Author Archives: faeslcommunity

Vacation Week Ideas

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If you have kids out of school this week, or just have extra time for yourself, here are some places to go – to see more of Boston and MetroWest, have some family fun, and practice your English:

Presidents’ Day

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   Until the middle of the 1970s, February 22, the birthday of George Washington who was the first president of the United States, was a national holiday.  Also, February 12,  the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the president during the Civil War, was a holiday in most states.  In the 1970s, Congress declared a single holiday, to be called Presidents’ Day, would be observed on the third Monday in February (Monday February 17th this year) to honor all past presidents.

Here’s a video rap to help you remember their names.

Here’s information about what places are open or closed on this national holiday…

Town/City Hall and other government offices and courts: Closed

Public Schools: Closed (Part of February vacation week)

Senior Center: Closed

Public Library: Closed

Supermarkets: Open

Retail stores: Most are open

No Mail Delivery

What Does This Mean?

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Don’t say: 
– What it means?
– What this means?
– What means this?
– What means [xx]? (such as What means hyperbole? or What means doodle?)

Say this:
– What does it mean?
– What does this mean?
– What does [xx] mean?  such as…
– What does hyperbole mean?
– What does doodle mean?

Remember:

  • When you don’t understand what something means and you want to ask someone about it, start your question with What does...
  • What does this emoji mean?  
  • What does sibling mean?

Groundhog Day

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February 2nd is a small, fun/silly holiday called Groundhog Day.  You may see it mentioned on the news – especially during the weather report.  According to legend:

  • If the groundhog sees his shadow on Feb 2nd, there will be 6 more weeks of winter
  • If he doesn’t see his shadow, there will be an early spring

Did he see his shadow this year?   No, he didn’t see his shadow.  Here’s the ceremony  – in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania…

There’s also a popular romantic comedy movie called Groundhog Day that you might enjoy watching.

Martin Luther King

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  Monday January 20th, is the Martin Luther King Day holiday.  Martin Luther King spent his life working for equal rights for African Americans, and all Americans. He was an important civil rights leader and minister whose work helped lead to new laws against racial discrimination.

King’s most famous speech was at a protest rally for equal rights – in front of 250,000 people in Washington DC in 1963, which became known as the “I Have a Dream” speech.

Here’s a link to the entire 17 minute speech on YouTube.

Winter/Spring ESL Classes at FAESL – New Student Lottery Information

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UPDATE: Registration is closed for this semester.  If your lottery number was not picked, there are other places to take classes listed on our Classes Page.  And there are many suggestions on this blog on how to improve your English by yourself.

Framingham Adult ESL has a limited number of spaces available for morning and evening classes for the Spring 2020 semester.

  • If you are interested in taking a MORNING English class at Framingham Adult ESL you must come in person to
    St. Tarcisius School (BRACE building)
    560 Waverly Street, Framingham
    Thursday, January 16th, 8:45 – 10:00 AM
  • If you are interested in taking an EVENING English class at Framingham Adult ESL you must come in person to
    Fuller Middle School Cafeteria
    31 Flagg Drive, Framingham
    Thursday, January 16th, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

NUEVO INGRESO Registro de Estudiantes (ESL lotería)
Horarios

  • Clases Mañanas ESL: Jueves, 16 de Enero 2020, 8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.,
    BRACE en St. Tarcisius Church, 560 Waverly Street
  • Clases Noche ESL: Jueves, 16 de Enero 2020, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.,
    Adult ESL en Fuller Middle School, 31 Flagg Drive

INSCRIÇAO PARA A LOTERIA:

  • ESL CLASSES DIURNAS: Quinta-feira, 16 de Janeiro, das 8:45am às
    10:00am.,
    BRACE, at St. Tarcisius Church, 560 Waverly Street
  • ESL Classes Noturnas: Quinta-feira, 16 de Janeiro, das 6:30pm às
    8:00pm.,
    ESL para Adultos, na Fuller Middle School,31 Flagg Drive
  1. Come on January 16th to submit an entry card (with your name, address, phone, etc).  Everyone who submits a card will have their name included in the lottery.
  2. If you are one of the winners of the lottery, you will be asked to come back on a different day for testing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • If I want to participate in the English class lottery, do I have to come to the school?
    YES – You must come to the school on Thursday January 16th to submit an entry card.
  • Will there be 2 separate lotteries?
    YES     – If you come in the morning of Jan 16th (to St. Tarcisius), your name will be part of the lottery for MORNING classes.  If you come in the evening of Jan 16th (to Fuller School), your name will be part of the lottery for EVENING classes.
  • On January 16th do I need to arrive at the school before 6:30PM (or before 8:45 AM for morning classes)?
    NO – You can come any time between 6:30 and 8:00PM (or between 8:45 and 10:00AM for morning classes).  ALL the names collected during that time will have an equal chance in the lottery.
  • If my name is selected in the lottery, what happens next?
    Someone from school will contact you, and you will be asked to come to the school for testing.  After testing, you will be assigned to one of these:

    • a regular English class (6 hours each week)
    • or – a volunteer-led, once-a-week prep class (2 hours)
      If you stay in prep class with good attendance, you will automatically be on a priority list for a regular class and will not need to participate in any more lotteries.
    • or – a waiting list
      (You get a space in class as soon as possible and do not need to participate in more lotteries)
  • When are the classes?
    • Regular morning classes are on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 8:45 to 10:45
    • Regular evening classes are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30
    • Prep classes are on one of those mornings, or evenings, each week
    • Regular classes start on Tuesday February 4th and Prep classes start a few weeks later
  • I can’t come on January 16th.  Can I come on the 15th (or some other day)? Or can someone else come to submit an entry card for me?
    NO – Unfortunately, the only day you can come to submit your name for the lottery is on January 16th, and you must come in-person.

NOTE: This is information only.  It does not guarantee you a place in class. 

Can You Find the Wooden Soldiers?

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soldiers1 This year there are 30 wooden soldiers displayed all around Framingham in 25 different places!  Have you seen any?  If you have, take a picture of the soldier (selfie?), and post it on our FaceBook page.  (Or, you can Email us.)  With the picture, write where you saw the soldier.  Good luck!

On the Framingham Parks & Recreation Facebook page they have clues for where to find the soldiers.

soldiers2These tall wooden soldiers became well known when they guarded the old Shopper’s World shopping center during the Christmas shopping season. Some generous carpenters helped to build new copies of the soldiers, and it has become a Framingham tradition for the wooden soldiers to decorate the town during the holidays.

soldiers3Thanks Andreia, Sidi, Tena, Marta, and Jingie!

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