“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...
Trump’s Imperfect Present Perfect
Many non-native speakers of English experience anguish over the proper use of the present perfect verb tense (have done, have seen, etc.), which is often confused with the simple past (did, saw, etc.). The present perfect connects an action that started at some point in the past and relates to now; the simple past, on the other hand, focuses on a completed action that only refers only to the past — not the present.
CEO Julius Caesar Fired! Bringing Shakespeare to the Corporate Classroom
As an English teacher to private, foreign executive students, I usually use articles and news events from major magazines and newspapers for conversation and vocabulary. But this week, I decided to shake things up and bring in a hired gun: Shakespeare — specifically, Julius Caesar.
Three Simple Guidelines for Effective Corporate Thank-You Notes
A well-written corporate thank-you note can make your clients happy and increase your business. Conversely, a poorly written note sends a signal that you do not care 100% about your clients.