17
Jan
2010
Teaching English
Teaching English
Although English is not more complex than many other languages, there are several factors that can create difficulties for those wanting to learn the language and those trying to teach it. There may be difficulties with English pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, the differences between spoken and written English, as well as the different varieties of English.
The British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland) are the historical home of English, and each region has significant differences in pronunciation, accent, vocabulary and grammar. Furthermore, the British colonies that adopted English as their official language also differ significantly, from New Zealand English to American, Canadian, South African and Australian. It doesn’t help that there is no one organisation that determines the most prestigious or ‘correct’ form of the language, as the French and Spanish do.
Difficulties of Teaching English
One of the things that can be difficult for those learning English is the sound represented by ‘th’. This sound is relatively rare in other languages, even others in the Germanic family. Another issue may be the numerous vowel sounds in English. The exact number differs depending on the variety of English, but for example, in Standard British English there are twelve monophthongs (single vowels), eight diphthongs (double vowels) and two triphthongs (triple vowels). By comparison, many other languages have fewer vowels or only pure ones, and so have trouble distinguishing the sounds and pronouncing them.
English also tends to be a stress-timed language, that is stressed syllables are roughly equidistant in time no matter how many syllables come in between. Most of the world’s major languages are actually syllable-timed, with each syllable coming at an equal time after the previous one. English language learners may have difficulty learning the correct way to stress words and syllables, whether for emphasis, contrast or for emphatic apologies.
19
Nov
2009
English and Surfing
Surfing
Many of the GEOS English colleges are located near world-reknown beaches, providing the perfect opportunity to combine learning English with fun on the waves. Surfing originated in Hawaii, and was first observed by Europeans in 1767 by crewmembers of the Dolphin in Tahiti. It basically involves a person standing on a board while riding the face of a breaking wave.
Surfing has become a major international sport as well as a tourist industry, with surfers travelling around the world to find the best waves. Two major subdivisions are longboarding and shortboarding, related to differences in surfboard design and riding style. Other derivative surfing sports include kitesurfing and windsurfing, using the wind to ride waves. Then there is wakesurfing, which involves surfing the wake created by a boat.
Learning English
While it is important to learn basic skills in reading, speaking, listening and writing English, it is also important to be able to use it in context and be motivated about it. While all language learners should have a grasp on basic phrases and vocabulary, it is also useful to learn specific vocabulary related to what you will be using it for. So those wanting to enter university should learn academic English, while those seeking employment should learn some business terminology. The key to language learning is using it consistently, so it is important to be able to engage in the language in an area that will interest you.
For example, for those who love to read novels should pick up some English books that are a suitable level. For those who love cooking, maybe take a cooking class in English. So for those who enjoy being outdoors and love to surf, an English course that combines study with surfing is perfect. Take a surf class, meet fellow surfers, read English surfing magazines and most of all practice your English!
26
Oct
2009
Singapore English colleges
Things to do in Singapore
Singapore is both an island and a city-state, located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula in South East Asia. With a varied heritage, as can be deduced from the 4 official languages- English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil- there is lots to see and do. Although Singapore is well known for its shopping and dining, there is much more to Singapore, such as the Botanic Gardens, with a boardwalk through the rainforest or its collection of orchid species.
Then there is the Ritz-Carlton Singapore, a hotel that features one of Southeast Asia’s finest collections of contemporary artworks. Many commissioned for public spaces, these include artists such as Andy Warhol and David Hockney. It is free to enter and there is an i-Pod guided tour.
Another must see is the Chinatown Heritage Centre, an authentic vision of Singapore’s history with fully recreated scenes from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From entire bedroom and kitchen sets, to street scenes. The Asian Civilisations Museum is another place to experience Singaporean culture, as it attempts to give an appreciation of Singapore’s multi-ethnic society.
For a bird’s eye view of Singapore you can visit the 165m high Flyer. One of the world’s largest ferris wheels, it will give you a 30 minute ride for a fee.
GEOS Singapore
The GEOS Corporation was founded in 1973 with the aim of contributing to international communication through teaching English. GEOS actually stands for Global Education Opportunities and Services, and spans across approximately 15 countries.
GEOS Singapore is a government approved college offering English language courses, taught by experienced and highly qualified native teachers. It is conveniently located on the Singapore Shopping Belt along Orcahrd Road, offering plenty of opportunity to experience the city and interact with the people. Courses offered include Seasonal Tour packages, Regular Intensive English, Accelerated English, Active English and more.