Fast Speech: How Students Can Understand it Better

Often times, my students tell me that native English speakers talk too quickly, and then I respond by saying that they listen to SLOWLY. We often laugh about this, but I try to help my students realize that the issue is that native English speakers often reduce some sounds in what is called relax speech, which is hard for students to understand.

In other words, although English has only 5 main vowels (a,e.i,o,u), we sometimes don't pronounce these clearly in unstressed syllables. In other languages with the same vowels, these sounds are almost always stressed. Here are a couple of examples in English:

• I want to go to the party.
• I wanna go ta the party.
• I have to call him tonight.
• I hafta call 'im tanight.

Keep in mind that faster speech doesn't mean better communication skills. I've created a Web site to help students called http://www.trainyouraccent.com/. There are also a number of good books that help students improve their use and understanding of conversational English. One of them is Whaddaya Say: Guided Practice in Relaxed Speech. You can find more of my recommended books and electronic devices at:

• http://esl-lab.com/resources.htm

Besides understanding fast speech, what other factors do you think affect a student's ability to understand a language? Share your thoughts on this topic.

Randall

Freedom: What does it mean to you?

The idea and concept of the word, "freedom," can vary from person to person and place to place. Personally, I appreciate the freedom to share my beliefs and ideas with others without fear of action against me. If I want to, I could stand in a park and pass out information on my personal views, and I allow others to do the same.

However, with freedom comes responsibility and respect and potential consequences. Freedom doesn't mean you violate the freedoms of others. For example, I don't smoke, but in the area where I live, people are allowed to do so as long as it is within local laws and ordinances. If I violate somone's freedom, then I could be arrested.

So, what does freedom mean to you? Are there certain freedoms that you wish you could enjoy? Share your ideas.

Randall

The Perfect Meal: Breakfast and Dinner Recipes

The one thing I've learned in traveling throughout the United States and the world is that local customs, history, and geography play a role in the food of the area. In particular, the image of the ideal or perfect meal varies widely, and you can expect that everyone has eggs, toast, bacon, hash browns, and tall glass of orange juice for breakfast.

Therefore, if I visited your house for breakfast or dinner, what would be the ideal meal to serve to meal so I really had a flavor for the food and customs of your area? Is there any unique food of your area that I might never have tried before?

Share your ideas on this topic.

Randall

UFOs: Are they real?

Is there life beyond our own solar system? It wasn't until around the mid 1990s that astronomers confirmed the existence of planets beyond our solar system, and since then, hundreds have been detected. Now, back when I was in junior high school years ago, most people like you and I could not really imagined such a thing, although scientists have long suspected it.

So, if hundreds, thousands, perhaps millions of planets exist out there, what is the chance that life also exists? So, in this case, do you feel that UFOs are real (unidentified flying objects)?

Why or why not? How could their existence impact our life in the future?

Randall

What's Your Favorite Search Engine?

Let's supposed that you need to write a paper about the effects of smoking on a person's health. Which search engine would you use to collect information and why? Share your thoughts on the topic?

Randall

Randall's Web Conference: Boosting Listening Skills

I will be holding a limited number of online presentations called, "Seven Keys to Boosting Your Listening Skills." This can be a way for ESL classes to interact with me on language learning online. More about this will be coming.

Randall

Favorite Song: What's the Message?

Music and song provide enjoyment to people for various reasons. For some, it's an escape or just a way to relax from the tensions of the day. For other people, music provides a soothing way of relaxing and even reflecting on the meaning of life. Personally, I gravitate towards music that has some didactic or practical lesson of life---something that teaches me about some aspect of life.

One song I enjoy is from the Pixar movie, Cars, by Brad Paisley. The song, Find Yourself, is about finding out who you are. Many times, you only discover who you really are when you get lost and find yourself in difficult situations. Discovering the meaning of life often doesn't happen during times of comfort and convenience.

For me, I have learned more about myself in times of great difficulty or during times of emotional struggles. Someone once said: "Smooth seas never made skilled sailors." As it turns out, no one will escape this life without disappointments and unexpected loses. The trick is to enjoy life in spite of challenges.

Now, share your favorite song and tell us what it means to you.

Randall

If I had Invented the iPod . . .

There are times perhaps that people wonder how their life would be if something or the other had happened to change the course of life's events. If only I had more money . . . . If I had been born into wealth . . . If I hadn't chose this major in school . . . Perhaps it isn't worth imagining the unreal.

HOWEVER, if you personally had invented and come up with idea for Apple's iPod, how do you think your life would be different today? Would you be still be doing the same thing, in the same job? How would you spend your time and money?

Please share your ideas.

Randall

Predicting the Future: Better, Worse, or About the Same

Right now, there is a great amount of uncertainty about where our future is taking us, particularly with regards to our financial situation and even world peace. So, if you could look into a crystal ball and predict your own future, do you think you will be better off financially and happier in 10 years from now, about the same, or in worse condition than you are now? Please explain your feelings.

Randall

Favorite ESL Resouces: Books and Electronics

Teachers and students often ask me the books and other electronics that can be used for language learning and teaching. As a result, I've created a page to provides some of my recommendations. This list is by no means exclusive; there are hundreds and hundreds of great resources out there that might help you, depending on your needs:

• http://www.esl-lab.com/resources.htm

Best,

Randall

Moab's Red Hot 50K Trail Race

So, what did Randall do to celebrate Valentine's Day with his wife? Well, I'm somewhat crazy, but I ran an Ultramarathon (a trail race longer than a marathon at over 50 kilometers) in a southern part of the state of Utah near a famous national park called Arches.

It was a really hard endurance run, but my wife supports me in my crazy activities. She was waiting me at the finish line. It took me almost 8 hours to finish the race.

After you've been married more than 20 years like I have, couples do a lot of unusual things to support each other . . . love is great, isn't it.

I have discovered that getting away from computers and enjoying nature is just a more peaceful and relaxing way to spend my time. My wife and I enjoy running street races as well, but we're not fast. Just participating in a running event, whether your first or last, has its own reward.

You can read more about my adventure at:

-- http://www.hikinginutah.com/redhotmoab50k.htm

Randall

The Swine Flu: How concerned are you?

The spread of the swine flu is of recent concern, and many people are worried how this illness will eventually affect their lives. The potential effects could result in social, health, and economic changes. How concerned are you about how this flu or others like it could affect you now or in the future? Also, what other serious health concerns do people have in your area?

Share your ideas on the current and potential effects on your life.

Randall

Getting Advice: From Mom or Dad?

When you have problem in life, who do you turn to first: your mom or dad? Of course, friends are important in making decisions, but if you had to choose between your mom or dad for help, who would you ask? Does it depend on the situation and topic? If so, share your experiences and feelings about this topic.

For example, who would you talk to first in these cases:

• You need advice about breaking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend.
  
• You want to borrow money for a trip to Europe.
  
• You failed some classes at school, and you might be kicked out of the university, but you have to tell one of your parents your situation.
  
• You don't know how to find a summer job to earn money for school.
  
• You crashed your parents car while speeding, and you need to tell them.

If for whatever reason you can't ask a parent, who would you turn to for advice?

Randall

Languages: Why some learn faster?

Some ESL/EFL students become frustrated when they are not learning English as quickly as they expect. Others learners feel depressed when they seem to be making progress one day, and level off or appear not to make progress for some time.

What have been your experiences in learning English? Why do some students learn faster than others? How can students improve their language skills?

Randall

The Economy: Getting better or worse?

The economic situation around the world has being going through drastic changes in recent times, but how has any economic downturn in your country affected you personally? Have you had to cut back on certain expenses such as food (eating out), entertainment, and transportation? Do you think life for your kids and grand kids will be better, worse, or about the same in the future?

Share your ideas.

Randall

Traffic Violations: What should be the penalty?

In principle, traffic laws are in place to protect the public, both drivers and pedestrians; however, in my travels around the world, I notice that traffic laws are not always enforced. In looking at traffic laws in your country, are these laws obeyed by the majority of people? Which ones are the most difficult to be enforced? What are the penalties for violating the law in these cases: running a red light, illegal parking, drunk driving, and driving without a license?

Please share your thoughts on this topic.

Randall

Parties: What time should I arrive?

Imagine that you are invited to a friend's house for a barbecue in your home country. What time would it be appropriate to arrive? A little early, right on time, or a little later? Would you do anything differently if it were a formal party at the house of your boss?

Every culture has its social rules for time, and knowing this when visiting a new culture can help smooth relations between you and others. Share your ideas on this topic.

Randall

Positive Thinking: What if you could change the world?

We live in an imperfect world, and many people suffer from personal, social, environmental, medical, and even political problems, but if you had the power to change one thing in the world for the benefit of others, what would it be? Share your idea and explain why your choice would make a difference.

Randall

English Skills: Which is most important to you?

Students spend a lot of time trying to learn English, but which language skill area is most important to you:

• grammar
• listening
• pronunciation
• reading
• speaking
• writing

Please share your ideas and experiences on this topic.

Randall

Computer Viruses: What can you do to protect yourself?

Computer viruses can be a real problem for business and home computer users. So, what techniques to virus creators do to try to infect your computers? What can people do to protect themselves? Has your computer ever been infected with a virus? If so, what happened? Share your experiences.

Randall

Video Games: Harmful or Helpful?

For many years, video games have been a popular, recreational activity for the young and old. However, there is concern that they can have negative effects on people as well. Share your ideas on the benefits and possible negative effects on people. How can we learn to balance playing video games with other actvities?

Watch Randall's Video on this topic and then post your reaction to this topic:

http://www.esl-lab.com/game-boy/videogames-video.htm

Buying a Car: New or Used?

Imagine that you are in need of a buying a car. Would you prefer to buy a brand new car or a used car? What factors do you consider when choosing a car: age, mileage, cost, reputation of company, reliability, or other? Share your ideas on this topic.

Randall

Senior Citizens: Who will care for them?

By and large, societies around the world are slowly aging, and this is creating its own unique challenges to care for this segment of our population. In your country or culture, what is the current situation of senior citizens:

• Are many of them finding it necessary to work?
• Do seniors often live alone or with family in their old age?
• Do you have a grandparent that lives or lived with you?
• What lessons of life can the elderly teach the youth of your country?

Please share your ideas.

Randall

Driver's License: A right or a privledge?

Many people have different thoughts on whether getting a driver's license is a personal right of society or a privilege that should be earned, and not just given.

Furthermore, if teenagers have a driver's license, what are they family expectations for how and when the person should drive, and what they are expected to pay for.

Watch this video of Randall explaining the rules in his own family:

http://www.esl-lab.com/driverslicense/driverslicense-video.htm

Do you think such rules would work in your own family? Why or why not? Please share your ideas.

Randall

Randall's Culture Videos

One of my newest projects at my Web site is the development of language and culture videos on aspects of US culture, including family, pets, movies, and education. Now, you can not only hear language, but you can also see me talk about it and life in the US.

Each video comes with practice questions and the transcript:

• http://esl-lab.com/videoclips.htm

Let me know if you have an idea for a new video.

Best,

Randall

National Flags: Celebrating Special Events

The national flag of any country often represents the values and beliefs of the country. So what about your flag? What does it symbolize to you? On which specific holidays and occasions is your national flag put on display? Do homes display the flag outside or so you only see it at schools or government buildings?

Share your ideas.

Randall

School Lunches: Something from home or eat out?

For most high school students in your country, do they eat lunch prepared for them in a lunchroom at school, do they bring something from home, or are they allowed to leave school to get something near by at a store or restaurant? Also, how have food choices and tastes changed over the years? Please share your ideas.

Randall

Public Transportation

Please listen to the recording and share your ideas on this topic.

Randall

Remember the Dead: What customs are common in your culture?

Death is just a part of life, but it can be a very sad occasion when a family member or friend dies. When someone dies, each family and culture has its own way of preparing for a funeral and remember the person, and knowing these customs can help people pay their respects to the family.

In your culture, what specific customs are they at the time a person dies? Do people have a special gathering to remember the deceased? What exactly takes place?

Please share your ideas.

Randall

Household Chores: Who does them in your house?

Right now, it's Saturday morning at a 7:00 a.m. and my kids will be getting out of bed soon. For us, Saturday is a time when we do our major household chores for the week. Actually, our kids have to do a smaller chore everyday except for Sunday, but this is the day when they are assigned a chore inside our outside the house. These chores might include cleaning the bathrooms or pulling weeds around the house. My wife and I feel that this helps them learn responsibility and how to take care of themselves once they move out of the house.

So what about in your country or family? What are your family or cultural expectations on who is responsible for cleaning around your house? Do you feel it is important for children to do such work? Why or why not? Please share your ideas.

Randall

Valentine's Day: How do people celebrate this day?

Many cultures around the world celebrate Valentine's Day in one form or another. How do people celebrate in your country? Do men and women exchange gifts on this day? Do people participate in any special activities? Please share your ideas.

Randall

Family Size: How many children are ideal?

We sometimes hear in the news about couples who have very large families of ten or more children, but is there an ideal number of children a family can and should have? What factors (emotional, spiritual, financial) should help determine whether a family should have one or more children?

How many children are in your family and what have your parents done to raise you successfully? Share your ideas.

Randall

Friendship: What does it mean to you?

Having good friends is important in life, but what do you think are the qualities in a good friend? I mean, what does this person do or say in order to be and remain your friend? Personally, I feel that a friend is a person who listens to your ideas, concerns, fears, and questions without passing judgement on them or even giving you advice. In fact, most people don't necessarily want their friends to solve all their problems, but simply to listen and validate their concerns. A good friend is also a person who recognizes when they don't have answers and can suggest to others when they might need professional help from a therapist or advisor.

So, what qualities do you look for in a friend? Share your ideas.

Randall

New Audio Format - Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab

If you are visiting this site, then I assume that you have visited my listening Website, Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab (http://www.esl-lab.com). I would like to ask your help and advice regarding a possible change to my Website dealing with the audio formats. I am thinking about adding the option to listen to my recordings in Flash format so visitors don't need to open a separate audio application. Please consider clicking on the link below to learn more about this and answering my survey:

http://www.esl-lab.com/cgi-bin/quiztest.cgi?mediaplayeroptions

Thanks.

Randall Davis

ESL Textbooks and Resources

Many visitors to my Websites have asked me to recommend language books and other resources, including voice recorders and iPods, for use in teaching and learning English. Now, I've created a page on my site where I review some of these materials that can be purchased directly from Amazon or other online stores. You can see my recommendations at:

-- http://www.esl-lab.com/resources.htm

Feel free to suggest your own favorite language-learning materials.

Best,

Randall

Grading Systems: How are they different?

Some international students experience culture shock when they study in different educational students from their own. In addition to classroom environment and teacher-student, some students are used to grading systems that might be different from their own. For example, a passing grade in a class might only be 50-60% in their countries, and then assume this percent is the same elsewhere. Then, we they discover that the standard is higher (let's say, 70%+), they feel that this is unfair.

Furthermore, some students complain that they have too much homework (2 hours a night), and that they have no time to do anything. However, these are students who don't have jobs, no families to take care of in the US, and no other community responsibilities. Many American college students work to pay for school (not just fashion clothing and iTunes downloads) AND go to school at the same time.

Again, when expectations and experience collide and are different, then misunderstandings can happen.

So, are there other aspects of culture or education that you have found different when traveling to a new country? Of, if you have gone overseas, what aspect of culture do you think you will find the most challenging to adjust to?

Best,

Randall

Top Listening Activities

From time to time, people ask me about my favorite listening activities on my site, Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab (http://www.esl-lab.com). It is sometimes hard to pick which ones because my family and I have created so many over the past 10 years. However, here are some of them, based on topic and personal interest.

1. A Story to Remember: http://www.esl-lab.com/story1/story1.htm
A story of a man who was approached by an alien creature. Or was it?

2. Car Repairs: http://www.esl-lab.com/repairs/repairsrd1.htm
A man has real problems trying to get his car fixed in a small town.

3. Budget Hotel Rooms: http://www.esl-lab.com/hotelreservations/hotelreservationsrd1.htm
A man encounters a few surprises at his hotel. Has something like this happened to you?

4. A Great Car Deal: http://www.esl-lab.com/car/carrd1.htm
A woman tries to buy a car from an interesting salesman.

5. Just a Hair Cut, Please: http://www.esl-lab.com/cut/cutrd1.htm

Disaster strikes a man who gets the hair cut of his life. What do you think happens?

6. Car Accident: http://www.esl-lab.com/car-accident/car-accidentsc1.htm
A teenager has a car accident, but who's fault was it? Listen and find out.

7. First Date: http://www.esl-lab.com/dating/datingrd1.htm
A girl is going out on her first date with a guy name Dirk? How do things turn out?

8. Grocery Shopping: http://www.esl-lab.com/supermarket/supermarketrd1.htm
A woman sends her husband to the store to pick up some things, but what does he get instead

9. Street Market: http://www.esl-lab.com/flea/fleard1.htm
A man tries to bargain with a seller in a street market. What problems does he encounter?

10. Traffic Ticket: http://www.esl-lab.com/police/policerd1.htm
A man is stopped by the police? Why and how does the driver talk himself out of his situation?

Please let me know what types of materials and topics you would like to see in the future.

Randall

New US President: What does it take?

The US will have a new president tomorrow, and many people around the world hope for positive change that will affect everyone. In your personal opinion, what does it take to be a great leader? What qualities do you admire in a leader? Are there any particular great leaders from your own country that have had an influence on your nation? Share your thoughts on this.

Randall

College Textbooks: Are they overpriced?

My daughter is taking a class at a local university, and I almost fell over when she told me that the book for the class costs about $150, and it's only a paperback book. My question is whether schools and publishers charge too much money for books, particularly when they cost almost as much as the class itself. What do you think? And in such cases, is there anything a student can do to find cheaper books? Share your ideas.

Randall

Time Running Out: What would you do?

If you were told that you were dying and that you only had one month to live, how would you spend the limited time you had left? Explain your reasons for your answers.

Personally, I always realize in the back of my mind that this happens to people everyday. So, for me, I'd probably spend my final days with my wife and kids, telling them about my life, sharing words of wisdom, and just having fun going to Disneyland, hiking, sitting out under the stars, and telling them how much I love them.

How about you?

Best,

Randall

New Year Resolutions

Listen to the recording and share your ideas on the topic.

Best,

Randall

Happy New Year, 2009!

I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year, 2009! What do you usually do on this day to celebrate the new year? Share your thoughts. Personally, I am spending the new year with my family, and we will probably play games, watch TV, and tell stories.

Best,

Randall

Spending Time with Family

Hi everyone,

At the moment, I'm spending time in warm weather in Arizona with my family, parents, and my brother's family. We did this last year, and we just enjoy relaxing, doing some sightseeing, and catching up on family happenings. We also want our own kids to get to know their grandparents better and develop stronger family ties. By doing so, they can understand my own upbringing and we often laugh about old stories.

So, what do you do with your family to strengthen family relationships?

Best,

Randall

Merry Christmas!

Listen to this recording and write your response about it. Thanks.

Randall

Online Shopping: How much do you do?

Online shopping is becoming more popular in different parts of the world, but how much have your shopping habits changed? Do you find that you spend more money shopping online than you do in traditional stores? What do you spend you money on the most? what are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online? Share your ideas.

Best,

Randall

Travel: A Tough Decision

Listen to the recording and share your ideas on the topic.

Randall

Experiences at School - Listen and Share

Listen to the topic and questions, and write your answer and opinions here.

Randall

Year-end Holidays: What do you celebrate?

For many people around the world, Christmas is a very important year-end holiday. However, there are many other holidays celebrated at this time too. Please share any specific cultural and religious festivities or days that are important to you or others in your area.

Here is a listening Activity on my Website about Christmas:

Christmas is Coming!
- http://www.esl-lab.com/santa/santard1.htm

Holiday Traditions
- http://www.esl-lab.com/tradition/traditionrd1.htm


Best,

Randall

Cell Phones: Should they be allowed at schools?

More and more people are carrying cell phones and considered them as a need, not just a want. (Of course, people my age never had cell phones, and we survived.) However, should schools (let's say elementary, junior high, and high schools) allow students to carry around and use cell phones during school hours? What potential problems are there? And the benefits? Share your ideas.

Randall

Happiness: What does it mean to you?

The word, happiness, often means different things to different people. Therefore, finish this sentence with the first idea that comes to your mind:

• I feel happy when ________________.

Personally, I feel happy when:

1. I return home in the evening and my wife greets me with a smile.
2. my kids don't complain about the vegetables we have for dinner.
3. students do their assignments on time without giving excuses for not doing it.
4. I have the chance to run in the mountains to burn off stress.
5. I can do something for someone else.

Please share your ideas on this topic.

Randall

Christmas Gifts: What would you give?

So often, our focus on Christmas or the holiday season is about what gifts we hope to receive from others; however, if you could give one gift to someone, to whom would you give and what would the gift be? Personally, I'd like to give my family more time together. You really can't buy that, but it is more valuable than other things you can buy. Now, share you feelings on this topic.

Randall

Thanksgiving Day in the US

Thanksgiving Day in the US is the day when many people give thanks for the many things they have. It's historical origin dates back to when some of first settlers came to Massachusetts and survived the first difficult winter with the help of the Native Americans in the area. In my particular family, we usually get together and each the usual, traditional meal of turkey, potatoes, beans, pumpkin pie, salad, and whatever people bring over.

So, do you have a day of thanks in your country? If so, share information about this day with us.

Randall

Ultimate XC Moab 50K Trail Race

Last weekend, I ran in a 50 km (31 mile) desert trail race in southern Utah, and it was a great experience. I'm not very fast, and I am always at the back of the runners, but it was a physical challenge to go up and down steep mountains and through sand. (You can see more pictures of this race at: http://www.hikinginutah.com/moab50k/album/index.html.) What I enjoy about it most is that it can help people psychologically---that might sound strange, but when I am running, it feel less stress in life and I can think about how to solve other problems. So, what about you? What do you do to get rid of stress? Share your ideas.

Randall

This is a picture of me at about 30 kilometers into the race along the Colorado River in Utah.

Cell Phones: A luxury (want) item or a necessity?

Recently, one of my kids wanted to get a cell phone, and I told "Mary" (names changed to protect their privacy :D), "Okay, go ahead and buy a cell phone, but I'm not paying for it." Mary said that she needed one to stay in contact with us, but fortunately, she was willing to pay for most of the cost and monthly fees because she realized I wasn't going to pay for it.

Personally, I see a cell phone as more of a convenience than anything, because I lived 40 years without one, and in most cases, I'd rather not carry one because everyone is always expecting an immediate response in an immediate age. Gone are the days when I lived in a foreign country 25 years ago, and went I sent a real letter to family, it sometimes took six weeks to receive a response. That was good in some ways because I wasn't distracted by the fact that someone didn't reply to me (like email) in less that 2 minutes.

So, what do you think about cell phones? Do you see them as a necessity or just a want? Share your ideas.

Randall

Apartment Living: Alone or with a Roommate?

Imagine that you are studying English in a foreign country. Would you prefer to live by yourself in an apartment or with a roommate? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? What have been your experiences in living with roommate? Share your ideas.

Randall

What is a successful language learner?

Although many international students come to the US to learn English and pursue university degrees, the reality is, from my experience, that not all have the academic skills to succeed in the timeline that they choose. In other words, some students think that they can come to the US at a beginning level, and within 6 months, be ready to enter AND succeed in college. Now, there is a big difference between everyday language skills (meeting people, ordering at a restaurant, talking about hobbies, etc.) and participating in debate and classroom discussions on academic topics (politics, economics, social issues, etc.).

So, what do you think are the keys to preparing for a university degree in another country? Are there born learners who naturally can learn languages while others might struggle? Share your ideas.

Randall

US Elections: Obama wins

The US elections concluded last night, with Barak Obama winning. So, do you think a new US president will have a positive impact on the world economies and peace? Why or why not?

Randall

Breakfast Recipes

Imagine that a friend from a foreign country is staying at your home for a week. If you wanted to give this person a taste of your country's traditional food, what would you serve for breakfast (food and drink)? How do you prepare this meal? Is it easy to make? Please share your ideas. Then, visit my listening activity about breakfast recipes:


http://www.esl-lab.com/breakfastrecipes/breakfastrecipesrd1.htm

Best,

Randall

Raising Children: What's the secret?

Raising healthy and emotionally-sound children isn't as easy as you might think, and most young couples have really no idea of what they are getting into when they first get married. In fact, while babies and young children require time, older children in their teenage years and even into adulthood need just as much, and sometimes more, time and understanding.

Therefore, what do you think are the keys to raising children in our day and age? What did your parents do to raise you that worked or didn't work? Share your ideas. You can also listen of an activity on my Website on this topic at:

http://www.esl-lab.com/children/childrenrd1.htm


Randall

About English Teachers: If you could change one thing . . .

This topic is specifically for English students. If you could change one thing about your English teacher (teaching style, classroom management, interaction with students, grading system), what would it be and why? W hat is your image of the perfect or ideal teacher? Tell us about one teacher you have had that influenced you most.

Randall

Home Security: How do you protect yourself?

Crime, particularly robbery and burglary, can be found in most places around the world, and learning to deal with it----including protecting yourself----is an important concern. Furthermore, as you travel to new places, you need to take precautions to minimize your risk of theft. Here is my newest listening activity on the topic at my site, www.esl-lab.com:

• http://www.esl-lab.com/securitysystems/securitysystemsrd1.htm

Although the conversation is somewhat humorous, the topic of crime and theft can never be taken lightly. So, let's suppose you have an international friend that has just moved into your area. What advice can you give the person to protect himself/herself from theft?

Randall

Babysitting: How common is it?

In many parts of the United States, parents sometimes ask a young girl in the neighborhood (often between 12-17 years old) to watch their young children while they go out on a date. (This is especially true when the parents do not have other family who live nearby.) In exchange, the parents pay the girls money for their services (often based on the number of hours they care for the kids). However, such an activity might not be universal from culture to culture. So, is babysitting like I've described above common in your country? If not, what do parents do if they want to go out on a date alone? Please share your ideas.

Randall

Time Machine: Where would you go?

If you had a machine that could take you back to one specific point in the past, where would you want to go and why? Personally, this would be a difficult decision to make, but one point in time I would like to visit is a place called Grand Gulch in Utah, USA. This is the location of many old indian ruins abandoned hundreds of years ago. Because I like hiking and old civilizations, I would be interested to go back and time and learn about these times and people directly from them. What did they eat? How did they live day to day? Why did they leave the area? You can learn more by visiting this link: Grand Gulch at http://www.utah.com/playgrounds/grand_gulch.htm.

Plagiarism: How big of an issue/problem is it?

Plagiarism, or copying exact words or concepts of others without giving credit, has become an important issue throughout the world, and in particular, the United States where many international students have attending school. In working with such students for many years, many struggle with the language and either copy material from the Internet because(1) they believe they can't write effectively on their own, (2) don't understand the issues and concept of plagiarism, and/or (3) don't see anything wrong with it because so many people do it anyway.

But, of course, this isn't just an international student issue as well; native English speakers engage in the practice. So, my question is on how we can best train and educate students to better do research and improve their writing skills so they can avoid the problem of plagiarism and the potential penalties of engaging in such a practice. Please share your ideas and experiences.

Randall

Daily ESL: Learning English for Everyday Use

Students often complain that the English they're learning in their classrooms has little value outside in the real world . . . at least for everyday use. In other words, although some textbooks have topics on undersea creatures in the Arctic region or the life of a rare butterfly in the rain forest, students rarely feel that this information is useful to them to order a burger at a restaurant or meet new people ("So, nice party, isn't it? How about talking about the life of the Wawu Butterfly in the rain forest?") Now, honestly speaking, all topics have value, and I'm not saying that ecology isn't valuable to all of us. I'm just saying that students often want language that is very practical . . . the kind that can be quickly used once you step off the airplane in New York City.

For these reasons, I created my site, Daily ESL (http://www.dailyesl.com) to help students learn common expressions, dialogues, and vocabulary for everyday use. Give this site a try. Here is one example:

http://www.dailyesl.com/apartment.htm

I'm still developing the site, but this page should give you an idea on the types of activities and lessons I'm working on. There is a listening activity, discussion questions, a vocabulary quiz, and even an Internet Exercise.

Best,

Randall

Volunteer Work and Service: How common is it?

Most of our lives are spent taking care of our own needs, but I once read the following quote, often attributed to Winston Churchill:

"You make a living by what you earn;
you make a life by what you give."

What do this mean to you and have you done anything in your life for others that made their lives better? I'm speaking specifically things done for other people outside of your family or immediate relationships (wife, husband, partner, girlfriend, etc.). I remember years ago one of my sons picked apples off his grandfather's apple trees (with his grandfather's permission, of course), sold the apples to neighbors, and then gave all of the money he earned to our church to help the poor in our area. I think he remembers that experience, and it also affected those who perhaps didn't really need all of the apples they bought, but they saw that his efforts might help other people.

So, what things have you personally done or have seen done in your area to help others? Is this type of volunteer work common? Please share your ideas.

Randall

Home Repairs: What would you fix?

Think about the place you live. If you could fix or change one thing about your place, what would it be, how would you change it, and why? Personally, my wife and I have wanted to fix up our kitchen for some time. The wall paper is a little old, and so is the floor, and the counter top and sink really need to be replaced. However, we are pretty frugal with our money, so I think we'll wait to take care of other expenses first.

So, what about you? What would you fix or change? Share your ideas.

Randall

Travel: Fly or Drive Across the Country?

If you were visiting a new continent in the world (e.g., Africa, South American, Australia, etc.), would you rather travel from city to city by plane or by ground transportation like by car? Why? Also, what are the advantages and disadvantages of for of transportation? Please share your personal experiences if you have traveled before?

Randall

Senior Citizens: Who should care for them?

In many parts of the world, the number of older citizens is slowing growing to the point someday in which the elderly will out number younger citizens. However, in your country, what are common ways in which family take care of their older members? Do families care for each other in their old age, or do the elderly prefer to live on their own? Are these attitudes changing over time? Please share your ideas.

Randall

Street Markets: Bargaining Tips in Your Country

Although haggling (=bargaining for a better price) is common in street markets in certain parts of the world, this practice is not universal. As I have traveled to many parts of the world, I often find myself in street markets trying to buy local crafts (bags, pottery, leather goods). In such cases, I find myself trying to talk down the price. However, I find that some international students, from countries where these practices are common, try to do the same thing where I live in the United States, and the result is that they can appear somewhat aggressive to shop owners.

So, what tips or suggestions do you have for people trying to buy things in stores and street markets in your city or country?

Randall

Important People in Your Life

As a father of four children (ranging from 11 years old and up to adulthood), I sometimes sit down to the dinner table to hear kids complaining about the dinner meal. "Ah, are we having this again?!" "Ah, I didn't want this!" Fortunately, this doesn't happen too often, and my kids are generally appreciative of my wife's cooking (which is EXCELLENT), and I have loosely calculated that she has probably made about 15,000 meals for the family over the years. That's a lot! I often tell my kids that my years growing up were happy, but my parents' dinner menu consisted a few basic meals, including spam, frozen fried chicken, and some of my mom's good Mexican cooking. I was grateful for what they did for me.

Now, the person that is most important in my life is my wife of 21 years. I told my kids that when two people are considering marriage, they really have no idea the amount of work that it takes to build a happy marriage, particularly when it takes a lot of work, patience, selflessness, and service. Romantic love only will take you so far. Deep commitment in the face of challenges is what can carry you through some dark hours in your life.

So, who is the most important person in your life? Please tell us about this person and describe how he/she/they have influenced your life.

Randall

Unique Pizzas: What toppings can I expect?

Although pizza can be found in countries around the world, the actual toppings on the pizza can vary from place to place based on traditional foods of the area. Please share any unique pizza styles I could expect if I order a pizza in your hometown. Share your thoughts on this topic.

Randall

Presidential Candidates: Should people with young families run for office?

Recently, a great deal of talk in the United States is on the running of Alaskan Governor Sara Palin who has a young family, including a baby son who has a medical condition called Down Syndrome. The same could be true to Barak Obama, another leading candidate for president of the United States, who has two young daughters. My question is whether people (men or women) who have young families run for political office, especially at a national level, where they might have limited time to see and raise their own families. What do you think? Can people really balance time between family and career in this kind of work? If so, how? Please share your ideas on this topic.

Randall

New Listening Activities

Many of you might already be aware of my listening Website, Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab (www.esl-lab.com), but you might not know about my newest short listening activities. These are designed to help low to intermediate ESL/EFL students with short listening pratice, and they also encourage students to talk about the topics. Here are some of my newest listening activities, and you can find more on my main page under Basic Listening:

Shopping Center:
- http://www.esl-lab.com/eslbasic/shoppingmall-1.htm

Movies:
- http://www.esl-lab.com/eslbasic/movies-1.htm

ESL Programs:
- http://www.esl-lab.com/eslbasic/eslprograms-1.htm

Let me know what you think about them.

Best,

Randall

Learning Vocabulary

I currently am teaching high-level grammar classes in the program where I work, and the one thing I notice most is that students lack so much vocabulary that they end up using high-level gramamar structures with only beginning-level vocabulary. In other words, they can order a hamburger from McDonalds just fine, but they can hold a conversation on basic environmental issues like recycling. Again, this is supposed to be a high-level class.

Two reasons (of several) that lead to this problem are that (1) students spend most of their day engaging in everyday conversation topics or activities like shopping, ordering at a restaurant, or riding a bus (They don't has their roommates about socio-political events over breakfast, which might not be natural anyway), and (2) students tend to learn a word here and there with no real vocabulary study method in mind.

For my students, I try to help them learn words basic on topic----words that are directly related to a common theme and that can be easily used with the grammar structures we are learning in class. So, if we are learning about adjective clauses (e.g., "I like people who are . . . ."), I would teach them positive and negative personality traits that could be used with the structure (here's a very short list):

Positive

• outgoing
• generous
• dependable
• hardworking
• dedicated
• motivated
• enthusiastic

Negative

• self-centered
• selfish
• agressive
• rude
• overbearing

Nuetral

• unconventional
• shy
• serious

As students have learned vocabulary in such a way, they seem to be able to express clearly their ideas at a higher, more fluent, level.

So, do you have other ideas for building vocabulary?

Randall

Family Activities: What do you enjoy doing together?

It is often said that family is at the center of social activity. However, each family is different, and many families struggle to have good relationships. So, describe your family and tell us what are some of the things you do to improve relations between your siblings (brothers and sisters) and your parents.

Randall

Learning ESL: Tips for Students

One recent visitor ask me about my teaching style and philosophy on language learning, and I wanted to share my own personal views on the subject. I always discuss these points with my students right from the beginning of class to give them some perspective on learning:

1. Just because you live in a country where English is the main language does not mean you will learn it. In other words, some parents believe that if they send their children to the US, the students will somehow automatically learn the language. Unfortunately, I have many students who come to class, but then spend their time in their apartments after class, by themselves or with students from their country, and they never get out into the community to use English. And when I say "use" English, just going to McDonalds and buying a cheeseburger everyday doesn't count. Some of my students who made the best progress volunteered in the community, go a job on campus, and took community classes to really use their English beyond the classroom.

2. Learning English takes time, and you will have good days and bad days. Some students become frustrated when they don't learn as quickly as they expect. Students learn differently, and not giving up is key.

3. Learn how to study. Hours spent in the library without a clear understanding of study skills won't help much. I always try to teach my students HOW to learn, including tips on how to best learn vocabulary and other skills. Without this knowledge, students tend to waste time not realizing that they might be more effective ways of learning than they are currently using.

So, do you have any comments or experiences that have helped you learn? If so, please share them.

Randall

Personal Introductions: Tell Us About Yourself

My greatest pleasure in life is spending time with my family. My wife and I have four children, and we have been married for more than 20 years. We currently live in Utah, USA, and we enjoy running/walking together, talking about life, and making each other happy. Life isn't always easy, but it is a a lot easier when you are working together to make things happen.

So, introduce yourself and tell us one thing that is unique or interesting about you.

Randall

(The picture here was taken more than 20 years after we were married at the Manti Temple in Utah, as seen here.)

Your Favorite Book: Why did you like it?

Reading is a fun way to learn more about life and the world around us, and my kids really enjoy reading all types of novels and stories. One particular series of books I enjoy is Redwall (www.redwall.org), fantasy novels by Brian Jacques, featuring an animal kingdom fighting each book against some evil force. The reason why I like it so much is that the main characters show great virtues of honesty, loyalty, and kindness that can be applied to our lives today.

So, what about you? Share you favorite book and tell us why you like it.

Randall