Social Networking Sites - The good and the bad

Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace (and many others) have become extremely popular these days; however, there is ever increasing discussion on how these sites benefit users as well as affect users negatively. Do these sites promote better communication and improve old and new relationships, or do they distract users and affect their productivity at school and work? What are your feelings and experiences on this topic?

Randall

"Secrets" to Improving Your Listening Skills

Learning how to improve your listening skills in English---or in any other language---can be a real challenge if you don't know how to develop these skills. In this video, I talk about some of the "keys" to improving your comprehension. You can download the PowerPoint and a study guide from my Website at:

- http://esl-lab.com/webconference/webcenter.htm

The video below is the first half of the presentation; you can view the entire talk by visiting the link above.

Randall

Recycling: What people can do

So, how important is recycling to many people, including Randall? Take a look at this video. You can see more video content at:

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

Pet Care: How can animals affect our lives?

For many people, pets are a part of their everyday lives; however, the types of pets people own and how they care for them can differ greatly from person to person based on experience, living conditions, local laws, and other cultural reasons. In this video, I share a little bit about some of my pets. What has been your experience in raising animals? How can they help us emotionally and physically?

Randall

Learning a Second Langage - Beyond English

Although there is a great desire by many to learn English as a second or foreign language, it is by no means the only key language in our global communities. With developing economies around the world, other languages are becoming more important. Therefore, besides your own native language, what other languages are important to carry out business, trade, and just everyday communication skills in your communities? How will this change over the coming years?

Randall

Attending a University

Attending a college in a new country can bring with it new expectations, a different classroom environment, and new friends. However, I often see international students struggle with these new changes, and they often expect that things will be just like home. Listen to the video and share your comments/opinions on the topic. You can find more videos at:

- http://esl-lab.com/videoclips.htm

Randall on Facebook

Hi everyone,

Now, you can follow some of my other Web site news and activities on Facebook at this link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Randalls-ESL-Cyber-Listening-Lab/131109425926

Have no fear! I will continue to make this blog an important part of my online activities, and I encourage visitors to continue to share their ideas here. Thanks for being a part of this site.

Best,

Randall