We’ve begun the year with
enthusiasm, and our program chairmen already have programs scheduled ‒
one Spanish program (October 22) and two French programs (November 12
and
December 3) described below. Be sure to save the time on your calendar.
Two
more Spanish programs will be announced soon.
Thanks
to the many volunteers from the board and from our membership who
arrived early
to direct traffic, troubleshoot and generally make this a smooth start.
Spanish
Films featuring
Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz at Plaza Library
Los Lunes al Sol (2002) on October 17 at 2
p.m. A group
of shipyard workers lament the lot that life has given them, as their
unofficial leader (Javier Bardem) tries to rally their spirits to make
a change.
Rated R. (113 min.)
Volver (2006) on
October 24 at 2 p.m. This drama stars Penelope Cruz as an assertive and
self-reliant young mother whose fearful family seeks reconciliation.
Directed
by Pedro Almodovar. Rated R. (121 min.)
Spanish Program
October 22 at Noon
Rocio Dumsky will speak
on the Bicentenary of Independence in Mexico. She will also
talk about politics and other issues relating to Mexico.
Rocio is from
Guadalajara, Mexico. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering
from the University of Guadalajara, and a Master’s Degree in
Environmental Engineering from the University Technologic of Monterrey
Campus
Guadalajara. She has studied Italian and Arts in Florence, Italy, has
traveled
in several countries, and speaks Spanish, English a little Italian and
French.
This is a presentation
geared toward beginning and intermediate level French students by
veteran
Pembroke Hill School teacher Ann Miller. Join her to examine two
iconic
French paintings and learn about what they have to tell us about French
culture. This very interactive presentation will compare:
Together the group will
explore
the social context in which these two works were painted and see how
this helps
us understand them.
Then we will
discuss la
composition, la symétrie, les lignes diagonales, le réalisme,
etc.
What was
happening in
France at the time they were painted which helps to explain them?
Participants
will get to review dates and numbers. We will have lots of visual cues
to aid
in understanding and to help in expanding your vocabulary.
Ann
Miller is a retired French teacher, tour organizer and French
translator. While
she has geared this presentation to beginning and intermediate
students, others
are welcome to attend.
French Program,
December 3 at noon
with Cyprienne Simchowitz
In this session the group
will watch a 12-minute French film entitled “Français langue
étrangère,” which unfolds in a French for foreigners
course. A heated
debate arises between two Muslim women over the right to wear a veil
during class
and they try to engage their professor, but he wants to teach, not
enforce
rules about apparel, even if the government requires him to do so.
After
the narrative is finished, the actors meet out of character to talk
about this
charged subject. Cyprienne will lead a similar discussion with La
Causerie
participants.
NOTE: The film is subtitled so
French students
of all levels of experience are invited to sit in on the first half
hour.
The discussion that follows will take place in French.
Doug
Eikermann has started an Internet blog for Spanish students at http://www.1stspanish.com.
There, you’ll find grammatical explanations, exercises, a Palabra del
Día, and an Expresión del Día. You can sign
up to an RSS Feed or simply
bookmark it so that you can look at the new word and expression posted
each
morning. The sample Spanish sentences and their English
translations
are designed to bring your attention to any unique grammatical problems.
Julia M. Boutross
We
have
received word that long-time
La Causerie member, Julia Boutross, passed away on July 20. Until her
death at age 94, she was an
associate member and a supporter of La Causerie. Julia was devoted
to the
study of the French Language and Culture. She will be missed by her friends.
Helpful Information
Please fill out a nametag
each week.
Blank nametags and markers can be found on the table at the top of the
third
floor stairs. Our teachers want to be able to call you by name. This
also helps
you get acquainted with your classmates so you can have a more
enjoyable and
personal experience.
Please put your name in
all your
textbooks and reference books. If you ever leave anything behind,
you’ll
be happy you did. You can find lost items in Room O.
We have a Suggestion Box
on the table
at the top of the stairs on the third floor. Feel free to use it.
As fall
weather changes,
we suggest that you dress in layers for class. Remember that we meet in
a very
large church, whose heating and cooling systems cannot turn on a dime.
If it
gets really cold Thursday night, it may be cold in the church on Friday
morning
(even though it’s sunny and warm outside that next day). And vice
versa, temperatures often vary from classroom to classroom. It’s
easier for you to adjust layers of clothing than it is for us to adjust
the
church’s HVAC system (although they try really hard for us).
Remember
Our Website Address
Throughout
the year, we will have program information on our website, lacauserie.org, so if
you have forgotten when a program
is, which language it is in or what the subject matter is, you’ll be
able
to find it there under the calendar tab. We’re delighted to have a new
Italian program chair, Marti Moore. She’ll be planning programs for
Italian language speakers. If you have suggestions for her, she can be
reached
at martim@everestkc.net
.
Also
on our
website, you can find a tab on the top menu bar named “Wiki.” This
is where our instructors post weekly homework assignments. If you miss
a class,
or forget the details of an assignment, check the WIKI site. There are
a few
people who had to miss the first few classes. We suggest that you check
the
Wiki right away, so you can be on top of things and ready to
participate next
week.
Our Wiki is open to the
public. You do
not have to join (although there is a JOIN button at the top).
If your
teacher fails to post an assignment, you can do it yourself, too! This
is your
club. Make it work for you and your colleagues.
Having
tasty
snacks to get us through our Friday morning studies depends on our
members.
Please sign up in the Social Room for a day or two that you can bring
snacks.
You
don’t have to feed the entire school—three or four other members
will contribute, too. Both sweet and savory snacks are appreciated.
Homemade
stuff is terrific, but our hungry members will eat most anything.
Bring
your
snacks whenever you arrive. If you don’t get to class until 10 or 11
you
can bring something long-lasting, like biscotti, a week before “your
day.” We’ll save it and put it out for you the next week.
We ask for donations for
coffee or
tea, which are provided by La Causerie. Leave a bill or two in the
basket and
you’ll help pay for this service.
October
29
Spanish
program at noon
November
5
Fall business
meeting
November
12 French
program
at noon
November
26 No class
(Thanksgiving holiday)
December
3
French program
at noon
December 24,
31 No class (Christmas
holiday)
January
7
Classes
resume
March
18
No class
(Spring Break)
April
29
Last day
of classes
Executive
Board Members 2010-2011
Do
you have a question? The first contact in case of a question is our
trusty
Board Assistant Amanda Hasset at 913-538-6238. If she doesn’t have the
answer, she can direct you to the right person.
1st
Vice President (Membership Chair) Inez
Pennington
2nd
Vice President (Social
Chair)
Joan Adam
Secretary
Gail
Clair
Assistant
Secretary
(Newsletter)
Judy Pearlstein
Assistant
Treasurer (Textbook Chair) Dalene
Bradford