July/August 2020 Newsletter

Fourth of July by A.Brockie Stevenson, 1971
Courtesy of: Smithsonian American Art Museum

JULY- AUGUST 2020 NEWSLETTER


#IndependenceDayAtHome

  

JULY/AUGUST = INDEPENDENCE DAY AT HOME. 
At this time of the year, we are usually working on our Independence Day Celebration, Summer STEAM Weeks and discussing vacation plans. Unfortunately, this year we will not be able to celebrate the July 4th together.  Think of us as you have your cookout at home and plan for Independence Day 2021 on the USA’s 245th birthday. 

 As you know, since February 24th we have suspended our Face to Face Activities.  We hope to reopen in September with a full schedule of courses and activities.
 
In the meantime, we are offering another Round 3 of 5 weeks of English Lessons from a Distance via Zoom as well as a Summer English Full Immersion Week Online Classes  for Elementary123-345, Middle School, High School. 
 
Join us on the American Corner Facebook Page for free concerts, documentaries, conferences on American themes. 
Enjoy the summer and we hope to see you in September!
 
JULY ESSENTIAL SERVICE OFFICE HOURS 
July - Thursdays 9-12
We will be open only for receipt pickup and Library returns.  Entry: 1 person at a time, respecting social distancing and with a face mask.  Receipts are ready.  If they are not urgent, you can also pick them up directly in September. 
  
LIBRARY BOOKS and DVDs - Don’t worry about overdue items.  We will accept returns as above, otherwise in September.  We have also put a Library Return Bag on the door.  Sorry, no new checkouts until further notice.
 
ENGLISH LESSONS from a DISTANCE
We’re now in ROUND 3 with 5 weeks of Lessons.  Recent themes have included Butterflies for Kids and Black Lives Matter (this is the link to the BLM Lesson Plan prepared by Karoline) for Teens and Adults.   We’ve had great discussions with Live Zoom guests from all over the USA.    You’re still in time to join!  New students are welcome, but you will need to become a 2019/20 Member.  Did you skip Round 1 or 2? No problem.  Hop on board in Round 3. 
 
SUMMER ENGLISH FULL IMMERSION WEEKS ONLINE
Elem123, Elem345, Middle School and High School.  July 13-17. Full Immersion English for 5 consecutive days on Zoom!  Come and get talking!  New Students Welcome! 
 
SURVEY for 2019/20 MEMBERS 
Check your email. We will soon send a survey to our 2019/20 members.  Please participate.  Your opinion is important to us.
 
FALL CLASSES?
Details will be published at the beginning of September. We hope to reopen regularly in September.  We are evaluating options including in-class, a mix of in-class and distance learning and only distance learning.  
 
ADMINISTRATION
We are improving our administrative procedures.  In the FALL, Membership and Class Registration will be done Online and payment will be via Credit Card.  You will print your own receipts at home. More news in September.  
 
AMERICAN FILM SERIES
The 4 films that we could not show in the Spring will be shown in the association in the Fall. 
 
AMERICAN CORNER TRIESTE has gone ONLINE
The American Corner has gone virtual, posts daily in Facebook and features interesting free links for you to improve your English and learn about American culture from home.  Take virtual tours of museums and national parks, check out eBooks from the finest libraries in the world, take a University Online Course for free, go to the Opera, enjoy concerts, audio books, children’s books and films at no charge. Stay up to date on the American Corner Trieste Facebook Page  Here are some online suggestions for the summer:
 
Wednesdays at 5 pm - GetFit Webinar with Sports Diplomacy - Live Work outs and inspirational stories from professional American athletes. 
Wednesdays at 6 pm – American Folk Music Concerts with the Library of Congress.  .
   
FREE OPEN English Online Professional English Network Professional Development Webinars for English Teachers 1 hour Facebook Webinars July 1, July 15 at 2 pm and 8 pm Italian time at American English for Educators
 
FREE MOOC that we like for English Language Learning and English for Business and Entrepreneurship.   Learners to write a business plan, conduct market research, and communicate with clients and customers.
 
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:  Looking forward to the A Capitol Fourth on PBS – the Annual Independence Day Virtual Concert and Fireworks from Washington D.C. on Facebook, YouTube and the PBS Site.  Live on July 5th at 2 am (Italian time) or on any day afterward. Can’t wait? Watch last year’s show.
 
VIRTUAL MUSEUM TOUR that we took recently: Museum of the American Revolution.
    
WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO: Norah Jones Mini Concerts at Home
 
WHAT WE’RE READING: Alexander Hamilton by Ron ChernowThe book that inspired Miranda Lin’s award-winning musical Hamilton, recently remade into the new Disney film.

VOLUNTEERS
We are a Volunteer Run Non-Profit Association Recognized by the FVG Region. In ordinary circumstances volunteers run our Library, American Corner Programs and Activities.  In this period, we’re looking for tech savvy people who can help us record our online classes and turn them into weekly podcasts. Contact us! aia.fvg@gmail.com 
 
AMERICAN CORNER TRIESTE – Since 2007, we have been part of the American Spaces Network with over 600 locations around the world.   Programs, consultation of the library, public internet access computers, and Wi-Fi are always Free and Open to the Public.  A great place to study, meet friends, bring your kids.  Specific sections of the library are dedicated to Educational Advising, Children’s Corner Library and Women’s Space.    Consult our online catalog of Books and DVDs.   The American Corner also offers Life Skills in English Courses for Refugees and Case Workers thanks to a U.S. Department of State Grant and the US Diplomatic Mission to Italy.  The American Corner promotes the Refugee Bear Integration through Entrepreneurship Project, and the Community Service Project 28 encouraging professional refugee tailors to use their skills.
 
NEWS FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS
2020 is a GENERAL ELECTION YEAR.  AMERICANS CAN VOTE WHEREVER THEY ARE. 

It’s #OverseasCitizensVotersWeek! Celebrate by taking the first step in the voting process: Requesting an absentee ballot with the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) at FVAP.gov. Submitting it early is the best way to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Request your Absentee Ballots by August 1st now with your Federal Post Card Application, so you will be sure to receive your ballot for the November General.
Stay up to date on the Covid-19 situation through the US Embassy to Italy at this LINK 

TAKE CARE.  We hope to see you in person soon.  Enjoy the summer!