Here is a guitar tune for you.

I hope you like it

Bye

Alan

Hello everybody,

Learning a language reminds me of doing a huge jigsaw puzzle. We need to make up the picture, but when we start learning we have all the "language pieces" all mixed up. We listen to the language, look at the words; it makes no sense at all.

So, how do we make the "language jigsaw"?

Like doing a real jigsaw, we need to look for the corner pieces so we can start to put the picture together.

We can then find the side pieces and then eventually put the middle pieces in place to make the full picture.

So how is this analogy useful for language learning?

I think it helps us think about how language develops.

1. Finding "corners" is the way to start a jigsaw, so in language this would be basic vocabulary and basic grammar
2. Finding "side pieces" is how we put a framework to the language: more grammar, more vocabulary, understanding how big the task is. We know that we need to make the picture but we have only got the frame around the picture.
3. We can then start to make the picture. This gets more exciting the more of the picture we begin to see.
4. Seeing how the picture develops is like seeing how well our language develops.
5. Later, even if we do not or cannot put all the pieces in place. we can see the picture so well, and we can appreciate how much of the jigsaw we have been able to complete. In the same way we can see how much of our language ability is there for us to see and appreciate.

I believe that if we think language learning is like a jigsaw puzzle, it will help us to know that the slow start is about building up knowledge and skill to build from only a few pieces to making the whole picture.

Bye for now

Alan

Hello. This is just a small text message to say thanks for visiting. When I invite people to visit this website, I get asked often: "why do you make this website?"

So, I have put an explanation at the top of the website page now next to the language explorer logo.

I just enjoy writing the articles, recording some audio or video and also some music when I have time. It is my interesting hobby.

So, I hope you continue visiting and also continue to find some interesting information here.

Without sharing, language is not language. Words are only useful when someone else hears or reads them.

And as language explorers, we need to keep exploring and this means listening, writing, listening and speaking in any way that interests us.

Keep interested and motivated. This is the fuel for the "engine".

Bye for now

Alan

When we explore languages, we feel we are climbing a "language mountain". We want to reach the top. It is our desired goal. We often think about our view from the top and how nice it will feel to be at this highest point in our language learning climb.

But, when we have the chance, like a mountaineer, we can take a few moments to have a rest, and look around and below at the "views".

We might find that we see a very nice view from where we are on the mountain at any point we are at. The "views" change as we "climb", but this doesn't make them any less interesting.

So, at a beginners level - think about what you can understand now. Think about how many words you might know, what you can read and what you can say. You might remember words you didn't know, but know now, things you can say now easily, that you couldn't say before.

At intermediate level - think about what you can do with language: book in a hotel, travel around on transport, buy things in shops, have quite high level conversations. It might surprise you "how high you have climbed"

At advanced level, you can take stock of what level you have reached in every way. The views will be quite magnificent and you can see how far you need to climb and behind you is a great height!

Taking stock of the views from the "language mountain", it gives us a rest that we need and then we can carry out climbing to the top!

Bye for now

Alan

Here is a recipe for fish and chips by a famous English "TV Chef" Antony Worall Thompson.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/fishandchips_70937.shtml

(for originality it must be any white meat fish: cod, haddock, monkfish etc)

Bye

Alan

Fish and Chips refers to a famous dish of fried fish in a flour batter and chips which are potato pieces also fried in hot vegetable oil or animal fat. In USA “chips” are called “French fries”. All cities, towns and some villages have “fish and chip shops” in England. Fish and chips is still very popular, although not as popular as in the past.

Along with fish and chips, some people like to eat “mushy peas” which are boiled dried peas which looks a bit like green porridge.

The traditional way to eat fish and chips from a fish and chip shop was from the paper wrapping, walking along the road. Nowadays many fish and chips shops have a restaurant in the shop and sell to take home or “eat in” (meaning eat in the restaurant)

Hello. Here is my latest videocast in Chinese. English version next...

再 见 阿 伦 

I would like to thank my Chinese friend for the translation.

Hello everybody.

This is a way to practice speaking on your own. You can do this just with speaking, or you can speak and write it down if you like.

The idea is to bring important words quickly to your mind, and also, for those words that don't come into your mind quickly, this idea will help you get at least a similar word into your speaking.

1. Think of a subject. For example: "music"

2. Make a statement about it. "I don't know much about Chinese music"

3. Then ask yourself a question: "why do I not know much about Chinese music?"

4. Answer the question using as many good words as you can, for instance:

"because...I have not had the chance to hear any Chinese music"

"because... we never hear Chinese music on TV or radio in England"

This way, we can have a genuine conversation, but with ourselves.

We can vary the question:

"When would it be possible for me to hear some Chinese music?"

or

"How could I find some Chinese music?"

Then you could answer yourself:

"maybe I could...(find some on the Internet)

"I wonder if....( I could ask a friend in China to send me some?)

"I think...."

"I know that..."

"My guess is..."

So, from a small statement and a question, you can bring into your head different words and expressions...so that you can practice words associated with questions and answers.

And from the example here, we have practiced some good opening words and also kept to one subject for simplicity:

Because...

When would it be possible...

How could I find....

Maybe I could...

I wonder if....

I think....

I know that...

my guess is....

It is also good practice for real conversations later with native speakers. A good conversation is a good balance of statements, questions and answers, so you would be more confident at times when you do have the opportunity to talk with a native speaker. And you can do this in any language of course....

So how about trying out an SSQA for a way of practicing?

TTFN (ta-ta for now) ta-ta=bye bye

Alan

PS: Acronymns are another subject we can talk about ...so CU L8R (see you later)

Thanks to Ally for the idea.

I've made a videoclip to go with my guitar piece.

Photos taken by me on a sunny evening last week.

Bye for now

Alan

Here's a summer tune for you...I was thinking about strolling through the English countryside as I played it....

Bye for now

Alan

Hello everybody,

Present Progressive Tense

The present progressive tense takes the form be + V ing.

The form of be is determined by the subject of the sentence.

He is singing.

She is listening.

They are sleeping.

I am going home.

In English, the present progressive is used to indicate actions happening at the time of speaking, or right now.

John is speaking to his mother right now.

Please keep quiet. The baby is sleeping now.

The present progressive can also be used to indicate actions occurring over a period of time, which includes the present.

I'm taking (or “I am taking”) five classes at the university.

Anna is working at a chemical factory.

What are you doing these days?

The present progressive is sometimes used to indicate ongoing, developing, imminent or future actions.

Ongoing work 

Don't bother Mr. Grumpy while he is watching the football game.

You are developing your language skills very well 

I'm beginning to like this place!  (same as "I am starting to like this place!")

A: Hello, where are you?

B: I'm coming. Just let me put on my shoes.  (This is the same as “I will come now”)

Future (Note the presence of future time words.)

A: Are you going to the concert this weekend?

B: I wish I could, but I'm meeting an important client from Oklahoma next week. 

A very recent way of speaking using this tense is the popular way to say (In England)

I like it

by saying "I'm liking it" or "I'm liking that"

Some people (especially young people) for example “Your hat, I’m liking it!”

It is not correct English grammar, but very modern and trendy with some people.

Bye for now

Alan

Hello, 你 们 好

I will be putting Chinese podcasts on my website for Chinese friends. To see these exclusively, you can just use this web address:

www.language-explorer.co.uk/int/chinese

I will also put an image 中 文 next to each Chinese article.

This means that if you want to see just the Chinese videocasts, podcasts and text blogs, you just use this address.

Of course you can still see all the videocasts, podcasts, textblogs, music and forum on the usual address

www.language-explorer.co.uk

Bye for now

再 见

Alan

阿 伦

Hello everybody,

When we learn languages, there are always gaps in our knowledge; in our vocabulary, or understanding of expressions, culture.

This means that when we communicate with native speakers, we often search for some words, or phrases that we know well in our own language, but not well perhaps in the language(s) we are learning.

I think this is like crossing a river using stepping stones. We don't want to fall in the water, but we must keep walking forward  because it is too difficult to turn round.

So, as we walk between stones with gaps, then can the gaps in our knowledge be crossed. When we walk across stepping stones we must look at the next stone, then the next one, then the next....until we reach the other side....with dry clothes!

So, with language, let's keep our mind concentrating on what we know, not what we do not know.

We can use other words for example:

If we do not know the word for "this pineapple" we can say "this fruit"

If we do not know the words for "do you have our hotel reservation?" we can say "are our names here?"

If we can't remember the word for "mountain" we can say "very high hill"

If we can't remember the word for "hill" but can remember "mountain" we can say "small mountain"

The important thing is to walk onto the next stepping stone!

Bye for now

Alan

English is tough stuff

 

Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.

Just compare heart, beard, and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind the latter, how it's written.)
Now I surely will not plague you
With such words as plaque and ague.
But be careful how you speak:
Say break and steak, but bleak and streak;
Cloven, oven, how and low,
Script, receipt, show, poem, and toe.

Hello everybody,

As you can see, I call myself "language explorer". This is because I prefer to think of learning language as exploring, rather than just use a word like "learner" or "student".

One of the reasons I chose this name, is because I have a theory about how our minds learn.  I think when we "explore" language, it is like leading an expedition. When people go on expeditions, they look at maps to see where they can best go. They also bring along other people to carry things and help them find their way.

I think our conscious mind is the "Expedition Leader" deciding what way we should go, when we do things, what we should learn.

However, I think our learning mind (subconscious) is also the great supporter of our expedition, carrying all our things and will follow us wherever we decide to go.

So, even if we find a path that isn't a good one, our "porter and guides" (i.e. our subconscious mind and our memory) will always try their utmost to help us discover new things and also help us get to our "destination".

I know this sounds perhaps very different, but I do believe that although we think our conscious mind is leading our decisions and also doing the learning, I think we know that it is a combination of conscious mind, willpower, subconscious mind and our developing memory that ultimately gets us to the goal of "fluency".

I think it works well to think of language learning as a Great Expedition to find the level of language we are looking for.

So, to all the language explorers out there, lets keep going!

Bye for now

Alan

As I drive to work, I like to sometimes practice speaking. Today I thought of an idea for helping us develop our vocabulary.

As I was driving, I naturally thought of the word “road”. Now my idea of developing vocabulary is to focus in on that one simple word and expand it in our minds.

So for example:

Road

Wide road

Narrow road

Long road

Short road

Road surface

Road markings

Side of the road

Direction of the road

And also we can expand out to sentences:

Driving along the road

Crossing the road

Parking on the road

Also expressions

Road to nowhere

Roadhog

Road Rage

On the road

So from any one word, we can expand out our vocabulary like the branches of a tree.

So just think of a word, any word!

Take care

When we write a letter, we have starting words "dear Mr..."

and ending words "yours faithfully" (formal), "best regards"/"kind regards" (less formal - especially for e-mails), "bye for now"/"see you soon" (informal for SMS messages, postcards etc)

We can do the same thing with speaking. Have some phrases ready as "openers"

"Hello! nice to see you"

" Good morning, how are you?"

"How's it going?"

We can practice this in our minds before we meet people. We need to:

*decide the level of language we need when we meet people to speak with

* decide how polite and respectful we need to be, especially with older people, important people, law enforcement people, police etc.

* choose the right words along with a handshake and a smile.

For closing words

We can use

"I was nice to have met you"

"Thank you for your welcome"

"I look forward to meeting you again"

"Be seeing you/see you later/take care" (informal)

People often say "bye" as a quick way to say "goodbye"

People often say "see ya" for "see you"

This start up/close out language is a way to "oil the wheels" of a conversation.

You can see some of my other podcasts on talking to native speakers here:

http://alanlancs1.podomatic.com/entry/2008-04-24T10_17_00-07_00

http://alanlancs1.podomatic.com/entry/2008-02-15T13_18_43-08_00

http://alanlancs1.podomatic.com/entry/2008-07-14T14_54_05-07_00

http://alanlancs1.podomatic.com/entry/2008-07-30T23_40_26-07_00

Bye for now

Alan

Hello everybody,

I've thought of a regular routine of speaking practice which I can do any time.

It involves simply counting numbers out loud.

This may seem a bit simple, but I have found it useful for:

* speeding up remembering words

* pronunciation practice

* putting words together in a sequence.

For example, I have been doing this with Chinese

一 二 三 四 五 (1,2,3,4,5 etc)

but then I count up to 99

九 十 九 (99)

I then decide on a random series of numbers in English:

1-7-3-9

6-3-1-7

then I translate into Chinese from my head as quickly as I can:

一 七 三 九 (1,7.3,9)

六 三 一 七 (6,3,1,7)

or

I say a number in English, then try to translate it quickly.

86 。 。 。  八十 六

We can try this idea for any language. I think it helps get used to numbers and also becomes an interesting way of developing faster thought and better pronunciation using simple numbers.

French can be interesting, because 80 (eighty) is 4 x 20s (quatre-vingts) in French. So we need to think a bit different to the English way when thinking of numbers.

German can be interesting, because 25 (twenty-five) is 5 and 20 (fünf und zwanzig) So we need to put the numbers over 20 the other way round to English.

Bye for now

Alan

I enjoyed recording this song today. It's an "oldie" but one of my favourites The original was by the "Mamas and Papas" way back in the 1960's. I am old enough to remember it! Bye for now Alan

California Dreaming

All the leaves are brown
and the sky is grey
I've been for a walk
on a winter's day

I'd be safe and warm
if I was in L.A (Los Angeles)
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day

stopped into a church
I passed along the way
well, I got down on my knees
and I pretend to pray

you know the preacher likes the cold (Preacher= person who preaches religion)
he knows I'm gonna stay
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day

all the leaves are brown
and the sky is grey
I've been for a walk
on a winter's day

if I didn't tell her
I could leave today
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day x3

(the weather is warmer in California all year round)

A friend gave me a good idea to start a forum here. I can only create one here as a message list, but it may work.

**PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE DISCUSSION MESSAGES ON THIS ARTICLE IN THE LIST - CLICK ON "FORUM" AT THE SIDE OF THE PAGE TO FIND IT QUICKLY**

You can write about anything you like here: questions about language, ideas you have, what you would like to see on the website, other useful websites, compare languages etc.

Common language in the forum: English

Other languages welcome - but if possible please also put English translation with it.

Many thanks

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT ABOUT THE FORUM

Bye

Alan

Hello everybody, 

Many people want to learn a language, but often we are too busy to spend a lot of time on language learning. This is especially true if we are not students and have to work most days in a job, or we are busy with family matters.

I have a new idea for you to try if you like. I believe everybody would have time to do this, no matter how busy we are.

Hello everybody!

In the same vein as "language wardrobe" we need a language "travel bag" sometimes:

When we learn languages, our idea is to become fluent in time. But, from when we start learning (at school, at home, evening classes etc) to when we are fluent (in whatever years it takes…) we will at some time meet and speak with native speakers.

Maybe most learners first experience of speaking with native speakers will nowadays be online: chat room, MSN etc.

When I was young, the first contact was as a penfriend.  The first person I ever spoke with from another country was when I had an Italian girl penfriend when I was 14 years old.

More and more people can travel these days and I think this is wonderful when people can meet up to speak together.

In my experience, when we meet native speakers to make friends, we need to have enough words and phrases to help this to happen, or we will get very frustrated perhaps.

Speaking personally, I realise we need phrases and words to cover:

Greetings and please/thanks: “hello” “nice to meet you” “please could I?” “thanks”

Asking for something: for a drink, for directions

Words about family: “how is your mother?” “what is the name of your daughter?” etc

Words about pets “I like your dog, what’s his name?”

Words about work “what is your job?” “what sort of work do you do?”

Words about language study "how long have you been learning Chinese?" "what courses have you done?"  "do you find learning English difficult?"

Words about the place where you are “ Tell me more about your city please” "what are the famous places here?"

Words about what we will do: “I want to go to visit the city” “I need to telephone my friend”

Words about communication: “telephone”, internet, fax, e-mail

Time:  How to tell the time, how to ask the time

Saying what you like or not like: “I love tea”  “I don’t like beer”

Polite refusals: “sorry, I would really prefer not to do that” “Please would it be ok if we did something else”

Cultural words: “what is this festival about?” How do people celebrate?

Transport: Do you know which bus to the town centre? Where can I find a taxi

Food: I am hungry, I don’t eat this, I love eating that. what is a local speciality?

Shopping:  “where is the supermarket please?” “Where can I buy a camera battery?” "do they sell English newspapers here?  “Do you sell bread here?”

So, you can make your own travel bag, ready for travelling!

Enjoy language enjoy life!

 Alan

here is the voice recording  of my last text blog at a normal speed with my hesitations and mistakes...haha

bye

Alan

Hello everybody!

I haven't had enough time to make any voice recordings recently - I'll make some more soon. In the meantime, here's another text blog. I'd also like to thank everybody who has given me nice comments on the blogs and podcasts.

I know that many people want to learn a language well and I also feel this way. However, some people are always thinking about some time in the future when they will be "very fluent" "very competent" "near-native" and all these terms people use for high-level language skills.

This is a great ambition. I also have similar ambitions. I do feel that we could have this great "goal" of achievement, and at the same time have a completely different attitude to what has gone before and what is happening now.

So, I think it helps to think about the PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE of our language learning. 

PAST

We should thank ourselves for the language we have learned before; that we started learning, we spent many hours at the beginning, trying a few words and phrases and maybe thinking we would never learn anything. Then maybe quite slowly, we started to learn and we kept going...

FUTURE

We should of course, be very excited about the future and what we will be able to learn, how well we will be able to speak, read, write, and listen. We will be able to achieve things we cannot do now. It will be an exciting time. We can think of the future level of our language skills with interest and enthusiasm...

PRESENT

This is the most important of the three:

1. We can only ever speak, read, write and listen (and learn) in the present

2. We can enjoy all the language we have learned before and not worry about what we don't know, because we will learn it in the future.

3. We can also plan the future in the present; deciding what we would like to do with language, what ways to study, what we would do with language, and many other things

So, enjoy the present, appreciate the past and be excited for the future!

Bye for now

Alan

Hello everybody,

We usually keep clothes in a wardrobe.

Clothes we have for special occasions: weddings for example

Clothes for relaxing on a summer's day

Winter clothes

Swimwear etc.

Well, as I was looking for a clean shirt this morning in my wardrobe, I began to think that we could have a sort of "language wardrobe"

"Best clothes" = formal language: some well known polite phrases, "I would like to order a meal from the menu please" "would you mind if we met up next week?"

"Informal clothes for relaxing" = relaxed phrases "what would you like to do today?" "let's have a drink?" "what do you do in the evenings?" "I'll tell you about my holidays" "wouldn't it be nice to buy a bicycle and ride it in the countryside?"

"Special clothes for special occasions" = unusual words and phrases, expressions: "rural development" "intrested parties" "performance characteristics" etc

"Warm clothes for keeping us warm" hats and scarves.. = helpful and useful words and phrases when the language "weather" is cold and perhaps we are on our own: " can you help me?" "would you mind if?"  "I didn't want to do that.." "stop that please!" " I didn't ask you to" "Oh not again!" "what a nice idea!"

"swimwear and towels" simple clothes = simple statements "like some tea?""wanna drink?" "take care" "see you soon" "cheers!" "go for it!" "do you smoke?"

What's in your wardrobe?

Bye for now

Alan

alan_r_palmer@hotmail.com (for your valuable feedback!)

My name is Alan Palmer. I am a 53 year old Conformity Manager from Lancashire, England. My hobbies are learning languages and playing guitar I've been learning French for 18 years. I started German at the age of 11 and learned it for 3 years. I restarted German again in 2001. I'm also learning Mandarin Chinese (the most important dialect in China) and I learn some Spanish when time permits. Over the years I've realised certain things about learning languages that I think may be useful to others, so my podcasts will be language-based (or musical) and mostly in English, but I will post things in other languages too occasionally. I visit www.livemocha.com quite often - I am Alanlancs1 there. Maybe we can chat in livemocha - in any case you can certainly leave me a message there if you like. I hope you find my podcasts interesting and I hope to post at least one per week. Take care and happy listening! Be good, be happy June 2009

 你们好! 我生活在英国西北部，我是一名52岁的公司经理。我已经结婚，并且有两个已经长大成人的儿子。 在我年轻的时候，就开始对学习外语产生兴趣。我从十一岁起开始学习德语，直到35岁时才开始学习法语。从那时起，我已经开始认真对待这个学习外语的爱好，希望能把外语讲得更流利。 2001年，我开始重新学习德语；而在2007年,我又开始学习汉语

另外网志：www.alanpalmer.podomatic.com 英文/中文）

Bonjour.
J'ai 53 ans et je suis Responsable Qualité dans le Lancashire, au Nord-Ouest de l'Angleterre. Je suis marié et nous avons deux fils d'âge adulte.
Mon interêt pour les langues a commencé quand j'étais petit. J'ai débuté par l'Allemand à l'âge de 11 ans. Je l'ai appris pour 3 ans, puis à 35 ans j'ai commencé à apprendre le Français. Depuis, mon passe-temps est de poursuivre mon objectif, c'est-à-dire de parler des langues couramment.
J'ai recommencé à apprendre l'Allemand en 2001 et je viens de commencer le Mandarin, qui est un dialecte chinois, et l'Espagnol.

Hallo! Ich bin 53 Jahre, Conformity Manager aus Nordwest England. Ich bin verheiratet und habe 2 erwachsene Söhne. Mein Interesse Sprachen zu lernen begann bereits in meiner Jugend. Mit 11 Jahren fing ich an Deutsch zu lernen. Erst mit 35 Jahren habe in angefangen Französisch zu lernen. Seit dieser Zeit habe ich mir zum Ziel gesetzt diese Sprachen zu beherrschen und betreibe es als ernsthaftes Hobby. Im Jahr 2001 begann ich wieder Deutsch zu lernen. Auch habe ich jetzt angefangen Chineinish und Spanisch zu lernen.

¡Hola! Tengo 53 años de edad y soy Gerente de la Companía Conformity en el Noroeste de Inglaterra. Estoy casado, y tengo dos hijos, ya adultos. Mi interés en aprender otro idioma comenzó de joven , y comencé a estudiar Alemán a los 11 años de edad, pero no emprendí el estudio de Francés hasta la edad de 35. Desde ese entonces, he perseguido la meta de adquirir fluidez como un hobby, pero con mucha seriedad. Reinicié el aprendizaje de Alemán en el 2001, y recientemente he iniciado mis estudios de chino y espanol. 

Your webhost 

Alan

Language Explorer

My PODOMATIC websites are:

www.alanlancs1.podomatic.com   (English)

www.alanpalmer.podomatic.com  (中文/英文)

Language highs and lows

I like to discover things about language learning. Everyone who learns languages has their own ideas and preferred methods. 

Sometimes we think about some parts of learning more than others, sometimes we get frustrated, angry, sad about learning. Sometimes we are happy, excited, enthusiastic and hopeful.

 I’ve written my own “highs and lows” list – see if your list compares with mine:

 Lows:

 1.Sometimes I feel I will never learn a language well

2.Sometimes I don’t feel I can learn quickly enough

3.Sometimes I feel I need a much bigger vocabulary

4.Sometimes I feel I can’t pronounce the words well

5.I sometimes feel that I have not got enough free time to learn

6.I sometimes wonder how long it takes to become fluent

7.I sometimes think everybody else can speak better than I can

8.I sometimes feel I don’t listen well

9.I sometimes feel I don’t write well

10.I wonder sometimes why I don’t just concentrate on learning one language

 Highs:

1. I find that when I speak, native speakers can understand me
2. I find that I can say words and phrases that I didn’t think I would ever be able to say
3. Conversations can be fun and enjoyable even with a smaller vocabulary than I would like to have
4. It’s nice to be able to read something and understand it
5. When I think about how much I have learned I don’t worry about how much I haven’t learned.
6. It’s nice to make friends with people who speak the language
7. It’s nice to know more about culture of the country or countries where the language is spoken
8. I find that I can learn more than one language even if it is sometimes very slow
9. I find that being older doesn’t stop me learning.
10. I get great enjoyment from sharing my ideas on language learning

Bye for now

Alan

Here are some greetings. For those of us learning languages other than English, it may be a good exercise in translation:

Formal:

"Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening" (usual formal opening greeting)

"How do you do?" (quite old-fashioned now unless a very formal occasion)

Add on these phrases :

"Pleased to meet you"

"Hello, how are you?"

"Nice to meet you"

Less formal:

"Hi, how are you?"

"How's it going?"

"How are things?"

"Nice to see you"

"Great to see you!"

"Good to see you"

Informal:

"Hi, there!"

"Hello there!"

"Alright?"

"Hiya"

"Hello"  (is also informal)

"Yo!" (young people)

"Wotcha!" (British English slang)

Bye for now!

Alan

For writing and speaking practice, we could concentrate also on link words. Link words make sentences fit together and sometimes change the meaning: 

Example:  I go shopping EACH week AND I like to buy general groceries BUT I don't take long TO do it.

Example:  I go swimming often, ALTHOUGH I can't really swim very well HOWEVER, I think it keeps me fit AND healthy.

Example: I like being a bus driver AND I drive many miles a week BECAUSE we have many bus routes AND many passengers need to travel.

Link words help us keep our "train of thoughts" for speaking and make sentences clearer when writing.

and, but, however, now, with, by, after, of, that, for, will(be), although,because, or.....etc

take sentences and link them up

1.my dog is friendly

2.he likes to run

3.he is old

4.I take him on short walks

**My dog is friendly, he likes to run, he is old, I take him on short walks

But, with link words, much more meaningful English sentences emerge...

*** My dog is friendly AND he likes to run BUT he is old SO I  take him on short walks

Get a liking for "link words" AND you'll keep interested in learning ALTHOUGH you might find THAT you will do well AND find them useful.

Bye for now

Alan

Hello everybody,

I am just back from Germany. I stayed with friends for a week. During my stay, I noticed just how much we need casual, "everyday" language when we speak another language.

I think we need to practice some of these everyday casual phrases when we are practicing speaking ourselves, either on our own, or with other students.

People collect stamps, toys, books,ornaments, photos.....many things..

Let's be a phrase collector!......................

Some of the phrases I am thinking of are:

"What would you like to do today?"

"It's very kind of you"

"Let's visit .....together"

"what do you think? it is a good idea?"

"Maybe we would like to do that?"

"do you like to eat fruit?"

"what is the weather going to be like today?"

"should we take a picnic with us?"

"that T-shirt looks nice"

"what sort of meal would you like to have later?"

"do you know where I can buy presents?"

"perhaps we should wait until later to do that?"

"do you know what time we should be there?"

"it's so interesting to see all the different food you eat"

"is it worth a visit to the park if the weather is fine?"

"could you call me early tomorrow, I need to catch a train"

"I'm very grateful for your help"

"it's so nice to be able to spend some time doing this together"

Also, some filler question words:

"it's nice isn't it?"

"we could go there couldn't we?"

"he's very clever isn't he?"

"you don't need that do you?"

"I couldn't tell you, sorry"

"it's really nice to know isn't it?"

Kind words:

"so nice to be here"

"so sorry to have to leave"

"looking forward to seeing you again"

"I'm so grateful"

"It's been such a nice visit"

"I really appreciate your welcome"

"you'd be very welcome to visit us"

"until next time"

"it's been fantastic"

"I'm really happy to have been here"

I think we should practice these types of sentences often and also write down as many as we can think of....in the language we are learning. It doesn't matter if they are not 100% correct - they main thing is they should be on the tip of our tongue - ready to use at times when we have an opportunity to speak with native speakers - especially those who we want to make friends with.

Bye for now

Alan

We don't always go the the doctors if we are ill. Sometimes we visit the doctor or go to a health centre for a "check up" to see if we are well. Weight, Blood pressure checks etc.

We can do this with our language skills; give the skills a "check" every so often. I am suggesting we look at the language we started learning: simpler language, easy listening, straightforward speech.

* Read a childrens' book

*  Create some very simple phrases in your mind and say them:

How are you?

Nice to see you

Happy Birthday!

Would you like a cup of tea?

I have a dog and its name is....

I don't like spicy food

* Listen to a beginners' language CD or Tape

* Write 50 words of simple language to describe something:

"I like visiting the park. I take my dog to the park. He likes to run. My dog is called Fred. Maybe I will go to the park again today. I think that tommorow I will also go swimming.

By going back to basics, we can check if we can still do the simple language well. When I try this with my French for example, I am always surprised what I have forgotten - even though I am thinking about quite simple language.

It pays to have a check up sometimes!

Bye for now

Alan

PS I will be in Germany for a week from tomorrow so I will post on the 1st June

a small guitar piece I played just after breakfast today - so I called it "Breakfast Boogie"

Bye

Alan

For you English learners, remember to learn where the slight stress is made when speaking words with more than one syllable.

The English language uses a small "push" on certain syllables.

Unfortunately, this is not easy to guess - really you just have to learn it.

However the most often stressed syllable in a 2 syllable word is the first syllable and the most often stressed syllable in a 3 or 4 syllable word in the second syllable) 

Here are some examples I have thought of just now (at random)

incredible (inCREDible) *4 syllable in cred i ble

language (LANGuage) * 2 syllable lan guage

MOUNtain * 2 syllable mount ain

VIsa *2 syllable vi sa

ENGland * 2 syllable eng land

VietNAM * 3 syllable vi et nam

INDia (3 syllable - in di a)

aMErica * 4 syllable a me ri ca

beLIEVable * 3 syllable

But of course, not all 3 or 4 syllable words are stressed on the second syllable:

FORTunate * 3 syllable for tu nate

PENdulum * 3 syllable pen du lum

MOmentary * 4 syllable mo men ta ry

Bye for now

Alan

So, my advice is if you guess the first or second syllables, you are quite likely to be correct.

Language “coffee break”

Hello everybody

We often read a magazine during a coffee break, sometimes whilst listening to the radio, at the same time talking to a friend or family member about what we are reading and perhaps jotting down some short notes at the same time.

We could use a similar idea to enjoy using the language we are learning.

Perhaps you would like to try this idea using my podcasts, or just find a useful text

Spend approximately 5 minutes a day:

Reading (5 mins approx.)

Listening        “

Speaking        “   

Writing           “

That would make 20 minutes practice per day.

So I’ve made an example for you using this podcast. Here is my suggested method:

1. I read it first slowly, then again more quickly
2. I then read it out slowly and carefully, (read it out loud)then more quickly
3. I then talk about the text I have read and listened to (with me speaking it)
4. I then write a few words about it in the same way.

So here are some words I wrote:

“Alan has made a podcast here about spending only 5 minutes per skill per day: reading, listening, speaking and writing. I don’t know if this idea will help me, but maybe I will try it. In any case, it’s worth a try”

So, you can try out the idea of using podcasts for a relaxed learning method.

Bye for now

I hope you find it useful

PS  I don’t mean that this is the only study you do, maybe you want to learn many hours a day I don’t know, but this is a relaxed way of practicing.

Alan

I've recorded the phrases from my last text blog, for those of you who are learning English.

My suggestion is:

1. Download this recording.

2. Read the text from the text blog as you listen to me speak.

3. Say the words out loud once slowly listening to your pronunciation.

4. Say the words quite quickly

5. Read and listen again

Bye

Alan

Here are some small phrases that we use in English.

Do the ironing

Do the washing/wash clothes 

Do the washing up/wash the dishes

Drive the car/take the car

Sweep the carpet/sweep the floor

Clean the floors/scrub the floor

Clean the windows

Open a window

Close a window/shut a window

Do the dusting

Fix the car/mend the car/repair the car

Hang out the washing

Cook a meal/make a meal

Dig the garden/dig the soil

Cut the grass/mow the lawn/mow the grass

Boil the water/boil a kettle

Plant the flowers/plants

Water the flowers/feed the plants

Feed to dog/cat/bird etc

Play the guitar, piano,clarinet etc

Watch TV

Play a video game

Play a DVD/play a video cassette

Send an E-mail/ send a text (SMS)

Ring someone up/call someone on the phone

Pay someone a call/ visit someone

Go shopping/go to the shops(stores)

Pick someone up (with a car)

Drop someone off (with a car)

Take someone to the cinema, theatre etc

Have a meal/eat a meal

Lay the table/set the table

Wipe the table

Add salt/ add seasoning

Climb the stairs/go up the stairs

Come down the stairs/go down the stairs

Pour the wine/water/tea/coffee

Take a shower/take a bath

Have a shower/have a bath

Polish the furniture

Listen to the radio

Surf the Internet/go online/go on the web

Make a bed/prepare the bed

bye

Alan

a solo guitar jam I did today - loud and proud! haha

Bye for now

Alan

When people learn English, it isn't often that certain explanatory phrases are listed/explained in standard text books. Here are some common small phrases.

inside out = "my T-shirt was folded inside out (inside of the T-shirt is folded to the outside)to avoid ironing the motif"

around and about = when I visit new places, I like to go around and about" (look around to see what is there)

up and down =  "when I went for an interview, the manager looked me up and down (looked at me very carefully) and then said ...'you look an intelligent person'!"

back to front = " I saw that his sweater was back to front (wrong way round)

in and out = "you've been in and out (coming in and going out) of the office all day long!"

here and there = "I looked here and there (different places), but I could not find my dog"

now then = "'now then!' (same as "alright!") he said, "Why are you here, do you need some help?"

to and fro = "I went to and fro (same as here and there)to see what I needed to do"

upside down = "I turned my glass upside down to see what was printed on the bottom of the glass, the water spilled on me!"

over and over = "I went over and over (looked at many times) the songwords to see if I could remember them better"

stranger and stranger = "the mystery developed, I thought things were getting stranger and stranger (more mysterious)

from and to  = "I went from London to Manchester"

simply put = "simply put,(in a straightforward way) I don't want to do it!"

Bye

Alan

Happy words. The word "Happy" mostly implies elation of spirit with good feelings, sometimes with laughter or even with tears.

"Happy to see you!" (I'm happy to see you)

"Happy to be here!"

"I'm happy about that"

"It makes me happy to do that"

"Happily, the weather stayed good during all our holidays"

"Happy Easter"

"Happy Christmas"

"Happy New Year"

"Happy Holidays!"

"Happy Birthday"

"Tears of happiness"

"Happy Holidays"

"Happy-go-lucky"

Bye

Alan

nǐmenhǎo！

我wǒ gāng  kàndào yīpiān yǒuguān 英国yīngguó幽默yōumò)的(de)法语(fǎyǔ)文章(wénzhāng)。它(tā)对(duì)什么(shénme)能(néng)使(shǐ)英国人(yīngguórén)发笑(fāxiào)做(zuò)了(le)很(hěn)精确(jīngquè)的(de)阐述(chǎnshù)。我(wǒ)决定(juédìng)用(yòng)它(tā)作为(zuòwéi)一(yī)个(gè)很好(hěnhǎo)的(de)Podcast练习(liànxí)法语(fǎyǔ)，同时(tóngshí)，也许(yěxǔ)我(wǒ)会(huì)在(zài)另外(lìngwài)的(de)Podcast中(zhōng)再(zài)用(yòng)英语(yīngyǔ)解释(jiěshì)一些(yìxiē)电视(diànshì)系列剧(xìlièjù)中(zhōng)涉及(shèjí)到(dào)的(de)例子(lìzǐ)。例如(lìrú)，憨豆(hāndòu)先生(xiānshēng)在(zài)全世界(quánshìjiè)的(de)其它(qítā)许多(xǔduō)国家(guójiā)大(dà)受(shòu)欢迎(huānyíng)，因为(yīnwéi)饰演(shìyǎn)憨豆(hāndòu)先生(xiānshēng) (Mr Bean)的(de)演员(yǎnyuán)（Rowan Atkinson）表演(biǎoyǎn)的(de)幽默(yōumò)大多(dàduō)是(shì)肢体(zhītǐ)喜剧(xǐjù)，而(ér)不(bú)需要(xūyào)过多(guòduō)的(de)台词(táicí)。再见(zài jiàn)！尽管(jǐnguǎn)我们(wǒmen)是(shì)英国(yīngguó)的(de)邻居(línjū)，英国(yīngguó)幽默(yōumò)却(què)时常(shícháng)让(ràng)我们(wǒmen)很(hěn)困惑(kùnhuò)。对于(duìyú)一些(yìxiē)“捉摸不定(zhuōmōbúdìng)的（de）幽默(yōumò)”，我们(wǒmen)始终(shǐzhōng)感到(gǎndào)难以(nányǐ)理解(lǐjiě)。这种(zhèzhǒng)英国式(yīngguóshì)的(de)幽默(yōumò)总是(zǒngshì)围绕(wéirào)着(zhe)蠢事(chǔnshì)或者(huòzhě)过头(guòtóu)的(de)搞笑(gǎo xiào)。有(yǒu)一个(yīgè)例子(lìzǐ)能够(nénggòu)很好(hěnhǎo)地(dì)说明(shuōmíng)这(zhè)一点(yìdiǎn)，就是(jiùshì)在(zài)电视(diànshì)系列剧(xìlièjù)《荒唐阿姨(huāng táng āyí)》(” Absolutely Fabulous”)中(zhōng)的(de)两个(liǎnggè)角色(juésè)Pasty和(hé)Edina。这(zhè)两个(liǎnggè)女人(nǚrén)的(de)人物(rénwù)特征(tèzhēng)都(dōu)极其(jíqí)夸张(kuāzhāng)怪异(guàiyì)。从(cóng)另外(lìngwài)一种(yīzhǒng)风格(fēnggé)来看(láikàn)，非常(fēicháng)流行(liúxíng)的(de)憨豆(hāndòu)先生(xiānshēng) (Mr Bean)经常(jīngcháng)把(bǎ)自己(zìjǐ)置于(zhìyú)荒谬(huāngmiù)可笑(kěxiào)的(de)境地(jìngdì)。英国人(yīngguórén)有(yǒu)一种(yīzhǒng)他人(tārén)无法(wúfǎ)仿效(fǎngxiào)的(de)对于(duìyú)荒唐事(huāngtángshì)的(de)理解(lǐjiě)。“巨蟒”(jùmǎng) (“Monty Python”)喜剧(xǐjù)系列(xìliè)是(shì)又一个(yòuyīgè) 英国人(yīngguórén)用(yòng)自己(zìjǐ)的(de)特有(tèyǒu)方式(fāngshì)嘲弄(cháonòng)日常(rìcháng)生活(shēnghuó)的(de)例子(lìzǐ)。

http://www.linternaute.com/voyage/royaume-uni/culture-tradition/

L'humour anglais
Même si nous sommes voisins de la Grande-Bretagne, l'humour anglais nous laisse parfois très perplexe. Cet humour indéfinissable reste pour certains incompréhensible. La particularité de cet humour réside dans le ridicule et l'exubérance. Un exemple qui l'illustre parfaitement sont les personnages de Patsy et Edina dans la série Absolutely Fabulous. Ces deux femmes ont dans la série un caractère fortement exagéré et excentrique. D'un autre genre, le très populaire Mr Bean arrive à se mettre dans des situations souvent rocambolesques. Les Anglais ont un sens de l'absurde inimitable. Les Monty Python sont un autre exemple de la dérision dont les Anglais font preuve quotidiennement.

English humour

Hello everybody.

I just found this French article about English humour. It is quite an accurate description about what makes English people laugh. I decided it would make a good podcast  for me to practice French and also I could perhaps explain in English a little more about the TV series mentioned as examples in other podcasts. Mr Bean for example is very popular in many other countries around the world, because the actor who plays Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson) does not speak much as the humour he uses is mostly visual humour.

Bye for now

Even though we are Great Britain’s neighbour, English humour leaves us sometimes very perplexed. For some this “indefinable humour”  remains incomprehensible. The style of humour often revolves around stupidity or over the top exuberance. An example that illustrates this perfectly is in the characters of Pasty and Edina in the TV series “Absolutely Fabulous”. These two women’s characters are both gloriously exaggerated and eccentric. From another genre, the very popular Mr Bean often put himself in ridiculous situations. The English have an inimitable sense of the absurd. The “Month Python” comedy series is another example of the way English people mock daily life in their own particular way.

It is said we each have three ways of using language:

1. The language we speak everyday with family

2. The language we speak with people we don't know well

3. The language we use for special occasions: job interviews, business meetings etc.

So, when we learn a different language, we sometimes have difficulty to know which language style, which vocabulary, for each occasion that we have to speak it.

In some languages, there are informal words for "you": such as French "tu" and German "du". English used to have "thee" but this is not used now in England, except in certain local dialects. So modern English means we can use the same "you" with anybody in any occasion. This is useful.

But, I believe that more important is how we use our personality to put into a language that would help us overcome difficulties.

A friendly, polite approach would work well for most occasions when we meet people for the first time

"very nice to meet you" "I am happy to meet you"

A polite sensible approach would work well for formal occasions

"I have my passport here ready for you"

"Would it be possible to talk to the doctor please?"

For people we know already, then a friendly smile, relaxed approach would work well:

"great to see you!" "how are things? " "how about a drink?"

So, how do we practice?

We need to forget about self-conscious speaking and think practically about real situations and try to simulate them. So, have a look in a mirror and say the different sentences here in different ways. Smiling, serious, worried, happy...

The mirror will help us see how other people would see us.

Another important thing to remember for non-native English speakers is that most native speakers of English would always be prepared to help when people have problems in formal situations: in the supermarket, in a hotel, in a hospital, at a police station.

Of course, in a friendly situation, they will be helpful even more, So we can practice to try our best to look relaxed and interested before we even say a word!

Bye for now

Alan 

Another idea for oral or written practice is to think of a subject and extend the sentences with linked information: facts, intentions, feelings, predictions

An example:

1.“I like learning English”

This is a statement:

“ I like”  (it pleases me )

“learning” (to learn at the moment)

“English” (English language)

  Now we can extend this:

2.“I learn English for 10 years, I like learning English because it is good to know more about this language”

We can extend it more:

3. “I have been learning English for 10 years and I like learning it because it is good to know more about this language which is spoken in many places around the world”

A LONG sentence!

The idea is to keep our mind focussed on one subject and the information that goes together with this subject.

Here’s one more example:

1.“The weather is fine today”

2.“The weather is fine today, so I can go out and play football in the park”

3.“It rains a lot in England, but the weather is fine today, so I am happy because I can go out and play football in the park. I think it will stay fine.

(the subject is “weather in England” )

No.1  Statement of fact

No.2 Statement of fact and intention to do something (play football)

No 3 Two statements of fact “rains a lot in England” and “”weather is fine today” , state of mind “I am happy” and intention “go out and play football in the park”  prediction “I think it will stay fine”

Bye for now

Be good be happy

Alan