Hello, Friends.
Kids are back to school: check!
Labor Day has come and gone: check!
All things pumpkin spice are back: check!
We are in a weather transition. People are breaking out jackets and sweaters, but it is still safe to wear shorts and t-shirts. Leaves are green, but they are beginning to change. Bees and yellow jackets congregate around trash cans looking for those last sweet treats. Time for apple cider and donuts. Time for hayrides and bonfires. Time for homecoming and football games.
September 23 is the first day fall or the fall equinox.
Local Fun and Topics
Apple picking. Pumpkin picking. Sunflower picking. Fall produce is a popular reason to go to the farm. U-Pick Farm Locator is a great resource for finding a farm near you!
Indian subtitled movies at the Regal Theater in Carmel. Check the listing. Who wants to go to the movies?
Carmel Mooncake Festival
Technical English
Vocabulary building is something you have to do for yourself.
Start with your home language's most common words (based on on-line word counts and suggestions). These are important because they are the words you use the most in public conversations. Compare these words with American English words. Make as many links as possible:
💪Make a sentence in your home language. Now substitute the American English words in your sentence.
Review American English common word lists (this one is a favorite because it has words adults need to know for daily living). Review pronouns and prepositions (We use these A LOT. Use them correctly and sound professional)
💪Rank the words:
- What words are a slam dunk? You hear and see them often and know what they mean. These are freebees.
- What words are familiar, but you are not sure? You have heard them somewhat....maybe. You noticed them before. They are somewhere in your memory. 💦💦Refresh your connections.
- What words are new? What is that?! Make the quick jump and translate. Draw pictures. Make sentences. Look for the words in daily life and when you find them say, "Aha!"
Check your texts. Check your emails. Listen to yourself (in your home language and English). This is your personal vocabulary (the words that make you you). Listen around you (what are people talking about and what do you need to know).
💪Pay attention to necessary and interesting words in context.
Meetings and Classes Updates
The third week of classes and meetings are on Zoom.
Click to go to our Meetings and Classes page to learn more and register.
American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM, Zoom
We met and had a great chat. Coming in and greeting and sharing a little something about your day/life is a challenge to our vocabulary (shared and unshared). You can find the vocabulary list here. Scott roped us in and went old school by holding up flashcards for us to see and sign. We worked on "back to school" words and phrases.
September 26: Meet to review our words and check our progress with by telling and questioning each other about sentences and conversational comments.
International Bible Study: Tuesday, 8:45-9:45 PM, Zoom
We are keeping up with the reading. Often Bible studies (and book clubs) are a chore because they are required reading. We find that reading Matthew is interesting and informative. We are also going above and beyond and find Matthew hard to put down. Matthew was written by a Jewish man and leans into people knowing Jewish history and practices in the storytelling. We are finding surprising insights specific to our lives and stories of our lives:
- Jesus shows compassion for all people in need regardless of their status, age, popularity, or life history (Matthew 9:18-22).
- Jesus does not tolerate people trained as spiritual leaders who do not teach, lead or demonstrate compassion, reconciliation, hope, and love (Matthew 15)
- Jesus sends his disciples (chosen followers) out to teach and care for the disenfranchised Israelites. He councils them to leave and "shake the dust off your clothes" when people are hostile to messages of the good news of love, hope and reconciliation (Matthew 10)
- Jesus has a sharp sense of humor and quick wit and tongue.
- How we read/listen influences us. Some versions have Jesus' words printed in red ink. It stands out from the black ink in a new way. Listening to the reading has a dramatic overtone and interpretation in the inflection. Thinking or reading with different intonations can lead to a different impression.
September 26: Our read this week wraps up the book of Matthew and moves on to the book of Mark. To get an overview of the gist of this book, visit worship from September 16: Immediately (the title and topic sound like a command 😉). You can pick up
Join our virtual study and read along with us. Email your thoughts or notes.
American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:30 AM, Zoom
We revisited the terms for classifying where we are in our language and culture comfort and development. Breakout discussion and work groups
In the future, look for materials for our classes including handouts and worksheets for September 28 ind our Resources and Handouts tab on our webpages.
If you attended class, you should have received an invitation from Zoom to join our continuous chat group. Check your email and spam folders.
September 28: Join one of breakout groups. We are repeating the topic/lesson twice. Or join open conversation.
9:00-9:10 Chat and get set
9:10-9:55 Breakout
- Get Over It: Wrap up the study of "get" phrases. Find the handouts here.
- Customer service phrases and behavior. What have you heard? What are common questions? What are common customer service concerns and how can you phrase your requests?
- Free conversation. Practice your American English conversation unscripted: How to start (or finish) a conversation.
9:55-10:00 Break
10:00-10:45 Breakout
- Get Over It: Wrap up of the study of "get" phrases.
- Customer service phrases and behavior. What have you heard? What are common questions? What are common customer service concerns and how can you phrase your requests?
- Free conversation. Practice your American English conversation unscripted: How to start (or finish) a conversation.
Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 4:30-5:00 PM, Zoom.
We had Zoom difficulties. As a result, we started and stayed later than our time. We developed the score table and point system for our weekly conversations.
- Earn one point for every 30 seconds of talking. (less than 30 seconds, no points;
- Earn five points for asking an open ended question (to get the other person to talk). This requires that you show good listening skills.
September 29: Join us as we tell each other about our week. Can you get other people to talk and earn points?
Words and Phrases
Words in brackets may be substituted with similar words. For example [go] could be went, [us] could be any pronoun that fits tense wise or a descriptive noun.
a little something: not much
above and beyond: do more than required or expected
as a result: so
breaking out: get something out of storage for regular use
chore: a job
compassion: pity and concern for the suffering of others
gist: substance or essence
hard to put down: hard to stop or quit reading or doing something
[go] old school:
leans into: embraces or takes advantage of a situation or mindset
moves on: continues forward; you may hear "moves up" that implies progress and rank
produce: [PRO doos] agricultural products, especially fruits and vegetables
quick wit: respond in a clever or funny way without thinking for a long time
quick tongue: making sharp or witty remarks that may lead them into trouble
reconciliation: restoration of friendly relations or feelings between people who have a conflict
roped [us] in: bring a group back to focus or attention; organize
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