Looking forward to New Year?

Here are some ideas on how to make your language learning more effective. Have a look - perhaps you could use some of these when you make your New Year resolutions? I find number 5 especially important. Think of your blogs - aren't they good for putting some new words to use? 

Which words will you spot first?

From Macmillan Education

Christmas wishes

Christmas is almost here, so we can't go without a proper Christmas post :)
I truly hope that your holiday time will be full of warm feelings and joy, and that it will help you find the strength and motivation you need to achieve your goals. There are probably some that you set yourselves at the beginning of this year, but for some reason have not yet reached, and there will probably be some new ones, which you will be inspired to pursue in 2015. Sometimes it's better to just move ahead and start a new year without looking back. For some of you it is going to be a pretty important year: graduation, first jobs, perhaps moving to a different town? Whatever is ahead, I'm sure you can handle it well, and make those big steps in the right direction. And even if there are problems on the way (let's face it, there will be some!), you will succeed in the end. Best of luck, then, and make sure you have some fun, too!

To add a slightly educational element here, I'm posting a video on typically British Christmas traditions. Do any of them surprise you? I would be surprised if none did ;)

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Real Grammar: bored with or bored of?

English prepositions are a real challenge.

Look out for these!

English has many words which either sound similar but mean very different things or are similar to words in other languages, but mean something else. Be aware of the problems, then, but do not avoid these words. Try to use some of them soon, and come back here to check if you got them right :)

Question of the month - October

Inspired by an article I've seen somewhere, I've decided to introduce this feature into our blog project. Each month I will post one question which I would like you to address in your blogs during that month. I hope it will help you find some topics to address.

This month, then, I would like you to consider the following problem:
The world has shrunk a lot in recent decades, and many people settle in countries where they can find better opportunities for themselves and their families. Should those who choose to live in a foreign country be required to learn its official language? If you know some real-life stories or problems related to the question, share them with us. Present your opinions on your blogs before October ends.

by quinn.anya on Flickr

Something to set you on the right track this semester - for your English, French, Spanish or any other language you are learning

7 Ways to Blend in with Native Speakers (Even if You Don't Sound Like One Yet) from Transparent Language, Inc.

Summertime pleasures

The end of another academic year is coming. You've worked a lot, you've learned new things and now, before you leave for holidays, you need to prove to all your teachers that this is the case. There's always an element of luck involved in tests and exams, but if you worked hard during the semester, I'm sure you'll do great. For some of you it is the end of your studies, or at least the end of the first stage of your university education. For others, next year is going to be crucial: working on your MA thesis will make real researchers out of you. Are you looking forward to this?

I would like to ask you something:
Please use some of the free time you will have in summer to read books. They don't need to be very ambitious, heavy stuff, just something you will find enjoyable. I should encourage you to choose something in English, and I do, of course, but I would rather you read something in Polish/French/Spanish/Italian than nothing at all. Some of you may be surprised that I feel the need to do it at all, but believe me, when I ask students after holidays what they have read, many are genuinely surprised: "It's holidays, time to relax, so we don't want to read anything!" And yet, I'm sure each of you could find books which will give you a lot of satisfaction and pleasure. As far as English goes, I would recommend any of Joanne Harris's books (author of the delicious Chocolat and its two sequels) or, if you feel like something a little more action-oriented, John Grisham will work perfectly. If, on the other hand, you prefer something a bit more grown-up, try Alice Munro. Her stories are a real treat!

So, have a wonderful summer and come back well-rested and refreshed, with heads full of ideas inspired by travel, enjoyment and... good books!

Photo by Josué Goge  CC BY 2.0

English is crazy!

Easter is over, and we're going back into class for a few days before the long May break. Isn't it good to live in Poland? ;)
To boost your English-learning motivation a bit, I am posting a short clip about the "wonders" of the English language. If people tell you it's easy, make them watch the video! You can try and watch it a few times to catch as many tricky bits as you can. Don't try to tell me you haven't been surprised by at least some of these pronunciations! ;) Try to remember a few (write them down?) and we'll discuss them in class.



BTW, I've just found out about a new English word: to phub. Do you know what it means? If not, I hope you are curious enough to check it in our favorite dictionary. If you are a careful enough reader, you'll also learn the origin of the word. Have you been phubbed recently? Do you ever do it yourself? I admit I sometimes do, at home, when we sit at out kitchen table. But I try not to.

The secret of happiness revisited (with my 3rd year)

It so happens that I've just come across a short article about the very topic of our recent classes. I find it very relevant to what you and I said about happiness, and since there is some reference to research there, I think it is worth reading. It is basically a list of habits "employed by those who've successfully located the bliss button". (drumroll...)
Here it is:

1. They go to parks or live in green spaces
2. They live in Scandinavian countries
3. They practice 'hygge' (a cultural concept that revolves around intimacy, gratitude and family; it's a kind of emotional coziness). 
4. They have satisfying jobs — and if not, they quit
5. They smell the flowers
6. They get dirty
7. They exercise
8. They don’t try to be … happy?

Some aren't easy to adopt (Scandinavia?!), but others don't require much effort. I guess the last one is key.

Getting ready for your test, MA1 students?

The Oscars again

It's the Oscars night! Are you interested? Does it matter to you what the Academy decides? Are your choices affected by awards in general? Please address at least some of these questions on your blogs. To get you in the right mood, I am posting a very short video overview of this year's nominees for the best picture:

Charlie Rose Oscars Special Opener from Al Boardman on Vimeo.

A few words from the author:
"I was delighted to be asked to produce the opening sequence for the Charlie Rose 'Oscars Special' show, which aired on PBS on 27th February 2014. The sequence features 8 Oscar nominated films with actors and directors that had previously appeared on the Charlie Rose show. The 1 minute sequence shows a series of custom animated illustrations and transitions from the film Gravity, Before Midnight, Blue Jasmine, 12 Years A Slave, The Wolf of Wall Street, Philomena and Nebraska."

Client: Charlie Rose
Creative direction, design and animation: Al Boardman
Producer and additional design: Torrey Paquette
Music: "Awakenings", courtesy of Grayson Matthews

Any advice?

Having finished one chapter in my life (PhD), I am thinking of opening another. Since I have been a proud member of the Romance Philology Institute's faculty for a few years now, I feel I should start learning at least one Romance language. I have ALWAYS wanted to learn French, so the choice should be easy, except that there are some practical reasons why it should rather be Italian. The thing is I teach a course in Information Technology for students of Italian. Knowing that language would help me make their lessons more attractive for them, more suitable to their needs. Another thing is that I am surrounded with speakers of Spanish (I share my office with some native speakers of Spanish), so my everyday contact with them would probably be very useful if I chose that language, and would make the whole process easier. The problem is I am not particularly keen on it, to be honest.
So there it is - my dilemma.
What would you advise? And do you know of any good courses in French/Italian/Spanish in Poznań? Mind you, I don't want to make it very intensive or expensive ;)

When I listen to the song in the video below, however, all my doubts fade away... Isn't it perfect? I just wish I didn't need the translation! ;)

What are 10 most common IDIOMS in English? Look below to find out. PLUS - a blogging task!

Here is a special blogging assignment for everyone:
Look at the list of idioms below, choose ONE, and try to illustrate it with a situation you have been in or have witnessed. Give an account of the situation, say which idiom it is supposed to exemplify and how it relates to it. I hope the assignment will help you remember the idioms and use them properly. Get set, go! :)

The Idiomgraphic - An infographic by LAL Schools

Back to work

It is quite difficult to come back to normal day-to-day routine after such a long break, don't you think? I hope you haven't forgotten your English yet! ;)

Just to refresh your memories a bit, and to get your minds on the right track, I would like you to do just a few collocation tasks here and here. Remember: collocations are crucial to making your English natural and fluent.