World Food Crisis: How are rising prices affecting you?

Food prices around the world are slowing increasing, and this has been hard of people in different countries, particularly where governments don't produce enough food and have to import food to feed their people. So, how have prices affected you or people in your own country? What do you think are the causes and solutions?

Take a look at at some articles about the topic HERE.

Randall

Memorial Day: Do you have a similar holiday?

Today is Memorial Day in the United States, which is held on the last Monday of May. It is the day when people remember those who have died in military service, but we also remember family members who have died. Many people take flowers to the cemeteries, and cities often hold parades or other memorial ceremonies. In addition, it is often considered the beginning of summer because many schools end around this time of year, and people have barbecues, go camping, or do other outdoor activities.

So, do you have a similar holiday in your country? If so, what do you do on this day? What is the meaning of this day to you? Share your ideas.

Randall

Oil Reserves: When will they run out?

It is well known that there is only a limited amount of oil in the world today---oil that affects all aspects of our lives because it is used not only as a fuel but in some many products we buy everyday. The unknown factor is when all of this oil will run out. So, what do you think will happen in the world as we run out of oil? How will this situation affect our daily lives and our relationships with other countries?

Please share your ideas.

Randall

Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab - Press Release

I just wanted to let you know about a press release about my site that might help you understand the background of my main listening Website:

http://www.prlog.org/10073264-utah-based-website-teaching-english-to-the-world.html


Please share your experiences if you have used the site and, if so, how it has helped you learn English.

Best,

Randall

Conversational Starters: Which seems the most natural to you?

Although many ESL/EFL textbooks teach students basic ways to ask questions and start conversations, the real question is which question is the most appropriate under different situations. I believe that this where more focus should be placed because students ask inappropriate or strange questions because they don't understand under what context things should be said.

In this poll, I asked visitors what they felt was the best question to ask in this situation, and I feel the results show that students lack sociolinguistic awareness as I mentioned above.

For example, asking a complete stranger his or her name just doesn't make sense and the native speaker might be very surprised at the random question. I mean, native speakers don't ask this question unless a name is really needed. I most cases native speakers, in this case on an airplane, might talk about a variety of random things like the food or the person's travel destination for hours without ever asking the person's name because it isn't really needed.

So, what do you think about this topic and the other responses to the survey? Share your ideas.

Randall

School Truancy: How to get students to attend school

From time to time, children and teenagers don't want to go to school, but certain laws might require parents to send their children to school. In the US, such laws exist, and parents can be held responsible if they don't do this, or they need to provide equivalent instruction at home. So, what can parents do when their children don't want to go? Do parents let children stay home, call the police to get help in taking their children to school, or find another means of motivating children to go to school?

Share your ideas on the topic, including what laws have been passed on the requirements for children attending school in your country.

Randall

Love: Do people show it the same way?

Although love is probably considered important for most people, the ways we show it might differ from culture to culture. Specifically, how to families show love and appreciation for each other. Do parents say to their wives, "I love you", or do they express this in a different way? Do parents hug and kiss their children and say that they love them? If so, until what age? Do parents use other ways of showing appreciation and affection for their children?

Share your ideas on this topic.

Randall