Wrapping Up March and Starting April (April Fools Day is a prank day...get ready for fun)

Hello Friends.

We did a lot of talking about words this week and about building our knowledge and skills.

Linguistics is sociological. talking about how word meaning is a very personal or how they reflect a community's shared understandings. Linguistics studies words and sociolinguistics studies how language and social structure studies mesh together. Shared knowledge of a group informs the words used Language and culture are key to understanding the people living around us. 

When choosing vocabulary to study you can take cues from:

• Your personal vocabulary in your native language so your conversation can flow naturally.
• Your professional vocabulary so you can communicate with colleagues.
• Local current events so you keep up with what is happening and be prepared.
• Personal interests because if it is interesting, you will explore and practice.
• Watching game shows like Weakest Link, America Says, Family Feud, Jeopardy, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire jumpstarts you with popular American language and culture.

The Discovery of Genesis talks about how Bible stories are embedded in Chinese "words". This would indicate that the people of China at some time shared the same creation stories as Judeo-Christians. Does knowing the origin of a word help inform your learning?

Interesting Hoosier Information

• Famous Hoosier women.
• Symphony on the Prairie

Ukraine and Central Indiana  

We have many Friends who have come to Indiana for a short time or to stay and live. American ties to other countries for business as well as family are strong The War Against Ukraine is personal to Americans and to Hoosiers.

Heavy Heart: Zionsville resident owns farming company in Ukraine: this article tells firsthand the problems faced by Ukrainian people as they fight for freedom and for their country. As a business that provides food and has small and critical windows in the business timeline. 

Phonics Q

In English, "q" is paired with "u" in words. KWA is the sound "qu" makes.

Q Sound YouTube 

Prepositions

Under, Over, By the Clover is a great discussion/poem

Can you end a sentence with a preposition?

This is a big debate. Officially, the answer is yes you can. Know your audience. Casually and conversationally, we often end with a preposition. If the message is lost or distorted by rephrasing the sentence, then it is better to end with the preposition. Better yet, add a clarifying word after the preposition or try the sentence without it. Editor's Manual has a great discussion about this topic. Try the quiz in the sidebar. 

And here are 100 prepositions, write five sentences using at least five prepositions each:

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30 PM DST, Zoom

March 28: Bring five sentences to tell.

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 AM DST, Zoom

March 29: We start 1 Timothy. Timothy is Paul's successor. 

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM DST.

March 29: No Zoom Meeting

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-5:30 PM DST, Zoom

March 30: Join the conversation. There is never a lack of hot topics.

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM DST, Zoom

March 31: We continue to press on in grammar study and communicating about ourselves both written and in dialogue.

Kids' Conversation: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM DST, Zoom

April 1: APRIL FOOL! Bring your virtual prank!

informs: gives a quality or 
mesh: blend

successor: person that takes over a job

take cues from: 
ties: connections

A Short Update. See You This Week.

 Hello, Friends.

Severe weather awareness week has provided us with some beautiful spring weather and some chilly days. These swings can make you feel a little under the weather. 

Summer Fun 

Tuttle Orchards is an International Friends favorite fieldtrip destination. This year in addition to You Pick apples, pumpkins and sunflowers; farm fresh produce boxes; a greenhouse; sourced blueberries and cherries; and a great little cafe with doughnuts and farm store, they are offering greenhouse classes for adults, children, and preschoolers. Check out these events! 

Lakeview Ministries camp is open and offer a sleepover summer camp fun for kids and families. This is a Lutheran/Christian based camp and comes highly recommended.

And not to jump the gun, 
but here’s a sneak peek to April fun 
in Indiana.

Cooking in March

St. Patrick's Day Recipes can be delicious any time of the year! Here is a really nice collection of Irish themed recipes to celebrate spring.

March 25 is International Waffle Day: Do you like sweet or savory? Breakfast only or any time of day? Be ready to share your answers.

English Grammar: Tense

Grammar helps us to understand when (in time) something takes place. This handy chart helps to explain when to use which form.

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30 PM (DST), Zoom. 

March 21: Continuing song vocabulary and study

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30 AM-10:30 PM (DST), Zoom.

March 22: Finishing reading and discussing 2 Thessalonians.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM (DST), Zoom.

March 22: Severe weather safety, Daylight Savings Time hacks, preparing for summer fun.

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-5:30 PM (DST), Zoom.

March 23: Bring your ideas.

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30-11:45 AM (DST), Zoom.

March 23: Continuing perfecting tense.

Kids' Conversation: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM (DST), Zoom.

March 23: International Waffle Day! Bring your stories and recipes. Snack along!

Tuesday, March 15 

Classes and Meetings are cancelled.

See you Wednesday.

Spring Forward, Be Prepared and Have Fun

Hello, Friends  

We have a lot to talk about this upcoming week. Be sure to check each class. Our Kids' Conversation has some fantastic tips. Thanks, guys!

Weather Emergency Preparedness Week 

Key terms:

• [Storm or Tornado] Watch: Conditions are right for the event to occur in your area. Be prepared to cover.
• [Storm or Tornado] Warning: The event is in your area. Take cover now.
• Weather Siren: When the sirens go off, get prepared or take cover. Sirens are tested at a particular time each week. Be sure to know when that is for your area.

Emergency tips (have these things in your "go bag" or safe place):

• Shelter in the lowest level or in a room that has no windows. A bathroom or hall is a great place because the walls are fortified.
• Shoes for everyone (especially if you have to shelter at night out of bed)
• A battery powered radio or crank radio
• Blankets for shelter and warmth
• Water
• Food (for people and pets)
• Chargers for your tech
• Grab your tech
• Your wallet with IDs or other documents
• Cash
• Pets on a leash or in a container
• What else....?

USA Spring Forward!

In the United States, we spring forward or go to Daylight Savings Time on March 13 (Europe Springs Forward March 27). If you Zoom in from another time zone, be sure to check the time of your class meets. 

Special Note: Because the majority of our students live in other countries that do not have daylight savings, we are changing the time to 5:30-6:00 PM DST on Friday. The time does not change for our international students, but it does for our U.S. students.

Things to Do Local and Virtual

Things to do in Hamilton County Are you local? Check these opportunities. 

JASI Miso Making Virtual Class Thursday, March 24, 6:00-7:00 PM. Learn to make miso at home. Miso is the basis for many Japanese dishes. 

The Carmel Clay Library has some great events. Get out your card and sign up! I am taking the charcuterie class!

Truffles and Creams Support the Ukraine and enjoy delicious truffles by purchasing a particular box of truffles. This shop is collecting new clothing. They are particularly looking for socks, underwear and items for children. See more in this article on  WRTV.

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30 PM DST, Zoom

We continued building our vocabulary in the context of songs. A sing along not only helps perfect pronunciation and cadence, it provides a necessary context and builds community.

March 14: Join us as we continue to grow.

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 AM DST, Zoom

We discussed 2 Thessalonians 2. This great chapter talks about the end time predictions (or the apocalypse). Paul teaches that Jesus will bring justice to overthrow the evil one. Paul teaches the Thessalonians to "stand firm and to hold fast to teachings".

March 15: We wrap up 2 Thessalonians. Join us for parting advice.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM DST, Zoom

While COVID isn't a reason not to meet in person, other colds and sore throats got in the way of our meet up! We missed our Friends who couldn't make it.

March 15: Cook Along. We are making Corned Beef and Cabbage to prepare for St. Patrick's Day. Buy your corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, onions, celery. We will also demonstrate making Irish soda bread. This Taste of Home recipe is a good start.

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-5:30 PM DST, Zoom

We talked about the severe weather we experienced. Do you wish you had a basement? How old is your home? That could help decide whether you need a basement to hide from the weather. 

March 16: What do you want to talk about? Zoom on over!

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM DST, Zoom

We worked on situations for using -ing or -ed endings. A round robin of two truths and a lie helped us to learn more about each other. It is fun to learn unbelievable things about each other.

March 17: Wear green for St. Pat’s Day. We will continue our classes and lessons and build our grammar.

Kid's Conversation: Friday, 5:30-6:30 PM DST, Zoom

Shared tongue twisters and tried them out. Such fun! Can you say these three times quickly? Do you know what they mean?

• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?
• How many cans can a canner can if a canner can cans.
• カエルぴょこぴょこ三ぴょこぴょこ。合わせてぴょこぴょこ六ぴょこぴょこ。
• Pronunciation. kaeru pyoko pyoko mi pyoko pyoko. awasete pyoko pyoko mu pyoko pyoko.
• Translation (which is also a bit of a twister): There are three frogs hopping. Here come another three hopping frogs. In total there are six frogs hopping.
• I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream
• Time asked Time how long Time has. Time replied to Time that Time has the time that Time has. (Time is sometimes capitalized because it is a name. This is a good one because capitalization conventions are important to help understand and inform this tongue twister).

March 18:  

• Wear green for St. Patrick's Day! 
• Bring a green snack to enjoy (because we aren't together to eat one, but that doesn't mean we can't have a party!)
• What is a leprechaun?
• Why would you want to catch one?
• How would you catch it? Show or tell us about your trap.

got in the way: obstructed, kept something from happening

key terms: important words or phrases

overthrow: force someone out of control

St Pat's Day: St. Patrick's Day

take cover: go to a safe place

 

Is It Spring? Not yet....

 Hello, Friends.

It is a beautiful Saturday! Indiana weather is beginning to turn. Crocuses are blooming. Daffodils are up an inch today, but our 70 degree weather will encourage them to shoot up.

It is always wonderful to bump into Friends from past years. We most often find each other at the grocery stores. Be sure to say hello! I think of all of you often and wonder how you are and what you are doing. 

The Hamilton County Reporter provides great, local information. Thursday, March 3's Reporter included a number of important articles:

• March 13-19 is Severe Weather Preparedness week. Read more on pages 1-2
• How to run for office on page 1 and the pitfalls of applying
• Hamilton County's Victoria Spartz and her resolutions for Congress on page 6

What else do you find interesting?

COVID-19 in Indiana

Governor Holcomb lifted the COVID emergency order in Indiana. There are a few legal implications that go along with lifting this order that includes a suspension of benefits as well as defining vaccine mandate rules. This summary from The Indiana Lawyer   descriptions of the legal rulings and implications that lead us as the medical crisis wanes.

March Madness Brackets

March Madness is on! International Friends has a "pool". Sign in and fill out your bracket to compete with other Friends!

CBS Sports - 2022 NCAA® Men's Bracket Games Game From CBS Sports - CBSSports.com

• You don't have to be a basketball fan to fill out the bracket.
• You don't have to even follow basketball to fill out the bracket.
• There are Cinderella stories: Under Dogs become the winners.

How to choose...

• Do you like one of the team's colors better than the other?
• Do you like one mascot better than the other?
• Are players on the team better looking than the other?

Of course, you could also go with statistics and who might be the team most likely to win!

Ukraine and Indiana

The invasion of the Ukraine is on the top of our minds. Many of our neighbors here in Carmel are from the Ukraine. Over the course of our program, we have had any Ukranian Friends learn English with us and share their food and culture. Indiana's Victoria Spartz is originally from the Ukraine and has be a spokesperson on The Hill. Read more about her pleas and discover the latest vocabulary.

American Sign Language: Monday, 4:30-6:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

We watched and studied how one signer "sang" the Arthur theme song. This singer chose to use concept words to describe the song. This gave us a great opportunity to discuss meanings and the words we choose to best explain what we are hoping to say.

March 7: Continue the sing-along. "Write" your version.

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 AMEST (GMT-5), Zoom

We read the first chapter of 2 Thessalonians. This chapter clearly shows us that the people are being persecuted. Paul reminds the people that their steadfast faith has been recognized and supported. Key words in our discussion: freedom, gratitude, evangelism, responsibility and compassion.

March 8: 2 Thessalonians: 2 discusses the judgment of evil ones.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

We talked about what was important to take in the short term and how we miss the comforts of our home like our furniture and pictures.

March 8: Let's meet for lunch at Amber Indian at 11:00 AM! Join us for our first fieldtrip since the pandemic. 12510 Meridian Street, Carmel. 

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-5:30 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

We talked about spring festivals in our home countries and how we celebrate together. Spring in Japan includes cherry blossoms and tea ceremonies. In Turkey Nevrus celebrations in town squares welcome spring. We also reflected on relocating and the difficulties of downsizing. In the end, everyone manages to bring what is important to make a house a home.

March 9: Join us in free-flowing conversation.

English Classes: 9:30 AM-12:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

We continued working on grammar. We applied our learning in conversations and sentences.

March 10: Prepare Exercise 46 and make up Two Truths and a Lie about yourself for speedround discussions. If you don't have Exercise 46, email for it.

Kids' Conversation: Friday, 4:30-5:00 PM EST (GMT-5), Zoom

We had fun sharing jokes and puns in our home languages and English. Explaining a joke or pun is not easy. Jokes can get lost in translation. One student introduced tongue twisters in his home language. These are really fun devices for learning a language and for pronunciation practice. Tongue twisters are also fun play for understanding words that are similar.

March 11: Bring tongue twisters in English or in your home language. Be prepared to explain them to us (in English!). Do one fun thing and tell us about it (no one did anything fun last week, and that is just plain wrong!).

benefits: monetary (money) or other assistance

bracket: a tree that shows team competitions

Cinderella stories: when a team least favored to win becomes champion

devices: method or media

downsizing: reducing living space or conditions

go with: choose or follow

The Hill: Washington D.C. or Capitol Hill

in the end: ultimately

lifted: when an official announcement or mandate is ended

lost in translation: meaning or humor are not as pointed

most likely: favored

over the course of: during a time period

persecuted: attacked or punished unfairly because of belief, nationality or origin, social status, etc. 

shoot up: grow fast

spokesperson: someone who defends or supports a group or cause

steadfast: firm, unwavering

suspension: stopping 

Under Dogs: least favored to win

wanes: fades