Memorial Day Weekend

Hello Friends,

Memorial Day in the United States is marks the beginning of summer. Pools open. Picnics and parades mark this day. Memorial Day is the day we recognize those men and women that have given their lives for our country to preserve our freedom. The Real Meaning of Memorial Day from Education.com is a great discussion about the holiday and talking about the significance of service and sacrifice.

Indy 500

Even if you are not a race fan or an Indycar fan,  you have to get excited for this weekend. It is good to be back at the track and at the event full steam and in person.

Indy 500 events at the track for the big weekend.

Indy 500 Festival Parade 

Indy 500 Parade in Indy With Kids has great tips for taking your family to see this internationally televised parade.

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

We met briefly, but it turned into a full, one-hour discussion. In English we use have two ways:

• Have: I have two cats. (possession)
• Have to: I have to get food for my two cats. (must)

Kid's Conversation: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM, Zoom

We met and talked about our interests and lives. 

We talked about "pet names" or what we call people instead of their names. In the United States we may say: honey, baby (babe), sunshine, sweetie, darling, dear. Endearing terms are another way of saying pet name.

Two favorite songs to enjoy:

AURORA - Runaway - YouTube

Official髭男dism - Universe［Official Video］ - YouTube

full steam: operating according to normal standards

Summer Break, sort of...

 Hello, Friends.

The end of our class sessions is always sad, but we are happy that our staff and students are ready to go out and enjoy the summer and the world. 

We wrapped up our meetings and classes for the 21-22 year this week. We saw many changes in our world this year. We got through COVID lock downs and isolations as well as saw strife around the world. This newsletter is viewed in many countries all around the world and we were sad to see metrics disappear from some locations. We plan to continue to post periodically through the summer. Sign up for delivery into your e-mailbox.

Fall planning is afoot! Staff is training and tech is getting polished.

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

Our teacher and Friends have decided to keep meeting over the summer. We are learning more vocabulary to support our conversation. This is a great class to build your skills. Kinetic learning is a way to support your language skills and ASL is one way to productively add a language while you build your linguistic skills. Log on using your Zoom links.

International Bible Study

We wrapped up 1 Timothy 6. This book is a gold mine of advice and is very thought provoking. We had great comparisons with current events and honed our conversation skills. The search for truth and caring for each other are main points. Calling out specific groups that were causing grief within the community and how to address these concerns are a highlight of this letter. We learned that we have to read to the conclusion to understand the whole picture of the community, the problems, and the fact that grace is paramount. In retrospect, the very specific nature of the conversations led us to insight in the community that the young Timothy was leading.

Take a few minutes to read 1 Timothy in one sitting to get the full picture.

International Friends

We wrapped up with a "meeting" at Cake Bake. It is good to meet together in person and eat delicious food.

English Classes

American Accent Class had an old fashioned party at Kathy's house. Our American English classes met on Zoom to wrap up the year with Kahoots. We are looking forward to keeping our skills up over the summer with meet ups in person and on Zoom.

Kid's Conversation: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM EDT, Zoom

Our international kids are still in school. They want to continue to Zoom. Who are we to say anything different! Join us if you have the link. If you would like the link, email for registration.

afoot: in process or underway

calling out: reprimanding

gold mine: a rich source

metrics: numbers or statistics

paramount: overriding

sort of: not really

strife: violent conflict or contention for superiority

the end...is: sneaky subject/verb here

Happy Mother's Day

Hello, Friends.

Oh no! This did not post on Sunday! I am so sorry!

Happy Mother's Day. This Sunday we celebrate all of our moms. Thank you for all you do for your children and for all of us. We know that being a mom often means reaching out and caring for others who are not in our family with love, food, comfort, and advice. We know that when our physical mom is not close, we can depend on each other to step in and that is the case for so many of us. We also know that our mothers have a special place in our lives because if it weren't for them, we wouldn't be here today.

Wrapping Up the School Year

Wrapping up the year is so hard to do. I hate ending our classes, but a pause helps us to recharge (and gives us time to plan and develop more for you).

Summer does not mean you really get a break. Watch for meet up announcements and check our webpage for meet up events. This year our local Friends want to get out and see all the things we have been missing as well as hang out with our Friends. For our Friends who are not close by, watch for Zoom meet-up announcements. Everyone is welcome to join our meet ups. If you are new to our meetings, come and see. If you are an old Friend, we miss you! Drop in for a visit and say "hi".

American English QuickStart

These pages are designed to help our Friends access American English words, phrases, and concepts to help you live a good life in English. We are collecting areas, concepts, and topics for you to quickly review and learn or brush up your American English. Help us! Add to the comments or email your needs, ideas, tips.

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

We continue to build vocabulary. We reviewed our vocab in conversation. We voted to continue meeting at the same time over the summer months. If you wish to continue conversation and basic language building, join our ASL class. Email for the Zoom link if you don't have our links.

May 9: Review animals and Mother's Day.

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

Timothy gets advice for caring for widows in 1 Timothy: 4. What a beautiful study for Mother's Day week! Paul's advice for the community is that families (children and grandchildren) are responsible for caring for widows. When a widow is over 60 and has no none to care for her, the church should provide support. When a widow is young enough to remarry and have a family, she should be free to do so (because it best for both her and the community).

Paul advises Timothy regarding leaders: their payment, offences (and how to determine if there really is an offence), and recognition and accolades. Paul advises that regardless, sins become evident. Nothing can be hidden.

While there was much that was specific to this situation, we discovered that there was much to inform us in our current society.

May 10: We are wrapping up 1 Timothy. Where we had doubts about respect and direction, we are finding that getting the full story informs us about the culture and the expectations for leaders as well as the community. Stopping short early in this book would have not allowed us to understand the full measure of the problems facing the church and the respect that Paul had for women and the community.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30 AM EDT, in person

We continued our in-person meetings with a field trip to the Indianapolis Arts Center. The day was rainy, so we enjoyed the indoor arts exhibits. The weather cleared up, and we walked to Broad Ripple and enjoyed lunch along the canal.

May 10: Our final meeting is at Cake Bake in Broad Ripple meeting at 11:15.

 Afternoon Conversation Has Ended For the Year

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

English classes discussed and reviewed a letter of application. We applied everything we learned this year to help our Friend tell her story.

May 11: We meet for our last class. Our American Accent Class is closing the year in person. Our other classes are ending the year on Zoom (because not all people are local and Zoom from other time zones and countries. Join us as we end the year.

Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM EDT Zoom

We found out that many of our Friends don't have fun! What?!! While the United States are taking a break from school, most of our Friends have school until July. Sunday is Mother's Day and is an important day for all of us. 

May 12: Kids' Conversation is continuing through the summer (or winter if you are south of the equator). If you want to join us, email us. Next week we are sharing one fun thing (be sure to do something fun), Mother's Day, and hearing about birthdays.

accolades: award or special honor 

cleared up: rain, rain, go away!

informs: gives facts 

local: located in a community or area

vocab: vocabulary

Capturing Personal Vocabulary

Hello, Friends.

Vocabulary is the building block of language learning. For second language learners a key is making language learning relevant and meaningful. Everyone has a personal vocabulary or commonly used words (in the first language). Becoming comfortable with your vocabulary helps build confidence. The trick is recognizing and capturing those words. 

• Narrate your day: Say everything you are doing in in the goal language. Can you say the words?
• Look at your text messages. What words appear frequently? What do you "talk" about?
• Add the target language as a "keyboard" on your smart phone. What word substitutes are offered? Do they make sense? Autocorrect Explained from the Wall Street Journal talks about the pitfalls of autocorrect. It also talks about your personal vocabulary.
• Write about you day in your home language. Use a word cloud generator to identify your frequent words. There is a list of word cloud generators and links listed under English Classes.

Primary Elections

The Current and The Hamilton County Reporter both have published guides to help American voters choose the candidates for the November 8, 2022 the United States has Congressional elections. Signs supporting candidates are popping up in yards. Some candidates walk door to door to meet people and share their point of view, answer questions, and give people a chance to talk to them about what is important. There are local selections on the primary ballot. Be sure to read about the candidates and learn about important issues and people who want to be leaders.

Fun in Carmel

From the Hamilton County Reporter, April 30, 2022

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

We practiced our conversation skills. Building our vocabulary and perfecting our "pronunciation" is more fun when you have friends when you practice.

May 2: Come for conversation and to compare Spanish with English.

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 AM EDT, in person!

It was wonderful to meet in person and talk about this chapter of 1 Timothy. Is 1 Timothy for everyone? Maybe not, because not everyone will persevere in reading to the end just as Paul warns that some people will abandon their faith and follow deceivers (verse 1). Not everyone will realize that in God there is great freedom and that all gifts from God are good (verse 4). Trust him as the loving, great, and unbounded Father. Paul affirms Timothy's work (verse 16). Is this message for everyone? Can we get bogged down in what we might not see as a success? Do we limit God and limit ourselves? Are we bold in our work?

May 3: 1 Timothy: 5 provides advice for caring for people who are alone. Join us at Cornerstone Lutheran Church to talk about this topic.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM EDT, in person!

We got together and played dominos and talked about how to meet together, improve our English, and have a good life with people in our community. Stepping outside our normal language and culture circles can be intimidating. Blending our culture and language friend groups can be disappointing because the groups do not always mix with each other. The summer is a good time to get out and meet new people in new places. 

May 3: Join us as we escape to the Indianapolis Arts Center ARTSPARK 820 67th Street. Meet at the park or meet at Door 6 at CLC to carpool/caravan and leave by 10:45. Plan to go out to lunch.

Afternoon Conversation: 4:30-5:30 PM EDT, Zoom

May 4: It is Star Wars Day! Come and talk like Yoda!

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

We are continuing to review each other's letters of application. This exercise gives us the opportunity to learn more about each other and to apply our vocabulary. We have a chance to ask questions and help each other perfect what we are trying to communicate.

Accent Classes talked about all the pronunciations of past tense -ed. These tables can help. As usual, there is no hard and fast rule.

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

We had a nice conversation about what we do to unwind after tests. Everyone is working hard at school. So many of us are celebrating birthdays! It is nice to be able to share. We compared pizza in our different countries. While each country has specialties (stroganoff, hot dog, potato), everyone likes traditional pepperoni and cheese pizzas.

May 3: Join the conversation.

candidates: people who are nominated or selected for an office
hard and fast: definite
letters of application: a letter asking to be considered for a job or position
perfect: (per FEKT) make perfect (PER fikt)
unwind: relax