Welcome ARKTESOL Participants.

And welcome to Planet IEP! I'm using my website to introduce you to the Classroom Visitation Project, one of the methods I use to help our IEP students make the transition from the sheltered environment of our classes to the unfamiliar terrain of university classes.

Blown away by the Picnic!

Have you heard the expression I was blown away by the film/music/concert? It means that you were really pleasantly surprised by the event. However, at the picnic we were physically blown away by the wind as well as blown away by the good food, camaraderie, and Easter egg hunt. At least we weren't bedraggled (remember this term, Level Three?) by a rainstorm, too!

They Tied the Knot.

Congratulations to Nobuko and Matt. They tied the knot (got married) on Saturday, April 19. It was a fortuitous (lucky) day because that's the anniversary of my parents. They were married for 60 years before my father passed away. May Nobuko and Matt have such a long and happy marriage.

Mayor Declares Friday as
"UCA in Carnegie Hall Day."

The Mayor of Conway, Tab Townsell, proclaimed Friday as "UCA in Carnegie Hall Day." You may recall that our very own Level Three student, Gabriela Gimenes from Brazil, is one of the participants. Former IEP students, Yuki Hayata from Japan and Jun Jun Xu from China, were also participants. The 50-piece wind ensemble won a competitive audition to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City. They will also perform in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

Got Boredom?
Check Out the Important Dates.

If you are getting cabin fever (boredom), then read the Important Dates information below. Several opportunities are offered on campus for students to get involved and beat the ennui.

Important Dates

Exotic Dining on Saturday.

IEP Potluck Dinner.

Saturday, April 26, 6:00 p.m.

Hosted by Ms. Schaefer at 1818 Bruce St.

Come and share the food and fellowship. Say goodbye to our graduates and Dr. Marshall and wish Nobuko and Matt and Dr. Marshall congratulations.

Judy Collins,
Acoustics Festival.

Tickets for a concert performance by internationally acclaimed folk singer Judy Collins are now on sale. Ms. Collins is the headliner for the Second Annual Arkansas Acoustic Festival, jointly sponsored by UCA's Division of Student Services and UCA Public Appearances. Tickets priced from $30 to $35 are available at the Reynolds Hall Box Office. To learn more about the concert and festival, visit the official website by clicking now.

Festival: May 30 - June 1.
Judy Collins: June 1.

Reynolds Performance Hall.

Tickets required. Call 450-3265.

How Good
Is Your Grammar?

Thanks to one of Corndancer's contributors, Mr. Darbo, for sending us a link to test our grammar knowledge. Just for fun, try it yourselves at http://encarta.msn.com/quiz/quiz.asp?quizid=51. You get instant results.

What Did She Say?

I just looked up this site to find the words to a U2 song. You might want to find the words to one of your favorite songs, too, at http://www.lyrics.com.

Planet IEP is a world of words for students and anyone else who is interested in English as a Second Language.

First and foremost, this site serves international students in the Intensive English Program (IEP) at the University of Central Arkansas. Planet IEP provides lesson plans, reminders, comments and musings on classroom projects. It serves as a venue for students to ask questions or make comments about any matter that concerns language or culture.

Let me begin with a traditional greeting: "Welcome to Planet IEP." The first step in using this site is to decide what you want to read. Look at the "links" (connections) on the left side of this page. You have several places to go.

If you are a student of Freddie Bowles, click on your class level to find information about class activities, homework, and most importantly, the Bonus Point Challenge.

Ms. Schaefer's page, IEP Coordinator, gives information about the current semester. Click on IEP coordinator to read her monthly info letter.

The Dispatch from Afar is the newest page. Click on it to read stories written by IEP students and staff from their home countries and travels afar.

If you want to see if there are any articles for you to read, click on Reading Room. Be sure and take a look at the Photo Gallery. Your picture might be on there!

Under International Links, you will find links to information from different countries. Do you want to read the news from home? Look under International Links to find a site that offers news from your home or from a classmate's home.

When you decide what site you want to visit, click on the icon, and the site will open. Within the site there will be other links for you to visit if you so choose. If you want to return to the beginning, click on Planet IEP Home and you will return to the homepage.

If you have any links
for the International Links page,
email me at freddieb@mail.uca.edu
Good luck as you travel on Planet IEP!