May 2013

NEWSLETTER
CENTER FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

CESL
In this issue:
Introduction English Slang Go Teacher May Birthdays! Lexington Summer o Weather o Thursday Night Live o Farmers Market Upcoming Events Go Teacher Experiences o My life in Lexington
Lucia Arizaga

The purpose of the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) at the University of Kentucky is to provide high quality English language instruction for non-native English speakers in an academic setting. At CESL, we assist students in achieving their language proficiency goals for academic, professional, and social purposes. Using a variety of instructional methods, the Center for ESL establishes a strong foundation in writing, reading, grammar, listening, and speaking. In addition to multi-level language instruction, the Center for ESL provides cultural enrichment opportunities to promote diversity and community involvement.

English Slang

o An American Wedding
Janet Aga

24/7
Meaning: All the time; always available; without a break. For example: In New York City, a lot of stores are open 24/7. I had to move because my neighbors played loud dance music 24/7.

o River Run Hiking

Tania Lopez Jose Flores

o Book Club Review

Bersabe Quinga

May Birthdays!
05/04 - Roddy Lopez 05/20 - Silvia Sarasti

Have a great birthday!

May 2013

MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER

CENTER FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Monthly Averages (Fahrenheit)

1. Remember to stay hydrated! Drink water throughout the day 2. Dress light and comfortable

See more information at weather.com by searching Lexington, Kentucky

May 2013

MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER

CENTER FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Derby Day Party

Get Involved!
Ecuadorian Student Organization
CESL is in the process of developing an Ecuadorian student organization! When more information is available, CESL will notify all Go Teacher scholars.

Check out the UK CESL calendar in the office or online to find out about other great events and organizations!

May 2013

MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER

CENTER FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Summer Events
Join us in Downtown Lexington every Thursday evening, April 4 through October 31, 2013 for Central Bank Thursday Night Live! Come to the Fifth Third Pavilion at Cheapside Park from 4:30pm - 8:00pm for beverages, food from local restaurants and of course, great music by live bands! There is no admission charge to come and listen to the bands play - food and beverages will be available for purchase on a cash basis.
See the line-up online at www.downtownlex.com

The Lexington Farmers Market offers many items you will find nowhere else.

The freshest produce anywhere Cut flowers and floral arrangements Vegetable and flower transplants Heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables. Organic vegetables, meats and eggs. Honey and honey products Game Birds Fresh and Dried Herbs Mushrooms
Cheapside Park (Downtown) Saturdays - 7am to 3pm
www.lexingtonfarmersmarket.com

May 2013

MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER

CENTER FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

My Life in Lexington
BY LUCIA ARZAGA
It has been four months since I left my country. I have never gone away from home for a long time before. The much-awaited day came more quickly than I expected, and feelings of sadness and excitement filled up my heart. I felt sad because I was leaving behind my family and my job. On the other hand, I was excited about the new experiences I was going to have in the next seven months abroad. So in the blink of the eye I found myself at Lexington airport in Kentucky where living and studying has become a wonderful experience in my life. I flew away from Ecuador with three other Ecuadorians: Sandra who is Lojana like me, Tania who is from Cotopaxi, and Lorena who is from Quito. All of us had just met one another at the airport. A kind Korean guy picked us up at the Bluegrass Airport and took us to the Red Mile Village apartments, which would be our residence for the next seven months. There we met a gentle man, Jason, who welcomed us and explained to us about our new apartment. After that he guided us up to the third floor of the last building where we found our apartment, which was beautiful, comfortable, and big enough for four people. Red Mile Village apartments are located in a lovely area ten minutes by bus from the UKs campus. My new friends and I went to explore the campus and the city while the rest of the Ecuadorians were arriving. In a few days the spring courses started; we were split into two groups of morning and afternoon classes. Our classmates are from China, Iraq, Brazil, Colombia, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, which makes the class environment very interesting because we can interact with other English speakers and deal with their different accents. Furthermore, it has permitted us to exchange information about our cultures during the different activities that teachers prepare for us in class and during excursions. Classes are challenging and rewarding, and most of the time I am studying and doing homework. In other words, I am so busy learning a lot, but during my free time I really enjoy myself. Weekends are a unique chance to make time for entertainment, although I do feel pressure about finishing our Monday assignments. The administration of the Go Teacher Program is always creating incredible events and taking us to wonderful places in and out of Lexington. One of the amazing trips was when we went to Louisville, a-two-hour drive from Lexington, to visit the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs and the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. It was amazing to be at the Kentucky Derby that had its first horse race in 1875. An average of 150,000 visitors comes each year to see this event, which is very important in the culture of Kentucky. A lot of money is wagered on the most exciting two minutes in sports, which is also called The Run for the Roses, because an enormous garland of red roses is draped around the winning horses neck. Also in the museum, which is adjacent to the derby, is a great gallery of the most outstanding ladies hats; these hats are not only are a fashion tradition, they are also a symbol of good luck.

May 2013

MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER

CENTER FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

My Life in Lexington Continued

BY LUCIA ARZAGA

An enormous bat of 68,000 pounds, which is considered the largest in the world, welcomes visitors to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. To visit this place was an incredible opportunity to see how bats were made by hand in the past and how now they are produced with high technology machines today. Also we can see the complete process of how bats get a perfect finish before they are taken to the store. Furthermore, we had a great time in the museum where we could see many interesting things such as new and modern baseball outfits, different models of bats and balls through the years, picturesque scenery of the factory in its earliest days, and wax statues of baseball players. My colleagues and I really enjoyed this fantastic experience. There are, of course, other things that I could mention about my life in Lexington and that have already become a part of my memories. However, I am sure that I have told you about how comfortable and lovely the area is where I live, how engaging and motivating my classes are at the university, and how much fun and education I got when I visited the tourist places of Kentucky. This is enough to create a clear picture of how incredible an experience my life in Lexington is.

May 2013

MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER

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American Wedding
BY JANET AGA
I enjoyed the wedding event hosted by Bridges International last February 17 , 2013 here in Lexington. My friends and I were grateful for the invitation because I had the chance to attend an American wedding at a Christian church. It was something I had never experienced before. I also would call it a multicultural wedding because most of the guests were from different countries and many of the guests attend CESL. I would like to thank Bridges International and Lina Crocker for organizing this wonderful opportunity for us to meet more friends and practice English.
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When I arrived at the church, I quickly took pictures and found a seat in the middle. The church was beautiful with wedding decorations. It was clean and everyone was quiet. The groom was waiting for the bride, and as the she entered, the relatives, family, and friends stood to watch her walk down the aisle. Traditionally, the father gives away the bride. The priest said, We have come together in the presence of God, to witness the marriage of Chaz and Karnne, to ask his blessing on them, and to share in their joy. I also felt a special LOVE there. I really enjoyed attending a Christian wedding. After the wedding ceremony there was a reception with some food, drinks, and some dancing. It was fun.

May 2013

MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER

CENTER FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

A Hike in Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

BY TANIA LOPEZ
Lexington is the perfect city for enjoying a variety of adventures: horseracing, historic sites, cultural events, sports contests, natural scenery and more. Once again, the Ecuadorian Go Teacher Program group had the opportunity to discover an amazing place in this fantastic city. At the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, a unique natural park with an incredible landscape, we had the chance to learn about history and biodiversity. The coolness of the spring weather invited us to have a fun walk. At the nature center, we could see some exhibits related to the fauna - animals bones and preserved mammals such as the Bobcat, the Red Fox, and the Muskrat, and some birds like the Cedar Waxwing and the Eastern Screech Owl. This place also displayed some fossil evidence in rocks, historic materials, pamphlets with information about the mysterious species of the place, and trial maps. After visiting the small museum, we met a friendly guide who conducted us to the trail. So, as eager explorers, we continued the adventure behind her. We walked by the pathways admiring the tall trees, the wildflowers, and some insect habitats while she provided us interesting information about them. Every participant of the group was curious and examined the types of species found throughout the walk. There we could contemplate a beautiful black cherry tree where some caterpillars had built a nest on its branches. We were not lucky at finding some deer, but we could see their footprints in the wet mud. We also learned history! The guide provided us a brief historic outline of the first settlers of the place; there was the grave of Archibald Moore, one of the owners, and a member of the family that had inhabited the place. Every participant paid attention at everything the expert guide told. The winter colors were saying good-bye and amazing views of spring time were just being born. We were not lucky enough to see the great diversity of hundreds of species of flowers or butterflies; however, we enjoyed of a wooded walk and took pictures of beautiful surroundings. Finally we reached the most fantastic sight of the sanctuary. There sat the wonderful Kentucky River, just one hundred meters below from where we stood to enjoy the scene. It was a delightful area where the view was breathtaking. It seemed to be a refuge where we can go to forget our stressful routines and to recharge our positive energy to continue our urban issues. We Ecuadorian people really enjoy discovering Lexingtons treasures and we are sur prised day after day by this charming city that makes us feel at home.

May 2013

MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER

CENTER FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

A Visit to the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

BY JOSE FLORES
Since I arrived in Lexington, Kentucky, I have had wonderful experiences which I will never forget. One of them, for example, took place on Saturday, April 12, 2013. It was an amazing experience because all of the Ecuadorian teachers from the Go Teacher program went to Raven Run Nature Sanctuary for a hike and a tour of Kentucky wildflowers. Raven Run is a great place dedicated to preserving the beauty of nature. In the Sanctuary, we could see many unique displays and a variety of exhibits such as pamphlets about birds, mammals, trees, and the history of the place. Before hiking, our tour guide, Casey, explained to us that there are over 600 species of different plants and over 200 species of birds in the area that visitors can enjoy. She stated that it is prohibited to pick up flowers and destroy the living or non-living things. Moreover, hiking is limited to the trail system to protect the flora and fauna of the area. For this reason, Ecuadorians were asked to hike only on the marked trail. Furthermore, we enjoyed both hiking and learning about the wildlife. The sunny day made the experience pleasant; everybody enjoyed discovering interesting things. For example, when we were outside, the guide explained to us about some plants like Dandelions and Dutchmans Breeches. To illustrate this, Dandelions are adapted to grow in sunny and open places, and Dutchmans Breeches are well known because they contain many alkaloids that may have effects on the brain and heart. In addition, we learned that both Native Americans and Europeans have lived in this countryside. In the 18th century farms were established and dedicated to grow corn, where Raven Run Nature Sanctuary is located today. At the Sanctuary we could see the Prather Family cemetery in which three family members were buried. As we continued walking on the trail, we could see some different kinds of trees and many people who were enjoying the wildlife like us. Finally, we went to the Kentucky River, which looked like the Grand Canyon. It was amazing to see the river. In conclusion, I would say that all Ecuadorians enjoyed both taking some beautiful pictures and having a great time exercising together.

May 2013

MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER

CENTER FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Reading Club Review

BY BERSABE QUINGA

A Book Club is formed by a group of students in order to read and share experiences about a specific book. It is important for the development of reading skills. Students who like to read and want to improve their reading go there once a week. Our club meets on Wednesday from 1pm to 2pm. This club is led by Mrs. Lina Crocker. At the moment, we are reading The Color of the Water. Each chapter gives us wonderful messages and lets us know a story about a real family. Through reading, it is feasible to learn new vocabulary, idioms and phrases which help us to understand the reading section in a better way. Moreover, reading improves the skills of listening, speaking, writing and grammar because they work in an integrated way. I feel that participating in a book club is beneficial. I read the book at home or in my free time because when students go to the next meeting, they summarize the information, give opinions and analyze the important points from the books chapter. This is a good chance to practice English and improve speaking and pronunciation. Through reading, students can get a lot of information about any kind of book and they are in contact with other students. To sum up, the most important parts of the book club are the motivation and the interest for reading because reading shows the road to knowledge and freedom. Reading lets us travel in time and space with the objective of understanding life, the environment, the customs, and the thoughts of the greatest men who make stories in order to develop the imagination and creativity and to enrich our knowledge little by little.

May 2013

MAY 2013 NEWSLETTER

CENTER FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

The link to Go Teacher Kentuckys facebook group is on the website!