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Up and coming Activities
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Help available
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Compare Cultures
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Calendar
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Upcoming Movies/ Events
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Costa Rica changes lives
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¡Viva España!
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Conversation Partner Program
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My Favorite German Lesson
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Dia de Los Muertos
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HOPE: Theoretically Speaking Have you ever wondered why sometimes, when speaking the language you are learning, you are able to remember to use a correct verb ending or produce an adjective ending that agrees with a noun, while at other times you seem to revert back to an earlier stage in your language learning process? Not only do you have “good days” and “bad days,” but you probably also feel that your accuracy when speaking can change on a minute-to-minute basis, regardless of the amount
of correction and feedback offered by your instructor. If you feel this way, you certainly are not alone. In fact, there is a theory of second language acquisition that focuses on this phenomenon, as well as some research seeking to understand why it exists.
BY DR.
RUTH OWENS
situation may be too demanding, or you may be attending to several grammatical or lexical (vocabulary) issues at once. In any case, you are in the middle of a very complicated process that requires you to restructure your knowledge and skills continually and to “Interlanguage incorporate new Theory” asserts that knowledge into the learning to speak a language is a process that structure that has been built in your mind. No requires time, and that wonder everyone makes errors in language errors when speaking! production inevitably will (CONTINUED ON PAGE 10) occur as a part of the language acquisition process. Selinker (1974) refers to the developing and highly personalized “language of the learner” as interlanguage. During the language acquisition process, production errors occur for a variety of reasons – you may be tired or anxious, the
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October & November 2013 Sun
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November 1-2 Day of the Dead Celebration
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German Movie Night— BLindspot @ 6:30
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French Movie Night—Coup de torchon @ 7:00 pm
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International Education Week Kick Off! Student Union, 12pm
Spanish Movie Night—La cara oculta @ 7:00 pm
Costa Rica Info Session, W317 @ 2pm
International Food Day, Sodexo
International Education Week 17
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We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. ~Jawaharlal
Nehru “
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Blindspot - German Movie Night Traudl Junge was Adolf Hitler's private secretary, from Autumn 1942 until the collapse of the Nazi regime. She . In her first ever on-camera interview, 81-year-old Junge talks about her unique life. Fifty-six
years after the end of the Second World War, an important eyewitness reveals her experiences to us. What she saw and heard turned her into an furious opponent of National Socialism; an opponent, moreover,
who is still painfully aware and seems incapable of forgiving the young girl she once was--for her naivete, ignorance, and her liking for Hitler.
Coup de torchon - French Movie Night 1938, in a French african colony. Lucien Cordier is the cop of this village, populated with blacks and a few whites (usually racialist and lustful). He is a
washout, everyone (including his wife Huguette) humiliates him. He never arrests anyone and looks at elsewhere when a dirty trick occurs. But
one day, he turns into a
machiavellian exterminating angel
La cara oculta - Spanish Movie Night This haunting thriller, "The Hidden Face," pushes the limits of love, passion and betrayal to the extreme. The relationship between a
handsome conductor and his jealous girlfriend takes a wicked turn when she tests his fidelity by hiding inside a secret room in their house
— but the results are more terrifying than she could have imagined.
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STUDY ABROAD!!
“Learning
Learning Spanish in Costa Rica changes a person’s life By JONATHON CARMICHEAL
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Spanish in Costa Rica changes a person’s life, and I think you will really enjoy it,” Gary Haynes, A.S.U. alumni and summer 2012 A.S.U. – Costa Rica student. This is what I was told, while I was considering A.S.U.’s study abroad program in the Central America country of Costa Rica, and those words are only a generalized statement of the program. The four week program is more than education. It is a learning adventure that spans Costa Rica from San Jose, the capital city, to the cloud forest region of Monteverde, including excursions to the beaches of Manuel
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Antonio and the area of the Arenal volcano. By means of an immersion system, this learning arrangement blends Spanish classroom instructions with cultural involvement to develop and improve a student’s Spanish speaking skills and abilities,
while living with host families and including daily interactions within communities where students reside. For me, Costa Rica was more than a pleasure or education. It was a series of life changing events, for which I am forever grateful.
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BY JENNY CHENG Through the ASU travel programs and scholarships like Gilman grant and the travel voucher, I was able to take charge and see the world more than I ever dreamed of. Traveling around the world has always been a dream of mine to see different cultures and languages. Through these travel experiences to China, Costa Rica, and Spain, I was able to thrive with each perspective as a traveler, as an inhabitant, and as a student. With each endeavor, I was able to see how our culture coincides with other cultures like the similarities and the differences especially in what each culture holds important. Amongst all my time studying the language and the cultures
of these countries, the part that made the most sense was my study abroad experiences. There was nothing like being in it and feeling like you are a part of it. I stepped out of my safe little world and put myself in another place that was different and foreign to be able to conquer my striving goal to be an adventurer and to fulfill my dream of seeing the world just a little bit more.
“Where there’s a WILL, there’s a WAY.”
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The CPP (or The Conversation Partner Program) The Conversation Partner Program will offer you the chance to meet a new international friend where you will have the opportunity to know about a new culture, create a new friend, and be involved in various activities. In return, the international student will also learn about the American culture and enhance his/her English proficiency. Therefore, the conversation partner program aims to create a bridge between native and international individuals and provide them with a mutually beneficial experience. The procedure is pretty simple, interested individuals will need to fill out an application form and assignments will be based on the information provided and availability. Contact information: TICE office: IES Building, Room N219 870-680-8415 Zhu.zhu@smail.astate.edu OR mohammed.aljaber@smail.astate.edu
When I came to America about two years ago, I attended the ESL program at ASU. I felt totally lost being in such a different culture. I was afraid to talk to people and worried that they would laugh at me because of my accent. Then I applied for a conversation partner, and I was so lucky that I got one very soon. She is a nice girl, and she invited me to have lunch with her in several occasions. We talked about our own life in our hometown and she helped me to correct my English. She also invited me to a football game. Although it was difficult for me to understand the rules of game, I still felt happy to see people cheering and to be a part of the crowd. At a certain moment of the game, I saw myself standing there beside my conversation partner, and my heart was full of happiness because I had felt the school spirit. I finished the ESL program in one semester, and started my studies towards an MPA in 2012, but my conversation partner and I never lost connection. I know I’ve made an awesome friend at ASU. The Conversation Partner program is really a great experience for international students. It helps us to improve our language skills and get more into the American culture. I really appreciate the fact that TICE is able to offer us such a good way to improve ourselves. I really learned a lot from my experience. ~By Zhu Zhu
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Last semester, I decided to volunteer in the ESL Conversation Partner Program for the entire semester. I had a partner who was an exchange student from South Korea. Her name is Kim. My main mission was to help Kim to improve her English so she could better communicate with people around her. We became good friends and hang out several times for dinners, movies, shopping, and we even travelled to Little Rock and Memphis together. I also learned a lot from Kim about her culture (food, language, traditions and customs.) It was a life changing experience for me; although I have never visited South Korea before, I have learned so much about the country. Kim went back to Korea, but we stayed in touch via Skype, Facebook and Twitter. Her parents invited me to come to South Korea for the Christmas holidays. Interacting and becoming friends with Kim made me more optimistic about visiting S. Korea because I am sure that once I get there, I will be able to communicate, interact with the people and more easily be able to fit in their culture because of all the interesting things I learned from Kim. ~ By Aissa
Ibrah
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My FAVORITE German Lesson! By Hanna Pardos, M,A. Language and culture go hand in hand, and the best part of culture, in my opinion, is food. There is nothing more exciting than to taste unfamiliar dishes. Sometimes you are blown away because it is so tasty, and sometimes you wonder how anyone can eat such a nasty thing, but you always go away with new impressions and a better understanding about the people, their country, and their culture. All our textbooks are excellent and have great culture sections, but they are books and therefore the experience must be limited. It is difficult for a language teacher to bring true culture into the classroom and combine it meaningfully into a grammar lesson. One of the few times this works great is when we introduce German food vocabulary and a certain type of prepositions (two-way prepositions). After introducing the vocabulary, we talk about German food and dishes and I encourage my students to bring German inspired food to share for the next class. In the past years we had all kinds of savory sweet and hearty dishes to sample. I usually make a home cooked dish and bring the German stable beverage (no, not beer, but Mineralwasser, carbonated table water). Before we get to taste the variety of food
items the students and I brought to class, I introduce the grammar of the German two-way prepositions, then, using these two-way prepositions we are setting the table together, taking plates, knives, and forks and telling each other in German where we are placing them. I love this part of taking grammar out of the book and using it in a real life situation. After setting the table, we talk about the difference of European and German table manners, and by the time the students holding their knives in their right hand and their forks in the left, never to let go of them, they really deserve to enjoy the food. Some they like more than others, and we talk about the appropriate form to handle tricky food challenges. What to do, if the food in your mouth is really disgusting? Well, first, NEVER spit it out and yell: Yuck. This would be very impolite and will probably hurt your host's feelings. Once it's in your mouth, you have to swallow it and smile. You might make a comment about how very different it is from what you are used to eat, and then leave it at that, never to be touched again. If the offered food looks so unappealing to you that you really can't bring yourself to try it, say, "That looks very interesting, but unfortunately I already ate. I will try it next time."But, I think, any chance you miss to try something new, is a missed chance to broaden your horizons.
“Try something new‌ broaden your horizons.â€?
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What comparisons do you draw between this traditional day of honor for the dead and Halloween?
By Victoria Childress
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Dia de Los Muertos is one of the most popular traditional festivals in Mexico. It has even spread to parts of the United States where Mexicans have influenced American culture. This holiday is celebrated from October 31st – November 2nd in order to honor dead relatives and to embrace the idea that they are in a better place. It dates back to the time of the Aztecs where they had a month-long celebration that was overseen by the goddess of the Dead, named Mictecacihuatl. Now this tradition has many fascinating parts including special foods, games, and acts of honor toward the dead. Often families go to the graves of their loved ones and decorate the graves. There is music and dancing to recognize the spirits. Altars are built and food offerings are placed on them as well as a picture of the deceased.
Marigolds, a flower that represents death, are strewn all over the grave and alters in beautiful patterns. In some villages, people leave a trail of marigolds from their front door to their loved one’s grave, so that the deceased may easily find their way back home again. The attractive scent of the marigold is said to draw them back to earth for the yearly Dia de los Muertos reunion. Another popular aspect of Dia de Los Muertos is to decorate with intricately cut colored paper, called papel picado, and flowers. People parade through these lovely decorations along the street with candy as well! The traditional celebrations would not be complete without food. Pan de Los Muertos is the most popular dish served. It is sweet bread made with egg that comes in many different shapes and then decorated with colorful icing on top. Unlike the U.S., Mexicans celebrate the death of their loved ones, even if they fear death itself. They know that death is a part of life and that want to celebrate the lives of those who have died, as well as bring honor to them in death. On of the sayings they have is “la Muerte es flaca y no puede conmigo”. Loosely translated this means “Death is frail/skinny and can’t carry me”. Dia de Los Muertos is a long-enjoyed tradition and holds very special meaning. It is celebrated in a very beautiful and traditional way, making it a widely know and observed holiday.
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Mexican Legend People die three deaths: The first death is when the body ceases to function‌ The second death comes when the body is lowered and returned to mother earth‌ The third death, the most definitive death, is when there is no one left alive to remember us.
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How your brain works when learning a new language (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) As a language learner, what should you do to learn to speak more accurately? First, do not get discouraged or give up! Simply knowing that making mistakes is a very natural part of the process should be reassuring. One simple strategy is to relax -- especially since heightened anxiety is known to interfere with language acquisition – and
try to focus on the feedback offered by your instructor or by native speakers of the language. Noticing the ways in which your language production does not match the standard version of the
language is the first step toward greater accuracy. Finally, find a way to track patterns in the errors that you seem to be making. Let the low-frequency errors go for a while and focus on the ones that you know you make frequently. Reflect on this process, be patient, and practice, practice, practice! Selinker, L. (1974). Internlanguage. In J.H. Schumann & N. Stenson (Eds.), New frontiers in secondlanguage learning (pp. 114-136). Rowley, MA: Newbury House.