Hello, Friends.
Spring breaks are sprouting up all over! Many local colleges are breaking mid-March. Students flock to Florida looking for fun, but there are plenty of things to do and see around Indiana.
This month is business month. As we go about our business, be thinking about how often you connect with people and conduct business. We are highlighting spoken events and Google translate (or other apps) fill our conversational gaps. Written American English plays a big role in our conversations and expressing ourselves. Presenting ourselves to others smooths relationships. The same goes for how we present ourselves on paper. AI is proving to be a great tool for bridging written communication.
Perfect Your Elevator Pitch(es)
What is the one phrase that describes you and your intentions. This can be different from moment to moment or event to event. How do you communicate who you are and what you can give or what you need?
- Introduce yourself?
- What makes you unique?
- What are your goals?
- What can you offer?
The Oscars and The American Heart
Enjoy this Oscar nominated short about music and people who fix broken instrument provide children with the tools to live life to the fullest and pursue happiness. The Last Repair Shop. People come together to work to help children achieve their dreams. Do you hear their stories?
Local Indiana Fun
Anderson Madison County Visitors
Spring Break in Madison County
Minnetrista Glass Egg Hunt: March 23, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM free event. Hunt for beautiful glass eggs ($20 each, created by Ball State glass artists (in training)). Carolyn vouches for this event. It is worth the drive. Let her know if you plan to go!
Cornerstone Lutheran Church Egg Hunt: our host and sponsors have great plans for our children. Join the fun with a secular event: Easter Egg Hunt for kids up to the fourth grade. Sign up and enjoy!
Daylight Savings Time
We did "spring forward" on Sunday. This can be rough over the next few days depending on your schedule. Here in central Indiana, our kids get on the bus in the morning in the dark, so be sure to keep your eyes open!
Daylight-saving time is literally killing us. It's time to end this switch.
Count Down to the Eclipse: April 8, from 1:50 to 4:25 PM
A swath of the Midwest is in the path of the total eclipse. Get excited!
There is no school that day. Get prepared! You do not want to look at the sun. Cool Creek Park has glasses for $3.00 each. There are other outlets in Hamilton County to pick them up: Where to Get Glasses
Solar Eclipse at Minnetrista Enjoy a weekend of Eclipse activities and festivities April 6-April 6.
In America: Things to Know
COVID now falls under respiratory viruses. Check the CDC website for recommendations.
St. Patrick's Day (March 17) celebrates all things Irish. But who is St. Patrick and why the shamrock is a symbol of Ireland? This lovely article The Shamrock and the Holy Trinity from Finnish author Mari-Anna Stålnacke describes St. Patrick and his mission.
Ramadan is the next 40 days (March 10-April 18) and is observed by fasting during daylight hours. Be mindful of our Friends and neighbors. Invitations for lunch and coffee need to be saved for another time. And speaking of time, here is a great article about iftar (fasting time) Ramadan: Fasting hours and iftar times around the world. And, speaking to your neighbors: Ramadan Mubarak! 100 Ramadan Wishes and Greetings to Honor the Holy Month.
Tweaking English: One Word or Two?
“In any language it is a struggle to make a sentence say exactly what you mean.”
—Arthur Koestler
American English includes many “problematic pairs” that provoke native speakers and language learners alike. In many cases, the pronunciation is the same, but the grammar and usage may be quite different, especially in formal writing. Do you know these?
A lot, alot, or allot?
A lot (adjective): many/much. Example:
He made a lot of money last year, so he had a lot of friends.
Alot: “Alot” is NOT a word. There are a lot of other words you can choose.
Allot (transitive verb): To portion or dole out an amount of money or goods. Example:
- Social Security allots her $800 per month.
- Her allotment (noun) arrives on the first of the month.
Already or all ready?
Already (adverb): describes a completed action. Example:
They already consulted a realtor about buying a new house.
All Ready (adverb): fully prepared. Example:
The cooler is packed; we are all ready for the picnic.
All right or alright?
All right (adverb): satisfactory, good, pleasing; safe, well. Example:
Is it all right if I call you this evening? I want to make sure you are all right after the accident.
Alright: Alright is NOT a word. It isn’t all right to use it in formal contexts.
All together or altogether?
All together (adverb): two or more people or things assembled in a group or united in goals; at the same time. Example:
We were all together for the first family reunion in ten years.
Altogether: (adverb). Entirely, wholly, or completely. Example:
They were altogether foolish to overspend on vacation.
A while or awhile?
A while (noun): a period or amount of time. Tip: A while is often used after a preposition e.g. in a while, for a while, after a while. Examples:
- A while ago I talked to the team on a conference call.
- We will delay the changes in policy for a while.
- I usually read awhile after I go to bed.
- I exercise awhile each day.
Buy into or buy-in?
Buy into (transitive verb): To agree with, accept, or believe; to purchase part of a business in order to have some control over it. Examples:
I don’t buy into the idea that the Midwest is boring.
He bought into the new software company in Indianapolis because he liked living in Indiana.
Buy-in (noun): The acceptance or support of something (an idea, plan, or policy); the actual purchase of a part of a business. Example:
Without buy-in from the players, the new basketball coach will fail, and the team co-owner’s buy-in wouldn’t earn him a profit.
Meetings and Classes
American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM EST (UTC -5), Zoom
We continue to stretch our abilities. Now that we have a comfortable vocabulary in our close community, we are looking outside of this to expand our capabilities by practicing. We are using ASL at Work from the Internet Archive. You can subscribe to the videos that are companion through Dawnsign Press.
March 12: Review up to Unit 6. Read and practice Unit 6. The goal here is to validate what you know and to help you understand ASL grammar and word order. Practice this week by interpretive signing along for at least an hour. What did you know? Where did you get hung up? What words/phrases did you need to fingerspell for the moment? Some examples: Watch basketball or racing (number review, ordination, names)
And here are some Workplace Signs.
Thinking about apologies. Here is Apologize interpreted by Bella
Thinking about your "elevator pitch."
International Bible Study: Monday, 8:00-9:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
We read and talked about Revelation 16 and 17. Revelation 16 tells about the final plagues. There is justice and consequences (verses 6-7) that are the result of the people refusing to repent (verses 9 and 11). Observations included:
Revelation 16:14: Be careful not to be tricked by miraculous sights and get deceived by those that only wish to harm others and self-gain.
Revelation 16: 15: Jesus says to be ready. He also says to stay clothed so as not to be shamed. We reflected that in Genesis and the Garden, Adam and Eve were naked until they sinned and God provided them with clothing to cover their shame. Jesus continues to "clothe believers in righteousness" through His actions.
Revelation 16: 18: There is an earthquake bigger than what has happened. For those of us who have lived through massive earthquakes and still live with rebuilding from the destruction, this hits home.
Revelation 17: This chapter provides a vision accompanied by an explanation. People continue to struggle with understanding even the explanation (which could indicate that this time has not come). What is clear is that the evil who are destructive and rejoice harming others ultimately hate turn against leaders and destroy each other.
March 11: Join us as we continue to read and learn together beginning with Revelation 18.
Sidebar discussion: John 3:16-17 describes Jesus' mission (His elevator pitch). Does Holy Week portend Revelation? Jesus cleanses the temple. Depending on where you read the story, there could be a question of whether this event happened once or twice. Take a look at each of the Gospels: Matthew 21:12-16, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-47, John 2: 13-16.
American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
Our study for the week was negotiation and arguments. Lucky for us our casual conversation opened with the week was vaccinations which opened the discussion for arguments. Arguments are not always hostile discussions. An argument can be a disagreement or opposing positions on a topic. Arguments can be thought provoking. Keep your cool and don't let your opponent get your goat. Check our Handouts page for handy phrases.
- Negotiation is not just limited to business transactions. Family members negotiate throughout the day to solve problems and make decisions.
- In the United States many things are nonnegotiable (or non-negotiable). Do not expect to negotiate prices at stores like Walmart and Target. Do not expect to negotiate your medical costs (that is the job of your insurance provider-call them. Also, the pharmacist may help you find alternative pricing but they do not set the price, this comes from your insurance).
- Large ticket items like cars and appliances and houses can be negotiated, although many car companies have flat rate pricing now (because car salesmen have a bad reputation for high pressure sales).
- Americans usually do not care to negotiate so if you are at a yard sale, don't expect to get a lower price (but it may not hurt to try).
- Negotiations are not limited to money; intangibles can be part of the deal.
March 14: Solving problems and taking responsibility requires the ability to communicate and gain consensus. How do you solve problems? Do you own up to mistakes? How do you make amends? What are the usual positions of Americans when confronting problems and taking responsibility? Find handy phrases on our Handouts page. And
- from Healthline: Owe Someone and Apology? Here's How to Make Things Right
- from Thesaurus: 10 Ways to Apologize Without Saying Sorry (words and cultural explanations)
Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 5:30-:6:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
We talked a little bit about St. Patrick's Day and how we celebrate it (or not) in our home countries. In the United States, we love to celebrate St. Pat's. It is a fun excuse to get together and celebrate. We talked about what we would wish for if we caught a leprechaun. It's fun to compare notes about what would be good to be able to do or to have.
Since we Spring Forward on Sunday, March 10, our class runs from 5:30-6:00 PM EST (UR
March 15: Create a leprechaun trap! Myths and Legends of Leprechauns: 20 Facts from Discover Something New Every Day can help you plan a trap that would be attractive and catch one of these tricky creatures!
Want to read some fun books about Leprechauns? 21 Awesome Leprechaun Books for Kids has a good list of picture books as well as books for older readers for everyone to enjoy.
Words and Phrases
get your goat: do not get angry or annoyed
go about our business: live our daily lives
hits home: is relevant; strikes our heartstrings
is proving: demonstrating that something works
just to be safe: when something isn't necessarily necessary, but you do it anyway
lucky for us: conveniently
keep your cool: stay calm (here are Five Ways to Keep Your Cool and Ten Tips for Keeping Your Cool)
miraculous: amazing
on paper: in written form; this is also encompasses (includes) e-mails, etc.
opened: started, began
outlets: stores or other places to get something
own up to: admit when you do something (usually wrong or offensive, but maybe when you did something nice...I got a bouquet of flowers, but I don't know who sent them.
pick [them] up: get something
portend: foreshadow
saved for another time: take a rain check
sidebar discussion: something that is related but not
swath: a broad strip or area of something
take a look at: read through or review something informally
time has not come:
Want: Do you want
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