Fall Into Fall

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Hello, Friends.

Here in the Midwest, we will feel cooler temperatures in the coming week. Even if the pools were still open, they would not be open because the air temperature is predicted to stay below 70 degrees! This is quite the change from the last week or so when the temperatures were in the upper 80s to mid-90s, and with the humidity it was more than hot, it was sticky!

Community Fun

This time of year, festivals and excused to get together as a community out of doors are rampant. Search local papers and sites for fun things to do. Get out and see friends and neighbors. Meet new people. Locally, we have a great mix of people sharing their heritage. This weekend kicked off with the Fiftieth Anniversary of the City of Carmel with an old-fashioned ice cream social. 

Hamilton County offers more fun. Click for the Top Five Guide. Be sure to scroll to the bottom to find more things to do.

Each county and community offers this type of guide either online or in the paper.

Learn From Our Meetings This Week

Read what we did this week in each of our meetings. This week's meetings covered American English and American Culture foundations to apply.

Pick out tips and techniques and try them. 

International Friends Meeting Notes

Practicing your American English is important. Join us! Click here to register and get the Zoom links. Or come to Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Carmel.

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

We got reacquainted in this meeting. Even though we have been studying together and meeting occasionally over the summer. We got down to business toward the end of our hour and talked about Numbers 1-3. 

Chapter 1 is a census of the tribes/families of Israel. This chapter sets up the structure for the entire community as it traveled together. The able-bodied men from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war numbered 603,550. This accounting did not include women, children, elderly, etc. This was a really large party that was counted and accounted for.

Chapter 2 provides a beautiful word picture of how the camps were to be set up. The description reminded us of a kaleidoscope. 

Chapter 3 provides for the spiritual and legal leadership of the people with the appointment of the Levites. This chapter also outlines the terms and the term of these men's service. This chapter also provides for the redemption of the first-born children of all people and animals. These are to "belong to God" and reflects back to the Passover in Egypt. Instead of taking the first-born, the Levites stand itn their place (chapter 3:45)

God provides a plan for the Israelites to live and work together as they sojourn to the promised land.

 

September 21: Continue the story with Numbers 4-6. These chapters outline the responsibilities of the different groups. Chapter five talks about preserving individual households from separation through protecting the larger community from disease. Chapters four and six outline the responsibilities of groups of people composed from people from various tribes who performed special services.

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

Breakfast, brunch, lunch, luncheon, working lunch, dinner, or supper? We love to compare an

contrast food traditions across cultures. Food is always a safe and interesting topic of 

conversation. What is your favorite meal of the day? What are your favorite breakfast foods? How do you like your eggs—scrambled, fried, or sunny side up? Do you prefer a sweet or a

savory breakfast?

We worked on critical listening skills today as Carolyn told about attending the USGLC (United 

States Global Leadership Coalition) in Washington, D.C. in June. This opportunity to network 

and brainstorm with government representatives, aides, and others to explore issues of 

concern sounded inspiring. Think about your experience. Have you ever attended a

professional conference, served on a school or community committee, or collaborated with 

others on a project of any kind? What did you learn, accomplish, or contribute? Share your

experience with us in class or explore this in a future homework assignment.

Local, state, and national politics are part of American Culture. We addressed questions about political parties, voting, ballots, absentee ballots, and particular local candidates, and we 

practiced some critical reading by noticing common elements on candidates websites: Home,

Story, Shop, Donate, Help, etc. Where is home for you? If you are an expat or global nomad, that may not be an easy question to answer. If you have kids, where do they call their home country? Is it your home country, or the country where they have grown up?

Thank you for your time and attention. Use something you heard or learned in the coming week. Talk to your husband about politics. Talk to your kids about “where is home.” Practice grammar, usage, and idioms that are new to you.

Examples:

Usual (adjective—which one): We followed our usual schedule today. 

Usually (adverb—how often): We usually begin and end on time.

Threw me off—The noise outside threw me off during the exam.

Fun facts: As you travel across the U.S., enjoy learning each state’s motto and symbols (flag, seal, bird, flower, tree, song). Challenge: Find out the state symbols of Indiana and one other state you have visited (or might visit in the future.)

September 24: For our next meeting, create half page graphic for "home," or choose another idea/word to explore. Take a picture and e-mail it to indyintlfriend@gmail.com.

American English Language and Culture: Thursday, 7:00 -8:30 PM, Room 102, Cornerstone Lutheran Church-Carmel

We met and talked about our families including our brothers, sisters, and in-laws. We learned more about each other. 

We talked about learning English and the challenges of transferring what we already know into listening and speaking language. In this case, since our friend has a Masters Degree in finance with the emphasis on economics, listening to Thomas Sowell's Basic Economics is a great opportunity hear about the field in American English. Borrow the audio book is available through the Libby app and your public library.

Listen and watch Dr. Sowell in this interview. This discussion helps us to understand how American economics has developed. Turn on the CC (Closed Captioning) to read along. Remember you can adjust the audio speed.

Finding a new career is common in the United States. We looked at the Medical Assistant program offered by Allied Health Education Programs through the Trinity Free Clinic. We read through the opportunity to earn this basic degree to get a feel for working in the medical field.

September 24:  For our next meeting, write the answer to the following question from the application. Email your answer or bring it to class.

"What will you put into the program in order to succeed? What are your future goals in the medical field?'

American English for Kids: Friday, 8:00-8:30 PM, private Zoom

We talked about preparing for exams. We continued talking about the "cram" courses that students take to prepare for exams. Our friend said that his teacher said that they had to, "change their mind." This usually means to take a new perspective, decision, or position about something. Literally, though, when we are learning we are changing our minds! So yes, a teacher helps students "change their minds!"

September 25: Teach a short lesson from a chapter of study. Debrief to tell if/how this method helped you recognize your learning.

Words and Phrases and Resources

accounted for: a part of or made up of

sojourn: travel