Category: language

Memorial Day

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Key Vocabulary

  • (to) Honor (verb): To show deep respect or admiration for someone or something.
  • (to) Mourn (verb): To feel or express deep sadness, especially because of someone’s death.
  • (to) Serve (verb): To perform duties for a person, group, or country—especially in the military.
  • Communities (noun, plural): Groups of people living in the same area or having common interests.
  • Graves (noun, plural): Places in the ground where people are buried after death.
  • Recognition (noun): The act of acknowledging or honoring something or someone.
  • Solemn (adjective): Serious, respectful, and often sad or reflective in tone or mood.
  • Remembrance (noun): The act of remembering or honoring the memory of someone or something.
  • Marks (verb): Indicates or shows something significant; to signal or commemorate an occasion.
  • Unofficial (adjective): Not formally recognized or authorized, but commonly accepted or understood.
  • Associated with (verb phrase): Connected or linked to something in meaning, use, or relationship.

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday for honoring and mourning military service members who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is observed annually on the last Monday of May.

Originally known as Decoration Day, the holiday began on May 30, 1868, when communities decorated the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers and flags. Although several towns claimed to be its birthplace, the holiday gained national recognition after General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued a proclamation establishing it, which lead to its nationwide observance.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend for federal employees.

Note the riderless horse, with boots turned backwards. This is a symbol of a fallen soldier, who will never ride again.

Today, Memorial Day is observed across the country through visits to cemeteries and memorials, the placement of flags and flowers on military graves, and community parades and ceremonies that honor fallen service members.

While it remains a solemn day of remembrance, Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer, often associated with cookouts, retail sales, and travel.

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Adjective Order

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What does OSASCOMP mean?

It stands for:

Our Silly Aunt Sally Can Only Make Pancakes.

or

Orange Skies And Shady Clouds Over My Pillows

Vocabulary:

Mnemonic: n., (pronounced ni-ˈmä-nik) a pattern of words or initials to help you remember something.

Origin: n., where something comes from.

But it ALSO means something else.  It’s a mnemonic to help you remember correct adjective order in English!

In English, we describe things in a certain order.

Like this:

Opinion – Size – Age – Shape – Color – Origin – Material – Purpose

This is useful to know when you are using several adjectives together:

That beautiful tiny new table. Or:  The round French wooden dining table.

When you are only using two adjectives to describe one thing, it’s generally correct to order them from general (opinion) to specific:

The delicious Mexican dinner.

Listen carefully to native speakers in conversation, television shows, and movies to learn how to use adjectives naturally.

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A-Z Spring W☀️rd List

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A – April (noun) 🌦️
The fourth month of the year, often associated with springtime weather. 

B – Bloom (verb) 🌸 🌹
To produce flowers.

C – Cherry blossoms (noun) 🌺
The pink or white flowers of cherry trees, commonly seen in early spring. 

D – Daffodils (noun) 🌼
Bright yellow or white trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in early spring.

E – Easter (noun) 🐣 🐰
A spring holiday celebrating renewal and, in Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus. 

F – Flowers (noun) 💐 🪻
The colorful, often fragrant reproductive parts of plants that bloom in spring.

G – Garden (noun) 🌻 🌱 🥬
A space for growing plants, flowers, or vegetables.

H – Honeybee (noun) 🐝
A flying insect that collects nectar and helps pollinate plants. 

I – Insect (noun) 🪲 🐜 🪰
A small animal with six legs, a body divided into three parts (head, thorax, and abdomen), and typically one or two pairs of wings.

J – Jump (verb) 🤸
To push oneself off the ground into the air using the legs. 

K – Kite (noun) 🪁
A lightweight object flown in the air on a string, often for fun on windy days. 

L – Lamb (noun) 🐑
A young sheep, often born in spring. 

M – Migration (noun) 🕊️ 🦆
The seasonal movement of animals, especially birds, from one region to another. 

N – Nest (noun) 🪺 🐣 🪹
A structure built by birds to lay eggs and raise young.

O – Outdoors (noun) 🌳 🌲 🌞
The open air or natural environment.

P – Picnic (noun) 🧺 🍷 🥪
A meal eaten outside, especially in a park or natural setting.

Q – Quack (noun/verb) 🦆
(Noun) The sound a duck makes.
(Verb) To make the sound of a duck. 

R – Rainbow (noun) 🌈
Bands of colors in the sky caused by sunlight and rain.

S – Sunshine (noun) ☀️
 Light and warmth from the sun. 

T – Tulip (noun) 🌷
A brightly colored, cup-shaped flower that blooms in early to mid-spring. 

U – Umbrella (noun) ☔
A tool used to protect yourself from rain or strong sun.

V – Vibrant (adjective) ✨ 🌸 🌈
Full of energy and life; bright and striking in appearance.

W – Warmth (noun) 🔆
A comfortable temperature, often associated with spring’s rising temperatures. 

X – Xylem (noun) 🌱
Plant tissue that carries water from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Y – Yellow (adjective/noun) 💛
 (Adjective) A bright color often seen in spring flowers.
 (Noun) The color itself.

Z – Zinnia (noun) 🌼
A bright, hardy flower that blooms in late spring and summer. 

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It’s a piece of cake! Understanding American food idioms.

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Americans talk about food, think about food, and eat food – a lot. It’s not surprising that so many expressions in American English are centered on food. Here are a few you will hear frequently:

Let’s start with our title – “It’s a piece of cake” means that something is easy to do. You might also hear the similar, “it’s easy as pie.”


Desserts are always good – eating them is a piece of cake!

“Spill the beans.”


Shhhh – don’t tell anyone you’re learning these idioms! “Spill the beans” is another way to say you’re telling a secret or giving away a surprise.


We didn’t want Luis to spill the beans about the surprise party for Dmitri.

“Cool as a cucumber.”


This means that someone is very relaxed and confident in a situation.

Maria went into the interview as cool as a cucumber.

“Bring home the bacon.”


This means you’re going to work and earning money, or you’re competing and win a prize.


Xiting worked hard all week to bring home the bacon for her family.

“Go bananas”

We use this idiom when we want to describe someone getting very excited about something – even acting a little crazy.

The crowd went bananas when Beyonce stepped onto the stage.

And let’s finish with another ‘sweet’ expression: “the icing on the cake.”


We say, “that’s the icing on the cake” when something good becomes even better when added to.


Ekaterina was happy to ice skate at the Olympics; winning the gold medal was the icing on the cake!

If you can use all these idioms, you’ll be the Big Cheese in your English class!

(“Big Cheese” means the most important person in a group.)

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2025 – 2026 Class Photos 😀

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Weekend Classes

James’ W1 class, Lynne’s W101 class, Erica’s W2 class, and Gabe’s W3 class

Evening Classes

Barbara’s E0 class, Megan’s E101 class, Sasha’s E1 class, Julie’s E2 class, Sara’s E3 class, and Hans’ E4 class

Daytime Classes 9-11am

Christine’s 0A class, Yeshe’s 1A class, Joe’s 2A class, Rachael’s 3A class, and Abby’s CCR-A class

Daytime Classes 11-1pm

Christine’s 0P class, Yeshe’s 1P class, Joe’s 2P class, Rachael’s 3P class, and Abby’s CCR-P class

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History of Indigenous Peoples’ Day: today, October 13, 2025.

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VOCABULARY

Indigenous – adj., of or relating to the earliest known inhabitants of a place

Disrupt – v., to throw into disorder

Recognize – v., to admit that something exists

Hurtful – adj., causing pain, especially emotional

Glorified – v., to make something seem great

Colonial – adj., relating to people settling in a new place, often belonging to someone else

Oppression – n., cruel or unjust use of authority or power

Trauma – n., a psychological state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or injury

Erased – v., to wipe out, to make something disappear

Self-sufficient – adj. to be able to take care of oneself

Sustain – v., to keep up, to supply nourishment

Movement – n, series of acts working toward a desired end

History of Indigenous Peoples’ Day: today, October 13, 2025.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day began in 1977 as an idea expressed at a UN conference on discrimination.  In 1990, South Dakota was the first state to recognize the day.

In 1992, protests and demonstrations disrupted planned Columbus Day celebrations in San Francisco and Santa Cruz. People began referring to that day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, to celebrate the rich culture and the lives of the Native American people. Soon, those cities also recognized the holiday.

For the Native Americans, Columbus Day was always hurtful as it glorified the violent past of 500 years of colonial torture and oppression by European explorers like Columbus. Indigenous Peoples’ Day draws attention to the pain, trauma, and broken promises that were erased by the celebration of Columbus Day. Before his arrival, the indigenous folk were successful self-sufficient communities that sustained life for thousands of years.

Year by year, the movement to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day spreads to more and more states, towns, and cities across the United States of America.*

*https://nationaltoday.com/indigenous-peoples-day/

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INDEPENDENCE DAY!

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Independence – n., freedom from outside control

Federal – adj., of or being a form of government

Parade – n., a great show or display,  a public procession

Demonstrate – v., to show clearly

Patriotism – n., love for one’s country

Reflect – v., to realize, to consider

Expat (Expatriate) – n., a person who lives in a foreign country

Embassy – n., the official residence and offices of an ambassador

Homesick – adj., longing for home and family while absent from them

Colonies – n., an area over which a foreign nation has control

Highlight – n., something which is especially interesting

Spectacular – adj., striking, sensational

On July 4th, Americans all over the world celebrate Independence Day. In the United States, it is a federal holiday, so many people don’t have to work. Parades, picnics, and barbecues take place during the day, with fireworks lighting up the sky at night. Americans demonstrate their patriotism on July 4th, reflecting on their freedom and the things they love about their country.

American expats living out of the United States still observe the 4th of July. American embassies all over the planet host parties and events. Individuals celebrate with their friends, and many get a little homesick.

The holiday marks the separation of the 13 colonies from the rule of Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence (the document) was completed on the 4th of July, 1776.  But it was not signed until August!

A highlight of Independence Day in New York City is the evening fireworks display, this year to be held near the Brooklyn Bridge, on the lower East River. The spectacular display is the largest Independence Day celebration in the nation. For more information and where to watch the fireworks: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/where-to-watch-the-4th-of-july-fireworks

Happy Independence Day!

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