Welcome Fall and Wrapping Up September

 Hello, Friends. 

Welcome Fall! It is official: Thursday the 22nd the Northern Hemisphere experienced the autumnal equinox.  This week our Indiana temperatures took a dip. In Indiana we are happy to have the season of:

• Apples (see our Kid's Conversation Notes below)
• Pumpkin Spice
• Sweater Weather
• Bon Fires
• Apple Cider
• Corn Mazes
• Tailgating
• Football
• Festivals 

It was fantastic to see Friends at the Oktoberfest. We are forming a new Meet-Up where we can get together for socialization with our husbands (and our kids, maybe).

Monarch Migration

Look to the skies. Indiana is a Monarch butterfly flyway. Read this detailed and interesting report about the Indiana initiative to increase public awareness and grow the population of this amazing insects that are born in Indiana, travel to winter in central Mexico (like many Hoosier snowbirds), and then return back home again in Indiana to "have a family".

Festing Season and Fun

Indy International Festival: October 14, 15, 16 at the Exposition Hall, Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Wolf Park: See wolves and learn more about these magnificent animals.

Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States

Read more to understand the background to this Amendment during Mid-Term season.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

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

Free flowing conversation helps us to check our vocabulary. ASL helps us to target the words we need in our lives. Sometimes we can structure this and sometimes our current story drives what we need. Interestingly enough, ASL and American English do not always have the same words or expressions.

September 26: Join us as we visit the all critical words for Fall.

American English: Thursday, 9:30-11:30 AM, Zoom

We are beginning to target what our class as a whole needs to work on this year. 

September 29: This week we are following structure activities. 

• Look over the A words in this list and bring your questions.
• Find the discrepancies in the picture.
• Tell us three goals for learning English.
• Check your number skills.

American Accent Training: Thursday, 9:30-11:30 AM, Zoom

American Accent Training videos to help all of us work on how we pronounce unique American English sounds.

Understanding "schwa"

The two "th" sounds

Voiced and voiceless consonant sounds

September 29: The class is meeting for fellowship at A2Z Cafe. If you can not physically join, but want to practice your English, join our American English class via Zoom. You should have the link for the semester. If you need me to resend it, shoot me an email. I will also send you the notes from our last class so that you can participate fully.

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

We had a nice conversation about apples. There is a saying that "an apple a day keeps the doctor away". Do apples have magical health properties? This Web MD article tells the nutritional story. 

Here in Indiana, it is apple picking time. We have You Pick orchards where you pick (and eat) your own apples. You can buy wonderful treats like candied or caramel apples, apple fritters, apple cider, and apple slushies. We have apple sauce, apple butter, apple pancakes, apple pie, apple salsa. Apples go great with peanut butter and cheese. 

There are there are thousands of varieties of apples to enjoy and each of them have special characteristics, flavors, or uses.

October 1: Welcome to October. October is a favorite month in the U.S. What is your favorite thing about October.

as a whole: all together as a group

discrepancies: incorrect or incompatible facts

explanation or one could also note

initiative: a strategy to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation 

interestingly enough: this filler or bridge-type of phrase can mean coincidently or by way ofofficial: recognized as 

shoot me: send quickly

to target: focus