July was a busy month in America. We are busy celebrating life. Most families take their vacations during the summer when the kids are home from school. We schedule and program the summer and take advantage of the warm weather.
Kids may be off for the summer, but that does not mean they are not busy with other important events. Younger kids summer sports include to rec and competitive leagues and camps. Vacation Bible School or VBS camps are offered by churches for kids to come and learn Bible stories, songs, do crafts, and have snacks.
Be sure to visit the various Farmer's Markets...Indiana produce is excellent right now!
Fairs and festivals abound during the summer. Be sure not to miss smaller, local city and county fairs. They are wonderful places for delicious food and the chance to see culture and agriculture up close and personal.
2024 is an important election year. US Presidents are elected every four years, and these elections tend to loom larger in the news and voting landscape. There are two political parties that get most of the attention and garner the most votes regardless of personal political declaration.
The news cycle has been really tight in the last weeks. Keep your eyes and ears open. There is so much to pick up.
The two political parties officially announce and present their candidates at their conventions for the elections in November. Issues and positions will be solidified and messaged.
Republican Convention RNC (Republican National Convention) for the GOP (Grand Old Party) July 15-18 in Milwaukee (mil WA key) Wisconsin. It is on right now plenty of live casting with pundit commentary Here's an article on how to watch.
Playing with English is the best to increase your vocabulary and skill. Having fun with the words and word patterns can help you make and break your American English.
There is so much going on around here for the summer, but what about the fall? Our meetings begin after Labor Day, but we are always looking forward to seeing you soon!
Carmel PorchFest (CPF), now in it’s 11th year, is a free, family-friendly event with a variety of local musical acts performing live on neighborhood porches, along with plenty of food and beverage vendors available. Carmel PorchFest was started in 2014 to promote the Arts & Design District homes, as well as highlighting local musicians. We also run the community’s favorite block party, Late Night on Main. We host three Late Night on Main events per season, the third Saturday of each summer month.
This year we are back to our pre-pandemic scheduling and we are taking a full summer break. Everyone has worked very hard this year and it is good to be getting back out there and enjoying concerts, pools, parks, farmer's markets, and festivals.
It is always bittersweet as some Friends move on to new adventures in new locations or return home. It is always a joy to see Friends complete accomplishments and prepare to move forward in their American lives.
Have a great summer. Look for announcements here for meet ups in the park or on my deck or bump into me and other Friends at events. Keep up with your studies and keep your sights on your goals, but also have fun!
Be sure to keep in touch over the summer!
Memorial Day
Summer break is here. Memorial Day officially kicks off Summer in the United States. Memorial Day weekend in Indiana ends with the Indy 500. If you are in town, don't miss the parade on May 25 in downtown Indy. If you are out of town, you can see the parade on TV. This is one of the very few parades that is broadcast worldwide!
Memorial Day means that the swimming pools are open. Day camps for kids start. Four H projects should be underway for the fairs that begin midsummer. Memorial Day means picnics and parades. We honor the people who have fought and died protecting the United States.
Making Communication Easy
The city of Carmel is looking into a way for citizens (and others) to report problems within the city. A 311 call in is being explored. Click here to read this article in the Current. In terms of communication, is
Learning language tenses can make anyone tense. We can split hairs over the details, but everyday usage is your best guide to understanding people around you. Listen to learn. Hearing the local norm or practice helps you grow.
Past simple or present perfect is a grammar question that tends to come up frequently. What began in the past and continues to the present is key in this tense.
Conventional wisdom says there are 12 verb tenses in English.
But technically there are only two: present and past. Grammar geeks will enjoy this Language Log that discusses the merits of this viewpoint. The future is not set in the English language, but we can talk about the past and present.
International Bible Study: Monday, 8:00-9:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
May 6: We read and remarked on Psalm 17. This a wonderful song that asks God for help with enemies. The writer presents a beautiful argument that describes the "characters", highlights their relationship, describes the problem (the enemies) and their character, then the psalmist makes his ask as a closing. This structure for negotiation or a contract written into a song is a great example of our work in our classes in the last few months.
We talked about the striking highlights of the story of Noah and the ark in Genesis 6-9. While we were all very familiar with this story, there were details we missed. Animal
May 13: We read Genesis 10-11 which catalogs the people and the nations they became as well as the languages they spoke. Genesis 11 explains how languages developed. In the Bible, God confounds the people so they cannot work together. This This is a very interesting story for us as we strive to learn English and the American culture to work together to have a good life. We wondered about the motives that were driving the people in the story that God would see them as destructive to humankind and would put up a roadblock to their folly.
Psalm 27 which provides strength and comfort and hope.
When we return in the fall (September 9) we will pick up with Genesis 12 and the story of Abram and Psalm 9.
American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
We met for the last time this spring on Zoom. A huge thanks to everyone who attended and gave feedback. You should have received an email to tell me what we can do to make our programming better and to meet your needs. Please give us your review of the year in your own (American English) words.
This year we had many specific goals:
Refining pronunciation and accent
Building a relevant vocabulary base including multiple words acting together as one word or idea like phrasal nouns and verbs or compound words or slang and idioms
Sticky pronunciation problems with unexpected American vowel sounds
Identifying individual illusive inaccuracies
Hearing the cadence of American English
Speaking the cadence of American English
This year we tried many methods that were different that traditional teaching and learning. This was because our master class students came with their own observations as well as variety of needs. Creatively conveying and communicating helps cement comprehension (look at that alliteration!).
Please be sure to email Carolyn with your reflections on the year. It has been a learning experience for all of us and your remarks help us to know what works, what to improve, and where to go next.
Have a great summer and we look forward to seeing you in person around town!
Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
May 10 began on the road with us talking about our Mother's Day plans. We found that in some cases the schools make arrangements and celebrations and in others the families are on their own. Regardless, we all appreciate our moms and everything they do for us!
May 17 we talked about how to spend summer breaks. More than that, we had a chance to play a new game called Colorfle. Click and try this fun logic game. It isn't all that easy.
Words and Phrases
all that: very
bittersweet: both happy and sad
cement: make something stick or be permanent
confounds: mixes up; defeat
folly: a costly, ornamental building with no purpose; foolishness
in some cases...and in others: phrases used for making comparison
I am always amazed when May gets here and we are wrapping up our year. This year we are becoming comfortable with seeing each other in person and getting out there and celebrating life. We have moved into a very busy time of the year and it seems that people are trying to make up for the lost time when we couldn't get together during COVID.
We are looking forward to a great summer as we wrap up this year of learning. Just because our classes are wrapping up, it does not mean that learning stops. Keep working and adding to what we did this year!
In America and Elsewhere
Mother's Day is May 12 in the United States. Celebrate the moms in your life with cards, flowers, and favorite gifts. Mother's Day is a time to recognize all the moms in your life.
Flying Flags
Flags are important decorations as well as symbols of allegiance. In the United States, people fly all kinds of flags to show fandom or support or to convey a message or celebration. National flags play an important part in community identity. Old Glory can signify national holidays or mourning. When flown a specific way it can signify distress and a need for help.
When you sit, relax and let your mind run free, you are really working hard! Who know that these lapses of inattention were super productive? 15 Reasons Why Daydreamers are Better Learners explains the science and advantages of spacing out and watching the clouds.
Meetings and Classes
American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM EST (UTC -5), Zoom
We ended our classes for the year. Thank you, Scott for leading and teaching us so much! See you in the fall!
International Bible Study: Monday, 8:00-9:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
We met and talked about Genesis 4 - 5. Genesis 4: 3-7 describes how Cain brought an offering that was not sincere and how Abel brought an offering to God that was the best of his work. We talked about what was it that made Cain's offering less acceptable. We were amazed that God continued to bless and protect Cain even though he killed his brother. Abel established cities and lived to have more children. God protected Cain from attacks from other people.
May 6 at 8:30: Read Genesis 6-9 the story of Noah's ark and Psalm 17 for our discussion.
American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
We met in person for our last official, in-person meeting. This year's pizza party included open mic for everyone to share their songs or poetry. The results were absolutely moving and entertaining. Contact Carolyn for a copy of the book. She also is compiling the pictures. If you have any to add, please email them to her.
You can advance you skills on the world stage! Poetry and Lyric Challenge ended for this year, but there is always next year.
May 9: Please join us for our last meeting to review the year and provide feedback and suggestions. A copy of the year summary is available on the Handouts Page and was emailed to everyone who signed up for classes this year.
Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
We had a fast and furious discussion about pop culture. We found out that manga and anime come from Japan. We noticed that pop culture can include food (and particular brands like Coke, KFC, McDonalds to name a few), music and music genre and stars, clothing. Sushi and ramen are both pop culture foods in the United States. It is fun to notice what is trending in other countries and cultures.
May 10: Happy Mother's Day! Write a tribute to your Mother and share it with our group.
Words and Phrases
fast and furious: a reference to a pop movie; we were Zooming and driving.
April showers bring May flowers. We are also hurtling to the official end of our 2023-24 school year. Our classes officially end on May 17 with our Kid's Conversation.
There is gold in each of the class notes for the week. Be sure to look at them.
Festivals
Festivals are an important part of the summer in the United States. While Indiana has its share of fun events, there are plenty others to enjoy.
Festival Guides and Reviews is a great place to start looking for funnel cakes and fun near and far. This will take you to the Indiana page, but search around to see what other states have to offer.
In Indiana
The month of May is a wonderful time to be in Indiana. There is something for everyone! And, (hint, hint) I plan to be at most of these.
The Indy 500 Concerts, parades, running races, and so much more. Get out to the track. Get down to Speedway. Get down to downtown Indy. Get down to Indycar racing!
Indianapolis 500 track schedule and tickets. This is not just a one day event!
The Vera Bradley Outlet Sale May 1-5 is a great excuse to go to Fort Wayne. Tickets are $6.00 +fees during the week and Saturday and Sunday are free.
Indy Film Fest is a great way to see new films. In person screenings are about up but on line/virtual are available through May 5. Regardless, films are screened throughout the year at different venues, so check the schedule and enjoy something other that Netflix. The Facebook Events Page is the best, up-to-date resource.
Primary elections are May 7. Hoosiers weigh in on who they want to see on the ticket in November. This IndyStar article gives you the lowdown on the presidential candidates and Indiana key issues and voting rules. While the presidential candidates are set, the governor seat is still up for grabs. This IndyStar article
Blue River Highland Games Head to the Shelby County Fairground, 500 Frank Street, Shelbyville, Indiana May 18, 2024, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM and enjoy some extreme sports Highland style. Spectator tickets are $5 for adults and kids over 12 years old. and $40 to compete.
Carmel Art of Wine: Buy a pass and get a glass. Enjoy sips of wine from the local and not so local vintners while enjoying live bands.
Take a Break
Americans do not like to stop and smell the roses. We keep on trucking (and tramping and trudging) through the day. Multitasking is another point of personal pride. Watch a game while creating a crochet masterpiece or studying for a class. Walk the dog (drive, work out) and listen to books on tape. Our multimedia lifestyle keep us going. Exposure to information is not learning (or retaining). Interaction is key to connecting. Then, give the material time to sink in. Creative work is done while resting and allowing your mind to wander. Daydreaming is an important part of filing away what you know and creating avenues for access and use. Here are 15 Reasons Why Daydreamers Are Better Learners. Summer is a great time for dreaming. There's homework for you!
Meetings and Classes
International Friends officially wraps up all meetings the week of May 17. Why do we take a break? Why don't we have workshops over the summer? American school culture breaks over the summer. Parents are busy programing sports and events with and for their children. People take vacations. That being said: look forward to "meet ups" in the park or "see you at" events around town.
Our school pizza party is Thursday, May 2. Everyone is invited. Come and celebrate the end of the year.
Our last English and American Culture class is Thursday, May 9. Zoom with us on the day to evaluate our exciting year and set the course for next fall.
American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM EST (UTC -5), Zoom
We met signed Amazing Grace. Our toddler friend brough us plastic food and we were tested to remember our food words in a new context.
April 30: The song of the day: What a Wonderful World. Here are two translations.
International Bible Study: Monday, 8:00-9:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
Genesis 2:19 God hands creation over to mankind to manage and care for. While humans are creative, we are tasked with maintenance and order.
We only read and commented on the first half of Psalm 44. God fights for us. We can rely on Him!
April 29: Genesis 4 and 5 and the second half of Psalm 44.
American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
We talked about our progress on our songs. Christopher Monroe shared a little bit about his company XVII, inc. The premise is to create and promote encouraging thoughts in 17 letters. He rattled off 100 of sentences and phrases. It is amazing what can be conveyed in a small space. He shared one of his free verse "poems." We each had a different takeaway from this piece both in hearing and in absorbing. Limits, edges, and guidelines are an important part of setting expectations when we communicate. There are some that come with a language and culture, and there are others that we set as a part of our situation and relationship.
May 2: End of Year Pizza Party and Open Mic
10:00 AM-12:00 PM EST (UTC-5)
In-person and on Zoom
Cornerstone Lutheran Church
4850 East Main Street, Carmel. Enter Door 6
Bring your original song to share.
Come even if you don't have a song to share and cheer on the songwriters.
Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
We talked about how we use technology in our different schools. We found out that kids in other countries do not get a cell/smart phone until much later than kids in the United States. We found that kids in other countries do not rely on technology for research and for submitting papers and reports. American kids, even in the earliest grades, are given iPads for exercises, test taking, and text books. There is a trend toward not allowing smart phones and devices in the schools in the United States. The premise is that there are too many distractions via social media and texting communications. Getting back to face-to-face interactions. This Ed Week article tries to convey both sides of this argument.
May 3: Popular culture is the set of beliefs and artistic output (songs, literature, movies, paintings or other artifacts, games and past times, food, clothing styles) in a culture or society. American culture, Western culture, Japanese culture all have unique aspects of culture that people love to share. Then there are international sensations like Taylor Swift. Swifties (as fans are known) inhabit countries all over the Earth. Pop culture is a big business. PopCon is a convention that helps people
What is the pop culture in your country? What is American pop culture? What is the impact of these things on the economics of your country?
Words and Phrases
around town: out and about
there's(or that's)...for you: an emphasis or exclamation point that points out something as particularly good, bad, or a common
keep on trucking: persist, persevere
live (bands, musical performances): in person not prerecorded
lowdown: jucy details
that being said: a conversational transition
past times: how people spend leisure time and money
set the course (a pun here): plan a plan
stop and smell the roses: relax and enjoy a moment
There are some weeks and weekends when the end of the year crunch eats up all the time. This was one of those weeks. It was a reading week for college students: that is reading all the papers that are due before finals. Checking grammar, concepts, communication. These are things we do every day. As students, there is wiggle room. For the rest of us, our communication is part of our relationships and livelihood.
As you wrap up the school year, keep your mind on the purpose for these and other classes: to be able to live life to the fullest!
Meetings and Classes
International Bible Study: Monday, 8:00-9:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
We started Genesis with the first chapter. The creation story is one of great beauty and as we took our time reading and listening, we were struck by the beauty of the story. God speaks creation into being and not in an order that our human minds would consider. Repetition sets the tone, consistency, cadence, and sense of peace and calm. God creates and assesses.
Psalm 1 is a psalter style song and provided a great ending to our study. Technically speaking, David places his advice to not follow, stand with, or follow evil. We talked about how it is easy to get swept up in a moment when in the company of others.
American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM EST (UTC -5), Zoom
We picked up new words like comfortable, chair, happens, and dear (as a title). We learned You Are My Sunshine. We sang along with Amazing Grace.
April 23: Pick a song, any song and translate it for us.
American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
This week we talked about our song writing journeys. Some of us have jumped right in and are making great strides. Others are thoughtfully considering paths (some of which have nothing to do with song writing). To reiterate: this exercise is crafted for you to collect and showcase all that we have covered over this year. Grammar, pronunciation, cadence, playing with words, and then taking your unique work out for others to enjoy.
April 21: Workshop. Bring your songs to class and test them on your colleagues. Work with your colleagues to tighten up phrasing and check your work. Do your rhymes and rhythms work? Is the phrasing flowing?
Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
We learned a bit about the agricultural provinces in Japan and primary crops. We talked about how the upper grades of school is handled in the United States vs. Japan and Brazil. Students change classes beginning in Middle School and in High School students have choices and selections called electives.
April 26: What are the practices for using and having personal technology in your schools. In the United States students
Friendships growing through Zooming and face-to-face greetings.
Where are you since we started? Where are you now? We are pushing the envelope these last weeks by pulling out the stops to use the raw materials we acquired through the year to create songs in our English and Culture Class.
We are circling back to the beginning of the Bible and seeing where everything started. We are also studying Psalms which are songs of praise or laments or both.
Comparing and contrasting our home countries and the U.S. is a great topic of information for our Kid's Conversation Classes.
Translating is imperative for expanding understanding and adding vocabulary for our ASL and our service to our deaf community. Signing songs and rhymes keeps us in tune.
International Bible Study: Monday, 8:00-9:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
We read about Jesus' resurrection as retold in Mark16. Our discussions pointed out that it is often hard to accept amazing and good news from our friends and colleagues. We talked about how hard it could be when we are confronted with predicted events mainly because life does not always meet what we envisioned. We discussed how we cannot make someone believe the truth. It is a blessing to see, it is a blessing to have ears to hear...and to believe.
We are going beginning with Genesis 1-2. These chapters describe creation and how everything began.
American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM EST (UTC -5), Zoom
We interpreted some nursery rhymes. Spoken American English trains pronunciation through quirky and fun stories that carry the beat of the language as well as matches uncomfortable sounds in a swinging, singing, fun way. Then we try to sign them using ASL. We discovered that physically connecting words can be just as awkward as reciting them!
Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. But, Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.
Rain, rain go away. Come again some other day. Little [insert your favorite name here] wants to play. Rain, rain go away.
April 16: "Singing" along always helps us to grow our skills and our community
American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
As promised (or maybe warned!) it is time for our April apex project: writing a song. Have fun bringing everything we did together in one project. Bring your history, vocabulary, and ideas. Bring on your problematic words. You can jump write in or you can ruminate on the process.
How Long Should My Song Lyrics Be? from Indy Song Makers cuts to the chase to tell the raw numbers. Most songs contain two (and up to six) verses or stanzas that have four (up to eight lines) and a chorus that is repeated as needed.
Start with a tune you know well; any tune is fair game. You don't have to write your own music (but if you have a tune, please use it!).
List rhyming words. They can help your write the next line or phrase.
Pick a topic or story to tell.
Repetition is your friend. Everyone loves the chorus because they can sing along!
Can't find a good rhyme? Go with a sound or a repetitive word. Those rockers love baby, man, no.
Most songs contain two verses and one chorus. Each verse often has four lines (but can have up to eight).
April 18 and 25: Songwriting Workshop. Bring all your American English and Culture skills and your personality and personal story to the table and write a song. Bring your work to class for collegial encouragement, help, and support
May 2: Open Mic to showcase your work at our End of the year party.
May 9: Reflect on the year. This year posed some wonderful learning expectations and opportunities to explore new ways to learn and grow. As a school, we tried many new techniques to provide everyone with experiences to move above and beyond. This was a Master Class! As staff, we saw amazing advancements. Join us to debrief and help set the course for future learning.
May 16: Last meeting. Where? On Zoom? Somewhere else? Stay tuned!
Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom
Coming back from break was exciting because our Japanese friend started Middle School. In Japan, kids start the new school year in April unlike the States and Brazil which start in August or September. We compared classes and the break down of schools. Japan and Brazil have similar groupings: grades 1-6 (primary and elementary), 7-9 (middle), and 10-12 (high). Here is how they compare to U.S. levels:
April19: Our Japanese friend will tell us about spring agriculture in Japan. Here is a great overlay map that demonstrates the position of Japan in comparison with the U.S. Do you thing
Words and Phrases
apex: reaching a goal or culmination of work
jump write in: ha ha ha ha, get it?
overlay: a graphic or idea in comparison with another
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