Final Countdown

Hello, Friends.

Can you believe that we are in the final countdown to the end of our academic year? Be sure to join us as we wrap up our final meetings. I am sure that you will get a lot out of our classes as well as enjoy new friendships. Be sure to exchange contact information to keep in touch over the summer. Be sure to book dates with your friends for face to face fun.

In the News: 
Measles was eradicated in the United States in 2000 which implied that there were no cases of measles but in reality meant that the disease had not been seen here continuously throughout the year. Travelers to and from countries or other areas where the virus is active can start an outbreak in unprotected populations. Friday, two universities in Los Angeles were put under a quarantine. There were 695 cases in the U.S. primarily in Washington and New York states. People who were born between 1963 and 1987 are being advised to be revaccinated to be protected and to protect others. Parents who were concerned about the effects of vaccinations and made a decision not to vaccinate their children are being urged to keep their children home and/or take precautions to keep their children from being exposed. Closer to home, there were 17 mumps cases on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington. Students are required to have two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine in most public universities to protect the overall population as well as individual health.

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100.
We caught up on the Easter story and are ready to move on to John 21. Come and read with us as we discuss this final chapter of John. 

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30, room 100
We had an interesting time planting our lettuce bowls. Since these are microgardens, some of our friends were surprised that we mixed the seeds together and sprinkled them into the soil. It will be fun to see which plants emerge first and how fast they grow!

April 30: Join us for a food challenge. Bring a food you would like to try or a food that is unique that you would like to share with everyone else. By special request I am bringing a squirrel dish.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30+, upstairs classrooms
I enjoyed visiting classes to touch base about our upcoming schedule. American Accent class was talking about different styles of heels and which are most comfortable and appropriate for a wedding. In Level Three they were listening to words in isolation and everyone took turns saying what they heard. It is fun to hear (and see, since Kris wrote the words on the board) what people think they are saying and what people think they are hearing. It is also a great lesson in the importance of understanding the situation and context for your vocabulary. 

May 2: Class as usual
May 9: Pizza Party begins at 10:45 (more like 11:00!)
May 16: Last class of the year: each class will have 

Parents with Children: Thursdays during our classes
This week we read and talked about my favorite Fairy Tale: Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Fairy tales teach so many things in a fanciful manner that allows them to learn acceptable and unacceptable social behavior or prepare for an emergency in a nonthreatening way. Goldilocks and the Three Bears is the story of a girl that helps herself to another family's food and home. Little does she know that the family that lives there are bears and no one wants to cross a bear! This tale teaches hot and cold (and just right); big and little (and just right); hard and soft (and just right).

Here is Goldilocks and the Three Bears read by Dad. This is the traditional American version that I grew up reading.

final countdown: look forward to the end (or beginning) of something
academic year: the calendar dates when classes are in session
be sure to: do something
get a lot out of:
exchange: give something for something else
contact information: telephone number, email, address, etc.; how to contact someone
keep in touch: communicate with someone over a period of time
book dates: schedule or plan a meeting with someone or reserve time or space (book dates at a hotel)
face to face: talk with someone in person

eradicated: made extinct or erased either globally or in a defined area

outbreak: break out or sudden surge or growth
put under: placed in a limited state

quarantine: isolation for a time to protect others from a disease (historically 40 days!)

primarily: mostly

effects: results from a behavior or act

urged: encouraged

precautions: actions to protect 

exposed: come in contact with something

closer to home: idiom locally 

doses: recommended amount of medicine served or administered

final chapter: meaning the last section of a book; also used as a reference to a length of time anticipating the end of a life or life event (for example: Our youngest child is graduating, we are in the final chapter of kids at home.)
microgarden: a variety of plants in a small area or container
emerge: come out
heels: shoes with heels (I'm wearing heels with my cocktail dress)

fanciful: imaginary

isolation: cause to be alone

acceptable: agreed upon or pleasant
unacceptable: not pleasant or allowed

cross a bear: cross can mean encounter or it can mean to make someone angry; in this case both meanings work making this a good pun :)

just right: perfect or to someone's taste

So much to talk about...

Happy Easter, Friends.

I hope you enjoyed a beautiful weekend and are taking advantage of all that Indiana has to offer. Our neighborhood egg hunt has been rescheduled for after school on Monday because of the soggy weather today. You can't complain too much about the weather, though because you can see that April showers bring May flowers! And, as we wrap up April and look forward to May, get ready!  May is a big month here in Indy. Aside from the graduations and the end of the school year, our entire community will be involved in the 500 Festival.

Starting Sunday, you can officially wear white shoes, white pants, white skirts, etc.! Enjoy your warm weather wardrobe!

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100.
The twentieth chapter of the Gospel of John records the resurrection of Jesus and several of his appearances to his followers on that first Easter Sunday and again on the following Sunday. These stories are pivotal to Christian faith, since as St. Paul explains, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15: 17)

One of our participants asked the question, “Are you ready to die?” This question sparked some wonderful discussion!  It is only human to fear death, but Jesus’s resurrection changes all that for believers. We discussed how much comfort can be drawn from this chapter, how it makes all the difference for us as we live out our life on this earth, and especially as we think about our death. When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and his other followers on Easter, it confirmed their faith in the living Christ. It transformed them from frightened, cowardly people who were hiding from the authorities into bold witnesses who were willing to risk their own lives to spread the message of God’s love for all people.

In the final verse of chapter 20 John clearly states that what is written in this Gospel is written “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Join us April 23 at 9:00 a.m. as we continue our discussion of the Resurrection of Jesus!
Happy Easter to all of you! ~ Jan Heimann

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We had a really fun time dying Easter eggs and learning how to make tea eggs. I hope you had a chance to enjoy this traditional activity with your family in your homes. If your family is anything like my family, the kids all want to color at least a dozen eggs each! When I was growing up, our friends would come over for the egg dying party! Then comes the question: what do you do with all of those hard boiled eggs? In the Midwest we use them to make egg salad and deviled eggs. Add them to potato salad, slaw or green salads. Pickle them in beet juice. Lately, I learned to grate them into pasta dishes and add them to soups! And, don't forget Scotch eggs where you wrap them in pork sausage, roll them in crumbs and bake them in the oven or deep fry them in oil.

April 23: Let's replant our "salad bowls". Bring your bowl back (with dirt). If this is your first time planting a salad bowl, bring a bowl for planting our seeds (you can pick one up at Goodwill). I have the seeds and will bring soil.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30 (or 12:00...)
I had a great time visiting most of the classes. In Kris' Class we talked about hospitality and then we had an impromptu visit by Pastor Luther (the senior spiritual leader at CLC). He talked to us about the goal to be hospitable to one another. Hospitality includes welcoming actions and speech and making people feel at home. It is the goal of CLC to welcome all people because all people are welcomed and loved by God.

I heard that there were discussions in another class about inhospitality. Unfortunately, some people can be inhospitable. Basically, there are three words that can describe these behaviors: rude, mean and bullying (there is also harassment, but that is a more serious behavior that requires legal intervention and hopefully you do not have to experience this).

• rude: inadvertently saying or doing something that hurts someone else; not following cultural norms can also be rude and not knowing what the people around you expect can make you appear rude or vice versa
• mean: purposely saying or doing something to hurt someone once (or twice) and the mean person may be acting this way because they themselves are feeling angry, hurt or frustrated
• bullying: aggressive speech or actions that are specific and targeted with no apparent reason for the action or remorse and when told to stop they continue and includes threats (like I won't be your friend, I will hurt you or someone else if you don't do what I want).

We do not want to be seen as rude or mean or be a bully nor do we want our children to act this way. It's important to know how to classify rude, mean and bullying behavior from the standpoint of any culture. Read more: Rude Vs. Mean Behavior Vs. Bullying. 

Just as important, when we encounter people who act unpleasantly, how do we respond? Sophie Lizard in Life Hacks gives Ten Smart Ways to Deal with Rude People. You might have heard these things before (from your mom), but it is always a good refresher. One point Sophie makes is that everyone is mean or rude as some point. 

Parents with Children: Thursdays during our classes

The children learned about Easter and took home four books to read! They enjoyed Jello Jiggler Eggs and played games and made crafts. 

April 25: Join us as we return to nursery rhymes. Remember to read aloud with you children every day. Reading with your children is a fabulous way to relax, give you common history. Make reading aloud a game. Take turns if your children can already read. As little as 20 minutes of reading aloud every can exponentially improve your children's reading, listening, and speaking skills and improve social abilities. Pick a book you and they both enjoy. One great series for kids that helps you improve your vocabulary at the same time is the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett. Netflix has a great version that brings the stories to life. Don't forget that you can load books onto your phone or tablet and take a whole library with you no matter where you go. Your public library card give you access 24/7 everywhere!

wardrobe: collection of clothing
resurrection: the act of rising from the dead
pivotal: a time or point that is important for the development or success of something
futile: incapable of producing any result; ineffective; useless
confirm: to establish the truth, accuracy, validity or genuineness of; corroborate; verify
transform: to change in condition, nature or character
fun time: enjoyable event or occasion
replant: plant again
dirt=soil: earth; material that plants grow in
pick one up: buy from a store
impromptu: unplanned
feel at home: feel comfortable
inhospitable: not welcoming or friendly
vice versa: the other way around; the order changed or reversed
respond: act or speak as a result of some other action
refresher: activity that updates skills or knowledge
fabulous: wonderful
relax: to seek rest or recreation
as little as: at least; minimum
series: books or programs in a collection that follow one another
access: freedom or ability to use something
24/7: twenty four hours a day and seven days a week: any time night or day
exponentially: greatly

Hello Friends,

It looks like spring is finally here. We have has some really nice days and the trees are bursting with buds, daffodils are blooming and lilies are up. Many people begin to clean out their beds and plant their gardens, but old time wisdom cautions not to put in plants until Mother's Day in this zone.

Spring racing has started. You can follow NASCAR and IndyCar throughout the spring and summer. Look forward to the Indy 500 in May. 

This coming week is known as Holy Week in the Christian church. This is when the key events leading to Jesus' death are remembered. This is a great week to go and see a Christian church service.

• Palm Sunday: Christians remember when Jesus was celebrated by the people. 
  
• Maundy Thursday: Christians remember the night when Jesus was betrayed. He instituted Holy Communion or the Eucharist which is the eating of bread (take and eat, this is my body) and drinking wine (take and drink, this is my blood) to remember Jesus' sacrifice and saving of all.
  
• Good Friday: Christians remember the day Jesus died on the cross. They believe that Jesus' death saves them from eternal separation from God.
• Easter Sunday: Christians celebrate the day Jesus' rose from the dead and lives. Jesus came out from the tomb and showed himself to his immediate followers and many other people. Because Jesus lives, all people who believe that he is God's Son also live-forever.
  

Secular Easter celebrations can be found everywhere: many communities host egg hunts for children. I have been to adult Easter egg hunts in the past. Check out this link to the Indy Star with a list of egg hunts and Easter brunch ideas. There are wonderful videos attached to this article that explain the significance of eggs, bunnies and more.


International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100
This week we read about the crucifixion of Jesus in the nineteenth chapter of John. John is the disciple who was an eyewitness to many of these events.  Although many of his disciples deserted Jesus when the soldiers arrested him, Peter and John followed at a distance and observed as Jesus was questioned by the Jewish religious authorities. 

There is a very diverse and interesting cast of characters in this story of Jesus’ passion. In addition to the Jewish leaders, Annas and Caiaphas, there is the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. He was in a very precarious position. His job was to keep the peace, and the people in Jerusalem were very riled up about Jesus. Some loved him and believed he was the promised Messiah. Others hated him and feared he would bring about problems with the Romans. 

How would Pilate handle this issue? In the end he ordered that Jesus be put to death.
John stood at the foot of Jesus’s cross, along with Mary, Jesus’s mother, and several other women. He watched and listened as Jesus spoke his final words on the cross and died. When the soldiers came to make sure Jesus was dead, John saw them pierce Jesus’s side, which brought about a sudden flow of blood and water. 

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, two more interesting characters, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. They wrapped it, along with 75 pounds of spices and aloes, in strips of linen and laid  the body in a new tomb not far from Golgotha, the hill where Jesus had died. 

But this is NOT the end of the story! Join us April 16 as we discuss John 20 and find out the REST OF THE STORY. ~Jan Heimann

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-12:00, room 100
We played with the on line translators. The two commonly used translators in the United States are Google Translate and Bing Translate. We found that Google does not have Cantonese. We found that translations to and from the Chinese languages often left something to be desired. We found that when we entered a phrase that had a slangy slant to it, the translator didn't quite interpret.

April 16: Let's color Easter Eggs. Bring as many hard boiled eggs as you would like to dye! We will also taste tea eggs two styles: Traditional Shanghai style and "cheater" Carolyn style...

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30 (or so), upstairs classrooms.
I had a nice time visiting some of the classrooms this week. Of track conversations included "going gray" as a fashion trend. It also is a choice some women make to spend less time and money coloring their hair. I learned about some great alternatives including using colored henna from World Market!

April 18: Join us for classes. The year isn't over, yet. It is tempting to give up after break, but hang in there!

Parents with Children: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30 (or so), upstairs classrooms.We are learning Nursery Rhymes this month and started with Little Miss Muffett and the Itsy Bitsy Spider. We had a great side conversation about Ring Around the Rosie. Urban legend has it that this rhyme and game as created about the black death (a pandemic peaking 1347 to 1351 when 75 to 200 million people died worldwide). Folklorists reject this explanation of the game. Here are various versions according to country of origin:

British version: 
Ring around the rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
A-Tishoo! A-tishoo!


We all fall down.

Cows in the meadows
Eating buttercups
A-Tishoo! A-tishoo!
We all jump up.

Indian version:

Ringa ringa roses,
Pocket full of posies

Husha busha!

We all fall down 

American version:
Ring a ring a roses,
Pocket full of posies.
Hush! Hush! Hush! Hush!
We're all tumbled down.

There are many versions of the song in English as well as other languages. All include children joining hands and dancing in a circle then "falling" down. It's fun to see how the different versions include sneezing sounds and how that sound was "translated" into "ashes". Anyway, Snopes (and a number of other articles tell us that that there is no evidence that nursery rhymes have any more meaning than they are words that are nonsense and just fun to say and play. This gives greater strength to the power of nursery rhymes in building language skills because of the nonsensical nature of them. Instead of focusing on meaning, there is a focus on the sounds and cadence of the language.

April 18: Join us for Easter fun! We will match, sort and count colored plastic eggs. We learn the Bunny Hop, read stories and more!



bursting with buds: beginning to grow leaves
lilies are up: the lily plants are starting to grow out of the ground
clean out their beds: get gardens ready to grow by picking up the dead 
old time wisdom cautions: warning from people who know things
put in plants: plant growing plants
zone: geographic area
follow: pay attention to something

crucifixion: the act of putting to death by nailing or binding the hands and feet to a cross
eyewitness: a person who actually sees some act and can give a firsthand account of it
deserted: left or ran away from
passion: Christ’s suffering on the cross
precarious: uncertain; unstable; insecure
riled up: stirred up; irritated

often left something to be desired: not perfect or useful

slangy slant: something that is commonly said but not quite slang

coloring: dying
side conversation: a conversation separate from the main discussion
a number of: an unnamed number; more than a few; many

nonsense: something that has no meaning
cadence: rhythm

Welcome back!

Hello Friends,

I hope you had a refreshing Spring Break. Don’t forget to return to meetings and classes on Tuesday and Thursday!

International Bible Study is on track with the traditional church calendar. Join us as we read the passion story (John chapter 19) April 9 and the Easter story (John chapter 20) April 16. As we read we discover so many important philosophical and social aspects of these stories that help us understand how the Christian philosophy and religion fits into society and life and how the ideology of the Bible provides a model for peace of mind and heart.

International Friends got caught up working on common household vocabulary at our last meeting. It’s amazing how many things we never learn the English names for around our homes. We just take these things for granted! April 9 we can share our spring break stories and compare translators. Bring your translation stories, too. April 16 we will dye Easter eggs. Bring white hard boiled eggs. We will talk about Easter traditions.

English Classes continue for the next six weeks. Can you believe we are into the final countdown? As the end of school season with graduations and field trips, vacation planning and spring fever ramps up, don’t forget to come to class. Our last meeting is May 16. Our end of year party as a school is May 9.

Parents with Children are exploring English language nursery rhymes this month. As a culture we got away from teaching them to our children for a time. A study in 2001 showed that children who knew eight nursery rhymes by heart before they were four years old, they are some of the best readers when they are eight years old! Nursery rhymes build vocabulary, pronunciation, language patterns, counting and math skills. Because nursery rhymes often come with finger plays and other motions they help build other avenues of mental and physical development. These rhymes provide comfort, build community and are just plain fun! Some of these may be familiar to you and you might have versions in you home language. Share your stories with us!

Public Service Announcement:

IWI is having an Active Shooter presentation that is free and open to nonmembers. Being prepared is not being scared. Learn how to act to protect yourself and those around you from the Indiana State Police. Register by April 19.

on track: following a schedule or plan

fits into: is a part of

ideology: beliefs, ideals, principles, etc.

got caught up: get involved with something and forget other things

take...for granted: make assumptions about things

final countdown: counting the time to an event

spring fever: when the weather is nice and people want to play hooky

ramps up: preparations to get ready for an event

got away from: stopped doing something

nursery rhymes: stories and songs sung to babies and small children (like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star or Mary Had a Little Lamb)

language patterns: how a language is structured

other avenues: alternative ways 

versions: an account or report from a different perspective

public service announcement: an announcement for the benefit of a community