What we do for fun!

Places we like to hang out
By: Yujin Cho, Michelle Rah, and Sue Bae
Edited by: Annette Varkey

There are many places that American teens like to hang out at. On the weekends, during school breaks, and summer vacations is when we have the oppurtunity to do so. The number one place teens hang out at is the mall; specifically a place for girls to hang out at. At the mall we have a variety of clothing stores in which people can buy anything they want. In addition, there is the food court and the movie theater in which friends enjoy hanging out at. There are also a variety of resteraunts and cafes that teens enjoy going to. Menchies (frozen yogurt cafe) is a very popular hang out spot, in addition to Starbucks Coffee shop. Many teens enjoy bowling, skating at the skate park, going roller blading/ice skating, going to theme parks, and even going to the beach. Parties are also very popular in America along with Dance Clubs.

Dress Code in American Schools

School Dress Code

By: Iris Chang, William Lee, and Aileen Hong

Edited by: Annette Varkey

Uniforms in the United States is optional. Most students in high school do not have uniforms. Consequently, we get to wear mostly anything we want. Girls wear make-up, tank tops, skirts, jeans, shorts, heels, and many accessories. Guys can wear anything they want, ranging from preppy to sporty. Both sexes can dye their hair and have as many peircings as they want. In addition, students have the ability to wear any type of shoes they want. In American schools tattoos are even allowed!

American Food

American Food
America is not only ethnically diverse, we have a wide range of foods, not just hamburgers and french fries but foods that express different cultures

• We have a lot of Mexican food choices such as Taco Bell, Taco Time, Chipotle as well as homemade Mexican food and other Mexican restaurants that are often in malls around the city.
• We also have Italian food. Many Americans regularly cook Italian food in their homes such as spaghetti, pizza and garlic bread. Restaurants such as Olive Garden and Spaghetti Factory serve Italian food. Pizza is very popular in America, so we have many delivery ready choices that are cheaper alternative to Italian restaurants.
• In America, we also enjoy Asian food. Teriyaki shops, Chinese fast food restaurants, Korean BBQ is all very popular.
• In America, we have many sandwich shops that allow individuals to choose the toppings, condiments as well as bread type. This is a different choice to other fast food like McDonald's.
• Coffee shops, most notably Starbucks, have become a part of American's food group. It is very popular for American teenagers to pick up a coffe from Starbucks before school in the morning. Coffe has become a daily consumption for American teenagers.

Studying Skills of American Students

How We Study
by Rachelle Seabolt, Jennifer Kim, Jenna Chang, Arjun Wenerawatthage, edited by Amy Lee

• In America, colleges look at grades, SATs (the college admission test), types of classes we took (since we can choose what class we can take; it looks better on our college applications if we took harder classes), community service, and extra-curricular activities
• Teachers are very willing to tutor students (for free of course) after school. Any student who needs help just simply has to ask his/her teacher for help
• Most students do not purchase extra review books (문제집 because it is not neccessary. However, students who are taking challenging college-level course like AP, IB, or CLEF, might purchase some for review.
• Depending on what type of foreign language is available at the school, students can choose which language they want to learn.
• Our texts book are thick and is hard cover. We borrow it from the school library and return it after the school year ends. The same text books are reused for about six years.
• Students study in groups at the library, at cafes like Starbucks, or at a friend's house. Students meet to study for tests, or just to work on the homework together.
• We do not get a lot of private tutoring outside of school. Many people will learn musical instruments through school band, and sports from school clubs or activities. Some people pay take private tutoring for things they desperately  need help with, but unlike Korea, it is not as common among students in America.
• Even the students in middle school and high school are assigned special projects from their teachers. For example, we might be asked to invent something, make posters about a topic, do research, create videos, powerpoints, and such. America demands studying skills that are outside of just "book work"

School Events

Events of American high Schools
by Annette Varkey, Sara Mussa, Ula Jun

• In American high school, events are based around school sports, national holidays, fundraisers, and student entertainment. These events are called assemblies. Assemblies occur once every two months. These assemblies shorten the time for each class that day.
• At assemblies, students perform skits, dances, and discuss upcoming school or sporting events.
• At assemblies, students show their school spirit. School spirit is taking pride in your school and showing it by dressing in your school colors. Like how Koreans dress up for the world cup soccer games in red and white , students dress up in their school colors, or sometimes, the colors of each grades [freshmen(9), sophomore(10), junior(11), senior(12)]
• High schools have sports teams that compete agaisnt other schools in their state. At these competitions, students support their schools by showing school spirit.
• To support sports and clubs financially, students raise money through fundraisers. Fundraisers are events geared towards raising money towards a certain cause. These events helps pay for fees and sports equipments so that the school does not have to pay for them. One way students fundraise for their school is by holding school dances.
• School dances are after school events (usually held during the weekends) in which boys and girls come together (oftenly as "dates") and dance. The atmosphere and the mood is like the night clubs in Korea. Most widely known dances are the homecoming dance, which is held in the beginning of the school year, and prom, which is held at the end of the school year.
• The most important school dance of the year is the Prom. Prom is a reward for the graduating students. Boys ask girls to prom in speical and unique ways. They dress very formall in gowns and tuxedos. They eat at special restaurants and the dance is usually held at a special location. For example, at our school (Todd Beamer High School), our prom last year was held at the Seattle Aquarium.
• As you can see, the American High School experience is not complete without these important events.

Social Life

Social Life (in school) of American Teenagers
by Tyler Rivera, Lisha Sieloff, and Rachelle Seabolt

• In America, social life is very important to students.
• In the mornings and afternoons, most students take the school bus to and from school. Other students may drive to school once they get their license. Many 11th and 12th graders who are over 16years old can drive.
• During lunch, we may sit where ever we want, including outside. Many schools even allow students to go outside of the campus to eat during school hours.
• After school, most students choose to participate in extracurricular activities. Some students tay after school to study, while many others play a sport or take part in a school club.
• After school and on weekends, American students like to hang out with their friends. They enjoy going to the movies, shopping, and going to parties.
• These are the activities that American teenagers enjoy.