Week 1: So much done!

Hello, Friends:

I am so glad to have our first full week of classes and meetings under my belt. What a great bunch of people are gathering together this year! There is so much to cover specifically to each of our meetings and classes. I hope you had as much fun as I have had.

under (my/your) belt: experience gained; or a meal enjoyed...which do you think this one pertains to

Meet up and Beer Club: Over the summer we enjoyed social time in the various parks. We also established the "Beer Club" (another reason to get together and enjoy the things we love with the people we enjoy). Join old and new Friends at CLC's Oktoberfest enjoy great German food and beer. The event opens at 4:00-10:00 on Friday, September 28. You can order tickets on line or at the event. There are fun activities for the whole family including a polka band for dancing. I plan to be there early...I hope to see you!

English Practice
What is the worst thing to study that is most necessary when learning a new language? Vocabulary!
Repetition and flash cards are always a great way to memorize words. What can make this tedious study relevant and memorable (especially for grown adults)?

Try Vocabulary.com to boost your wordcount. There are a whole slew of options.

worst thing: most serious or unpleasant thing
repetition: do over and over
boost: improve or increase
tedious: tiring because it goes on and on and on
wordcount: number of words you know
whole slew: a lot of

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, Room 100

The first chapter of the gospel of John is packed with so much insight into who Jesus is. In the first five verses, John connects Jesus to the deity of God, distinct from but equal to God the Father. Jesus became human, came into our world, and sacrificed his life for the sins of all people. Why did he do it? Because he loves us so much!

We read in John 1:6-18 that John the Baptist (a different John than the writer of this book of the Bible) was chosen by God to prepare the people for the arrival of Jesus. He never claimed to be the Messiah, but rather pointed people to Jesus as the one who was sent to be the Savior of the world. John’s work was to testify that Jesus was the Messiah.

September 18: John 1: 19-34 

These are some amazing ideas to discuss in a language that is not one's native language! We really enjoy the opportunity to talk about the Bible with our International Friends.
Next week we will continue our study as we talk about John 1: 19-34. Please join us!

insight: understanding of the true nature of a thing
deity: divine character or nature of God
distinct from: not identical; separate
sacrifice: the surrender of something prized for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim
testify: to bear witness; to give evidence

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30, Room 100

We had a great discussion about "back to school". We shared what back-to-school is like at all levels: preschool, elementary school, high school and college. We recounted some memories from our own back-to-school time. We compared expectations for American schools (our school days are so much shorter than many other countries and we expect parents to be involved in learning and all aspects of schooling) and American colleges (American colleges are easier to get into, but be prepared to work hard). 

Homework: in two weeks we will go apple picking. Please do some research and discover what orchard for us to visit. Bring your ideas to our next meeting.

expectations: what people thing should happens
in two weeks: not next week but the week after; many people say "from two weeks"
our next meeting:

September 18: Let's Tailgate!

Tailgating is a popular preparation for fall sports. We love to pre-game in the parking lot after arriving at our favorite sporting event. 

Join us as we experience this warm up event for a sporting event.

Wear your fan gear and join this fun and festive foodie event in the back parking lot (or under the front "porch" if it is raining). Look for Carolyn's yellow Jeep for the location. Bring:

A snack or picnic dish to share

Lawn or sports chairs

BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage/bottle/beer)

We will have a grill ready and available!

We will have a corn hole tournament!

tailgating: a party in the parking lot from the trunk or back of your car
warm up: get ready

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, beginning September 12, Room 100.

We met for casual conversation. We had a great conversation and learned so much about each other. We learned about each other's families. We identified articles of clothing and names of different types of shoes (dress, casual and tennis or running). We talked about returning and exchanging purchases. We used translators to share concepts and then practiced integrating our ideas into English conversation.

September 19: We will meet to continue getting to know each other. We will talk about the 50 most frequently used English words.  

articles of clothing: different pieces or
exchanging: to take an item back to get another of the same item in a different, size, color, etc.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30, upstairs classrooms.

It was great to get everyone together for our fall sessions. We had a short time in our classrooms with our teachers. This time is critical for getting to know each other and to know your teachers and classroom helpers. Do you feel like the English is over your head? Be patient. Part of learning a new language is getting used to the context where you are learning. Not all classes will get books next week. This is to give you time for you and your teacher and your classmates to get to know each other and get comfortable. This is one of the most important aspects of learning a new language: getting to know the people you will be communicating with all year. Please be patient with yourself and with your ability! 

September 20: Begin in our classrooms with your teachers. 

over your head: above your level or understanding
patient:
context: the circumstances that form the setting

Parents and Children: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30, upstairs classroom.

Your children are always welcome in our classrooms. Sometimes they aren't happy to study English for hours and hours. Sometimes they aren't happy to stay in the nursery. Sometimes the nursery is already full (they can only accommodate 15 or so children). To make the most of your time and your children's we are beginning a drop in parent and child opportunity. Your children can play with one another. Parents can practice English by reading to their children. Learn common American children's songs.

Kick Off!

Hello, Friends.

Welcome to the 2018-2019 year! We begin at 9:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is a change from the past. This is the same time as preschool. There will be a lot of traffic in the parking lot. Enter Door 6 only. The other entrances will be locked or are for the preschool children and their families.

I hope that you have great plans for the weekend. We have so much going on this weekend here in Indy. With all of the rain this weekend, events might be cancelled. Good news, though, the Mooncake Festival will be rescheduled (not cancelled). Flooding may be a factor this weekend. Twelve inches of moving water can sweep your car away. Simple safety when encountering water on the road: Do not drive through deep water on the road at the risk of swamping your engine. For more safe driving tips, check this Progressive Insurance resource.

There is a lot you can do to improve your English and grammar on your own. Fun apps (and webpages) to help you learn and study English or check your writing:

• Memrise
• Duolingo
• Grammarly

This year we are launching opportunities for you to practice your English skills with your children as a part of our class mix. There are other great opportunities to learn with your children. Butler University is offering a beginning piano class for children where the parents sit in. There are other opportunities at the university for older children to learn music in group classes also: Music Classes

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, Room 100

We will be reading and discussing the Gospel of John this year. 

We began reading John 1:1-2. There is some great English study in these two sentences: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Because Word is capitalized it is a proper noun or title. To find out what these sentences mean, look to the beginning of the Bible: Genesis 1:1-3. The beginning means creation. Word is the person of God in action: verse three explains that creation happened when God spoke. The first thing God spoke into existence was light. Light is the energy of the universe. John 1:3-5 summarizes creation and the role of the Word in creation and in our world. The action of God is through the Word. There seems to be circular conversation here...read on to discover more!

September 11: Join us as we talk about John 1:6-18. We will learn more about the structure and message of this book by watching The Bible Project video part one. Preview the video before class.

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30, Room 100

We introduced ourselves and talked about things we want to do this year for fun. Check our International Friends Schedule to see what is coming up.

September 11: Join us as we talk about "back to school". Bring your back to school questions and stories.

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, beginning September 12, upstairs classroom.

Join us September 12 as we begin our conversations. This class is open to all levels. Come and listen and try your skills at English Conversation. Sometimes this means listening. Sometimes this means talking. We will work on all these things.

Parents and Children: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, beginning September 12, upstairs classroom.

Join us as we start this new adventure. Bring your children and let's work on English skills together.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30, beginning September 13.

Join us September 13 as we start our year of classes. Follow the signs to meet your teacher.

entrances: doors

rescheduled: planned for another time

may be a factor: an influence

swamping: overwhelm or flood with water

sweep: cause to float away in a direction 

on your own: by yourself; alone

launching: starting

circular conversation: a discussion that does not come to a conclusion

English Registration

English Class Registration and Screening 

Thursday, September 6, 2018

9:30-12:00

Upstairs classrooms

Cornerstone Lutheran Church

4850 East Main Street, Carmel 

Enter Door Six off of Gray Road

Come and pay fees, meet old and new Friends and classmates 

New students will be screened for the best class and level 

Register online here

Labor Day Weekend and Let's Start Meeting Next Week!

Welcome to the official end of summer!

Labor Day weekend marks the official end of summer. Break out the grill and celebrate with picnics and bar be cues (BBQs). Most neighborhood pools close this weekend. You can be sure that the weather will turn hot after that! Read more about the official history of Labor Day from the Department of Labor.

By now your children should be settled in school. This is a good time to stock up on supplies for the rest of the year.

And now we begin our year. Please enter door 6 (the first door off of Gray Road).

SAVE TIME AND REGISTER ON LINE

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, Room 100

Join us September 4 as we pick the book that we will read this year.
International Bible Study is for anyone who wants to stretch their language and comprehension by reading in your home language and discussing in English. Come and talk about matters of the heart, spirit and culture. Everyone is welcome. Free childcare is available in the nursery.

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30, Room 100

Join us September 4 as we kick off our new year of friends, food, fun and fieldtrips.
Come and get acquainted and help set the schedule for the year! Free childcare is available in the nursery.

English Class Registration

September 6, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classroom
Come and register, pay for classes and take placement tests if you are a new student. Come and say hello!

Classes begin September 13: 9:00-11:30.

stock up: buy spare supplies

Welcome Back

Hello, Friends.

We are getting ready to start our year of meetings and classes beginning September 4.

We are excited to welcome our fabulous volunteer staff. This amazing group of people come from all over the greater Indianapolis area to help you become comfortable in our community, make friends and learn English.

We are grateful to Cornerstone Lutheran Church for opening her doors and providing us with rooms for our meetings and classes. We are thankful to the church for staffing the nursery on Tuesday and Thursdays 9:00-11:30 so that parents of small children can come to our meetings and take classes and be sure that their children are in good hands. This is a service provided by the church. Cornerstone is looking for staff and volunteers. Find out more and contact Cathy Graves to help out

Please register on line so we can begin to prepare for you: International Friends Registration. We are using the registration program from Cornerstone, but your information is separate from the church database and only accessible by Carolyn and the data administrators.

Check out our webpages to learn about our programs and the Indiana community. Sign up to get our updates emailed to you 

Please enter Door 6. The other doors are secure to keep the preschool children safe.

International Bible Study: Tuesdays 9:00-10:00, room 100 beginning September 4
Join us September 4 as we select what book of the Bible we will read and discuss this year. The Bible has been translated into most languages and provides a great opportunity to read in your home language and discuss in English. You do not have to be a believer or follower of Christianity to come to this class. Childcare is available in the staffed nursery (this service is free to our students).
 
International Friends: Tuesdays 10:00-12:00, room 100 beginning September 4
Join us for friendship, fun and fieldtrips! Come and meet new friends and learn about living in Indiana and share good food and great conversation. Childcare is available in the staffed nursery (this service is free to our students).


English Class Registration: 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms September 6
Come and get screened for the best class for you if you are a new student. Come and pay your fees for the year: $65 for Thursdays and $35 for Wednesdays. Register for classes in person or preregister.

English Classes: 9:00-11:30 beginning September 13

• Begin in room 101 to meet your teacher.
• Please preregister so we can prepare for you!
• We offer four levels of English classes (introductory through conversation), American Accent Training and a new Parent and Child class.
• Childcare is available in the staffed nursery (this service is free to our students).

As always, your youngsters are welcome to join you in our classes. 

We are also piloting the opportunity for parents and children to meet together in a classroom to learn songs, read books, play and converse. Please email Carolyn if this is of interest to you so we can plan ahead.

Open Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00 beginning September 12
Come up the stairs and join us for unleveled conversation in English. Childcare is provided in classrooms nearby by our volunteer staff.

all over: coming from many places and communities
her: When referring to a Christian church body or organization, the Bible refers to the church as the "bride" of Christ. When attaching a pronoun to the church, it is common to use a female pronoun.
grateful: thankful
staffing: People hired to perform a specific job. CLC provides a paid and volunteer staff for the nursery on Tuesdays and Thursdays. International Friends staff are all volunteers.
in good hands: well cared for
youngsters: children
secure: safe
piloting: trying out
of interest: something you would like to participate in or know others who would like to participate
plan ahead: prepare

Pre-game notes for Fall International Friends

Hello, Friends.

Here are some pregame notes for our upcoming fall classes.

My last update had errors in dates and a broken link. My deepest apologies.

I was at Pendleton Falls Park on Thursday, August 16 in the rain. I posted the date for August 18! If anyone went to Meet Up on Saturday, you had a spectacular weather and the opportunity to see the museum. So in the end, that mistake was a win!

Secondly, the link to registration was broken on the last update page. I was able to fix that. And, here is a link that works: International Friends Registration: 2018-2019

We have some changes to our classes this fall. Please see the notes below in our schedule.

International Friends all English Staff: August 30, 9:30-12:00, Upstairs Class Rooms

International Friends Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, Room 100 beginning September 4
International Friends: Tuesdays 10:00-11:30, Room 100 beginning September 4

English Class Registration: September 6, 9:30-12:00, Upstairs Classrooms
Come and register on-line, pay fees, get screened for your best class fit if you are a new student. The cost is $65 for Thursday classes and $35 for Wednesday classes for the entire year. These fees cover the costs to run the program and includes all materials needed for your class.

Casual Conversation: begin September 12, 4:30-6:00, Upstairs Classroom
English Classes: begin September 13, 9:30-12:00, Upstairs Classroom

Help Wanted (join our volunteer staff)
Email Carolyn Willard for more information

Childcare: We are looking for people to help with childcare for our Wednesday and Thursday classes. If you want to help with watching our little ones while our students are studying their English, please let me know. Our current plan is to have a the children meet and play in one of our classrooms. As always, children are welcome to sit in class with parents.

English teachers: Come and help people learn how to speak English. We like to have teaching pairs so that classes can be supported on a continual basis.

Classroom helpers: Help the classroom teacher with classes.

Administrative help: Do you like organizing paperwork? Can you proof read so I don't make silly date errors? Let me know!
____________________________________________________________________________
pregame notes: information for planning purposes
My deepest apologies: I am so very, very sorry (mostly because I may have missed seeing you)
in the end: as a result
was a win: YAY! that ended up or resulted in a positive experience

Wrapping up Summer break

Hello Friends.

This week many of us are turning the page as our children are all off to school (Carmel is one of the latest to start, I believe). I hope that you made many wonderful summer memories. Now it's time look to start our new chapter of meetings starting after Labor Day. And the roundabout is finished. Check out this great drone footage of our new lovely roundabout by the church.

We are looking for volunteers to help in the classrooms and in the nursery. If you know someone or would like to help out, please email me.

English Teachers: Lead English classes on Thursdays (We like to have teaching partners). Attend staff meetings (with delicious food) once a month.
Classroom Assistants: Help a the teacher with the class. Pair with students for practice. Attend staff meetings (with delicious food) once a month.
Nursery: Help care for our children in the nursery. CLC requires a minimum of two adults in the nursery with children. There are also minimum required ratios of adult caretakers to children. If there isn't enough help, children may not be able to stay safely in the nursery to meet codes.
Administrative Minds and Hands: Help file and organize our paperwork and online registration.

Our final picnic is

August 16 beginning at 11:00

Pendleton Falls Park, 299 Falls Park Drive, Pendleton

Online registration is open:

International Friends On Line Registration 2018-2019
Registration and Screening: September 6, 9:30-12:00 at CLC in the upstairs classrooms. Enter door 6.
Come and pay for the school year and get screened if you are coming for the first time.

Mark your calendars and get ready. I am looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

Love,
Carolyn

turning the page: beginning something new (or finishing something if you are looking back)
off to school: leaving home and attending school
I believe: I think, it is my understanding
new chapter: starting a new period of time in your life
drone footage: film/video made using a remote controlled aircraft
ratios: comparative numbers
codes: safety rules or laws 

mark your calendars: put an event on your calendar