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Hello, Friends.
Our second week of classes came to a close. It is good to make new Friends and reconnect with old Friends. It is good to get back into the swing of things! We are settling in to the fall/winter seasons. In the United States, our kids are all back at school. As daylight hours diminish, we turn to books and study here in the American Midwest. Welcome to Fall. Welcome to a time to focus on learning and growing. Welcome to orange and yellow and pumpkin pie spice....
Fun, Field Trips, and Festivals
St George Middle Eastern Festival: September 19-21 in Fishers, IN. Enjoy food, fun, and faith Middle Eastern-style. Adult tickets are $5.00 and parking is free.
Indy Suburban Home Show: September 19-21 at Grand Park in Westfield, IN. Find ideas and vendors to spruce up your home. Adult tickets are $7.00 on line and $10.00 at the door.
American English and Culture
Pronouns are an important part of American English. They serve as a shortcut so you do not have to keep repeating what is being talked about.
First-person pronouns refer to the speaker or the group associated to that person.
Second-person pronouns refer to other people or things.
Culturally, pronouns have been in the hot seat in America. People have taken issue with the concept of gender specific pronouns in light of sexual orientation. People may choose the pronouns they prefer to be referred (a name tag may say "my preferred pronouns are she/her). Be aware of this.
"They" may be transitioning to be the nonspecific way to refer to an individual (not just a group of people or things). These types of language evolution are common and normal. Sometimes the changes stick and sometimes the changes evaporate. Pronouns bear the brunt of social change. Pronouns are so closely tied to personal identity, so they can become an emotional hot button. We will watch and see how American English changes.
Did You Hear What I Said?
We had a great time comparing what we say and what we hear. Our great examples of the week:
- It's tough or it's stuff
- I am or a yam
- I'm fifty or I'm fifteen
How you hear depends on what you expect to hear...sometimes. If you have no expectations, then something strange might happen. This is how misunderstandings can occur. Our examples (from class) this week are both the result of blending words together because of how we pronounce the phrases. Try them. Say them to your phone. Can you hear and feel the difference?
Learning Skills
You are made to learn new languages. Language includes the words, rules, and the culture making up the language. Careers, recreation, fields of study, cooking, shopping, technology all have their own "language". How successful you are in becoming fluent in the new language depends on what you bring and where you are.
- Effort: time and energy put into the project
- Engagement: participation, attention,
- Environment: where are you when you learn and where are you when you use what you have learned
- Emotion: feelings
International Friends Meeting Notes
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International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom
We spent our time catching up with each other. Summer break activities were briefly talked about, but we were more excited to share our current events: Netflix shows and movies, celebrations, projects, recipes. While our past fun and events were important, it was more important for us to share where currently are so that we can move forward together.
September 15: Exodus 13-16 Read ahead and get ready to go!
American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom
What a great day. We did not have a large turnout, but we covered a lot of ground. We met new friends and learned a bit about each other. We enjoyed sharing odd phrases from our languages and cultures that describe a state of mind or emotion.
We talked about the reasons and ways that we learn and retain information and then use it.
We remembered what it was like to be 16 (years old). Reminiscing in American English helps you connect your life lived in one language with a new language. You can think of language as a road and events as a place. When you tell your story in a new language, you are building a new road to an old destination. It may feel a little off because the way is not familiar. The good news is that the more roads you build, the better your memory becomes!
September 18: Observing your life and the words and phrases that are important or usual, and necessary are the focus for the week
- Look for words pertaining to the five senses: see, here, smell, touch, taste. Bring examples and explanations.
- List the usual words and phrases in your day (any language here is fair game). Do not forget to identify work words, common and repetitive phrases to compare and create our common vocabulary.
American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:30 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 100
We had a very productive meeting.
We started with introductions and practiced using personal pronouns. My name is Carolyn. Her name is Carolyn. She is Carolyn.
We shared five of the words we listed on the board. We compared lists and found many of our words are common. We had a nice little collection of slang or idioms, which at first glance we did not necessarily understand.
We wrote five sentences using our board words.
Be careful. Say "I am" which can sound like "yam" in the native American English speakers.
September 18: Observe your life and the words, phrases, and sentences that are important to you and that you use.
Homework:
- Continue your word lists.
- Write three sentences a day. You should have 21 by our next class.
We will use your sentences and word lists in our next meeting to explore and build our American English knowledge and skills.
American English for Kids: Thursday, 6:00-6:30 PM, private Zoom
We met and our topic was Mine Craft. The goal was to tell about the game: how to play, why it is fun, what is needed. We were split 50/50 on whether we liked the game. Mine Craft is a sandbox game, which means that the player creates the world.
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