"Smack Dab in the Middle."

It's the middle of July, and the webmistress is beginning to contemplate the beginning of a new university year. The summer has been relaxed — a time of visiting, reading, practicing Tai Chi, and preparing for another new beginning. Marcus, university son of the webmaster and mistress, has joined a band, The August, and I've been able to hear him play twice this summer. I wonder how you, dear readers, have spent the summer.

Some news has filtered in to CricketSong, spiritual home of CornDancer. Ms. Schaefer attended a birthday party for one of last semester's Level Three students. Does anyone know whose birthday? Here's a clue — she will be getting married soon! Make a correct guess and start the semester with a Bonus Point!

Here's another bit of good news. Another student from Level Three Spring 2003 is expecting a baby! Any guesses for this one?

Dr. Marshall returned from a trip to Russia last week. He covered five time zones while there, crossing the continent from Moscow to Irkutsk, swimming in the Ob River, and taking a cruise on Lake Baikal. He brought back lots of realia for his website Planet Russkij. You can read about his trip on CornDancer in the near future.

A Wedding in Japan.

Check out Dispatch from Afar for a new story by Level Three IEP student Ryohei Tanaka. He recounts the trip he made in the spring to attend a wedding (no, not his!). Former IEP student and present graduate student in music, Yuki Hayata, is currently writing a story about the secondary education system in Japan. Looks like the Japanese students are taking the lead in writing about their homeland. Anyone else want to tell our readers about their country? Email the webmistress with any news or stories at freddieb@mail.uca.edu.

Fall Semester Calendar.

Before you know it, we will be back in the classroom. For new students, the IEP Placement Test is on Tuesday, August 19. The time and classroom have not been determined yet. Oral interviews will be the next day, Wednesday, August 20, and classes begin on Thursday, August 21. I can't wait to see all of you again and to meet the new IEP students. In the meantime, enjoy your summer.

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

Summer Holiday Continues!

The summer holiday has reached the zenith point.

Now.

Conway.

UCA Summer II semester finishes on August 8.

"Some Enchanted Evening."

Performers from the UCA Theatre and the Conway Community Arts Association will present songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals including The King and I, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, and Oklahoma.

Performances: July 18-19 at 7:30 P.M.

Reynolds Performance Hall.

Tickets free with UCA I.D. Call 450-3165.

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!