Hello Friends,
Thursday was the Winter Solstice. Welcome Winter! Look for our day light hours to become longer. Meanwhile, take of advantage of the longer nights for those Winter naps.
Shoppers, look for last minute shopping and end of year bargains.
Have a fabulous and safe holiday break and see you next year!
Love,
Carolyn
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
"Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King!" Christmas is almost here, and this beloved carol reminds us that the joy we feel at Christmas should cause us to thank and praise God for the greatest gift of all, our Savior Jesus. Our opening discussion today was about Psalm 100, a psalm that is full of joy. But sometimes during the holiday season, we can feel overwhelmed with all the decorating, gift-buying, gift-wrapping, cookie-baking, cleaning, and food preparation that take up so much of our time. We can lose our focus, get caught up in the work, and forfeit our joy, replacing it with a smoldering resentment that our efforts are not understood or appreciated. It was great to talk with other women who encouraged one another to shift our focus back to Jesus and the joy that His birth brings to our world.
We also read and began discussion of chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew. It is the beginning of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. The first 12 verses are called the Beatitudes. Beatitudes describe a state of blessedness or ultimate happiness when a person is living life the way God intends it to be lived. Jesus begins by saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This is followed by seven more "Blessed are ..." verses naming a group of unfortunate or downtrodden people, followed by the blessings that will come to them because of their faith. There is so much to discuss from these twelve verses, and today we barely scratched the surface! ~Jan Heimann
overwhelmed: covered or buried beneath a mass of something; overpowered by an excessive amount of anything
forfeit: to lose or give up something
smoldering resentment: a slow-burning feeling of displeasure at some act, remark, person, etc., regarded as causing injury or insult
barely scratched the surface: just got started
January 9: We will continue to study the Beatitudes when we reconvene on Jan. 9th. Please join us from 9:30-10:30 in Room 100.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We talked about mythical creatures. It was fun to compare the different creatures across the cultures. We have the tiger grandma in China, a turtle-like creature that eats cucumber in Japan, trolls and elves across Europe, and a horse that has fire for a head from South America. We talked a little about the Slender Man (a modern mythical character) and Pokémon.
January 10: Join us to share our news of the break and plan for the new year.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We met to wind up the year with John. He read us one of his clever books that takes slang literally.
January 10: Bring your words that have no direct translation in English (without a long explanation). Bring an English word that needs an explanation.
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
There were some wonderful and festive holiday parties on Thursday. I hope that you had a great time! Thank you for the treats and the gifts and treasures. I hope that you have a nice break and practice your English with festive holiday greetings where ever you are traveling.
January 11: Join us as we start our new year!
Friday, December 22, 2017
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Friends!
This is the greeting you may be hearing throughout the town. These cheerful words are transformed into action during the holiday season. There are many opportunities to help others throughout the year but you will see churches, football teams, schools, police and firemen community assistance, and many others hosting events to help others during this season to bring gifts to people who have needs and cheer to those who are far from family.
It's not too late to jump in! You may have seen Toys for Tots donations centers; the U. S. Marines are the force behind this philanthropic drive to collect and distribute toys books and other gifts to less fortunate children in the local community with 97 percent of the donations going to children and three percent for overhead. You can donate money on line or you can donate new toys at any of these locations here in Indy. They still need toys for infants and toddlers and children nine years and older. There are other charity donation opportunities to make the holidays bright for children. Have you noticed the bell ringers outside stores? These people from Salvation Army are collecting money to help people in need focusing on social issues. The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that provides assistance internationally. There are many other opportunities to help others this season. It is a season for giving.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
I love Christmas music! Once Halloween is over at the end of October, I find myself seeking out the channels on my Pandora radio that play nothing but Christmas songs. I'm sure some people think I'm crazy for listening before Thanksgiving, but these songs remind me of the joy that is ours through the birth of Jesus. They remind me of the greatest gift ever given.
This week our Bible Study focused on the Christmas story, and we enjoyed singing together some beautiful Christmas carols about the birth of our Savior. God incarnate! It's incredible to think that God came to us in the form of a human baby, born in a stable and laid in a manger. Such humble beginnings for the King of the universe! The angel announced His birth to the shepherds and told them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Good news for ALL the people, no matter what nationality, no matter how young or how old, no matter how wealthy or how poor. He is our Immanuel, which means "God with us."~Jan Heimann
December 19: Join us as we read and discuss the Sermon on the Mount (one of Jesus' most comprehensive lessons) in Matthew 5. We will also be reading Psalm 100.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We celebrated with our annual Christmas party. We had delicious food and drinks and a table full of desserts. We sang the 12 Days of Christmas. This is a classic! We found out that some countries sing these same songs, but the order gifts is different (five doves instead of F-I-V-E G-O-L-D-E-N R-I-N-G-S). We had delicious dishes. I know I gained more than a few pounds from this meal. We enjoyed a white elephant gift exchange. The most popular gifts were a holiday platter and a toaster oven! We had great treasures for everyone. It is always fun to see what winds up being a white elephant for someone and a great treasure for someone else. It was hard to decide what to steal at the end of the day.
December 19: Join us for our final meeting of the year.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We read the classic American poem "Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore in 1822. Listen to this version set to music that has become a standard at all holiday variety shows. There have been a number of spoofs written over time that play on this poem. We also reviewed a list of typical words heard this season.
December 21: We will wrap up our last class of the year in fine style!
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
There was so much great work going on in the classes this week. Everyone continues to work hard and to improve. I am amazed what you can accomplish in just a few weeks!
December 22: Join us even if your class isn't meeting. You can sit in on our other classes and see what everyone else is up to.
jump in: participate
in need: people needing help
social issues: problems that emerge in a society
force behind: the people who work to make something happen
overhead: costs to operate an organization including facilities, salaries, equipment, etc
make the holidays bright: make the days happy and hopeful
humble: not proud or arrogant; modest
This is the greeting you may be hearing throughout the town. These cheerful words are transformed into action during the holiday season. There are many opportunities to help others throughout the year but you will see churches, football teams, schools, police and firemen community assistance, and many others hosting events to help others during this season to bring gifts to people who have needs and cheer to those who are far from family.
It's not too late to jump in! You may have seen Toys for Tots donations centers; the U. S. Marines are the force behind this philanthropic drive to collect and distribute toys books and other gifts to less fortunate children in the local community with 97 percent of the donations going to children and three percent for overhead. You can donate money on line or you can donate new toys at any of these locations here in Indy. They still need toys for infants and toddlers and children nine years and older. There are other charity donation opportunities to make the holidays bright for children. Have you noticed the bell ringers outside stores? These people from Salvation Army are collecting money to help people in need focusing on social issues. The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that provides assistance internationally. There are many other opportunities to help others this season. It is a season for giving.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
I love Christmas music! Once Halloween is over at the end of October, I find myself seeking out the channels on my Pandora radio that play nothing but Christmas songs. I'm sure some people think I'm crazy for listening before Thanksgiving, but these songs remind me of the joy that is ours through the birth of Jesus. They remind me of the greatest gift ever given.
This week our Bible Study focused on the Christmas story, and we enjoyed singing together some beautiful Christmas carols about the birth of our Savior. God incarnate! It's incredible to think that God came to us in the form of a human baby, born in a stable and laid in a manger. Such humble beginnings for the King of the universe! The angel announced His birth to the shepherds and told them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Good news for ALL the people, no matter what nationality, no matter how young or how old, no matter how wealthy or how poor. He is our Immanuel, which means "God with us."~Jan Heimann
December 19: Join us as we read and discuss the Sermon on the Mount (one of Jesus' most comprehensive lessons) in Matthew 5. We will also be reading Psalm 100.
We celebrated with our annual Christmas party. We had delicious food and drinks and a table full of desserts. We sang the 12 Days of Christmas. This is a classic! We found out that some countries sing these same songs, but the order gifts is different (five doves instead of F-I-V-E G-O-L-D-E-N R-I-N-G-S). We had delicious dishes. I know I gained more than a few pounds from this meal. We enjoyed a white elephant gift exchange. The most popular gifts were a holiday platter and a toaster oven! We had great treasures for everyone. It is always fun to see what winds up being a white elephant for someone and a great treasure for someone else. It was hard to decide what to steal at the end of the day.
December 19: Join us for our final meeting of the year.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We read the classic American poem "Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore in 1822. Listen to this version set to music that has become a standard at all holiday variety shows. There have been a number of spoofs written over time that play on this poem. We also reviewed a list of typical words heard this season.
December 21: We will wrap up our last class of the year in fine style!
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
There was so much great work going on in the classes this week. Everyone continues to work hard and to improve. I am amazed what you can accomplish in just a few weeks!
December 22: Join us even if your class isn't meeting. You can sit in on our other classes and see what everyone else is up to.
jump in: participate
in need: people needing help
social issues: problems that emerge in a society
force behind: the people who work to make something happen
overhead: costs to operate an organization including facilities, salaries, equipment, etc
make the holidays bright: make the days happy and hopeful
Christmas carols: songs about the holiday some carols are hymns and some are secular
incarnate: embodied in flesh; given a bodily, especially a human, formhumble: not proud or arrogant; modest
winds up: the end or final event
at the end of the day: not really in the evening, but finally
set to music: turned into a song
see what everyone else is up to: what other people are doing
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Holiday Traditions
Happy Holidays Friends,
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The light snow today helps set the mood and spirit of the holidays. One beautiful thing about this season is that old traditions are observed and new traditions are instituted. Christmas in America can be both religious and secular. You can attend church services at any church (and please do, everyone is welcome to come and hear the stories). You can enjoy holiday decorations and special programs and events including a visit to Santa, caroling, and so much more. It is so fun to start a new family tradition: decorating, cookie baking, watching special television programs and wearing gaudy sweaters. No matter how you choose to celebrate, remember that at the heart of Christmas is love, care, comfort, joy, peace and giving.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
We read Matthew 4:18-25 where Jesus recruits His apostles (the staff ). The interview process is simple: Jesus says "follow me and I will make you fishers of men" (as opposed to fishermen; an interesting twist of words). They immediately left with Jesus and traveled through Galilee where Jesus taught and healed people. Large crowds from Syria, Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and across the Jordan found Him and followed Him (without being invited, specifically). Wow! Check out the map! Let's count the miracles: people follow Jesus immediately, people are healed, people from warring nations travel together in unity.
December 12: Join us in the chapel as we celebrate with Lessons and Carols. We will read the Christmas story and sing Christmas hymns.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We baked traditional and new traditional Christmas cookies. You can find our recipes here or get a copy from Carolyn at church.
December 12: You and your kin are invited to join us for our Christmas Party. Bring a dish to share and a white elephant gift if you wish to participate in our gift exchange.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We enjoyed a taste of Iran with delicious cookies. We talked about holidays from the Easy English News. We talked about if and/or how we celebrate Christmas in our home countries as well as other winter traditions.
set the mood: ambiance, help people feel the same way
spirit of the holidays: the feeling behind the celebration
season: a period of the calendar year that is marked by behaviors or events
observed: followed as opposed to the usual meaning of watching
instituted: begun formally
gaudy: fashion that is so showy it is tasteless, obnoxious, or over the top
at the heart: the reason
recruits: finds suitable people for a team or job
interview: question and answer to determine if someone is right for the job
twist of words: poetic or pun not to be confused with "twist my words" which means using someone's word to misrepresent what they have said (not a good thing)
miracle: a surprising and explainable welcome event that is considered the work of God
and/or: when you see and/or you can use either word as is appropriate for your situation; you may see his/her when reading a
be sure to check: ask and confirm
through: to
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The light snow today helps set the mood and spirit of the holidays. One beautiful thing about this season is that old traditions are observed and new traditions are instituted. Christmas in America can be both religious and secular. You can attend church services at any church (and please do, everyone is welcome to come and hear the stories). You can enjoy holiday decorations and special programs and events including a visit to Santa, caroling, and so much more. It is so fun to start a new family tradition: decorating, cookie baking, watching special television programs and wearing gaudy sweaters. No matter how you choose to celebrate, remember that at the heart of Christmas is love, care, comfort, joy, peace and giving.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
We read Matthew 4:18-25 where Jesus recruits His apostles (the staff ). The interview process is simple: Jesus says "follow me and I will make you fishers of men" (as opposed to fishermen; an interesting twist of words). They immediately left with Jesus and traveled through Galilee where Jesus taught and healed people. Large crowds from Syria, Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and across the Jordan found Him and followed Him (without being invited, specifically). Wow! Check out the map! Let's count the miracles: people follow Jesus immediately, people are healed, people from warring nations travel together in unity.
December 12: Join us in the chapel as we celebrate with Lessons and Carols. We will read the Christmas story and sing Christmas hymns.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We baked traditional and new traditional Christmas cookies. You can find our recipes here or get a copy from Carolyn at church.
December 12: You and your kin are invited to join us for our Christmas Party. Bring a dish to share and a white elephant gift if you wish to participate in our gift exchange.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We enjoyed a taste of Iran with delicious cookies. We talked about holidays from the Easy English News. We talked about if and/or how we celebrate Christmas in our home countries as well as other winter traditions.
December 13: Join us as we talk about New Year Traditions and plan a field trip next week!
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
We are scheduled to meet through December 21. Be sure to check with your teachers for your individual class plans and schedules through the end of the year.
light snow: a dusting, not a lotEnglish Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
We are scheduled to meet through December 21. Be sure to check with your teachers for your individual class plans and schedules through the end of the year.
set the mood: ambiance, help people feel the same way
spirit of the holidays: the feeling behind the celebration
season: a period of the calendar year that is marked by behaviors or events
observed: followed as opposed to the usual meaning of watching
instituted: begun formally
gaudy: fashion that is so showy it is tasteless, obnoxious, or over the top
at the heart: the reason
recruits: finds suitable people for a team or job
interview: question and answer to determine if someone is right for the job
twist of words: poetic or pun not to be confused with "twist my words" which means using someone's word to misrepresent what they have said (not a good thing)
miracle: a surprising and explainable welcome event that is considered the work of God
and/or: when you see and/or you can use either word as is appropriate for your situation; you may see his/her when reading a
be sure to check: ask and confirm
through: to
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Holiday Cooking and Next Week!
Hello, Friends.
Some quick notes (and last minute recipes) from this week's meetings. I hope you have a safe and happy holiday week and weekend as we kick off this glorious season!
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
The International Friends Bible Study group took a look at Psalm 40 this week. David's psalm begins with five verses that praise the Lord for His past mercies and for blessings too numerous to count. As we approach the Thanksgiving weekend, we talked not only about what we are thankful for, but to Whom we give thanks for all the blessings we enjoy.
Verses 6-8 are a commitment to God's will: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced (or opened?), burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, 'Here I am, I have come - it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.' " We had a great discussion about whose commitment these verses describe. King David's? Jesus Christ's? Ours? All of the above??? Certainly Jesus fulfilled this commitment perfectly, with His death and resurrection providing the final sacrifice for sin, the only one needed.
The closing verses are a prayer for God's help. We laughed about how David asked God to shame the people who say to him, "Aha! Aha!" It's not so different from all the people digging up dirt and pointing fingers at wrongdoers in today's news! They seem to take great pleasure in pointing out other people's shortcomings. Such a meaningful psalm for us to study!~Jan Heimann
November 28: Join us as we begin the first eight verses of Psalm 119.
wrongdoer: one who transgresses moral laws
digging up dirt: finding out bad things about someone
pointing fingers: assigning blame or responsibility
shortcoming: a failure, defect, or deficiency in conduct, condition, thought, ability, etc.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We explored pumpkin pies and added spices to taste. Instead of being heavy on cinnamon, we cut back on the specified amount substituted cloves for nutmeg (see below). Everyone agreed that this was a delightful combination. We used this classic and foolproof (as I demonstrated) pie crust recipe from following food processor instructions. I plan to explore their Easy Oil Pastry. for this recipe you don't need a rolling pin and you can whip it up in a pinch!
Tuesday, November 28: Paper Angel Making with Mehrin.
Join us as we make adorable paper angels for seasonal decorations. Bring scissors, tape and your glue gun (if you have one). Here is a link
Easy Oil Pastry
1 1/4 all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cooking oil
3 Tablespoons milk
In a medium bowl stir together flour, sugar and salt. Add oil and milk all at once to flour mixture. Stir lightly with a fork. Form into a ball. Press dough firmly into bottom and up sides of a 9 inch pie plate. Fill and bake as directed.
pursue: usually chase, but in this case we are engaging in an action or course (you pursue English).
quick access: able to get to easily and quickly
to taste: changing the seasoning of a recipe to match how you prefer something to be cooked
heavy on: a lot of, more than necessary
foolproof: not able to be ruined easily
whip it up in a pinch: make quickly when you are short on time
Some quick notes (and last minute recipes) from this week's meetings. I hope you have a safe and happy holiday week and weekend as we kick off this glorious season!
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
The International Friends Bible Study group took a look at Psalm 40 this week. David's psalm begins with five verses that praise the Lord for His past mercies and for blessings too numerous to count. As we approach the Thanksgiving weekend, we talked not only about what we are thankful for, but to Whom we give thanks for all the blessings we enjoy.
Verses 6-8 are a commitment to God's will: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced (or opened?), burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, 'Here I am, I have come - it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.' " We had a great discussion about whose commitment these verses describe. King David's? Jesus Christ's? Ours? All of the above??? Certainly Jesus fulfilled this commitment perfectly, with His death and resurrection providing the final sacrifice for sin, the only one needed.
The closing verses are a prayer for God's help. We laughed about how David asked God to shame the people who say to him, "Aha! Aha!" It's not so different from all the people digging up dirt and pointing fingers at wrongdoers in today's news! They seem to take great pleasure in pointing out other people's shortcomings. Such a meaningful psalm for us to study!~Jan Heimann
November 28: Join us as we begin the first eight verses of Psalm 119.
wrongdoer: one who transgresses moral laws
digging up dirt: finding out bad things about someone
pointing fingers: assigning blame or responsibility
shortcoming: a failure, defect, or deficiency in conduct, condition, thought, ability, etc.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We explored pumpkin pies and added spices to taste. Instead of being heavy on cinnamon, we cut back on the specified amount substituted cloves for nutmeg (see below). Everyone agreed that this was a delightful combination. We used this classic and foolproof (as I demonstrated) pie crust recipe from following food processor instructions. I plan to explore their Easy Oil Pastry. for this recipe you don't need a rolling pin and you can whip it up in a pinch!
Tuesday, November 28: Paper Angel Making with Mehrin.
Join us as we make adorable paper angels for seasonal decorations. Bring scissors, tape and your glue gun (if you have one). Here is a link
Easy Oil Pastry
1 1/4 all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cooking oil
3 Tablespoons milk
In a medium bowl stir together flour, sugar and salt. Add oil and milk all at once to flour mixture. Stir lightly with a fork. Form into a ball. Press dough firmly into bottom and up sides of a 9 inch pie plate. Fill and bake as directed.
1 15 oz can of pumpkin
1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk (or a 12 oz can evaporated milk and ½ C sugar)
2 eggs slightly beaten
2 ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice (1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp ground cloves)
½ tsp salt
1 9-inch unbaked pie crust (this is a simple recipe from Better Homes and Garden)
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Combine all the filling ingredients and pour them into the pie crust. Bake 35-40 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before cutting. Serve with whipped cream.
pursue: usually chase, but in this case we are engaging in an action or course (you pursue English).
quick access: able to get to easily and quickly
to taste: changing the seasoning of a recipe to match how you prefer something to be cooked
heavy on: a lot of, more than necessary
foolproof: not able to be ruined easily
whip it up in a pinch: make quickly when you are short on time
Sunday, November 19, 2017
You and your kin are invited to...
The International Friends
Holiday Party
Tuesday, December 12, 10:30-12:00
CLC, room 100
White Elephant Gift Exchange
Bring a dish to share
Wear your Holiday Dazzle
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear Friends,
This coming week we will celebrate Thanksgiving. This is a good time to take stock of everything you are thankful for. For me, I am thankful for the opportunity to make so many friends from so many places. I am thankful to Cornerstone Church for giving us to meet so many days during the year and for providing childcare so that we can enjoy each other's company and know that our children have a chance to also meet and make friends. I am thankful to the many volunteer teachers and staff that dedicate their time to help us grow to be comfortable and welcome here in beautiful Indiana. I am thankful for my family, my home and my country. I hope that you have a great feast and pray that God blesses you with all that you need to enjoy life here.
There are so many wonderful things to enjoy during this season including bazaars, Christmas light shows, holiday shows and more. Here is a sample but be sure to check our pages of Things to Do for more.
Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) marks the official start of the Christmas holiday season.
The Circle of Lights free, big event on 6:00-8:00, November 24 on Monument Circle lights are lit.
The Brickyard has a great drive on the track and road course. See the webpage for tickets and times.
Carmel Criskindlmarkt is a new event where you can eat, shop and enjoy music at traditional German style winter fest through December 24.
Christmas at the Zoo promises a wonderful evening outing that includes lights and fun with all the animals.
The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel has a great line-up of holiday shows.
Holidays at Connor Prairie are always fun with gingerbread villages and candlelight tours.
Hillbert Circle Yuletide Celebration is a traditional variety show.
And...don't miss your school plays, musicals and concerts for the holidays.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
Psalm 18 is a psalm David sang to the Lord in thanksgiving for deliverance from his enemies. This song is also recorded in 2 Samuel chapter 22 (almost word for word!), as part of the story of David's life. We discussed some of the words David used to describe God: rock, fortress, shield, horn of salvation. These images of strength and protection from God are very comforting to us, and we thank Him for His protection.
We also continued our study of the fourth chapter of Matthew, including how Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. We learned that 40 is a number that signifies testing, with other examples in the Bible including the people of Israel wandering in the desert for 40 years, Moses staying on the mountain for 40 days and nights, and Elijah traveling for 40 days and nights as he fled from Queen Jezebel's death threats.
We found out from class members that in many Asian cultures the number four is a scary number signifying death. People avoid using it, much like the western culture avoids the number 13.
November 21: Join us as we study Psalm 40 and continue reading Matthew 4 about the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus.
November 12: Join us in the chapel at CLC to sing carols and read the Christmas story
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
Sylvia hosted a wonderful discussion about etiquette. We had a fun time comparing how each country views social occasions as well as casual and formal eating events. We compared how even the Western cultures approach a place setting and even the holding of a knife and fork and how Eastern cultures view holding plates and bowls while eating.
The definitive guide for Western formal manners is Emily Post. Emily Post online is a great source for formal and casual interactions. At the site they deal with current concerns including on-line interactions and behavior. Demonstrating good manners in all things demonstrates that you have self esteem and that you care for the feelings of others. Don't get intimidated by new customs and manners: you can watch and learn.
This also leads to social debate. I know that many of you would like to engage in civilized discussion about religion, politics and child rearing (all of which many people will advise you not to do around the Thanksgiving table or at holiday parties). I recently attended a very good talk by Lee Hamilton and Dick Lugar (Indiana statesmen) who talked about how to engage and disagree and still leave the table in both formal and informal settings without losing friends or making enemies. Many people like to end by saying that we will, "agree to disagree." This statement means that the discussion is over, but it is a term that often shuts the door for any further conversation on touchy matters. This statement can also end a friendship or potential friendship because it is seen as condescending and closing the door to any conversation (I am right, you are not; we will never agree and further conversation with you is a waste of my time) A better way to diffuse a heated conversation is to say, "That is a a very interesting perspective and I will have to consider this further." You can easily change the subject to a neutral point, "This turkey is really delicious!" Lee Hamilton directed that George Washington wrote 110 Rules of Civility when he was 16 years old. You can go to this Mount Vernon link and vote for your favorite.
November 21: Join us as we wrap up the autumn season with conversation and I am available to answer questions.
November 28: Sukiyaki with Fukuko and Harumi
December 5: Let's bake Christmas cookies
December 12: Our annual holiday party!
December 19: Wrap up the end of the year.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We always have interesting
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms
I had a wonderful time visiting all of your classes this week. There was so much to learn from each class.:
We talked about sitting in and having a sit in in our writing class when we welcomed Christina (our latest staff member and student teacher).
Level 2 created a great acrostic poem that they shared with me:
Turkey dinner
Hot food
All together
Nice party
Kitchen kindness
Sharing people
Conversation class had private lessons! Where was everyone...but we aren't complaining we just missed you.
Level 1 worked on flash cards to expand vocabulary. What a great way to get all of your senses involved in memorizing!
November 23: Happy Thanksgiving! No classes. Enjoy your break and see you November 30.
Black Friday: the big shopping day the Friday after Thanksgiving
lit: when light are turned on or candles are lighted
variety show: a show with singing, dancing, comedy and skits, magic, etc.
word for word: verbatim; being in or following the exact words
horn of salvation: strong Savior
to fast: to abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance
to signify: to be a symbol of; to be an indication of
view: often this means to look at something, but in this case it means an opinion
definitive: comprehensive or final
self esteem: your personal worth
intimidated: overwhelmed
engage in civilized discussion: chat about sensitive matters without arguing
statesman: someone who works politically with the best interests of the country at heart rather than working for a party or for power
touchy matters: sensitive ideas
condescending: attitude superiority; being better that others
closing the door: stopping any further discussion
diffuse: make something threatening safer; in this case you can save a friendship
heated conversation: argument
civility: formal politeness in action and speaking
This coming week we will celebrate Thanksgiving. This is a good time to take stock of everything you are thankful for. For me, I am thankful for the opportunity to make so many friends from so many places. I am thankful to Cornerstone Church for giving us to meet so many days during the year and for providing childcare so that we can enjoy each other's company and know that our children have a chance to also meet and make friends. I am thankful to the many volunteer teachers and staff that dedicate their time to help us grow to be comfortable and welcome here in beautiful Indiana. I am thankful for my family, my home and my country. I hope that you have a great feast and pray that God blesses you with all that you need to enjoy life here.
There are so many wonderful things to enjoy during this season including bazaars, Christmas light shows, holiday shows and more. Here is a sample but be sure to check our pages of Things to Do for more.
Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) marks the official start of the Christmas holiday season.
The Circle of Lights free, big event on 6:00-8:00, November 24 on Monument Circle lights are lit.
The Brickyard has a great drive on the track and road course. See the webpage for tickets and times.
Carmel Criskindlmarkt is a new event where you can eat, shop and enjoy music at traditional German style winter fest through December 24.
Christmas at the Zoo promises a wonderful evening outing that includes lights and fun with all the animals.
The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel has a great line-up of holiday shows.
Holidays at Connor Prairie are always fun with gingerbread villages and candlelight tours.
Hillbert Circle Yuletide Celebration is a traditional variety show.
And...don't miss your school plays, musicals and concerts for the holidays.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
Psalm 18 is a psalm David sang to the Lord in thanksgiving for deliverance from his enemies. This song is also recorded in 2 Samuel chapter 22 (almost word for word!), as part of the story of David's life. We discussed some of the words David used to describe God: rock, fortress, shield, horn of salvation. These images of strength and protection from God are very comforting to us, and we thank Him for His protection.
We also continued our study of the fourth chapter of Matthew, including how Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. We learned that 40 is a number that signifies testing, with other examples in the Bible including the people of Israel wandering in the desert for 40 years, Moses staying on the mountain for 40 days and nights, and Elijah traveling for 40 days and nights as he fled from Queen Jezebel's death threats.
We found out from class members that in many Asian cultures the number four is a scary number signifying death. People avoid using it, much like the western culture avoids the number 13.
November 21: Join us as we study Psalm 40 and continue reading Matthew 4 about the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus.
November 12: Join us in the chapel at CLC to sing carols and read the Christmas story
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
Sylvia hosted a wonderful discussion about etiquette. We had a fun time comparing how each country views social occasions as well as casual and formal eating events. We compared how even the Western cultures approach a place setting and even the holding of a knife and fork and how Eastern cultures view holding plates and bowls while eating.
The definitive guide for Western formal manners is Emily Post. Emily Post online is a great source for formal and casual interactions. At the site they deal with current concerns including on-line interactions and behavior. Demonstrating good manners in all things demonstrates that you have self esteem and that you care for the feelings of others. Don't get intimidated by new customs and manners: you can watch and learn.
This also leads to social debate. I know that many of you would like to engage in civilized discussion about religion, politics and child rearing (all of which many people will advise you not to do around the Thanksgiving table or at holiday parties). I recently attended a very good talk by Lee Hamilton and Dick Lugar (Indiana statesmen) who talked about how to engage and disagree and still leave the table in both formal and informal settings without losing friends or making enemies. Many people like to end by saying that we will, "agree to disagree." This statement means that the discussion is over, but it is a term that often shuts the door for any further conversation on touchy matters. This statement can also end a friendship or potential friendship because it is seen as condescending and closing the door to any conversation (I am right, you are not; we will never agree and further conversation with you is a waste of my time) A better way to diffuse a heated conversation is to say, "That is a a very interesting perspective and I will have to consider this further." You can easily change the subject to a neutral point, "This turkey is really delicious!" Lee Hamilton directed that George Washington wrote 110 Rules of Civility when he was 16 years old. You can go to this Mount Vernon link and vote for your favorite.
November 21: Join us as we wrap up the autumn season with conversation and I am available to answer questions.
November 28: Sukiyaki with Fukuko and Harumi
December 5: Let's bake Christmas cookies
December 12: Our annual holiday party!
December 19: Wrap up the end of the year.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We always have interesting
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms
I had a wonderful time visiting all of your classes this week. There was so much to learn from each class.:
We talked about sitting in and having a sit in in our writing class when we welcomed Christina (our latest staff member and student teacher).
Level 2 created a great acrostic poem that they shared with me:
Turkey dinner
Hot food
All together
Nice party
Kitchen kindness
Sharing people
Conversation class had private lessons! Where was everyone...but we aren't complaining we just missed you.
Level 1 worked on flash cards to expand vocabulary. What a great way to get all of your senses involved in memorizing!
November 23: Happy Thanksgiving! No classes. Enjoy your break and see you November 30.
Black Friday: the big shopping day the Friday after Thanksgiving
lit: when light are turned on or candles are lighted
variety show: a show with singing, dancing, comedy and skits, magic, etc.
word for word: verbatim; being in or following the exact words
horn of salvation: strong Savior
to fast: to abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance
to signify: to be a symbol of; to be an indication of
view: often this means to look at something, but in this case it means an opinion
definitive: comprehensive or final
self esteem: your personal worth
intimidated: overwhelmed
engage in civilized discussion: chat about sensitive matters without arguing
statesman: someone who works politically with the best interests of the country at heart rather than working for a party or for power
touchy matters: sensitive ideas
condescending: attitude superiority; being better that others
closing the door: stopping any further discussion
diffuse: make something threatening safer; in this case you can save a friendship
heated conversation: argument
civility: formal politeness in action and speaking
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Dear Friends,
We are having technical difficulties. Please be patient as I sort these things out with our provider.
Thank you,
Carolyn
Technical difficulties: problems related with our technological equipment and applications
sort these thing out: find out what is wrong
provider: the organization that performs a service
We are having technical difficulties. Please be patient as I sort these things out with our provider.
Thank you,
Carolyn
Technical difficulties: problems related with our technological equipment and applications
sort these thing out: find out what is wrong
provider: the organization that performs a service
Thursday, November 2, 2017
November
Hello, Friends.
This week was a week of highs and lows in the weather. We had a few cold days with flakes of snow and sleet followed by wonderful, crisp weather for Trick or Treating on Halloween followed by some warm and rainy days that were almost like spring. This is fall in Indiana. Gradually, we will see colder and colder weather until we have a whole week of cold and snow.
Daylight savings ends on Sunday, November 5. This weekend we "fall back." Be prepared to get an extra hour of sleep. If you have clocks in your home that you set manually (like on your stove or microwave), don't forget to set the time back an hour when you go to bed on Saturday.
We have an exciting week ahead of us at International Friends. We have two dinners as well as a great day of English practice and learning. I hope you can join us!
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
Our two readings this week, Psalm 1 and Matthew 4, both look at the choice of good versus evil. In Psalm 1 we are told that it is wise to avoid walking with the wicked. We discussed how easily we can be tempted by others to do bad things. It's not just teenagers who can easily be influenced by peer pressure or cultural norms! We have all walked that path at times. The wiser choice is to walk the path of righteousness in faith, which leads to blessings from God and His protection.
Matthew 4 begins with the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan. Talk about a classic example of good vs. evil! After His baptism, Jesus went out into the desert for 40 days, where He fasted and prayed and focused on preparing for His public ministry. Because of our lively discussion, we only touched on the first of Satan's three temptations. We have so much more to learn from this story! We will continue to look at Jesus's response to each of these temptations and how He combated Satan.
November 7: Please join us as we go deeper into this story. We will also be reading Psalm 133.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We had a great time carving pumpkins into Jack o Lanterns. Any and all pumpkins are edible, but not all of them are the best for eating. If you are going to make a pie or use a pumpkin for baking, choose the smaller pie pumpkin. The giant pumpkins used for carving are more decorative. There is little flesh and it is usually watery and tasteless. That being said, these bigger pumpkins often have great seeds for eating (they are bigger and there are more of them). These pumpkins also make great vessels for cooking and serving chilis and stews. Shrimp in a Pumpkin is a Brazilian dish that is easy to put together and is a spectacular to serve. The best part is that you don't have to wash a pot when you are finished.
November 7: Join us as we feast. Bring your favorite feasting dish (and the recipe for our recipe book). Sylvia will have a formal place setting for you to learn more about western table settings and table manners.
November 14: Sylvia will lead a discussion about dining customs both in the US and in your home countries. What is the usual and polite practices for eating? What is taboo?
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 101B for this week only.
We spent a little time talking about favorite autumn seasonal food or autumn food specialty from your home country. A food that you eat primarily at harvest time. John shared his delicious Apple Crisp recipe (along with a taste).
November 8: We will feast on turkey and stuffing and your favorite dish. We are meeting in room 101B. Bring your family and a dish to share.
Thank you for allowing me a moment to promote our Thanksgiving feast. It seems like its a little premature for talking about Thanksgiving, but time is running out! We only have two more weeks to prepare for this favorite American holiday.
November 9: Join us as we continue to study and practice English together.
in the weather: using "in" may be confusing here because "in" usually implies something that is enclosed by something else. In this case, "in" implies a change in the condition of the weather.
crisp weather: refreshing and cold weather
manually: by hand, not automatically or electronically (your cell phones will automatically change to the correct time)
dinner: a main and special meal after noon. We have breakfast, lunch and supper as usual meals. Brunch is a meal that combines both breakfast and lunch and usually runs later in the morning until early in the afternoon.
This week was a week of highs and lows in the weather. We had a few cold days with flakes of snow and sleet followed by wonderful, crisp weather for Trick or Treating on Halloween followed by some warm and rainy days that were almost like spring. This is fall in Indiana. Gradually, we will see colder and colder weather until we have a whole week of cold and snow.
Daylight savings ends on Sunday, November 5. This weekend we "fall back." Be prepared to get an extra hour of sleep. If you have clocks in your home that you set manually (like on your stove or microwave), don't forget to set the time back an hour when you go to bed on Saturday.
We have an exciting week ahead of us at International Friends. We have two dinners as well as a great day of English practice and learning. I hope you can join us!
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
Our two readings this week, Psalm 1 and Matthew 4, both look at the choice of good versus evil. In Psalm 1 we are told that it is wise to avoid walking with the wicked. We discussed how easily we can be tempted by others to do bad things. It's not just teenagers who can easily be influenced by peer pressure or cultural norms! We have all walked that path at times. The wiser choice is to walk the path of righteousness in faith, which leads to blessings from God and His protection.
Matthew 4 begins with the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan. Talk about a classic example of good vs. evil! After His baptism, Jesus went out into the desert for 40 days, where He fasted and prayed and focused on preparing for His public ministry. Because of our lively discussion, we only touched on the first of Satan's three temptations. We have so much more to learn from this story! We will continue to look at Jesus's response to each of these temptations and how He combated Satan.
November 7: Please join us as we go deeper into this story. We will also be reading Psalm 133.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We had a great time carving pumpkins into Jack o Lanterns. Any and all pumpkins are edible, but not all of them are the best for eating. If you are going to make a pie or use a pumpkin for baking, choose the smaller pie pumpkin. The giant pumpkins used for carving are more decorative. There is little flesh and it is usually watery and tasteless. That being said, these bigger pumpkins often have great seeds for eating (they are bigger and there are more of them). These pumpkins also make great vessels for cooking and serving chilis and stews. Shrimp in a Pumpkin is a Brazilian dish that is easy to put together and is a spectacular to serve. The best part is that you don't have to wash a pot when you are finished.
November 7: Join us as we feast. Bring your favorite feasting dish (and the recipe for our recipe book). Sylvia will have a formal place setting for you to learn more about western table settings and table manners.
November 14: Sylvia will lead a discussion about dining customs both in the US and in your home countries. What is the usual and polite practices for eating? What is taboo?
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 101B for this week only.
We spent a little time talking about favorite autumn seasonal food or autumn food specialty from your home country. A food that you eat primarily at harvest time. John shared his delicious Apple Crisp recipe (along with a taste).
November 8: We will feast on turkey and stuffing and your favorite dish. We are meeting in room 101B. Bring your family and a dish to share.
In the month of November, the United States celebrates Veterans Day. This Federal and State holiday (businesses and schools usually do not have this as a day off) is always on November 11 and was established in 1919 by President Wilson in recognition of the Armistice which was signed by the Allied and Axis powers which ended World War I and to remember those service men who died in that war. In 1954 by an Act of Congress and signed by President Eisenhower changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to remember all of the veterans who served in the armed forces.
Be prepared to share how your home country recognizes the efforts and service of the men and women who serve or have served in the military.
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.Thank you for allowing me a moment to promote our Thanksgiving feast. It seems like its a little premature for talking about Thanksgiving, but time is running out! We only have two more weeks to prepare for this favorite American holiday.
November 9: Join us as we continue to study and practice English together.
in the weather: using "in" may be confusing here because "in" usually implies something that is enclosed by something else. In this case, "in" implies a change in the condition of the weather.
crisp weather: refreshing and cold weather
manually: by hand, not automatically or electronically (your cell phones will automatically change to the correct time)
dinner: a main and special meal after noon. We have breakfast, lunch and supper as usual meals. Brunch is a meal that combines both breakfast and lunch and usually runs later in the morning until early in the afternoon.
versus: against, as opposed to, in contrast with
combated: fought with; struggled against to reduce or eliminate
edible: fit for human consumption; fit for eating
put together: prepare
taboo: practices that are not permitted socially or religiously; forbidden
a little: not much
primarily: mainly
Federal and State holiday: Federal and state offices are closed for the day; don't plan to get official business done or
premature: too early; something that happens before its time to happen
primarily: mainly
Federal and State holiday: Federal and state offices are closed for the day; don't plan to get official business done or
premature: too early; something that happens before its time to happen
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Let’s Feast!
You're invited to our Thanksgiving Feast
Join at 10:30 and learn to prepare:
Tuesday, November 7 at CLC in room 100.
Join at 10:30 and learn to prepare:
- roast turkey with stuffing and gravy
- cranberry sauce
- green bean casserole
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Happy Halloween
Hello Friends,
We had our first frost Thursday morning. Is there snow around the corner? We will have to see.
Tuesday is Halloween and one of the most enjoyable holidays of the year. If you want to entertain trick or treaters, you decorate and leave your porch lights on. If you don't want to give out treats, keep your lights off. The times are slightly different per area; click to see the time for you community from WISH TV. It looks like the weather will be nice, so you should get plenty of scary visitors. Some communities have Halloween parades, some churches or companies sponsors Trunk or Treating (this is like tailgating and trick or treating; read more in this IndyStar article).
Some tips for a fun and safe Halloween:
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
"O LORD, our Lord, How Majestic is Your Name in all the earth!" With this praise King David begins his eighth psalm, glorifying God for His goodness, which he sees all around him in nature and even in the words of praise that come from children. We talked about how inspiring a children's choir can be, singing God's praise with their pure hearts and voices. David says the world around us also testifies to God's glory. It's impossible for me to look at the stars and the moon shining in the night sky without feeling in awe of our amazing God, who made it all!
We also finished the third chapter of Matthew and the story of John the Baptist. When the Pharisees and Sadducees (two groups of Jewish religious and social leaders) came out to the Jordan River to see what was going on, John had some strong words for them. He basically called them a bunch of snakes! We discussed the idea that John felt a responsibility to point out their hypocrisy and their need to repent and clean up their lives. John spoke to them in their own language and style to remind them that they were sinners in need of a Messiah. John's role was to prepare the way for Jesus, by making people aware of their need for a Savior. John baptized Jesus to "fulfill all righteousness," and Jesus received the approval of His Heavenly Father and was filled with the Holy Spirit. What an amazing event!~Jan Heimann October 31: Please join us next week when we will read Psalm 1 and begin our study of Matthew Chapter 4.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We met and enjoyed talking about 101 things that we do in America or that we do as Americans. Some of the statements seemed run of the mill to us natives, but they made for interesting discussions. It was interesting to compare how many things are the same around the world and how many customs we take for granted.
October 31: Bring your pumpkin and a knife and a large spoon and join us as we carve pumpkins into Jack o Lanterns! We will roast the pumpkin seeds and talk about Halloween preparations.
We had our first frost Thursday morning. Is there snow around the corner? We will have to see.
Tuesday is Halloween and one of the most enjoyable holidays of the year. If you want to entertain trick or treaters, you decorate and leave your porch lights on. If you don't want to give out treats, keep your lights off. The times are slightly different per area; click to see the time for you community from WISH TV. It looks like the weather will be nice, so you should get plenty of scary visitors. Some communities have Halloween parades, some churches or companies sponsors Trunk or Treating (this is like tailgating and trick or treating; read more in this IndyStar article).
Some tips for a fun and safe Halloween:
- Be sure to take a flashlight.
- Be careful running wearing masks and costumes.
- Adults dress up too!
- Look through the treats in your children's bags and throw away any candy that isn't wrapped.
- Be careful driving: children wearing masks and seeking candy don't watch what they are doing.
- Do go with your kids and enjoy the night! Older kids will want to go with their friends, but make sure you know where they are and who they are with at all times.
- Do enjoy answering the door and practice your English skills by complementing the small superheros and princesses.
- Try and enjoy a meal before you go out to trick or treat.
- Don't eat all your candy in one night (this includes the candy you buy to give out!)
- Have a great and scary and fun night.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
"O LORD, our Lord, How Majestic is Your Name in all the earth!" With this praise King David begins his eighth psalm, glorifying God for His goodness, which he sees all around him in nature and even in the words of praise that come from children. We talked about how inspiring a children's choir can be, singing God's praise with their pure hearts and voices. David says the world around us also testifies to God's glory. It's impossible for me to look at the stars and the moon shining in the night sky without feeling in awe of our amazing God, who made it all!
We also finished the third chapter of Matthew and the story of John the Baptist. When the Pharisees and Sadducees (two groups of Jewish religious and social leaders) came out to the Jordan River to see what was going on, John had some strong words for them. He basically called them a bunch of snakes! We discussed the idea that John felt a responsibility to point out their hypocrisy and their need to repent and clean up their lives. John spoke to them in their own language and style to remind them that they were sinners in need of a Messiah. John's role was to prepare the way for Jesus, by making people aware of their need for a Savior. John baptized Jesus to "fulfill all righteousness," and Jesus received the approval of His Heavenly Father and was filled with the Holy Spirit. What an amazing event!~Jan Heimann October 31: Please join us next week when we will read Psalm 1 and begin our study of Matthew Chapter 4.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We met and enjoyed talking about 101 things that we do in America or that we do as Americans. Some of the statements seemed run of the mill to us natives, but they made for interesting discussions. It was interesting to compare how many things are the same around the world and how many customs we take for granted.
October 31: Bring your pumpkin and a knife and a large spoon and join us as we carve pumpkins into Jack o Lanterns! We will roast the pumpkin seeds and talk about Halloween preparations.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.We have been talking about puns and a couple of people shared a pun they knew in their language, and explained them to us. We had some good chuckles and laughs. We read two articles from the November newspaper...one focusing on issues with North Korea. Our South Korean Friend shared some information from the perspective of South Koreans, which was very interesting as well. We also read the article on grocery shopping in America and specifically shopping for produce (spent a little time talking about produce and produce....as in to "produce a new automobile" and "purchasing produce at the grocery store"). We ended by reading some from the Fred Gwynne book, which everyone seemed to enjoy, talking about the play on words..
November 1: This time of the year is called autumn or the fall. It is the time when many crops are harvested by our farmers and when our vegetable garden gives up its last yummy bits of goodness. It is a time for picking apples, squashes and pumpkins and making some food dishes that are made mostly in the fall. Things like apple pie or apple crisp, pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie are baked.
What is a favorite fall or autumn food or dish from your home country that is a seasonal food item that you eat mostly at harvest time? Think about this and be prepared to talk about this with our class.~John Happersberger
What is a favorite fall or autumn food or dish from your home country that is a seasonal food item that you eat mostly at harvest time? Think about this and be prepared to talk about this with our class.~John Happersberger
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
It was nice to visit each class and see what is happening. I hope that you are feeling comfortable with your teachers and with the other students. Sometimes it takes a while to catch on to a new class, so it is always good to give a new class some time. When you join an English (or any other language class) your success in learning the language lies in building a relationship between you and the other members of the class. When you are comfortable talking and listening you will learn faster.
have to see: wait to find out
it looks like: it seems
majestic: characterized by or possessing supreme greatness or authority; having regal or lofty grandeur
hypocrisy: pretending to have a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess
hypocrisy: pretending to have a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess
reading some: reading some
play on words: clever use of words like puns
harvest time: the season for gathering crops, in the United States our traditional harvest time is the fall even though crops are harvested throughout the year
catch on to: to understand
harvest time: the season for gathering crops, in the United States our traditional harvest time is the fall even though crops are harvested throughout the year
catch on to: to understand
You're invited to feast....
You're invited to our Thanksgiving Feast
Join at 10:30 and learn to prepare:
Tuesday, November 7 at CLC in room 100.
Join at 10:30 and learn to prepare:
- roast turkey with stuffing and gravy
- cranberry sauce
- green bean casserole
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Getting ready for Halloween
Boo! Friends.
Are you getting ready for Halloween:
- Finding the perfect character to dress up as
- Putting together your costume
- Decorating you home
- Selecting candy to give out
- Watching the weather forecast
- Making your pumpkin carving plan...
What?!!
Let me know what you think.
We are carving pumpkins on Tuesday, October 31 starting at 10:30 in room 100.
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Creepy Scamming
Hello, Friends,
Have you ever received a scamming e-mail? Usually you get a hint in advance that there is trouble, but I got a pretty good trick in my inbox. This one said it was from Apple and I was being charged almost $100 for a Pandora subscription. I don't use Pandora...I don't even use iTunes for music, so there is a real problem here! I went to my iTunes account to see if I accidentally ordered something (Nope! Nothing there). Then I called my husband to see if he ordered something. Finally, I called the Apple App department. The operator asked me to look at the origin of the email and it said: "apple@do.not_replay". She told me that you will only receive emails with the addresses that end with @apple.com or @icloud.comn from Apple. She said to never hesitate to call their help line: 1-800-275-2273 when you see something suspicious. Another scam that is going around is one that tells you to purchase gift cards or iTunes cards and use them to pay. Unfortunately, many people get taken by these scams! Never click on a suspicious email and certainly, never give your Social Security Number or Tax ID.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100
Psalm 37 provides a vivid contrast between the wicked and the righteous people. We enjoyed learning the word for "wicked" in several different languages, and decided that the Chinese word just sounds like a description of a bad person! We discussed the idea that following God's rules for living leads to a blessed life. God warns that wicked people will reap what they sow. We began the third chapter of Matthew with the story of the preaching of John the Baptist. He was telling the people to "clean up their act" and repent of their sinful ways. The Jews in the crowd would have known the prophecies of Isaiah from over 700 years earlier, that a forerunner would prepare the way for the coming Messiah. It was good that they had this knowledge, but what was important was how they responded to John's preaching. For us, too, knowledge is important, but acts of love that spring from that knowledge are even more important.
October 24: Join us when we read and discuss Psalm 8 and finish the third chapter of Matthew.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100
We had a fun visit to the scary Halloween store in the strip mall at Greyhound pass. They had a great variety of costumes and accessories as well as decorations. Generally, they had some decent prices. After shopping (but not buying) we headed over to Wal Mart to see what they have. We browsed through the candy selections and the decorations. There is a much smaller collection of costumes there, but you could throw something together just from things that are available in the general merchandise.
October 24: The Nickel Plate Art Museum is not open on Tuesdays. Let's meet at the church. Debi will share 101 Characteristics of Americans/American Culture. This is a wonderful list to compare what we are really like here in the States and what you may know from TV or other impressions you might have.
scamming, scam: a dishonest scheme, a fraud
hint: a suggestion
subscription: an advance agreement to pay for something for example you pay a subscription to receive a magazine or newspaper for a year
accidentally: unintentionally
nope: slang for no
going around: making the rounds, being experienced by many people (i.e. The flu is going around.)
taken: tricked
hesitate: to pause or stop before acting or doing something
reap what they sow: get what they have coming to them, experience the consequences of their bad behavior
forerunner: a person who goes or is sent in advance to announce the coming of someone or something that follows
accessories: hats, gloves, jewelry other pieces that enhance your outfit
generally: not specifically
general merchandise: the goods at the store, but nothing in particular
play on words: something that has a double meaning
incongruous: not in keeping with
compare: to notice similarities and differences
impressions: idea, feeling or opinion about something
Have you ever received a scamming e-mail? Usually you get a hint in advance that there is trouble, but I got a pretty good trick in my inbox. This one said it was from Apple and I was being charged almost $100 for a Pandora subscription. I don't use Pandora...I don't even use iTunes for music, so there is a real problem here! I went to my iTunes account to see if I accidentally ordered something (Nope! Nothing there). Then I called my husband to see if he ordered something. Finally, I called the Apple App department. The operator asked me to look at the origin of the email and it said: "apple@do.not_replay". She told me that you will only receive emails with the addresses that end with @apple.com or @icloud.comn from Apple. She said to never hesitate to call their help line: 1-800-275-2273 when you see something suspicious. Another scam that is going around is one that tells you to purchase gift cards or iTunes cards and use them to pay. Unfortunately, many people get taken by these scams! Never click on a suspicious email and certainly, never give your Social Security Number or Tax ID.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100
Psalm 37 provides a vivid contrast between the wicked and the righteous people. We enjoyed learning the word for "wicked" in several different languages, and decided that the Chinese word just sounds like a description of a bad person! We discussed the idea that following God's rules for living leads to a blessed life. God warns that wicked people will reap what they sow. We began the third chapter of Matthew with the story of the preaching of John the Baptist. He was telling the people to "clean up their act" and repent of their sinful ways. The Jews in the crowd would have known the prophecies of Isaiah from over 700 years earlier, that a forerunner would prepare the way for the coming Messiah. It was good that they had this knowledge, but what was important was how they responded to John's preaching. For us, too, knowledge is important, but acts of love that spring from that knowledge are even more important.
October 24: Join us when we read and discuss Psalm 8 and finish the third chapter of Matthew.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100
We had a fun visit to the scary Halloween store in the strip mall at Greyhound pass. They had a great variety of costumes and accessories as well as decorations. Generally, they had some decent prices. After shopping (but not buying) we headed over to Wal Mart to see what they have. We browsed through the candy selections and the decorations. There is a much smaller collection of costumes there, but you could throw something together just from things that are available in the general merchandise.
October 24: The Nickel Plate Art Museum is not open on Tuesdays. Let's meet at the church. Debi will share 101 Characteristics of Americans/American Culture. This is a wonderful list to compare what we are really like here in the States and what you may know from TV or other impressions you might have.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209
We enjoyed a punny evening. A pun is a play on words that is so fun because the real joke is that the word being used as a pun gives us a mental image that is incongruous with the usual meaning of the word and makes us groan.
October 25: Bring a punny statement from your home language, be prepared to explain it in English and why it is funny.
International Bible Study: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms
Listening to a language is an important way to learn it. You are very luck to be learning English in Indiana. Most people here have a perfect broadcaster accent to listen and learn.
We enjoyed a punny evening. A pun is a play on words that is so fun because the real joke is that the word being used as a pun gives us a mental image that is incongruous with the usual meaning of the word and makes us groan.
October 25: Bring a punny statement from your home language, be prepared to explain it in English and why it is funny.
International Bible Study: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms
Listening to a language is an important way to learn it. You are very luck to be learning English in Indiana. Most people here have a perfect broadcaster accent to listen and learn.
scamming, scam: a dishonest scheme, a fraud
hint: a suggestion
subscription: an advance agreement to pay for something for example you pay a subscription to receive a magazine or newspaper for a year
accidentally: unintentionally
nope: slang for no
going around: making the rounds, being experienced by many people (i.e. The flu is going around.)
taken: tricked
hesitate: to pause or stop before acting or doing something
reap what they sow: get what they have coming to them, experience the consequences of their bad behavior
forerunner: a person who goes or is sent in advance to announce the coming of someone or something that follows
accessories: hats, gloves, jewelry other pieces that enhance your outfit
generally: not specifically
general merchandise: the goods at the store, but nothing in particular
play on words: something that has a double meaning
incongruous: not in keeping with
compare: to notice similarities and differences
impressions: idea, feeling or opinion about something
Friday, October 13, 2017
What's for dinner?
Hello, Friends,
We have been meeting for a month, now. I hope that you are continuing to grow in your English skills. I have enjoyed listening to the different conversations that have been sprouting up between our friends. It is fun to talk about life in Indiana and to learn so much about our area. One question this week was what do Americans usually eat for dinner. This is a fun question to think about. My home menu this week included: bite night (a meal of appetizers), Filipino chicken and coconut soup over rice, chili with meat, chicken pot pie, grilled salmon with rice and salad. With the cooler weather, we will have more pasta, pot roasts and stews and soups. Sometimes I will make a casserole or a crock pot meal when we have a really busy schedule and are in and out and eating at all hours. We also like to have stuffed peppers and stuffed cabbage. Usually American meals include a salad and a vegetable or two, a potato or rice, and a meat. We also like desserts. Dinner continues to be the time when we get together and catch up at the end of the day. It doesn't matter what we eat as much as that we can spend the time together.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, Room 100.
We began our Bible Study this week with Psalm 34. "Praise the Lord!" Some people raise their hands up in the air and shout. Others are more reserved and quiet. We discussed individual and cultural differences in worship practices. One participant shared that when she and her siblings were children, they asked their parents to bless them morning and night. And, of course, they did. What a lovely custom!
We also finished the second chapter of Matthew by reading about and discussing King Herod's slaughter of baby boys under the age of two in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. His jealousy that Jesus had been called "the King of the Jews" by the visiting Magi motivated this horrible act. Joseph, warned in a dream, took Jesus and Mary to Egypt to keep Jesus safe from Herod. We admired Joseph's faithfulness and the courage he showed as Jesus' earthly father.
If you would like to read a historical novel about Mary and Joseph and the Christmas story, I highly recommend the book "Two From Galilee" by Marjorie Holmes.
October 17: Join us as we read and discuss a Psalm and the book of Matthew culture, ideals and human nature as well as current events and politics. Everyone is welcome and you don't have to be a Christian to come.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, Room 100
Debi shared her recipe for Apple Cake. This delicious and moist cake that is lovely with tea. Aside from the moist fruit, this cake features a delicious streusel topping . We also made an apple Dutch baby. This is a cross between a pancake and a souffle. We made ours in a cast iron pan (this 3-piece set is available from Walmart for just under $25), but you can use any baking dish.
October 17: Meet at the church to caravan/carpool to Spirit Halloween, 1960 East Greyhound Pass (in the strip mall by Wal Mart). Click on the link to get a coupon for 20% off one item.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, Room 209
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms
Join us as we learn more and practice our English. All of our classes are lead by volunteers who have experience teaching adults and our staff is experienced in leading English classes. Our Wednesday conversation class welcomes anyone who wishes to practice their English conversation skills. Students are placed in the best class level for them in our Thursday classes to help them improve in specific areas according to their level of English proficiency.
in and out: coming and going
all hours: different times; not a set schedule
reserved: formal or self-restrained in manner and relationship
slaughter: the brutal or violent killing of a person
novel: a fictitious prose narrative of considerable length and complexity, portraying characters and usually presenting a sequential organization of action and scenes
lovely: goes well with, perfect
moist: damp, not wet
streusel: a sweet, crumbly topping
strip mall: stores are arranged in a row with a sidewalk along the front also know as a shopping plaza
We have been meeting for a month, now. I hope that you are continuing to grow in your English skills. I have enjoyed listening to the different conversations that have been sprouting up between our friends. It is fun to talk about life in Indiana and to learn so much about our area. One question this week was what do Americans usually eat for dinner. This is a fun question to think about. My home menu this week included: bite night (a meal of appetizers), Filipino chicken and coconut soup over rice, chili with meat, chicken pot pie, grilled salmon with rice and salad. With the cooler weather, we will have more pasta, pot roasts and stews and soups. Sometimes I will make a casserole or a crock pot meal when we have a really busy schedule and are in and out and eating at all hours. We also like to have stuffed peppers and stuffed cabbage. Usually American meals include a salad and a vegetable or two, a potato or rice, and a meat. We also like desserts. Dinner continues to be the time when we get together and catch up at the end of the day. It doesn't matter what we eat as much as that we can spend the time together.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, Room 100.
We began our Bible Study this week with Psalm 34. "Praise the Lord!" Some people raise their hands up in the air and shout. Others are more reserved and quiet. We discussed individual and cultural differences in worship practices. One participant shared that when she and her siblings were children, they asked their parents to bless them morning and night. And, of course, they did. What a lovely custom!
We also finished the second chapter of Matthew by reading about and discussing King Herod's slaughter of baby boys under the age of two in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. His jealousy that Jesus had been called "the King of the Jews" by the visiting Magi motivated this horrible act. Joseph, warned in a dream, took Jesus and Mary to Egypt to keep Jesus safe from Herod. We admired Joseph's faithfulness and the courage he showed as Jesus' earthly father.
If you would like to read a historical novel about Mary and Joseph and the Christmas story, I highly recommend the book "Two From Galilee" by Marjorie Holmes.
October 17: Join us as we read and discuss a Psalm and the book of Matthew culture, ideals and human nature as well as current events and politics. Everyone is welcome and you don't have to be a Christian to come.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, Room 100
Debi shared her recipe for Apple Cake. This delicious and moist cake that is lovely with tea. Aside from the moist fruit, this cake features a delicious streusel topping . We also made an apple Dutch baby. This is a cross between a pancake and a souffle. We made ours in a cast iron pan (this 3-piece set is available from Walmart for just under $25), but you can use any baking dish.
October 17: Meet at the church to caravan/carpool to Spirit Halloween, 1960 East Greyhound Pass (in the strip mall by Wal Mart). Click on the link to get a coupon for 20% off one item.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, Room 209
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms
Join us as we learn more and practice our English. All of our classes are lead by volunteers who have experience teaching adults and our staff is experienced in leading English classes. Our Wednesday conversation class welcomes anyone who wishes to practice their English conversation skills. Students are placed in the best class level for them in our Thursday classes to help them improve in specific areas according to their level of English proficiency.
in and out: coming and going
all hours: different times; not a set schedule
reserved: formal or self-restrained in manner and relationship
slaughter: the brutal or violent killing of a person
novel: a fictitious prose narrative of considerable length and complexity, portraying characters and usually presenting a sequential organization of action and scenes
lovely: goes well with, perfect
moist: damp, not wet
streusel: a sweet, crumbly topping
strip mall: stores are arranged in a row with a sidewalk along the front also know as a shopping plaza
Friday, October 6, 2017
Want some great learning theory to help your English? Read to the end!
Hello, Friends.
Have you had a chance to think about what you want to be for Halloween? Do you know where to look for costume ideas? You may be tempted to start at Costco where they have so many premade outfits, but most of the best are created. An online search will give you a really fun result: I typed in Halloween costumes and got a nice list of online shopping. Even better, I got a map that included "local results for Halloween costumes" that included Goodwill, Charming Charlie, Party City, and Spirit Halloween (a pop up store where the Marsh used to be in Grayhound Pass). I would add Walmart, Hobby Lobby and Michael's to that list! We have owls in the back yard. I'm sure your children already have some great ideas. Will you let them run with them? Let's talk about that this week.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, Room 100
Do we need to ask God for His help? Does God ever "move"? These were just two of the many questions we talked about as we read Psalm 121 this week. This beautiful Psalm reassures us that God is everywhere and that He watches over us, much like we parents watch over our own children.
We also began the second chapter of Matthew, where we read the story of the Wise Men (Magi) following the star to the place where the Christ Child was. They interpreted the appearance of this wondrous star as proof that a king had been born, and they brought gifts for Him that remind us of Jesus' roles as eternal King (gold), the Holy One of God (incense) who would suffer in our place (myrrh). -Jan Heimann
October 10: We will continue this story in Matthew 2:13-23 as we look at the reaction of Herod the Great to the news that a new King of the Jews had been born. Please join our group as we study God's Word and discuss in English. We will begin with Psalm 34.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, Room 100
We met in the parking lot to celebrate the tradition of tailgating. Tailgating is when we meet in the parking lot to celebrate before (and sometimes after) an event. We tasted some new favorites (share your recipe!). And as promised, here's how to make Buffalo chicken wings...
Serve with a side of ranch dressing with or without blue cheese and celery sticks.
Learning a new language can be a great challenge and a fun pastime. The real question you have to face is why you want to learn the language? The answer is usually so that you can communicate with other people. Everyone is an expert at language learning and practicing: you do it every day...Although not usually in English. You share ideas and concepts as well as commands and questions with the people around you. You ask for clarification and simplification. By the time you get to be an adult, you take language learning for granted until you set out to learn a new language! All of a sudden it is so very hard to remember simple ideas. It is frustrating to start at square one and not be able to say what you want to say without reaching for words (and then selecting the wrong one!). How can this be fun?
First of all, remember that learning a new language is a social project. You have to practice with other people. This is great for your mind and your body. People who interact socially are healthier than people who do not. Stay healthy and enjoy yourself with some good conversation (in English...with me!).
Secondly, you have to put in vocabulary time. This can be really dull and seemingly useless, but when you tie your vocabulary words to something that is meaningful to YOU you learn much faster. Flash cards are the best way to do this. Flash cards you make yourself with hand drawn pictures are the very best way. If you write the matching word, you aren't making as many memory connections.
Third, you have to forget to remember. This is a really weird thing about learning so many things. Every time you forget and then remember, you are building more paths to that word and idea. If you take the time to forget and then refresh your memory, you are building highways!
Fourth, in the beginning of this Update I added a sentence that may not have made sense in the context of the paragraph since it didn't have anything to do with Halloween. Do you remember what it was? What was the subject? Where were they? Did you go back to the beginning when I asked you about this to see the sentence? Do you have a picture in your head for this? What do you imagine? All of these questions are answered every time you learn a new word or idea. Since so much of language is in a "code", you have to make a relation to a concrete concept. Since the sentence didn't fit, you either passed it over as unessential or you said, "Hmmm? I wonder what that was all about?" and that helped it stick in your mind.
Fifth: There are some really cool on-line language tools like Memrise and Duolingo that are free and have apps that can be played with anywhere on your smart phone or tablet. Playing is exactly what this is like with these tools.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------turn these into flash cards----
let them run with them: do what they want
reassures: restores confidence
reaction: action in response to some influence, event, etc.
wondrous: amazing
God's Word: the Bible is called God's Word; another name for Jesus (John 1:1)
a side: a dish or food that aren't the primary focus of the meal
put it on the calendar: make a schedule
pastime: a pleasurable activity
take...for granted: don't think about or consider
set out: begin
start at square one: begin at the very beginning of an endeavor
reaching for words: trying to explain something without having a vocabulary to back it up
put in time: work or practice
really weird thing: strange
stick in your mind: make something memorable
really cool: neat, or other out of date expressions meaning rad or awesome or in the most current teen-slang "lit"
Have you had a chance to think about what you want to be for Halloween? Do you know where to look for costume ideas? You may be tempted to start at Costco where they have so many premade outfits, but most of the best are created. An online search will give you a really fun result: I typed in Halloween costumes and got a nice list of online shopping. Even better, I got a map that included "local results for Halloween costumes" that included Goodwill, Charming Charlie, Party City, and Spirit Halloween (a pop up store where the Marsh used to be in Grayhound Pass). I would add Walmart, Hobby Lobby and Michael's to that list! We have owls in the back yard. I'm sure your children already have some great ideas. Will you let them run with them? Let's talk about that this week.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, Room 100
Do we need to ask God for His help? Does God ever "move"? These were just two of the many questions we talked about as we read Psalm 121 this week. This beautiful Psalm reassures us that God is everywhere and that He watches over us, much like we parents watch over our own children.
We also began the second chapter of Matthew, where we read the story of the Wise Men (Magi) following the star to the place where the Christ Child was. They interpreted the appearance of this wondrous star as proof that a king had been born, and they brought gifts for Him that remind us of Jesus' roles as eternal King (gold), the Holy One of God (incense) who would suffer in our place (myrrh). -Jan Heimann
October 10: We will continue this story in Matthew 2:13-23 as we look at the reaction of Herod the Great to the news that a new King of the Jews had been born. Please join our group as we study God's Word and discuss in English. We will begin with Psalm 34.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, Room 100
We met in the parking lot to celebrate the tradition of tailgating. Tailgating is when we meet in the parking lot to celebrate before (and sometimes after) an event. We tasted some new favorites (share your recipe!). And as promised, here's how to make Buffalo chicken wings...
- grill or bake wings at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes or until cooked.
- dip in a sauce made with 3 parts melted butter to one part hot sauce of your choice (for example I used three sticks of butter and one 12 ounce bottle of Louisiana Hot Sauce)
- return the wings to the grill to crisp and brown or broil them turning until they are crispy
- dip them back in the sauce
Serve with a side of ranch dressing with or without blue cheese and celery sticks.
October 10: We will learn a couple of dishes that include our delicious fall apples. Debi will share her apple cake recipe. We will plan the rest of October and put it on the calendar!
More October Ideas: The Nickel Plate Art Show to see Debi's art hanging; Spirit Halloween in Grayhound Pass, carve pumpkins into Jack o Lanterns for Halloween
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, Room 207
John shared a whole list of Homophones used in sentences. It was extremely fun to compare these words in clever sentences. I am happy to share these with any of you. Let me know if you are interested.
October 11: Bring your Current in (Carmel, Westfield, etc.) and any questions you have to talk about. We will get our October Easy English News and see what is new.
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, Upstairs Classrooms
More October Ideas: The Nickel Plate Art Show to see Debi's art hanging; Spirit Halloween in Grayhound Pass, carve pumpkins into Jack o Lanterns for Halloween
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, Room 207
John shared a whole list of Homophones used in sentences. It was extremely fun to compare these words in clever sentences. I am happy to share these with any of you. Let me know if you are interested.
October 11: Bring your Current in (Carmel, Westfield, etc.) and any questions you have to talk about. We will get our October Easy English News and see what is new.
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, Upstairs Classrooms
Learning a new language can be a great challenge and a fun pastime. The real question you have to face is why you want to learn the language? The answer is usually so that you can communicate with other people. Everyone is an expert at language learning and practicing: you do it every day...Although not usually in English. You share ideas and concepts as well as commands and questions with the people around you. You ask for clarification and simplification. By the time you get to be an adult, you take language learning for granted until you set out to learn a new language! All of a sudden it is so very hard to remember simple ideas. It is frustrating to start at square one and not be able to say what you want to say without reaching for words (and then selecting the wrong one!). How can this be fun?
First of all, remember that learning a new language is a social project. You have to practice with other people. This is great for your mind and your body. People who interact socially are healthier than people who do not. Stay healthy and enjoy yourself with some good conversation (in English...with me!).
Secondly, you have to put in vocabulary time. This can be really dull and seemingly useless, but when you tie your vocabulary words to something that is meaningful to YOU you learn much faster. Flash cards are the best way to do this. Flash cards you make yourself with hand drawn pictures are the very best way. If you write the matching word, you aren't making as many memory connections.
Third, you have to forget to remember. This is a really weird thing about learning so many things. Every time you forget and then remember, you are building more paths to that word and idea. If you take the time to forget and then refresh your memory, you are building highways!
Fourth, in the beginning of this Update I added a sentence that may not have made sense in the context of the paragraph since it didn't have anything to do with Halloween. Do you remember what it was? What was the subject? Where were they? Did you go back to the beginning when I asked you about this to see the sentence? Do you have a picture in your head for this? What do you imagine? All of these questions are answered every time you learn a new word or idea. Since so much of language is in a "code", you have to make a relation to a concrete concept. Since the sentence didn't fit, you either passed it over as unessential or you said, "Hmmm? I wonder what that was all about?" and that helped it stick in your mind.
Fifth: There are some really cool on-line language tools like Memrise and Duolingo that are free and have apps that can be played with anywhere on your smart phone or tablet. Playing is exactly what this is like with these tools.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------turn these into flash cards----
let them run with them: do what they want
reassures: restores confidence
reaction: action in response to some influence, event, etc.
wondrous: amazing
God's Word: the Bible is called God's Word; another name for Jesus (John 1:1)
a side: a dish or food that aren't the primary focus of the meal
put it on the calendar: make a schedule
pastime: a pleasurable activity
take...for granted: don't think about or consider
set out: begin
start at square one: begin at the very beginning of an endeavor
reaching for words: trying to explain something without having a vocabulary to back it up
put in time: work or practice
really weird thing: strange
stick in your mind: make something memorable
really cool: neat, or other out of date expressions meaning rad or awesome or in the most current teen-slang "lit"
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