I've been wanting to share information about this fantastic NICE program offered at UH Manoa for a long time. The program is best explained by those diligently working to ensure its success, so I asked Shannon Mark, the Student Services Specialist of the program to write this piece.
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Aloha everyone! My name is Shannon Mark and I am the Student Services Specialist at the NICE program at UH Manoa. I have worked at NICE for seven years and have enjoyed working with everyone from our students, teachers, staff, and administration. I have learned so much over the years and I especially enjoy informing prospective students and people from the community about how the NICE program can and will benefit them. I have a passion for international education and recruiting international students. The information below contains information about the NICE program.

Photo credit: Richard Fassler

The New Intensive Courses in English (NICE) program is a unit of the International Programs of Outreach College, which has served international students and the international community living in Hawaii for nearly 35 years! NICE offers a wide array of course options available to international students and international people from the community with a unique emphasis on teaching oral communication.

The course options available at the NICE program include:

• Four (4) ten-week sessions throughout the year beginning in January, April, July, and October. Each student can choose a specific curriculum track with three tracks available: Academic, Business, and General Communication. Classes are available both in the morning and afternoon, Monday to Friday. Full time and part time study options available. Students on an F-1 student visa are required to study full time. People who are not on an F-1 student visa can study part time. Our July session will begin on July 10th, so register today or to find out more, go to:

http://nice.hawaii.edu/nice/10week.asp

• Two (2) short-term three-week English language and culture courses available in February and August. An F-1 student visa is not required for this course option. We still have room available for our upcoming three-week Summer NICE course, so register today. To find out more, please go to:

http://nice.hawaii.edu/nice/shortTerm.asp

• Day and nighttime part-time English courses are also available. These courses vary in number of weeks, number of hours a week, and what time of day or night the class will be held. This part time study option is ideal for your busy working professional, student, or member of the community. These classes will start up soon, so contact us today!

Some examples of previous day and nighttime English courses offered include: the institutional TOEFL class and test; institutional TOEIC class and test; English Pronunciation; Business Writing and Speaking; and Advanced Oral Fluency. To learn more about these great options available to you, please go to:

http://nice.hawaii.edu/nice/NICE_PartTime.asp

Finally, the International Programs of Outreach College also offers custom-designed English language and culture programs for groups and international seminars on a variety of subjects that can be conducted in the client’s native language or in English. To learn more, please go to:

http://nice.hawaii.edu/sep/default.asp

WHY STUDY AT NICE?

Many people choose to study at NICE for a variety of reasons, which include our

• OUTSTANDING REPUTATION for teaching English as a Second Language in the local, national, and international communities.

• ACCREDITATION with the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA)- NICE is the only English language program on the island of Oahu and the second in the state of Hawai’i to be accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA).

• LOCATION: Located in Hawaii and also centrally located on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus.

• PROFESSIONAL, EXPERIENCED, and KNOWLEDGABLE teachers and staff.

• TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS: All of our ten-week intensive English program teachers have at a minimum a Masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) and many years of teaching ESL and EFL (English as a Foreign Language).

• INTERCHANGE PROGRAM: NICE program students will be able to practice their oral English language skills with a University of Hawaii student. It is integrated into the Oral Production class. Interchange will enable the student to gain confidence in speaking English, as well as develop friendships with other students on campus.

Finally, the International Programs of Outreach College also offers custom-designed English language and culture programs for groups and international seminars on a variety of subjects that can be conducted in the client’s native language or in English.

Every term, NICE students will go off campus to apply what they learned in the classroom!

NICE program students engaging in “Interchange”. It gives NICE students the opportunity to practice their speaking with UH students.

NICE student giving a presentation on living in Hawaii

At the end of every term, a graduation is held to honor the students! Some students may even receive special recognition for their accomplishments

If you are interested in learning more about the NICE program or International Programs of Outreach College and what is available to you, please feel free to contact us through email ipinfo@hawaii.edu; phone: (808) 956-7753; or website: http://www.nice.hawaii.edu. We look forward to speaking with you soon!

The first time I met Urban Mix Plate blogger Melissa Chang in person back in March, she exclaimed, "I know where you can blog about- that new Fendu Boulangerie that's opening in Manoa Marketplace!" I had been waiting to see what would pop up in that space previously occupied by Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, and was intrigued when I saw signs advertising the opening of the Boulangerie, specializing in bread and rustic gourmet pizzas. For one reason or another (even with friendly reminders from Melissa), I never got around to visiting the Boulangerie... until Thursday evening!

I had been meaning to get together and finally meet Real Life 101 blogger Kelli Miura for months, and had been wanting to talk story with Melissa as well (I'd only really met her once before) when I finally ventured into the Twitter world (I'm @lumbrum) a couple of weeks ago. All of a sudden, communication with Kelli and Melissa was even easier! Melissa tweeted, "Eh! Boulangerie!" and I responded, "Let's all get together " (or something like that), and a date was set.

We met at the Boulangerie and took a few minutes to just gawk at all of the European bread, pasteries, and dessert. Everything looked delicious!

Yea! I finally got to meet Kelli!

To help us decide what to order, Kelli and Melissa asked about the most popular pizzas (the Boulangerie also sells rustic gourmet sandwiches, but they are more difficult to share), and we finally decided on the cilantro chicken and hamakua mushroom mania pizzas

While we waited for our order, we snapped photos of the desserts (Melissa and/or Kelli will share close ups of these with you!)

This is the Cilantro Chicken Pizza with white truffle oil, sauteed shallots, tomato sauce, and brie cheese- Melissa favored this one because she loves truffle oil!

This is the Hamakua Mushroom Mania Pizza with alii, oyster, shimeji, and shitake mushrooms with fresh basil, oregano, and cracked blacked pepper- Kelli favored this one because she loves... mushrooms!

We all agreed that we would go back to the Boulangerie for the pizza- though I tend to favor a really loaded but simple ingredients pizza (you know, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, etc.), the crust at the Boulangerie was really something special. We were trying to describe it as we ate it- "great, rich bread flavor... and somehow light and clean." I'd definitely return for that crust!

We'd also return to try more breads and pastries... and the desserts!

Melissa treated us to a delicious tiramisu from the Boulangerie- it was beautiful and delicious, though we were at first a little surprised by its strong alcohol flavor

After dinner and several hours of getting to know each other "in real life," we parted, promising to get together and do it again soon. Any suggestions for our next dinner outing?

Fendu Boulangerie
Manoa Marketplace
2752 Woodlawn Dr. #5119
Honolulu, HI 96822
Pizzas are available from 11am to 6:45 Tuesday through Saturday and until 2:45 on Sundays
To place your order call: (808)988-4310
Tuesday-Saturday 7:30am-7pm
Sunday-7:30am-3pm
Monday- Closed

Before I got completely into lazy summer mode, I decided to write a “to do” list of things I want and need to get done this summer. I thought I’d share a few things from my very long list with you- these are events, places, and things I want to do… right in the community!

1. Survive parent-child UH Men’s Basketball Camp! The camp’s this Sunday, June 14 from 5-7pm, and it’s designed “for the family!” Here’s the description of the camp that’s on the flyer:

Parents (Mom or Dad) and their children will participate together in stretching, drills and games while building and strengthening their bond and love for basketball and each other. Dinner will also be provided with the coaching staff.”

Normally, this would totally be a thing for my husband to do with my stepson, Kainalu. However, he’s sitting an Open House so we’re tag teaming it- I get the first half with Kai. I’m going to try not to embarrass him (or myself) too badly! If you’re interested in attending the camp, you can still register online, but make sure to do it today!

From the parent-child basketball camp two years ago- it was a lot of fun! Of course, I was only there to take pictures last time!

If basketball’s not your thing, check out the other camps that the UH athletic department is offering this summer! One of them might be right for you!

2. Enjoy my favorite Manoa Public Library before it closes its doors for renovations on Thursday, July 2, 2009. AND here’s an exclusive for you blog readers- the library will welcome the community back in for a major book sale on July 25 (from 10am-5pm) and July 26 (from 1-4pm)! I can’t wait for the sale, as I’m hoping to pick up some books for my classroom library AND for myself!

Remember to be a part of the library’s special history by picking up an acid-free cardstock, recording your memories (artwork and/or written thoughts about the library), and submitting it to the library. Here are some of the pieces they’ve already received- aren’t they fantastic?

The library also needs donations of boxes that they will use to pack books and transfer to the temporary library. The perfect sized boxes are approximately 18 by 12 inches and 10 inches high (you should be able to get your arms around them). The boxes should also be closable. You can drop off your boxes at the library.

3. Treat myself! My new favorite community treat? Delicious gelato at the new Milano Freezer at Manoa Marketplace!

Delicious!

4. Attend this year’s Rediscover Makiki event on July 25-26! There will be more details about this event in a future blog, but make sure to mark your calendars now! There will be food booths, keiki activities, and much more fun for the family. The sunset movies showing will be Kung Fu Panda on Friday evening and an edited version of Ironman on Saturday evening.

5. Start a writing club for kids in the community! My idea was to set a day and time, I was thinking of Thursdays (during the summer) from 2-4pm, for kids (ages 8-13) in the community to meet and write together. We’d go through the writing process as we write a variety of pieces, and I’d have the chance to try some new writing lesson ideas with them. The club would be free, with the kids only needing to bring paper and a pencil. I’d need at least eight kids to get the club going- if you are interested, please e-mail me!

I’d love to hear your “to do” summer list! Also, if you know about any community events or places to visit this summer, please share them here!

I really apologize for the long absence- I have been so busy wrapping up the school year that blogging took a back seat. Today was my last official day at school (yesterday was the students' last day), so I finally have a chance to breathe (and blog) again. Thank you Rodney for the comment below you left yesterday- it's my inspiration for this blog!

Kristen, since today was the last day of school, how about a new entry? (hint, hint). Share with us what it's like on the last day of school - from a teachers point of view.

The last day of school is always special. When I was a kid, on the last day of school, all I could think about was summer. As a teacher, on the last day of school, all I can think about is the past year I spent with my kids. Because although my job is to ensure that my students reach their potential and Hawaii's standards, I chose to teach because it is really so much more than that. On the last day of school, I don't think about which kids aced the Science test and which ones need to work on their multiplication facts. I think about the times we laughed and learned together, the times that we challenged and grew from each other. I think about the moments that the children showed the kind of caring and compassion towards each other that would stop me in my tracks and make me feel like I was lucky just to witness it. The two weeks leading up to the last day of school are always so hectic- we have final assessments for the students to take (and for us to grade), projects to complete, our field trip to Ice Palace, Moving on Up (where students meet the teachers from the next grade level and expectations are shared), and class and grade level activities. Every night of those last weeks were spent planning final lessons, grading, and completing report cards... and I couldn't wait for the year to just be over. But in those last five minutes with my kids, even with their excited craziness, I remembered those special moments and I wanted to hold on a little longer. That's how it feels on the last day as a teacher. It's a strange and sad feeling knowing that the children who you spent every night thinking about and every day teaching for a year... the children that have become your family... are suddenly moving on.

And then you remember that they've moved on to another chapter in their lives- where they will be further challenged and motivated, where they will grow and flourish. And you realize that your work isn't done, because in just seven weeks you'll have a whole new group of children to teach and learn from.

That's where I'm at now- as I'm cleaning up my very messy classroom (I should've taken "before" pictures to send in to The A-Z Files!), I'm thinking about lessons that I can teach next year and new ideas that I want to try... and I'm getting really excited.

To my kids from this year, in case you're reading... thank you for all the moments of our journey together- I hope you've learned as much from me as I've learned from you.

To all you readers, I'd love to hear any "last day of school" memories or stories, from the perspective of a student or teacher!

Noelani’s Mayfair is here once again! This annual tradition (held this year on Friday, May 22) was one that I always looked forward to when I was a student at Noelani, and I value it even more as a teacher now. It is a time when the students and community of parents and friends come together and celebrate fellowship and friendship, making it our most exciting and heartwarming day of the year.

There is a lot of work that goes into this special day. The Mayfair committee of parent and school volunteers worked for countless of hours planning everything from the keiki activities and games to the silent auction and variety show, to the baked goods and produce areas. The children have also spent time perfecting (well, as close to “perfect” as they can get) their grade level dances for our Mayfair program. From the Kindergarteners’ rendition of “Ku’u I’a” to the fifth graders’ traditional Maypole dance, the children’s energy and pride are completely charming. There’s nothing like children singing and dancing to make a May day beautiful.

Here are a few photos from last night's haku session (the amazing haku volunteers are in full force all week long!):

Our haku committee is spearheaded by teacher Sharlene Arita (left). She's here with my grade level partner Jeff Fukushima (right). Both are part of our team of volunteers who have been working hard all week long

My friend (and fellow teacher) Laurie picking flowers for her haku

Our students working hard on wristlets

My own sixth grade teacher, Beverly Miyake, now happily retired, always comes back to volunteer for haku week!

Look at her gorgeous haku lei!

My student Megan and I with our finished haku

Megan made a beautiful wristlet

This lei represents 3 hours of frustration... but ultimately pride for me! I just hope it sells!

These haku, made by the pros, are the true beauties. Also, notice the stephanotis leis? Yesterday, two of my coworkers and I went to pick stephanotis (to make the leis) from one of our parent's yards, when we heard a woman call us from across the street. She offered the stephanotis that were growing in her yard. As we were picking her flowers, her neighbor called out to us. You guessed it- he also offered us his stephanotis! What wonderful neighbors we have!

If you have a chance on Friday, I hope you'll join us! The silent auction, produce, baked goods, and famous haku lei sales begin at 7am, with the Mayfair program at 9:30am, and the keiki games and variety show to follow.