Steve TheLinguist's blog

Training for the Vasaloppet.

2007-02-17T07:30:48Z

I get a lot of practice listening to Russian while training for my 90 km ski race in Sweden. That race will take place in Mora Sweden on March 4. I was tricked into going into the race by my employees and our suppliers in Sweden. But I intend to c...

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Reading more is the best way to learn to write English better.

2007-01-25T19:11:06Z

Here is the podcast. How can we learn to write English better? The following is a message from an English teacher on the TESL-L Listserve, a community of over 20,000 English teachers on the Internet. "I'm appalled that anyone would believe that...

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The shortcut to English language output

2007-01-17T17:35:51Z

Humberto wanted to know how to develop English language output as quickly as possible. My answer is first of all to relax and enjoy the language. The more tense you are, the more anxious you are to speak well "as quickly as possible", the poorer ...

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What I do not like in language CDs.

2007-01-14T21:54:52Z

I find the poor quality of reading material for languages like Russian and Korean very annoying. What is equally annoying is the poor quality of language CDs. Inevitably when I start learning a language from scratch, as is the case with Russian o...

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Business English and English presentation skills

2007-01-14T20:39:53Z

A recent e-mail brought to my attention the British Council "Innovation Awards" for new and better ways to teach and learn English. I had a look at the list. Amongst the finalists in the advanced category were "Splendid Speaking" by Flo-Joe and "...

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Increasing English vocabulary and reading

2007-01-14T19:42:36Z

The fastest way to increase English vocabulary is to read. If you can then listen to what you have read, so much the better. It will reinforce your memory of what you read, and improve your reading rhythm and speed. There are problems, however. I...

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Learn English before speaking English

2006-12-29T02:24:40Z

Here is the podcast You need to learn English before you start to speak in English! I have been working on my Russian over the holidays. I am fighting my way through Bulgakov's "The Life of Monsieur de Moliere" reading, listening and saving words...

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Practice imitating English phrases. Do not study English grammar.

2006-12-23T23:33:47Z

Here is the podcast. Develop the habit of imitating and do not study grammar! You will learn English faster! I will follow up, here, on the previous post which referred to mirror neurons, and discuss how to use this phenomenon when you learn E...

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Why do we know things?

2006-12-22T23:33:18Z

I have posted a few comments here about mirror neurons, those neurons that help us imitate, sympathize with and anticipate what people are doing or going to do. I believe these mirror neurons have a lot do with language learning. Something happen...

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A members' writing recorded

2006-12-21T01:50:41Z

I used to record some our members' corrected writing. I never really knew if people found them interesting or not. I am going to record here three examples of one of our member's writing. I will also past the text here so that Linguist members ca...

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