The Silvertrainer

Things you thought you already knew

2009-04-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

1. The longest one-syllable word in the English language is "screeched."

2. "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt"

3. Almonds are members of the peach family.

4. The symbol on the "pound" key (#) is called an octothorpe.

5. The dot over the letter 'i' is called a tittle.

6. Ingrown toenails are hereditary.

7. The word "set" has more definitions than any other word in the English language.

8. "Underground" is the only word in the English language that begins and ends with the letters "und."

9. There are only four words in the English language which end in "-dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

10. The longest word in the English language, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.

11. The only other word with the same amount of letters is its plural: pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosesl.

12. The longest place-name still in use is Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwe-nuakit natahu, a New Zealand hill.

13. Los Angeles's full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reinade los Angeles de Porciuncula" and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of its size,L.A.

14. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

15. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

16. Alfred Hitchcock didn't have a belly button. It was eliminated when he was sewn up after surgery.

17. Telly Savalas and Louis Armstrong died on their birthdays.

18. Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy.

19. The muzzle of a lion is like a fingerprint - no two lions have the same pattern of whiskers.

21. A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.

23. There is a seven-letter word in the English language that contains ten words without rearranging any of its letters, "therein": the,there, he, in, rein, her, here, ere, therein, herein.

24. Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as both parties are registered blood donors.

26. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

27. It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

28. Cranberries are sorted for ripeness by bouncing them; a fully ripened cranberry can be dribbled like a basketball.

30. The letters KGB stand for Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti

31. 'Stewardesses' is the longest English word that is typed with only the left hand.

33. The combination "ough" can be pronounced in nine different ways; the following sentence contains them all: "A rough-coated, dough-faced, thoughtful ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough; after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed."

34. The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable.

35. Facetious and abstemious contain all the vowels in the correct order, as does arsenious, meaning "containing arsenic."

36. Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian seal for that reason.

37. Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs only have about ten.

38. The word "Checkmate" in chess comes from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat," which means "the king is dead."

39. The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days of yore when the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on the ground floor and figured out how to walk up straight staircases.

Recession Proof Your Job By Checking For Grammar Mistakes

2009-01-30T14:39:00.000-08:00

Bad writing, full of grammar and spelling mistakes, sticks out like a sore thumb, There's no hiding, especially when your documents or emails are viewed in Word or Outlook which have a spelling and grammar checker which flags your grammar mistakes.

In Fall 2008, the recession is upon us. You think businesses aren't looking where to cut employees to lower their business costs? Employers are looking for reasons to let people go, so if your writing isn't up to scratch, now's the time to brush up on your grammar and make your writing look professional.

The first place to start is in email. With the emergence of instant messaging, we've become used to writing in a "shorthand" style on the computer. Words like "l8r", "cu", "cos" are very common in email but there's a time and place for them, and the business envorinment is definitely not one of them.

While this style works with friends and family, you just don't know how upper managment will react. So get used to "longhand" typing now, as laborious as it may be.

Next step is to tackle spelling and grammar checking in your documents. And let's just state the obvious right now. No wordprocessor has a good grammar checker, so you're going to have to go out and buy one.

The good news is that there are a couple of strong grammar checkers on the market so you will be able to find a good solution to buy.

Better still, download a trial version of one then persuade your boss that it would be a good investment for the two of you to have a powerful grammar checker. That way you can cut out grammar mistakes using the gammar checker and the company is paying for it, not you!

Source

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English Editing and Proofreading Services

2009-01-25T23:52:00.000-08:00

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Japan learns English from Obama speech textbook

2009-01-21T14:05:00.000-08:00

TOKYO (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama's speeches are proving a best-seller in Japan -- as an aid to learning English.

An English-language textbook, "The Speeches of Barack Obama," has sold more than 400,000 copies in two months, a big hit in a country where few hit novels sell more than a million copies a year.

Japanese have a fervor for learning English and many bookstores have a corner dedicated to dozens of journals in the language, many of them now featuring the new U.S. leader's face.

"Speeches by presidents and presidential candidates are excellent as listening tools to learn English, because their contents are good and their words are easy to catch," said Yuzo Yamamoto of Asahi Press, which produced the best-selling text book.

"Obama's is especially so. His speeches are so moving, and he also uses words such as 'yes, we can,' 'change' and 'hope' that even Japanese people can memorize," he said.

Speeches by President George W. Bush and former nominee John Kerry's four years ago did not have the same appeal, however, and nor do those made by Japanese politicians, Yamamoto said.

"In Japan, we don't have politicians who have such a positive influence. That's why we have to turn to a foreign president for someone in whom to place our hopes."

The 95-page paperback features Obama's speeches in English from the 2004 Democratic National Convention and during the Democratic Party primaries, in which he defeated Hillary Clinton. They are accompanied by Japanese translations.

The 1,050 yen ($12) book, which includes a CD of the speeches, tops the bestseller list on bookseller Amazon's Japanese Website,www.amazon.co.jp/

"Readers have sent in postcards saying that when they heard the speeches, they were so moved and cried even though they don't understand English very well," Yamamoto said.

He said lawmakers from Japan's main opposition Democratic Party had bought the book to study Obama's speeches.

Following Obama's inauguration on Tuesday, Asahi Press plans to issue a sequel that includes his inaugural address, as well as President John F. Kennedy's 1961 inaugural speech. It will also feature a reading of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address of 1863.

(Editing by Michael Watson)

Sponsors belittle opposition, ready to defend 'English' bill

2008-12-25T18:43:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - Belittling the opposition to the bill, sponsors of a proposed measure reinforcing English in schools are ready to defend it during plenary discussion at the House of Representatives.

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas, one of the lead proponents of House Bill 5169, said he and his fellow sponsors "definitely welcome" the plan of critics to raise questions on the floor.

"We now live and compete in the fast-moving information technology (IT) age, and English is the language of technology. So we have to embrace English," Gullas said in an article on the House of Representatives website.

He said even India and Taiwan are promoting the use of English.

In the Philippines, he said tens of thousand of South Koreans visit the country us just to study English short courses.

"What do India, Taiwan and South Korea have in common? They all aspire to be global leaders in the IT revolution, and they realize that in order to achieve their ambitions, they need adequate English skills," he said.

Gullas said he and the other lead sponsors of the bill, including Luis Villafuerte (Camarines Sur), Crispin Remulla (Cavite), Raul Del Mar (Cebu), Del De Guzman (Marikina City) and Cynthia Villar (Las Pinas City), are "more than ready and willing" to defend the bill.

Earlier, Valenzuela City Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo vowed to oppose the impending approval of the proposed Act Strengthening and Enhancing the Use of English as the Medium of Instruction.

Gullas said 202 members or 85 percent of the 238-strong House have co-authored the bill.

"This ought to give everyone a sense as to how overwhelming and formidable the support for the bill is," he said.

He also maintained that the House committees on basic education and culture chaired by De Guzman, and on tertiary and technical education chaired by Villar, have thoroughly examined the bill and its potential positive outcome.

Even Education Secretary Jesli Lapus is totally supportive of the bill, he said.

"Just the same, we welcome a painstaking debate on the floor ... We must stress that this is not just about jobs in contact centers or in the business processing outsourcing industry. This is about arming our future labor force participants with the language skills necessary for them to compete aggressively in all gainful job markets here and abroad," he said.

The House committees chaired by De Guzman and Villar filed a joint report on December 14, strongly endorsing the bill for immediate plenary consideration and approval.

Besides Speaker Prospero Nograles (Davao City) and Majority Leader Arthur Defensor Sr. (Iloilo), the bill's key endorsers include former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr (Pangasinan); Edcel Lagman (Albay); Teodoro Locsin Jr. (Makati City); and Roilo Golez (Parañaque City).

Likewise backing the bill are Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora (San Juan); Joseph Santiago (Catanduanes), chairman of the information and communications technology committee; and Junie Cua (Quirino), chairman of the appropriations committee.

Under the bill:

* English, Filipino or the regional/native language may be used as the teaching language in all subjects from preschool to Grade 3;

* English shall be the teaching language in all academic subjects from Grades 4 to 6, and in all levels of high school;

* English and Filipino shall be taught as separate subjects in all levels of elementary and high school;

* The current language policy prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education shall be maintained in college; and

* English shall be promoted as the language of interaction in schools.

The bill also requires English as the language of assessment in all government examinations, and in all entrance tests in public schools as well as state universities and colleges.

Once enacted, the bill would supersede Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 25, which proclaimed a "bilingual" teaching policy.

Under the bilingual policy adopted in 1974, the subjects of social studies, character education, values education, industrial arts, home economics, physical education were all taught using Filipino while other subjects were done in English.

Upon implementation of the bilingual policy, however, Gullas said the subjects that were supposed to be taught in English were actually done in "Taglish," or a blend of English and the local dialect.

"As a language is best learned through constant exposure and use, we have to prescribe again by law, and not simply by administrative fiat, the reinstatement of English as medium of instruction, except of course in Filipino taught as a subject," Gullas said.

A previous survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) indicated that while most Filipinos are convinced that English mastery leads to greater employment opportunities, many still lack proficiency in the language.

In the March 2008 survey by the SWS, only 76 percent of voting-age Filipinos said they could understand spoken English.

Of those polled, only 75 percent said they could read English; only 61 percent said they could write English; only 46 percent said they could speak English; and only 38 percent said they could think in English. - GMANews.TV

Online English Quizzes and Presentations

2008-07-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a good site, although it is still in its development stages:
http://silvertrainer.50g.com

It uses flash animation to capture a users attention while effectively learning basic and advanced grammar, vocabulary and even pronunciation.

Call Center Industry - Philippines

2008-07-09T00:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a promotional video showcasing the call center/ BPO industry in the Philippines. It highlights the English communication skills of Filipinos in this area. While issues have been raised regarding the declining English proficiency of majority of Filipinos, it has been reported that the call center field is stated to grow to a 10- billion dollar industry in the next few years.

SELF-TEST ON LEARNING ENGLISH

2008-07-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

This test will help you to test yourself. It will show you how quickly you will learn English.Do not send the answers to us! It is just to help you.

It asks you a number of questions within each of these sections. Write your answer on paper.
Then look at the "HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR SCORE" section and add up your score for each section.

Which country do you come from ?
What is your mother tongue ?
How old are you ?
Why do you want to learn English ?
Have you learned other languages before ?
Have you studied English before ?
If you have studied English, then how long?
What level did you study at ?
Have you ever been in an English speaking country ?
If you have lived in an English speaking country, how long was it for?
How fast do you want to learn ?
How do you like to learn ?
Do you like to do a lot of written work ?

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR SCORE . . .For each question, note the number on the left hand side and give yourself a score form 1 to 5 from the following:-

The following are statements which are assumed to be true IN GENERAL and which give a good indication of learning speed when considered together. However, everyone is an individual and everyone is different.

A. Which country do you come from ?
Students from some countries learn English more slowly - cultural differences and language differences play a large part in this.
Countries with a very different language & culture e.g. Korea, Brazil, African countries, Arab countries.
Countries with a very different language but an international culture e.g. Japan, Finland
European countries where English is little used e.g. France, Spain, Italy
European countries where English is important e.g. Switzerland, Germany
Western European countries where English is widely spoken e.g. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland

B. What is your mother tongue ?
Students whose mother tongue has a non-roman alphabet are often slower learners at first. Mistakes based on your first language are greater where the language is very different e.g. Japanese or Korean, or where it is very similar but differences are culturally important e.g. Spanish & Portuguese.
Languages or dialects which you do not normally write down
Languages with a non-roman way of writing e.g. Korean, Arabic, Thai, Japanese
Non-European languages with a roman alphabet
Romance languages e.g. French, Spanish, Italian
Languages from the Germanic family e.g. German, Norwegian, Dutch, Danish

C. How old are you ?
IN GENERAL, older students learn more slowly and younger students faster.
50+
40-50
30-40
20-30
under 20

D. Why do you want to learn English ?
Your reason for learning will affect how fast you will learn.
'My parents want me to'.
'To go on holiday to an English speaking country' OR 'To write to a penpal'.
'It's my hobby' OR 'I need it for my job'.
'To pass an exam' OR 'My employer wants me to learn English'.
'My husband/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend speaks English'.

E. Have you learned other languages before ?
People with a history of learning languages learn faster than those without.
No.
I studied a language at school.
I have already learned one language as an adult.
I have already learned two or more languages as an adult. OR I am fluent in at least one foreign language.
I am fluent in two or more languages.

F. Have you studied English before ? How long ? What level did you study at ?
Students who have studied more tend to learn faster as they start to remember what they learned before.
No.
I have only studied on my own.
I recently studied English at school in my country.
I took a full-time course in English recently.
I passed an English exam recently.

G. Have you ever been in an English-speaking country ? How long ?
Students who have been in an English-speaking country longer have become accustomed to hearing English and will learn faster.
Never.
One or two weeks.
A month at least.
A few months.
More than 6 months.

H. How fast do you want to learn ?
People may prefer to learn fast, others to learn slowly. Some people have more confidence.
Very slowly.
Slower than average.
Average speed.
Faster than average.
Fast.

I. How do you like to learn ?
Students with a background of 'academic' study will learn faster.
I want to learn grammar and vocabulary on my own.
I want to have a teacher to tell me what to do.
I want to learn in a class with other students.
I learn by talking to my friends.
I learn by talking with people who speak English well.

J. Do you like to do a lot of written work ?
None.
A little.
Some.
Quite a lot.
A lot.

FINAL SCORESIf you have scored over 35 you are very likely to learn fast and you are probably not a Beginner. You probably enjoy learning and will be successful quickly.
If you have scored between 20 and 35 you are very likely be an average learner - you will need to work hard but within a few months you will have learned a lot.
If you have scored between 10 and 20 you will find it much harder to learn - it may take you a long time to learn - up to a year. Be patient and keep practising!

Source:

English Radio Online

2008-07-06T23:49:00.001-07:00

Listen to radio in your country
Schedules and wavelengths for Africa, Asia and Europe
Wherever you live in the world, you can find programmes for your country and language. Here are some main broadcasting stations. Please email us if any of the links do not work. You can also listen to many of these stations using a computer.

FEBA – for Africa, Indian subcontinent, and Middle East

FEBC – programs for E Africa, India, Pakistan, Central Asia, S E Asia, China and Japan

IBRA – broadcasting to Africa, Asia, Europe, N and S America

Trans World Radio – programs in many languages for most parts of the world

HCJB – for S America, Australia and more

Specialized (easy) English – ideal for English learners and second-language speakers. You can listen to these online in MP3 format, and download them to give to others

Sat 7 – satellite TV in the Middle East

Global Recordings – not radio, but downloadable MP3 recordings in a big range of languages.

HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

2008-07-06T23:36:00.000-07:00

The Mixing Starts

When Julius Caesar, later to be Roman Emperor, invaded Britain in BC 54-5, the 'Celtic' tribes lived in the British Isles. Their Celtic languages still survive as 'Gaelic' in Scotland & Ireland, 'Welsh', in Wales, and 'Manx' in the Isle of Man, as well as 'Breton' in France.

The Romans brought Latin to Britain, which was part of the Roman Empire for over 400 years. But early English did not develop mainly from Latin. So it is unlike French, Spanish and Italian, which did come directly from Latin. 'Early English' was the language of tribes who invaded from the East, from what is now Germany. They spoke different dialects of a 'Germanic' language, from which modern German developed. This explains why German and English are often similar, as many of their words developed from the same original language.

In 878 AD, the Vikings invaded Britain from Scandinavia, bringing with them the Norse language, though this was similar to the old English or Anglo-Saxon language already used.
The dramatic arrival of the Norman army from France, led by King William the Conqueror in 1066, and the defeat of the English King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, brought very big changes to English life. The Normans brought with them the Old French language, which became the language of the Royal Court, and the ruling and business class.

No More Invasions

By about 1200, the Kingdoms of England and France had ceased to be one unit. The use of Old English came back, but with many French words added. This language is called Middle English, the language of the poet Chaucer (about 1340-1400). He has been called the greatest English poet before Shakespeare. It is difficult for even English-speakers to read and understand his writings well.

Can you understand these lines:
"Whan that Aprille with his shoures swote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote..."

In modern English this is:
"When April with his sweet showers has struck to the roots the dryness of March.."
ie, when the April showers of rain have gone right down to the roots of plants which have been dried up during March!

This 'Middle English' was very different in different parts of the country, and of course travel was limited in those days. But another big revolution was coming - the printing press. Just as radio, television, video, and computers, have changed communication in our time, so did printing after about 1500 AD. Now there was a common language in print, as well as access to the old languages of Latin and Greek.

Shakespeare

Now came the 'Renaissance' in Europe - a time of great advance of learning and culture. By this time, English was not very different from the English used today. And the most famous person to write in English in this period was William Shakespeare (1564-1616). His insight into human nature, and his gift for using words, make him possibly the most famous playwright of all time! Having in his hands such a new rich language must have helped him too.
Shakespeare gave the English language many phrases and sayings, which English speakers still use every day. Often, they do not realise these words came from Shakespeare's plays or poems!

Do you know some of these?:
'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet'
"If music be the food of love, play on and give me excess." (12th Night)
"Of one who loved not wisely but too well." (Othello)
"All our yesterdays.." "Out, out brief candle." (MacBeth)
"To be or not to be......"

For a website covering all the works of Shakespeare, plus many other Shakespeare resources,visit THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE

The Best seller of all time
At almost the same time as Shakespeare, came the printing of a book which has had an even greater effect on society and culture - the 'Authorised' or 'King James' translation of the Bible in 1611. For almost the first time, anyone who could read had access to the Bible in their own language, and in words which were easily understood.

The beauty of the language in this translation has never been equalled. Though today, because language has changed, it is difficult in places to understand, even for native English speakers, many people still use it. And like Shakespeare, many phrases and quotations from it have become part of the English language. People often use them without knowing they come from the Bible.

For example:
'turn the other cheek'
'go a second mile'
'Straight and narrow'
'A Job's comforter'
'Don't cast your pearls before swine'
'the love of money is the root of all evil'

Modern English
Since the time of Shakespeare, English has continued to change. Settlers from Britain moved across the world - to the USA, Australia, New Zealand, India, Asia and Africa, and in each place, the language changed and developed, and took in words from other local languages. For example, 'kangaroo' and 'boomerang' are native Australian Aborigine words, 'juggernaut' and 'turban' came from India.

With the increase in communication, travel, radio and television, all these different types of English have mixed. So in Britain now, because of American and Australian TV programming, we use many parts of Australian and American English. And words from many other languages - French, German, Spanish, Arabic, even Nepali - have been borrowed. So English continues to change and develop, with hundreds of new words arriving every year. For better or worse, it has truly become the world's international language.It has become the language of science, air traffic control, the world of computers, and most of the Internet. And in many countries, where there are other competing languages and people groups, English has been chosen as a common second language. This has happened in Nigeria and Ghana.

This may not seem fair to other important and valuable languages which are also international! For example, those of us who know and love France, realise that the French regret the way their language may not be so much of an international language as it used to be. And it is sad that English people are often lazy, and don't bother to learn other languages!
So, for many jobs and situations, English has become an essential gateway. If you are learning it - best wishes and we hope you enjoy it!

Source:

There are many ways to improve your level of English:

2008-07-06T23:25:00.000-07:00

READ IT
Read as many English books, newspapers and magazines as you can find. We also recommend the English version of the monthly magazine READERS DIGEST. It has short stories and articles.

LOOK AT OTHER LEARNING MATERIAL ON THE WEB
This site includes various learning methods that can suit your learning needs. Other sources include search results on google, yahoo and Wikipedia.

TALK IT
Talk to friends who are also learning English. Make a rule that perhaps for an hour, or when you go out together, you will only speak English to each other! Find native English-speaking people who will give you conversation practice.

GO TO AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL
It may help to seek professional help on how to go about your learning process.

VISIT AN ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY
The top 5 countries to visit are:
1. USA
2. UK
3. Canada
4. Australia
5. New Zealand

Insitutes in other countries such as the Philippines, the Carribean and even South Africa also offer English courses.

MORE ABOUT LEARNING ENGLISH

English is an easy language to start learning because:
· it has no genders. Apart from people, all objects are 'neuter', not 'masculine' or 'feminine'. So you say 'it' for such things, and do not need to learn any genders.
· it usually has easy verb endings. Apart from a few 'irregular' verbs, verb endings are easy, and hardly change.
· adjectives remain the same for all words - there are no different endings to learn.
· the singular and plural pronoun 'you' is the same. There is no need to decide whether to use a polite form, or an intimate form, when speaking to someone as in French or German. (English used to have the singular form 'thou', which was often used in the intimate way like 'tu' or 'du'. In fact, in dialects in parts of England, this is still sometimes used. And in the Republic of Ireland, they have a very sensible plural form of 'you', when speaking to several people: 'yous'.)

The difficult parts of English are:
· the spelling of a word may not show what the pronunciation (way of saying) the word is. This is because English words came from many different sources. It is not a 'pure' language.
· because English came from two main sources - old French, and old Anglo-Saxon, there is a very large vocabulary of words. Words with similar meanings may have come from both sources. For example, START (from Anglo-Saxon) and COMMENCE (from old French). The meaning is similar, but not precisely the same.
· native English speakers use a lot of idioms, that is - words used in a way which is not their obvious meaning. An English speaker may say,
"I do not think much of apples."
This does not mean he doesn't often think about apples. It means that he does not like apples very much!
Yet he might say,
"I think nothing of going for a swim before breakfast."
What this really means is that he actually likes doing this, and that it is no problem to him!
But don't worry. You will find that you can understand and communicate even when you have not been learning English for long!

Humor Break - Funny Japan Learning English

2008-07-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

Debate on English Language Learning in China

2008-07-03T21:18:00.000-07:00

In the 1980s China started to open up to the outside world. This is taken by many Chinese to mean "Westernisation" or "Americanisation". Now there is considerable debate about whether this is the right direction to take. How successful is the policy of encouraging the learning of English language in China? Here are some snippets taken from English-language publications in China.

China and Chinese, or Chingland and Chinglish?
From the China Daily [link no longer available] an article by Niu Chiang and Martin Wolff.

But an alarm bell has been sounded by such eminent scholars as Professor To Cho-yee of Hong Kong, who argues that the widespread study of English is a waste of valuable resources to the detriment of the study of Mandarin (cf. Shanghai Star 10-24-02, “English Dominance”).
Why does China so meekly submit to the English-based new world order emanating out of Washington, D.C., when 25% of the world’s population looks to Beijing for its leadership? Does China not yet realize the reality that the emerging China has the immediate clout to demand that those desiring to do business in China or with China should learn Mandarin, rather than expect 1.3 billion Chinese to learn English?"

Meagre results
An article by Yaodong in BeBeyond [link no longer available]

1980s,at the begining of the reform and opening policy,english talents were scarcity.Speaking english fluently is glory and can make money easy.
The bulk of the English teaching is still conducted by Chinese teachers, mostly trained in a traditional way, the majority of whom have never been outside of China or talked to a native speaker.

Several comments
from China View [link no longer available]

liutuo1234: China is probably one of the few countries in the world where learning English has almost become a national obsession. However, most people cost much but gain little. Our teaching and test systems have deviated from the initial purpose of English learning in that it teaches and encourages elite English instead of practical one. Beneficiaries are limited to those who intend to study overseas. Yet, to the millions who have little use of the language, it is a great waste of time, energy and resources.

Xianqijing: The problem is English is now used as a tool for various tests rather than a tool for communication. In Hong Kong, children in the kindergartens are speaking English. They are learning the language in the simplest way, by listening and speaking. Look at us in the mainland, even a graduate student cannot speak the language properly or read English newspapers after some 20 years' efforts. Why? It's because we pay too much attention on grammars.
Nanyangjun: Strongly advocating studying English while playing down thei importance of learning the mother tongue… are we going to have our education colonized? Educational authorities need to think over the issue. English is merely a tool after all…

Barry2000: Frankly, English is of little use in our daily life."

Whjlizhi: I absolutely oppose the practice of placing as much emphasis on learning English as on Chinese. It's a shame for a country with such a splendid culture to do so. It's not proper to require every Chinese to bent on learning English, especially when the learning is initiated and sponsored by government.

ylz01: I'm not very enthusiastic at English study. English is not my mother tongue. To me It's just a skill rather than knowledge. My mother tongue is Chinese. It's one of the most excellent and beautiful languages in the world. I love it!

Language Learning Standards: Korean Case

2008-07-03T21:12:00.000-07:00

Sunhee Choi, PhD.
JeonJu University & IACE

Background Information
Education is believed to be the driving force of Korean Economic Development & Prosperity
Great Passion for Education
In 2001 MOE has been expanded to MOEHRD Headed by a Deputy Prime Minister
6-3-3-4 Single Track System
Free Compulsory education for Elementary & Middle School Students
Enrollment Rate is Nearly 100%

English Education in Korea
English is considered as a must-have skill in the era of globalization
A great amount of mental & monetary investment in English Education
Attract many talented young people into the field
Controlled mainly by the National Curriculum & Learning Standards
Start at 3rd grade

The National Curriculum
National Curriculum Issued by MOHRD
Mandatory for all schools from kindergarten to Highschool, including private schools
Revised with a 5 – 10 year cycle since 1954
Provide principles for instruction, assessment, & textbook development
Sets strict regulations for the number of schools days, the subjects to be taught for each school year, and the time allocation for each subject in each school year
There is some room for modification either by local education authorities or individual schools

The 7th National Curriculum (1)
Issued in 1997 & Implemented in March 2000
Student-Centered Curriculum
Focus on:
Fostering individual talent, aptitude & creativity
Preparing for globalization & a knowledge-based economy.
Goals & Objectives
To provide students with various learning opportunities according to their aptitude, ability and academic or career plans

The 7th National Curriculum (2)
Characteristics
Reduce the number of required subjects
Increase electives
Diversify the curriculum according to different achievement levels & interests
Consist of two parts:
National compulsory curriculum for Year 1 to Year 10 (ages 6-16)
Elective-centered curriculum for Year 11 and Year 12 (students aged 16-18).

English Learning Standards (1)
The 7th Curriculum & Standards in Effect
Main Principles
Differentiated instruction for learners of different aptitudes, abilities & career plans
Promoting communicative competence
Activity- or Task-based instruction
Teaching reasoning & critical thinking skills
Raising global citizens (Cultural learning)

English Learning Standards (2)
Goals & Objectives: Students should be able to:
Gain interest and confidence for life-long learning
Communicate about general everyday topics
Comprehend and utilize the information produced in English
Understand & value Korean culture by studying other cultures

English Learning Standards (3)
Different performance expectations for different grade levels & different skills
Instruction Hours
34 (3 & 4)/ 68 (5 & 6)/ 102 (7 & 8), 136 (9 & 10)
Differentiated Instruction
In-depth and supplementary differentiation from Grade 3 to 6
4 Levels of English courses are offered from Grade 7 to 10
Elective courses for Grade 11 & 12

Implementation Efforts
Enhancing Pre-Service Teacher Training
Employing Various In-Service Teacher Training Initiatives
Adopting Various Assessments
Utilizing Native-English Speaking Teachers
Incorporating ICT into English Education

Implementation Efforts: Pre-Service Teaching Training
Recognize the Importance of Pre-Service Teacher Training
Enhancing the Curriculum of Teacher Education Programs
More Mandatory Subjects
More Field Experiences
Testing 4 Skills along with Theories & Pedagogy in Teacher Hiring Exam
Evaluation of Teacher Education Programs

Implementation Efforts: In-Service Teaching Training
Various Types of Training Program
Language Training
Pedagogy Training
Face to Face, Online, & Teacher Networking
Increased Opportunities for Government-Funded Overseas Training
Language & Pedagogy Training
Connected to Promotion

Implementation Efforts: Various Assessments
National Scholastic Achievement Test
To Identify the rate of progress of students
To place students according to the differentiated curriculum
To Improve the quality of teaching
Performance Assessments
To Measure students’ actual communicative competence
To Evaluate the effectiveness of instruction

Implementation Efforts: Native-English Speaking Teacher
Help both students and teachers with their English proficiency
Teach regular & extra-curricular classes by team-teaching with Korean English teachers
Train Korean English teachers in teaching methodologies
Promote students’ cultural understanding

Implementation Efforts: ICT
English textbooks come with CD-Roms
Various authentic materials found on the Internet
Games, Movies, Pictures, & Audio Clips
Asynchronous & synchronous communication with native & non-native speakers of English
Ubiquitous English learning has been experimented in some schools

The New National Curriculum
Not 8th, but Revised Curriculum
Will be introduced gradually from 2009
Competency-based curriculum to develop basic competency for all
Enhance & Evaluate Teachers’ Performance
Promote Teachers’ autonomy & accountability

Korea has a single track 6-3-3-4 system which maintains a single line of school levels. To ensure the standard quality of education, the national curriculum for each school levels, criteria for development of textbooks and instructional materials are prescribed by law.
Job security – Retirement Age is 62
Trend is definitely toward decentralization in determining, diversifying, and implementing the curriculum.
Korea has a national curriculum developed and monitored by the Ministry of Education. It is revised every five to ten years; implementation of the seventh national curriculum began in 2000. This curriculum seeks to develop democratic citizens who have strong moral and civic convictions.
Has been included in the national curriculum since 1955
The 7th curriculum is in effect
Differentiated Instruction
4 levels of English courses are offered from Grade 7 to Grade 10
Each level is further sub-divided into two sub-levels, operated on a semester basis
those in Year 11 (aged 16-17) began to follow an elective courses-based curriculum, as did students in Year 12 (17- to 18-year-olds) in 2004
Hire an increasing number of NEST
EFL

Language Learning Standards: Korean Case

2008-07-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

How To Improve Your English

2008-07-03T02:32:00.000-07:00

How To Improve Your English

Learning English (or any language for that matter) is a process. You are continually improving your English and the following "How to" describes a strategy to make sure that you continue to improve effectively.

Here's How:

Remember that learning a language is a gradual process - it does not happen overnight.

Define your learning objectives early: What do you want to learn and why?

Make learning a habit. Try to learn something every day. It is much better to study (or read, or listen to English news, etc.) 10 minutes each day than to study for 2 hours once a week.

Remember to make learning a habit! If you study each day for 10 minutes English will be constantly in your head. If you study once a week, English will not be as present in your mind.

Choose your materials well. You will need reading, grammar, writing, speaking and listening materials

Vary your learning routine. It is best to do different things each day to help keep the various relationships between each area active. In other words, don't just study grammar.

Find friends to study and speak with. Learning English together can be very encouraging.

Choose listening and reading materials that relate to what you are interested in. Being interested in the subject will make learning more enjoyable - thus more effective.

Relate grammar to practical usage. Grammar by itself does not help you USE the language. You should practice what you are learning by employing it actively.

Move your mouth! Understanding something doesn't mean the muscles of your mouth can produce the sounds. Practice speaking what you are learning aloud. It may seem strange, but it is very effective.

Be patient with yourself. Remember learning is a process - speaking a language well takes time. It is not a computer that is either on or off!

Communicate! There is nothing like communicating in English and being successful. Grammar exercises are good - having your friend on the other side of the world understand your email is fantastic!

Use the Internet. The Internet is the most exciting, unlimited English resource that anyone could imagine and it is right at your finger tips.

Tips:

Remember that English learning is a Process
Be patient with yourself.
Practice, practice, practice

Random Thoughts - Speaking

2008-06-09T03:02:00.000-07:00

English is a tool for communication – not a quality that divides social classes. You must refrain from thinking of it as only for the elite. Rather, think of it as a tool to narrow that divide. You are reading this now because you have a desire to make your life better. And a requirement for the path that you chose is English proficiency.

English is not a novelty. It doesn’t make you a freak (Even though those who can’t speak it insist that it does).Just because you can speak English doesn’t mean you have grown a third nipple. On more than one occasion, I have had a young college girl giggle, cover her face and run away from me when I said “hi”. Imagine if I were a 6 foot 200 lb 45 year old blue eyed white American male. I would have 18 elementary school children calling out after me “hey joe!” and the rest of the campus scampering away.

Jose Rizal, who spoke the famous words, “Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa mabahong isda” actually spoke several languages including English and even married an American. Yet, he made his way to becoming the National hero. Being fluent in another language especially English doesn’t necessarily equate to the abandonment of ones national pride. Again it is a tool, even, to compete globally and promote the beautiful cultures of the Philippines.

English is a part of culture. An understanding of American or British culture can be very helpful in expressing yourself in English. It will also be easier to understand a native speaker.

The Philippines has an advantage in the availability of Mass Media presented in Standard, British or American English. With the widespread availability of cable TV, channels like CNN, Discovery channel and HBO are the perfect resources easily within reach. Simon Cowell’ of American Idol and his harsh criticisms may raze a Filipinos sensitive skin like molten magma on tissue paper but he is a goldmine for analogies and expressions:

“If I’m being honest…”

“I don’t mean to be rude…”

“Don’t take it the wrong way…”

“Having said that…”

“On the flipside…”

My favorite – “You’re like a drunken man on the loose.”

Now is not the time to argue about whether Filipino English on a national level is good enough or deteriorating.

Now is not the time to argue about what the National Language should be. If you want to pass the English Proficiency test, you must satisfy the requirements of the test giving body and even try to please them enough to pass you.

Focus on your weak points but make sure that your strong points are secure.

Try to learn a new word or expression everyday. I was watching Mythbusters this morning on the Discovery Channel and while they were conducting an experiment, the “plausible” was mentioned about 9 times in 20 minutes. Without consulting the dictionary, I learned a new word out of context. The best part is, I was able to experience the sights and sounds of the entire situation where the word “plausible” was perfectly appropriate.

Wit and sarcasm is part of American everyday life. No matter how good you are in textbook English, if you don’t know how to respond to, say, a witty UCLA undergrad, you find yourself speechless. Even a docile Canadian would easily look for a more interesting person to talk to.

Just as a singer knows he is RnB or Rock, speakers also have their own distinct manner of speaking – your own trademark if you may.

· For example, there is this pageant host who started his sentences with “At this juncture…” and I counted 23 times in a 1-hour show, sometimes twice in a sentence – So at this juncture, we will have a final look at the five finalists and at this juncture the reigning queen shall have her final walk. J hahaha.

· If it makes your thoughts flow more fluidly, it is ok to use “basically” or “you know…” with your sentences as long as you don’t use it to the point of annoyance.

Experts' advice on how to improve English skills: Have no fear

2008-06-05T01:37:00.000-07:00

Monday, 05 May 2008

Non-native English speakers, like Filipinos, should not fear to use the language differently from the way native English speakers do. After all, English has a Philippine version, which should be acceptable since there is more than one way to use the language.

This is what notable local and foreign academicians and linguists said in a language conference last April 28 to 30 held at the University of Santo Tomas. Organized by the Linguistic Society of the Philippines (LSP), the conference, entitled “World Englishes and Second Language Teaching and Learning,” the conference focused on how English is learned and taught in the Philippines. Lectures were divided into three categories: linguistics, literature, and the pedagogical aspect of English as a second language.

English paradigm

The experts discussed the English paradigm, which emphasizes that there is more than one correct and proper way to express oneself in English. They said there are different kinds of English spoken in the world today. These include Philippine English, Malaysian English, Singapore English, among others.

Nanette Fernandez, assistant professor of English from the Ateneo de Manila University and a founder of the Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching, said that Filipinos already speak Philippine English whether they admit it or not. She cited often used phrases like 'cope up with' and 'majority of,' which purists would usually change to ‘cope with’ and ‘the majority of.'

“These are distinct to Philippine English,” Fernandez said. Filipinos, who are non-native English speakers, should learn to accept that they speak a 'nativized' form of English. Nonetheless, Fernandez said this is correct even if it is different from the English spoken in other parts of the world.

Have no fear

LSP President Isabel Pefianco Martin wrote in an article that that students will not learn a language effectively if they fear it. “From a linguistic standpoint, all languages are equally perfect and complete. This means that there really is no reason to fear English,” Martin wrote.

She pointed out that English is the most feared language in the country, citing indications such as jokes among students who claim that their noses bleed when they speak English, as well as legislative measures seeking to make English the sole medium of instruction. The first step towards conquering fear of a new language is removing the emotional barriers that impede the student's learning process.

Filipino English teachers, therefore, should change their attitudes and methods to allay their local students' fear of learning a foreign language, the experts said.

According to Dr. Loy V. Lising from the Macquarie University in Australia, the standardization of Philippine English is well under way, but the attitudes toward speaking and learning this variety affect its social acceptability.

Linguistic capital

The conference also dealt with the potential loss of a language among migrant communities.

Dr. Andrew Moody, associate professor at the University of Macau, presented the preliminary findings of his research paper, which focused on how Filipinos in Macau use the English language.

Moody cited how families that live abroad favor a dominant language, such as English, over their native one, such as Filipino. Among migrant communities, when speaking English has a “linguistic capital” because it comes with an economic incentive or results to a particular social status, the phenomenon of “language loss” could occur.

Other topics, such as the grammatical similarities of Singapore English and Philippine English, the creative use of Philippine English as seen in print advertisements, and the nativization of English in different Asian countries were also taken up in parallel lectures during the three-day conference.

-- Karla Eunice T. Mesina (abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak)

2000 job vacancies in call centers & hospitals

2008-06-04T11:29:00.001-07:00

Are you one of the chosen few qualified to fill these slots? Or are you still sitting in the sidelines watching this happen?

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Call center agents and nurses remain as the most in demand workers in local industries. Data from the DOLE-Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) showed that nurses and call center agents continue to top the list of needed skills, with close to 2,000 current vacancies.

The need for technical support staff is a far second, while vacancies for office clerks are ranked third.

Based on BLE records, there are a total of 64,386 vacancies in various commercial establishments nationwide while there are 24,124 jobseekers.

For the past three years, DOLE has recorded an increasing number of job vacancies or unfilled positions despite the high unemployment rate in the country.
Nurses

DOLE has embarked on skills training program in a bid to generate qualified workers for the growing number of hard to fill jobs in the country.

Also a few weeks ago, DOLE ordered all call centers nationwide to adopt occupational and health safety programs to curb the rising incidence of health problems among call center agents.

A study conducted by DOLE showed that call center agents are prone to stress, loss of voice, loss of hearing, headaches, eyestrain and musco-skeletal problems.

As posted in Pinoy Echange

English for Northern Luzon and the rest of the country

2008-06-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Urdaneta City (May 29, 2008) – Elementary and high school teachers from all over the city holding the Teachers Congress at the Urdaneta City National High School woke up from the slight lull of endless updates when the speaker, an elderly director, gave the microphone to a young man with a noticeable American accent. The venue started buzzing and necks started craning. Who is this new guy?

The man is a facilitator/ trainer from the newly established Global Skills Institute, the first institute in Urdaneta City dedicated to English proficiency and the only institute north of Manila to use a computer and software based learning management system. He had come with a marketing team headed by no less than the Vice President of Marketing and Operations himself, Mr. W.M. Ortillo Jr.

The team had come to present a revolutionary opportunity to teachers, teacher applicants and anyone with a desire to advance his or her proficiency in the English language. The Global Skills Institute boasts of a software application capable of transforming any English print into a learning resource. The software also eliminates subjective influences on evaluation that is always present in a classroom or lecture based environment (mood swings, personal choices, human error). With a standardized evaluation system, trainees can immediately receive feedback on their performance, correct errors and gauge their own progress all in one session.

With Urdaneta as one of the key cities chosen to be the next IT and BPO hubs in the Philippines, Global Skills Institute is definitely in the right position when Urdaneta City becomes a Call Center capital between Clark, Pampangga and Baguio City. Courses ranging from call center agent competency to IELTS are included in their impressive lineup. In fact it is so impressive that the Department of Education itself and TESDA have given their thumbs up and written recommendation of the Institute.

Global Skills Institute is founded and headed by Mr. Teofilo Donal Jr. and is located at the 3^rd Floor of the Donal Building on McArthur Highway, San Vicente East Urdaneta City, right across from the Lyceum Northern Luzon (LNL) Colleges.

As for the teachers who were given a treat to an American sounding speech, they were surprised to know the next day that their colleagues also received a similar interruption in their lectures in two other venues – Central I Elementary School and BADIPA Elementary School.

So for those who are keen on developing and improving their English skills, whether to land a call center job, nail an interview or pass the IELTS, Global Skills Institute will be more than happy to provide assistance and guidance to ensure success.