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May began with the 7th annual Cinco de Mayo festival celebration in Dolores Park. The weather was beautiful, perfect for watching the mariachi and salsa music, cultural performances and Aztec dancers. San Francisco Carnival celebrated its grand parade on Sunday, May 29th. There was food, music, drumming, dancing and of course, amazing costumes! May is also the month of Bay to Breakers, San Francisco’s famous foot race which draws over 100,000 costumed runners, revelers and spectators from all over the globe.
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“I am an emcee or what most people know as a ‘rapper,’ but really emceeing is an art form within hip-hop culture. Since I was 16 my favorite book was the dictionary. This is because to be an emcee you have to make words sound good together, so you have to better your vocabulary and sentence structure. So many things that make me a better emcee, make me a better English teacher and I’ve been doing those things since I was 16.” Kensho is a man with many faces; in addition to being an emcee and a teacher at GEOS he is also in graduate school, getting his MA in education at Chapman University. And, in addition to all this he is also a freelance Manga translator. Manga are Japanese comic books. When asked why he likes to translate Manga he says: “because I am Manga.” Kensho’s last words for readers: “I believe the willingness to communicate is more important than anything else related to language.”
Kensho Nishimura, Teacher
In its 35rd year, The Union Street Eco-Urban Festival is a festival for green exhibitors, businesses and educational displays. This year the Festival will feature arts and crafts created with recycled and sustainable materials and eco-friendly exhibits. Additionally, the Festival showcases 150 arts & crafts booths, 25 gourmet food booths, two stages of live entertainment and bistro style cafes.
The annual Haight Ashbury Street Fair brings thousands of people to Haight Street between Stanyan and Ashbury. Over 100 vendors will set up along the street including food, green businesses, local artists, clothing, crafts, non-profits and more. Additionally there’s also a battle of the bands with two stages of music on Stanyan and Masonic.
The North Beach Festival is in its 57th year. It will be celebrated on Saturday June 18th and Sunday June 19th. The festival surrounds Washington Square Park and is one of the oldest in the country. There will be 125 arts and crafts booths, 20 food booths and stages with live entertainment.
Kensho returned from his graduate program assignment and we are very happy to have him back in the classroom. One of our other talented teachers, Natalie, has also returned to GEOS. The students are very excited to have her positive energy in the school. A warm GEOS welcome to them both!
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Hi my name is Maria and I am from Colombia. It was really great the time I spent here. The people and everything is really good. I think Justin was an excellent teacher. And I’ve only known Kensho one week, but he was great. Actually, all of the teachers were excellent. I like the city of San Francisco because it’s really clean. I like the people, the neighborhoods, everything. I think near Golden Gate Park is really beautiful. I really like it there.
I’m really going to miss this school. To Meredith, Ethan, Ali and the managers, thank you! You are doing an excellent job for GEOS, I hope to see you again.
I will miss my friends and teachers at GEOS. I will also miss the restaurant Lee’s. I’m going to miss meatballs. I really love it. My words to describe GEOS are “my second home.”
Maria Paula Lemus Gomez, Colombia
GEOS is offering two elective courses: Power Speaking and Communicative Grammar II. Power Speaking is available to high beginner and intermediate students (Levels 3 and 4) to improve confidence, clarity and accuracy in their speaking. Students will learn to communicate clearly and effectively, and given many opportunities to practice in class. Students will give speeches, participate in debates and lead discussions, which will be recorded for feedback purposes.
In our Communicative Grammar II elective, high intermediate and advanced students (levels 4 and 5) will develop and enhance skills while listening, speaking, reading and writing English. Special focus is on communication practice in addition to written schools. Students will develop an understanding of English structure and improve their reading skills to prepare for an advanced level of study. Students will refine their existing knowledge of English structures and translate grammar skills into writing competencies.
This month we said goodbye to our short-term teacher Lisa. Lisa’s students threw her a goodbye party filled with treats!
Some of our GEOS students participated in Bay to Breakers, San Francisco’s 100th annual race!
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