Welcome July and Happy 250 Birthday U.S.A.!

 Click here to go directly to our webpages and read the Update and other pages.

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We now have transcripts and episodes are divided into chapters. Be sure to check the AI's work.

Happy Independence Day, Friends.

Welcome to the United States' greatest Federal holiday of the year! This year we are celebrating 250 years of freedom. Pregame celebrations began earlier this month, but the main event falls on a Saturday this year. In our local area, the different townships are staggering their parades which allows us to watch and participate. So, if your band is marching in the morning, you can watch a neighboring town's parade in the afternoon.

Fireworks, Concerts, Parades, Picnics, Fairs, and Festivals

Every community hosts events a party for Independence Day (or the Fourth of July). Pick one or two or more!  The Indiana Farm Bureau offers a nice article and schedule with links to the various events including festival sites. If you are elsewhere, search "fireworks" to see where to go for the show nearest you, or just ask around.

Comment to add your tips or opportunities.

Here in Indiana, the sunsets and it does not get fully dark until after 10:00 PM. Be ready to stay up late to see firework shows.  There are tricks and tips for parking and the best views that are different for every community. Regardless, here are tips for the day:

• Be prepared to wait in traffic when you leave.
• Watch in a safe location and be respectful of private property.
• Stay hydrated. We have had some wonderfully cool weather leading up to next week, but the Midwest summer heat and humidity are sure to show up for the Fourth.
• Use sunscreen.
• Be prepared for people in parade to throw candy. (Sometimes you get more candy than Halloween!)
• Watch for flyovers. 
• Be safe with you own fireworks and clean up afterwards.
• Be safe as you drive home and enjoy other people's personal fireworks.

FIFA Hospitality: 

We love our more than 3.6 million soccer fans! We are so glad that you are enjoying your time here and posting your impressions of our country. We love your stories and totally agree that Ranch Dressing is a food group of its own. Thank you for singing your patriotic songs and sharing your fan customs. 

They came for the World Cup. They fell in love with Buc-ee’s and ranch dip. is an article from NBC Tic Toc, X, and Facebook are all featuring stories of people experiencing what Americans find common. It is great to see our Walmart, Taco Bell, Target, Costco, and other stores and restaurants enjoyed.

• The real heros are the fans. 
• Japan doesn't talk trash, they take it out.
• The Best Sleepover Ever 

Words and Phrases

ask around: ask a variety of people for advice and for information

pregame: parties before the main event

Welcome June, FIFA, Summer Vacation

Click here to go directly to our webpages and read the Update and other pages.

Click here to listen to and follow our podcast "Sorry! What Did You Say?"  on Spotify in your browser

We now have transcripts and episodes are divided into chapters. Be sure to check the AI's work.

Hello, Friends.

It's summertime and the living is easy! Here in the states, we take our summer seriously. Seriously, let's go to the pool, take a road trip, go to camp, read a summer novel, bar-b-que, street fairs, fests, outdoor concerts. Take the plunge and jump in with both feet! 

This summer we get to host the FIFA 2026 World Cup. 

International Friends is on break, but you might notice some meetings pop up here and there. Most of our Friends, though, are busy with kids and vacations and heading back to home countries for a visit. Carving out time to meet over the summer is not easy.

America 250 and the National Archives in Washington D.C.

Free and Independent: Special Major Exhibition Opens as a “Celebration of the Declaration” shares the riveting story behind America’s most important founding document.

The Charters of Freedom are the documents of, by, and for the American people that are documented in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The handwritten documents are on display in the National Archives. Take a virtual peek. These documents were quickly drafted during dramatic times.

Read the history of the Declaration of Independence straight from the Archives. The story of the people that worked to define and preserve the ideals and freedom that we enjoy today.

Citizen Voice on the Hill

I had a fantastic opportunity to go to Washington D.C. and meet with Indiana congressional members or their staff to advocate for funding to be included in our federal budget for international initiatives. Since Congress had just convened, many of the members were in meetings. In some cases, we met with a staffer who took notes, answered questions, and directed us to further contact and opportunities to meet.

While all of the meetings were relatively brief, we all found that we were welcomed into the offices of the representatives and listened to. Meeting as a non-partisan group gave our message a that could be carried across the aisle.

Football or Soccer?

Welcome to the U.S. for football (or, as we say, soccer). The Netherlands brought their orange, double decker bus See More Here. Meanwhile. the Japanese don't talk trash, they take it out! Thank you for bringing your best and most fun to the U.S.

We hope that you have a great time! Excuse us if we say, "soccer". We won't change our "football".

Casual Business Conversation 

American culture follows a certain pattern that is used in many conversational situations both socially and formally. 

General, polite greeting: Hello. Good to see you. How have you been? What have you been up to? (not specific to our "work" topic).

A back and forth about general health and life for a couple of sentences. 

During this part of the conversation, find out about your colleague's current projects, needs, direction.

Introduce the specific topic about the meeting. This is for you to introduce. Please change the topic to the point of this meeting to the focus or goal of the meeting.

Begin with some general information

Lead your target colleague to ask questions and learn details. 

Include personal details for to add memorable interest and focus. Use "interesting" language like adjectives.

Wrap up and summarize the content in a couple of sentences (main points or ideas).

Ask if your colleague has any questions.

Set the next action which could be the date/time and agenda for the next meeting and the purpose.

Thank you and goodbye statements.

Try this formula out in different situations. Observe whether simple or more complex sentences structures work the best in this type of conversation.

American English for Kids Summer Program

Email International Friends for the restricted summer link.

This summer we are meeting on Zoom, 8-8:30 AM Eastern Daylight Savings Time on Zoom

• Wednesday, June 24.
• Wednesday, July 1 
• Thursday, July 30

We are practicing a Casual Business Conversation format. See the above article.

Words and Phrases

advocate: speak in behalf of or support

back and forth: giving and sharing in a conversation 

carving out time: making time, adjusting a schedule to do something

Congress: the law-making branch of the U. S, government that includes the Senate and the House of Representatives

convened: assembled or come together as a body

initiatives: legislative actions

 staffer: one of the group of people appointed to support or assist a member of congress

While all of the meetings were relatively brief, we all found that we were welcomed into the offices of the representatives and listened to. Meeting as a non-partisan group gave our message a that could be carried across the aisle.