher's name is Mrs. Alea. I like her because she is an experienced teacher and I think she's very intelligent. She's the most famous teacher in Tripoli. She's very nice.

So Un Ha
B3

Word Games!

Here's a website with some fun word games. Click on the image above or this link: http://www.richmond.com.ar/friends3/fun/game.htm

A house in Ain Zarah, Tripoli, Libya

Nice life with my family

I live with my family in a big house. It's three stories tall. The first story is for all, I mean it's the living area for my family. The second floor is for my father and I have the last floor. My house is near my uncle's house. It's not old and not new. We lived in this house for 13 years. I live in a quiet area and it's called Zanath. It's a nice area. All the neighbors are very polite, especially my neighbor on the right.
About my house, it consists of four rooms one of them is a living room and the other are bedrooms and there are two bathrooms, one kitchen and two balconies.

I have some plants but I don't have a garden because I live in the third-floor. My father likes to grow flowers, plants, trees. He has a nice garden.

Now I'm living with my father, mother, my sisters and brother. My family consists of three sisters one of them is married, now she is pregnant and the others are there still single. My brother is nine years old. There is a big difference between me and him, about 17 years. My grandmother also lives with us. She is 87 years old, she's still young. I am looking for a groom for her :) That is my family.

I hope to open my house. I like children. But I am still looking for bride. If you have one please tell me - it will be a favor from you to me, with a lot of thanks in advance! At this time I don't like to live in my house, when I am marry it will be okay. At this time I'm living with my family. I hope to buy something for my house like rugs, carpets, tables, armchairs, and dressing tables for my wife. Some vases for flowers, plain curtains for the windows and many things.

Diya Mohamed El-Arrosi
Elementary

My flat

I live in a flat in Benashur Street. It's in the middle. There are two bedrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, a bathroom and a hall. There isn't a garden.

I live with my family. I don't like my house because there isn't a garden and it isn't big. I wish I had a big house but my house is not bad.

Najla Rahal
Elementary

My house in Tripoli

I live in a house in Tripoli. It's a new house about 10 years old and it's very big.

There are two bedrooms on the first floor and two bathrooms. The first bathroom is next to my bedroom and the second bathroom is next to the kitchen. There is a living room and there is a garden in front of the house. In the summer there are flowers everywhere.

I live there with my family but we have a lot of visitors and many of my friends come to see me. My cousins live nearby on the next block.

I love my house for many reasons. The first is my family is with me, next the garden, then the flowers in summer.

Anas
Elementary

My house in the Ukraine

I live in a flat in an old house, about 50 years old. It's near the river Dnipro, about 2000 meters from it in an old town. In my flat there are two bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, a bathroom and a toilet and a balcony. It's a very comfortable flat.

There is a garden in front of the house. There are trees and very beautiful flowers in spring and summer.

I live with my husband. Every morning he goes jogging to the beach. I like my house because it's near the river and the view from my kitchen window is beautiful.

Nataliya
Elementary

I love my home

I live in a house near the university in front of the veterinary medicine college. It's a new big house. It consists of two floors. Downstairs there's a kitchen and bathroom and there are two Arabic sitting rooms and there's a dining room and a living room. Upstairs there are five bedrooms and there's a bathroom and there's a lovely living room. There was a beautiful garden but now there's an Internet cafe.

I live with my family. They're a wonderful family especially my twin sister Abeer. She is an unusual girl, she writes poems.

I love my home for many things. It's a comfortable house and its modern. I love my room very much. I have a lot of things in my room. I have computer and a stereo and I have a lot of CDs and there's a desk with a lot of books and some photographs. There are pictures on the wall. It's a lovely room.

Aisha
Elementary

My home

I live in a house. It's near my work. It's a new house, about three months old and it's very big. There are nine bedrooms and three bathrooms and a kitchen. We have a garden and in spring and summer there are flowers everywhere.

I live with my family, my brothers and sisters, my mother and my father. We are a big family.

I love my house very much. It's very nice and I like it for many reasons: my bedroom, the garden and many things but the best thing it's near my work and it's near the best supermarket in my city.

Walid Omar
Elementary

Houses in Suk Juma, Tripoli, Libya

My house

I live in the house near the Central Hospital. It's an old house, about 50 years old and it's small. There are three bedrooms, a bathroom and kitchen upstairs. There is a kitchen, a bathroom and a living room downstairs.

I live with my family in this house. There is a supermarket, school, and a mosque near my house. We have a lot of visitors. Some of my family who live far away from my city come and stay in my house when they need something in my city.

I love my house because it's my family's house.

Ahmad Salam
Elementary

Let me tell you where I live.

I live in a big house near the shop next to a school. It's far from the sea. It's an old house about 40 years old. There are two living rooms, and a bedroom. There is a bathroom between the kitchen and the bedroom.

There is a small garden in the front of the house. I live with my family. I like it very much because it is very nice in many seasons. Some flowers and plants grow in spring and it has an air-conditioner in the summer, but the best thing about the house is that it's very comfortable and quiet. I don't hear any loud noises.

Suleman Mohamed Aisiah
Elementary

What did I do in the last years of the 20th century?

I came to Libya in 1995 and I started work in Gmeil Hospital. It was a nice hospital but I lived very far from Tripoli and I life was very boring. I stayed two years in Gmeil, I left it in 1997.
I went back to the Ukraine to my old job in the Hospital of Infectious Diseases. I returned to Libya in 2000. My life became exciting because I lived in Sbea and three times a week I went to English school.

Natalia
Elementary

Classroom surveys

The B3 class took a survey of their classmate's eating habits and then wrote up a report with their results. This is what some of the students had to say:

Mohamed Ahmed says:
The majority of the people in this class answered yes when I asked them about having breakfast this morning. Most of the people in this class have their breakfast at home. Quite a few of the people in the class have a sandwich and about half the people in the class have breakfast with their family. Hardly any of the people in the class have their breakfast in a coffee shop.

Said Salem Said found that:
In this class there are different favorite foods, some of them eat meat or seafood like Elmahdi and Tahar but the majority of people in the class eat pizza. There are a few the people who do not eat pizza but most of them eat it between one and up to three times a week.
That's my reporting results of the people in the class.

Elmahdi Mohamed learned:
The majority of the people in that this class prefer their mom's cooking. About half the people in this class went to a fast food restaurant. Hardly any of the people in this class prefer fast food restaurants over their mom's cooking.

Taha told us:
The majority of the people in this class prefer their mom's cooking in their families. And all the people in this class like their mom's cooking better than their dad's. About half of the people in the class know how to cook eggs.

Rabia Ramada Zreaba reported:
The majority of the people in this class like to eat dinner at home. Almost nobody likes to eat dinner outside their home. In this class most of the people like dinner at nine o'clock. There are a few people in this class that like dinner at 11 o'clock and about half the people in the class like dinner at 10 o'clock. In this class hardly any of the people like a special sort of dinner.

Question Time!

What question can you never answer 'Yes' to?

Do you know the answer?

Tell your teacher next time you go to class.You will earn a gold star!

Adjective Game

Play this fun game where you'll use adjectives to make more interesting sentences. Click on the image above or on the link to play the Adjectives Game. http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/interestsentences/adjectives/game.shtml

Verb Tenses - a test!

Click on the image above to test your knowledge of tenses in English. (30 questions) - Write down your score and show it to your teacher.

A funny video!

Click on the image to see a funny video that shows how important it is to be able to speak and understand English.

A Fairy Story

Once upon a time there was a child who was three years old and lived in a small village with his parents.

His mother was in hospital because she was sick. His father loved him very much. The father took his sheep out to the field and took his son with him. There was a big hungry wolf in that field. While the sheep were eating the grass, the father was playing with his son.

In the evening he returned to the village with his sheep, but he forgot his son. In the village he remembered his son. He said, 'Where is my son? Where is my son?'

The father took his gun and ran quickly to the field. He found his son in front of the wolf's hole. The wolf wanted to eat the child, but his father fought it with a gun.

One month later the mother came back to the village. They all lived happily ever after.

Ramadan Elkout
Elementary

For the love of a teacher

My teacher Alea is a good teacher. She comes from England and she's married and has four children, just one girl and three boys. She is 21 years old (or likes to think she is), she loves her husband. She always talks about him. She doesn't like American people. I don't know why, but she doesn't like them. She is more than beautiful. Everyone who sees Mrs Alea loves her from the first look. She is a mix between east and west. Nothing is better than a day spent with her.

Khayri Alfaza
B3

The following Yethreb students were succesful in passing their exams. Good work!

KET - Key English Test

Hyfa Ali Shoubana
Rajani Premlal
Shukri Zaid Baker
Larysa Sukachova
Nahid Ali Khalil

PET - Preliminary English Test

Walid Sharif
Mohamed Ben Rashad
Tareq Gadgud
Shukri Zaid Baker
Kheryi Elhadi El Ashehab
Abdurrhman Aboudier
Abdulla Alkoshli
Suad Ben Sulleman

FCE - First Certificate of English

Yasmina Ali El Hingari
Simona
Snezhana Dyakva Toneva
Abdurrhman Aboudier

TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test

Asma Munir Hawisa
Cynthia Lesley Hawisa
Therese Anne Martin
Mustafa

IELTS - International English Language Testing System

Siraj Eljamal
Marwan Elsari
Josephine John
Anwar Abousaweal

My City

Tripoli has a population of about 2 million. It lies on the Mediterranean Sea, where the Romans landed nearly 1000 years ago. It was called 'Oya'. Tripoli was the biggest city in North Africa, but now there are many cities that are much bigger.

Tripoli is famous for many things. Tourists come from all over the world to visit its historic buildings, such as in the old city we can see Ahmed Basha Garamali House where the Turkish colonels lived. They also come to visit its museums and its many shops where you can buy anything.

Like many big cities, Tripoli has problems with traffic and pollution. Over 500,000 people a day use Tripoli's highways and roads, but there are still too many cars on the streets. The air isn't clean but it's cleaner than it was 100 years ago.

For me the best thing about Tripoli is the Sea. My family and I go to the beach in summer. I think it is the best beach in the world.

Fatima Alatrech
Elementary (B2)

A Fairy Story

Once upon a time there was a beautiful girl that lived with her father's wife and her sisters which were born from her father's wife. They hated her because she was more beautiful than them.

This beautiful girl was named Cinderella. She was working hard every day and she felt tired at the end of the day. She sleeps late at night.

One day the Prince of the kingdom invited the beautiful girls of the kingdom to a very big party to choose one of them to marry.

Every girl in the kingdom went to the party except Cinderella because her father's wife prevented her from going to the party. While Cinderella was crying alone in the house, suddenly a bright woman came out and said to Cinderella 'Don't cry Cinderella.'. She gave her a new dress, a rapidly moving horse and very nice jewelry and she said to Cinderella 'Go to the party, but don't be later than 12 o'clock because everything that I gave to you will be changed to its origin after that time.

While Cinderella was at the party the prince took care of her and asked her 'Please can you dance with me?'. She said, 'Yes.'.

Unfortunately 12 o'clock came rapidly. Cinderella left the palace immediately and she lost one of her shoes.

The prince was sad and he told everybody in the palace 'I love this girl and I want to marry her. So go find her.'. They went to find her in the houses and they carried the shoe which she had lost.

Every girl in the kingdom tried to wear the shoe but it fit no one. When they reached Cinderella's house, her sisters try to wear it, but no way.

Fortunately, Cinderella appeared and wore the shoe. They said together, 'This is the girl that we want.'.

One day later Cinderella and the prince were married and they lived happily ever after.

Nabila Salem
Elementary (B2)

Where do you like to go with your friends? What do like to do?

Next weekend I want to go with my friends on a picnic on our farm in Krimea. We hardly ever meet each other because all of them have children and jobs, so they are busy. I miss them so much.

There we can talk about our life and what we do with our time. We can enjoy the landscape, the plants, fruit trees and the animals like sheep, rabbits, cows, horse, hens and the guard dogs. It's wonderful to see. Then we will play volleyball and jog around the farm, and we will have a running race. I don't know who be the champion.

At lunch we will make a barbecue but our dinner will be some sandwiches. Then we will go back home.

Amal
B3


I like to go with my friends to the city center in Tripoli. I like to go at night. We like shopping and buying some things like clothes and cassettes.

Sometimes we like to go to the sea. We go swimming and fishing and in spring we like to go to Gharian. We like to take some pictures in the mountains and play football. Some friends like to cook food, some like to dance and listen to music, and some like to play cards. We have very enjoyable time and it is good memories for us.

Ahmed Elfandi
B3


I sometimes go with my friends to the cafe and we sit and have some coffee and we play a game of cards or chess and sometimes we just go and sit in the car and we just talk and laugh.

We usually go to the family park and we do the same thing over again, but this time there are girls!

Siraj Ramli
B3


Usually when I have a day off for a vacation or free time I go out with my best friend to have a great time.

Sometimes we go to the city center to see some new shops or to snack bars to drink something hot like cappuccino or something cold like fruit juices.

Often when we meet each other and go together we chat for a long time about our routines and events that happened before or activities we are going to do. Oh . . yes we are gossiping about somebody at not always!

My old school friends and I go for a picnic or to swim, especially in summer. Most Fridays my best friend and I go to the Friday market in the early morning to find something old or antique, or to sell something useless.

Mohammed Abdalla
B3


I would like to travel around the world with my friends. I would visit the famous places in the world such as the Great Wall in China, the Pyramids in Egypt and the Taj Mahal in India and other places.

Zahara
B3


I have good friends, we are very happy group. Sometimes on holidays we go on day trips also we go to learn about English. We're taking conversation class to improve our English and I write my homework with my friends.

Sometimes we are going to the city park to play tennis. At the weekends we go to the Internet cafe to chat or play games after that we go to the restaurant to eat lunch. I go shopping for clothes, maybe alone or with my friends about twice a month. Usually I go to hairdressers with my friends, then we go to the cinema.

Hayat
B3


I really want to go on a nice picnic without boys and no parents in our farm and spend the night there with my friends. There's going to be music and we can cook nice food for us and if the weather is going to be hot we can swim in the swimming pool. I really wish to do it this summer.

Nora
B3


I think for a holiday I would like to go shopping with my friends to buy some clothes, books and some tapes of my favorite singers. After that go to my favorite restaurant for dinner with my friends to eat delicious dishes which taste great, listening to music and talking about us, our life, remembering memories together and laughing about the funny things. When we finish our food we may have some coffee with cake especially my favorite kind of cake, cheesecake, and some fruit. Then we go home and prepare for a new day of work.

Hajer Mohamed
B3

My town

I want to tell you about my town, it's called Tajoura. It's a very nice town. It has a view of the sea. The beach of Tajoura is very nice, it's suitable for weekends or summer holidays.

In Tajoura the climate is Mediterranean, the winter is quite short, the summer is long and very hot. For this reason the people go to the sea.

There are a lot of mosques, one of them is Morad Aga Mosque. It's the oldest mosque in Tajoura. There are many small shops, they are convenient for shopping. Most of the people in Tajoura are related to each other. They are very friendly.

Fatma Alatrech
Elementary

What do you do in your free time?

If I have free time usually I try to help my son to prepare his homework for school. I am not doing his homework instead of him, but I try to explain the difficult points he doesn't understand. Then if I still have free time, I prefer to read a book about people's lives.

Sometimes I watch TV. My favourite programs are 'What? Where? When?', news and scientific educational programs. Also I like seeing a good film. I like to listen to music, mostly romantic collections.

Sometimes I go shopping with my neighbours. In the holidays I meet with my friends at parks where we have interesting talk, dancing and a nice dinner with delicious dishes.

In summer we try to go to the seaside as Janzour because swimming is a real pleasure for me and my son. When I have leave from my work, usually we have a trip to our family in the Ukraine.

Elena Shchadnykh
B3

My free time

In my free time, especially in winter I watch TV. My favourite proograms are Real TV, movies and politics. I really like listening to music, soft rock and pop. In my room there is a TV with a satelite, a computer, a stereo and all that I need.

Sometimes I go out with my friends to the cafe and we play cards. In summer I spend my time at the beach, swimming, playing tennis, football and cooking dinner for my friends. In fact we help each other.

In autumn I feel bad because there is nothing to do. In spring I always go on picnics with friends or travel.

Mohamed Abdurahman
B3

In my free time

I like doing a lot of things in my free time. I like swimming in the summer, but I don't like going to the beach in Libya. I like swimming at the beach in Tunisia because I feel free there. No one looks at me, but in Libya I have to wear a long sleeve shirt and a skirt and a scarf on my head when I swim.

I also like surfing the net. It's so fun. I like writing in my blog if you want to see it you can open http://tripoligirl.blogspot.com. Sometimes I like reading books, but I think watching TV is more interesting. I like watching all kinds of films.

I like picnics in our farm. Sometimes on the third day of Eid we go to the mountains in Alregaat at my mother's friend's house for a picnic. It's so fun. All my mother's friends and their kids go too.

I don't really like sports, but I like playing volleyball. I like playing it at school with my friends. It's more fun than playing it with my sisters and brothers.

My favourite thing that I like doing is listening to music. I like listening to rap music. It's the best music ever.

I really want to go to America and do so many fun things that I like doing in my free time. I hope to go there next summer.

Nora Bader
B3

Do I Have Free time?

First I want you to know something about me. I'm a housewife, I have four children who I must look after, so I haven't a lot of free time, especially in winter because I'm looking after my family, working in the house and helping my children to study for their lessons. But when I have free time, the first thing that I do is doing my homework which my lovely teacher Alea gives to me.

I like reading also, reading magazines, stories and psycology books. At night I sit and watch TV.
In summer I have more free time so I can do more things, go for walks, go shopping, sometimes go to the beach, I play volleyball with my children and enjoy the breeze at the sea. How I like it! At night, as everday, I sit to watch TV.

The best thing I like to do is eating at restaurants, but only when my husband has free time.

Amal
B3

What I do in my free time

I don't exactly have alot of free time because I have two jobs and I do something else for my family anyway.

Sometimes in my freetime I do free time activities like reading books, especially The Holy Quran, using the computer and browsing the net. This is my favourite hobby, so I use the computer most of the time.

But on vacations days, I usually go with my mother to my hometown where I spend times of leisure with my grandfather - my mother's father. The air there is fresh and the land is coverered by green plants and trees on the farm. I go out with my relatives to have a picnic.

By the way, in my hometown I can go horseback riding and drive a tractor at my grandfather's farm.

That is all I think.

Mohammed AbdoAllah
B3

The view from Sidi Andulsi, Tajoura, Libya

 

A person who I admire

I'm going to write about an important person to me. This person is my father, his name is Iprahim. He is 63 years old and works as an executive manager in a well-known company. My father is a tall man with a long face, receding hairline and a few wrinkles. He prefers to wear conservative clothes, which makes him look quite smart.

Iprahim is kindhearted and he is very patient. He struggled along in his life and has suffered a lot to achieve a better standard of living. People idolize him greatly, but I did not understand the cause of this until I grew up. Since his adulthood, he has been an artistic and ambitious man. Despite his difficult circumstances, he decided to finish his studies and when he works , he is creative in an energetic man. This is why he was promoted quickly. My father is given a lot of effort to serve people and I am one of those people who took a benefit from him. He brought me up and taught me many ethics, he taught me the way to be independent and how to struggle to have my rights. This man has been a motive for every step I take. He encourages me when I feel down or fail, and I know that at that time he was suffering more than me.

Certainly, every time when I revise what my father has done for me my tears start to fall down. I hope God helps me to be a source of pride for my father, because I'm very grateful to him.

Eman Ipbrahim
IELTS preparation

Miss Alea

When somebody looks at you for the first time, the first thing that comes to his or her mind is what is the power which let you move from your country to be here in Libya? Then after spending enough time talking and discussing the answer comes quickly. The power is love especially when combined with such a personality like yours.

Miss Alea, you are alert, adventurous and hard-working. Sometimes I feel that you're crazy because you talk too much. However, all these things gives one the impression that you are strong enough to do what you want.

Miss Alea, you certainly look under your age. If I divide your activity it will surely equaled that of four Libyan women.

Please Miss Alea, do not talk too much about the others, and let Abduz in peace.

Aymin
IELTS preparation

About Miss Alea

I don't really know that much about Miss Alea because it has been only three weeks with her in the IELTS preparation course, but I can describe a few things about her.

First of all her looks. The most important thing was strikes me in Miss Alea is a big blue eyes with fair white skin, but at the same time, she needs to decrease a bit of weight. About her personality; it seems to be a mixture feelings, sometimes I feel her like a volcano in standby position to explode in anybody's face and sometimes I feel she has a soft kind heart which wants the best for her pupils in class. She also likes us to be on time, always updated and what good progress on the IELTS course.

At the end , I hope success in the exam will be by the help of God, and with Miss Alea's hand and I hope I will get to know her much more by the end of the course.

Elfarouk Omar Abdulwaris
IELTS Preparation

Describing Alea

To describe a teacher is a challenging task on the part of student. There are two appearances of every person to describe them with. Firstly, external appearance , which refers to physical looks. Secondly, internal appearance, which deals with behavior and attitude of an individual.

Being a student of teacher Alea, I can describe her as a workaholic and a jolly person. Regarding her relationship with her students, she is tough but easy to deal with inside and outside the classroom, but on a final exam of IELTS . she is a terror according to someone who had undergone this fate. In her family, based on how she speaks about them, she's a faithful wife and full of concern for her husband and the best mother of her children , and the most trustworthy and kindhearted person, full of love respect and understanding and determination.

About her physical appearance, I think in her twenties!! She's very pleasant, with lots of sex appeal to overwhelm Mr. Abduz's heart. Even now, she's holding a beauty of her own. Beauty is in the eye of the holder.

Victoria D. Molon
IELTS Preparation

The English Language

The English language is used commonly in the world, that's why it's important to be learnt. Most universities use the English language to teach courses, and a lot of companies use it in their work, especially in documentation. When one wants to study books, especially scientific books, he needs to know English language, because most of the books are written in English. Also we need to learn it to protect ourselves against the evil of others, because the messenger of Allah, Mohammed, said 'Anyone who learns the language of others protects himself against their evils.'

Salem M. Elhawat
B3

Women in Islam

'Women in Islam' was the title of last nights lecture given by Haleh Afshar of York University. The lecture was one in a series of lectures sponsored by the British Council and the Academy of Graduate Studies, Janzour.

Students of Yethreb School attended the lecture.

.

Intense discussion followed the lecture. Here is Feras Mohamed, a Yethreb School student, taking part in the discussion.

The next lecture in the series will be on January 15th, 2006 and is titled 'Drugs, causes, symptoms and solutions' by guest speaker Colonel Adnan Frelh.

Here's is an interesting website that lists English words of Arabic orgin. Click on the image above to visit the website.

Dreams often come true

I believe in the notion that dreams can come true no matter how hard or far they seem. Being an intellectual, I have wide-ranging ambitions. Some of my future dreams center around my profession, dentistry.

I plan to establish a specialized dental centre for which I will devote my experience, efforts and money. I may open this new microfinance project in my country, Iraq, when I return. This project may include all dental services such as exodentia, periodentia, paedodontia and a highly qualified dental implantation section.

Being the owner of the business and professional and specialized dentist, I will try to employ qualified professional dentists from both sexes. In addition to their work efficiency, they should be of pleasant character, show respect to patients, highly committed and tolerant.

As it is a polyclinic including different specialized clinics, I will pay special attention to the dental implantation section. I have an excellent background in this field, owing to the fact that I receive local and international intensive training from international consultants. And also it is relatively new and hot branch of dentistry, which attracts many potential patients.

My future plan will not only secure financial benefits, but it'll also benefit many people who will enjoy a good and relatively reasonable cost of dental care.

Dr. Ahmed Hashim Hussein
Ielts Preparation

JoJo it goes

To start with, when I started my business, I didn't even know how to spell entrepreneur, and although that's true, my point is that not everyone grows up believing that they will own a business. However, I believe now that most entrepreneurs do have certain character traits that lend themselves to this way of life. And I discovered mine by accident.

Motivated by a passionate belief that the Internet was the future of communication and community, my entire business model revolves around it. My long-term goal is to create a business, which can grow, and shape, shift based on my needs, and the needs of my clients. I have been building the business from the ground with a foundation intended for growth, and change. In the early stages, I developed policies and processes, documenting everything as I went. I set up systems that can grow and be managed by others, at the time that I hire an assistant. My intent is to harness the talents of other independent, virtual professionals who can provide other strengths and services. Gradually, I am setting up systems between clients, myself and associates, as well as peers that network and share knowledge with. I want an organization that associates are proud to be affiliated with. I want to continue creating customers, who couldn't dream of going anywhere else because they know that with 'JoJo it goes!' they will get what they need, no worries.

To honor the dream of other virtual professionals who wish to remain independent yet strong, following their own paths, but alone. At the same time, I am deeply committed to bringing the information age to small-business owners, and showing them how to harness today and tomorrow's technologies so they can grow their businesses.

This is the foundation of my business today, and how it is reflected in my visions for tomorrow.

Josephine John
Ielts preparation

My Last Holiday

I went to Zalitun last summer with my family 'my mother and my father'. We travelled by car and we stayed in my aunt's home. I visited all my relatives there and I saw sheep, chickens and beautiful trees. I met everybody that I like there. I made a cake and bazeen (traditional Libyan food) because people there like bazeen so much. I enjoyed the holiday very much and I stayed for two weeks. It was very interesting.

Nabila Salem
Elementary

Rabia's Last Holiday

I went with my friends to the beach. We got up early at eight o'clock and spent my time doing different things with my friends in the summer when the weather was sunny and the sea was warm and quiet. We took some food, chairs and umbrellas. There we swam, played football and we rode in a boat. We ate a good lunch, a very delicious chicken, fish, pizza, hamburgers and ice cream after sunbathing with my friends. We drank fruit juices. I usually go to the sea with my friends. It is interesting but sometimes I like to stay at home and enjoy playing on the computer, games, books and watching TV.

Rabia Zreaba
Elementary

Leptis Magna - Libya

 

November Trip

On the first of November my friends and I went to Libda (Leptis Magna) by my car from the morning to the night. We brought our food and soft drinks and made barbeque on the beach. We took photographs, played football and sang Libyan songs. When we finished we cleaned the place and put all the things in the car and returned to Tripoli. We enjoyed it so much.

Mohamed Ahmad
Elementary

All about me

I am Asma Al-Shawesh. I will tell you about myself, my past, my hobbies and my dreams.

I was born in Tripoli on 12th of June 1981. My father is a doctor and my mother is a teacher and my two sisters and my brother are all younger than me.

Since I was a child I was a very ambitious girl, always seeking the better and attempting to be the best. I always was the first in my class. I was really interested in one thing: reading. I like to read magazines, stories and scientific books about different sciences and my family was always encouraging me, and still reading is my favorite hobby until now.

As a teenager, I couldn't decide whether to be a doctor or a computer engineer, but at the age of 16 I chose to be a doctor. That was my goal, especially after I lived in Vienna for 6 years and I saw how the doctors worked hard, and how the people respect them.

So, I started to study medicine. It was very difficult, but interesting at the same time, but I did my best and I graduated as a doctor on April 2005. Now I'm very happy in my job. I have an interest to deal with different cases and always try to do my best to make my patients happy.

My dreams and goals never stop at this level. My next goal is to be widely known psychiatric specialist, and I will learn more, read more and work more to achieve my goals.

Asma Al-Shawesh
IELTS preparation

Myself

I'm Josephine, an Indian residing in Libya. I'm a nurse and came to Libya in 1985 to work in Central Hospital, Sebha.

I became a nurse, because since the age of 10, I've always had an ambition in my life to help the sick and old people. So, I decided to do nursing and finished my training in 1982 in an Irish institution at Bangalore, India. I got the opportunity to work abroad. I came to Libya since my sister was already working here and heard a lot about Libya.

When I landed in Sebha, Libya, and realized I was in the Sahara Desert, all my dreams shattered. Even though I'm a sociable and culturally active person, I adjusted gradually to the kind of atmosphere. I enjoyed working in the hospital and especially taking care of the old people. The turning point in my life was when I married a person working in Libya.

Now I'm living in Tripoli with my husband and two lovely daughters. We go to India for holiday every year. I've keen interest in cooking, listening to music, watching television, and searching the Internet.

My future plan is to go to the UK to work and to gain more professional competence and also for my children's further education.

Josephine John
IELTS preparation

Lecture series sponsored by British Council and the Academy of Graduate Studies

On Sunday 13th November the British Council and the Academy of Graduate Studies hosted a lecture titled 'Women as Entrepreneurs'. It was the first lecture in a discussion series tackling diverse and controversial topics.

The next lecture will be on Sunday 27 November and covers the topic 'Sustainable Tourism'. The IELTS and FCE students will be discussing this topic in their classes before the lecture. If you don't have a worksheet about the topic, please ask your teacher for it. We hope that our students at Yethreb School will be prepared to join in the discussion following the lecture which will be given by May Cassar. 

Things that make you happy

1. Hearing your favourite song.

2. A good conversation.

3. Finding 10 dinars in your coat from last winter.

4. Watching the sun set.

5. Having someone tell you you are beautiful (or handsome).

6. Friends.

7. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep before you have to get up.

8. Sweet dreams.

9. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

10. Giggling.

11. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.

12. No lines at the supermarket.

Now it's your turn!
Click on comment and tell us 'What makes you happy?'

Ramadan

The staff at Yethreb School would like to offer you warm wishes for Ramadan.

We will be taking a break for the month of Ramadan but we will be resuming classes on November 5th, 2005.

When we resume we will be offering the following courses:

• Beginner through Upper Intermediate English

Preparation courses for the Cambridge suite of exams:

• Key English Test (KET)
• Preliminary English Test (PET)
• First Certificate of English (FCE)
• Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
• Business English Certificate (BEC)
  

Other courses offered:

• Preparation for the IELTS exam
  
• English for specialized purposes - medical, scientific etc.
  
• Speaking & Conversation Classes
  
• We will also continue to offer private 'one on one' lessons.
  
  
  If you are interested in enrolling in a course or have any questions, please stop by the school or contact us.
  
  
  Wishing you once again a tranquil Ramadan.
  
  The Staff of Yethreb School
  
  
  
  

Tripoli - near The Green Square at night

The food in Libya

More than 50% of Libya's food is imported from outside. But the main products are olives, citrus, fruits, vegetables, dates, fish and a small quantity of wheat and barley.

Breakfast
Breakfast is usually a light meal - tea and a roll or bread, or dough sweetened with date syrup and honey. It's called asida.

Lunch
The lunch in Libya is between 12 o'clock and 2:30 p.m. and the food is a mixture between Arabic and Italian cooking. Lamb, chicken, beef, beans and fish. A popular dishes include bazine, steamed rice, rishda and cous cous with chopped lamb and vegetables in tomato. Traditionally, people eat with the fingers of the right hand (the left hand is considered unclean and is not useed).

Dinner
The dinner in Libya is usually soup, pasta, or macaroni (mobkhbaka).

Tea and coffee
Tea and coffee or very popular in Libya. Libyan tea is a combination of green tea and mint leaves. People drink it hot with foam, almonds, and plenty of sugar. Libyan coffee, is thick, black and very sweet.

Zein
B2

Libyan foods

In Libya there are many kinds of foods like couscous, bazine, rishda and osban (sausages). Some of it we eat with our fingers like the bazine and asida. Some of the foods we use bread to pick up the food like tabikha. Other foods we eat with spoons like couscous and rishda.

Every season, we have kinds of food you must make, for example, in the small Eid we do many kinds of sweets like magrod, gharaiba, and baklawa. In the big Eid we make Ghaded. It's a delicious kind of food, and sausages. The favorite food, we make in Meloud is asida which we each with our fingers. Some cities in Libya to another kind of food in the eve of holidays, like Misrata, they make a kind of food called ftat. They make it in weddings.

The best food, which I like is couscous. It's so delicious.

Amal
B2

Acquired Intelligence

Is possible that educational institutes and certificates are the only witness for someone's intelligence? Apparently, it's not, because everyone has its own special interests, where he can improve his skills.

There are many people who had leave school at the age of 16 yet go on to have successful careers. This is often particularly true of people with practical skills such as carpenters or plumbers. Although they may not have passed many exams at school, they have successfully learnt a trade or skill which definitely requires intelligence. There are also further examples of people who have not achieved academic success in education.

It cannot be denied that creative or artistic ability is another form of intelligence. Musicians have the skills to perform complex pieces of music, while artists can create beautiful pieces of work through painting and sculpture.

A final example of another aspect of intelligence is knowledge, which people often acquire through self-study or experience. They may not have done well in school or university, but have become educated by learning about a subject independently or by dealing with a variety of real-life situations and problems. Indeed, there are many highly qualified, successful people who lack 'commonsense' and who would be less able to cope with such difficulties.

Consequently, it's hard to illustrate intelligence depending on the results of an exam, because a lot of people don't have the will to study, who missed the required encouragement from their families. But on the other hand, they are more motivated in real life, and they may strongly establish the identity of themselves.

Yasmina A. Hingari
Ielts Preparation

Gharian, Libya

Libya is my country

Tripoli is the capital of Libya. Tripoli has everything you may need to spend an interesting vacation. I will tell you some information about it.

The best times to visit are spring and autumn becuase the weather is very hot in summer and so cold and windy in winter.

There are cheap hotels such as Door of the Sea, Dooor of the City and some private hotels. A room is about 30 - 50 Euros a night. There are many five star hotels such as The Grand Hotel, Almahari and Corinthis. A room is about 100 Euros.

Tripoli has old and new buildings; there are fantastic beaches an a long sea-board from Algarhpoli, Tajoura to Janzour. You can visit the castle museum. It's a wonderful place in the old city. It's called the Red Government House Museum. And you can go tot he Omar Alkiam Cinema or Alzhra Cinama in the evening. There are many internet cafes and coffee shops. For shopping you can walk to the First September Street.

There are many cheap restaurants, and the Libyan food is very delicious.

The best way to travel is by taxi, mini cab or mini bus, and you can ride a bike or go on foot.

I wish a good journey for you!

Elmhdi M Mahud
Beginner

My city

I live in Simferopol. It's the capital city of Crimea. It's beautiful, it has old and new buildings. Simferopol is a very green city. All seasons visit my very nice city.
Simferopol has cheap and expensive hotels. The best hotels, 'Moscow' and 'Ukraine' are in the centre.

My city has theatres and cinemas. There are wonderful parks. The best shops are in Pushkin Street and Kirov Street.

For night life there are clubs and bars in many places. There are restaurants from many countires - Russian, Turkish, Chinese and Ukrainian. The food is delicious.

There are fast trains, buses and taxis.

Lyuda
Beginner

My living room

My living room is not very big, but it's rather light. There's a sofa and there are two soft chairs. There's a wardrobe and there's a small table with a TV on it. There are bookshelves on the wall and there are some books. There's a carpet on the floor.

It's a very comfortable room. I am happy to have such a room.

Olga Nyahukova
Beginner

My Grandmother

When I was a child, I used to count the wrinkles on her face. Surely, there were over a hundred, but I couldn't reach more than that at that time. Her eyelids were droopy so that you would always get the feeling that she was sleeping. On the other hand, she was very energetic.

She would put her warm smile over family conflicts and solve them. Her echoing laugh would fill the hall during family reunions. Although she was grossly overweight, she would always refuse to accept that. She used to wear a scarf to cover her hair and a traditional cloak on top of a nightgown.

She used to get up early in the morning to feed the chickens and piled the haystack for the sheep to eat. One day I asked her "What makes you do this job daily?" and she said, "Grandson, some things you can't give up when you reach my age."

I suppose that's why my grandmother is my favourite relative.

Wissam Muhammed Frandah
IELTS Preparation

A Hero!

Two years ago I decided to take karate lessons to protect myself and my family. And that was a really good idea. I joined a karate club with my friends, but the problem was that I was a little bit short, but that does not mean that I am not a good player.

Anyway, one day while I was out shopping with my friend I saw a woman coming out of the bank. She looked rich because she was wearing nice clothes with a smart briefcase. I noticed a young man behind her. Suddenly he took her briefcase so fast and she started to scream. The man was running toward me so I stopped him and gave him some lessons! I took the briefcase that he had stolen from the lady and I returned it to the woman.

She was so happy. She told the police that I was a hero.

Nadia Ali
PET preparation

My friend Malak

My friend's name is Malak. She is studying in the third year in Ali Syala School. She is a clever student. She lives with her family in Zaweet Aldahmani in Tripoli. She has two sisters, one of them is married and she has a son. Her son's name is Ashrof. Malak has three brothers. One of them died last summer. Her mother's a teacher and her father's a doctor.

Amera Kalifa
B2 (Elementary)

My friend Ruhaifa

My friend's name is Ruhaifa. She is 18 years old. She lives in Tripoli, Libya. She is a generous girl and nice. She has long hair and brown eyes. She is very nice.

Ruhaifa has three sisters (Ruwaida, Rehab and Sara) and she hasn't any brothers. Her father is a supervisor in the oil organization and her mother is a housewife. This is her family. They are very nice and friendly. I like visiting them, and I like when they visit us too.

Ruhaifa is a student in the secondary schol. It's called Ali Syala School. She is with me in the same classroom. We are studying together every year. We are like sisters. I love her very much and she loves me too. She tells me her secrets and I tell her about my secrets too because she is very secretive and I am too. She is my best friend.I feel if she is sad or happy or angry and I know why she is happy or sad. And she feels for me too. I ask God to keep her for me. Really we are like sisters.

'Perhaps you have a brother that your mother didn't give birth to.'

Sarah Farag Abdulrahman
B2 (Elementary)

Sabratha, Libya

One rainy winter night . . .

One rainy winter night while I was sleeping, suddenly I woke up. The rain was knocking at my window with a very loud noise. That night was very cold and dark. My family was in their rooms sleeping. Nothing was moving inside the house, only the trees, or the phone cable dancing, or nature's music. Suddenly I heard a cat. I checked window to find out -- yes it was a cat! I asked myself 'How did she climb the tree and jump into my window?' Then I took it inside and I dried it and then I went to the kitchen and got a dish of milk for the cat. Before going to bed, I decided to call her Nanny and took her on to my lap and hugged her and I said to myself 'Im really in love with her'.

Ezar
B3

Meet Sarah

Me and my family .

I'm from Gharian in Libya, and I'm 17 years old. I have wonderful parents. I love them very much. They love their children and they think that children are gift from God. My father is a doctor in the sciences College and my mother is a housewife. I have five brothers and I don't have any sisters, but I don't care about it. My oldest brother is married. His wife is very nice. She is like my sister. My brothers names are Husam, and Zeyad, and Alwalid, Sufian and Assem. The Husam's and engineer, he was in Cassino Italy to take his masters, Zeyad is engineer too. He's studying in the United States of America. Alwalid is an engineer, but he stays in Libya. Sufian and is a fourth year student in medical college. The last one is Assem. He is the youngest in my family, usually we see him like a baby, he is 13 years old.

I love my brothers. They are my lifes light, but my parents are my life. I can't live in this world without them. 'Life without parents is like 50 without a five.' After that I want to talk about my parents. My father is a serious man , he is a cultured and perfect father. I say that not because he is my father, but it's a fact. However, my mother is funny and very generous. This is my family. I'm happy that I have them and I ask God every day to keep them for me.

Me and my work.

I'm a student. I'm studying in secondary school. I like going to school and I enjoy studying my subjects. When I meet with my friends. I love them very much, but my best friend is Ruhaifa. My friends and I talk about our secrets together between lessons or during the rest period and laugh about funny things. Sometimes we talk together about something, until we quarrel, but no one allows herself to continue the discussion because she's frightened to loose her friends.

Me and my home.

We have a big house in Tripoli, but my home is in Gharian. I like it very much. We have a wonderful flat there. In our house there are four bedrooms, the bathroom, a living room, kitchen and there is an office for my father. It has a lot of books, and a big room for visitors. We have a garden where we grow a lot of plants. Our garden is like a jungle.

Me and my free time.

Often, I have a lot of free time. In it I read books, use the computer, study the English language, watch films and listen to some Quran.

Sarah Farag Abdulrahman

Elementary

Meet Zeinaldeen

Me and my family.

I'm from Palestine. I'm in Tripoli, in Libya, and I'm 32 years old. I'm married and my wife's name is -- --. She is a housewife. We have one daughter. She is very beautiful. I have two brothers and four sisters. They live in Tripoli too.

Me and my work.

I'm a telecommunications engineer, so I work in a private company. I enjoy my work very much. I like it because I get good experience. I work about nine or 10 hours per day.

Me and my home.

We have a house in Tripoli but my best home is in Palestine. We have a small house there. There are about four roomsand the house is very hot so many times the air-conditioner is working. We have a garden, where we grow mint and flowers.

Me and my free time.

Well, I have very little free time but when I can I like taking my family for a journey. We play, eat, drink and talk for hours. I love my country. I like all kinds of cars, but especially the BMW.

Zeinaldeen M. Abd-alatiff
Elementary

Meet Siraj

Me and my family.

My name's Siraj. I live in Tripoli, Libya. I'm 18 years old. I live with my mother and father. I have one brother and three sisters. My father has a shop in Benashur. My mother is a school teacher.

Me and my work.

When I'm not studying I help my father in our shop. I enjoy working with my father, because I meet lots of interesting people.

Me and my home.

I live in Benashur in a large house. We have eight large rooms and two gardens and one large garage.

Me and my free time.

Well, I have very little free time, but when I can I like going to the cafe with my friends and sometimes we play snooker.

Siraj
Elementary

Meet Ibrahim

Me and my family.

I'm from Tripoli in Libya and I'm 16 years old. I have six brothers and one sister. I live in Wadi-rabii, in the south of Tripoli, with my father, mother and grandparents. My father works in a company and my mother is a teacher.

Me and my work.

I'm a student in secondary school. I have many friends in my school. I like history and English, but I don't like geography.

Me and my home.

We have a house on the farm. It's a very beautiful house. It's got seven rooms, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen. In my farm we grow lots of trees and fruit.

Me and my free time.

Now it is the summer holiday because school is closed, so we have a long holiday. We can go on many tours and picnics and I can go with my family to the zoo and do many special things. I like playing football, basketball and watching TV.

Ibrahim Kamaladien
Elementary

Meet Abear

My family and me.

I'm from Tripoli, in Libya, and I'm 25 years old. I have two sisters and two brothers. My father's name is Omar, he is a financial consultant. My mother is a housewife. She is lovely and beautiful. She can speak two languages - Arabic and French. Amina is the most wonderful mother in the world.

My home and me.

To we have a big house in Tripoli. It's modern, comfortable and large. There are about 14 rooms. Thanks God for this gift too! Also, we have a small farm. I like to go there, where I have a nice time with my lovely cat. We play, and play and play!!

My free time and me.

OK, I have a little free time, because I study in two places; an English course with pretty, lovely, fantastic, super teacherAlea, and also I study in university. So I have little free time, but when I can I like to go shopping and see my cousins. I enjoyed them very much. We sit, and talk for hours! And other days, I like to stay-at-home and just relax and watch TV. Thanks God for this interesting life.

Abear Frewan
Elementary

In the old city - Tripoli, Libya

How I like to spend Friday

I prefer to spend my time in different ways. It depends on many things - my mood, my work, the season, or the weather.

In the summertime if the weather is good, and the sea is calm I like to go to the beach with my friends. We take some food, chairs and umbrellas. There we can swim, play volleyball and become sunburned. But when the weather is windy we like to go to the forest. We have a very delicious chicken or fish barbecue, play football or just talk and enjoy our company.

Also, I like to travel, to see local sites, historical places and the beauty of nature, and of course of as a lot of women, I like to go shopping, and no bad weather can stop me!

But sometimes I like to stay at home and read an interesting book or play computer games, listen to good music and do some needlework or just watch TV.

Tatyana Khoruzha
B-3

What are you doing on Friday?

My family decided to go to the beach in order to spend a nice time in the fresh air. My family are going to go on a picnic at the beach on Friday. My father and my mother prepare for our picnic. We get up early at seven o'clock. I invited my best friend Maria to come with us. We eat a good breakfast, then we play football and volleyball. After playing we are going to swim in the sea for half an hour. After swimming, we're going to listen to music. My favorite music is pop music. My best friend and I love playing chess, so we are going to take a chess game with us. My father and mother are going to play cards. In the afternoon we're going to have lunch together. We're going to drink tasty juices like mango juice. After having lunch with going to take a nap under the umbrella. After having an nap, we're going to swim again. After swimming, we're going to go on the beach and eat and ice cream .

In the evening we're going to the fish restaurant near the beach. I think we're going to have a lot of fun at Golden Beach.

Amna Elsyed
B-3