Working on Working

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Hello, Friends.

Our weather here in Indiana is switching up daily. Precipitation predictions are widely irregular and often incorrect. Just when you think spring is peeking up out of the ground, winter reappears. That was the case this weekend. Surprise snow covered the wet and rainy ground with slush. Click here to take a minute to geek out on slush. 

This week will prove to be super cold again, so be sure to take winterization precautions.

American English Tricks and Techniques

Tongue twisters are a fun way to tweak pronunciation practice. Try them with a friend for giggles and grins. Don't worry if they are tough. These are tough for native speakers.

Practice switching between short i and short e. These two can be easily mistaken and mispronounced. Be careful! In American English, these two letters have a different sound than in many other languages. Short e sounds like "eh" and starts in your throat and stops in the back of your mouth. Short "i" has a higher tone and starts and ends mid-mouth.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

There are growly r's in this tongue twister as well as popping p's.

Here's a video.

Here is a fun YouTube Video with a few more.

Learning Skills

This week we practiced and drilled on building our stories and through building our personal narrative, we build our American English language and culture knowledge and skills. See what we have been doing. Incorporate the techniques practiced and demonstrated:

• Brainstorming to build vocabulary and grammar skills.
• Open ended questioning (who, what, when, where, why, how) to build sentence structure.
• Applying nonsense and fun to break self-consciousness and self-criticism and increase mouth muscle memory.
• Writing down on paper to communicate with others and open a dialogue.
• Writing to engage more senses in the process (seeing, physical action, speech, hearing).
• Reading and discussing other people's stories for connection and to expand personal knowledge.

International Friends Meeting Notes

Join us! Click here to register.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

As we read we are continuing to discover that The Bible is not a book that is boring or full of self-righteous people and drivel, contrary to so many opinions. Genesis is definitely a page turner.

Genesis 37 introduces us to Joseph: our next big personality. Joseph (Jacob's favorite son) dreams dreams where his brothers and father bow down to him. Being a 17 year old he happily relates the dreams to his family. They are not happy. Read the story! It's a good one. In thinking about this, Joseph aside from being a normal teenage know it all, he is blessed with insight that is contrary to the family order. And, that gets him in trouble with his brothers.

Genesis 38 tells of the direct lineage from Israel to his oldest son, Judah. Judah is not the most ethical of men, and neither are his sons. God's intention is that Tamara (the wife of Judah's oldest son) be the mother that carries Judah's lineage (and ultimately Jesus'). This story takes some strange twists that include many deaths. When you think the people could not get any worse, Judah sleeps with what he thinks is a "temple prostitute" who is really Tamara. Another great read!

February 17: We continue with Genesis 39 and what happens next in Joseph's saga.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

Our discussion was about our resumes and building them. Gaps in your resume could be problematic, but are there really gaps? While you may not be working for money, you might be having other experiences that are valuable and applicable. For example, relocating to a new country and setting up a household, hiring work to be done in your home, volunteering at school events, participating in English and culture classes.

We mused on using the word "sign" followed by a preposition. Sign can mean approval. 

February 20: Bring a list of your personal "professional" words to explore in grammar, context, and pronunciation. Bring your resume and we can look at your specific professional (and personal) history and have conversations and hear about your life.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:00 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

We had a great start up discussion and then conjugated our sentence. When you hear something interesting, write it down and then work out all the different ways (in time) you can say it. Here is our example: 

• I cannot (can't) help myself. I'm eating the entire pie.
• I could not (couldn't) help myself. I ate the entire pie.
• I could not help myself. I have eaten the entire pie.
• I can't not help myself, I have eaten the entire pie.

For extra points: try the following words to connect the sentences as transition words: and, but, so, for. Then, punctuation comes into play to convey the pauses and emphasis. You can see examples on the white board. 

We brainstormed words and sentences off of the "house" words brainstorm generated by one of our students. See it on the Notes and Handouts. How many words do you know and are on your "house" list? How many connections can you make? How many more words can you generate based on this list? What sentences can you make using these words?

We talked briefly about the career track and the goal statement of one of our students.

A super full and productive evening!

February 20: Join us as we continue our discussions. Let's warm up with brainstorms and then move into discussions and conversations about career life from our resumes.

American English for Kids: Thursday, 4:30-5:00 PM, private Zoom

We enjoyed seeing what kind of Valentines are given out in school. Back in the day we only gave cards to each other and had a small party with games and snacks. These days kids exchange small gifts with their cards! Wow!

February 21: Let's talk about our favorite movies: Jurassic Park (the first one) and How to Train Your Dragon (the first one). If you have the chance, watch each other's favorites this week. Friday we can talk about the movies. Here are some questions to think about.

• Who are the characters?
• What is the best part of the movie?
• What is the big problem?
• Why do you like this movie and the people and animals in it?
• When did you see it for the first time?
• When does this story take place?
• Where did you see it for the first time?
• Where does the story take place?
• How do the characters and people work through problems?
• How many times do you jump when watching (even if you know what is about to happen)?

Words and Phrases

applicable: useful in many situations

aside from: besides

big personality: someone who stands out from other people and has no filter

comes into play: is used or is part

drivel: nonsense

for extra points: do something more for credit

if you have the chance: if you have time or an opportunity

know it all: someone who happily has opinions and knowledge and is happy to tell everyone

lineage: ancestry

page turner: a book that is interesting and engaging

problematic: cause trouble or extra work

saga: story

these days: currently

winterization: precautions 

Growing Professional Stories: Logic and Nonsense

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Hello, Friends.

What an exciting week. We began with the Superbowl and we are ending the week with Valentines' Day. Our classes are all up and running with many interesting topics and conversations. 

In our adult American English and Culture meetings we are working on our professional stories. Resumes need to be submitted so we can move forward with sharing and telling our professional stories as well as having professional conversations. 

In our Kids' American English and Culture we had an afternoon conversation where we practiced speaking nonsense. Nonsense is an important language learning strategy. 

We have been doing a lot of talking about AI and using AI to generate words. The Valentines' Day piece below was generated using the prompt "Valentines' Day fun and more". What do you think? Does AI do a good job? What kinds of edits would make this piece more interesting.

Valentines' Day

Valentine's Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate love and affection with your significant other, friends, or even yourself! Here are some fun ideas to make the day extra special:

Romantic Ideas:

• Dinner Date: Plan a candlelit dinner at home or make reservations at a cozy restaurant.
• Love Notes: Write heartfelt love letters or notes and hide them in places your partner will find throughout the day.
• Stargazing: Set up a romantic evening under the stars with blankets, pillows, and a telescope or binoculars.

Creative Activities:

• DIY Crafts: Make personalized gifts, such as photo albums, scrapbooks, or handmade cards.
• Cooking Together: Try cooking a new recipe together or bake heart-shaped cookies or a cake.
• Couples' Photoshoot: Have a fun photoshoot with themed outfits and props to capture memorable moments.

Fun with Friends:

• Galentine's Day: Celebrate with your friends by hosting a brunch, movie night, or game night.
• Secret Admirer Exchange: Organize a gift exchange with friends where each person gets a surprise gift.
• Adventure Day: Plan a fun outing with friends, such as hiking, visiting a museum, or going to an escape room.

Self-Care and Pampering:

• Spa Day: Treat yourself to a spa day at home with a relaxing bath, face masks, and soothing music.
• Journal Writing: Reflect on your journey and write down things you're grateful for or love about yourself.
• Favorite Activities: Spend the day doing activities you love, such as reading, painting, or watching your favorite shows.

Thoughtful Gestures:

• Acts of Kindness: Spread love by performing random acts of kindness, such as leaving positive notes for strangers or donating to a charity.
• Memory Jar: Create a memory jar by writing down special moments you’ve shared with your loved ones and reading them together.
• Surprise Delivery: Send a surprise delivery of flowers, chocolates, or a thoughtful gift to someone you care about.

Whatever you choose to do, the most important thing is to make it meaningful and enjoyable for yourself and those you care about. Happy Valentine's Day! 💖

American Culture: Names and Naming

How do you fill out forms? What is the norm for names in the United States? Is your name too hard for anyone else?

America is the land of many names. 

Words for categories of names on official documents:

• Last [name], surname, family name
• Maiden [name]: a woman's name from birth (prior to legally changing her name in marriage)
• First [name], given name, first name
• Middle [name], middle initial [MI]
• Previous name or names
• Nickname, alias

And then, on the computer or in cyberspace there are more names:

• User name
• Gamer tag

Entity names are proper nouns identify things that 

• Company name
• Website name
• Product

Often, people from another country assume a different name that they feel will be easier for "Americans" to pronounce and help them fit in the community. This is interesting since American names are not ethnically standard. We come from all over the world and our parents often choose names for their sound or meaning regardless of origin. A current trend is to create a new name by combining other names. 

For those of you that love to geek out on grammar, names are classed as proper nouns (as opposed to common nouns). Proper nouns are always capitalized no matter where they occur in a sentence.

International Friends Meeting Notes

Join us! Click here to register.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

We continue with Genesis 34. Once again our study group was surprised by the violence that occurs in the Bible (a book all about the creator God who is the definition of love). While we could understand the need of the Dinah's brothers to exact revenge, we were astonished at how they carried out their attack. 

Yet life goes on in the next chapter. Chapter 35 tells the names of the sons of Jacob and tell of significant deaths. Jacob's beloved Rebeccah dies in childbirth and Isaac dies at 108 years old and Jacob and Esau bury him. In this sentence, we know that the wounds between the brothers are healed. The brothers move away from the lands of their childhood because they are blessed and needed more space to grow. Chapter 36 lists Esau's descendants.

February 3: We continue with Genesis 37 and a beloved Bible story.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

Telling about our first jobs was our main topic. Two important questions to frame our story telling were:

• What was your first job?
• What did you learn?

The first question leads to a solid, factual answer. The second question begs for reflection and opinion.

We listed some words from our professional life. We put them on a whiteboard to share with each other. We used these words to make conversation. We will continue to play with our professional words over the next weeks.

February 6: Bring a list of your personal "professional" words to explore in grammar, context, and pronunciation. Bring your resume and we can look at your specific professional (and personal) history.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:00 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

Try the 16 Personalities Test and see what descriptive words this tool provides to you. Do you agree with the results? Tests like these can be used to screen prospective employees. They may be part of the onboarding process to give workers and idea about how individuals can work to reduce conflict and be more productive in their teams. These tools can inform you about your strengths, they can be shorthand for others to know how best to work with you. While they are interesting, it is most important to be able to demonstrate your attributes through your work. 

We practiced brainstorming words and noticed how our ideas bounced off one another.

February 13: Celebrate Valentine's Day Eve. Warm up with word lists. Send Carolyn your resume so we can learn your work words and phrases.

American English for Kids: Thursday, 4:30-5:00 PM, private Zoom

We talked nonsense. To prime the pump we read Jabberwocky by Lewis Caroll Be prepared to sound clever, but really not say anything. Make up words, facts, associations that lead nowhere. Groundhog Day is a good example of nonsense talk. This is always fun and sparks our imagination.

When its spring and the air is cold and wet,

The fish fly freely across the I can't think of it.

And the universe doughnut space already ate itself.

Donut world barks candy cane cars on fire.

Chocolate swimming freely up and down in shape.

Monster picking flowers off kelp once upon a time the end.

Creating this was a lot harder than you would think. Blabbering random sounds and associations are tough when you are put on the spot and when you spend all your time trying to be reasonable and logical people.

Let go. Have fun. Roll around in some nonsense and see where it doesn't get you! Freely playing like this is good for your skills. Build your fluency, confidence, and creativity. Sentence structure and pronunciation and cadence are still important. Writing and talking nonsense can be surprisingly valuable for language learning.

February 14: Happy Valentine's Day! Let's talk pink and red and lovingly.

Words and Phrases

assume: adopt

begs for: demands

blabbering: talk foolishly, mindlessly or excessively

bounced off: one thing generates another

descendants: sons and daughters 

ethnically: belonging to a specific group of people

fit in: feel that you belong in a community; blend in

in cyberspace: think water, air, space~you in and are surrounded

let go: give up fear (or negativity), relax

on the computer: think desktop or laptop~you are on top

onboarding: training and processes at the beginning of a job

piece: work

prime the pump: get things started

screen: filter

standard: measured in a similar way.

Welcome February: and six more weeks of Winter!

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Hello, Friends.

The shortest month begins with a really long Update. What a busy and interest week we had. What an exciting week is coming. Keep your eyes open for words this week; we will be talking and building brainstorms.

Groundhog Day came and went. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club (established in 1881) provides the most up to date information on Spring. Other areas of the country may rely on their own groundhogs for local predictions. And the result is.....Phil saw his shadow. This means six more weeks of Winter!

Speaking of funky pronunciations: February. We love this guy and his pronunciations: February. Mirriam Webster has the two common American-style pronunciations. How have you heard it?

We keep coming up with new words or ...? Have you been watching the news? MAHA and MAHA Moms trended this week (probably the RFK Jr. confirmation hearings made this mainstream). Make America Healthy Again is the "mom" movement. Parents want their children to be healthy and live quality lives. 

February is Black History Month

February is African American history month. The president first signed this proclamation in 1976 and continues today. Learn more:

Black History Month: the History Channel

Black History Month: the .gov site

15 ways to celebrate Black History Month in Indy: Mirror Indy

If you live in Indy, you have likely seen the Walker Theater. Madam Walker founded and ran a hair care company at the turn of the 20th Century. Her net worth was greater than a million dollars and she was politically and philanthropically active. Read more about the first female self-made millionaire:

Madam C. J. Walker: Biography.com

Madam C. J. Walker: The National Women's History Museum 

February Fun

February 22: Pro Volleyball at the Fishers Event Center! Find out more and buy tickets.

Devour Indy munch away your winter blahs at a new or favorite restaurant. Try a special menu or dish or special just for Devour through February 2.

She L.E.A.D.S. Conference  is an opportunity to attend a conference and learn more about American culture and meet and practice your networking skills. Let Carolyn know if you are interested...Should we get a table?

Things to Do in Hamilton County offers a list of fun and informative things to do locally.

Superbowl Sunday: one of the greatest holidays in the United States. Watch the game. Watch the commercials (companies pay the big bucks for spots). Get together with friends for snacks or meet at a sports bar. CBS Sports is the place to go to learn more.

American Culture

Valuing Cars and Car Maintenance

Cars play an important part of life in the United States. While we may love the idea of mass transit, it is not practical for most of the United States. So, we drive cars. Many people buy used cars. These are offered from dealers or from private owners. 

Car maintenance, insurance, and value all come into play when deciding to buy (or sell) or repair a used car. Kelly Blue Book and Edmonds are two places to find out what a car is worth and worth the repair. A car is totaled when the cost to repair is greater than the value of a car.

Car Inspections. Some states (and countries) require an annual inspection. An official (government required) car inspection includes emissions, breaks, and lights (including break lights and turn signals). These are  required in some states (and countries), but do not guarantee a car that is foolproof. Your car can still break down. Buying a used car has risks and also rewards (it is broken in) but may have maintenance expenses or repairs (After all, someone does not want it any more).  This article from Edmonds details the advantages and disadvantages of a mechanic inspection. Google "used car inspection" for a list of mechanics. You might rely on a friend or family member that is a car fanatic to help you decide on a car that you find on Next Door or with a For Sale sign. Having a mechanic go over your car before a road trip is a good idea to make sure you don't get stranded.

Buying (or Selling) a Used Car. If you are looking at a used car from a private owner, if you can take the car to your mechanic to see if it is in good running order.

Maintenance can include a big-ticket item since many cars survive well past 100,000 miles. One example is that the timing belt needs to be replaced. This means that the radiator is pulled and the water pump is replaced with a new pump (because they tend to go out now; often when your water pump goes out and your mileage is up, your mechanic will advise you to replace your timing belt). This is pricy maintenance, but worth the bucks if you want to keep your car another 100,000 miles.

An older car with a rough interior or exterior that still runs well enough to get around town is called a "beater". People will get an older car with high mileage for the "kids' car".

On another note, a good number of our Friends have Uber and Amazon and Door Dash side hustles. They strongly recommend these opportunities to see neighborhoods and amenities while making a few bucks.

American English: We are on the same page

Sorry is used to apologize. It is also used as an affirmation. When someone gets something wrong, "Oh, sorry. That's right" means "I was wrong. You are right. Forgive me." Other ways we are saying "right" or agreeing:

• 100 percent!
• Absolutely
• Affirmative
• Alright
• Certainly
• Heck yeah
• Of course
• OK
• Right
• Right on
• Sure
• Totally 
• Uh-huh
• Yeah
• Yep
• Yes
• You bet

International Friends Meeting Notes

Join us! Click here to register.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

Jacob draws close to where Esau lives in Genesis 32. He sends almost half of his flocks as a gift and divides his family (in case they would be attacked). He prays to God and admits his fear of meeting his brother. In this chapter, he wrestles with God all night and dislocates his hip. God blesses Jacob and renames his Israel.

The reunion between Jacob and Esau is a happy one. Jacob stays behind with his family instead of going ahead with his brother to their home in Genesis 33. Jacob buys property and settles apart from his brother. We talked about why this might happen versus him going to their home. The Torah.com gives a great discussion of the event in light of Jewish customs and history as well as insight into Jacob's character. 

God makes promises to Jacob in Genesis 28:13 including that he would give Jacob the ground he is sleeping on. The story continues to disclose that his promises had absolutely nothing to do with his heritage location. God is faithful in keeping promises (God Affirms His Promises to Jacob). These do not always work out the way people expect and even when their imperfections seem to derail, God is trustworthy.

February 3: We continue with Genesis 34. Things get real.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

We listened to each other and then worked on specific instances developing an understanding of phrasing, cadence, grammar, etc. in a variety of specific situations. We brainstormed several specific instances. Class members can review our work in the Zoom Chat (the whiteboards are there). There is a lot of information, so please take advantage of it.

February 6: Bring a list of your personal "professional" words to explore in grammar, context, and pronunciation. Bring your resume and we can look at your specific professional (and personal) history.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:00 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

We never know who will be able to make it. Tonight was "girls night". We burned through four whiteboards. Sorry. We were so caught up in the moment that I only got a picture of the last one. See our Notes and Handouts page. Scroll down.

February 6: Warm up with conversation. We will go from there. Bring a resume as a backup.

American English for Kids: Thursday, 4:30-5:00 PM, private Zoom

Funny animals are the topic of the week. We watched a YouTube of funny animals and then listened to stories about a fictional animal. Our Friend did a great job telling an extemporaneous story! She included humor, repetition, introductions, and conclusions just to mention a few features.

February 7:  We are talking nonsense. Be prepared to sound clever, but really not say anything. Make up words, facts, associations that lead nowhere. Groundhog Day is a good example of nonsense talk. This is always fun and funny. 

Words and Phrases

amenities: desirable features in a place 

backup: something in reserve

break down: break and need repair

big-ticket item: expensive 

broken in or break in: initial period where equipment begins to function efficiently

burned through: use rapidly 

came and went something that occurs or exists and then disappears quickly

caught up in the moment: focused on what was happening to the exclusion of all other distractions

foolproof: guaranteed

funky: odd, unusual

get around town: make short, local trips

gets: understands

go from there: set a course

go out: break

go over: inspect

in: included in

in light of: gain knowledge or information within a particular context

insight into someone's character: provide understanding about how someone behaves and why they 

make it: able to come

movement: cultural or societal trend

RFK: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Not everyone in America gets their initials as their identifier (or name). JFK is RFK's uncle and was the 35th president. Robert Kennedy (senior) was a senator. Both brothers were assonated. 

sorry: an apology (but not really)

think and act they way they do

this means: as an explanation

[things] get real: accept the truth; face reality

turn of the [20th Century]: at the end of one time frame and beginning of another [late eighteen to early nineteen hundreds]

instances: examples or occurrences

pulled: taken out, removed

side hustles: way to earn extra cash

spots: advertising time in a program

take advantage of: use

trustworthy: reliable

well past [well beyond]: very far

work out: happen

Wrapping Up January

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Hello, Friends.

Have you noticed longer daylight hours here in the Northern Hemisphere? This is good news for the gardeners. It is time to begin thinking about what you will plant in the spring and start your seeds to put out in the spring on a sunny day.

We experienced a day towards the end of last week where the temperature edged up to 40 degrees. This did not melt all the snow, but the warmer weather was a welcome break. It is fun to see people continue to embrace double digit temperatures even if they are below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) by leaving coats and jackets behind. 

Welcome February <3

February Calendar from the Farmer's Almanac

February 2 is Groundhog Day—the day we find out whether winter will last six more weeks or call it quits early. How did this quirky tradition get started? Find out the meaning of Groundhog Day.

February 9 is the Super Bowl in 2025. Superbowl Sunday is an important festival day. Get together with friends and enjoy 

February 12 is Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday. The 16th president of the United States was born in a one-room, 16x18-foot log cabin with a dirt floor.

February 14 is always Valentine’s Day. Heads up, lovebirds! Today, the holiday is celebrated with love, flowers, and chocolate, but how did this holiday get its start? Learn all about Valentine’s Day.

February 15 is Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday. How much do you know about this women’s rights leader?

February 15 is also National Flag of Canada Day!

February 17 brings Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday also known as Washington’s Birthday that is celebrated on the third Monday in February. (George Washington’s actual birthday is February 22!)

February 28 is Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

Devour Indy munch away your winter blahs at a new or favorite restaurant. Try a special menu or dish or special just for Devour through February 2.

She L.E.A.D.S. Conference

Here is another opportunity to attend a conference and learn more about American culture and meet and practice your networking skills. 

American Culture

When Personal Details are Too Much

We are considering our professional stories as well as our life stories. As a practice in the United States, when you apply for a position do not include your age. race, gender, ethnicity, sex, marital status, social status, economic status, etc. unless any of these is important for the job (for example, if you are applying for a particular role in a commercial, play, etc.). This is to avoid bias and preferential treatment. As a candidate, you should be considered for a position based on your ability and experience. At times in American history, hiring quotas have been instituted. This required organizations to have specific numbers of people working based on particular attributes. Ageism, sexism, racism, etc. lawsuits can cut both ways. 

Belly Up to the Bar

Side conversations included the many names for the establishments for the social drinking of alcohol (and usually other kinds of entertainment):  bar, dive bar, saloon, pub, club, night club, comedy club, biker bar, sports bar, speak easy, brew pub, craft brewery, wine bar, piano bar, karaoke bar, rooftop bar, hotel bar, whiskey bar. Find descriptions and explanations at Cuboh. 

Restaurants may have a bar which could mean a buffet where you serve yourself: salad bar, breakfast bar, dessert bar, candy bar, ice cream bar, mimosa bar.

You could choose to eat your meal at the bar. If this is a bar that serves alcohol, then children are usually not welcome. But if this is a family friendly restaurant, then you can grab a bar stool and order from the menu. Service here is informal and direct.

American English Tricks and Techniques

"Going to" and "will" are very similar. They indicate something that is happening in the future. Use going to when something is planned or certain. Use will when what is happening in the future is unplanned or may not happen.

Get going is used to indicate that it is time to leave. "I better get going before the roads become too icy."

International Friends Meeting Notes

Join us! Click here to register.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

Jacob finally has had enough and wants to take his family and go home. He approaches his father-in-law, Laban who proposes to pay Jacob for his work. Jacob and Laban agree that Jacob can have all the sheep and goats that have markings on them. Eventually, Jacob decides to flee with his family (without telling Laban). What follows is a chase and a confrontation. They come to an agreement. Begin reading Genesis 30: 25. 

January 27: We are continuing Jacob's story with Genesis 32. Jacob returns home and is reunited with his brother Esau. Will there be fireworks and drama?

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

We talked about or resumes as more than just our professional history. 

January 30: Warm up with some word association. This is always a great way to cement ideas, terms, vocabulary. We will continue by building our resumes. Remember, these documents are convenient for many life events!

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:00 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

Bring your resume. We are continuing to talk and refine our professional stories. Is there room on your resume for more than education and experience? Do hobbies and volunteer activities add to your story.

Our discussion points are posted on the Notes and Handouts page. Scroll down. We discovered that there are a number of ways to say the same thing.

January 30: Warm up with word association work. We will resume resume and history discussions.

American English for Kids: Thursday, 4:30-5:00 PM, private Zoom

We recapped Valentine's Day school celebrations in Indiana. There is not Valentine's Day in Japan.

January 31: Funny animals are the topic of the week. Bring a YouTube of a funny animal to share. Create your own funny animal and share your story.

Words and Phrase

bias: an opinion that is either for or against an idea, person, etc.

come to [something]: reach a particular point or state

cut both ways: serve both sides of an argument

double digit: numbers with two digits; 10 through 99.

edged up to: move in a certain direction

has had enough: wants something to stop

leave (something) behind: not take something with you

preferential treatment: favoritism in the workplace based on race, gender, etc.

put out: 

start: begin the process of growing a plant

warm up: activities to get people thinking and talking and comfortable

January Freeze and Thaw and So Much More!

 Click here to go to our webpage.

Hello, Friends!

This is a big week in the United States. Donald J. Trump is sworn in on Monday, January 20. This was not a usual election. This will not be a usual inauguration. The weather is dangerously cold with the possibility of ice and snow, so the swearing in will happen indoors. This is to protect the public and the public servants who would be waiting for hours outdoors. The presidential parade will be indoors at 

The American flag has been flying at half-staff to honor of President Jimmy Carter, and they would remain that way for 30 days following his death. The flags over the U.S. Capital as well as most state capital buildings will be raised to full staff for the day of the inauguration and then return to half staff on Tuesday, January 21.

During the inauguration ceremonies, the Biden family will be moved out of the White House and the Trump family will be moved in. 

Here is the order of events according to CBS News

The inaugural ceremonies of the president-elect and vice president-elect are planned by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Led this year by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, the committee oversees eight events on Inauguration Day:

• the procession to the Capitol; 
• the vice president's swearing-in ceremony; 
• the president's swearing-in ceremony; 
• the inaugural address;
• the honorary departure of the outgoing president and vice president; 
• the signing ceremony, during which the new president signs nominations, memorandums, proclamations or executive orders; 
• the inaugural luncheon; 
• the pass in review, during which the president and vice president review military troops;
• and the presidential parade, which will take place at Capital One arena in downtown Washington due to the cold.

The theme of this year's ceremonies is "Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise."

The Inauguration Schedule

Baby It's Cold Outside

We had a January thaw this past week. The temperature in Indiana got up to 40 degrees! This weather is spanning the country. Good news, though! On my dog walk, I saw the leaves from crocuses sticking up where the snow had thawed! 

Staying heathy when being cooped up inside

• Keep moisturized: nasal sprays and humidifiers help to keep your sinuses rinsed and protected
• Wash your hands: use soap and water, dry with paper towels 
• Wipe down surfaces: use the sanitizing wipes at the stores to wipe down carts
• Carry your hand sanitizer: and use it before you or your family touch surfaces in your car
• Keep your hands away from your face
• Warm frostbite fingers under warm water

Staying safe outside when there is snow and ice.

• Be alert for "black ice" when walking or driving
• Shovel public sidewalks that touch your property for children going to school (in most communities 
• Cover your skin; wear gloves, scarves, hats, etc.

Staying safe in your car

• Keep a scraper/brush in your car and clear all windows before driving
• Check and replace your wiper blades to keep your windshield clear
• Lift your windshield blades when parked to keep them from freezing to the windshield and make clearing snow easier
• Slow down so you don't slide; use an even pressure when breaking (most cars have antilock brakes)
• Keep a blanket, water, and snacks in your car in case stranded

Taking care of your home so pipes do not freeze and burst

• Open cabinet doors for water pipes on exterior walls
• Turn on water faucets to drip to keep water moving so it won't freeze
• Keep your heat on and set your thermostat to a minimum of 55 degrees
• Remove hoses from the outside faucets
• Use a hair dryer to thaw frozen pipes

Staying In the Know

Keeping current and up to date with the headlines. CNN 10 provides headlines from CNN. Fox, and local news stations and papers also have sites to view headlines. Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Apple also have news aggregators. These tend to give headlines that are clickable to a variety of sources.  Articles with the top ten app lists are available from Lifewire, Best App, and Mashable

Some people use social apps to get the news: Facebook, X, Truth Social, Snap Chat, Instagram, etc. This week TikTok (a popular social app owned by a Chinese company) went dark in America due to a security ban. Twelve hours later the app was back up and running. 

American English

Good and well are often misused. Good is an adjective and describes or modifies nouns and pronouns.

• He is a good driver.
• A good team will win the tournament.
• It looks like the weather will be good for our picnic.

Well is an adverb and is used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

• He drives well.
• The team played well at the tournament.
• He is over his cold and feels well.

Exceptions: 

• Well also means healthy. I took my baby to the pediatrician for a well visit.
• He knows well and good that you should not talk that way to teachers! As a phrase "well and good" (or good and well) highlights what is acceptable.

And a proper discussion in a good British accent.

American Culture

A resume is a key document for communicating professional or public history. This is an important, personal document to look at where you have been and where you want to go. Keeping your resume up to date can help when presented with an opportunity. It can also help you see your direction and success.

Interviews are how people seal the deal for a . There is so much that has to be in place in order for the transition of This past week the Senate held confirmation hearings to approve Trump's Cabinet picks. The senators had seven minutes to ask their questions of the candidates. Many of these people have big personalities and opinions or have not held typical positions leading to a Cabinet position. You can watch these hearings on 

These panel interviews are interesting to watch. Learn more about American concerns and positions.

International Friends Meeting Notes

Join us! Click here to register.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

History repeats itself. Jacob goes to Harran to find a wife...relationships are made and broken and repaired. People continue to be impatient to have the predictions of God fulfilled and manipulate situations to that end. We wonder of relationships would be preserved if people let the events play out. If you like drama, this is the read for you! Throughout it all, God loves and supports and comforts.

January 20: We are continuing Isaac's story with Genesis 30:25. Join the discussion. You won't be disappointed!

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

We talked about our resumes. A resume is a life history that you use to  retrospective. What did you begin in the past and where are you now. Bring your history to put down on paper with a friend. Collaborate on a Zoom Docs to on begin your resume. Why this works: you review your experience and frame the words to best communicate historical successes (and failures) and focus attention on future attainments. 

We talked about I will vs I'll both as a grammar structure and a listening. Arnel has a great 25 minute lesson on future simple and future continuous and how we express predictions and facts in American English. She also uses "going to" and "will". 

We talked about speaking in public vs public speaking. 

We gave Resume Genius a try to begin writing a resume. Use this site for a boiler plate for generic American English phrases and format (there is an option to use their "AI" to select 

This site lets you save a pdf copy of your work. This company will email, print, and post your resume for a fee. Try Resume Genius to fill in the blanks and start the process.

January 23: Write and speak your resume. We will collaborate on a Zoom Doc and share our work with one another.

January 30: Refining your story.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:00 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

We talked through our newest Friend's "I Am From" poem. We learn so much more about a person in these abstract descriptions. We also observed that by doing this exercise, we learn more about ourselves and what brought us to where we are today.

We talked about what brought us to the United States and what our hopes are for while we live here. Generally, everyone is uncertain about their time here in the States. We hope that you make friends and live a good life here.

We gave Resume Genius a try to begin writing a resume. Use this site for a boiler plate for generic American English phrases and format (there is an option to use their "AI" to select descriptions. Edit these statements to be specific to your story.

This site lets you email a pdf copy of your work to yourself. There are fees for add on services. 

January 23: Write and speak your resume. Work together with others to define and refine your professional history

American English for Kids: Thursday, 4:30-5:00 PM, private Zoom

We talked about when we wrote books. Kids write all the time and create books. Sometimes they outgrow what they were thinking about at that time and find their books embarrassing. We talked about how sometimes our writing work is not appropriate for a particular place or time or group of people. Writing ideas and thoughts is just the beginning. Putting your work out there for others to read is a

January 24: Kendama (けん玉) is a fun puzzle/skill game. Our friend will teach us about this game and sport.

Words and Phrases

all the time/all of the time: often

big personalities: people that have strong or noticeable traits 

boiler plate: pattern

Cabinet: the people who advise the president

cooped up: stuck inside a small space

gave something a try: experience something for the first time in order to form an opinion

generic: general, not specific

in the know: informed

key: important

manipulate: control or influence

out there: make something public

outgrow: mature so something doesn't fit or isn't relevant

picks: choices

play out: develop, unfold

positions: 

post: put something up on the internet

spanning: spread across

swearing in: take an oath or promise

went dark: is not available on the internet

Getting Back to Work and Still Having Fun

Click here to go to our webpage.

BRRRRRR, Friends!

We hope you got a great rest over the break. We are looking forward to seeing you all next week as we resume our meetings.

We are beginning to focus on our public story in communicating to others in our American English and Culture meetings. This includes business communication and writing. Our career path is another aspect of our "public persona". A career path does not necessarily mean jobs for money, it can be recreational and as a volunteer. Much of what we do can be lumped into conducting business and being a professional: banking, doctors, customer service, ordering food at a restaurant, having service done at your home, etc.

Maybe you need a resume to review your history with someone. Maybe you need your health record to review with a doctor (or the record of someone else). These are personal and important documents that help you relate to others to get tasks done.

 Fun and Festivities

Many communities have fun events throughout the year. Check your local community calendars and join the winter fun.

Butler University has an amazing performing arts program. Clowes Hall and other venues have opportunities to view dance and stage performances in person or virtually. Many of these opportunities are free. Click this link to see the schedule.

Connor Prairie is open through the winter. Experience pioneer living in the cold or learn more indoors.

Perfect North ski slopes are a fun way for the whole family to spend the day. Rent equipment. Take a class. Remember, this is Indiana...we have hills, not mountains. But any day skiing is better than not skiing!

Here is a list of the 10 Best Winter Hikes in Indiana from Step Outside (you can find other great hike lists here, too).

Camps for Kids

Summer camps are a great option for kids to make new friends and explore and experience new places and try new things or hone their skills. Even though we just starting winter, now is the time to start shopping the camps.

• Butler University Camps Take a look at summer camps on the campus of Butler University.
• Connor Prairie Adventure Camp packs a summer's worth of fun in one week.
• Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation Summer Camp Guide is out! Leaf through this guide to discover opportunities for fun.
• Indy's Child Magazine offers a Summer Camp Fair February 22 at the Indianapolis Art Center. Shop camps all in one place.
• Indy's Child Magazine offers a list of camps as well as a virtual camp fair to help you decide.

American English

A little more than half of the readers spend less than 15 seconds looking at what you write (especially in this virtual age). Bulleted text is a straightforward way to communicate information that are in a list. Begin with an introductory phrase or sentence or jump into the list. Tips keep your reader's attention:

• Each bullet can complete the initial sentence, or it can be a complete sentence.
• Each bullet should be parallel with the other bullets (all bullets start with the same part of speech).
• Each bullet is a mini headline or contains complete information.
• Each bullet is straightforward.
• Every bullet in the list is related to the other bullets.
• Each bulleted list should have more than two listed items, otherwise it is a couple of sentences.
• Each bullet should be punctuated correctly: 

1. If it is a phrase, no punctuation is needed.
2. If it is a complete sentence, end with period or other parallel punctuation.
3. If it is a phrase, capitalize the first word or not.
4. If it is a complete sentence, capitalize the first letter of the first word.

You can use little dots or numbers or choose other fancy figures as bullet points. Be consistent throughout your document or presentation. Be sure to follow style formats like APA or MLA if it is required.

American Culture

A resume is a key document for communicating professional or public history. This is an important, personal document to look at where you have been and where you want to go. Keeping your resume up to date can help when presented with an opportunity. It can also help you see your direction and success.

Once you have a basic resume, you can customize the details to suit different situations or to write a brief biography. In the United States you may have a resume or a curriculum vita which is a brief, biographical history that is usually used for academic communications (or in affiliation with higher education positions).

• Try Resume Genius to fill in the blanks and start the process.
• Indeed has sample resumes for you to take a look at.

International Friends Meeting Notes

Join us! Click here to register.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

We caught up with each other after the break. Christmas and New Year celebrations are usually full of celebrations with family. Nostalgia plays a major role in how we view our current situation as well as build new memories and practices. Old traditions are hard to let go of.

Our discussion for this week was Genesis 27: how Isaac wanted to convey his blessing on Esau (the oldest son) and to pass along his birthright but ended up giving it to Jacob (the younger twin). This story and all the details led us to our readings before our break: Esau had offhandedly traded it away to his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew (Genesis 25:29-34). The English text tells us that Esau despised his birthright; in the Japanese text the word is more similar to disparage or not find important. We later discover that Esau did value the birthright. We traced the names back to the beginning of the twins' life with their names. Knowing the character of each of the people in this particular story is important in understanding their particular reactions. We speculated how different things may have been if each person was patient and let the circumstances play out rather than trying to engineer a particular, favorable result. 

This is a great read! Begin with Genesis 25:19 to get the full scope of the drama.

January 13: We are continuing Isaac's story with Genesis 28. Join the discussion. You won't be disappointed!

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

We caught up with each other and talked about our current events. We talked about setting goals and priorities and whether we made resolutions. Surrender was a word that surfaced when we were talking about planning. Sometimes we have to give up a goal or pivot to a new plan because it is not relevant or achievable at this time. Should we add that to our Strive, Thrive, Drive, Survive category list?

My One Word website and concept brings together resolutions and our thinking about our words and vocabulary and their importance in our life. We have talked about where we are. This site encourages you to pick where you want to be.

January 16: A retrospective. What did you begin in the past and where are you now. Bring your history to put down on paper with a friend. Collaborate on a Zoom Docs to on begin your resume. Why this works: you review your experience and frame the words to best communicate historical successes (and failures) and focus attention on future attainments. Try Resume Genius to fill in the blanks and start the process.

January 23: Write and speak your resume.

January 30: Refining your story.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:00 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

We welcomed a new friend and welcomed back a few old friends. We also dealt with getting a car towed! Snowy days can be interesting and full of surprises! 

January 16: This new year we are going to start working on our public and professional stories. This is another way of telling were you are from and where you want to go next (which is why we are all studying American English). Try  Resume Genius to fill in the blanks and start the process.

American English for Kids: Thursday, 4:30-5:00 PM, private Zoom

We talked about many things is in snippets. We compared our latitude, we talked about cram classes, we talked about what we started in school after the break. Our talk drifted to 3D objects in math class. There is a lot of cool software out there for designing. We found a list of top free programs on CNCsourced. Two popular free programs are:

• Blender is a favorite for 3D modeling and game building.
• Inkscape: an open source vector software. Create and contribute.

If you think these programs are just for fun and games, think again. And speaking of shapes...look at the Geometry Nodes Workshop Notes from October of 2024. There is a great place to grow your vocabulary in a new field!

We looked at M.C. Escher: an artist who delighted in breaking 3D rules in 2D space. With our new design tools, we could virtually do the impossible: have an avatar walk this drawing! Monument Valley on Netflix is a fun, walkable puzzle like this drawing. Try it out!

January 17, 2025: Try one of the design tools. What do you think?

Words and Phrases

snippet: small and interesting pieces of news

speaking of: a transition statement to introduce a new or connecting topic

baton is passed: power or responsibility of an office given to a new party

binge: continuously watch episodes of a program without a break

let go of: release, give up, stop focusing on

hone: refine

looked at: view briefly

lumped into: combined, included all together, grouped [lumped together]

nostalgia: feelings of longing for the past

part of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, articles, pronouns, etc. classifications of words

pays a major role: is an important aspect or part

put down on paper: record

straightforward: direct, to the point

suit: fit

take a look at: read casually

talk drifted to: conversation 

where you want to go next: what goals, experiences, skills, etc. not just a place

Welcome 2025

Click here to go to our website.

Welcome back, Friends!

We hope you got a great rest over the break. We are looking forward to seeing you all next week as we resume our meetings.

We are beginning to focus on or public story and communicating to others in our American English and Culture meetings. This will include business communication and writing as a part of the process. Much of what we do can be lumped into conducting business and being a professional: banking, doctors, customer service, ordering food at a restaurant, having service done at your home, etc. 

What Do You Notice?

Watching Netflix is so fun. I like to watch and listen in the original language and add English subtitles. Here are a few observations from my latest binge.

• These are from Love Next Door on Netflix. Season 1, Episode 3: Stop Line
• Lavenders: colors and flowers 
• This was actually come together very quickly, so I didn’t prepare anything.
• You all did something that cute? 
• Cuss: swear words were included. What’s the difference? Dictionary.com explains the difference for these kinds words. They are used to express and emphasize or provoke a reaction.
• Sigh, grunt, exhale, chuckle, scoff, yelp, grown, grunt, scream
• Stop line: the title of this episode is a bit of a confusion. We call this a finish line here in the United States.

January Dates from The Old Farmer's Almanac

We are back to the grind. Winter is here in the Northern Hemisphere. Dark days are gradually waning. The Old Farmer's Almanac is a fun and informative way to learn about the world. Click above and read the folklore that follows the long January nights. There will be a quiz later.

January 1 is New Year’s Day. While you’re still recuperating from the prior night’s parties, read about some other New Year’s traditions you might not know about and celebrate with some Hoppin’ John for good luck.

January 5 brings Twelfth Night, an English folk custom that marked the end of Christmas merrymaking and, in ancient Celtic tradition, the end of the 12-day winter solstice celebration. On Twelfth Night, it was customary for the assembled company to toast each other from the wassail bowl.

January 6 is Epiphany. According to the New Testament’s Gospels, on this date, the Magi—the three wise men or kings—venerated and brought gifts to the infant Jesus. Bake a beautiful Epiphany Tart or a King Cake with a lucky bean inside!

January 17 is Benjamin Franklin’s birthday. He was not only a world-renowned statesman, inventor, and scientist but was also fascinated by agriculture. Here at The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we consider him the father of almanacs!

January 20 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day (observed). This holiday is held on the third Monday in January and honors the principles of this civil rights leader and Nobel Prize Winner dedicated to nonviolence. This year, January 20 is also Inauguration Day.

January 29 is the Chinese Lunar New Year. Celebrated widely throughout East Asia, this holiday begins with the first new Moon after the Winter Solstice and is associated with the Chinese Zodiac.

American Culture

Inauguration Day: January 20

President Trump will be inaugurated on January 20. Learn the details of this ceremony Yahoo article. The baton is passed on this day. 

In order to get work done, the Speaker of the House was elected. Now the work of approving the staffing and legislation can be underway as we start this new era. 

International Friends Meeting Notes

Join us! Click here to register.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

January 6: Let's return to Genesis 27 and pick up the story. You may want to go back a bit as a refresher.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

January 9: Start the new year talking about resolutions and turning over a new leaf. In January we turn the page and start our new chapter: Let's tell our public story.

January 16: A retrospective. What did you begin in the past and where are you now.

January 23: Write and speak your resume.

January 30: Refining your story.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:00 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

January 9: Come to class. We will talk about what we did over break and work on our individual listening and speaking skills perhaps the wonderful technology that is available to us. We too are working on our public stories.

American English for Kids: Thursday, 4:30-5:00 PM, private Zoom

January 10, 2025: Let's talk about your break and try to play Monopoly again. This time we will assign roles and responsibilities. Brush up on the rules.

Words and Phrases

baton is passed: power or responsibility of an office given to a new party

binge: continuously watch episodes of a program without a break

lumped into: combined, included all together, grouped [lumped together]