Taken

Simple situations show us how differently we can express an idea in each language. Look at this scene from Forrest Gump. How do the kids show that they don't want Forrest sitting next to them?




The situation repeats itself years later. What does the other recruit say to Forrest as he goes to sit down?



How would you say that in other languages? Probably it would be very different.

Tous ça change

The only thing that remains the same is CHANGE.

What do the two songs have to say about that sentence?

These questions have been asked from the beginning of time, and will continue to be asked. 

Asking doesn't change anything; changing asks more out of us and out of life itself. 

The list of questions proposed in the second song have quite simple answers, when you come to think of it:

1. We need what we think we do.
2. We have enough until we decide to ourselves that we need more.
3. We act according to how much we are affected by the circumstances around us.
4. The world is round but things don't happen in perfect circles
5. If God is who we think HIM to be, than He can't be racist 
6. If God acts like us humans as parents, then He has his favorite sons and daughters. 

Anything you would CHANGE here?

Wanna make a difference? Go work!

It is THAT simple: if you want to make a difference in your community, in your school, in your company, in your city and country, you HAVE to do your part.

Our part: do our JOB and do it passionately well.

It's not about doing something supernaturally heroic or EXTRAORDINARY; in fact, it is the ORDINARY done perfectly that makes a bigger contribution.

No matter if you are 

1. currently out of work
2. under worked
3. overworked
4. caught up in work
5. snowed under in work
6. pushed for work
7. working like a dog
8. worked dry.  

 

As we celebrate LABOR Day in several countries around the world, those of us who work hard ask ourselves what are we in it for. 

• Recognition
• Pay
• Perks
• Satisfaction
• Enchantment
• Necessity
• All of the above

The video below will prove my point:

Here is a line of the song: when you teach the children, teach them the best you can.

How would you replace the words in bold?

Make the milk of it

What the three images all have in common?

The tip: to lament is to be unprepared for the unexpected.

Losing your ass - phrasal verbs

Just in!

Among the many meaning of the particle "off", one that is used to express non-existence, ineffectiveness, physical discomfort or loss.

Watch part of an interview of two female actors from the TV series Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke and Rose Leslie to answer the following questions:

• Which of the two has worked on more sets?
• Where are the sets located?
• Who seems to be enjoying working in that particular set more?
• What verbs do they use to describe their experience on the set? What do the verbs have in common?

Of the meanings mentioned above for the particle "off", which applies to how it is used in the video?

One more thing to think about: sometimes with phrasal verbs, the verb can express the way something is done and the particle expresses the idea of the action. 

If that is the case, we could rephrase the actresses' sentences above:

a. I'm losing my butt from the heat/from the cold

b. My butt is getting scorched/frozen

 

Which of the three ways do you think sound more natural? 

World Englishes - another look

This is the slides to accompany a lecture I delivered last December 7th in São Paulo, Brazil (here is the link to the lecture).

English worldwide global englishes from Stephan Hughes

This Christmas

Let the song speak for itself!

Mayday! Mayday! My pronunciation is sinking!

How important is pronunciation in speaking a language? Ask the coast guard in the video below:



Have you ever felt frustrated of not being able to communicate your thoughts simply because you couldn't pronounce words correctly?

Do you agree that a person is judged by the words they choose and how they use them? In other words, do you believe a person is how they speak?

To work on pronunciation means to work on THREE main areas:

1. Individual sounds e.g. is it "think" or "sink", "chin" or "shin"?
2. Word stress e.g. de-VE-lop-ment or -de-ve-LOP-ment?
3. Intonation e.g. how do native speakers produce an affirmative sentence?

When do you know that you have mispronounced a word? Choose as many answers as you like:

• when someone else says it differently?
• when a person says they don't understand?
• when a person gives an illogical response?
• when you read the phonetic transcription in a dictionary?

Reaching a near-native accent can be a Mission Impossible for many people; so what should most people be aiming for? Here's a clue: it has to be with the word "intelligent".

One more thing: 
Good pronunciation and communication depend as much on the speaker as on the listener. If we WANT to understand, we can do it perfectly.

Have you ever suffered an embarrassing situation because ...

1. you mispronounced a word?
2. the person you address did not make an honest effort to understand you?  

How important is pronunciation to you?     

Is your English going places?

"Going places" - Staring to be successful

• "Traveling is a great way to practice my English". 
• "The success of my language competence is directly related to the success of the person I speak to in understanding me. "

In addition to contradictory comments above, here are a few assumptions about English as an international language: 

Some people think that traveling around the world without mastering a little English is usually a disastrous experience.

So we can conclude that learning the native language they speak in South Africa, Bhutan or Zanzibar or Curacao is a waste of time.   

Dealing with different English accents is not such a big problem that most people make it to be. In most cases, speakers from different nationalities CAN understand each other and communicate in English.

Using a language is like riding a bike - you never completely forget it.

 

Watching a movie or TV show with or without subtitles in English makes little difference. Even English native speakers resort to subtitles or closed captions at times. 

Any other comments to add to this list?

The joy of repetition

The pain and gain in repetition.

No pain, no gain.

No sacrifice, no victory.

Success only comes with hard work.

When someone decides to learn a foreign language, they invariably stop to think about the BEST method to achieve their goal. Which method is the most effective – audio-lingual, translation, communicative, lexical, comprehensive?

Of course, it is important to choose a method you most identify with – that suits your leaning style and learning routines.

What most matters, though, more than any method, is being willing to practice, to rehearse, to repeat what you have learned many times, often to EXHAUSTION.

Can I get an American or British accent? Will I be able to sound like a native speaker?

 

The answers to these two questions will vary, usually beginning with the famous phrase: “It depends on …”

The fact of the matter is that the questions are RHETORICAL to some extent, i.e., they can´t be and don’t need to be answered. But one answer that I tend to go for is:

Yes, but you have to repeat the new language as many times as possible. You have to repeat consciously and conscientiously. You have to see the value in unending training, until you get sick of it.

More importantly,

You have to be aware of what you are repeating and make a concerted effort to better your performance the next time you use the language.

Take inspiration from professional sportspeople – who train and train hours on end until they get it right.

Make the words come alive by feeling a sense of ownership in relation to them. In order for that to happen we need to “toy” with words first. We need to repeat them until we become confident to use them.

Now, without looking back at the text:

How many times have the words repeat and repetition been used in this post?