Cultural Differences: What Americans Really Mean When They Ask, “How are you?”
A young French woman on an exchange program in New York walked into a clothes store on Fifth Avenue one afternoon. A salesperson greeted her with, “How are you today?” “I was shocked!” she told me, a day later. “Why is that so shocking?” I asked. “But that lady...
How Companies Can Benefit by Providing English Classes to Foreign Employees
The profiles below, composites of people I have taught, show some of the different ways a private English teacher can boost an employee’s abilities and bring value to the company.
Gad is Great … at Embracing American English
As a way to improve your non-native skills in English, it may seem a little funny for me to be promoting a Moroccan-French standup comedian and his show on Netflix, but voila! The one-hour comedy special (all in English), “My American Dream,” features the fun, funny,...
Read My Lips: Why Foreign Speakers Should Open Their Mouths To Be Understood
The sounds of the English language force speakers to open their mouths. Think of the phrase, “Oh my god,” in which each word, particularly the last, gives a full, tongue-revealing flash.
“This Friday” or “Next Friday”: How to Make Appointments Without Confusion
When making appointments for meetings and other get-togethers, you might hear Americans refer to, for example, “this Friday” or “next Friday.” Since there is a potential one-week difference between the two, it’s important to master the difference.
Behind the Subtitle “Faux-Pas” in Netflix’s “Behind the Rise”
I recently started watching the Netflix documentary, “Emmanuel Macron: Behind the Rise,” about the election of France’s current president. The film is in French, naturellement, though I could not help noticing three common mistakes in the French-to-English subtitles, within the first seven minutes of the film. (Note: The mistakes pretty much end there.)
So far, the students that I’ve shared these findings with have seemed happy to see these all-too familiar mistakes in such a formidable and well-produced show. May this post help all non-native speakers on their English journey!
For Better English Pronunciation, Try Singing!
For improving your pronunciation in a foreign language, there is hardly anything better than singing songs in the language you’re learning. For over 10 years, I have been teaching English to non-native adult speakers and singing has proven to be a wonderful way for...
Thoughts and Prayers — and Hypocrisy
In the wake of the Las Vegas massacre, the phrase “thoughts and prayers” has again emerged for consideration. The root of "thoughts and prayers" as a hypocritical form of condolence was made clear in The New York Times Oct 4 article aptly named, “Thoughts and Prayers...
Me and the Prime Minister: Language in Transition
Today is Labor Day in the United States, marking the end of our summer. Actually, the beginning of the end typically comes in early August — walk into any local drug store chain in August to see Halloween trinkets and fake autumn leaves for sale in the seasonal aisle. The effect is jarring, and often sad. Likewise for language change.
Why You Should Know Who Toto is … and Why You’re Not in Kansas Anymore
In an article on the current British Museum’s exhibit of 60’s and post-60’s American art, English historian Simon Schama makes the pop culture reference, “But we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.” If that phrase is not familiar to you, either you have not seen the 1939...