Flying Through November

 Hello Friends,

It snowed here in the middle of Carmel. There was a big shift in temperatures with ALOT of snow (following 70-degree Fahrenheit days). We are preparing for our November in-person meet up, a Friendsgiving to celebrate Thanksgiving. This meet-up helps us learn about traditions as well as gives us the opportunity to socialize and have those important one-on-one conversations.

Join us at Cornerstone Lutheran Church. Enter Door 6. Follow the signs. The hands-on cooking demonstration begins at 10:30 in the gym kitchen. Feasting begins at 11:30 in the High School Classrooms.

Interpretation or Translation or Both

This week we had great discussions that were often around finding the right words to express what we want to say. Translation often includes interpretation. There is a saying that meaning gets lost in translation. Sometimes there just are not the words in one language to express what is meant in another language. People short cut by using the word in the original language (lots of words are included in the lexicon of a language this way), but even then, a more detailed description often has to follow. If you have an interpreter, you may get the gist of what is being said rather than the detailed meaning. We found that most people "get" 80 percent when they are not somehow emotionally involved when they reflect on what they heard. When someone is emotionally involved, they report understanding only about 40 percent. Our expectations color what we hear or add to our confusion. When we ask a question about how our children are performing in school, teachers in the United States tend to tell you in academic terms or standards rather than social standards.

Our Friends recommend that everyone listen for him or herself. If you do use a translator, realize that the dialect or the communication may not mirror your intent. Prepare for your meeting by listing all of your questions or what you want to know. Write everything out in English so if you "get stuck" you can show your notes. Be prepared to answer questions, yourself. When you do not understand, you can say: please repeat what you said, please slow down, please explain what you mean by [fill in the word or words]. 

Twenty Third Amendment to the Constitution of the United States

Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia

Amdt23.1Historical Background on Presidential Electors for the District of Columbia

Section 1

The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

Section 2

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM, Zoom

Normally, it is too soon to decorate for Christmas or to sing/play Christmas songs....but, when we thought about how to "sing" a Christmas hymn/carol seemed to be just the right thing (and this was before the snowy day!). This class likes to share with each other through text chatting. We decided on the song Joy to the World. We struggled with that fine line between literal translation and interpretation. We discovered that a direct translation was not really a challenge: we knew all but two or three of the words. Our challenge was in choosing how to sign "the Lord is come". ASL does not have forms of be. The intent of "Is come" tells that the message that Jesus continues to "come" to the world. We chose to fingerspell "is" but we had a great discussion about translating and interpreting.

Joy to the world

The Lord is come

Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart

Prepare him room

and heaven and nature sing

and heaven and nature sing

and heaven and heaven and nature sing 

• Joy to the World (traditional words and music)
• Joy to the World ASL with We Play Along (how to sign)
• Joy to the World by CODAS (this one is a favorite: the spirit of caroling and ASL is beautiful)

December 14: Sing/Sign Silent Night:

Silent night
Holy night
All is calm
All is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

American English Classes: Thursday, 9:00-10:00 AM, Zoom

We had a great class with important discussion about parent/teacher conferences. We talked about the expectations for education and progress for children in American schools and contrasted these with our home countries. We found that translators can be available to help at these meetings, but discussions proved that most people can "follow" the conversations, but that we are nervous, and our English words don't always come to us in time. We also observed that this is not uncommon no matter how familiar we are with the language. When our heart or emotions are involved, words escape us.

December 1: Review vocabulary G-L. and prepare for car accident scenarios.

American Accent Training: Thursday, 9:30-11:30, Zoom

Two topics: Bill's Tip and the sounds of "gh". The graphics say it all!

December 1: Back to Zoom

Kid's Conversation: Friday, 4:30-5:00 PM, Zoom

We shared the mashed potato sculpture. Making the mashed potatoes was not too hard, but as a material to sculpt, it was not that easy. Baking the potato sculpture afterwards, made the sculpture taste even better.

We talked about health and life.

November 18: Meet with us! We miss you if you have not been in a while.

color: influence

decided on: choose

graphics: visual representations/pictures

lexicon: words in a language

say it all: 

words escape me/us: you don't know what to say