Help with Watching & Talking HOCKEY!
As you watch the 2010 Winter Olympics, there is not a sport more exciting to Canadians than Hockey. Watch the games and learn more with this vocabulary. Ask a Canadian or American to explain the ones you do not know. Enjoy! PEOPLE The Referees or “Refs” The Linesman/men The Players The Forwards The Defense The […]
Slang & Expressions from Snowboarding
There are over 370 terms, slang, idioms and expressions from the world of Snowboarding here, http://www.abc-of-snowboarding.com/snowboarddictionary.asp , including references to tricks, snow conditions, boarders, fans, and other people in the sport. Too many to post but just click on the link and have fun learning how to talk like and understand a snowboarder. Enjoy the […]
Olympics Vocabulary – Curling Glossary
In honor of our fabulous 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, I am posting some sports-related vocabulary and expressions, so that you may enjoy the games more and have a better chance of understanding the plays of the sports. Enjoy! Curling Glossary (from http://www.ecf-web.org/glossary.html ) BACK LINE The line behind the house. Once crossed a stone is […]
Do You Have “A News” or “Some News”?
I hear this mistake all the time, so I thought I should put it down here. In English we say “news” not “a news”. It is uncountable. Eg. Vanesa: “I have some (good/bad/strange) news to tell you/share with you/for you!” Rob: “Really? What’s the (good/bad/strange) news?” Vanesa: “I’m pregnant!!!” Rob: (Faints…) So please do not […]
English Acronyms and Short Forms for the Office
Here are a few acronyms that you most likely will come across as you work in a professional setting, like an office. These will come in handy (be useful) as you read and write office memos, emails, texts and letters. Re: This means “Regarding”, as in “regarding (or in regards to) your question/memo/email etc.” Appt: […]
History and Rituals of Halloween
Halloween is almost upon us! I would like to take this opportunity to remind all the readers of this blog that even though the category is called ‘Speak English Better’, the blogs’ focus is also on learning and understanding culture. Why? Because as I have said a hundred million ka-billion times – English language cannot […]
Idioms from Farm Animals
HORSE: “Horsing around” – means to be fooling around, wrestling or playing physical games. Little kids are often told to stop this by parents. E.g. “You boys stop horsing around outside and come eat your dinner!” “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse” – means to be so hungry that you can eat a […]
Clink, Then Drink! Do Not Put Down That Glass!
Hello, Here is a tradition that I have always known and obeyed, yet I cannot say for sure if it is a Canadian-only tradition. I suspect not. When someone ‘toasts’ you (proposing a toast means to say something nice about you or your personal/business relationship before drinking) it is polite to listen attentively, make eye […]
American Accent Reduction Resource
Lynn Bo is the founder of Accent Master. She is an American teacher who has an interesting blog that has videos and podcasts as well as posts regarding accent reduction or accent modification. You may find them useful, if you are interested in studying or imitating pure American English. http://accentmaster.blogspot.com/ I have a slightly different […]
Mingle with Myngle to Learn Language
Hello everyone, I have had a request to introduce to you Myngle, a cool online language-learning company. I will now let a representative from Myngle describe their company: Myngle is a pioneer of live online language learning. Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Myngle removes the physical dimension for language learning, allowing students and teachers to […]