University of Florida Homepage

Volume 154, Issue 3-June 3

The ELI Weekly

Volunteer Day

Come out and help!

WEEKEND EVENT

Volunteer Weekend – Please sign up for ONE of the following volunteering events.  If, by Thursday, there are open slots still, you may take another slot.  You must sign up to attend:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-49904401-volunteer

Saturday June 8th

Guardian Angels – 9:15am – 12:15pm –  Meet at Norman Parking Garage

Help this facility for service dogs in training with maintenance and upkeep. Then, help train the dogs through socializing and exposure to strangers by playing with them and petting them!

Sewing Project with North Florida Sewing Center – 9:30 am – 12:30pm- Meet at Norman Parking Garage

Learn to sew while making different items for people in need!  Beginners welcome, nobody needs to have any prior experience!

Project Downtown Gainesville -12:40pm – 2:00pm – Meet in front of City Hall Downtown

Help serve food to the unsheltered community of Gainesville with students! Take bus 5 to City Hall: 200 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601

Sunday June 9th

Millcreek Horse Farm – 9:00am -1:00pm – Meet at Norman Garage

Come help this retirement home for horses! They have different farm maintenance projects for us and we will get a chance to see and feed the horses!


Notes from the Office

Addresses:  Just a reminder, everyone, if you move or change your address during the semester, it is very important to update your address with the Main Office.  You can fill out a new Student Contact Card, or you can update your address at any time on myELI.

ELI Emergency Cell Phone:  The ELI has a special phone number that you can use if you have a medical or legal emergency outside of normal office hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm). The ELI emergency phone number is 352-672-0144. You should store this number in your phone in case you have an emergency.

You should only use this phone number if you have an emergency. For example, if you or another ELI student needs to go to the hospital or gets arrested. Please do not use the emergency number for anything that can wait to be answered by email or when the office is open. If you need the police, fire department, or an ambulance for an extreme emergency, call 911 before you call the ELI emergency number.

Commencement Packets:  We still have a number of end-of-term packets in the ELI Main Office (MAT 223).  If you are a returning student and you didn’t pick up your packet at the end of last semester, stop by and get yours!

People Out:  Christine will be out this week until Friday.


CIP Activities

Monday, June 3  – Coffee Talk – 6:30 – 9:00pm 

Socialize with LAs and ELI friends at the Starbucks on Archer Road! Play games, speak English, and drink a coffee or get dinner at the restaurants nearby! Take bus 1, 12, or 34.

Address: 3524 SW Archer Rd #160, Gainesville, FL 32608

Tuesday, June 4th– Volleyball – 6:30 – 9:00pm

Play volleyball and hang out at Lexington Crossing Apartments Phase 2 Volleyball Courts with us! No experience necessary! Take bus 35.

Address: 3700 SW 27th St, Gainesville, FL 32608

Wednesday, June 5th – Soccer  – 6:30 – 9:00pm

Come play Soccer on campus at Flavet Field on campus! No experience necessary!

Address: Woodlawn Dr, Gainesville, FL 32603

Thursday, June 6th – Celebration Pointe Farmers Market – 5:00 – 8:00pm

Check out Celebration Pointe, a favorite shopping and dining area in Gainesville.  On Thursdays they have local vendors selling foods and crafts! Bring some money if you want to buy anything from the market and get dinner.  Meet in front of the Nike store. Take bus 33.

Address: 4949 Celebration Pointe Ave, Gainesville, FL 32608

Friday, June 7th  – Reitz Game Room – 6:30 – 9:00pm

Hang out with friends in the Reitz Game Room!  You can go bowling, play pool, and play board games! Bring your Gator1 ID for cheaper rates.

Address: 655 Reitz Union Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611

Other CIP Reminders

Don’t forget to get your CIP Passport hole punched from the activity leaders AT the event (not after).  We don’t hole punch passports after the event. Redeem your completed passport for a small gift, a photo for the ELI Instagram, and your name published in the ELI weekly!

Need a new CIP Passport? Stop by the CIP Office!

Remember the CIP Pineapple is hidden in a new place every Monday in the CIP office.  Stop by and find it for hole punches!

Conversation Partners

Want to meet with a fluent English speaker and make a new friend? Sign up for a CP!  If you choose to sign up, you must meet with your partner for one hour a week.  It can take up to two weeks to get a partner from when you sign up.  Please sign up at this link: https://forms.gle/nSD5at6r7nowjvq89

Please email Rachel at conversationpartners@eli.ufl.edu for any issues, questions or concerns or visit him in the CIP Office during office hours.


Summer Weather Safety

We thought we’d let you know about a few things as the summer weather season kicks in.  Be careful since North Central Florida has very interesting weather! It might look like a sunny day but then a thunderstorm will appear.  Therefore, you should always have sunscreen and an umbrella in your backpack. You should also get into the habit of checking the weather each day.  One hazard that you should watch out for is lightning.  We have more thunderstorms in the summertime in Florida in a year than anywhere else in the US, so lightning here is a serious danger. If it looks like it’s going to storm, you should go inside as soon as possible.  A car is also a safe place.  DO NOT stand under a tree or near anything that might be the tallest thing in the area and don’t use a metal-tipped umbrella.

Occasionally, there are tornado watches or tornado warnings. A warning is more serious. If there is a tornado warning, you should go inside. DO NOT ride your bike, wait for the bus, or even drive a car.

Another thing that you should prepare for is hurricanes.  You can go to http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/  to keep informed of hurricane activity, and they also have some excellent preparation and planning tips.  Also, of course, if there is any hurricane threatening Gainesville, we here at the ELI will keep you informed and make sure you know what to do and where to go.  The main thing about the NOAA website is that they have some excellent tips about early preparation.

Finally, you should download the Gatorsafe App on your phone so you can get notifications about storms or other dangerous weather near campus.


Student Corner

Where I’m From:

This week, Peru.

Capital: Lima

Population: ≤ 34,600,000

 

Fun fact: When the flag is displayed by the Peruvian government, it incorporates the national coat of arms in the center, which symbolizes the country’s diversity. When used by others, the flag can be used without emblems in the center.

Three things to know:

  1. Peru is the third largest country in South America and one of the 20 largest countries in the world.
  2. The National University of San Marcos, founded on 12 May 1551, is the first officially established university in the Americas.
  3. Before getting married, Peruvian couples should observe the period of Sirvinacuy, which means to serve one another. During this time, they may sleep together under the same roof, generally with the man’s family, and the pair typically does not marry until they have a kid, demonstrating that their union is productive.

Birthdays

The following are ELI Birthdays for the week of June 3th to June 9th:

June 3:  Clefton Simon

June 6:  Marcelina João

June 8:  Ana Clara Mura Figueiredo

Staff:  None this week!


Manners and Culture

Q:  Why do students in the US call teachers by their first names?  In my country, this is impolite.

A:  Most of us don’t.  It really depends in most cases on the personal preferences of the professors. In a regular university class, we usually use “Doctor” or “Professor” plus the person’s last name.  Otherwise, if they don’t have a PhD degree, we might use “Mr.” or “Ms”.  At the ELI, though, we are a little less formal—on purpose.  We try to foster a less formal and more conversational environment in order to get students talking more.


Grammar

Q: What is the difference between the words lose and loose? When do I use lose or loose?

A: Lose is a verb and it means to misplace or to not win. Loose is an adjective which means not tight. You’ll need to memorize the spelling and the pronunciation. Look at the sentences below to see the difference.

  • I always lose my cellphone in my house.
  • The players lose the game every time they have to play in the snow.
  • My pants are loose so I need to use a belt.

Quote of the Week

If you think you can or if you think you can’t, you’re right.

Henry Ford

 

English Language Institute
PO Box 117051
223 Matherly Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611-7051, USA
Phone: (352) 392-2070
StudyEnglish@eli.ufl.edu

www.eli.ufl.edu

www.facebook.com/UFLELI 

www.instagram.com/UFELI 

www.twitter.com/UFELI

For a PDF Copy of the Weekly, go here:  SS2403