WORDS, WORDS, WORDS

Do you find understanding jokes confusing? Well, don’t worry - you are not alone. Most students struggle with understanding humor. This is often because of the use of double meanings of words or phrases. See if you can figure out why this joke is supposed to be funny:)

Sally was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road. As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride. With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car. Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman. The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail, until she noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Sally.

"What's in the bag?" asked the old woman.

Sally looked down at the brown bag and said, "It's a bottle of wine. I got it for my husband.

"The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two. Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, she said, "Good trade."

The reason this joke is meant to be funny is the double meaning of the phrase “I got it for my husband”. Sally meant that she had bought the wine in order to give it to her husband, but the Navajo woman understood that meant that she traded her husband and got a bottle of wine in exchange.

If you would like more information on WORDS, WORDS, WORDS, please email Doctor English with your questions at drenglish@vec.ca.

T.I.P.S - To Improve, Practice Skills

Tired of studying English through basic grammar practice? There are many other creative ways to practice and improve your language skills than just by using a textbook.

It is a good idea when you are learning a language to remember that it is not only the words and grammar that are important, but also the rhythm of the language. Each language has its own rhythm or pattern, which can be compared to listening to a song without the words. In order to learn and understand the tune of a language, it is valuable to listen to English without focusing on words. Therefore, when you are at home, try to always have the TV or radio on in the background, even if you are not actively listening. You might be making dinner, or cleaning, or even just relaxing, but having English in the background. This will help your brain to recognize the pattern of the language and improve both your speaking and listening skills.

If you would like more information on T.I.P.S for English, please email Doctor English with your questions at drenglish@vec.ca..

CANADIAN, EH ?

One of the challenges of learning English is that the language changes depending on the English-speaking country in which you are in. Whether you are in Canada, the United States, England, Australia, or any of the many other countries in which English is the primary language, you will find the language changes. Not only are there distinctions in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, but there are also many cultural differences which affect how we use the language.

So, what is Canadian culture ? This can be very difficult to define as Canada has a population which incorporates many different ethnic groups and cultures. Often Canada has been described as a "mosaic". By definition, a mosaic means "a design which consists of small pieces of colored glass, tiles or stone set in concrete or plaster" (Collins Cobuild Dictionary). In reference to Canada, what mosaic means is that it is a country which consists of many different individual cultures that together form a multicultural picture. It is often compared with the United States, which has been described as a "melting pot". This means that all the cultures are mixed together into one, instead of being represented individually.

Therefore, when someone asks me "Is that common behaviour for Canadians?", it is very difficult to answer that precisely. There are some things that might be considered "Canadian" to a percentage of the population, but not to others. Nevertheless, there are some generalities that can be made about Canada and Canadians. Stay tuned to Ask Doctor English for more information on these generalities.

If you would like more information on CANADIAN, EH?, please email Doctor English with your questions at drenglish@vec.ca.

WORDS, WORDS, WORDS

Do you find learning Phrasal Verbs confusing? Well, don’t worry - you are not alone. Most students struggle with all the various meanings of the many phrasal verbs in the English language.

There are many reasons why phrasal verbs are confusing. Often the meaning of a phrasal verb is very different from the meaning of the verb alone. As well, the same phrasal verb may have more than one meaning. For example:
TURN – to move in a new direction
Ex: Please turn right at the next corner.
TURN DOWN – 1. To reject; 2. To reduce the volume of a TV or stereo.
Ex: The university turned down my application.
Ex: John! Turn down the music!

A great way to help you to learn phrasal verbs is to always link the phrasal verb with a particular image or situation in your mind. For example, when I hear the phrasal verb TURN DOWN, I imagine myself reducing the volume on the TV (and I imagine my mother’s angry expression!). As well, when I think of TURN DOWN, I can imagine myself asking someone out on a date and being rejected :( . Linking a phrasal verb to a particular idea or situation can help you to remember how and when to use it.

If you would like more information on WORDS, WORDS, WORDS, please email Doctor English with your questions at drenglish@vec.ca.

T.I.P.S – To Improve, Practice Skills

Tired of studying English through basic grammar practice? There are many other creative ways to practice and improve your language skills than just by using a textbook.

Being able to communicate through conversation is equally as important as having good grammar skills. There are two main skills to focus on when speaking English – Fluency and Accuracy. Fluency means that you are able to communicate at a normal speed, without a lot of hesitation in your speaking. Accuracy means to say things correctly, using the right grammar structure. Both of these are equally important when you are communicating, but are difficult to practice at the same time.

Therefore, next time you are having a conversation, trying focusing only on one skill – for example Fluency. Speak quickly and try to get your message across without worrying too much about your grammar. The following conversation you can focus on your Accuracy. Slow down, pay attention to your grammar structure and be sure to correct yourself when you have made a mistake. By alternating your focus on these two parts of communication, you will be able to improve your overall speaking skills.

If you would like more information on T.I.P.S for English, please email Doctor English with your questions at drenglish@vec.ca.