The ELI Weekly
Out and About: Looking for Gatorwake
by Sumin Hwang, RW42
Surfing is my favorite sport and hobby, so I tried to find a surfing club in UF. There was a surfing club called Gatorwake. I followed their SNS right away and found out the date and place of the orientation meeting.
Last week, when there was an orientation session, I went there alone, but I couldn’t find my way because it was too dark. It was too scary to keep going. So I gave up looking for the meeting place and I decided to go back home. Then, all of a sudden, a stranger asked me if I was looking for the Gatorwake Club, and I replied, “Yes.” Then the stranger said that he was going there too and asked me to go with him.
Thanks to this nice guy, I was able to go to the club information session and even join. But the best part of the story is that I got a new and gentle American friend. The first week in the US started well.
CIP Weekday Activities
Sign up for all activities here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-student23
Monday January 31st – Coffee Talk – 6:30-9:00
Tuesday February 1st – Soccer – 6:30-9:00pm
Wednesday February 2nd – Special Event: International Mixer social event to meet people – 6:00-8:00pm
Thursday February 3rd – Volleyball
Friday February 4th – Café Friday at Pascal’s – 12:45-2:45pm
Weekend Activity
Saturday February 5th – Gator Basketball Game – 3:00 – 5:15pm
Come see the men’s Gator basketball team play against Ole Miss! Our ELI block tickets are sold out. You must have already purchased a ticket from Tate to attend. Make sure to bring your e-ticket that was emailed to you and your ID. Meet in front of Gate 1 at the O’Connell Center. NO BAGS OR BOTTLES ALLOWED IN THE GAME. Please leave bags, bottles, and large items at home.
If you did not get a ticket and would like to go to the game on your own, contact the Gator Ticket Office to see what ticket options are left. You may also add your name to the ELI waiting list with Tate in case if someone wants to sell their ticket.
Conversation Partners (CPs)
Want to meet with an English speaker once a week and make a new friend?! Sign up here! https://forms.gle/k7Z826F2LU9gekrU7
Returning students who want a CP should still fill out this form, even if you had a CP last semester!
This is optional, but if you sign up, you agree to meet your partner once a week for one hour to speak English and respond to them when they contact you to make plans to arrange a meeting.
Try meeting them on campus or a coffee shop! Try chatting about your family or home country to start practice English with your new friend! CPs are excited to meet you! Wait two weeks after signing up to be paired.
Email conversationpartners@eli.ufl.edu if your partner does not respond after one week.
Remember, CPs are not tutors, they will not do your homework or teach you grammar. They are fluent English speakers who will help you speak by having one-on-one practice and being your friend!
Notes from the Office
Welcome to Grishma! Please help us welcome our new ELI Receptionist, Grishma Patel. Grishma holds a BA in Business Administration from UF with a specialization in Communication and Leadership Development. Please be sure to stop by the ELI Main Office to welcome her!
Where is Min? Returning students have stopped by the Main Office to look for Minsang Kim. Where is he? Never fear! Min is on leave and will be back in the office starting February 14th. We can’t wait!
UF ID Cards: If you want to use the UF libraries, Student Health Care Center, recreational facilities, etc., you need to show a student ID card. You can also ride any RTS bus for free with this card. Please contact the Student Life Coordinator, Victoria Dolce, at vcshelly@ufl.edu to get yours!
Hallways and Stairs: Many UF faculty and staff have offices right next to the classrooms, like in Matherly. So, please do not use the hallways as a gathering point. Spend your time between classes outside the building. If you are in the hallway entering or leaving class, please remember to speak softly so you do not disturb other classes or people trying to work in offices. Please do not block the hallways or staircases by sitting in them.
Classrooms: Please keep your classrooms clean. Don’t leave papers, bottles, or other trash in the classrooms. All trash bins are in the hallway. Empty cans and bottles should go in the blue recycle bins. Paper also has a recycle bin in the hall with the slot for paper only. Throw all other trash in the brown trash can.
Additionally, all the classrooms have wipes for the desks and hand sanitizer for you to help keep your space clean.
Grammar
Q: What’s the difference between hear and listen?
A: You hear something whether you want to or not—the sound reaches your ear and enters your brain. You listen to something because you want to.
- I heard the baby cry while I was listening to music.
- I can hear my neighbor upstairs even with the TV on.
Q: What’s the difference between speak and talk? Can I say “I talk English”?
A: There are two main differences. The first is the formality. Speak can be more formal than talk. Look at the two examples below. Which one would you use with your friend and which one would you use with you professor?
- Could I speak with you?
- Let’s talk.
The other difference is that talk can’t have a direct object but speak can. This means your sentence is incorrect. They can both take indirect objects using with.
Correct: I speak English.
Incorrect: I talk English.
Correct: I spoke with my professor.
Correct: I talked with my professor.
Birthdays!
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Notes from the Editor
Do you have a fun story about your experiences in the US? Do you have grammar or culture questions? Tell us about them in the ELI Weekly! Email Maya (mshastri@ufl.edu) and use the subject heading ELI Weekly.