Hi all, thanks for dropping by. To make things easier, I've decided to merge some of my blogs, which, including this one, can now be found at ELT World. I've been getting off my backsides and writing recently, so come over to the new URL and leave lots of lovely comments.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Catch up on the Latest TEFL News
Just a quick thanks to all of you who have visited this blog. These days I'm busier than ever over at eltworld.net setting up things. In fact, I can't believe that the ELT World news blog has been up and running for almost a year now...
Please drop by and learn all the latest TEFL gossip from around the world at the ELT World News blog, you'll be flabbergasted at what's going on in the wonderful world of English language teaching.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Inner Meaning Of Busking - Street performance at its best
An article by Yeo Teck Wei
It was inspiration at first sight.
Here I was, in the midst of central Auckland, following up on the Auckland International Buskers Festival. I was walking along the Ferry Building when I literally stopped in my tracks.
A lady was painting on the pavement! I was outraged at the apparent "vandalism"!
I quickly recovered, then stepped forward to find out more. It was then I realized I was looking at the works of master pavement artist, Debbie Robinson. Thankfully, I had not voiced out my ignorance and foolishness; If not I'd have been stoned.
A busker is a street performer who performs and entertains people for voluntary donations. Buskers appear in the form of jugglers, artists, magicians, stuntman... the list is endless. But unfortunately, not much respect is often accorded to them.
It takes a lot of courage to be a busker - The courage to fail; the courage to endure long hours of training; the courage to endure possible public humiliation, and most importantly, the courage to overcome one's ego and pride. A busker has to go through all these inner battles, and win these demons within one by one before the craft can be perfected. That is no easy feat.
In terms of skills, the difficulties they faced are apparent. For instance, take drawing. Drawing is so easy that anyone can do it. But, it is that extra dab of paint, that extra line of shadow that can gratify the hearts of people.
A true busker at heart performs to show his or her craft for the sole purpose of entertaining the people around them, rather than for the sake of money.
True buskers need no glamour, nor spotlight to shine on them. They are masters in their own way, and they know it very well themselves. Fortunately, they love to entertain people so much that they do their best to excel in their field, just for your little applause and smile.
Contrary to popular wisdom, buskers do not perform for the sake of money. If they did, judging by the pittance they received for every performance, they would have starved on the streets long ago. Hence, no one should look at them as beggars. If they did not exist, our mundane lives would have been even more devoid of colours.
To a true busker, busking is to bring joy and laughter to the people around them through what they do. It is, an act of selflessness rarely seen in today's society. Buskers have shown that you don't need lots of money or power to be happy; all it takes is a simple trade and you can add a smile to the faces of people.
Next time when I see a busker, I will give them a rounding applause, because they deserve the recognition and respect rightfully accorded to masters in their profession. If you have seen these amazing people, I'm sure you would too.
To see more amazing buskers and for more information please visit http://www.aucklandbuskersfestival.co.nz/
About the Author
Yeo Teck Wei is a freelance writer based in Singapore and currently the blogger of The Paper Model. For more information, please visit the-papermodel.blogspot.com or email me at yeoteckwei@yahoo.co.uk. Any comments to my articles are appreciated. If you want any articles on any topic, email me and i'd write it out!
It was inspiration at first sight.
Here I was, in the midst of central Auckland, following up on the Auckland International Buskers Festival. I was walking along the Ferry Building when I literally stopped in my tracks.
A lady was painting on the pavement! I was outraged at the apparent "vandalism"!
I quickly recovered, then stepped forward to find out more. It was then I realized I was looking at the works of master pavement artist, Debbie Robinson. Thankfully, I had not voiced out my ignorance and foolishness; If not I'd have been stoned.
A busker is a street performer who performs and entertains people for voluntary donations. Buskers appear in the form of jugglers, artists, magicians, stuntman... the list is endless. But unfortunately, not much respect is often accorded to them.
It takes a lot of courage to be a busker - The courage to fail; the courage to endure long hours of training; the courage to endure possible public humiliation, and most importantly, the courage to overcome one's ego and pride. A busker has to go through all these inner battles, and win these demons within one by one before the craft can be perfected. That is no easy feat.
In terms of skills, the difficulties they faced are apparent. For instance, take drawing. Drawing is so easy that anyone can do it. But, it is that extra dab of paint, that extra line of shadow that can gratify the hearts of people.
A true busker at heart performs to show his or her craft for the sole purpose of entertaining the people around them, rather than for the sake of money.
True buskers need no glamour, nor spotlight to shine on them. They are masters in their own way, and they know it very well themselves. Fortunately, they love to entertain people so much that they do their best to excel in their field, just for your little applause and smile.
Contrary to popular wisdom, buskers do not perform for the sake of money. If they did, judging by the pittance they received for every performance, they would have starved on the streets long ago. Hence, no one should look at them as beggars. If they did not exist, our mundane lives would have been even more devoid of colours.
To a true busker, busking is to bring joy and laughter to the people around them through what they do. It is, an act of selflessness rarely seen in today's society. Buskers have shown that you don't need lots of money or power to be happy; all it takes is a simple trade and you can add a smile to the faces of people.
Next time when I see a busker, I will give them a rounding applause, because they deserve the recognition and respect rightfully accorded to masters in their profession. If you have seen these amazing people, I'm sure you would too.
To see more amazing buskers and for more information please visit http://www.aucklandbuskersfestival.co.nz/
About the Author
Yeo Teck Wei is a freelance writer based in Singapore and currently the blogger of The Paper Model. For more information, please visit the-papermodel.blogspot.com or email me at yeoteckwei@yahoo.co.uk. Any comments to my articles are appreciated. If you want any articles on any topic, email me and i'd write it out!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Classic Articles: Was your Four-week TEFL Course Worth it?
In celebration of the upcoming release of the fifth edition of Horizons Journal, I've decided to revisit some of the classic articles from the first four issues. In this article, I question the worth of the 4-week TEFL course with the help of members of the ELT World forums:
The four-week TEFL course, a starting point for so many of us in our careers as English teachers. But is it really worth it?
What do we really gain from these short, intensive courses that can't possibly hope to adequately prepare us for a career in teaching? A great deal, it would seem, according to the poll that ran on the blog and the forum.
Firstly, and most importantly judging by how many suggested this, the initial teacher training course provides a good foundation on which to build.
I started the ball rolling, stating the following:
'It didn't in any way prepare me for a full-time teaching position, but I can't imagine having had to go into a classroom for the first time without having done it.'
Emma, a forum member currently embroiled in her initial training course, perceptively notes, 'I imagine it's like passing your driving test. You only really learn to drive properly afterwards.' Spiral78 adds, 'a good course is a pretty essential starter - not that certified teachers are professionals, but that they've got a decent idea of how to start. The course got me started on a stronger foot than I'd have had without it.' Denise further reiterates:
'It alone would not have gotten me to where I am now, but it was a crucial first step. It taught me the basics and I went on from there. I can't imagine how my first teaching job would have gone without a certificate (if they would even have hired me without one). I learned a lot about how to plan, organize, and deliver a lesson.'
Canuck is another who shares the notion, 'that the one month courses offer a foundation to build upon, maybe provide information about what someone currently does in their class now and reinforces good techniques.' GueroPaz and Mishmumkin further exemplify, GueroPaz noting, 'it helped me immensely; I would have been lost without it,' while Mishmumkin adds, 'I had been teaching a year before doing it, but it really taught me a lot about lesson planning, what to expect, how to talk less/listen more.' Guy Courchesne reinforces the idea that 4 week courses should be seen as a foundation and that development is required after:
'I took it without having any serious or immediate expectations of going abroad... I eventually did, about 6 months later. I completed my course in Canada and as it was geared towards teaching in Korea, I found I had to study further and learn 'on the fly' when I started teaching in Mexico.
Increased opportunity in the local job market is another advantage that was mentioned. Chimp Guevara asserts that, 'it opened the door to better jobs for me in Japan, and gave me a good grounding in the basics so that I continue learning when I got back.'
Another potential advantage of the four-week training course is that it will effectively indicate those who are clearly not up to it. spiral78 exemplifies, 'I think the courses can also be useful for weeding out people who genuinely aren't cut out for the job - for example, if a trainee can't show up on time every day, looking reputable, he/she's going to crash and burn early in a contract anyway.'
It would seem, therefore, that these initial teacher training courses hold a lot of value. Never the less, Jerry was one who, validly, raised issue with an inadequate learning environment as reason for a course not being worth what was paid:
'I would say it wasn't worth the money. I say this because the course was delivered on a shoestring in less than acceptable premises with virtually no frills (coffee, water, working computers). The (course provider's) websites are very misleading with respect to training environment.'
So, certain courses may be lacking in areas outside the experience you'll gain in terms of teacher training. These are definitely things to consider when choosing a course, an issue we'll return to later. Despite this feeling of dissatisfaction, Jerry goes on to note, 'the course content was delivered well by the trainer and was comprehensive so in that respect it was "worthwhile".'
Another factor relating to whether or not a particular course is worth the investment is related to what you gain from being in a particular location. This particular aspect caused some disagreement, with suggestions made in support of doing the course in an exotic foreign locale or at a location in your home country. Spiral78 led the cry for taking the course in the country where you're thinking of teaching, listing the following benefits:
-You can get your feet wet in the country/culture while you still have a support system - training centers will usually arrange for your housing during the course, pick you up at the airport, and generally offer you some kind of local orientation. -Your practice teaching students will be representative of those you'll be working with when you start. -A good training centre can give you invaluable info regarding reputable employers in a region. -You can be sure that your cert will be recognized by regional employers.
Jerry, in contrast, notes the benefits of doing the course in your home country:
-When you set up a course online in the country you will work in can you be sure of the provider? -Is their course moderated? -Can you have your certificate notarized in that country? -What's the validity of the certificate? -What's the local reputation of the course provider? -What's the training environment like? -Will you be picked up at the airport? I wasn't, a pre-course orientation meeting was convened and conducted by a previous student who felt it was her moral duty to make sure new students were not left out on a limb as she had been. -Long term, is the certificate any use in another country or region?
Jerry also notes that this won't necessarily help you in getting used to the type of student you'll be teaching, suggesting, 'As for getting to know the type of student, the lessons are so heavily teacher orientated and regimented you don't get near to learning about them or understanding them.'
In terms of it being worthwhile, there was more agreement when it came to the notion of finding out about your course in advance, with spiral78 suggesting the following checklist:
-How long has the course been operating - under current management? -What qualifications do the trainers have? -What support will the centre guarantee? -Will the centre allow you to contact current trainees? -I'd also send a very brief email to several employers in the area asking whether certification from course X is well-looked-upon.
Spiral78 further exemplifies the disparity between courses, noting, 'there are a couple of 60-hour courses without teaching practice which are given as seminars using classrooms at universities - but which are NOT considered to be basic level certifications in many parts of the world.' Indeed, deciding on whether or not a course will be worth it, finding out what the course will include seems to be vital, Canuck asserting that, 'the only 4 week course someone should take is one that is 120 hours with a practical teaching component. The CELTA and 120 hour TEFL have this. I don't think an online course can measure up. I also believe that the 'every weekend' CELTA isn't as valuable as the one month all at once type.'
So, generally such courses are seen by the majority as being a good thing, providing as good a foundation in teaching as possible in a short space of time. The experience you gain will open doors in terms of job opportunities and will give you a pretty clear indication if you're not up to the task.
There are also clear benefits to the location at which you take the course, depending on what your needs may be. Having said that, it's clear that there are major disparities between the quality of such courses and doing some research before hand will pay dividends.
One final thing to consider if you're thinking of doing such a course is the group you're likely to end up teaching. For example, in many countries this might end up being primarily children. Leprofdanglais comments, 'the only thing is it trains you to teach adults, but where I was working in Spain, new staff always got lumbered with kids' classes.' GueroPaz reiterates, 'here in Thailand and in most places in the world, you teach lots of kids. That's my main complaint against any adult-oriented course.' So, even at the initial, four-week starter course stage, think about how specifically the course is going to meet your potential needs.
Use and distribution of this article is permitted subject to no changes being made to the content and appropriate hyperlinks/URL references in place.
The four-week TEFL course, a starting point for so many of us in our careers as English teachers. But is it really worth it?
What do we really gain from these short, intensive courses that can't possibly hope to adequately prepare us for a career in teaching? A great deal, it would seem, according to the poll that ran on the blog and the forum.
Firstly, and most importantly judging by how many suggested this, the initial teacher training course provides a good foundation on which to build.
I started the ball rolling, stating the following:
'It didn't in any way prepare me for a full-time teaching position, but I can't imagine having had to go into a classroom for the first time without having done it.'
Emma, a forum member currently embroiled in her initial training course, perceptively notes, 'I imagine it's like passing your driving test. You only really learn to drive properly afterwards.' Spiral78 adds, 'a good course is a pretty essential starter - not that certified teachers are professionals, but that they've got a decent idea of how to start. The course got me started on a stronger foot than I'd have had without it.' Denise further reiterates:
'It alone would not have gotten me to where I am now, but it was a crucial first step. It taught me the basics and I went on from there. I can't imagine how my first teaching job would have gone without a certificate (if they would even have hired me without one). I learned a lot about how to plan, organize, and deliver a lesson.'
Canuck is another who shares the notion, 'that the one month courses offer a foundation to build upon, maybe provide information about what someone currently does in their class now and reinforces good techniques.' GueroPaz and Mishmumkin further exemplify, GueroPaz noting, 'it helped me immensely; I would have been lost without it,' while Mishmumkin adds, 'I had been teaching a year before doing it, but it really taught me a lot about lesson planning, what to expect, how to talk less/listen more.' Guy Courchesne reinforces the idea that 4 week courses should be seen as a foundation and that development is required after:
'I took it without having any serious or immediate expectations of going abroad... I eventually did, about 6 months later. I completed my course in Canada and as it was geared towards teaching in Korea, I found I had to study further and learn 'on the fly' when I started teaching in Mexico.
Increased opportunity in the local job market is another advantage that was mentioned. Chimp Guevara asserts that, 'it opened the door to better jobs for me in Japan, and gave me a good grounding in the basics so that I continue learning when I got back.'
Another potential advantage of the four-week training course is that it will effectively indicate those who are clearly not up to it. spiral78 exemplifies, 'I think the courses can also be useful for weeding out people who genuinely aren't cut out for the job - for example, if a trainee can't show up on time every day, looking reputable, he/she's going to crash and burn early in a contract anyway.'
It would seem, therefore, that these initial teacher training courses hold a lot of value. Never the less, Jerry was one who, validly, raised issue with an inadequate learning environment as reason for a course not being worth what was paid:
'I would say it wasn't worth the money. I say this because the course was delivered on a shoestring in less than acceptable premises with virtually no frills (coffee, water, working computers). The (course provider's) websites are very misleading with respect to training environment.'
So, certain courses may be lacking in areas outside the experience you'll gain in terms of teacher training. These are definitely things to consider when choosing a course, an issue we'll return to later. Despite this feeling of dissatisfaction, Jerry goes on to note, 'the course content was delivered well by the trainer and was comprehensive so in that respect it was "worthwhile".'
Another factor relating to whether or not a particular course is worth the investment is related to what you gain from being in a particular location. This particular aspect caused some disagreement, with suggestions made in support of doing the course in an exotic foreign locale or at a location in your home country. Spiral78 led the cry for taking the course in the country where you're thinking of teaching, listing the following benefits:
-You can get your feet wet in the country/culture while you still have a support system - training centers will usually arrange for your housing during the course, pick you up at the airport, and generally offer you some kind of local orientation. -Your practice teaching students will be representative of those you'll be working with when you start. -A good training centre can give you invaluable info regarding reputable employers in a region. -You can be sure that your cert will be recognized by regional employers.
Jerry, in contrast, notes the benefits of doing the course in your home country:
-When you set up a course online in the country you will work in can you be sure of the provider? -Is their course moderated? -Can you have your certificate notarized in that country? -What's the validity of the certificate? -What's the local reputation of the course provider? -What's the training environment like? -Will you be picked up at the airport? I wasn't, a pre-course orientation meeting was convened and conducted by a previous student who felt it was her moral duty to make sure new students were not left out on a limb as she had been. -Long term, is the certificate any use in another country or region?
Jerry also notes that this won't necessarily help you in getting used to the type of student you'll be teaching, suggesting, 'As for getting to know the type of student, the lessons are so heavily teacher orientated and regimented you don't get near to learning about them or understanding them.'
In terms of it being worthwhile, there was more agreement when it came to the notion of finding out about your course in advance, with spiral78 suggesting the following checklist:
-How long has the course been operating - under current management? -What qualifications do the trainers have? -What support will the centre guarantee? -Will the centre allow you to contact current trainees? -I'd also send a very brief email to several employers in the area asking whether certification from course X is well-looked-upon.
Spiral78 further exemplifies the disparity between courses, noting, 'there are a couple of 60-hour courses without teaching practice which are given as seminars using classrooms at universities - but which are NOT considered to be basic level certifications in many parts of the world.' Indeed, deciding on whether or not a course will be worth it, finding out what the course will include seems to be vital, Canuck asserting that, 'the only 4 week course someone should take is one that is 120 hours with a practical teaching component. The CELTA and 120 hour TEFL have this. I don't think an online course can measure up. I also believe that the 'every weekend' CELTA isn't as valuable as the one month all at once type.'
So, generally such courses are seen by the majority as being a good thing, providing as good a foundation in teaching as possible in a short space of time. The experience you gain will open doors in terms of job opportunities and will give you a pretty clear indication if you're not up to the task.
There are also clear benefits to the location at which you take the course, depending on what your needs may be. Having said that, it's clear that there are major disparities between the quality of such courses and doing some research before hand will pay dividends.
One final thing to consider if you're thinking of doing such a course is the group you're likely to end up teaching. For example, in many countries this might end up being primarily children. Leprofdanglais comments, 'the only thing is it trains you to teach adults, but where I was working in Spain, new staff always got lumbered with kids' classes.' GueroPaz reiterates, 'here in Thailand and in most places in the world, you teach lots of kids. That's my main complaint against any adult-oriented course.' So, even at the initial, four-week starter course stage, think about how specifically the course is going to meet your potential needs.
Use and distribution of this article is permitted subject to no changes being made to the content and appropriate hyperlinks/URL references in place.
Read more great articles like this at the Horizons Journal website.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Salaries, Working Hours and Taxes in Australia
There’s a government enforced minimum wage in Australia, but most job sectors are bound by ‘award’ wages, which are set for different industries, professions and trades through a unique system, decided at federal or state level by pay agreements between unions and employers.
Government surveys of average weekly earnings are published regularly for a wide range of trades and professions, both nationally and for individual states and cities. The government-run organisation Wagenet has a website where you can consult wages and conditions of employment information (www.wagenet.gov.au). There are also a number of books which detail wages in different occupations, including What Jobs Pay by Rod Tilson.
A couple of years ago, the average weekly wage for adults in full-time employment was around $960 ($1,006 with overtime) and $698 ($714.50 with overtime) for women. A third of employees earn less than $450 a week (many migrants from non-English speaking countries earn below $350 a week), while around 10 per cent earn over $1,200 a week.
Graduates should expect to start on annual salaries of around $36,000. However, at the other end of the scale, managing directors earn between $350,000 and $600,000 a year in Sydney compared with $200,000 to $400,000 in Melbourne and $140,000 to $225,000 in Perth. Executive salaries in Australia are fast catching up with the rest of the world, and expatriate American bosses of top Australian companies earn $millions a year (including $tens of millions in bonuses in the form of share incentives/options and performance-related bonuses).
Working hours
Working hours in Australia vary according to your employer, your position and the type of industry in which you’re employed. A national 38-hour working week was introduced in 1981, since reduced to 37 hours. However, many people work longer hours, particularly employees in factories, who often work ten or more hours’ overtime per week. (A survey in 2003 showed that almost a third of full-time employees work more than 48 hours per week.) A standard working day (without overtime) for a blue-collar worker is from 7.00 or 8.00am to 3.30 or 4.30pm, while working hours in most offices and shops are from 8.30 or 9.30am until 4.30 or 5.30pm, with an hour’s break for lunch.
Tax File Number
Your tax file number (TFN), consisting of nine digits, is probably the most important number you receive in Australia. Without one, you’re taxed at the maximum rate (47 per cent) on all your wages (it’s that important!). You also need a TFN to claim unemployment and sickness benefits, to make any investment and to enrol in a fee-free course of higher education. It’s required when completing your annual income tax return and when you start work or change jobs (there are both personal and business tax file numbers).
You can obtain an application form for a TFN from your local Australian Tax Office (ATO). You must produce identification, such as your birth certificate, driving licence or passport with a valid visa, and should receive your TFN around two weeks after making an application. The ATO publishes a brochure, Applying for Your Tax File Number, which explains the application procedure.
Government surveys of average weekly earnings are published regularly for a wide range of trades and professions, both nationally and for individual states and cities. The government-run organisation Wagenet has a website where you can consult wages and conditions of employment information (www.wagenet.gov.au). There are also a number of books which detail wages in different occupations, including What Jobs Pay by Rod Tilson.
A couple of years ago, the average weekly wage for adults in full-time employment was around $960 ($1,006 with overtime) and $698 ($714.50 with overtime) for women. A third of employees earn less than $450 a week (many migrants from non-English speaking countries earn below $350 a week), while around 10 per cent earn over $1,200 a week.
Graduates should expect to start on annual salaries of around $36,000. However, at the other end of the scale, managing directors earn between $350,000 and $600,000 a year in Sydney compared with $200,000 to $400,000 in Melbourne and $140,000 to $225,000 in Perth. Executive salaries in Australia are fast catching up with the rest of the world, and expatriate American bosses of top Australian companies earn $millions a year (including $tens of millions in bonuses in the form of share incentives/options and performance-related bonuses).
Working hours
Working hours in Australia vary according to your employer, your position and the type of industry in which you’re employed. A national 38-hour working week was introduced in 1981, since reduced to 37 hours. However, many people work longer hours, particularly employees in factories, who often work ten or more hours’ overtime per week. (A survey in 2003 showed that almost a third of full-time employees work more than 48 hours per week.) A standard working day (without overtime) for a blue-collar worker is from 7.00 or 8.00am to 3.30 or 4.30pm, while working hours in most offices and shops are from 8.30 or 9.30am until 4.30 or 5.30pm, with an hour’s break for lunch.
Tax File Number
Your tax file number (TFN), consisting of nine digits, is probably the most important number you receive in Australia. Without one, you’re taxed at the maximum rate (47 per cent) on all your wages (it’s that important!). You also need a TFN to claim unemployment and sickness benefits, to make any investment and to enrol in a fee-free course of higher education. It’s required when completing your annual income tax return and when you start work or change jobs (there are both personal and business tax file numbers).
You can obtain an application form for a TFN from your local Australian Tax Office (ATO). You must produce identification, such as your birth certificate, driving licence or passport with a valid visa, and should receive your TFN around two weeks after making an application. The ATO publishes a brochure, Applying for Your Tax File Number, which explains the application procedure.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Keep your English up to Date
By Celia Webb
The English language changes constantly as new words are created or adopted from other languages. Words also become fashionable to use and like clothes go in and out of fashion. Keeping up with all the changes can be fun but challenging.
English has one of the largest vocabularies of any language with about a million words. Of the roughly one million available words, the average educated person knows about 20,000 and only uses about 2,000 unique words a week. About 80% of English is borrowed from other languages, primarily Latin, but as exposure to other languages and cultures increases, new words get adopted as well. The number of words also increases as people combine or shorten old words to make new words (i.e. 'greenhouse' combining 'green' and 'house' or 'scrummy' derived from 'scrumptious'). New discoveries in technical and scientific fields also serve as a rich source for new words.
Knowing what the newest words mean will help you understand news stories and changes in English culture. Here are several ideas on keeping your English current.
Watch popular TV shows and movies
The earliest appearances of new words tend to occur in visually-associated media. TV show and movie script writers use emerging words to make their scripts fresh and appealing.
Read publications meant for young people
Often new, hip words appear first in print dedicated to young audiences. As their usage becomes more established, the words will appear in more generally targeted media. Check out magazines or internet sites on topics which interest you and have a focus toward young readers.
Read technology-related stories and publications
A large number of new words start as words to describe a new technology or capability. Staying abreast of trends and developments in the areas of computers, electronics, and science will keep your English on the cutting edge.
Check out Internet sites which track new words
Use search terms like 'new English words' or 'new words' to find words being added to the English language. Another option is to visit dictionary sites. Most dictionary sites include sections addressing words which were recently added to the dictionary.
Listen to the news
Reporters often use new words to describe breaking news stories. Words related to politics, cultures, and scientific breakthroughs occur in news stories because these words reflect the language of the people who are at the center of these stories. Think of the phrase 'sister wife' to describe one of the multiple wives of a polygamist. Another example is the term 'agroterrorism' used to describe terrorist acts to disrupt or destroy a country's agriculture.
Keeping your English up to date is easy if you are looking in the right places. You can have the latest words in your vocabulary. Following the tips above will provide you new, fresh words as they appear in the English lexicon.
About the Author
Celia Webb, President of Pilinut Press, Inc., publishers of advanced readers for children and ESL students. Check out http://www.pilinutpress.com for more free articles on developing reading-related skills, word games and puzzles, and activity sheets for the company's entertaining and educational books.
The English language changes constantly as new words are created or adopted from other languages. Words also become fashionable to use and like clothes go in and out of fashion. Keeping up with all the changes can be fun but challenging.
English has one of the largest vocabularies of any language with about a million words. Of the roughly one million available words, the average educated person knows about 20,000 and only uses about 2,000 unique words a week. About 80% of English is borrowed from other languages, primarily Latin, but as exposure to other languages and cultures increases, new words get adopted as well. The number of words also increases as people combine or shorten old words to make new words (i.e. 'greenhouse' combining 'green' and 'house' or 'scrummy' derived from 'scrumptious'). New discoveries in technical and scientific fields also serve as a rich source for new words.
Knowing what the newest words mean will help you understand news stories and changes in English culture. Here are several ideas on keeping your English current.
Watch popular TV shows and movies
The earliest appearances of new words tend to occur in visually-associated media. TV show and movie script writers use emerging words to make their scripts fresh and appealing.
Read publications meant for young people
Often new, hip words appear first in print dedicated to young audiences. As their usage becomes more established, the words will appear in more generally targeted media. Check out magazines or internet sites on topics which interest you and have a focus toward young readers.
Read technology-related stories and publications
A large number of new words start as words to describe a new technology or capability. Staying abreast of trends and developments in the areas of computers, electronics, and science will keep your English on the cutting edge.
Check out Internet sites which track new words
Use search terms like 'new English words' or 'new words' to find words being added to the English language. Another option is to visit dictionary sites. Most dictionary sites include sections addressing words which were recently added to the dictionary.
Listen to the news
Reporters often use new words to describe breaking news stories. Words related to politics, cultures, and scientific breakthroughs occur in news stories because these words reflect the language of the people who are at the center of these stories. Think of the phrase 'sister wife' to describe one of the multiple wives of a polygamist. Another example is the term 'agroterrorism' used to describe terrorist acts to disrupt or destroy a country's agriculture.
Keeping your English up to date is easy if you are looking in the right places. You can have the latest words in your vocabulary. Following the tips above will provide you new, fresh words as they appear in the English lexicon.
About the Author
Celia Webb, President of Pilinut Press, Inc., publishers of advanced readers for children and ESL students. Check out http://www.pilinutpress.com for more free articles on developing reading-related skills, word games and puzzles, and activity sheets for the company's entertaining and educational books.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Festive New Zealand
Knowledge shared by Richard Greaves
New Zealand is a land in the far south where immigrant cultures were grafted onto a Polynesian landscape. This makes for a colourful culture replete with festivals of all kinds. There are festivals marking special days in the country's colonial history, events that celebrate the indigenous Polynesian culture and still others that commemorate New Zealand's rich agricultural traditions.
New Zealand celebrates its history on the last Monday in January with the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta. This colourful, nautical event commemorates the arrival of Captain Hobson in New Zealand when he founded the city of Auckland.
The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta dates back to 1840 which makes it the country's oldest sporting event. Predating the Americas Cup by 11 years, the Auckland Anniversary Regatta draws around 400 competing boats each year.
New Zealand's Polynesian roots are celebrated at the Pasifika Festival held at Auckland's Western Springs Stadium in March. The event celebrates the art, culture and lifestyle of the South Pacific through music and other performances.
First produced by Auckland City Council in 1993, Pasifika has grown over the years and now attracts more than 225000 visitors who come to enjoy the work of hundreds of performers from the Auckland region as well as the Pacific area.
The event kicks off on a Friday night with an opening concert from Air New Zealand. The main event starts of the Saturday and comprises around 300 food and craft stalls.
A popular addition to Pasifika was made in 1999 in the form of cultural villages. These showcase unique aspects of various Pacific Island communities. Each village presents a traditional and contemporary programme including music, dancing, workshops, and food.
In 2008, Wellington introduced its own Pasifika featuring exhibitors from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, the Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue displaying traditional handicrafts such as embroidery, weaving, shell jewellery and wood carving.
Agriculture is at the heart of the New Zealand economy so it's no wonder that one of the country's most important festivals covers farming and rural life. It's the Royal New Zealand Show held over three days each November. With the theme of 'Bringing the country to town', the Show is held at Canterbury Agricultural Park, Wigram Road, Christchurch.
Featuring both indoor and outdoor displays and exhibitions, the Royal New Zealand Show attracts well over 100,000 visitors each year. Displays include marquees and pavilions showcasing the very best of New Zealand farming and rural life, top entertainment, and numerous other attractions. The event draws 5000 livestock entries and more than 400 exhibitors.
The Royal New Zealand Show was first held in 1924. Formerly held in rotation with Palmerston North, Hawke's Bay, Hamilton, Invercargill and Christchurch, the show has been held at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch since 2006.
New Zealand is a fascinating country but attending a festival can give you special insights into this antipodean nation.
About the Author
Richard has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers cheap New Zealand hotels.
New Zealand is a land in the far south where immigrant cultures were grafted onto a Polynesian landscape. This makes for a colourful culture replete with festivals of all kinds. There are festivals marking special days in the country's colonial history, events that celebrate the indigenous Polynesian culture and still others that commemorate New Zealand's rich agricultural traditions.
New Zealand celebrates its history on the last Monday in January with the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta. This colourful, nautical event commemorates the arrival of Captain Hobson in New Zealand when he founded the city of Auckland.
The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta dates back to 1840 which makes it the country's oldest sporting event. Predating the Americas Cup by 11 years, the Auckland Anniversary Regatta draws around 400 competing boats each year.
New Zealand's Polynesian roots are celebrated at the Pasifika Festival held at Auckland's Western Springs Stadium in March. The event celebrates the art, culture and lifestyle of the South Pacific through music and other performances.
First produced by Auckland City Council in 1993, Pasifika has grown over the years and now attracts more than 225000 visitors who come to enjoy the work of hundreds of performers from the Auckland region as well as the Pacific area.
The event kicks off on a Friday night with an opening concert from Air New Zealand. The main event starts of the Saturday and comprises around 300 food and craft stalls.
A popular addition to Pasifika was made in 1999 in the form of cultural villages. These showcase unique aspects of various Pacific Island communities. Each village presents a traditional and contemporary programme including music, dancing, workshops, and food.
In 2008, Wellington introduced its own Pasifika featuring exhibitors from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, the Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue displaying traditional handicrafts such as embroidery, weaving, shell jewellery and wood carving.
Agriculture is at the heart of the New Zealand economy so it's no wonder that one of the country's most important festivals covers farming and rural life. It's the Royal New Zealand Show held over three days each November. With the theme of 'Bringing the country to town', the Show is held at Canterbury Agricultural Park, Wigram Road, Christchurch.
Featuring both indoor and outdoor displays and exhibitions, the Royal New Zealand Show attracts well over 100,000 visitors each year. Displays include marquees and pavilions showcasing the very best of New Zealand farming and rural life, top entertainment, and numerous other attractions. The event draws 5000 livestock entries and more than 400 exhibitors.
The Royal New Zealand Show was first held in 1924. Formerly held in rotation with Palmerston North, Hawke's Bay, Hamilton, Invercargill and Christchurch, the show has been held at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch since 2006.
New Zealand is a fascinating country but attending a festival can give you special insights into this antipodean nation.
About the Author
Richard has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers cheap New Zealand hotels.
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