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Dancin’ the (summer) night away…

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Vocabulary:

To take advantage — exp., to enjoy something that’s given to you, usually at no cost.

waterfront — n. the edge of a body of water; a lake, ocean, or river shoreline.

revel — v., to enjoy something very much, to celebrate

beloved — adj., something that is deeply loved.

culture — n., a set of beliefs, values, and behaviors belonging to a group of people.

Do you like to dance? Do you like free events? Do you like taking advantage of NYC’s summer offerings?

There are many opportunities to have fun on the dance floor this summer. Here are a few:

Sunset Salsa on the river!

Sunset Salsa is a Thursday evening salsa series at Pier 76 in Hudson River Park, bringing outdoor dancing to Manhattan’s west side.

The evening starts at 6:30 PM with a beginner-friendly salsa lesson, then opens into social dancing from 7:15 PM. Talía Castro-Pozo leads and curates the series.

The waterfront setting gives the event a relaxed summer feel, with room for new dancers to jump into the lesson and experienced dancers to stay for the social. It is a strong option for anyone looking for an outdoor salsa night with Hudson River views.

For dancers who want salsa outside a studio or club, Sunset Salsa offers a lively summer gathering along the river.

Modern Dance

Modern dance in Bryant park!

Saturday mornings, 10 – 11 am through September 19th. Experience the joy of movement with dancers from the world-renowned Limón Dance Company, this free modern dance class is open to all levels and ages. Join us this summer and revel in the joy of dance!

https://bryantpark.org/activities/limon-dance

Zumba in Gotham Park!

Ger ready for Zumba under the Brooklyn Bridge! Tuesday and Wednesday evenings 5:30 – 6:15. All ages and abilities welcome! Come and dance, sweat, and have a great time with friends and fellow Zumba enthusiasts. No experience requires, just come with a positive attitude and be ready to move to the music. Dates and ticket availability below.

Register on Eventbrite

https://vinylnightsnyc.com/events

 Vinyl Nights is a beloved NYC institution – celebrating dance, music, club & DJ culture. 

Experience what it was like to party in NYC in the early 70’s to the 90’s, when DJ’s played strictly Vinyl.  Dance to the hits that shaped NYC – Disco, Funk, Soul, House, Boogie, Latin, Freestyle and 80’s & 90’s Hip Hop.  

Have fun and we hope you can sleep late the next day!

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May the best team win!

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VOCABULARY:

Competition — n., a contest to see which participant is the best

Host nation — n., the country where the event will be held

Stadiums — n., a large field surrounded by many seats for a large audience

Championship — n., the final game where the winner receives the trophy

Minimal — adj., the smallest amount possible

The FIFA World Cup is starting this month! This international football (soccer) competition occurs every four years. Teams from all over the world compete to win the World Cup Trophy. Only the best teams in the world can be part of this competition.

There is also a competition for the host nation, the country where the games will take place. Many countries want to host the matches because millions of people watch them. Some are in the stadiums to watch in person, but most watch on television. More people watch the World Cup matches than watch the Olympics!

The FIFA World Cup is being played in 16 different cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 48 teams will play 104 matches, and the championship game will be played in New Jersey, just a short distance from New York City!

Many people also love to play soccer. Equipment is minimal — all that’s needed is a ball and some feet! No wonder football is played all over the world.

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A–Z Summer W🌞rd List

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A – Air conditioner ❄️ 🆒 🏠
 A machine that cools the air inside a room or building.

B – Barbecue 🍔 🔥 🥩
  A meal cooked outside on a grill, usually with meat or vegetables.

C – Camping 🏕️ 🔥 🌲
Sleeping outside in a tent and spending time in nature.

D – Drinks 🧃 🍹 🍋
Cold liquids like lemonade or iced tea that help you stay cool in summer.

E – Evening / Excursion 🌇 🧭 🚗
Evening: The time after the sun goes down, often warm and calm in summer.
Excursion: A short trip for fun, like a day at the beach or park.

F – Flip-flops 🩴 ☀️ 🏖️
 Light, open sandals worn on your feet in hot weather.

G – Grill 🍗 🍽️ 🔥
 A cooking device used outside to make food like burgers or hot dogs.

H – Heat & Humidity ☀️ 🥵 💦
Heat: Very high temperatures. Humidity: When the air feels wet or sticky because of moisture.

I – Ice cream 🍦 🍨 😋
 A cold, sweet dessert made from milk or cream

J – July 🇺🇸 🎆 📅
 The seventh month of the year, in the middle of summer in many countries.

K – Kayak 🛶 🌊 🌄
 A small boat you move with a paddle, often used on lakes or rivers.

L – Lifeguard 🛟 🏊 🚨
 A person who watches people at the pool or beach to keep them safe.

M – Mosquito 🦟 😣 🧴
 Annoying summer bugs – use spray!

N – Nature 🌳 🦋 🦉 🌻
Trees, plants, animals, and the outdoors.

O – Ocean 🌊 🐚 🏖️
A large body of salt water, great for swimming or relaxing.

P – Picnic 🧺 🍓 🍞 🌳
A meal you eat outside, usually on a blanket in a park or at the beach.

Q – Quiet morning 🌅 😌 ☕
A peaceful time with little noise, like a calm summer morning.

R – Relax 🧘 🛏️ 📖
To rest and feel calm, like lying in a hammock or sitting by the pool.

S – Sunshine ☀️ 😎 🌻
 Bright light and warmth that comes from the sun.

T – Towel 🏖️ 🩱
A piece of cloth used to dry your body after swimming or washing.

U – Umbrella ⛱️ 🌤️ 🏖️
 A tool that gives shade from the sun, especially at the beach.

V – Vacation ✈️ 🧳 🌴
 Time off to travel and unwind

W – Watermelon 🍉 🍽️ 😋
A large, sweet fruit with green skin and red, juicy inside.

X – Xtreme sports 🏄‍♂️ 🚴‍♀️ 🪂
Exciting sports like surfing, ziplining, or mountain biking.

Y – Yacht 🛥️ 🌅 🥂
 A large, fancy boat often used for fun or travel.

Z – Zipline 🌄 🪢 😲
  A cable you slide down while hanging in a harness, usually outdoors for fun.

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Halloween 🎃 👻

US Adult Literacy1 Comment

Halloween, which takes place every October 31st, is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. Originally based on the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), Halloween has evolved into a modern celebration where children of all ages dress up in costumes and go door-to-door “trick-or-treating,” asking for candy from friends & neighbors.

Halloween is also a time to enjoy the spookier side of life. People celebrate ghosts, zombies, haunted houses, and all things creepy and fun – often with Halloween parties for children and adults alike.

For more information about Halloween, check out wikipedia. 

Halloween Vocabulary

  1. 🚪 Trick-or-treat – the Halloween activity where children dress up and go door to door for candy
  2. 🎃 Pumpkin – a round orange vegetable often carved into a jack-o’-lantern
  3. 👻 Ghost – the spirit of a dead person, often imagined as white and floating
  4. 🧙 Witch – a woman with magical powers, often shown with a broomstick and pointed hat
  5. 🧛 Vampire – a creature that drinks blood and avoids sunlight
  6. 🧟 Zombie – a dead person who comes back to life, usually walking slowly
  7. 🕷️ Spider – a creepy-crawly insect often used in Halloween decorations
  8. 🕸️ Web – what a spider makes to catch insects; also used as decoration
  9. ☠️ Skeleton – the bones of a body, often shown as decorations or costumes
  10. 🏚️ Haunted house – a spooky or abandoned house believed to have ghosts
  11. 😱 Scary – something that causes fear or makes you feel afraid
  12. 🦇 Bat – a flying animal often linked with vampires and the night
  13. 🍫 Chocolate / Candy – a sweet treat made from cocoa, popular during Halloween. Sweet treats given to children who go trick-or-treating.
  14. 🎭 Costume – special clothing worn to look like someone or something else
  15. 💀 Skull – the bone part of a head, often used as a spooky symbol

Here are 5 fun & interesting facts about Halloween:

  1. 🎃 Origins in Ancient Celtic Festival: Halloween comes from the ancient Celtic festival Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), celebrated on October 31st. It marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, a time when people believed the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred.
  2. 👻 Costumes to Scare Spirits: People originally wore costumes and masks to scare away or confuse ghosts and evil spirits that were thought to return on Halloween night.
  3. 🍬 Trick-or-Treating Traditions: The practice of trick-or-treating began in medieval Europe as “souling,” when poor people would go door-to-door on All Souls’ Day (Nov 2), offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food.
  4. 🕯️ Jack-o’-Lanterns Came from Turnips: Before pumpkins, the Irish carved turnips into lanterns to ward off evil spirits. When they immigrated to America, they found that pumpkins were more plentiful and easier to carve.
  5. 🦇 Popular with Americans: Halloween is one of the most popular holidays in the U.S., with Americans spending billions of dollars each year on costumes, candy, decorations, and parties.

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Banana Oat Pancakes

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Vocabulary

Picky –

Toddler –

Banana –

Oat –

Shoveled in –

A Toddler Favorite

These banana oat pancakes are great for a picky toddler. Many toddlers spit out veggies but pasta gets shoveled in. But all toddlers love these pancakes!

Ingredients

  • 1 banana 
  • 1 egg 
  • ⅓ cup rolled or quick cooking oats
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract 
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil

Optional additions:

  • 1 tablespoon flax seed meal
  • 1 tablespoon peanut butter, almond butter, or other nut butter 
  • ¼ cup fresh or frozen blueberries, raspberries, chopped strawberries, or chopped mango 

InstructionsThe above version has just nut butter and flaxseed meal added.

In a medium bowl, mash the banana with a fork. Crack the egg into the bowl, and beat it together with the banana.

Stir in the oats, vanilla, and cinnamon.

At this point, you can stir in any add-ins, like flaxseed meal, nut butter, and fruit. 

The above version has just nut butter and flaxseed meal added.

And here’s a version with blueberries!

Heat a pan over medium heat, and add the oil. Put the batter into the hot pan (I like to make small pancakes), and cook for a few minutes on each side, until golden brown.

Enjoy!!!!

Source – https://thewoksoflife.com/banana-oat-pancakes/

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Grammar: The Past Perfect Tense

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What is the Past Perfect Tense and why do we use it?

The past perfect tense is used to talk about an action that happened before another action in the past.

Structure:

had + past participle

The past participle is usually the same as the past tense for regular verbs (e.g., walked, played), but can be different for irregular verbs (e.g., eaten, gone, seen).

“had” stays the same for all subjects (I, you, he, she, etc.).

Why Use the Past Perfect? 🤷‍♂️

It helps show what happened first in the past when there are two past actions.

compare:

Past Simple only:
 I left when he came.
(Not clear which happened first.)

Past Perfect + Past Simple:
 I had left when he came.
(Now it’s clear: I left before he came.)

Here Are Some Common Words with Past Perfect: before, after, when, already, just, never

Example One:

She had finished her homework before she ate dinner.
– First she finished her homework, then she ate dinner.

Example Two:

By the time I arrived at the station, my train had already left.
– First the train left the station, then I arrived at the station (late) 😢

Test yourself: Quiz time

1.By the time we arrived at the theater, the movie _____. 🍿

A. started
B. was starting
C. had started
D. has started

2. She was tired because she _____ all night. 🥱

A. worked
B. had worked
C. has worked
D. works

3. After he _____ lunch, he went out for a walk. 🚶

A. had eaten
B. was eating
C. eats
D. ate

4. They _____ the bus before we got to the stop. 🚏 🚍

A. had missed
B. miss
C. missed
D. were missing

5. I didn’t want to watch the movie again because I _____ it already. 🚫 📽️

A. see
B. was seeing
C. had seen
D. have seen

Answers: 1) C. had started 2) B. had worked 3) A. had eaten 4) A. had missed 5) C. had seen

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