Do I Need to . . . ?
by Teresa; April 21, 2013; originally published on May 19, 2008
Teresa notices that “independent spirits” exist in Canada, where everybody should be fundamentally equal. Read the story

The Backyard of China
by Helena; April 2, 2013; originally published on May 7, 2007
 Smooth like silk, soft like spring water, slow like clouds in the mountain, Kunming has no other seasons, only spring. Read the story

The Wall
by Catherine; March 10, 2013; originally published on April 14, 2007
 Catherine writes about her reaction to Canada's lack of walls compared to her home country, China. Read the story

Ancient Beauty
by Ruth; February 24, 2013; originally published on June 22, 2008
 Ruth tells the story of her grandmother's bound feet, an ancient Chinese tradition no longer practiced. Read the story

An Upside Down World
by Masaru; originally published on March 30, 2008
 Masaru's experience of learning the opposite culture of Canada. Read the story

Beauty Goes Shopping
by Kamila; originally published on March 3, 2008
Kamila contrasts Polish and Canadian attitudes towards beauty. Read the story

A Walking Joke
by Zarghoona; originally published on April 5, 2009
 Zarghoona writes about the importance of understanding idiom, and the bad results if you don't!  Read the story

Laughter as Medicine
by Masaru; originally published on May 19, 2008
 Masaru's cancer treatment is aided by a nurse's good humour. Read the story

Learning from Cats: Distance Makes Beauty
by Larry; originally published on April 2, 2007
Are we really superior to other creatures? Let’s come off our perches and see what we can learn from other animals.  Read the story

The Newly-Rich Mushroom
by Beatrice; originally published on April 20, 2009
A trip to the "antique" market doesn't quite turn out as planned!  Read the story

Friendly Canada
by Victoria; originally published on May 25, 2008
Victoria finds Canadians more talkative and friendly than at home.  Read the story

Modern Women's Unhealthy Beauty
by Andrea; originally published on December 7, 2008
 Andrea's essay takes a new look at women’s beauty issues. The essay is well-organized, clear in language, and full of scientific and supportive evidence.  Read the story

The Neptune Festival
by Victoria; originally published on December 16, 2007
“The Neptune Festival ” concerns a teen’s discovery of a ritual in her grandmother’s village. Find out how the villagers prepare everything in secret overnight. Read the story

Cleaning the Well
by Valentina; originally published on November 10, 2007
Well-described and edited story about the simple but hard work of cleaning a well. 
Reading this, you will enjoy a festive ritual as if you were there.  Read the story

Old Hometown - Shanghai
by Eve; originally published on April 5, 2009
 Eve recalls her early years in old Shanghai, before it grew into the city it is today.  Read the story

The Cubic Life
by Beatrice; originally published March 21, 2009
Beatrice's piece chronicles the life of Lily, a rebellious girl growing up in China, who later emigrates to Canada.  Read the story


Giving Praise
by Catherine; originally published in April, 2007
Living in Canada, we may have cultural differences. Do they make you curious, confused, or excited? Read the story

The Impending Danger that Awaits Us
by Genel; originally published on December 16, 2008
 Genel's essay, published nearly four years ago, shows his ability to inform and persuade. His words are even more relevant after this extraordinary year.  Read the story

Valeria's Black Square
by Alexey; September 10, 2012
Alexey helps us to understand the importance of Valeria in his life. Read the story

My Father's Bicycle
by Li Chen; June 17, 2012
  Li Chen's essay is a wonderful tribute to an influential man, his father.  Read the story

Adventure in Bangkok
by Tiffany, January 22, 2012
Tiffany and her family have an interesting adventure on the streets of Bangkok. Read the story  

The Running Shoes
by Dasha, November 20, 2011
Dasha tells a compelling tale of courage in the face of tragedy.   Read the story

The Old Banyan Tree
by Tiffany, October 2, 2011
Tiffany remembers a tree important to her childhood in Taiwan.   Read the story

Grandpa's Shoes
by Anonymous, September 12, 2011
A PALC student remembers the influence of his grandpa on his life in this charming and heartfelt piece.   Read the story

Her Smile
by Darija, July 31, 2011
Darija's heartfelt story shows us the power of a smile from a stranger.   Read the story

Visiting Cuernavaca, The Real Mexico
by Elaine, July 10, 2011
Elaine brings the unique culture of Cuernavaca Mexico to life. Read the story

Being a Student at PALC: Teachers and the Lab
by Maria, June 5, 2011
Maria explains how our classes and lab work to create a favourable student experience. Read the story

A "Green Tea" Teacher
by Linda, May 29, 2011
Linda writes about a favourite PALC teacher.  Read the story

Shaking My Naivety
by Naoko, April 25, 2011
Naoko relates an intriguing story on being a photojournalist during a 2003 earthquake in northern Japan.  Read the story

My Cool Uncle
by Linda, April 18, 2011
Linda's story about her artistic uncle teaches a valuable lesson about living a simple life.  Read the story

A Gift from Aunt Betsy
by Elaine, April 10, 2011
Elaine's story about Aunt Betsy brings a fictional character vividly to life.  Read the story

An Incredible Tale of Survival
by Marco, April 3, 2011
Marco reviews the excellent film, 127 Hours.  Read the review

Making the Study of Law Fun
by Linda, March 13, 2011
Linda informs us of two TV series that can help any student make the study of law fun.  Read the article

Tteokbokyi (Korean spicy rice cake)
by Esther; March 13, 2011
A spicy snack enjoyed in Korea. Try it if you dare!  Read the recipe

Chicken and Pork Adobo
by Maria; March 13, 2011
A hearty dish from the Phillipines. Try it and see!   Read the recipe

Lighthouse Magic
by Margareta; February 27, 2011

Margareta tells us a tale of a daring rescue.  Read the story

Losing a Friend—Twice
by Marco; February 6, 2011
Marco recounts a sad tale of friendship and loss.  Read the story

Internet Addiction
by Sophie; January 23, 2011

Sophie writes persuasively about the dangers of internet addiction.  Read the story

 

Student Writing:Travelling in the Painting
by Sophie; November 8, 2010

Sophie dreams of going back in time to the Song Dynasty, inspired by Zhang Zeduan's famous painting, "Along the River During the Qinming Festival."  Read the story

Money Hunters
by Susan; October 17, 2010

Susan recounts the interesting events that happened on her visit to Luoyang, home of the famous Shaolin Temple.  Read the story

What I See in Tokyoites
by Tiffany; September 19, 2010 Tiffany gives us a lively account of the unique cultural landscape of Tokyo.  Read the story

 

How I Spent My Summer Vacation
 Rick; September 5, 2010

  Rick's essay on his summer vacation demonstrates all the key elements of good writing. Read the essay

A Case of Cultural Confusion
 by Brad; August 17, 2010

  Sample standard essay written with the participation of the summer evening English 9/10 students. Read the essay

 

Looking Out a Very Small Window
 by Kay; May 2, 2010

  Kay writes on the various kinds of characters to be seen from a basement window.  Read the story

Home, Sweet Home
by Rita; March 14, 2010
Rita's terrifying experience of the Kobe earthquake in 1995 leads her to a new appreciation of home.  Read the story

Remembering the Folly
by Maryann; February 21, 2010
Maryann remembers a fateful meeting with a good friend and regrets her actions that day.  Read the story

 
 

The Railroad Man: A New Journey
by Marc; February 7, 2010
Marc writes of the death of the "backbone of his life," his father.  Read the story

 

Disguised Donors
by Jatinder; January 24, 2010
In the aftermath of monsoon floods, Jatinder discovers that not all is what it seems on first glance.  Read the story



Teacher Writing: Biker Brad
by Brad; January 10, 2010
Read about a journey undertaken by Brad in the summer of 1975. Read the story
 

 

 

 

Visiting Laoshan Mountain
by Hongxin; May 18, 2009
Hongxin tells an engrossing tale of climbing Laoshan Mountain and visiting its Taoism Abbey.  Read the story



A Pleasant Teacher: Paul
by Kamaljeet; April 27, 2009
Kamaljeet introduces us to Paul, a teacher working in our evening program.  Read the story

 

Lies that Can't be Proven
by Makassia; April 20, 2009
A lie gets a young woman into big trouble!  Read the story

 

The Newly-Rich Mushroom
by Beatrice; April 20, 2009
A trip to the "antique" market doesn't quite turn out as planned!  Read the story
 

 

Not the Biggest Rain Ever
by Frank; April 20, 2009
 But big enough to cause a lot of trouble!  Read the story

 

Old Hometown - Manila 
by Marc; April 12, 2009
Marc writes about a joyous childhood in Manila and then updates us on the devastating changes to his home town.  Read the story

  

   Keep Away from the Crow
by Hongxin; April 12, 2009
Hongxin explains Chinese beliefs and idioms related to the crow.  Read the story

 

Old Hometown - Shanghai
by Eve; April 5, 2009
 Eve recalls her early years in old Shanghai, before it grew into the city it is today.  Read the story

 

A Walking Joke
by Zarghoona; April 5, 2009
 Zarghoona writes about the importance of understanding idiom, and the bad results if you don't!  Read the story

Anberlin: Meaningful Music
by Chris; April 5, 2009
Chris introduces us to a favourite band.  Read the story

Choosing Love Over Death
by Makassia; March 30, 2009
 Want to read something romantic and scary at the same time? Read the story

 

 

War; The Answer to a Global Crisis?
by Marc; March 30, 2009
 In Marc's story, a crazy old man rants about war. Should we believe him? Read the story

Tragic Single Moms
by Esther; March 23, 2009
 Esther remembers a shocking day in a high school Career and Personal Planning class.  Read the story

 

The Cubic Life
by Beatrice; March 21, 2009
Beatrice's piece chronicles the life of Lily, a rebellious girl growing up in China, who later emigrates to Canada.  Read the story

 

"Addicted" to Oil? Let's Be Realistic
by Eve; March 9, 2009
 Eve writes an impassioned response to her teacher's essay on his addiction to oil.  Read the story

 

The Value of Regular Writing Practice
by Brad; March 1, 2009
Brad writes on how he helps his students to become better writers.  Read the story
 
 

Raising the Driving Age
by Makassia; February 1, 2009
Makassia presents a strong argument for raising the legal driving age.  Read the story

A Film with Impact: No Man's Land
by Phoebe; January 12, 2009
 Phoebe gives an account of the connection between the film and her real-life experience in Eastern Europe.  Read the story
 

 

 

The Impending Danger that Awaits Us
by Genel; December 16, 2008
 Genel's essay was chosen because it is persuasive and has lots of scientific details and evidence that are supportive and provable.  Read the story

Modern Women's Unhealthy Beauty
by Andrea; December 7, 2008
 Andrea's essay takes a new look on women’s beauty issues. The essay is well-organized, clear in language, and full of scientific and supportive evidence.  Read the story

 

PALC—My English Cradle
by Ruth; September 23, 2008
 Ruth's essay demonstrates how the PALC has nurtured her as she has learned English.  Read the story

 

You Reap What You Sow
by Natalia; August 10, 2008
 Natalia gives us a thoughtful advice on disciplining children.  Read the story
 

The Stubborn Husband
by English 12 Students; August 3, 2008
 Students were asked to "show" a stubborn husband in 75 words or fewer. Read the stories
 

Always Waiting
by Renee; July 19, 2008
 Renee's complaint is a familiar one: waiting at the doctor's office.  Read the story
 

A Big Thorn in the Butt
by Lola; July 14, 2008
 Lola uses a witty, conversational tone to show us the big frustrations faced by a new language learner.  Read the story 

 

All You Wanted to Know About Writing 12
by Masaru; June 9, 2008
 Masaru's question and answer approach answers many common questions. Read the story
 

A Breath of Fresh Air
by Josephine; June 9, 2008
Josephine's writing comments on the effects smokers have had on her life.  Read the story

Biology 12: Learning about the Human Body
by Ruth; June 9, 2008
 Ruth recommends this knowledge-filled and useful course. Read the story

 

 

My Charismatic Teacher: Trudi
by Natalia; June 2, 2008
 Natalia provides a charming portrait of a favourite teacher. Read the story
 

Halloween Every Day!
by Catalina; June 2, 2008
Catalina finds a new vision of fashion in Vancouver.  Read the story

Maybe He Was Right
by Beatrice; June 2, 2008
 Beatrice reflects on the difference between arranged and love marriages. Read the story

 

Accounting 11: A Practical Choice
by Natalia; May 25, 2008
 Natalia gives a complete picture of this popular course. Read the story
 

Friendly Canada
by Victoria; May 25, 2008
Victoria finds Canadians more talkative and friendly than at home.  Read the story

Independent? Bravo!
by Josephine; May 25, 2008
 Josephine writes about parents facing their children's departure from home. Read the story

 

Adventurous Entrepreneurship 12
by Ben; May 19, 2008
 Ben gives us an enthusiastic account of this practical course. Read the story


 Do I Need to . . .?
by Teresa; May 19, 2008
Teresa raises thoughtful questions about the independent spirit she's encountered in Canadian life. Read the story

 

Laughter as Medicine
by Masaru; May 19, 2008
 Masaru's cancer treatment is aided by a nurse's good humour. Read the story

 

Pyramid of Society
by Andrew; May 3, 2008
 Andrew's article, introduced by Suzanne, rejects the superior attitudes of those at the top of the social pyramid.  Read the story

The Beneficial Course: Civics Studies 11
by Suzanne; May 3, 2008
 Suzanne gives a complete picture of an interesting and useful course. Read the story

My Teacher Louise
by Hongxin; May 3, 2008
 Hongxin gives us a personal account of a favourite teacher. Read the story

How I Robbed My Landlords
by Natalia; April 28, 2008
 Natalia admits to a minor crime. Read the story

A Young Teacher: Renuka
by Ruth; April 21, 2008
 Ruth writes about her experiences with a helpful teacher, Renuka. Read the story

 
DFT 12: Every Hour a Happy Hour
by Hongxin; April 21, 2008
 Hongxin writes about a course where studying is a joy every day. Read the story
 

A Diligent, Patient Teacher: L
by Suzanne; April 7, 2008
 Suzanne writes about one of her favourite teachers at the PALC. Read the story

A Free-Spirited Teacher: Brad
by Masaru, April 7, 2008
Masaru documents the life journey that brought Brad to the PALC. Read the story

An Upside Down World
by Masaru; March 30, 2008
 Masaru's experience learning the opposite culture of Canada. Read the story

St Barnabas Anglican Church
by Natalia, March 30, 2008
Natalia gives an inspiring account of her neighbourhood church. Read the story

 

How I Saved My Party
by Ben; March 23, 2008
Ben's Lunar New Year celebration is saved by some good advance preparation. Read the story

 An In-Between Time
by Natalia; March 21, 2008
Natalia writes about the yearly battle between the spring and retreating winter. Read the story

 

A Peking Childhood
by Hongxin; March 9, 2008
Hongxin's richly detailed story of his childhood in Peking. Read the story

Focussing on Status
by Suzanne; March 9, 2008
Suzanne explains some key differences between east and west. Read the story

What is that Teacher's Name?
by Ruth; March 9, 2008
The story of Ruth's confusing first day in English class. Read the story

 Beauty Goes Shopping
by Kamila; March 3, 2008
Kamila contrasts Polish and Canadian attitudes towards beauty. Read the story

 

The City of Dolls
by Masaru; March 3, 2008
The story of Masaru's home town, Fukuoka City. First in a series.  Read the story
 

The Neptune Festival (December 16, 2007)
by Victoria
“The Neptune Festival ” concerns a teen’s discovery of a ritual in her grandmother’s village. Find out how the villagers prepare everything in secret overnight.  Read the story

 The Mushroom Necklaces (November 25, 2007)
by Margaret
An early morning, a long bus ride, making mushroom necklaces—Margaret's story of a late summer ritual may make you want to join in.  Read the story

 

Cleaning the Well (November 10, 2007)
by Valentina
Well-described and edited story about the simple but hard work of cleaning a well. 
Reading this, you will enjoy a festive ritual as if you were there.  Read the story

 

 

More Student Writing:

The Pearson Buzz:
Want to read lots more student writing? Check out the "Buzz," written by the students of Writing 12.

Everybody Loves Raymond
Victoria's essay explains the popularity of this national TV show.  January 21, 2007

A Single Wife
Catherine's short story, "A Single Wife," explores the lives of immigrant women in Vancouver.  December 24, 2006
 

A Serious Decision
Tara's paragraph gives us an inside look at her decision to return to school and her hopes for the future.  November 11, 2006
 

An Unusual Man
Susan's paragraph gives us a wonderful description of an unusual man who visits her store every morning.  October 7, 2005
 

Failure: A Better Teacher than Success
Ali argues strongly for us to learn from our failures on our path to success. September 18, 2006

The Suggestive Mystery
Tatiana's essay, written for English 12, gives a thorough examination of the Susan Glaspell story, "A Jury of Her Peers."  May 21, 2005

The Longest Night of My Life
Octavia's personal narrative essay is a gripping account of her family's terrifying ordeal that happened more than 20 years ago.  February 11, 2005

Canadians in My Eyes
Vera's paragraph provides some interesting comparisons between Canadians and Chinese. November 19, 2005

To School, Again
Atala's paragraph captures the mixed feelings of an adult returning to school. September 6, 2005

A Special Relationship
Eva's charming story of her dog and a new baby is sure to warm your heart.  June 24, 2005

Giant Plunge
Hiromi's first short story is inspired by Sean O'Failain's story, "The Trout." In it, a young girl learns to conquer her fear of the water.  March 26, 2005
 

A Place to Live
Atala writes a beautiful descriptive paragraph about her grandmother's house. Full of lovely detail using all the senses, it ends with song lyrics from Louis Armstrong.  February 28, 2005

Free Tranquilizer
An excellent descriptive paragraph about the delights to be found at Central Park in Burnaby. By a former student who wishes to remain anonymous.  February 1, 2005

An Ordinary Day
Far from ordinary, Octavia's paragraph captures the sights and smells and sounds of an outdoor market. Sensuous writing with excellent detail!January 16, 2005

The Place I Long For
Jana's rich description makes it easy to imagine the peace she finds at a favourite place.  December 13, 2004

The Mosquitoes on Campus
Couch writes an amusing story of meeting the new, much smarter, urban mosquito!  November 28, 2004

Nothing Came to My Mind
Tina has written an intriguing narrative paragraph about finding quiet contemplation time in her car on an autumn day. November 9, 2004

A Smart Pig
Annie's amusing paragraph contemplates what it would be like to be a pig, but only for one day! 

Hanging Up the Clothes 
Short paragraph with lots of detailed description. 

How to Reduce Stress
    Short essay in five paragraph standard style.

Smells of the Sun
   Short paragraph demonstrating the use of the senses in writing.

Advice to New Students of the PALC 
Lucky gives some straightforward and useful advice to new students. 

The PALC for Improving Your English 
Ciprian has some good advice on how the PALC can help you with your English skills.