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.

In Canada, when you see someone that you know you usually say "Hi, how are you?" or "Hi, how’s it going?". You will notice that sometimes when Canadians say that to each other, they do not wait for a response to the question "How are you". They simply say it and then continue walking.

This is because often "How are you" is used as part of the greeting "Hi" and therefore the person is not really asking how you are. This is particularly common with people that you don’t know very well. If the person does wait for a reply, they are usually waiting for something positive, such as "Fine", "Good" or "Great". Most likely they are not expecting you to tell them in great detail about your illness or the bad day you have been having. Again, this is most common between acquaintances. Between close friends, the expression "How are you" may have a more genuine meaning.

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 English pronunciation confusing? Well, don’t worry - you are not alone. Even native speakers of English struggle with how to correctly pronounce some words.

One of the reasons why English pronunciation is difficult is because there are many words which are spelled differently, have different meanings, but are pronounced EXACTLY the same. These are called homophones. Here are some examples of commonly mispronounced homophones :

Flower (a plant) = Flour (the white powder used for baking)

Whether (if) = Weather (sunny, cloudy, etc.)

Bear (the animal) = Bare (not covered by anything)

Facts (true information) = Fax (the machine)

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.

A complaint that I often hear from students living in Canada is that they don’t get to practice conversation very often with native speakers, other than their teachers. One of the key problems they face is how to meet and make friends with Canadians.

The best way to meet people and potentially make friends is through common interests. That is why one of the best suggestions is for students to join a local community center. Here they can get involved in activities with local Canadians in their area and also enjoy things like sports, cooking classes or workshops. The community centers have many different programs available, usually at very reasonable prices and some are even free! So find the nearest community center in your area and see what they have that might interest you.

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.

One of the things that many students remark on when living in Canada, particularly in Vancouver, is that they find Canadian people to be very friendly. So friendly, in fact, that they often complimented by strangers on things like their clothes or hairstyles. This can be a bit shocking or unnerving for people of some cultures.

Don’t be surprised if someone asks you where you got your jacket or if someone simply tells you that they love your shirt. This is a common cultural behaviour and if you pay attention to Canadians you will notice that people often compliment each other. In fact, I expect to receive a compliment from my colleagues if I change my hairstyle or get a new suit! Therefore, the next time someone compliments you, don’t feel nervous, simply smile and say Thank you !:)

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

WORDS, WORDS, WORDS

There are some English words that are similar but have very different meanings. These words can be confusing and therefore are often used incorrectly by non-native speakers of English.

A common example of this are the words FUN and FUNNY. You refer to an activity or situation as FUN if you think it is pleasant or enjoyable and it causes you to feel happy. However, FUNNY is someone or something that is amusing and likely to make you laugh or smile. FUNNY can also be used as a slang expression and then the meaning changes to strange, surprising or puzzling. (Collins Colbuild Dictionary)

We usually describe a party or an event as being FUN, meaning it is enjoyable. A party is not commonly described as FUNNY, as this would imply that something happened to make you laugh. It would be more usual to describe a person such a comedian or a movie as being FUNNY.

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