Textbooks are the Beginning, Not the End
I love books. I enjoy flipping through the pages and seeing if the style of the book matches my learning style. In that way I will know if I will read it and understand it, or if I will be bored and waste my time and money. I have taught ESL (English as a Second […]
Important Idioms from Baseball
I love baseball, especially watching my Toronto Blue Jays team. It’s my favourite part of summer. I was preparing some baseball idioms and expressions for one of my clients soon, when I thought that I should at least add a few here, on this blog, for you too! 😉 It is easy to find lots […]
Canadian English Pronunciation
Today, July 1st, is Canada Day – our birthday. I thought this might be of interest to those who enjoy the sound and study of Canadian English. Canadian English (CanE, en-CA) is the variety of English used in Canada. More than 26 million Canadians (85% of the population) have some knowledge of English (2006 census). […]
Acronyms for Crime and Policing
To continue from a previous blog entry, here are some popular acronyms that you may hear on cop shows or cop films. Plus, if you apply to become a police officer, you should be aware of these acronyms. Our company proudly helps YRP – York Regional Police – with communication skills assessments and training of […]
Cop Talk – Learning the Idioms and Slang of the Police
Do you enjoy watching police TV shows like COPS, CSI, Law & Order etc. and police films in English? There are lots to choose from for sure. Or perhaps you want to apply to become a police officer? I have the pleasure of working directly with a local police service (YRP – York Regional Police) […]
So, what are the qualities of a good speaker?
Here are a list of the qualities and characteristics of a good public speaker/presenter. Make sure you include these points when you have to speak in public. 1. They talk to us as though we are having a conversation 2. They speak our language 3. They look as though they are enjoying themselves. 4. They […]
Comparing Communication and English Conversations Skills
What are the English Language Conversation Skills? English Language Conversation Skills include language abilities, conversation skills, social skills, culture knowledge and non-verbal communication skills. Non-verbal communication skills are classified as posture, body movements, gestures, facial expressions, proximity and eye contact. In English speaking countries the non-verbal messages can represent from 50-93% of the meaning. Social […]
Idioms from Snow
Well it is the season for this topic, at least here in Canada and the northern U.S. (I have modified these from http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/snow) To be (as) pure as the driven snow: Pure and chaste (Often used ironically.) E.g. Jill: Sue must have gone to bed with every man in town. Jane: And I always thought […]
Who Cares That GSP Has an Accent?
Hey everyone, I know this post is not really communication-related, except if you consider that GSP (Georges St.-Pierre) has a thick French-Canadian accent, but I just HAD to write a quick WOO-HOO and congratulations to our home-grown UFC champion (MMA – Mixed Martial Arts) Georges “Rush’ St.-Pierre on defending his title against BJ ‘the Prodigy’ […]
Swimming Idioms Part 1
(from http://www.business-english.com/swimmingidioms/menu.php with some modifications) If you are ‘out of your depth’, you don’t have the necessary knowledge, experience or skill to deal with a particular situation or subject. In North America, a common replacement is ‘out of your league’, as in major league baseball. • When she started talking about quantum physics, I felt […]