March 22

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Hello, Friends.

Thursday was the Spring Equinox: we have equal daylight and dark. Of course, it immediately snowed. That is spring weather. The beauty of it is that it is not at all reliable. Don't forget to send a coat to school with your kids and keep an umbrella in the car.

People are thinking about spring and

• April 7-April 11, 2025 Spring Break
• May 9, 2024 Last day of classes
• May 8, 2024 Last day of class is an Old Fashioned All American Pizza Party
• May 15, 2024: iWi final luncheon (included in your tuition)
• June, July, and August we will meet once a month just to keep in touch on Zoom and/or in person.
• September we are back in class! Join us beginning the week of September 2.

Where to Go and What to Do:

Indiana Travel Guides give you so many great ideas for fun in Indiana. Check them out!

American English

Prepositions are problematic because how we use them can differ across languages and cultures. To is one example that we have drilled on in class and in these updates. BUT, there are many, many more.

• A full list of prepositions (no singing required) from The Free Dictionary is a great place to review and add to your list of prepositions.
• The List of Prepositions from Grammar Monster has the Top 10 Prepositions and the 130 Most Common Prepositions from Grammar Monster 
• Preposition by the Bazillion is a nice way to review the many words in context.
• The classic Preposition song to the tune of Yankee Doodle lists most common prepositions in isolation.
• Arnell discusses prepositions. Her pacing is slow and clipped. She strongly enunciates with significant punctuation pauses (while this may help you learn, it is not a confident manner of speaking American English).

Compare and contrast your home language with English.

• Learn Entry has a List of Prepositions in Different Languages that is stunning in its scope and uses the rationale of common vocabulary to help you move forward. This site begins with English, and the "reverse" helps to turn translating upside down.

To is one of the most commonly used and misused prepositions. Use this Grammar Monster lesson to improve your understanding for using the word "to" in English.

American Culture

Your friend calls and wants to meet you to share some tea. You join her at the table, and you impatiently say, "Spill the tea, already."

This is not about delicious hot or cold beverages...it is about gossip.

International Friends Meeting Notes

Join us! Click here to register.

International Friends American English and Culture classes continue into the spring. We are wrapping up our study of individual professional language with an adaptation of the "I'm From.." poem. You can try it out on our Handouts page (International Friends: 2024-2025 Notes and Handouts). These types of exercises help us to express our lives and skills beyond dry facts. From here we are going to turn outward with how we interact in the workplace (which can include just being out and about) in the United States. We are going to view a Linked in Learning course on civility as a springboard for our conversations. These short video lessons have discuss civility and creating a personal brand.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

Genesis 47-Genesis 48 is a relocation story and Jacob passes on the torch to his sons. His blessings are not as expected. Isreal adopts Joseph's sons as his own. He confers his blessing on them in reverse. Joseph tries to correct his father to follow the norm, but Jacob is not influenced. 

March 24: Genesis 49 is another genealogy chapter, and this time it is in the context of blessings. Another great discussion is ahead of us.

American English and Culture

We looked at ourselves and the words and phrases we need to express ourselves, we looked at our career and professions and the words and phrases we need to express our work and experience. We are moving into looking at how to communicate outside of ourselves and look at other people and how to communicate. To begin, we are using a LinkedIn Learning video class on Civil Language.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

We met and had a great discussion that covered interests and ranges. We watched introduction to the LinkedIn Learning course on civil language and the 

March 27: Complete your professional I'm From.... and email it to Carolyn. We will watch the third Civil Language Lesson on Personal Brand in the LinkedIn Learning.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:30 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

My apologies! I did not capture our board this week. BUT we did run into some interesting words: 

choir (qwire) concert (con CERT) not consort (con SORT) or spouse which could be a wife or a husband

March 27: Bring your professional "I'm From..." project. We will start by recreating our Civil Language board (what do you remember after a week?) and watch the third Civil Language Lesson on Personal Brand in the LinkedIn Learning.

American English for Kids: Thursday, 6:00-6:30 PM EST, private Zoom

We talked sports. Everyone has their favorite sport they like to play. Team sports are popular with some people, while others prefer solo activities. Everyone has "field day" at their school. The events are different for each school.

March 28: Share three minutes about yourself. Be sure to practice in advance. We want to get to know more about you. And don't let me forget leprechaun stories.

Words and Phrases

capture: catch and save or retain

stunning: amazing