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Hello, Friends.
I am on vacation. Getting a change of scenery can provide a change of perspective and can be refreshing and add insight. Seeing the sea or climbing a mountain when the usual view is a sea of grass can make you think! Listening to music and seeing art created in another location provides food for thought and new ideas.
Looking Left and Right
A leftward glance usually means the person is thinking, remembering, or processing information while looking to the right might signify imagining. While this is not a scientifically proven fact, it is an interesting idea as you think about your conversations. When searching for the right word, do you look to the left or to the right? That could depend on what you are trying to communicate. Does it help to send your glance in one direction or the other? Some say yes and some say no. I, for one, tend to think to the left when I am writing these notes, but think to the right when I am telling a story.
While eye shifts help people to focus more deeply, it may mean that someone is distracted by something like a squirrel running by.
Then, there is a cultural aspect to gazing left and right. When someone is from a particular culture, they might look in another direction.
Read more. Lateral Gaze: a sign of thinking or a medical clue
County Roads
There is a John Denver song that is popular in the states and world-wide. As we move forward from our thoughts and writing and sharing about home, this song is a great meditation piece. The singer expresses his excitement and contentment as he heads toward to West Virginia. The song writers were working on this homecoming song while traveling together. The song began with longing for the home state of Massachusetts. No one, the writers thought, would what to sing MA. As a side note, none of the lyricists had ever been to West Virginia.
Listen to this classic. Substitute the main themes with your home. Can you make your story fit?
Email your work to indyintlfriends@gmail.com or sing your recording to your smart phone and send it to Carolyn. What techniques do you have to do to make the words fit the tune or the tune fit your words?
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 discussed Numbers 9-12.
Numbers 9:1-14 The Israelites observed the commemorative Passover and did everything as the Lord had commanded them. The references to not breaking any bones of the lamb during the Passover served as a reminder that Jesus would be the fulfilled Passover lamb with no bones broken at his crucifixion.
Numbers 9: 15-23 The cloud above the Tabernacle served as God’s divine guidance system directing their journey. They were off to a good start.
Numbers 10 The two silver trumpets communicated marching orders. The ark of the covenant would lead the way. It was time to move on toward the Promised Land.
Numbers 11Complaints and discontent about hardships and food surfaced when they had barely begun their journey. God provided a daily supply of manna but they complained to Moses, who became quite troubled when they craved meat. God provided quail but their lack of gratitude for these provisions caused the judgment of a severe plague.
Numbers 12 Miriam and Aaron, the sister and brother of Moses, became jealous of his leadership and God’s seeming “favoritism” of Moses. They questioned why God was speaking through Moses and not directly to them. Their criticism had prompt and severe consequences with Miriam becoming leprous. When Aaron acknowledged both of their sins, Miriam after seven days of exclusion was brought back to the camp.
American English Language and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM, Zoom
Together we are learning how the practice and products of our own writing can inspire and teach us American English. Thank you to our learners who allowed us to use their writing samples as our “textbook” to:
- Review points of grammar (verb tenses, count/non-count nouns, contractions)
- Practice standard and conversational usage (phrasal verbs with objects and indirect objects)
- Explore various degrees of conditional sentences (“exotic” grammar).
Exotic Grammar—Second Conditional (present unreal conditional)
This form uses the past tense in the “if” clause and a modal verb (might, would, could) plus the base verb in the result clause to describe a hypothetical or unreal situation that cannot or is unlikely to happen. Examples:
- If I had a billion dollars, I would donate a large sum to charity.
- If I were you, I wouldn’t eat spicy food before bedtime.
October 15: Complete the Second Conditional Worksheet posted on the Homework and Notes page of this website AND write 5-10 original sentences using “If I were you, I would/could/might” to give advice. Imagine yourself in situations where you might really offer your input or a recommendation. Use the contraction I’d (I would) in some of your sentences.
American English Language and Culture: Thursday, 7:00 -8:30 PM, Room 102, Cornerstone Lutheran Church-Carmel
We are continuing to get acquainted. Gene was glad to get to know our Friends better. Sharing about our families and using pictures and photos to help others to understand and share our lives builds our relationships and our communication skills. Playing around with words that are spelled the same but have different meanings can be a surprise. Even if we are fluent in reading and have a great visual vocabulary, it is a surprise to hear a word pronounced in conversation. Then, the context becomes important. Repeating the word (Sorry! What did you say? Sew?)
- Sew: join two pieces of fabric together with thread and a needle
- Sow: plant seeds
- So: to an extent, or a continuation of a statement, or to make a point
October 15: For our next meeting, we will look at the if/then statements (also called conditional by grammar geeks.
American English for Kids: Friday, 8:00-8:30 PM, private Zoom
October 9: Fall Break-No Meeting
October 16: Prepare questions to find out about my Fall Break. I will prepare a travelogue of our road trip.
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