The primary goal of this class will be to help all participants explore how easy it can be to create a virtual classroom, organize a virtual club space, or a remote friends or family stay in touch group. This class will also take advantage of customizing our class schedule to pick the day and time to convene each week since we are not constrained by time or meeting place. Prior to the first week of winter term each participant will have the chance to have a virtual meeting with the instructor in order to clarify what individual goals they are bringing to this group exercise.

Studies will include verbs with separable and inseparable prefixes, study of the German school system with remembering our personal school experiences, readings on Till Eulenspiegel and discussing sports, fitness and nutrition.

Studies will include different kinds of infinitival clauses , continuing study of German museums concerning film, art and photography, Augsburg as well as the Oktoberfest in Munich and concludes with stress and German clubs.

      Jean-Claude Gianadda is a Catholic French Monk, a songwriter and performer.  His music is not only inspirational, but beautiful and can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of whatever language they speak.  He is very popular in France. His music is classified, I believe, as pop, even though much of his music has religious and/or Catholic overtones.   The class is open to all whether they know any French or none at all.  The class will be taught in English, and the teacher will present the lyrics in both the original French and in English translation.  We will listen to actual recording of the music and discuss the lyrics.

This term will be reading some successful authors with long running series. Each series has an astute detective, although these detectives may be a bit unconventional. One works alone, one works with team and the other relies on a highborn amateur colleague.  But all solve their mystery. 

Still Life (Inspector Gamache) by Louise Penny

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce) by Alan Bradley

The Man with a Load of Mischief (Richard Jury) by Martha Grimes

Let’s focus on Five areas the Christian Nationalism Movement fosters and ask how Thomas Merton addresses the issues. What questions should we ask, and what insights from Merton can we glean to understand the situation better? Christian Nationalism blurs people’s thinking between Christian identity and American identity, viewing the two as closely related and seeking to enhance and preserve their union. This goes to the heart: Everything flows from this religious and national identity blurring. Within this framework, the separation of church and state becomes the focus of our attention and understanding as the rise of Christian Nationalism grows.

Each week we'll paint a picture. Before class you'll receive a sketch, a reference photo, and a list of paint colors and equipment (brushes, masking fluid, etc.). In class we'll practice a new technique and then move on to painting the picture. Each week, expect something different; we'll mix it up and do loose paintings and realistic paintings. We'll also do serene and then stormy landscapes and add some people and/or animals along the way. Each painter is encouraged to make the painting their own by adding their own personality to each painting. Prerequisite -- Beginning Watercolor & Zoom Experience

(4 weeks) Tariffs are in the news all of a sudden and there's a lot of misunderstanding about what they are, how they work, and what they can accomplish. During this four-week class, you'll learn about tariffs throughout history, with an emphasis on how they have historically affected one of South Bend's local businesses. Taught by local historian (and college economics major!) Aaron Helman, you'll come out more informed about this crucial issue that you were before, and you'll be ready to keep others in informed as well.