Friday, November 27, 2009

Students read historical novel set in 1950s South

Some of our ESL students have been reading the historical novel Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands in their UNS 100 classes this semester. The book is based on real events that included murders of African Americans by the Ku Klux Klan in Florida during the 1950s, as the Civil Rights Movement was beginning.

Susan Carol McCarthy, the author of the book, and Evangeline Moore, the daughter of Harry T. Moore, a Civil Rights leader who appears in the book, spoke at Finlandia at the beginning of the fall semester. They talked about how some of the tragic events of the book affected their respective families.

Evangeline Moore speaks to Finlandia students about the events of the novel Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands and how they affected her family. The author of the novel, Susan Carol McCarthy, seated, also spoke about how she came to write the book when she learned about her own father's efforts to obtain justice for Klan victims.

The book was chosen for Michigan Tech University's Reading as Inquiry summer reading program for first-year students. Finlandia's first-year students read the book during the fall semester and benefited from the opportunity to meet the author and Ms. Moore and to hear their stories.

Last year Finlandia students participated in this same reading program with the book Three Cups of Tea and heard author Greg Mortenson speak about his work building schools, especially for girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Listening-Speaking class begins with TV ads

Students in Suzanne Van Dam's ESL Listening-Speaking class began the semester with the challenge of presenting amusing TV commercials.

Leo, right, explains his group's TV commercial to the class. Pictured also, from left, are Naoya, Suzanne, Ma and Ji. Rei and Airi are in the background. Click on photos for larger versions.

Rei displays the props she used for her group's commercial. Also pictured are Airi and Rui.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Sept. 2009: Finlandia students participate in Parade of Nations

Japanese students line up for the 2009 Parade of Nations in front of Hancock Middle School. Pictured here are, from left, Moto (who is now a student at Michigan Tech), Airi, Rei and Leo (Ryosuke), with Amanda Moyer (front, center) and other Finlandia students. (Photos by Michele Bourdieu)

HANCOCK -- In September 2009, the new Finlandia ESL students joined with students from both Michigan Tech and Finlandia universities, as well as community members, to celebrate diversity in the annual Parade of Nations.

After the parade, students enjoyed the international cuisine and entertainment in Dee Stadium, Houghton. Pictured here are, from left, Rui, Ma, Ji, Leo, Moto, a friend, Lei and Airi.

See more Parade of Nations photos in the slide show, upper right corner of this page.

Editor's Note: Students, please email to andersm2@sbcglobal.net any photos you took that you would like to add to our slide show or names of people in the photos.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Houghton County Fair: August 28, 2009

HANCOCK -- And it's hey, ho, come to the Fair! Our first field trip this Fall semester was a visit to the Houghton County Fair in Hancock. The weather was a little damp, but the rain actually stopped for most of the time we were there. Thanks to Suzanne for driving the van!

Is that Ji, far left, ready to take photos of the jugglers? They were entertaining the kids in the 4-H exhibit hall. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photos by Michele and Gustavo Bourdieu)



That brave little kid volunteered to be in the middle!

These guys ride unicycles, too.

Leo, Ma and Ji admire the prize-winning roosters, hens and rabbits.



Here are some blue-ribbon winners showing off! Cock-a-doodle-doo! How would you like one of these as an alarm clock in the morning?


Ray takes a photo of a prize-winning bird. ESL tutor Pamela Kotila joined us for the trip to the Fair.

And it's on to the large-animal exhibit. This cow must be one of the largest ...

... along with the big work horse Ray and Gustavo are admiring.

The special exhibit this year was a visit by Australian animals. Kangaroo-watching, anyone?

Ji and Ma take a ride on the ferris wheel, a favorite ride at the County Fair!

And here they are again -- with the Queen of the Fair!

This ghostly piano player was a little early for Halloween!

Time for coffee and hot chocolate at the chalet before heading back to Finlandia Hall ... Everyone is here: Front table, from left, Gustavo, Suzanne, Ji and Ma; left, rear table, Airi, Lei and Pamela; center, rear table, Naoya, Ray and Leo.

Editor's Note: Students, if you have a favorite photo of the Fair you want me to post here, please email it to me.

Welcome, new ESL students!

In August 2009 we welcomed our new ESL students for Fall semester. Here are six of them in Michele's ESL Reading class the first week of the semester ...

Our new ESL students are, from left, Rei Hirakawa, Ryosuki Arai, Airi Natsumushi, Ji Zhou, Rui Pan and Yongjun Ma. Not pictured because he had already taken off for soccer practice is Naoya Matsuura. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo by Michele Bourdieu)

More memories: International Club party, April 2009

What do you know! More memories of Spring 2009 semester -- some photos of the International Club party on April 22 -- Earth Day!

Celebrating Earth Day with some healthy food are Kumiko Takahashi, second from right, and her friend Amanda Moyer, right, serving a Japanese dish. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photos by Michele)

Whatever that dish is, Kazuki seems to like it!

Kazuki, still eating, with Toshi, enjoying the fiesta.

Two students from Michele's English 103 class, Drew, left, and Paivi, join Sarah, foreground, one of Finlandia's best lifeguards!

Here's Salome, serving up a Tanzanian dish from her country ...

It's Kazuki in action -- digesting all that food with a game of ping pong.

Memories of last April: Pep Band concert

After hunting through some photo files, the ESL Blog editor found these memories of the Pep Band concert in Finlandia Hall April 9, 2009. Three of our international students participated: Toshi Mita on guitar, Kumiko Takahashi on keyboard and Kazuki Nishiyama on drums.

First, listen to a sample from our dedicated jazz musicians:



If anyone remembers the name of this piece, please post a comment and let us know! (Video and photos by Michele Bourdieu)

Toshi on guitar, and Kumiko on keyboard, with Kazuki, hidden in back, on drums join other Finlandia and Michigan Tech students for the concert.



The bandleader presents Toshi with a souvenir gift.


Kazuki and Kumiko also receive thanks and gifts from the bandleader.