This year has flown by! We only have one more official week of classes and meetings. Be sure to join us for these last meetings! You won't be disappointed.
Saturday was the Grand Prix race at the Brickyard. How do you pronounce Grand Prix in Indiana? That was the debate on the new Saturday morning. Some people say: Graaahhnd (rhymes with bond) Pree. Others say: Grand (rhymes with sand) Pree. This race is a road race not a race on the oval. Rain doesn't matter: they have tires for that!
Sunday was Mother's Day. Happy day to all you mothers and grandmothers. Mother's
English Tip:
The other day I was at the Goodwill and saw a purse that I wasn't sure if my daughter would like. I asked a beautiful and stylish young lady what she thought of it. She answered me: "I no speak English." As you know, that never stops me! I needed her advice! It all worked out fine. We ended up having a simple conversation (and she let me know that my daughter wouldn't like the purse). Don't be afraid to talk.
A.J. Hoge's book Effortless English has a surprising chapter called "Why You Should Not Practice Speaking". WHAT?!! You are taking English classes and you meet native English speakers every day. Isn't this the perfect opportunity to practice your English? Hoge advises:
"This is why you must not try to "practice" English with native speakers. Instead of practicing, simply focus on being a true friend. Communicate, without focusing on the English language. Talk about your shared interests. Ask questions and listen to their answers. Show your appreciation and understanding (by listening and participating in the conversation). In other words, treat them just as you would a friend who speaks your own language." He advises:
- Never ask a friend or casual acquaintance to correct your English. (Also, It would have been very rude for me to correct the woman I was talking to and say: "It isn't 'I no speak English'! It is correct for you to say, 'I don't speak English!'")
- Don't apologize for your English; don't ask for any English advice at all. They are not your English teachers. (This is also awkward and interrupts the conversation. If you are stuck you can ask for help, "What would your call this color?" I'm not tall, but if I need help at the store getting something off a high shelf and someone taller walks by I don't say, "I am that I am too short to reach this shelf. Could you correct my height?")
- Listen during your speaking time. Stop worrying about speaking correctly. Stop worrying about remembering vocabulary. Your native speaker friend gives you idioms, slang and you learn the non-verbal clues that go with the conversation. (If you don't know what "lit" means, ask. That is fine...I ask people the same thing. That is just understanding what your friend is trying to tell you.)
If someone engages you in conversation in the store, listen and try to answer their question. You all hear English very well and can answer almost all of my casual questions.
It’s 10:20 pm. You are ready to sleep and start it all over again the next day.
- You can say, "I'm sorry, can you repeat what you just said" or "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you just asked." Often you don't understand because you didn't expect them to talk to you!
- Be patient with yourself. English words don't come readily to me all of the time and I'm a native English speaker!
- Remember pay attention to how you talk to your friends and family in your home language: there is more to talking than just words. Smile. Point.
A Special Month
A Special Month
This video: How to be a Good Ally to Muslims During Ramadan explains the significance of and how this holiday is observed by the entire Muslim community world wide. In practice, Muslims fast for 30 days from sun up to sundown May 5-June 4. During this time they also refrain from bad behavior such as bad language and reflect thankfully. Mosques offer meals to break the fast at the end of the day. This article from the IndyStar also offers a summary. Thank you to Syra for describing what it is like to personally observe Ramadan.
This video: How to be a Good Ally to Muslims During Ramadan explains the significance of and how this holiday is observed by the entire Muslim community world wide. In practice, Muslims fast for 30 days from sun up to sundown May 5-June 4. During this time they also refrain from bad behavior such as bad language and reflect thankfully. Mosques offer meals to break the fast at the end of the day. This article from the IndyStar also offers a summary. Thank you to Syra for describing what it is like to personally observe Ramadan.
So, you’ve got a full day. You’ve got a meeting at 10, then a lunch date at noon. You’ve got yoga at 4 then plan to get ready for your evening. In between all this you try to pray and be thankful for what you have. You have, after all been up since 4 am.
You’re fasting. It’s the month of Ramadan and you, like millions of practicing Muslims around the world, are observing it by abstaining from not only food and drink for a full day but also temptation, bad habits and ill behavior.
It’s not something that everyone is physically able to do, but you feel grateful to be able to do so. You feel humbled to be able to have the strength to fast, but you also know that you are part of a larger community.
It’s 8:30 pm and you’ve got 16 minutes until you can break your fast. Though, every day this time changes and gets later as it follows a lunar calendar. A crowd has begun to gather at the local mosque, or Muslim place of worship. Plates are filled with fruit and dates (dates being the customary way to break or end a fast at the end of the day). After five minutes, the evening prayer commences followed by dinner. You are tired, but stay up for more prayers late into the night.
It’s 10:20 pm. You are ready to sleep and start it all over again the next day.
You feel connected to your community and to your faith while also welcoming the sharing of ideas and cultures from all people.
Summer Meet Up!
Just because classes and meetings adjourn (and we are all on vacation) doesn't mean that we won't continue to see each other over the summer! Let's plan to meet the first and third Thursday morning of the month beginning at 11:00. Bring a drink and a snack to share (if you wish). Family and friends are welcome to join us. Mark your calendars:
June 6 and 20
July 4 and 18
August 1 and 15
Lawrence W. Inlow Park is 1.5 miles East of CLC at 6310 East Main Street.
This convenient park has a splash pad, a walking trail, Frisbee golf and more.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100
Join us for our last meeting of the 2018-19 year.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-12:00, room 100
It was a very happy day to be at International Friends! We have so many things that make us happy:
- Donuts: White House Donuts in 212 Main Street, Westfield has delicious donuts. This joint is open Tuesday-Saturday 5-11:00 or until they run out of donuts). They only take cash, but you can get a "six bucks box"!
- Healthy family: when your family is healthy life is great!
- Daily events that make you smile...Like bringing home squirrel leftovers and having a cat chasing a chipmunk off your front porch! Enjoy this little video. What makes this funnier is that our friend was bringing home squirrel leftovers!
- Cats: cats are so much fun! They always do something to make you smile.
- Rainbows, children and happy babies: is it a coincidence that the end of a full arc of the rainbow ends over your home or your son? I don't think so!
- Beautiful pictures of life events: In this case we got to take a break to Bolivia and imagine ourselves joining on a beach.
- Brownie chips and coffee: sitting down to chocolate and a cup of coffee! how much better can it get?
- Son's Graduation from Ball State: Having family come to the States and celebrate a family milestone; especially a milestone that includes a decision to give up life in your home country for your children.
- Hiking: Indiana hiking isn't usually rugged, but there are beautiful and interesting places to hike: Turkey Run was our favorite (today).
- Paddle boat on the canal in Indianapolis: Spending a beautiful spring day on the water in downtown Indy with your family! Wheel Fun Rentals has rentals
- Spring vegetables and cooking: Cooking for friends and enjoying spring foods. The Chinese chives are up and perfect now. Sticky rice stuffed with sweet and savory deliciousness. And pancakes made with chives, noodles and egg. YUM!
- Rosemaling is a Scandinavian craft. Getting in touch with your roots through the arts makes us happy.
- Jesus says "don't worry": Who can argue with God? Knowing God loves you and is always there for you makes our Friends happy and content.
- Singing and playing instruments: We had a great time singing and learning about ukuleles.
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
We celebrated the end of our academic year with the traditional, American pizza party complete with cake and soda or pop. I am so glad to get everyone together for one last meeting with this annual tradition. I hope that you are able to meet up over the summer and have a restful holiday! Don't stop talking and reading in English!
May 16: Parties are on. I think most of you are off campus enjoying your last day together as a class.
stylish: well dressed
worked out fine: was ok
debate: a discussion with opposing views presented publicly a formal settingengages you in conversation: starts to talk to you casually when you are out
casual acquaintance: someone you just met or know informally
ally: a friendly association with someone; usually used in a situation where one group of people supports another
significance: importance and meaning
observed: customs and behaviors practiced during a
fast: do not eat or drink as a religions practice or
refrain: to avoid doing something
Mosque: Muslim place of worship (Christians: church, Jews: temple)
personally: subjective, from a personal standpoint
funnier: more funny
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