May 2009
From left:
Back row: Carl Rocha, Riccardo Manieri, Noriyuki Sakamoto, Arnaud Rocha
Middle row: Katiuska Ibarra, Chutarat Unphanit, Claudia Cardona, Ines, Lissana Hernandez, Ana Lucia Fernandes, Kathy Ayala, Virginia Iriarte
Front row: Sevim Kahraman, Seda Malikler, Maura Sulbaran, Maria Gabriela Hernandez, Jennifer Murphy
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Fenway Park Outing
From left: Angel Garcia, Ferdinand Frank, and Brian O'Malley
It is baseball season in America and Boston is home to Fenway Park, the oldest and most historic baseball stadium in America. Baseball fans from all over the world travel to Fenway to experience the unique atmosphere of a park that is almost 100 years old.
In May, Brian O'Malley, BSML's Admissions Director, took three guests from BSML to see a Red Sox game. The guests included Angel Garcia from Venezuela, who is studying intensive English for several months. Angel is an information technology expert from Caracas who wants to improve his business English skills, which is becoming more important for computer technology professionals. Ferdinand Frank from Hamburg, Germany, is a guest at the school and is studying for the TOEFL and GMAT tests and is preparing to attend business school in Boston. A very distinguished guest was Dr. Martin, a prominent cardiologist from Venezuela who also happens to be the father of Marta O'Malley, Brian's wife. Marta is a former student who, after she completed her studies at BSML, has been a key BSML staff member in marketing and administration for the last ten years. Dr. Martin has spent the better part of May in Boston visiting with his family and friends and enjoying his grandchildren. | |
 A Visit from Till
A student from twelve years ago came to visit last week, Till Bechtold, or more presisely, Dr. Till Bechtold. He will shortly be graduating as an orthodontist in Germany. When I asked him the question I ask all of my students interested in dentistry, "Why? Everyone will dread coming to see you,", he responded that orthodontics is different. His patients are mainly children and you have a three to four year relationship with them. The visits become normal and fun and the end result is so satisfying. "It's nice".
He was in Boston for an orthodontics convention and wanted to stop by and see if any of his previous teachers were still teaching. Fortunately or unfortunately, we all still were! Of course we all remembered a much younger student yet one that lived up to our expectations and beyond.
Till's father is German and his mother Korean, I asked if he has visited Korea and, yes, ten times. He also plans to go to Korea for one year to do research once he graduates. He may decide to go for a Phd. His embrace of his two cultures as well as his ambition was, what's the word, satisfying, hopeful, promising and, to a teacher, inspiring.
We had to cut our conversation short since I had a class but later Barbara told me he had remembered that, those many years ago, he had already studied the lesson I was teaching so I moved him up a level which, to this day, he appreciates. He felt it was the right level for him and he still gives me credit.
To be honest, I do not remember this incident which leads me to wonder how many other events have been important to a student that I was unaware of? While some of these times may have not been so positive (and I apologize), the influence of teaching has been amplified by Till. I will never know how successful the majority of my students will become nor how much I may have contributed to their success yet I do hope that, in some small way, I, and Boston School of Modern Languages, have contributed.
Sandra Robinson
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 Choral Singing at BSML
Two years ago, the BSML newsletter included a story about our teacher, George Hungerford, and the Braintree Choral Society. George continues to be an active member of the chorus and serve as it treasurer. For the past five years, he has sung bass in their annual Christmas and spring concerts. The Braintree Choral Society is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year and George is looking forward to a very special concert this Saturday. On May 30th, the Braintree chorus and the Scituate chorus will combine to present Mendelssohn's St. Paul Oratorio. This year marks the 200th birthday of the famed composer. For this special event, the combined chorus of 80 singers will be joined by four professional soloists and a 32-piece orchestra. George has invited interested BSML students to attend this gala performance. Several BSML students attended a concert in April, which featured songs from Broadway shows.
George's participation in the Braintree Choral Society and his chorus elective at BSML have given BSML students the opportunity to learn English while enjoying music. In his elective class, George teaches his students to sing a cappella in four part harmony. They begin by reading and learning the meaning of the song and correct intonation and pronunciation of the lyrics. After that, by working together, they produce a concert for the entire school to enjoy on graduation day. "Students from many countries who have a musical background participate in the chorus elective as well as interested students with little musical background", says George. Director of Studies, Barbara Goodwin, adds that, "I recently attended a teachers' conference at which one speaker stressed the strong connection between music and verbal memory. George's chorus elective gives students a chance to make that connection."
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English Lessons
Bob's Grammar Tips
Be sure to put pronouns in the objective case when they are the objects of a preposition.
Correct: Would you like to sit with Maria and me?
Incorrect: Would you like to sit with Maria and I?
Ines's Super Idioms
To go easy with something means to use something in a small amount only.
Example: Go easy with the salt in this recipe.
Go easy with the butter. We don't have much left.
One way or another means somehow, in some fashion.
Example: I 'm not sure how I'll get to the party, but I'll get there one way or another.
Sandra's Vocabulary Word
Laid-back (adj) means relaxed and not worried about difficulties.
Examples: John is so laid-back. Nothing bothers him.
The people in his office have a laid-back attitude.
The suffix "-free" forms nouns and adjectives that mean something doesn't have the thing mentioned
Examples: sugar-free chewing gum, lead-free gasoline, a salt-free diet
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| Graduation May 8, 2009
Graduates 
From left: Bob and Ana Lucia Fernandes
Not pictured: Chutarat Unphanit, Sevim Kahraman and Jennifer Murphy
Honor Roll 
From left: Chutarat Unphanat, Claudia Cardona, Arnaud Rocha, Maria Gabriela Hernandez, Maura Sulbaran, Jennifer Murphy, Riccardo Manieri, Noriyuki Sakamoto, George
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