_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Visit the ELI NEWS online: www.eli.pitt.edu/eli-news

ELI NEWS English Language Institute • University of Pittsburgh 03-28-19, Volume 58 Issue 11 Parkvale Building, Room M13, 200 Meyran Ave • Pittsburgh PA 15260 elipitt@pitt.edu

All About April Fool’s Day

April 1st is just around the corner, which means it’s time for April Fool’s Day! Aprils Fool’s Day is an annual celebration in some European and Western countries. The day can be spent playing practical, harmless jokes on neighbors, friends and families. There is a lot of speculation about how the day actually started. But, the history of this day goes back to the 1700’s, when English pranksters began popularizing the annual tradition by playing jokes on each other. Historians also argue that the day may have began in 16th century France, during the Grego-Roman festival called Hilaria to celebrate the first day after the vernal equinox. Either way, our present-day culture has kept the tradition going with jokes, pranks, and fun for all! Learn some fast facts from around the world about April Fool’s Day below:

• In France, April 1st is called “Poisson d’Avril”

• In Scotland, April Fool’s Day lasts two days and victims of pranks are called gowks (cukoo birds). The second day is known as Taily Day.

• In England and Canada,

pranks are only played in the morning of April 1st.

ELI Closing Ceremony

by Stacy Ranson The ELI would like to invite you to the Closing Ceremony for this semester. The ceremony will be on April 11 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the William Pitt Union. We’ll take pictures, have some refreshments, and hand out attendance certificates at the ceremony. You all have played a big role in making this semester great—we hope you’ll come celebrate with us!

ELI Lockers Please note that ELI lockers must be cleaned out by 12:00 pm on Friday, April 12. Locks must be removed. Locks left on lockers after April 12 will be cut off, and anything left in lockers will be placed in lost and found. Please see the ELI main office if you have any questions.

Short Class Schedule for

April 11

ELI Activity:

Easter Egg Hunt

Keep your eyes peeled next Thursday, April 4, for Easter eggs hidden around the ELI! There will be over 100 colorful plastic eggs in various locations, including the classrooms, computer lab, Vault, and hallways. Some eggs will be clearly visible, but you will have to scrutinize every corner of the ELI to find the rest. Don’t get frustrated if you can’t find any. Be persistent! You might have to suspend your search once your class begins, but you can utilize the breaks to resume your task. Opening each egg will reveal a sweet treat as well as a language tidbit. The treat is yours to keep. You can keep the egg too, but if you don’t want it, please place it in the basket on the table outside the computer lab or in the basket in the Vault. What is the purpose of this activity? It’s a tradition! Although Easter is a religious holiday, many customs associated with this holiday are linked to disparate ideas and beliefs. These days hunting for Easter eggs is not considered a religious activity and all kinds of people, including both children and adults, like to get involved. It is undeniable that ELI students have the tenacity to find every single egg! This event is for all students studying at the ELI, including CCC students. If you would like to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt with guests and children, please read the article about Easter Egg Hunts in the city of Pittsburgh in this week’s News.

Classes beginning at…

meet…

10:00 am 10:35-10:50 am 11:00 am 10:55-11:10 am

12:00 noon 11:15-11:30 am 1:00 pm 11:35-11:50 am 2:00 pm 11:55-12:10 pm 3:00 pm 12:15-12:30 pm Closing

Ceremony 1:00-3:00 pm

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Easter Egg Hunts

in Pittsburgh

Next Thursday, April 4, the ELI will have an Easter Egg Hunt for all students studying at the ELI, including CCC students. If you would like to participate in this type of activity with guests and children, please read the information below about Easter egg hunts in the city of Pittsburgh.

ZooHop to Spring at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

This Easter egg hunt will be held on Friday, April 19, from 10 am - 1 pm in Kids Kingdom. All egg hunt participants will receive a complimentary bag filled with treats, but you should bring your own basket to collect the eggs. Participants will also have a chance to take a picture with the Easter Bunny, make a themed craft, and participate in other activities in the Worlds of Discovery building in Kids Kingdom. All ZooHop to Spring activities are included with general Zoo admission.

Easter Egg Hunt at Simmons Farms

Simmons Farms is located in McMurray, PA, approximately 45 minutes from Pittsburgh. This egg hunt is held every day from April 12 - April 20 from 10 am – 6 pm. No registration is required. The cost is $13.50 for each child. There is no charge for adults. Activities include creating a variety of crafts, decorating your Easter egg gathering bag, and collection of 12 eggs that are exchanged for prizes. There is also a petting zoo at the farm!

Eggstravaganza! at the National

Aviary

The National Aviary is located in the North Side, a short drive or bus ride from downtown. This event will be held on April 13, 14, and 19 – 21 from 11 am – 3 pm. Eggstravaganza! is free with regular National Aviary admission. Activities include a parade with the Easter Bunny, an egg matching game, story time with a live bird, and fossil crafts! Egg-Normous Easter Egg Hunt in

Ross Township

Ross Township is located approximately 15 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. This event will be held at the Ross Municipal Center Park on Saturday, April 13, from 11 am – 2 pm. The Egg-Normous Easter Egg Hunt is free and open to the public; however, you must pre-register online at https://ross.pa.us. Please check your email for links to all of these events.

Day at the Spa

Take a break from studying for finals and enjoy a day the spa. South Hills Beauty Academy students will be providing

services such as haircuts, manicures, hand massages, and more! Sign up in the Pitt Program Council office, William Pitt Union (WPU) M-30, to make an appointment! Walk-ins will also be accepted! All Pitt Program Council events are open to all undergraduate Pitt students with a valid (Oakland) Student ID. The event will be on Wednesday, April 3 from 11:00 am -3:00 pm at William Pitt Union, Assembly Room.

Topgolf

On March 31, from 1:15 pm-5:45 pm, come and join Pitt Program Council for an afternoon at Topgolf Pittsburgh. Students will enjoy 3 hours of gameplay and a catered buffet. No golfing ability? No problem! Topgolf is a game that anyone can play (and win). Score points by hitting micro-chipped golf balls at giant dartboard-like targets on an outfield. The closer you get your ball to the center or ‘bulls eye’ and the further the distance, the more points earned. The fun and games don’t stop there; you can even indulge in delicious food and drinks while you play. What could be better? Tickets are on sale in the Pitt Program Council (PPC) Ticket Office and 2 tickets per person - both must be for Pitt Oakland undergraduate students! This event is sold as a complete trip only. Students must take University transportation to and from the event. All Pitt Program Council events are open to all undergraduate Pitt students with a valid (Oakland) Student ID.

Open Rec Wheelchair Basketball

If you want to learn how to play Wheelchair Basketball or brush up on your skills, on Thursdays from 6-8 pm, in Trees Hall Gymnasium, come join Pittsburgh Steel wheelers and members of SDA (Students for Disability Advocacy) for a game of basketball.

Pitt Dance Marathon

Pitt Dance Marathon (PDM) is the largest student-run philanthropy at the University of Pittsburgh that works yearlong in an effort to enhance the movement that raises funds and awareness for the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, a Children's Miracle Network Hospital. PDM is a yearlong fundraising effort supported by thousands of Pitt students, culminating in a 12-hour dance marathon in the spring. Since its inception in 2005, PDM has raised over $600,000 for local Pittsburgh charities that benefit the Pittsburgh community. The event will be held on Saturday, March 30. From 12:00 pm -12:00 am at Cost Sports Center (350 Robinson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261).

Statement of Purpose

Information Session When you apply to academic programs in the US, most universities ask for a statement of purpose. Many people believe that the statement of purpose is the most important piece of a college application. Your statement of purpose is your chance to tell the admissions committee who you really are. Do you know what to include in your statement? Just as important, do you know what not to include? If you would like tips on how to write an effective and clear statement of purpose, come to the statement of purpose session on Monday, April 1 from 1:00-1:45 pm in Room M15. You may bring your lunch. You must sign up for this presentation. See Stacy in room M22 or email her at sar72@pitt.edu to reserve your space. Hope to see you there!

Follow the ELI on Instagram

@eli.pitt

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Pop Music Ensemble: The

Migration of Music throughout the

African Diaspora What does music means to you? How do you define music? In fact, in many cultures, music is used as a form of communication with others; whereas if one hears a beat, a drum, a melody, one can understand the language being spoken. How does music influence your life?

On March 30, from 8:00 pm- 9:30 pm at the Bellefield Hall, Auditorium (315 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260) Pitt will be hosting a spring concert showcasing the sonic migration of music from Africa to the Americas (North and South America) and Europe. "Sonic Migrations" is a way of describing how sound has traveled from Africa to other locations of the world. Pitt’s ensemble will present different variations of music from the African diaspora such as Reggae, Highlife, Merengue, Hip-Hop, Afrobeat, Jazz, Pop, and genres that have resulted from African influence. The program will specifically focus on discovering sonic migrations between Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean. The event will make connections between rumba of Cuba and soukous from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jamaican reggae and connecting these genres to its African heritage. The event will feature a talk by Dr. David Aarons, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, on the connections between reggae and Africa. Dr. Aarons has studied the migration of Jamaican music and their influence by Ethiopian music. He joined the faculty at UNCG in 2018 and currently teaches courses, such as “American Music” and “Music of World Cultures.”

Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse

Are you an undergraduate student and love Spider-Man? School work have you caught in a web? Are your spidey-senses tingling? Join Pitt Program Council in the William Pitt Union (WPU) Assembly Room on Saturday, March 30, from 9:00 pm -11:30 pm for a FREE screening of the Academy Award winning Best Animated Feature Film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse! Doors open at 8:15 P.M. Snacks will be provided. All Pitt Program Council events are open to all undergraduate Pitt students with a valid (Oakland) Student ID.

F1 Students and Part Time Study

Students with F1 visas have the benefit of taking a vacation term for part time study. If you have studied full time at the ELI for two semesters, you can choose to take a break next semester or to study part time. You may only take one vacation term during your study at the ELI. Please remember that you must pre-register for this benefit during. You cannot change to a vacation term after the term starts. There are no exceptions to this rule. The deadline for choosing a vacation term or part time study for F1 students is April 1, 2019. Also, please remember that Saudi and Kuwaiti students who are sponsored by their governments are not allowed to study part time because of sponsor rules. If you are a sponsored student and would like to study part time, you must provide a letter of permission from your sponsor before April 1. This letter must be in English. The ELI does not make these requests for students; you must speak to your sponsor yourself.

F1 Visa Requirement:

Travel Signatures If you are traveling outside of the U.S. during the April break, and you are returning for the next term, you MUST have Stacy sign your I-20 before you leave. Stacy will not be available after April 17, so you must see her soon if you are traveling. You will have to cancel travel plans if you do not have Stacy’s signature before April 17. No one else at the ELI is able to sign your I-20. See Stacy even if you think you may travel!

ELI Activity:

ELI Trip to Fallingwater and

Ohiopyle Reminders

If you registered and paid for the ELI trip to the Laurel Highlands, we will meet at the ELI at 8:45 am this Saturday, March 30. On this trip we will first visit the beautiful Ohiopyle State Park and then end our day with a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s world-famous Fallingwater house. It takes approximately 2 hours to reach Ohiopyle State Park from the ELI. When we arrive at Ohiopyle State Park, we will take a short, easy hike to Cucumber Falls. Then we will enjoy a picnic lunch that you must pack yourself before departing Pittsburgh. This lunch should include food and drinks that do not need to be heated or kept cold. After enjoying the nature of Ohioyple, we will take a 15-minute drive to Fallingwater. At Fallingwater, we will have a 1-hour tour of the house. A guided tour is the only way to access the inside of the house. This house is unique because it was built on top of a waterfall. This kind of architecture is far from mediocre! After the tour, we will have some time to explore the beautiful grounds, visit the gift shop, and take pictures of the outside of the house. Please check your email for additional details about our trip. Contact Ece at ecu4@pitt.edu if you did not receive this email or if you have any questions.

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Stacy’s Office Hours Term Break

I know that some of you may need to see me after the ELI term ends.

Remember, if you are planning to leave the U.S. and return to the ELI next semester, I must sign your I-20 before you go. If you need me for this, or for any other reason, please note the following dates and times. I will be available in my office (M22) during the hours below. I will not be available any other time during the break, and I will not write letters of recommendation or review statements of purpose over the break, so please plan carefully. Monday, April 15

Tuesday, April 16

Wednesday, April 17

9:00-9:45 am

12:00-1:00 pm

12:00-1:00 pm

English Language Institute

Final Exam Schedule Spring 2019

The ELI gives final exams at the end of the term. These exams are worth 30% of the final grade for each class. There are no excused absences for finals. The ELI does not give early final exams or make up exams. Role Play finals in Speaking are graded with another Speaking teacher. Writing finals are graded by a teacher from another class with input from your teacher. Please note the following schedule and plan to be present for the finals.

I-20 Expiration Dates for F-1

Students By Stacy Ranson

The end of the semester is coming soon! If you are an F-1 student, please check the expiration date on your I-20. On page 1 of your I-20, under #5, you will see a beginning date for your studies and a completion date for your studies. Remember that it is your responsibility to make sure that your I-20 does not expire! If your I-20 will expire at the end of this semester, you must see Stacy if you want to extend your time at the ELI. It is too late to request an extension after your I-20 has expired, so please take a moment to check now.

F1 Students and

End-of-Term Grace Period

The Department of Homeland Security requires students to complete all levels of the ELI program in order to receive the 60-day grace period following the completion of study. This means that if you complete level 6 at the ELI, you will have 60 days after your last day of study to remain in the U.S or request a transfer to a new program. If you end your study at the ELI before completing level 6, you will have a two-week grace period after your final day of class. This means that you will need to request a transfer to a new program or leave the U.S. within 2 weeks of your last day of study if you do not complete level 6. If you transfer to a new program at any time, you must begin study at the first available term for the new program. If you transfer within your grace period, you are permitted to be out of school for up to 5 months before beginning the first available term of your new program. Please see Stacy if you have questions about these policies.

ELI Pre-registration Summer 2019

If you plan to study at the ELI next term, you must pre-register with Stacy in room M22. If you do not pre-register with Stacy, the ELI cannot guarantee your place for the next term. If you plan to take a vacation term, you must see Stacy to register for that, too. Please see Stacy by April 1 if you want to continue at the ELI.

ELI Idiom of the Week

An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning might not always be clear from the words that make it up.

“Let Bygones be Bygones”

Used to tell someone that they should forget about unpleasant things that happened in the past, and especially to forgive and forget something bad that someone has done to them https://dictionary.cambridge.org For example: “Let’s just let bygones be bygones and be friends again.”

Coffee Talk on Fridays!

4:00 – 6:00 pm Panera (3800 Forbes Ave.)

Mark your calendars!

Upcoming ELI Activities

Saturday, March 30: ELI Trip to Fallingwater Thursday, April 4: Easter Egg Hunt

Fri, April 5

Mon, April 8

Tues, April 9

Writing final 10:00am-12:00pm Speaking final 1:00pm-3:00pm

Grammar final 10:00am-12:00pm Listening final 2:00pm-4:00pm

Reading final 10:00am-12:00pm