O: So Beyonce tell us about this song you’re about to sing
B: I’m about to sing ‘Listen,’ and this is the moment when Nina finally finds her voice. The whole movie she’s been manipulated and she… she’s kind of lost her own opinions, and I think a lot of women can relate to this.
O: Yeah. Take it away, Beyonce!

What are your new year's resolutions?

Hello,

I know I make new year's resolutions every year and failed every year. LOL
But this year is a little bit different.
I've been doing new things since last December. ( I started them little early ;) )

First thing is practicing singing.
I don't want to be a singer but I hope I can enjoy singing in front of people.
I'm kind of tone-deaf. Not totally... but just... a little? LOL
Anyway, I take vocal lessons for that.

Second thing is playing piano.
I had done it when I was a child for one year.
I really regret stopping it... :(
I take lessons for that too every monday lunchtime.

Third thing is learning English !
That's what I'm doing it now. :) Hehe

I hope everyone have super good year :)
Cheer up !

Thank you for reading :)

I had an US student visa interview

I went to Seoul to have a US student visa interview from monday to Tuesday.

I was a bit nervous cause (because -> cause) the (because you're talking about a specific person, you use 'the') person who was in front of me looked very worried.

Fortunately, the interviewer could speak Korean, so I thought he was Korean at first, but I could tell he is not a Korean because of his accent. <em>(It would be more natural to say "Fortunately the interviewer could speak Korean. I thought the interviewer was Korean at first, but I knew he wasn't because of his accent.")</em>

He asked me how long I was planning on staying in the US?
I answered 'four months.' He said according to the 'I-20,' (punctuation goes inside quotations!) it says twelve months. So I said it's at least four months or to the longest: twelve months. So he passed me and said the visa papers that I submitted will be sent to my home within one week.

After the interview, I went to YBM n(and?) Pagoda language school, which is popular in this industry. I had a level test for the conversation class with a native teacher. He was from Winnipeg, Canada, where my friend immigrated to.
He evaluated my English level 5+ grade out of 6 grades.

I was a bit sad, that my English level is still not the highest level even though I studied English in Canada for six months.
I hope my English will be perfect after I finish my study in the US.

Restaurant English for Server

I am working at Korea restaurant in Vancouver.
Friendly English specialist please let me teach how to speak natural and polite ^.^

(1) Vegetarian customer drop by this restaurant I am working.

-Do you have vege menu?

Sorry, Missy, All menu is including meat. Could you have a small piece of pork?
(Do you mind even small piece of pork?)

I'm sorry, miss. Everything on the menu has meat. Is there anything I can do for you?

(I know that in Canada, we usually allow for small changes to be made, like if it's an easy and small thing... so if there's something you can suggest to the customer, like making something with a different sauce or something, that would be really helpful. But that's obviously up to the owner and chef, and would have to be doublechecked according to your restaurant's rules.

Most menus have at least something vegetarians can eat... is there nothing on the menu you can suggest? Like a side dish or something? Oh, and some vegetarians will be okay with picking out small pieces of meat from the meal, so if there's something on the menu with meat that's easy to eat around, then you might do well to suggest that.

Also! It's not generally appropriate to ask a vegetarian if they are comfortable eating meat, as they've already made it clear that they don't eat it. And if they are able to consider eating a small piece of something, it probably won't be something like pork... )

- Yes, I couldn't.

I think. We don't have your choice here. Sorry.

(2)During busiest day, One customer let me pack their food to-go.
I really want to do that. But Every customer was waiting me. 

Sure! I'll be right back with a container for you.

Oh, Sorry. It is really busy now. 

Instead of packing food by me, Could I get you container? So sorry.
I really want to do that, But there are many customer was waiting me.(Is it rude for customer? If I forced to do that, how can I tell to them?)

The customer usually won't notice if you just bring them a container, as long as you make it look like that's normal. I've had a lot of waitresses just bring me a container and leave it with me, and then at the same restaurant another day, had them take my food away and pack it themselves... as long as you don't make it look like you're being inattentive, it should be fine! Just make it look like it's normal to do this.)

(3)

While I clean up the table, can you see this menu, first?
Saving your time, You'd better order in advance.
(the last sentence, it makes sense?)

I don't quite understand what you're trying to say here, sorry!

(4) In case that Few table left in restaurant.

You can say several things in this situation!

Please, seat yourself. I'll be right with you! (Make sure to bring menus to them quickly though!)

Would you prefer a seat near the ...? (window... door... anything here!)

Which table do you want to have? Just have a seat one of them you like( you want).


That will be all my curious for now.
Everytime I really thanks you English experts. Thanks^,^

The practice for first-time customer

Hello, Is it your first time to here?
Do you need any suggestions? (or, Do you have any questions?)
People usually Some popular favourites are the crispy pork and chili chicken.
However these dishes size are quite filling, so if you aren't that hungry, you can have dumplings the dumplings are also popular. (the way you phrased it before made it sound like dumplings were the only choice, and if not it could come across as a bit rude in a waitress/customer setting)  
We have two kinds of dumplings,- one is boiled, another one is and deep fried.

-I don't like deep fry, Do you have pan fried dumplings?

Sorry, ma'am. We don't have pan fried dumplings.

- I think I have no idea(?) about your suggestion. Do you have any recommend me else?

- Do you have any other recommendations?

Um, Ma'am Yes, of course! Would you like to hear about our rice or noodle selections?

-I like noodles ... Oh I'd better have seafood spicy noodle. (pointing at menu)

Good choice,The menu is one of the most popular dishes in this restaurant here. But a way of spicy.
Can you eat spicy one? (you have to be delicate here, walk the line between concern and rudeness, don't question the ability to eat anything, just make mention of how spicy and see what they do) Although it's very spicy, is that okay? 

-Yes, Of course. That will be okay for now.

Then I'll return with your hot tea and sides shortly. dishes.


(It's difficult to walk the fine line between formality and kindness as a waitress, especially in a foreign language. You have to be respectful, but approachable and friendly... which doesn't always mean formal language. Sometimes the right tone is enough to convey what you need to say!

There are also many slangs and figures of speech that are used in the restaurant world that a customer will be used to hearing, which I've also sort of inputted here... (like 'sides' instead of 'side dishes') ^^ )

Do You Like Coffee?

Back in the university, I used to stay up all night because there were too many things to do. So I've been drinking coffee since then. entering the university Actually, I used to drink green tea, which is my mother's favorite. After my first cup of coffee at first, I fell in love with it all of a sudden. Now I brew my coffee myself using a/my french press or pottery coffee driffer. When you use a french press, you can taste more oily and wild coffee than when the other coffee  brewed by the driffer. So if you want to feel the whole coffee body, the french press is more suitable tool for you to use. But as I prefer light, not oily coffee, the coffee driffer is the one that what I use more often. Now I'm almost out of coffee beans so I have to buy more soon.
Well, the last sentence is "Do you like coffee, too?"

(I can't stand coffee personally! I'm a tea person!)

I got home a hour ago but I have tons of homework!

Oh, it's almost midnight but I can't go to bed because I have lots of homework to do.
We have pop quiz tomorrow so I must study for that.
I know I have to turn off my computer right now but being on italki is so fun.
I just found out about discussions and I thought it was amazing. I've always wanted to hear what people around world think. So I just love going to discussions board and read many different comments.
Hum...I guess I really have to go do my homework. I don't want to go to bed at 1 again.

This is really good! I just crossed out 'for that' because it's not necessary, and sounds more natural not to include. :)