Personal Enrichment   

Writing believable, relatable dialogue is an art-form, but fortunately there are some tried-and-tested methods and techniques you can use right now to improve the dialogue in your novel or script. In this fast paced session, you’ll learn how to turn ordinary words into compelling dialogue, use clean dialogue tags, differentiate character voices, use dialogue instead of narrative/voiceover, avoid dialogue “dumps,” and be real, but not boring. The instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a former journalist, current author and editor, and a nationwide Professor of Publishing at higher learning institutions, including Harvard Adult Education. Informative handouts for future use are included in class fee. The webinar login information will be emailed the day before class.

 

Age range: 16+

"3D SketchUp for Beginners: Teen Edition'' is a comprehensive, step-by-step introductory course designed for teens with little to no experience in 3D modeling. Those interested in interior design and architecture, even hobbyists and DIY enthusiast will find the course helpful; you will explore the world of 3D modeling and master the basics of SketchUp, a user-friendly and powerful 3D modeling software. Over the duration of the course, students will learn how to navigate the SketchUp interface, create and manipulate 3D models, apply textures and materials, and generate wonderful perspective views for presentation purposes. 

By the end of this course, students will have acquired essential skills in 3D modeling:  

• Proficiency in using SketchUp tools and commands.     
• The ability to create basic 3D objects and interior related elements and some  architectural components.     
• Techniques for applying materials and textures to models.     
• Methods for creating detailed and accurate 2D and 3D drawings.   
• The capability to produce high-quality 3D models for presentations and client proposals.

This course equips students with the foundational knowledge needed to confidently use SketchUp for personal projects, academic assignments, or professional tasks in interior design and architecture. 

This is a HYBRID course. You can join the class in person or on zoom, LIVE REMOTE. 

Materials:

1. Desktop PC or laptop with internet connection (computers will be provided for in-person students / or students can bring their own laptop)  
2. SketchUp Free web-based software (cost: free) : limited access to other features. Students should create an account through sketchup.com either before class or on the first day of session. 
3. SketchUp Studio for Students* : 1-year license download for only $55. This includes a Pro account meaning unlimited access to almost everything including 3d rendering. Students need to produce proof school registration. (*This is totally optional and depends on student's own preference)

Age Range: 15-18 are all welcome.

ChatGPT (AI) is here to stay and is the future for writers and content creators. Don’t be left behind! No prior AI experience required. Do you want to learn how to incorporate the power of cutting-edge technology to gain ideas and inspiration, write web content, articles, and even novels or scripts? In this beginner-friendly course, you’ll learn how to:

• register for a FREE ChatGPT account
• input effective writing prompts to avoid nonsense responses
• build creative content, from stories to marketing copy
• determine its capabilities and limitations
• understand ethical/legal considerations using ChatGPT

There’s no doubt ChatGPT and similar AI systems will force the job market to evolve. It’s crucial for everyone to adapt, learn new skills, and be open to working in collaboration with AI, so start building your expertise in the world of ChatGPT now! The instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a former journalist, current author and editor, and a nationwide Professor of Publishing at higher learning institutions, including Harvard Adult Education. Informative handouts for future use are included in class fee. The instructor will send a zoom link before class.

Age range: 16+

If your goal is to become a published freelance writer by selling a magazine article, short story, poem, or even a novel to a traditional publisher, this comprehensive workshop will guide you to, then past the editor's desk. You will discover how to:

• become a “published” writer overnight
• submit manuscripts the correct way
• find the right publisher for your work
• write irresistible query letters
• determine when and how to get an agent
• 100 ways to make money as a freelance writer

If you really want to succeed, this step-by-step workshop is a must! Informative handouts for future use are included in class fee. The instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a former journalist, current author and editor, and a nationwide Professor of Publishing at higher learning institutions, including Harvard Adult Education. 

Age range: 16+

This course is for learners who have completed Beginning Korean Language & Culture 2 or know some basic Korean. You will learn to form simple sentences, ask and answer simple questions, and talk about daily life using basic verb conjugation. We will practice asking where places are, such as restaurants, stores, and schools, and understanding simple answers. Plus, we’ll explore more about Korean culture, including sibling terms and daily routines. Ages 17+ are welcome. Let’s keep building your Korean skills together!

Age range: Ages 17+ are welcome.

Required books: (These are the same books used for Beginning Korean Language and Culture 1 and 2)

• Sogang Korean 1A Student's Book
• Sogang Korean 1A Workbook

Chi Running: Focus on Form and Run Smarter not Harder. This workshop is for runners of all abilities. Whether you’re a new or seasoned runner, your form can make all the difference in how you feel during and after your workout. Chi Running, based on the principles of Tai Chi is designed to maximize energy and minimize strain, helping you feel energized as you increase your distance and duration. But Chi Running isn’t just about enhancing endurance and speed, it’s also about minimizing impact and reducing the risk of injury. Run smarter, not harder. Learn the essentials of Chi Running —a technique that combines Tai Chi principles with the sport of running. At the workshop, you’ll learn to run in a way that feels natural, protects your joints and builds endurance over time. You will be guided through exercises and drills designed to leave you with a clear sense of what the Chi Running technique feels like in your body. You will learn and practice how to: develop, maintain, and body sense good posture and alignment and how to avoid over-using your legs by engaging the power of your core and moving forward from your center. You’ll also learn focuses and unique tips and visualizations for efficient arm swing, cadence and more to help conserve energy, vary speed and avoid injury. We will not be doing lots of running, so no matter what condition you’re in, have no fear.

 

Location will be either the indoor or outdoor track, depending on weather conditions. 

 

Registration number is limited to ensure personal attention, so register early to guarantee a place in the class. Bonus – Reference materials will be emailed post event. For more information about the class, please view here. 

Age range: 15+

The Chi Walking technique emphasizes walking form—the proper and effective biomechanics of walking and draws from the movement principles of Tai Chi to make walking easier on the body by promoting energy efficiency and injury prevention. How you walk dictates how stress moves through your body while walking. Discover how efficient walking techniques distribute less stress on your body. Through innovative walking drills and exercises you will learn and practice how to: develop and maintain good posture and use the power of your core to create smooth whole-body walking which reduces the stress and strain on your hips, back, legs, knees and feet. Learn how to use cadence, cooperate with the pull of gravity, engage efficient arm swing for different walking speeds, how to loosen joints for flexibility and more. The class is suitable for walkers and hikers of all conditioning and experience levels interested in enhancing the health benefits of walking and avoiding injury. The class format includes demonstration, short walking practice sessions, and Q & A/ rest breaks.

The class will be on the indoor track and classroom. Registration number is limited to ensure personal attention so register early to guarantee a place in the class.

 

Bonus – Detailed reference materials will be emailed post event.

Age range: 18+

You don’t need a degree in creative writing to be an exceptional writer and get paid for it! Anyone with a passion for writing can learn and develop their fiction and non-fiction writing skills. Whether you’re writing from your own life experience, creating new worlds, or informing readers about important information, this class will teach you about the different forms of creative writing, the top 10 creative writing tips for beginners, as well as how to brainstorm for new creative writing ideas, bring your words to life with engaging descriptions, develop your own writing style, and how to get paid for your creative writing. The instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a former journalist, current author and editor, and a nationwide Professor of Publishing at higher learning institutions, including Harvard Adult Education. Informative handouts for future use are included in class fee. The webinar login information will be emailed the day before class.

 

Age range: 16+

Seeing a loved one struggle with substance abuse is hard and even more difficult when you want to help but are not sure how to. The good news is that our loved ones can heal from addiction, especially when they get the support they need to relieve withdrawal symptoms, navigate triggers, and make positive changes. As a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, my lecture will explore why many people find it difficult to control or stop drug use and how we, their family/friends, can help. 

Age range: 18+

Seeing a loved one struggle with substance abuse is hard and even more difficult when you want to help but are not sure how to. The good news is that our loved ones can heal from addiction, especially when they get the support they need to relieve withdrawal symptoms, navigate triggers, and make positive changes. As a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, my lecture will explore why many people find it difficult to control or stop drug use and how we, their family/friends, can help. 

Age range: 18+

Are you interested in taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), living or studying in Japan, or working in the animation and gaming industry? This class is for the academically inclined individual not afraid to take a deep dive into the complicated world of Japanese grammar, reading, and writing. We will cover both hiragana, katakana, and an introduction to Kanji. Let’s study Japanese!    

Instructor Belardino: The instructor is half Japanese, lived in Japan for almost twenty years, is credentialed, and is a certificated language teacher. She is also a member of the American Association of Teachers Japanese and the California Association of Japanese Language Teachers.    

Required Books: Genki 1 Third Edition: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 1 Textbook & Workbook Set   

The textbook introduces the Japanese language in a manner that is extremely easy to understand. If you have any sort of disability, please let the instructor know, and she will be more than happy to accommodate your needs.

Age range: 14+

Please note: This is a live remote class. You will meet on zoom during the scheduled days and times. The instructor will email the zoom link and important information before the first class meeting. Any sort of recording, either via Zoom or third party software, is strictly prohibited for this course. Thank you for your understanding. Her goal is to transform the “remote” environment into a safe, engaging, space where students can freely ask questions, and have an enjoyable learning experience. She does request that all students who sign up for her classes turn their cameras on to optimize the virtual learning experience.

Learn skills to change fear into empowerment. During this two-hour interactive training, you’ll learn how to protect yourself in a safe, supportive and empowered environment. This event will teach awareness and safety strategies to avoid assaults before they happen. You’ll also learn effective physical techniques addressing the most common attack situations: being pushed or pulled, cornered, rushed at or grab. Rather than relying on strength, you will learn principles of leverage, timing and energy efficiency to defend against a stronger assailant. Regardless of your age, size, strength or physical ability, you can learn the techniques of safety and self-defense while gaining an increased sense of personal confidence and empowerment. While perpetrators of violence hold sole responsibility for the decision to assault someone, individuals can take effective steps to increase their own safety. Learning what our minds, voices, and bodies can do, recognizing that we are worth defending, and giving ourselves permission to stay safe emotionally and physically is a powerful and transformative experience.

Class includes warm-up exercises, discussion of safety principles, and instruction in specific self-defense techniques. No experience necessary and no equipment required.  All those 10+ are welcome. 

The “Procreate Beyond Basics” is designed for artists who are ready to take their digital illustration skills to the next level. This course dives deep into Procreate's advanced tools and techniques, teaching students how to create complex compositions, customize brushes, and utilize professional-level workflows. Participants will explore in-depth methods for digital painting, including blending modes, masking tools, and layer effects, to produce polished and detailed artwork. By the end of the course, students will have the skills to elevate their digital art projects and build a standout portfolio. Ideal for artists looking to push their creative boundaries and achieve mastery in Procreate.

 

The prerequisite for the Procreate Advanced Class is a "Procreate for Beginners" or "Procreate Fundamentals" course. Students should already be familiar with the basic tools and features of Procreate, such as, navigating the interface; gesture controls; basic drawing and painting techniques; using selections and transform tools; importing and exporting files in Procreate. This foundational knowledge will ensure that students are prepared to dive into the more advanced techniques covered in the class.

Age range: 12+: Procreate is suitable for users of all ages. It can be beneficial to a wide range of individuals, but it is particularly valuable for artists and designers, students and beginners, creative professionals, tech-savvy individuals, hobbyists and enthusiasts.

Course Materials:

• Apple iPad + Apple Pencil
• Procreate app installed on your ipad, priced at $12.99 (one-time purchase): Please note that the app works only on Apple iPad and must have an Apple Pencil, too. The app is not compatible on other tablet, chromebook or laptop.

Course modality: This is a hybrid course, meaning you can join in-person or live remote. 

Looking to relieve stress from the demands of work or school? Are you a DIY lover eager to explore a new creative outlet? Then dive into the amusing world of air dry clay art! You'll learn the techniques to sculpt and arrange stunning, handcrafted summer arrangements that will adorn your festive interior. This course is for beginners and intermediates, both teens and adults. You will be guided through the main tools and materials needed to create air dry clay projects and will learn basic sculpting and coloring techniques. By the end of the course, you will walk away with exquisite, handmade summer arrangements.

You will come away from this course having learned:

• Prime Material: air dry clay
• Sculpting Tools and Materials
• Clay Handling Techniques
• Coloring
• Assembling

Age range: Adults and teens ages 12 and over are welcome; class size is limited to 10 to ensure individualized guidance and a collaborative learning environment.

Materials fee: $10 (cash or check) due at the beginning of class

This intensive course provides a schedule of crafting a novel from start to finish, which you can finish in as little as 90 days! This class will also help you stay motivated throughout the journey. You will learn how to:

• select your novel genre and develop a compelling premise
• create multidimensional characters and immersive settings
• craft a detailed plot outline
• manage your time to keep your writing flow consistent
• combat common roadblocks including writer’s block
• master the art of self-editing: refining your plot, and fixing pacing, dialogue, and characterization problems.
• receive constructive criticism from beta readers
• explore publishing options

By the end of this class, you will know how to complete your novel and have the knowledge and confidence to move forward with the publishing process. The instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a former journalist, current author and editor, and a nationwide Professor of Publishing at higher learning institutions, including Harvard Adult Education. Informative handouts for future use are included in class fee. The webinar login information will be emailed the day before class.

Age range: 16+

Writing short stories (1,000–30,000 words) helps you discover your writing voice and how to convey your ideas. You’ll learn how to bring your story to life with an engaging plot, as well as character development, action, and dialogue. You’ll also learn the technical parts of crafting a short story, including structure, important character moments, and progression in the story. You’ll also know what to do with your short story once completed, including editing, proofing, and publishing options. The instructor LeeAnne Krusemark is a former journalist, current author and editor, and a nationwide Professor of Publishing at higher learning institutions, including Harvard Adult Education. Informative handouts for future use are included in class fee. The webinar login information will be emailed the day before class.

 

Age range: 16+