A few small changes

In the future, I won't be blogging every week about each table.  Hopefully the small snippets of the last two weeks will have given an idea of what occurs at a language table.  Generally small talk, keeping to the target language as much as possible.  Also, mistakes are not only tolerated, but can be useful as learning tools.

I will keep current the schedule and locations sections shown on the right side of the blog.  Note that Italian will not meet next Monday due to Labor Day, and Turkish is taking a one month Fall break.

I will also continue to write about subjects brought up that may have interest beyond that table, as well as publishing an occasional guest blog.  In the mean time, keep talking and keep listening!

Concordia Language Villages, Fall 2011

Concordia Language Villages is a world accredited language immersion program located on a scenic lakeside setting in Northern Minnesota.  I've participated in several adult and family programs and found them to be valuable and enjoyable learning experiences.

In September and October of this year, they are offering adult week and week-end, and family week-end programs in 9 languages.  Click on one of the links above to get an idea of what you'll be doing there.  After that, you can click on "schedule" to find out when your chosen language is offered.  Below is an excellent 3 minute video produced by Concordia with participant remarks and some views of the villages where you'll be staying.

The accommodations are very comfortable, the food is excellent, and the classes and activities are superb!  Come immerse yourself in your chosen language!

French and Norwegian 27 August 2011

Ce matin il y avait 4 gens a la table française.  Entre nous etait-la une jeunesse très jolie qui est venùe de la Suisse.  Nous avons parlè de l’impression de Bemidji, et avons aussi parlè en gènèral des langues.

De var 6 folk på Norskebordet.  Vi leste flere av den artikel ’Godt Humør’ av boken „Livskvelden„ på Fredrik Wisløff.  Vi snakkte også over ukeblad ’Norwegian American Weekly’ fra Seattle.  De er de siste Norskavisen i America.  Om De abonnerer, de lokal Sons of Norway gruppen kan oppta noe av Deres penger. .

English translation:
There were 4 people at the French table this morning.  Among the group was a very pleasant young lady from Switzerland.  We talked about her impression of Bemidji, and also talked about languages in general.

There were 6 people at the Norwegian table.  We read more of the article "Good Humor" from the book "Life's Evening" by Fredrik Wisloff.  We also talked about the weekly paper,"Norwegian American Weekly" out of Seattle.  It is the last Norwegian newspaper in America.  If you subscribe, your local Sons of Norway can receive some of your money.

Comments and contacts

Some have indicated they have had trouble making comments.  I have added "anonymous" to the sender options, so if nothing else works, click on anonymous.  Though it's not required, I'd appreciate adding at least your first name or some kind of identification, so I know who sent it.

The other option is to email me at bemidjidavid@gmail.com.

Thanks for your interest.     David C

Spanish and German 24 August 2011

Uno de nuestros miembros, también miembro del reparto, nos dijo de la producción de “Playing the Bill“.  El estreno es jueves, el 25 de agosto al teatro “Chief“ en la calle Beltrami, 314, a las 730 de la tarde.  Es musical que se trata de los últimos días de la época Vaudeville.  Más informes a playing-the-bill

Además de eso, hablamos de la hora de la mesa.  Que tenemos miembros que rara vez puede asistir a la mesa a causa del trabajo.  Si tenga interés en una mesa española más tarde, o los sábados, póngase en contacto conmigo en los “comments“ o mándeme un email a bemidjidavid@gmail.com.  Vamos a ver si haya de interés.


Nur ich nach dem Deutschetisch gekommen bin.  Kein Problem.  Immer bringe ich einen buch mit, und habe ich meinen buch gelesen.  Vieleicht nächste Woche.

English translation:


One of our members, also a member of the cast, told us about the production, "Playing the Bill".  The opening is Thursday, August 25, at the Chief Theater at 314 Beltrami at 730 pm.  It's a musical that deals with the last days of the Vaudeville era.  More information is available at (click on playing-the-bill above).


Besides that, we talked about the time of our table.  Some of our members can seldom attend because of work schedules.  If you are interested in a Spanish table at a later time in the evening, or on Saturdays, contact me in the comments, or send me an email at bemidjidavid@gmail.com.



Only I came to the German table.  No problem.  I always bring a book, and I read my book.  Maybe next week.

Italian and Turkish groups 22 August 2011

Il lunedì, il gruppo italiano hanno parlato di viaggi e multe altre cose.  C’erano dieci nel gruppo.

Pazartesi sonra, türkçe grup sorusözcöklere inceledi.  Ömeğin: Kim, kimi, kimin, kime;  nereye, nerede, nereden;  niye, niçin, neden;  ne,neyi;  nasıl;  ne zaman;  ne kadar, kaç;  hangi, hangisi. 
Soruler istedik ve soruler verdik.  Bir hafta sonra, daha fazla yapacağız.

English translation:

Monday the Italian group talked of trips and many other things.  There were 10 people at the group.

Last Monday the Turkish group reviewed question words.  Examples:  Who, whom, whose, to whom;  where to, where at, where from;  why;  what;  how;  when;  how much, how many;  which, which of several.
We asked questions and we answered questions.  Next week we'll do more.

20,000,000 Teachers in Beijing

 

在 北 京 的 公 园   Zai4 Bei3Jing4 de Gong1yuan2    In a Beijing Park

三 人 行，比 有 我 的 市   San1 ren2 xing2, bi1 you3 wo3 de shi1

3 people walk together, there is my teacher

“When three people walk together, there is always something I can learn.”  Confucius said this 2500 years ago.  A man I met on the streets of Beijing also told me this after I said that 20,000,000 people on the streets of Beijing were teaching me Chinese language and culture. His English was limited and my Chinese was very limited, so it took several minutes of further conversation before I finally understood the general meaning of these words.  As an American on his first holiday in China, I was happy to have walked a brief time together with this teacher.

Of course I enjoyed the magnificence and grandeur of Beijing, the mix of traditional and modern art and architecture, the beautiful parks and streets, but was most impressed by the people who invited me to share a moment in their lives.

While admiring a photo exhibit of life in the Hu Tongs, the winding narrow streets and passageways comprising many of the old neighborhoods of Beijing, a woman approached me and asked for my thoughts.  In my broken Chinese I told her the photos were interesting and beautiful, and helped me to see what I couldn’t see with my own eyes.  A little later, a man came over and told me to come with him.  There was a meeting of the contributing photographers and others discussing the exhibition and they would appreciate the input of an American.  There was an interpreter there so that I and the few other non-Chinese speakers could understand and be heard.  I listened, made my comments, and got a deeper understanding of the old Hu Tongs of Beijing. 

Of course there were many other experiences; the old man sitting on a bench in the park inviting me to sit and talk for a while, the little boy playing in the street explaining his game to me, the policeman on the corner giving me directions, the street cleaner curious about the notes I was writing, the accordion player interrupting his Chinese folk music to play an American folk tune and many others all teaching me something of the life and customs of China.  In turn, I was able to teach a little of the life and customs of America.

Someday soon I hope to return to Beijing and walk again with my fellow teachers and learners.  So come walk with me.  On a small planet such as this one, our understanding and our respect of its people and its neighborhoods will surely increase as we all walk more with our friends from around the world.

French and Norwegian Tables 20 August 2011

Le Jardin potoger,  Hagen

Ce matin il y avait 3 personnes à la table française.  Nous avons discutê la tempête du jeudi soir, notres familles, et notre jardins potagers.  Vers les jardins, c’est une qui a des potrions, une des zucchinis, et tous a des haricots et tomates verts.  Ça va bien la table.

4 folk har kommet til Norskebordet.  Vi har noen snakket over familiene våre.  Den gang har vi leset noen avsnitter uten en artikel „Godt Humør„ i buken „Livskvelden„ på Fredrik Wisløff.  De var en bra møte.

For an English translation, click on „comments„ below.  The first entry will be an English translation.

Spanish and German tables 17 August 2011

Ayer la mesa de español se reunió al Wild Hare.  Nos hablamos un poco de la historia del Canal de Panamá y las dificultades en el desarollo de relaciónes entre Colombia y Los Estados Unidos.  También hablamos de nuestras familias y del buen tiempo que ya tenemos.  Sólamente vinieron tres, sino una buena discusión.

Gestern der Deutschetisch im Cabin Restaurant begegnet hat.  Wir haben über unsere Familien und das Wetter gespracht.  Auch haben wir über Kürse im Universität und Concordia Sprachdorfen bespracht.  Später die Tema war Englische unterrichten in andere Lände.  Nur zwei personnen gekommen sind, aber gute besprechnung war.

For an English translation, click on "comments" below.  The first entry is an English translation.  Feel free to correct my errors.

Italian and Turkish tables 15 August 2011

 

Le mie galline,   Tavuklarem

Lo scorso lunedí, il gruppo italiano ci ha incontrato in la Wild Hare Bistro.  Sono venuti 7 persone.  abbiamo parlato da l'altra fine settimana, e le cose che ci piacciono e non ci piacciono.  C'era una buona reunione.

Pazartesi son, Kabinde türkece grup karsilati.  Bahçemye ve tavuklaremye söyledim.  Bingoye oynatik.

 For now, please forgive my poor Italian and Turkish writing skills.  I'm sure someone will make corrections at the next Italian and Turkish tables, but feel free to comment or even do a re-write.  The English translation apears in the first comment.

Language table schedule in Bemidji

Whether you are a beginning language student, a fluent speaker or anywhere in between, welcome to Bemidji Language Tables!  The only requirement is a desire to communicate in the given language.  Current meeting times and locations are posted in the column on the right side of this page.



Questions? Post a comment below, contact me at bemidjidavid@gmail.com or just come!