When we are children, we spend many many hours learning new things. Our minds are well-prepared for this. As a child, we just learn new things by experience or from adults teaching us. We even learn from other children.

As adults learning a foreign language, we need to trust our brains also know how to learn.

As a child or as an adult, we need to find ways to get understandable written or spoken language to our ears and eyes, so we can build up our skills.

We also need to produce language: spoken and written.

I think our minds know when this information is useful and helpful and also when we are learning well.

I also think our minds know when we have tried too much and when we are tired. When we need to relax, when we need to work well.

So we can trust our minds to help us!

Bye for now

Alan

Hello everybody.

A lot of serious students of English listen to BBC radio for practicing English listening. I believe that this can be useful, but we must not expect too much to be gain from this. It is good to listen to speech patterns, certain words and phrases and pronunciation. But, I want to show you with this article, that just 30 seconds of a news bulletin (2 November 2009) contains only 106 words, but more than 20 cultural, historical and special words and phrases. This is a huge amount of information to listen to and understand.

My recommendation, is if you want to listen to English on the radio, then only listen to very short passages. This will give you plenty of things to discover and learn.

Now I will play the passage for you, then I will speak the same words more slowly. You can compare my accent with that of the newsreader.

cNow here in Britain, Windsor Castle is hosting a unique gathering of religious leaders over the next three days. A meeting for what's been called "a celebration of commitments by the world"s religions to take action on climate change”.

 The conference has been sponsored by the United Nations. And faith groups are presenting firm plans showing how they’ll tackle the issue.

 Pledges include making all China’s Daoist temples solar-powered, and printing sacred books on environmentally-friendly paper.

Our religious affairs correspondent Christopher Lander has been to New York to find out about the Jewish plan , which includes a pledge to halve the community’s intake of meat.

106 words.

1.Windsor Castle  - Famous English castler             

2.Unique gathering  - a gathering of people for a special meeting

3. Religious leaders  - leaders from different religions

4. Celebration of commitments  - a complex new phrase someone has thought up to show that the meeting participants are both committed to the reasons for the meeting and also linking to the use of the word “celebration” as a religious idea.

5. World’s religions 

6. Climate change    - the way the worlds climate is changing through “global warming”

7. Conference 

8. Sponsored

9.United Nations

10. Faith groups  = religious groups

11. Firm plans  - definite plans agreed

12. Tackle the issue -  discuss the subject to find solutions and ideas

13.Pledges  = promises

14.China’s daoist temples

15. Solar-powered – powered by sunlight

16. Sacred books 

17. Environmentally-friendly  - a special phrase meaning “not harmful to the environment”

18. Religious affairs correspondent  - a journalist who looks at religious matters

19. New York

20. Jewish plan – a plan made by Jewish people in New York

21.Pledge

Hello everybody.

When we learn a language, we need solid foundations:

1. Grammar (rules of language)

2. Syntax (word order & inflection) "inflection" means how words change for different reasons:  tense, mood, voice, aspect, person, number, gender and case

3. Semantics (meaning of language)

4. Phonology (pronunciation)

These are complex linguistics ideas. I am not a trained linguist. However, we can think in more simple terms.

1. How the language rules work.

2. Which order to put the words and how to change them in the correct way

3. The meaning of what we want to say

4. Pronunciation of words and phrases.

I use the photo of the Eiffel Tower in Paris to demonstrate these 4 important things.

The Eiffel Tower is very high and heavy. It is made from iron.

Its four tall "legs" rest on four strong pillars.

We can build our language "tower" on our four language pillars.

So, we should enjoy learning:

1. The structure of language we speak or write (our language output)

2. Do our best to put words in the right order for understanding.

3. Make sure that people understand the meaning of what we want to say or write.

4. Concentrate on pronunication of words and phrases.

We have 4 language pillars!

That is 4 BIG ways to develop our language skills!!

Bye for now

Alan

. 

We often want to speak and write in a complex way.

 But it is interesting what we can do with no more than 7 words!

 A sentence needs a subject: candles

1."candles are lighting up the room"

2."the room is lit up by candles"

3."lighting up the room by candles"

4. "by candles, the room is lit up"

5. "the room; candles light it up"

6. The candles light the room up

7. The candles light up the room

8. Do the candles light the room?

9. The room is lit up by candles?

10. Is the room lit by candles?

Here is another: grass

1. The grass is green in the garden

2. In the garden, the grass is green

3. Garden grass is green

4. Green grass in the garden

5. The grass in the garden is green

6. Green garden grass

7. In the garden is green grass

8. Is the garden grass green?

9. Is the grass in the garden green?

Good exercise?

Bye for now

Alan

When it comes to speaking a foreign language, I have a system I call  "the Six Keys"

1. Speaking 5% slower than you normally feel you want to - to give yourself a little more time to think of what you want to say, how to say it, to work at great pronunication and grammar.

2. Remember that people listening to you speak will not notice that you are slowing down 5% or will not mind if you told them!

3. Speak to non-native speakers with as much enthusiasm and interest as native speakers. All conversations are useful. If a native speaker conversation gives you a "full meal", then a non-native speaker provides a "snack". Either way, we still have "language food".

4. End words carefully. The English language has important word endings:  Try this word for example: welcome/welcoming/welcomed, welcomer,welcomes,

5. Take careful note of word syllables: example word: meanderingly

me-an-der-ing-ly (5 syllables)

6. Take careful note of word intonation: example word: meanderingly

meANderingly

So, next time you try speaking, try the "six keys"

Bye for now

Alan

If we are reading a difficul text, we can mark up the text in a way to separate the words and phrases. I don't believe it matters exactly how this is done. I just think that adding some colour, or making the text different in some way, helps reading. I think this makes our eyes recognise phrases and identify difficult words. The small words: and, a,to,in, as, are can be left in the original style.

Here is a text that I think is quite difficult, I will show it before and then after "text". See which you find easiest to read and understand.  

Bye for now

Alan

http://www.self-confidence.co.uk/social_skills.html

Before highlighting

6 Key Social Skills

Social skills are arguably the most important set of abilities a person can have. Human beings are social animals and a lack of good social skills can lead to a lonely life, contributing to anxiety and depression. Great social skills help you meet interesting people, get that job you want, progress further in your career and relationships.

Happily, like any skill, social strategies and techniques can be learned…

The main social skills are as follows:

1) The ability to remain relaxed, or at a tolerable level of anxiety while in social situations

2) Listening skills, including letting others know you are listening

3) Empathy with and interest in others' situations

4) The ability to build rapport, whether natural or learned

5) Knowing how, when and how much to talk about yourself - 'self disclosure'

6) Appropriate eye contact

After highlighting

http://www.self-confidence.co.uk/social_skills.html

6 Key Social Skills

Social skills are arguably the most important set of abilities a person can have. Human beings are social animals and a lack of good social skills can lead to a lonely life, contributing to anxiety and depression. Great social skills help you meet interesting people, get that job you want, progress further in your career and relationships.

 Happily, like any skill, social strategies and techniques can be learned…

 The main social skills are as follows:

 1) The ability to remain relaxed, or at a tolerable level of anxiety while in social situations

 2) Listening skills, including letting others know you are listening

 3) Empathy with and interest in others' situations

 4) The ability to build rapport, whether natural or learned

 5) Knowing how, when and how much to talk about yourself - 'self disclosure'

 6) Appropriate eye contact

Hello everybody.

Remember when you were very young. Do you remember being excited about people being interested in what you could do? Your parents, friends and family would encourage and support you.

Remember when your team members in a sports team used to encourage you and challenge you to play well?

Remember when you achieved something special and the people there applauded you?

Remember being happy when your teacher in class gave you a good mark and said "keep trying"?

Everybody remembers these times when we found achievement, encouragement and a
positive response to something we did well.

When we learn a language, especially on our own, I think a part of our mind thinks we are still the small baby, the schoolchild, the sports player or the performer.

However, this can be dominated by all the negative thoughts sometimes: apprehension, anxiety, hesitation, indecision, uncertainty, doubt, reservation, reluctance..... need I go on?? 

The only use these negative words have for us is to know them as part of a vocabulary, but not as words we want to use to describe our language learning!

I often talk about being relaxed when we learn. I even call it "relaxed learning". I believe this is a good attitude to take.

However, we need to challenge ourselves at the same time. The challenges we faced as small children, on the sports field, in class, performing something on stage.

To guide ourselves, we need a way to both meet a challenge, work to achieve it and then congratulate ourselves if we do achieve it, or if we do not quite get there, then give ourselves special thanks for trying.

This way, we get a feeling of continuing along our learning path and meeting the challenges in a way where we can see a "straight line" not a zigzag line.

Some people are very disciplined, like a professional soldier or a professional sportsperson. They are ready, willing and able to meet any challenge big or small. These confident people are to be admired. However, I am not one of these people. So to keep myself motivated, I need to set myself small challenges for getting to where I want to go with language learning. Let's keep these feelings we had when we achieved something and were encouraged to do it well and were congratulated.
Each time we meet a challenge successfully, we feel we are on the right pathway.
 
Of course, we cannot always meet a challenge and succeed. There are times when we don't do something as well as we think we could, despite trying our best. There are times when we become very disappointed, or frustrated. But there is a difference between feeling disappointed or frustrated with one or more small challenges that are not achieved, compared with having general feelings of disappointment or frustration with language learning altogether.

Here are 10 small challenges we can enjoy with our language learning:

1.Getting a difficult text correct when we didn't think we could do it.
2.Speaking a word we didn't know before and finding we said it correctly.
3.Understanding a newspaper article even when there is slang, political or cultural words in it.
4.Understanding some strange accented speech we are unfamiliar with.
5.Surprising ourselves that we can speak about something we don't know much about.
6.Being able to say a tongue twister. Here is an example: "she sells sea-shells on the sea shore"
7.Being able to speak with a native speaker better than we thought we could do, despite having a limited vocabulary.
8.Having a good idea about learning that we didn't think we could do.
9.Writing something that others find interesting to read.
10.Listening to more than one person speaking and being able to understand most of what they say.

How many can you think of?

Bye for now

Hello to Chinese visitors 你们好！Because I want to keep this "Language Explorer" website mostly English posts, I have decided to practice a little Chinese on "QQ"!

再见

阿伦

Definition: An emotional word picture is a communication tool used to help convey to your family member or close friend how you are feeling. It is a way of clarifying your thoughts and feelings so the other person can experience them.

Example: (man to his wife)

"When our children were young and taking delight in experiencing something new like having a catepillar walk on the back of their hands, I felt joy, wonder, thanksgiving, and awe. There was a sense of quiet excitement to this feeling. That's the feeling I have when we work on a project together and everything turns out great!"

Example: (friends talking)

"I really like going out for a Chinese meal. It isn't just the different food and tastes, it is also the different styles of food; how it is served and presented.  The other thing I like is the social occasion of people sat around the table sharing to food. I also like the challenge of trying to use chopsticks! Although I am a bit ham-fisted (clumsy) with them, it all adds to the enjoyable experience of eating Chinese food"

Try some "emotional word pictures"! Just write or speak using any words you can think of to bring in some emotion to what you say or write.

Happy emotional words:

joy, awe, wonder, excitement, happiness, cheerful, glad,

Bye for now

Alan

When we spend a lot of time learning language, we can spend just a little more time to "smooth out" our language skills. This is like planing some wood and sandpapering it to make the wood smooth and look nice.

Why should we try to smooth out our language skills? Because we can make the language we speak and write more interesting and attractive to ourselves, and hopefully for anyone reading our writing or listening to us speak.

How do we smooth out our language skills? Here are a few ideas:

1. Speak about 5% slower than you want to. This gives us 5% more time for thinking out more interesting words or a grammar point.

2. Check through your written texts one sentence at a time, and read it out loud. This is good speaking practice, but also you can hear how the language flows and see if all the sentences make sense.

3. Take care with vowel sounds. A E I O U.  Try saying these words so that you can hear a difference between them: "cap" "cup" "see" "say" "look" "luke" "lick" "like" "not" "nut" "mad" "made" "silk" "sulk"

4. Take care with consonants. Make sure that words are ended well. Try saying these words: "see" "seeD" "seal" "sealed" "seeN" "seaT" "sieVe" "seaP" "seeTH" "siFT" "seeR" "cieliNG" (don't say the G sound too much, just slightly)

5. Take care with syllables. Make sure you don't add them.

tel e vis ion (4 syllables(

Rum ple stilts kin (4 syllables)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpelstiltskin

com mun i ty (4 syllables)

Aus tra li a  (4 syllables)

se ren di pi ty (5 syllables) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serendipity

6. Start some ideas with a friendly link words "well," "ok" "So," "now"

ok, now we can discuss... ok, now we will go shopping

well, it's a nice idea

so, what do you think?

now, what shall we do?

7. Take notice of the intonation of words. Small two syllable words are the most important: toDAY, weekEND, ice CREAM, FIRE works, APril.

Enjoy smoothing out language!

Alan

I want to keep talking about my idea for a language diary. I believe this idea is very useful.

As an extension to the diary idea, I think we can develop the diary to get even more learning and development from it.

Here are my original text blogs concerning the "language diary"

http://www.language-explorer.co.uk/index.php?post_id=490822

http://www.language-explorer.co.uk/index.php?post_id=500877

Hello. This time I want to show you examples of where we use alternative sentences to those that would normally be taught in English classes. I"m also trying to avoid (as much as I can) using examples of dialect because some dialects in England shorten words as a feature of the dialect. I'll give you an example: Do you have a pen I can borrow please - often becomes Have you got a pen please? and in my dialect, I could say "d"y'ave a pen please?” So I"m not trying to show you dialects in this podcast - I'm simply discussing how we choose different sentences sometimes - because they seem less formal, friendlier, easier to say - for quite a number of reasons. Often it may be simply because of habit. Do y"want a coffee? is much more common to ask as a question to a friend or member of the family than "would you like a cup of coffee?”This type of "everyday speech” is, I think, what can make it more difficult for English learners to understand when listening to spoken English - it is quite often not like the written standard forms.Some other examples:

Hello! it's very nice to see you, please come in - "Hi, come on in!”Well, I am really tired so I should go to bed - "I"m off to bed - I'm tired”Did you enjoy that TV programme that was shown yesterday evening? Did you like that programme on telly yesterday evening?Hopefully, you"ll be able to hear and read these differences and it may give you more understanding of why English may seem more complex - when in fact, it is often being made simpler to make it easier and quicker to have a onversation between friends and family. See you next time

Bye!

Today I'd like to talk about common mistakes which people make when they are learning English. These are often only small mistakes and really don"t matter to a native English speaker like me when we hear them - but I thought it might be interesting to discuss some of these small mistakes here,

Remember that part of my learning philosophy is to not worry about making mistakes - so with this podcast I'd like you to know that am not trying to make you worry about them – just to know a little more about my language.

The first common mistake people make is to use the word "since” when talking about things that are happening now that started in the past, for example when people say "I am learning English since 2 years” when this should be “ I have been learning English for 2 years”. We use the word “since” to describe things that started in the past, but not for talking about duration of time someone has been learning or doing something. Some examples of English using “since”

“Since I started learning English I find I enjoy writing letters more”

“Since you left I have been very sad”

“I"ve changed a lot since we last met”

Another common mistake is to use the phrase “of course” in the wrong context. If, for example someone offers you a cup of tea “would you like a cup of tea?” the correct answer would be “yes, please” or “no, thankyou”. Sometimes learners of English will say “ of course!” meaning to them “how kind of you, I would like a cup of tea, yes”

But if they say “of course” it could sound to the native English speaker something like “ yes I do, and you should already know that I do!” – in other words a little bit impolite. Of course, we do you the phrase “of course” – which I just used!

Some examples:

“Of course, when we go to the beach, we must not forget our towels”

“Of course I would like to go with you to the show – because we’d love seeing it together”

“I would, of course, need to bring my swim suit if we are going to the beach!”

These statements are used to agree with someone or affirm something needs or should be done.

Of course, there are many more uses for “of course” and of course, I would like to tell you more about it, but of course, I haven’t much time to do this today!

Common pronunciation difficulties:

The “th” sound as in think, thought, thanks as also the slightly different sound with the, these, though, there and those for example

The “r” sound for running, riding, rowing, rocking and rolling!

Learning a language is like making a long uphill footpath.

I use this "footpath analogy" because we can use the idea

to help us with language learning.

1."We need to see a destination".  In language learning, we need a destination, a direction

to go, so we keep going towards this.

 Some people just call  the destination "fluency".

 I think we can have many such "destinations"

able,capable, competent, proficient, adept, skilful, practiced, accomplished

2."We need to go towards our destination and not veer off the path".

In language learning, we need to keep our mind focused on the things that help us learn and enjoy language. This keeps us on the path.

3."We need a smooth surface to walk on"   We can keep our path smooth by being relaxed and moving carefully along our "path".

tranquil, calm, comfortable, restful,stress-free, hassle-free, unpeturbed, 

4. "Our path sometimes has little pot-holes and puddles". We can not avoid walking through them. This is like when we make mistakes when speaking, listening, reading or writing. We must remember that "we can get our feet wet in puddles, or trip in a pothole, but it does not stop us continuing to walk along the path." 

So, thinking of our "path" helps us to keep going and keep learning!

Bye for now

Alan

English can be a bit silly sometimes

Saying Hello to "Hello”

English has a lot of intonation on syllables, which sometimes can change meaning.  I chose the word “hello” to demonstrate this.

I have recorded the pronunciation of each example along with a full sentence that explains the meaning. My advice is to listen and copy the pronunciation.

/ rising tone

\ falling tone

V falling-rising

… steady tone

The word hello has two syllables: 1.hell  2 o

1. Hello  hell o (no intonation) very few, if any, people would say it this way.
2. Hello (Hell… o/ ?)  asking if someone is there (on the phone) Hello? Is someone there?    
3. Hello (Hell\ o\)   shouting to see if someone is there “Hello! Where are you?”
4. Hello (HellVo)  a pleasant greeting with a slight enquiry. A dog walks past without an owner and comes to greet… “Hello, doggie,where is your owner?”
5. Hello (Hell…o\) a pleasant greeting - meeting someone for first time –but in an informal setting. “Hello, nice to meet you”
6. Hello (Hell/ oV) a man greeting some pretty young women. “Hello! Girls!”
7. Hello (Hell o\) a normal greeting in formal setting “Hello, how are you?”

Interesting?

Bye for now

Sometimes we need to challenge ourselves with language learning. I like to use the words "relaxing challenge"

I want to use the word "L.E.A.D.E.R" as a way to remember the technique: "Look- Enquire- Assess- Do- End Result"

*LOOK -  for a subject to talk or write about

*ENQUIRE - for information about the subject

*ASSESS -  what you think you can do well

*DO - what you can to the best of your ability

*END RESULT - see what you can do

Here is an example:

I LOOK for a subject:  "Facebook"

I ENQUIRE some information about "Facebook"

I ASSESS the information - I found some information

I then DO some writing (or speaking) practice

The END RESULT is this:

"Facebook is a social utility networking website that connects people with their friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends and family;things they are doing and to share information and opinions.

Follow the LEADER!

Bye for now

Alan

Here is my latest guitar tune

"Pendle" is a mysterious hill near where I live.

Bye for now

Alan

Here is issue 3

Thanks to all who contributed!

Bye for now

Alan

Hello everybody,

A good exercise for speaking is to write down some unusual situations and pretend they are true - and then speak about them or write about them. This will encourage you to think about and learn more vocabulary.

I will give you some examples of situations/ideas:

"I met the Queen in 2002"

" My brother likes to go mountaineering"

"I saw a UFO"

" I have visited Moscow"

All these statements are untrue, but can be useful for making an interesting presentation or written text...

Here is an example:

"I saw a UFO"

"One evening, when I was driving along in my car, I saw a big light in the sky. It was unusual as it was very big. The light was moving across the night sky. It caught my eye, because it was so big. Suddenly the light moved very quickly, much faster than an airplane could. I was amazed to see it speed away. I believe it was a UFO. Unfortunately, I had no video camera, so I could not show someone else."

Vocabulary:

UFO = Unidentified Flying Object.

It caught my eye = I noticed it

I just made this up. I have never seen a UFO.

So, just use your imagination. Write it, say it or both!

Bye for now

Alan

When we read difficult texts, I find that a technique of "fast/slow" reading can help

1. Read one short sentence or phrase fast, then immediately go back and read it again slowly.

2. Move to next short phrase or sentence and repeat.

3. See if you can understand it

4. Check the words you don't know

5. Keep moving on through the text.

I've added a diagram to show you

Bye for now

Alan

I hope you like new guitar tune.

Bye

Alan

http://42explore.com/talltale.htm

Easier - Throughout history/ people have told and written stories/ about their heroes. A tall tale/ is a special kind of hero story/ because the heroes of tall tales/ are 'larger than life'./ They are bigger or stronger/ than real people,/ even when/ the tall tale/ is based on a real person/. Tall tale heroes/ solve problems/ in funny ways /that are hard to believe

 Harder - A tall tale/ is a uniquely American/ story form/ that features/ (1) a larger-than-life, or superhuman, main character/ with a specific task, (2) a problem/ that is solved/ in a humorous or outrageous way/, (3) exaggerated details/ that describe things/ larger than they really are/, and (4) characters/ who use/ everyday language. /Many tall tales/ are based/ on actual people/or on a composite/ of actual people/. Exaggeration/ is the major element/ in tall tales.

If we break down difficult texts by marking using a pen or the / key on a computer, we can make texts easier to understand:

It is only a simple / mark, but it helps us to understand sentences quicker and easier:

Here is a text from: http://news.bbc.co.uk

"China has been staging mass celebrations to mark 60 years since the Communist Party came to power."

Break it down:

"China/ has been staging/ mass celebrations/ to mark 60 years/ since the Communist Party/ came to power."

China

has been staging  (holding)

mass celebrations (very big celebrations)

to mark 60 years (to recognise 60 years)

since (from the time)

the Communist Party

came to power (became the government)

Breaking down sentences can help us understand and learn.

It would be a lot of work to do this with all our reading. But for complex texts I think it is a useful technique.

Bye for now

Alan

If any visitor wants to contribute to the next issue of

ExLoRErs LoRE magazine - please send me a message to

alan_r_palmer@hotmail.com

thanks and

Bye for now

Alan

I know there is a special Moon festival in China coming soon. So I wrote a special guitar tune for it.

I hope you like it.

Bye for now

Alan

http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa093097.htm

I find it useful to think sometimes about what could be achieved, accomplished and attained. I call it "Triple A"

This is thinking about being where you would like to go with language learning and look back at what has been achieved, accomplished and attained.

This may be like looking for the "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" (an impossible dream) or it maybe be that I can do everything I wish to in the future. I do not know.

But whichever it is, there is nothing wrong with thinking about the "Triple A" time. We can make a list and change the list anytime we feel like.

Here is mine for now (but I can change it anytime)

**I'd like to be able to always enjoy speaking, reading, writing and listening to different languages

**I want to be able to communicate with people  very easily in different languages

**I'd like to be able to always find more and more interesting things to do with languages

**I'd like to be able to make friends and develop friendships using my languages

**I'd like to learn more about different people and cultures around the world using my languages

**I'd like to be able to read any book, watch any film, listen to any speech in the languages I learn

**I'd like to be able to sing songs in the languages I learn

**I'd like to help other people learn my language

I'd like to always have a sense of achievement at any level

**I'd like to always discover something new about languages

**I'd like to never give up "exploring languages"!

Take care

Bye for now

Alan

In English, there are many verbs linked with other words

for example:

sign up, sign in, sign out

come in, go out,

There are others which are more difficult to understand because the two words making them mean different things:

take = to take

heart = heart

take heart = buck up, get courage, cheer up

butter up

butter =butter

up = up

butter up = excessively praise or flatter someone

fight = to fight

flab = unwanted fat

fight flab = to slim/to diet

So, when you read English, look for context so you know when you are reading a small saying

I went to my friend's house last week. I didn't try to butter him up. I just told him to take heart and fight some flab! He weighs too much!

So be careful to read looking for these types of verb phrases.

There are many of these in English and the difference can be very big:

example:

see through a window = look through a window (very litteral - easy)

see through somebody =to understand someone's hidden intentions without them knowing that you know (complex)

Bye for now

Alan

Hello everybody,

In English we sometimes say about a situation "getting all the chess pieces right". This means making the best of a situation and planning things well.

We often talk about "language learning", "language study", "language development"

I am suggesting we think about:

*language practice/activities

*language performance

*language action

*language use

*language achievement

*language accomplishment

So, to do this we need to move our "chess pieces" to get our language working well. We can do this at any level.

Chess is a game of tactics and strategy. I think for languages, we are playing a chess game with what life brings us.

So, to play our language chess well, we need to know what we can do with each of our "pieces"

So, to play a good "chess game" 

For practicing at home (or for studying)

*plan our speaking practice

*choose some interesting reading practice

*ask the right questions and get some good answers

*choose some interesting listening

*write about interesting things

and when we are actually given the chance to make contact with native speakers:

*keep a positive attitude

*keep friendly

*try to avoid feelings of frustration

*keep relaxed (as always! haha)

*try not to do too much (and get very tired)

*don't forget to ask questions

*listen carefully

*make short notes/write things down (if you can)

*look for visual clues as much as possible

Playing the "chess game" is to put all these things in the right position and time them well. Hopefully, your tactics and strategy will pay off and you will play a good game!

Lets go for a checkmate and win!

Bye for now

Alan

Hello everybody,

I found a book on memory and language last week. The book lists the most important 100 words for conversation.

The idea is if you learn these, you will have 50% of the words you need for a conversation. The rest of the words you need will be added onto these words.

LIST OF 100 MOST IMPORTANT WORDS is attached. Click on the 100 most important words in English.rtf to the right of "direct download" below.

If you are learning other languages than English, then using this list, it is time to get out the dictionary to make your list. You can write the words in the boxes.

I've made this file in RTF (Rich Text Format) which will work with most word processors.

Bye for now

Alan

Hello everybody! Have you ever thought about what "little treasures" of language come to us from other people. We learn new words from other people: family, teachers, friends, aquaintances, brief encounters...

This happens in our own language also. A new word appears and someone introduces it to us. For example, recent words into English. "blog", podcast" etc.

If we think about having a lot of little "pouches" that we can keep filling with interesting things about language, it can make even the smallest communication interesting and useful.

When we speak with someone, even only for a short time, see if  you can get any language "collectable" can keep for using again.

Each person has their own unique interests, hobbies, job and they often love to talk about them.

If you don't have the chance to meet or talk with native speakers, then see if you can get hold of magazines, radio shows, TV, film.

Then, see if you can glean interesting words, information, new phrases, expressions from peoples' language you see in print, listen to or when possible, directly from people themselves.

Puns are useful:  Witch Halloween costume is for you?

So, when you talk to somebody, write to somebody, listen to somebody or read someone's words, then think of the chance to put something in one of your little language pouches. It might be a jewel!

 http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Collectors+item

Why do we say 'um', 'er', or 'ah' when we hesitate in speaking?

Here is an article from Dr Stephen Juan

Umm ...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/06/the_odd_body_language_fillers/

By Dr Stephen Juan

Posted in Biology, 6th May 2006 22:23 GMT

(Asked by Tom Lanier of Austin, Texas)

Not everyone says "um", "er" or "ah" when they hesitate while speaking. It depends upon the language.

For example, speakers of Mandarin Chinese often say"zhege" which roughly translates as "this”. In English we say "um", "er", "ah", or other vocalisations for reasons that linguists are not entirely sure about. "Um", "er", and "ah” contain what linguists call "neutral vowel sounds" making them among the easiest sounds to make.

It may be that they can be said without a great deal of thought too. So that may be part of the answer. "Um", "er", and "ah" are what linguists call "fillers". "Fillers" help conversations continue smoothly.

Although we may not consciously realise it, in a two-person conversation, people speak by taking turns. When someone thinks it is their turn to talk, they do. Otherwise, they listen. A two-person conversation becomes like a tennis match. Inevitably there are short periods of silence as people pause to let the other person take over the speaking. But sometimes a speaker doesn't want to give up their turn and instead wants a little extra time to think about what they"re going to say next. They use a "filler” to signal this.

When a listener hears the “filler”, they continue listening rather than start talking. “Um”, “er”, and “ah” are examples of phonemes. In linguistics, phonemes are the smallest meaningless speech sounds humans make. The smallest meaningful speech sounds humans make are called “morphemes”. Everything we humans say is either meaningless or meaningful. A lot of people never learn the difference. ®

Many people I speak with about language learning ask me about how to increase vocabulary. To be honest with you, it is a question I often ask myself.

Here are two ideas:

One is my idea which I have called "My little notebook"

1. Buy a small writing pad, and make sure it is small enough to carry around in your jacket or bag.

2. When you discover a new phrase or interesting word, write it into the smalll writing pad.

Here are some examples:

"I like learning English and I want to improve it"

"Could you help me with my English please?"

"I really enjoy discovering more about Chinese culture"

"My family is well, thank you for asking"

"Nice to speak with you"

"Thanks for your help, it is very much appreciated"

"I really enjoy...........as my hobby" (playing sport, cooking, walking etc)

3. Write notes in your own language alongside it

4. Review the little book each day or a few times a week.

5. Write a weekly or monthly review in your book.

6. If you think of questions, write them in a "questions to ask" page. When later, you have a chance to check with a teacher or native speaker, you can look in your little book.

Today I found a useful article on increasing vocabulary. I think it is very good, so I have made it into a PDF document and you can download it.

Bye for now

Happy Exploring!

Alan

When we speak, listen, write or read, we want to do our best. We want to understand and be understood.

We want to hit the target!

When an archer shoots an arrow, they take aim, pull back on the string and release it to send the arrow to the target.

How do we hit the target?

We can keep our eye on what we want to say, or write

We can take our aim at what we want to achieve

We can "fire our arrow" and see where it lands

We can practice more if we do not hit the centre spot on the target

What sort of things can we do to get the accuracy?

* Search for the right words> think of the most accurate and useful words for what we want to say

* Understand the context > understand what we need to say and why

* Concentrate the effort > keep concentrating on what we need to do

* "Give it our best shot" >speak, read, write or listen the best way we can (without worrying)

Let us imagine we are wanting to catch a train:

Make sure that you search for the right words:

"where is the train to London?" with a little bit more searching could become

"could you tell me which platform the train to London leaves from?

(more accurate words)

If you cannot remember the word for "platform", then you could say

"could you tell me which place the train leaves from?"

"when is the next train to London?" could become:

"at what time does the next train to London leave this station please?"

(more accurate words)

"thank you" could  become:

"Thank you, I appreciate your help"

(add accuracy)

We need to keep our eye on the target, keep our concentration and then go for it. We can hit the target more often when we do this.

Bye for now

Alan

A new song from a pop duo called Mini Viva

Britt (Mini, 20, from Newcastle) and Frankee (Viva, 20, from Manchester.

Modern street slang words, rap lyrics and a "bouncy, lively tune"

In English we use the word "catchy tune" meaning "memorable melody"

This song is very catchy!

 Germans have a good word, they say "Ohrwurm" meaning "earworm"

This is now adopted into English as "earworm" 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earworm

I left my heart in Tokyo

Step up here to me

Am I dumb enough to believe

When somebody says jump on this

 Would u follow them on your knees

Am I wrong or right

To be dancing with you tonight

Said im done with these fantasies

What i got is my sanity

 My baby knows what i want

He's gettin me n my thing

He better take what i got

Or he wont see me again

Coz there's been too many guys

Just making moves on the floor

 My baby's reading my mind

He knows that i'm needing more

I left my heart in Tokyo Down

by the river don't you know

I had let it go

 Don't body know, know, knows

That I left my heart in Tokyo

Down by the river don't you know

 I had let it go

 Nobody now can bring it home (Nobody now can bring it home) (Nobody now can bring it home)

Seventeen and dumb, look at me,

I know right from wrong.

You and me, we got something on,

 and I don't need to hear that come come. (repeat)

Micky mouse with the diamonds in the right sack

Give it time and im gonna get you right back

So the signs and I never ever right back

 I keep it tight cause I know you really like that

 Do it right and you know I'm gonna hype it

All the rhymes and I sicka see you right back (right back, right back, right back, right back ...)

I left my heart in Tokyo

 Down by the river don't you know

I had let it go

 Don't body know, know, knows

That I left my heart in Tokyo

Down by the river don't you know

I had let it go

Nobody now can bring it home (repeat)

(Nobody now can bring it home)

(Nobody now can bring it home)

Six six six six six so tight off the best stress,

 didn't really want to keep it for the rest, uh-uh ooh

So I skipped to the next best,

Didn't really know that I was gonna end up here

I left my heart in Tokyo

Down by the river don't you know

I had let it go

Don't body know, know, knows

That I left my heart in Tokyo

Down by the river don't you know

I had let it go

Nobody now can bring it home (Nobody now can bring it home) (Nobody now can bring it home)

Hello everybody.

Here is a new idea I am trying. It involves finding a picture and making a "storyboard"

Then with this picture, you add vocabulary and interesting or useful phrases.

Finally you describe what is happening the best way you can with the language you already have learned and add in the new vocabulary

So, in my example (please download it)

"Two business men are meeting in an airport. The are relaxed and smiling. They greet each other. They both have a briefcase. Maybe they have a meeting planned. Will they have a coffee first?"

I have used "Powerpoint" to make this photo storyboard. But it could be done with a simple sketch on a piece of paper and a dictionary.

Bye for now

Alan

http://www.pdictionary.com/search.php

A very nice website.

Bye

Alan

Hello everybody,

When we learn a language we often say to people: "I would like to speak this language well in the future". This type of statement is fine, but doesn't help us plan.

As a different idea for language learning, we could try "mini-project planning". This means breaking up our ambitions into small "mini-projects"

We can imagine ourselves at a point in time in the future where we are doing something we want to do:

Chatting with friends

Ordering a meal 

Visiting a doctor

By breaking down our ambitions into small ideas and thinking of us doing these things in the future, we will be able to understand better what we need to do. We can then concentrate our efforts on each "mini-project".

Chatting with friends: we need casual language and plenty of friendly phrases: "nice to see you!" "how's it going?" > lots of happy words, sport, leisure, music, holidays...

Ordering a meal:  words for different dishes, drinks, how to ask for the bill.

Visiting the doctor: names for parts of the body, how to explain what is wrong, how to ask the right questions. 

This way, we can concentrate our efforts by thinking of smaller projects.

In English we called this "pigeon-holing" which makes us think of a very large project "learning a language" as a series of smaller projects all linked together.

1. Keep motivated even when you are frustrated with your progress - which will sometimes happen. Don't expect to become fluent very quickly, learning a language well takes many years. But always remember that any level allows communication. I think that very often learners expect to become fluent much more quickly than is possible. This can lead to a lot of frustration and it can also make learners feel they aren't progressing when they are!

2. Keep interested in new words - they are the key to any progress. What I mean here is that language is mostly about words - a person who knows a lot of words would communicate without much grammar. I"ve read somewhere that to speak a language in a basic way needs a vocabulary of 2000 words. This sounds a lot – but isn’t so difficult to learn with a bit of patience and time.

3. Enjoy using the language you already have - many people often say that they are "not yet good enough" - but forget what they have already achieved and what opportunities it brings. I realised a long time ago that "a little goes a long way” and I have found that it is surprising just how much communication can take place at any level.

4. Use the Internet as and when you can. There is a fantastic amount of useful material, not to mention interesting and useful blogs and chatrooms. I remember the first time I went on line which is 10 years ago this year. I thought, what a great opportunity for me, I can learn now from my own living room. These days, there is so much there for you to get for free. It’s a brilliant resource if used intelligently.

5. Read in the target language as much as you can. But don't try to read at a level too high - or you will get frustrated. Try reading for enjoyment sometimes at the level you are at - or just a little higher. You will find this encouraging. I read a book many years ago on second language learning that placed a big emphasis on reading a lot – but was careful to point out that the level should not be too high or it would not be beneficial. Too many courses in my opinion expect learners to read texts that are set at too high a level.

6. Make as many friends as you can that speak the target language - maybe you could join a language club where people learn together. I am a member of 3 French language clubs and 2 German language club. If you find it difficult to find a club, you could try to make some "virtual friends" online. This is something that takes some effort, but is really worth it. It means looking to see what is out there and where you can find the right club. I know people who form their own club for exchanging ideas and tips. I do realise also, that finding clubs and native speakers is sometimes impossible depending on where you live.

7. Don't think of mistakes as failure - this is negative. Think of mistakes as "feedback" and then you learn to find ways to reduce them by keeping a positive attitude. When did you see a young child worry about making mistakes? This is my point. When did a child think that they make mistakes? They only know it if an adult corrects them – and very often this is a parent who corrects in a nice way – so they child never thinks of mistakes – and gets on with learning. As a result – they learn quickly. We can do this as adults if we try.

8. Take every opportunity to speak the language and engage with people. If you can't find anyone to talk with, then talk about things with yourself (out of earshot or people will start to wonder...) I have some interesting conversations with myself whilst driving...! And other places too. If this is your only means to express yourself – then don’t forget to do it! Listening to yourself speak is similar to learning to play and instrument “by ear”. I’ve been learning guitar this way for 39 years and I play for myself more often than I play for other people – I’m not a professional musician. So take every opportunity to speak as much as possible.

9. Learn about the culture of the country or countries where the language is spoken when you have some spare time. For example: English culture is somewhat different to the USA but we have many similarities and we do speak the same language - or do we? In reality there are quite a few differences between American English and British English. However these variations in accent and dialect happen with other languages too. I read that one of the most important things in developing language learning is to also learn about the culture of the countries where the language is spoken. This helps make the language “real”, because it helps put the language in context.

10. Finally don't be too hard on yourself if you don't progress as fast as you would like to. Learning a language isn't a smooth process - you can learn a lot quickly sometimes - then sometimes the progress is slow. Always think of language learning as a long-term project not a short-term project and you'll enjoy it more.

I can’t think of any more to say on this apart from

"Be grateful for what has gone, look forward to the future and be pleased with the present!"

Bye for now

Alan

I found a website today that you might like:

http://www.cuebon.com/ewriters/English.html

I found this poem on the website. See if you can understand it.

So you know what to do, I will show you the first verse:

Spell Checker Poem

I have a spelling checker -   (I have a spelling checker)
It came with my pee cee     (it came with my PC)
It plane lee marks four my revue (it plainly marks for my review)
Miss steaks aye can knot sea  (mistakes I cannot see)

Eye ran this poem threw it,  (I ran this poem through it)
Your sure reel glad two no.   (You're sure real glad to know)
Its vary polished in it's weigh - (It's very polished in its way)
My checker tolled me sew. (My checker told me so)

A checker is a bless sing.     (A checker is a blessing)
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.  (It frees you loads of time)
It helps me awl stiles two reed, (It helps me all styles to read)
And aides me when aye rime. (And aids me when I rhyme)

To rite with care is quite a feet  (To write with care is quite a feat)
Of witch won should be proud. (Of which one should be proud)
And wee mussed dew the best wee can, (And we must do the best we can)
Sew flaws are knot aloud. (So flaws are not allowed)

And now bee cause my spelling (And now because of my spelling)
Is checked with such grate flare, (Is checked with such great flair)
Their are know faults with in my cite; (Their are now faults within my sight)
Of non eye am a wear. (Of none I am aware)

Each frays come posed up on my screen (Each phrase composed upon my screen)
Eye trussed to be a joule. (I trust to be a jewel)
The checker poured o'er every word (The checker poured over every word)
To cheque sum spelling rule. (To check some spelling rule)

That's why aye brake in two averse (That's why I break into a verse)
By righting wants too pleas. (By writing wants to please)
Sow now ewe sea why aye dew prays (So now you see why I do praise)
Such soft wear for pea seas! (Such software for PCs)

-- Author Unknown

Bye for now

Alan

anybody want to send me an article for ExpLORErs LORE please send me over the next week. I will make issue two next Sunday.

Thanks in advance!

alan_r_palmer@hotmail.com

Bye for now

Alan

Hello everybody,

When we go to language classes and we have a teacher teaching us, I think this gives us a fantastic chance to build a "language house".

From language classes we can build our "house" brick by brick with an expert (the teacher)

When we have built the house, we need to make it into a "home"

This means getting furniture, pictures for the walls, ornaments etc.

All this that is needed for the house we can get ourselves by "language exploring"

We can explore the shops for good things we need for the house

Where else can we explore to make ourselves a wondeful home?

Maybe you have some great exploring ideas?

Bye for now

Alan

When we speak or write, we often make statements. Here are some examples:

1. My dog is ill
2. I called to see you yesterday
3. I just bought a new mobile phone
4. I am going to New York for my holidays

Something we can practice are supporting statements:

1. My dog is ill. He is very old
2. I called to see you yesterday. You were not at home.
3. I just bought a new mobile phone. It has a lot of modern features.
4. I am going to New York for my holidays. I have never been there before.

The second statement supports or clarifies the first statement.

This is like a house roof, one side supports the other side.

Don’t forget to use link words:

1. My dog is ill because he is very old
2. I called to see you yesterday but you were not at home.
3. I just bought a new mobile phone and it has a lot of modern features.
4. I am going to New York for my holidays, as I have never been there before.

This idea can also be spread over several linked statements:

"I’d been wanting a new mobile phone for some time. I just bought a new mobile phone today at a local shop and it's great; it has a lot of modern features. I really like it."

((I’ve been wanting)) (( a new mobile phone)) ((for some time)). ((I just bought)) ((a new mobile phone today)) ((at a local shop)) and ((it's great;)) ((it has a lot of modern features)). ((I really like it))

So, thinking about statements and supporting statements can help us develop better speaking and writing skills.

Bye for now

Alan

English has some very "cute" words which people use especially to talk with children:

small children =kiddies

very small children=toddlers

baby shoes = bootees

small laugh = chuckle

animals: dog becomes doggie, cat becomes pussy, frog becomes froggy

sometimes we add a sound: "moo cow" 

I'll build up this list when I think of more

Bye for now

Alan

When we learn languages, we always need to learn words.

I have to admit that I do not find this easy. I am always looking for new ideas to help me learn more words.

I sometimes think of speaking a language as being like being on a train loaded with goods to go to important places. A goods train is loaded up and then it travels to different destinations. In the same way, we need to load up our “language train” with goods called “words”.  But, how to we load up all the words we need into our “language train”?

I don’t know the best way yet.

But here are some ideas that I try.

1. We can categorise words:

Words that we use most often (common words)

Words about doing things (verbs)

Words that we need for special occasions (specialised words)

Words that we need when we are in trouble or need help (situational words)

Words that tell us about things and situations (adjectives)

Words that make us smile (happy and pleasant words)

Words that make us afraid, sad or unhappy (negative words)

Words that give us hope (inspiring words)

Words that make us think about the past (historical words)

Words that make us think about the future (future planning words)

Words that help us understand things better (comparison words)

How many more categories can you think of?

2. We can have a place to keep the words we don’t yet know well. I call this the “words waiting room”. We want to know them well, and often we cannot remember them well, but they must be put in the waiting room waiting for us.

3. We can put words into context. Make sentences with them to help remember

“my red car has a nice new roof rack”  (new word = roof rack)

4.We can find a good online dictionary www.dictionary.com is very good

5. We can practice making sentences with many different words in it and expanding it:

“my car is not running, it is too old and untrustworthy”

becomes….

“My big old rusty red car is no longer running, especially because it is now too old, and has been left in the garage far too long and is therefore now very untrustworthy.”

6. We can collect favourites words:

I know for instance that I like using these words a lot:

Super

Great

Nice

Be good

Look after yourself

Nice to meet you

All the best

Take care

How’s it going?

Etc

Words are our language workforce!

Treat them well, and they will treat us well!

Bye for now