NEWSLETTER

DECEMBER 2009 Volumen 12

American Corner

Nicaragua

Americans Celebrate Christmas with Many Traditions

Holiday observances blend the traditional with the new

Americans, like many of the world's peoples, have developed their own Christmas

traditions and observances. Most Americans blend religious and secular customs

with their own family traditions, often incorporating foods, decorations and rituals

from places they or their ancestors once called home.

Of course, every American child wants the chance to tell Santa what he or she

wants for Christmas.

Other Christmas traditions similarly began during the 19th century. Santa Claus — derived from the Dutch Sinter Klaas and the German Saint Nicholas — assumed the persona of a jolly dispenser of gifts and pilot of a reindeer-drawn sleigh through such works as the 1823 poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.”

Germany is credited with starting the tradition of Christmas trees in the 16th century. According to legend, the Protestant reformer Martin Luther first added lighted candles to a tree to remind his children of the wonders of God’s creation. Christmas trees became popular in Britain and the United States in the 19th century. Today, many Americans purchase a fresh evergreen tree or a reusable aluminum and plastic model and decorate it with lights and ornaments. In some families, Christmas gifts appear under the tree on the morning of December 25, deposited there by family members — or, as small children believe, delivered by Santa Claus after he lands his reindeer and sleigh on the roof and comes down the chimney.

Mass-produced Christmas cards began to appear in the last quarter of the 19th century. Today, these might depict religious scenes or convey secular, often humorous, messages. On the Internet, electronically transmitted “e-cards” are increasingly popular; nonetheless, Americans will mail some 16.6 billion Christmas cards, letters and packages over the holidays. Read more: http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2006/

December/20061226154528abretnuh0.7518579.html#ixzz0bxlbGdax

Happy Holidays and

a Happy New Year

On December 10th American Corner Coordinator and Educational Adviser

visited St. Dominic school where they gave a presentation first on all AC ser-

vices available and then on the opportunities offered to study in the United

States. There were 45 attendants to this activity where they enthusiastically

asked about AC services, State’s exchange and scholarships programs avail-

able to Nicaraguan students.

AMERICAN CORNER PROMOTIONAL VISIT TO

ST. DOMINIC HIGH SCHOOL

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American Corner

Recommended Online Reading :

College and University Education in the United States

From the many types of institutions to the virtually unlimited array of programs and ma-jors, the universities and colleges in the United States reflect the diversity, tolerance, and pursuit of excellence that characterize the best of the country as a whole. Through this journal, prospective international students and their parents and advisors will learn about the American system of higher education and academic and student life at U.S. colleges and universities.

More Information at: http://www.america.gov/amlife/education.html

AMERICAN CORNER’S Christmas

Celebration

AC Coordinator prepared a special program for 12

schoolchildren who have attended the American Corner

regular programs throughout the year. The program

began with the reading of the book: La Perla, The

Pearl in Spanish. All participants enjoyed this

joyful celebration and received refreshments and

candies as a special threat from the AC coordinator.

The children signed up to participate in a Book Club

to begin in January.

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American Corner

International Human Rights Day–

December 10th

In 1948, the United Nations formally defined human rights.

The protection and nurture of these rights rely on the efforts of

governments, nongovernmental organizations and individual

citizens the world over.

See more information about this topic at:

http://www.america.gov/un-declaration.html

NEW ARRIVALS– COME BY TO SEE

WHAT”S NEW AT THE AMERICAN CORNER

Understanding by Design, Expanded 2nd Edition - Grant Wig-gins; Advanced Grammar in Use With CD ROM - Martin Hewings; Basic Grammar in Use With answers, with Audio CD: Self-study Reference and Practice for Students of English - Raymond Murphy; Fluency through TPR Storytelling - Con-tee Seely; Frases en Ingles Para Dummies (Para Dummies/for Dummies– Gail Brenner; Webster's New World American Idioms Handbook - Gail Brenner; Longman American Idioms Dictionary - Ruth Urbom; Longman Advanced American Dictionary - Longman Pub Group; Longman Basic Dictionary of American English - Pearson Long-man; Longman Photo Dictionary of American English, New Edition (Monolingual Student Book with 2 Audio CDs) - Jennifer Sa-gala; Teaching Reading to English Language Learners: A Reflective Guide - Thomas S. C. Farrell; The Handbook of Second Language Acquisition (Blackwell Handbooks in Linguistics) - Catherine J. Doughty; Implementing the SIOP Model Through Effective Professional Development and Coaching - Jana A. Echevarria; Making Content Comprehensible for English Learners: The SIOP Model (3rd Edition) - Jana A. Echevarria; 99 Ideas and Activities for Teaching English Learners with the SIOP Model - MaryEllen J. Vogt; Assessing English Language Learners: Bridges from Language Proficiency to Academic Achievement - Margo Gottlieb; Why Do English Language Learners Struggle With Reading? : Distinguishing Language Acquisition From Learning Disabilities - Janette Kettmann Klingner; Planning for Learning: Collaborative Approaches to Lesson Design and Review - Mary Renck Jalongo; Dictionary for Air Travel and Tourism Activities: Over 7,100

terms on Airlines, Tourism, Hospitality, Cruises, Car Rentals, GDS, Geography, Climate, Ecology, .Customs, and Organiza-tions Subjects - Homero Martinez; Writing Better English for ESL Learners, Second Edition - Ed Swick; Multiple Intelligences and Language Learning: A Guidebook of Theory, Activities, Inventories, and Resources (Alta Profes-

sional Series) - Mary Ann Christison; Treatment of Error in Second Language Student Writing (The Michigan Series on Teaching Multilin-gual Writers) - Dana R. Ferris; Working with Images Paperback with CD-ROM: A Resource Book for the Language Class-room

(Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers) - Ben Gold-stein; Paperback Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction: Teaching Beyond the Facts - H. Lynn Erickson; The Course Syllabus: A Learning-Centered Approach (JB - Anker) - Judith Grunert O'Brien; Teaching Academic ESL Writing: Practical Techniques in Vo-cabulary and Grammar (ESL and Applied Linguistics Professional Series) - Eli Hinkel; Tree or Three? Student's Book and Audio CD: An Elementary Pronunciation Course (Face2face S) - Ann Baker; The Grammar Guide: Developing Language Skills for Academic Success - Nancy M. Ackles;