The ELI Weekly
Out and About: The International Mixer
The International Mixer was a nice activity to meet friends from around the world! This was an activity for ELI students and UF students who are interested in various cultures and languages. Many people attended this activity to show and learn about various cultures. The tables were separated into many parts like tables for Korean, Chinese, Spanish, and Arabic. We were able to learn the culture and language by going to the table you want. I learned Chinese language and culture, too.
CIP Weekday Activities
Sign up for all activities here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-student24
Weekend Activity
Saturday February 12th – Paynes Prairie La Chua Nature Trail – 10:30am–1:00pm
See beautiful Florida nature and wildlife on this easy hike! Spot some birds or alligators and see some beautiful views! Feel free to pack a lunch to picnic out on the lookout towers! Meet at Norman parking garage.
Sign up for this event only if you need a ride! Rides are limited. Self-driving students can meet us at Norman Garage and follow us there!
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!
Research Corner
You have the opportunity to help UF researchers! Sometimes, researchers ask for your participation in research to understand languages, language learning, and language teaching. These researchers will come to your class and tell you about their project. Participation in a project can be fun, interesting, and useful. Plus, it is a good way to practice English and interact with UF scholars. If a research project sounds interesting to you, consider participating in the research study!
Photo of the Week
Manners & Culture
Q: Sometimes when I say “thank you,” Americans say, “uh huh.” Isn’t this rude?
A: This response is not meant to be rude. Americans use this when the favor seems so small (or part of their job) that it was not necessary to thank them in the first place. Imagine that “uh huh” has the same meaning as “no problem.”
Example 1: In the grocery store, the cashier gives you change:
- You: Thank you.
- Cashier: Uh huh! (No problem. This is part of my job. There is no need to thank me.)
Example 2: You drop your book and your friend picks it up.
- You: Thank you.
- Your friend: Uh huh! (No problem. This was a small favor. There is no need to thank me.)
Of course, it is still correct to say ‘you are welcome’ in both examples!
Here is video that helps explain the American ‘uh huh.’
Birthdays!
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Notes from the Editor
- Share your special experiences of campus, Gainesville, Florida, and your country by sending me your stories for the Weekly.
- Do you have grammar questions? Do you have manners and culture questions? Share them with us!
- Send stories and questions to Maya (mshastri@ufl.edu). Use the subject heading, ‘ELI Weekly.’