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Hello, Friends.
April showers bring May flowers. May in the United States means a wrapping up of winter seasons, ending school cycles and beginning breaks. Summer means we are ready to get out and vacation, enjoy the sun, vacation, work all week and vacation when we get home. While we may be working just as hard as before, there is a certain something that kicks in in May. Schools take a break. Kids graduate to their next level (in school or in life). We all still retain the wonder and expectation of a summer break. It is vacation time (at least in mind if not in fact). Working parents enroll kids in summer camps that may be day camps (kids sleep at home) or sleep away or stay over (kids stay at camp for a period of time) camps. Vacations are booked. If you cannot get away, there is plenty to do close to home.
Plan your get away or your staycation.
Welcome May!
Let's Go Racing!
May starts here with the 500 Festival: the month-long celebration gearing up for the Indy 500 Race! Community events, races, volunteer!
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Event Schedule: The Speedway is hopping all month long. Get out to the track for speed trials, qualifications, and more.
Not in Indy? Celebrate all month going with these non-racing dates.
May 1: May Day
May 3:
Carmel Clay Public Library Nerd Fest: Nerdy fun for kids 5-12. Enjoy books, games, 3D printing, contests, robotics, and so much more. Free fun for all.
May 4: the Fourth: Star Wars Day. Get it?
Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival in Carmel: May 4, 1-4:00 PM, Free: Find out more about this beautiful and serene garden in the center of Carmel in this Indy's Child article.
May 11: Mother's Day
May 25: Indy 500 Race Day
May 26: Memorial Day (the last Monday in May, a national holiday)
And more May dates to celebrate from Holiday Insights.
In Indiana: Plan your days in Indiana. Any day can be a holiday.
International Indiana
Many people have made Indiana their home. Groups celebrating
The Japan Society of Indiana is a great place to learn more about the bridges between Japan and Indiana.
American English and Grammar Story in Action
This year we have been exploring our private and public lives to build our American English knowledge and skills. As we put our pieces together, we can discover new
American English grammar can be an adventure. Ellen Jovin has made a career of grammar and teaching people how to write business English. Her company is Syntaxis. In a quirky moment, Ellen Jovin set up a folding table and sat down to talk about grammar with people the on the street. The Grammar Table. Her New York Times best selling book and coming documentary, Rebel with a Clause, tells the tales of her table adventures. She has a movie coming out telling the story. Because Language is
Pronouncing Z
The buzzy sound of Z is not usual in all languages. Zoo, zipper, zebra, xylophone. These are all obvious. In American English, the buzzy Z sound can appear unexpectedly disguised as S (and here are two such words...and whoop another!). S and Z can be confused because lips, teeth and tongue are in the relatively same position. Z is voiced (make a sound). S is hissed as is SH. Spanish speakers need to take particular care here.
Go back to the first list: zoo, zipper, zebra, xylophone. If unvoiced: sue, sipper, see bra, sigh la phone or shoe, shipper, she bra, shy la phone. Listeners are bound to be confused.
Can you hear the difference? Can you see the difference? Can you sing the difference? Check out the song "Let My People Go". The singer has beautiful diction. Pay attention to the cadence (beat and syllable stress).
International Friends Meeting Notes
Join us! Click here to register.
International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom
We flew through the chapters in Exodus! The story is heating up. Moses goes to Egypt and to Pharaoh to negotiate the release of the Israelites. We read Exodus 5-8. Moses continues to protest that he cannot speak and fears that God's message will be distorted (my lips are uncircumcised: I do not believe the words and the promise, myself). Moses does follow through as God councils and directs him. Moses is forewarned and forearmed that Pharaoh would not follow through with his promises. Like many people, when he received relief, Pharoah would renege.
April 28: We begin with Exodus 9
"Let my people go"
American English and Culture
American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom
We had free flow conversation. We began with "What did you notice?" Looking up and around, and then articulating what you see and observe is a simple way to collect the ideas and concepts that you need to be able to talk about.
We did not watch our Linked In Learning. Instead, we talked about our particular and specific situations where we need clarification in conflict. In our discussions today, we discovered that the most painful discussions come out of official encounters. It is always important to read contracts in order to be familiar with agreements. It is also important to realize that when a contract is signed, it becomes a legal agreement that must be fulfilled. Written communications including text messages and emails are the best route for ironing out details. Text messages are also admissible in court, so it is important to keep it civil, stick to the facts and leave your frustrations out of the conversation. Setting deadlines, describing your needs, and making the ask to achieve desirable outcomes is an important part of resolution.
May 1: Check Handouts to read the outlines for select countries from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands. If this is your country, is the information provided accurate?
Will we watch the next Civil Language Lessons on Practical Tools for Respectful and Civil Communication. Linked In Learning: Navigating Tense Situations with Civility?
May 8: Last Class. Pizza Party! Join us for a delicious meeting in person and debrief of the year.
American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:30 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102
May 1: Check Handouts to read the outlines for select countries from Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands. If this is your country, is the information provided accurate? If your country or countries are not represented, what do we need to communicate?
We will watch the next Civil Language Lessons on Practical Tools for Respectful and Civil Communication. Linked In Learning: Navigating Tense Situations with Civility.
May 8: PIZZA PARTY!
American English for Kids: Thursday, 6:00-6:30 PM EST, private Zoom
We went on a rainy-day road trip through the countryside and ended up out in the country at a farm. We enjoyed catching up with each other. We talked about blaming and the consequences of misbehavior. We made comparisons using "I prefer something rather than something else." We can use "instead of" in many cases also.
