If you change into any animal for a day, which animal would you choose and why? Personally, I'd choose to be a high-flying bird. Then, I could fly and soar about the world below and enjoy the views. Because I love hiking (www.hikinginutah.com is my site on hiking) I could also through canyons and high on some mountain peak where most people can't go. It would just be great to see things from a different perspective.
Now, share your ideas on the topic.
Randall
Do you have a favorite movie? If so, share your thoughts about it and why other people would be interested in seeing it. Personally, I saw the movie, Brian's Song, years ago about the friendship and courage of two friends who played together on the Chicago Bears football team (see more information HERE). Although the men compete for the same position on the team, they develop a bond of friendship that helps them during times of great tragedy. I highly recommend the movie if you enjoy a movie with a positive, uplifting message.
Now, share your favorite movie with us.
Randall
One of the challenges I face as a English grammar teacher is that although my students can understand the grammar points I present in class, they often don't have to vocabulary to use with it. For example, I might teach students how to use unreal conditions like this:
If I found (simple past) a million dollars, I'd (=I would) turn it in to the police.
If I had found found (past perfect) a million dollars last week, I would have turned it in to the police.
Again, my students know the rules, but they can communicate fully because of their lack of vocabulary, and nothing will change until they come up with a detailed and clear plan to build their vocabulary. With this in mind, I've created vocabulary activities on my site to help students achieve this goal:
http://esl-lab.com/quizzes.htm
http://esl-lab.com/vocab/
If you have other sites you use to build vocabulary, please share these with us.
Randall
Breakups and divorce are becoming common practice in relationships and marriage, but I'm sure people don't start out say, "Hey, there's a good chance that we will get a divorce in the future. Isn't that nice?" Of course not. But, despite people's original intentions to stay together, people break up. So, what are the keys to successful, lasting relationships? What factors lead to divorce? Do people change after they get married?
Personally, I think a lot of problems deal with unrealistic expectations. I often run into people who are dating people with personal issues and problems and feel that they can change their partners or that their partners will change over time. My suggestion is that people don't marry a "project." If your partner already has personal problems, there is a strong likelihood that the problems will get worse, not better. People who want to marry should start preparing for a relationship years in advance rather than start to change when they meet someone.
So, what do you think on this topic?
Randall
If you could change one thing in the world today, what would it be? Personally, I'd encourage people to be more caring of others and think less of themselves. In my opinion, many of the world's problems deal with selfishness and neglecting the needs of others.
So, what do you think about this topic?
Randall
Mother's Day is right around the corner, usually celebrated on the second Sunday of May. So, what is your favorite memory about your mother (and if not your mother, someone else who has been a special mentor or guide in your life---father, grandparent, teacher). Personally, I remember my mom reading to me as I went to bed and I now try to do that with my own kids. I've also tried to spend time talking to my children, even to my oldest who is 18.
So, share your experience or memory of someone who has made a difference in your life.
Randall
If you could go anywhere on your honeymoon (assume you're not married) and money was not an issue, what destination would you choose and why? How long would you be gone? Where would you stay: in a hotel, bed and breakfast, or other? Would you even consider not going on a vacation and just saving your money to something practical?
Share your ideas.
Randall
As a general rule, international students need a good TOEFL score to get into many North American universities. However, my question is whether a good score is a predictor or good measure of whether a student will succeed or not at the university. Personally, I have met many students who somehow manage to get a fair score, but they can't communicate very well or who are not aware of the US educational system and do poorly. So, what do you think on this topic?
Randall
Everyone has an accent, including native speakers, and thus, having an accent isn't the problem by itself. Accent only becomes an issue when it affects comprehension. One of the issues comes when learners stress every syllable:
I WANT TO GO TO THE PARTY TODAY.
English is a stress-timed language, and thus, some syllables are stressed and others are reduced to give English its sing-song or rhythm. Some languages have only clear, strong vowels, but the most popular vowel sound in English is the schwa sound. Thus, the sentence above might be pronounced:
i wanna go ta the party tanight.
One of my Websites, Train Your Accent (http://www.trainyouraccent.com), is designed to give students practice with reduced speech. Give it a try.
Randall
Many English textbooks start by teaching students basic expressions and questions like, "Hello. What's your name?" The problem with that question and approach it is often completely unnatural to ask someone their name in many situations. For example, imagine you are in an airport lobby waiting to catch your flight. If someone sitting next to you asked you your name, what would you think and how would you respond? Personally, I'd be very surprised and probably ask the person why they wanted to know.
So, if you found yourself in this situation, what kinds of questions or statements could you make to start a NATURAL conversation? Please share your ideas.
Randall
The Olympics are just around the corner, and people from around the world will participate in the events. So, what is your favorite sporting event and why? Personally, I enjoy the marathon. Having ran one myself, it requires a great deal of endurance, both physically and mentally. No matter how fast people run one, it is still an accomplishment.
Randall
If a friend wanted to visit your country, city, or local area, what would you want to show them? Personally, I an outdoor fanatic, and I love to hike, camp, explore the beautiful rugged scenery in Utah, the state where I live in the US. There are many beautiful canyons where you can go without see a single person during your hike. While many people prefer to visit areas from their cars, I enjoy going deep into the backcountry where there lots of peace and quiet. Here are a couple of pictures I took with family recently. So, share your favorite place in your area. You can see more pictures of Utah at:
http://www.hikinginutah.com/farnsworthcanyon.htm
Randall
What are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online verses going to a traditional store in your neighborhood? For one, if you shop at a traditional store, you can actually touch, handle, and examine the product (perhaps even test it), but you might only see a picture of an item if you shop online. Yes, you might be able to return the product if there's a problem, but some people won't think the effort is worth it.
So, what do you think about this topic? Share your ideas.
Randall
Everyone has probably had scary experiences in your life that changed them, in some cases for the better. Personally, I have a slight fear of heights, and last year, I climbed to the top of a mountain called Lone Peak near my house. The mountain isn't that tall (about 11,000 feet), but the last 300 feet to the top requires great care and hands-on moves with a lot of exposure. In other words, one slip and your gone. I climbed the mountain twice in about a month's time, but the first time, I didn't have the courage to climb 15 more feet to the top. At the same time, I knew my limitations, so I was satisfied with what I did. However, a month later, I climbed the mountain again and reach the very top, as seen in this picture. This experience helped me conquer some of my fears, but it also taught me not to take undue risks: you should do what you feel comfortable in life and just be satisfied with small accomplishments.
So, what about you? Share a scary experience and what you learned from it.
Randall
Currently, I teach at an intensive English program in the United States, and one of the biggest misconceptions among students is that living overseas in the US will automatically be their golden ticket (the secret) to improving their English. Unfortunately, I work with so many students that isolate themselves from the community by only spending their time with friends from their native country. Furthermore, the only real contact these students have is going to the local supermarket or ordering a cheeseburger from McDonalds. Then, these same students wonder why their English isn't improving.
On the other hand, I have worked with other students who have volunteered in the community at schools, homeless shelters, and youth groups, or who have taken music classes, joined health clubs, and visited senior citizen centers. These students really make great efforts to meet people and not only did they improve their English, but they made lasting friendships and learned more about the local culture.
Learning another language won't happen automatically without effort. It takes a lot of work, dedication, and a tolerance of your own mistakes.
So, what do you think about this topic?
Best,
Randall
Adjusting to a new culture can be similar to a roller coaster: a lot of ups and downs with plenty of unexpected turns. Sometimes, the mistakes we make are due to language and cultural differences. So what has been your most challenging, embarrassing, or exciting experience in adjusting to a new culture.
For me, trying to explain to a Japanese pharmacist in Tokyo that young daughter had constipation using body language was a real challenge, but after a while of using gestures and drawing pictures, we finally understood each other, and I got the "medicine" I needed. At least from the experience, I gained more confidence that I could handle other similar situations in the future.
Now, share your experiences.
Randall
The changing seasons bring new weather patterns as well as opportunities for enjoying different outdoor activities, and what people do can be influenced by geography and cultural traditions. Please share your feelings on which season of the year you enjoy most and share your reasons to explain your choice.
Randall
If you could magically change one thing about your English skills overnight (e.g., listening/speaking/reading/writing/grammar), which would you choose and why? Do you think it is possible to improve this skill in real life, and if so, how? Please share your ideas.
Randall
When English students make mistakes in their speaking (whether they be related to grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation), under what circumstances should the teacher correct them? In other words, should the teacher correct every mistake a student makes in their speaking, or should the teacher make corrections depending on the purpose of the activity? How do you feel when a teacher corrects you in front of other students? Share your opinions and thoughts on this topic.
Randall
Whether you are studying English in your home country or overseas with a mix of students from many countries, a common concern is how to improve students' speaking skills and student relations under such situations. Personally, you can have students from one particular group learn English just fine if they are motivated and disciplined to use English only; a mix of different nationalities is not needed. However, what I often see as a teacher in the US is that certain students speak their language amongst themselves, and this can alienate students from other countries. Furthermore, these students tend to hang out together after class and don't use English except to order an occasional cheeseburger from McDonalds.
So, is having an English-Only policy in class a good idea? How can teachers help students improve their English under similar situations?
Randall
More and more cities, governments, and individuals are becoming concerned about protecting our environment and resources. However, for the individual citizen, what do people in your area do (or DON'T do) to recycle at home. Personally, we collect our newspapers for the week and take them to a local school down the street where they collect them for recycling. Furthermore, we also put some of our leftover food (e.g., banana peels, egg shells, vegetables, etc.) outside in a special box that turns the scraps into soil for our garden.
So, what about you and people in your area? What can we do more to protect our future?
Randall
Many students ask how they can improve their score on the TOEFL test, and answers to this question deal with both language skills and test-taking strategies. Over the years, the TOEFL test has evolved and changed, and the test now reflects more authentic situations and tasks that a student might encounter in real academic (school) situations. Besides passing the test, students should be equally concerned about their ability to communicate in English with fellow students and understand lectures and discussions. Too often, I have taught students who "passed" the TOEFL, but their language skills were still so low that they struggled (and sometimes failed) once they got into the university.
So, what are the keys to getting a better TOEFL score and how can students look past the TOEFL and improve real communication skills to survive the academic challenges of university life? Please share your experiences and ideas on this topic.
Randall
Eating at fast food restaurants has become a popular option for many people, young and old. However, the reasons for going to such a restaurant and the foods people eat might differ widely. Therefore, share with us the name of a fast food restaurant you sometimes go to (it might be a local place most of us have never heard of, and that's okay), the items you usually order, and the reasons for visiting these places. Also, tell us about any unique or unusual items that are typical of your area or culture.
Best,
Randall
How do students in college or at a university address or call their teachers in your area or country? Do people say something like "teacher" or "Mr. Smith", or can people call their teachers by their first name? How would you describe the student-teacher relationship? Do teachers encourage you to visit their offices and discuss their homework or problems? Please share your ideas.
Randall
If you had only one day to live, what advice or words of wisdom would you leave your family (brothers, sisters, parents, or children) and why? Are your choices of words or wisdom influenced by your own experience, culture, religion, or other values? Please share your ideas.
Randall
Please listen and share your opinions and ideas on this topic.
Randall
Many students find that once they reach the intermediate level of English, their progress seems to slow down and, in some ways, fossilize. This can be very discouraging. Looking at this situation, students slowly progress in the beginning stages from simple introductions and hobbies to more demanding topics on personal values, environmental issues, relationships, and even politics. However, students either find few opportunities to engage in such topics or are just not interested in discussing them. In this case, it is more a question of knowledge of broader topics than language skills. However, in any future job or educational experience, students will need such higher-level topics. Thus, what are some ways students can extend their learning beyond basic topics on shopping and sports? Share your ideas.
Randall
If you could either speak English (1) with perfect accuracy with an accent or (2) with perfect pronunciation along with some grammatical mistakes, which situation would you choose and why?
Randall
Every culture and family has its own expectations on the responsibilities and duties of children who are "adults", that is, people generally over 18 years of age, particularly for those who are living at home. If an adult children, let's say, 23 years old is working full time, but still lives at home, do you think the person should pay rent to his or her parents? Why or why not? Share your opinions on the topic, including any values and beliefs of your culture that explain your answer.
Best,
Randall
I am just starting new classes at the university, and students sometimes ask me what are the keys (or secrets) to learning English. As part of this discussion, I often point out four things:
One question that sometimes comes up regarding ESL/EFL teachers is whether experience makes a better teacher or not, and if so, to what extent. Furthermore, is all experience the same in quality. In other words, if you could choose between a new teacher with less than 6 months of experience in the classroom or a teacher with 10 years of experience, who would you want as your teacher? How about 20 years of experience? Would it matter what subject you were studying: grammar, writing, listening/speaking, or reading? Please share your ideas on the topic.
Randall
One of the biggest concerns (complaints) I hear from some students in the US, particularly from certain countries, is that there are too many students from their country in the class, and therefore, they can't learn English. This perception, unfortunately, reveals how limited our scope of the language-learning experience really is. If I moved to, let's say, Mexico, and all of the other students in my Spanish class were native English speakers from the US, I wouldn't care at all, and I wouldn't view this as a negative thing. I feel this way because I see that what I do OUTSIDE of the class just as (or more) important in my language-learning experience as what I do in class.
International students who are concerned about the number of students from the same country being in their class, unfortunately, are often the ones who see the classroom as their world, and when the class is over, they tend to only associate and hang out with students from their own country. On the other hand, some of my best students have been the ones who have volunteered in the community, joined clubs, and helped in reading programs at local schools. They see that learning is much more than a classroom experience.
So, what do you think about this topic? What are some of the best ways to learn English, whether it be in your home country or overseas?
Randall
If you were planning a trip to Hawaii, would you rather fly to your destination or go by ship (on a cruise) to the islands? Share your ideas and reasons to support them. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each travel option? What opportunities would you have to practice and improve your English on the trip?
Randall
If you had a great job and made a lot of money (let's say, ten million dollars a year) , what would you do with it? Would you buy something expensive or give it away? Share your ideas and explain your reasons for your choices.
Randall
Dictionaries are important tools to help ESL/EFL learners improve their language skills, but given the choice, which do you prefer to use and why: a traditional textbook dictionary, an electronic dictionary you can carry, or an online dictionary? Please share your ideas, including the specific dictionary you find most useful, and explain your reasons for using it.
Randall
Please listen and share your ideas and opinions on this topic.
Randall
Please listen and share your ideas and opinions on this topic.
Randall
Seen in most cultures and languages, proverbs are popular beliefs that teach some truth about life. Understanding proverbs from different countries can teach us a lot about our world neighbors, including their values about certain topics. Proverbs can always serve as great conversation starters which can help us practice English (or any language) and learn culture at the same time.
A simple one in English is "a closed mouth catches no flies." This often means that keeping your mouth shut and not gossiping or talking about others will help you avoid problems. Personally, I have found this true in my life. It is much better to listen and study all the facts before you make any decision or judgment about any person or situation.
Now, please share a common proverb from your language, tell us what it means, and how it has applied to your personally in your life. You can find more proverbs from different languages and cultures at http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Category:Proverbs.
Randall
If someone were traveling through your country or area, what travel tips and suggestions would you give them to save money and still have a great time? From my experience, staying at a youth hostel can be a way to save money on lodging and meet people at the same time. One Website that can help you find youth hostels around the world is www.hostels.com. This site lists places around the world and contains pictures and reviews of each place.
So, what other suggestions do you have for people traveling in your country? Share your ideas.
Randall
Many international students often have a hard time deciding where to go overseas to study English, and this is sometimes due to the large number of options available. For you personally, what is the most important factor in choosing a language program? If you have studied overseas, what actually matters most in planning to have a positive experience overseas? Please share your ideas and experiences on this topic.
Randall
Listen to this recording and share your ideas on the topic.
Having taught English for twenty years, I have noticed many misperceptions among international students and their parents on the keys to learning English here in the United States. In order to learn any language, just being in the vicinity or area where the language is spoken is not enough to guarantee a student will learn. Many parents assume that if there children travel to a foreign country, they children will somehow naturally learn the language. However, I see time and time again on a daily basis that many international students tend to isolate themselves from the community by spending all their time with friends from their same country. Now, this isn't necessarily bad if the students are trying to speak English, but these students will make little progress if the only English they use is in the language classroom and at McDonalds when they order a hamburger.
In fact, I have met many people who learned to speak English in their home countries without ever going abroad, and they were able to do this because they were very motivated, sought out opportunities to speak English when they could, and had very good study skills.
So, please share your thoughts and opinions on how to learn language better, either overseas or in your home country.
Randall
Becoming a parent can be a rewarding, yet challenging, "job", and families and society are changing due to new ideas and influences around us. If and when you become a parent, what things will you do differently than your own parents and how you were raised? Share your ideas.
Personally, I have four children ranging in ages from 10 to adult, and I feel that I have tried to spend a lot of time with them playing games, camping, watching movies, and just talking about their lives. Someone once said that no success can compensate for failure in the home, so I do what I can to build relationships with my children.
Randall
Many students use the Internet to learn English, and finding appropriate materials for improving listening skills is often one thing learners are searching for most. Thus, which Websites do you go to most to help you improve your listening skills, or if you are a teacher, which sites do you suggest to your students? Please share your ideas and post a link to some of your favorite sites that should help all visitors here.
As a side note, I've just created two new listening activities on my own site, and I hope you enjoy them:
Budget Hotel Rooms
http://esl-lab.com/hotelreservations/hotelreservationsrd1.htm
Grocery Shopping
http://esl-lab.com/supermarket/supermarketrd1.htm
If you saw a classmate cheating during an important English test, what would you do and why? Share your ideas and any similar experiences on this topic? How does cheating affect us all? What consequences are there for cheating at your school?
Randall
Having a great language teacher (whether it be English or some other language) can influence students on whether or not they improve and use their communication skills in and out of the classroom. So, please share your experiences and feelings about a language teacher that helped you learn and describe what exactly the teacher did to motivate you. What is your image of the ideal teacher?
Randall
Often, as human beings, we reflect on our past and wish that certain things had been different in our lives. So, if you could relive a single day of your life again, which would it be? Then, explain your reasons. Personally, there are many days I might relive again, good and bad days, and those days that were especially discouraging or disappointing. Being a father of children---one adult child, teenagers, and a younger child---there are times when I wish I could have spent more time with them, particularly when they just needed time to talk. Fortunately, we can learn from our past to make things better, and this is what I try to do everyday. Now, share your feelings on this topic.
Randall
Apple recently started its own movie rental service to provide downloadable movies that users can view for a short period of time. My question is how useful such a service will be to students and teachers learning ESL or EFL. Currently, the service is only available in certain areas and you can only view the movie during a 24-hour window. On the plus side, you can download these movies to newer-generation iPods, so a learner or teacher could view the movie away from the computer.
Personally, I'd probably buy the movie from iTunes (or other places) instead of renting one, but the idea of its portability is interesting. As a teacher, I can imagine showing parts of the movie to help students improve their listening, vocabulary, and better yet, their discussion skills because I wouldn't just watch the movie (a very passive skill with popcorn), but I'd have students discuss the movie content as a way of building thinking skills.
So, what is your opinion on using movies to improve your language skills? Share your experiences and ideas.
Randall
If you were magically given three wishes, what would you wish to change in your life or in the lives of those around you? Personally, I would use one wish to heal a friend of a serious illness. My second wish would be to have more time and compassion to spend with my family. And finally, I'd wish to have some more time to myself to exercise, hike, and relax in the mountains in my state of Utah. So, how about you? Share your wishes with us.
Randall
What are at least two common names for men and women of people your age? Of course, popular names change from year to year, but having an idea about names from specific countries can help familiarize ourselves with the culture and people. Please tell us where you are from and at least two popular names for men and women and share any interesting cultural information or meaning behind these names.
Current, some popular boy's names are Jacob, Michael, and Joshua, and popular girl's names are Emily, Madison, and Ashley. However, in the year I was born (in the early 1960s), popular names included Michael, David, John, and Robert for boys, and Lisa, Mary, Susan, and Karen for girls. My name, Randall, was most popular in the 1950s and 60s, but isn't very popular any more. It is German in origin and traditionally meant "wolf shield", but I'm sure my parents didn't have any of that in mind when they named me. Here is a link on name popularity:
http://www.behindthename.com/top/
Best,
Randall
