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English Language Institute

Volume 144, Issue 11-April 5

TheELI Weekly

Out and About: Al-‘Ula

by Zuhur Aloufi, RW10

Photo Credit: Zuhur Aloufi

If you love history, then you must visit Al-‘Ula. It is an ancient city in Saudi Arabia, 200 miles north of Medina. There are many reasons to visit. For example, watch the sunset from among the mountains, listen to historical singing, and see the monuments. I went with my friends and had a lot of fun. We saw different animals, like camels and horses. The day we went was very cold, so we did not go rocking climbing, but we still had a lot of fun. As you can see, there are many reasons why you should visit Al-‘Ula.

Notes from the Office

Student Voices:

Are you still working on your original writing for Student Voices? We want to give you a few more days to write. You can send paragraphs, essays, poems, recipes, letters, short stories, jokes, etc. to Olga Moody (omoody@ufl.edu) and see your writing in this ELI publication. Please include your name and class on your submission. The new deadline is Thursday, April 8th.

Financial guarantees for scholarship students:

Most of your financial guarantees will expire at the end of this semester. If you plan to return for the Summer C Semester, please request a new financial guarantee letter now. You will need to submit the letter by the tuition deadline of May 19th to avoid owing a late fee or missing classes. If you need an enrollment letter or have any questions, please email Jennifer Vann at jvann@eli.ufl.edu.

COVID-19 Update:

All ELI students are eligible to receive free COVID-19 vaccination through UF!  Please go to ONE.uf.edu and select SCHEDULE VACCINE APPOINTMENT.  Please schedule your appointment when you do not have class.

As a reminder, you still need to follow the regular COVID-19 procedures and do the weekly screening next week.  Here is the remaining schedule:

Please email Victoria at vcshelly@ufl.edu if you have any questions!

CIP Weekday Activities

Macramé-Making at Depot Park, March 27, 2021

Monday, April 5th– Game Night (Zoom) – 6:00-8:00pm

Play fun virtual games with LAs and classmates! This week we will play Codenames and Fishbowl!

https://ufl.zoom.us/j/96129662095?pwd=TmdIdmgvWkFIekhBc0FwdFdOeW9NZz09

  • Meeting ID: 961 2966 2095
  • Passcode: gamenight

Tuesday April 6th– Plaza Hangout (In-person) – 5:15–7:15pm  

Come hang out face-to-face at the Plaza! Socialize and play some contactless games.

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-plaza20

  • You must be campus cleared, sign up, and wear a mask to attend this event

Wednesday, April 7th– Coffee and Culture Talk (Zoom) – 6:00-7:30pm

Join us this week for a discussion about social media!

https://ufl.zoom.us/j/99582032927?pwd=UlFOQ1pjaiswa3huUk41cnBuMEFiQT09

  • Meeting ID: 995 8203 2927
  • Passcode: 926123

Thursday, April 8th– Movie Night (Zoom) – 6:00-8:30pm

Come vote on a movie and watch it with LAs and ELI friends as we chat in the chatbox! Stick around for a fun discussion afterward! Movie choices this week are Up, Legally Blonde, and I am Legend.

https://ufl.zoom.us/j/92962712031?pwd=dnZhVnh5WTJxWE5FNGZaRndyOFN0UT09

  • Meeting ID: 929 6271 2031
  • Passcode: movienight

Weekend Activities

Saturday April 10th– Spring Market (In-person) – 1:00–3:00pm

Hang out at the Auk Market with ELI friends and see their outdoor Spring Market with local vendors of crafts and plants.  There is also a community garden, wall art, and lots of space to enjoy the sun!

Sign Up Here! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-spring43

  • You must be campus cleared, sign up, and wear a mask to attend this event.

Saturday April 10th – Virtual Vacation (Zoom) – 4:30-6:30pm 

Get ready for the ELI’s first ever trip to Paris! (Virtually).  Start with packing clothes, a drive to the airport and car games, an airplane trip, and visits to all the main sites in Paris! You won’t want to miss this interactive virtual travel activity with lots of surprises in the mix!

https://ufl.zoom.us/j/99080838409?pwd=MFEydERoa0dueHpoaFkzeUh5OEcvQT09

  • Meeting ID: 990 8083 8409
  • Passcode: paris

Conversation Partners: Want to meet with an English speaker every week to practice English and make a friend?  Sign up for a conversation partner! You can sign up by emailing Tate at conversationpartners@eli.ufl.edu.  We still have some volunteers waiting to be paired with you!  We have one CP who specifically works with students on their pronunciation, email Tate if you are interested in being paired with her for special pronunciation practice.

Grammar

Q: What’s the difference between: at the top of the paperand on top of the paper?

A: The first one means something is written on the paper towards the top. The second one means something is covering the paper. Can you tell the difference in these examples?

  • Ex. 1: Write your name at the top of the paper.
  • Ex 2: I can’t find my homework!
    •   Here it is – your book was on top of the  paper.

Birthdays!

Students: none

Staff:  none

Notes from the Editor

Do you have something to say? Say it in the Weekly! Send your grammar questions, culture questions, and stories to Maya Shastri at mshastri@ufl.edu.

Download and open the ELI Weekly (PDF).