Some of you very kindly participated in research examining the impact that LEARNING ENGLISH as a foreign language is having on your BRAIN. Firstly, let me say a big THANK YOU to all of you again for sharing your time and your stories about your language learning experience.
Let me tell you exactly what the study was measuring before I tell you the results.
There is a system in your brain called the EXECUTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM which controls cognitive processes like updating your working memory, planning your actions, attention, problem solving and inhibiting inappropriate responses.
If you are bilingual, the two languages that you speak are always active in your brain. This means that when you want to verbalise a thought that you are having, your brain (subconsciously) offers you the choice of speaking the thought in both of your languages.
If you think about it, your brain has a lot of decisions to make before it allows you to speak your thoughts. You need to consider whether you want to be formal or informal, if you want to use polite or colloquial language, you need to find collocations that make sense and you need to structure each word in the correct order so that you will be understood. Now imagine that when your brain has TWO languages active at the same time, the amount of decisions your brain has to make before you speak DOUBLES! .....So, how does your brain do it? Remember the EXECUTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM? Well, the language system employs the executive control system to help it to attend to the desired language, and inhibit the undesired language. This makes the executive control system STRONGER.
Once the system is strengthened, it works more efficiently and so bilingual people have an advantage over monolingual people in all tasks that use this system.
So, in my research I tried to find out WHAT LEVEL OF BILINGUALISM DO YOU NEED TO REACH BEFORE WE CAN SEE THE ADVANTAGE?
My research involved 27 of you Delfiners to do the tests for me. There were people from all levels from elementary to advanced. All of you were attending a minimum of 15 hours of classes per week. Each of you did the test twice, with about six weeks of classes in between the first and second test. Some of you changed level during the time between the test and the retest, some of you did not. Here is what I found:
The graph shows that the people who showed the most improvement in executive control were those students who progressed from intermediate to upper intermediate and from upper-intermediate to advanced. What this means is THE MORE YOUR ENGLISH IMPROVES THE FASTER YOUR EXECUTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM WORKS!
Why is this important? As we get OLD our brains start to work a little bit slower. Diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia are due to cognitive decline like this. BRAIN TRAINING like playing chess and Sudoku is one way to help to keep your brain healthy and active. Studies have shown that BILINGUAL PEOPLE develop dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases approximately FOUR YEARS later than monolingual people. This shows that speaking a second language is really good exercise for your brain!
Here are some other interesting results of the study...
This is GREAT...but it could be better...If you want to improve you have to SPEAK ENGLISH MORE OFTEN!
Listening to music and talking to yourself as you cook, clean, drive in English are great ways to help your brain to get used to thinking in English!
Finally, the Delfiners who took part in the study told me about some of the things that helped them to improve their English. Here they are:
Enjoy Google Beatbox and have a great weekend Delfiners!
Hannah
Tips for improving your English
Wednesday,02 May, 2012
When you learn new vocabulary you can teach it to a friend. This will help you memorise it.
Put labels on things in your house. This is a great way to learn the names of objects.
Talk to yourself! If you're alone in the house speak to yourself in English. Tell yourself about your day and what you are doing at the moment. This isn't a good idea if you are on a bus.
Find out places where you can do language exchanges. This is also a good way to meet new people.
Lots of bars and restaurants have free magazines and newspapers that you can take away. You can learn about a wide variety of things from these publications.
Visit museums and galleries where you can read or listen to descriptions and stories. Jameson Whiskey Distillery and Kilmainham Gaol have really friendly guides who can tell you lots of interesting facts.
Choose a difficult word in the dictionary every morning and try to use it during the day. Give yourself a chocolate if you use it correctly.
Pubs are famous for being friendly places. If a stranger starts a conversation with you, don't be scared. It's good to meet new people and have a friendly chat.
Kevin Keightley
Get to know your grammar
Friday,06 April, 2012
When you teach in an English school with students from lots of different countries, you come across lots of different problems. Sometimes students have individual problems, and sometimes every student from a certain country makes the same mistake. However, one grammar problem nearly every student has when they are learning English is the difference between:
“Know” AND “Get to know”
Let’s have a look at two examples:
“I have been living in Dublin for six months. When I arrived, I didn’t know the city at all. Now, six months later, I have really got to know the city”.
“I know lots of people from Spain and Italy but it’s very hard to get to know Irish people.”
So what’s the difference?
To know means “to have knowledge of something” (I don’t know the city; I know lots of people)
To get to know means to “become familiar with”. It is about the transition, to move from “not knowing” to “knowing”.
I don’t know ----------> I get to know --------------> I know
So, when I arrived in Dublin I didn’t know anybody. Then I got to know some people (the transition). Now I know lots of people.
NOT: It’s hard to know people in Dublin (It’s hard to get to know...) NOT: I have known the city over the last six months. (I have got to know...)
So, go out and get to know some English speakers and have a chat.
Conor
Vocabulary Booster – Some American Slang
Thursday,29 March, 2012
While most Delfin students might be more familiar with British English vocabulary and usage, most students probably also watch a good amount of American TV series or films. So, for this Delfin English blog, I have collected some popular American slang and expressions to give you a better understanding of what you might be watching or listening to. Slang is something that many English language courses don't have enough time to study so here are 25 words that will at least get you started....
awesome (or wicked) -amazing: “That was an awesome movie.”
beat -tired: “Sam is beat today because he didn't sleep much last night”
broke -without money: “Lou spent all his money at the casino so now he's broke.”
cheesy -cheap, older and out of fashion: “Why are you wearing such cheesy clothes?"
chicken out -to lose the courage to do something: “Mary was planning to enter the race but then she chickened out.”
down -sad, depressed: “Mary is down because her cat died.”
fishy -suspicious: “Mrs. Smith thought it was fishy that her neighbor had so many visitors at night.”
flaky --unpredictable; unreliable: “I waited almost two hours for Susie to show up. She is so flaky”
freebie --something that is free or on offer: “If you watch this video, we will give you this watch as a freebie.”
gonna/wanna Shorthand versions of “going to” and “want to”: “I'm gonna tell your mom on you.” **Remember that these are slang versions that you might often hear in dialogue, but they are not grammatically correct uses of the English language. So be careful not to use these in your own writing!
grungy --unclean; stinky: “Let's not go over to Kevin's place. His apartment is way too grungy.”
hammered -drunk: “Jim had twelve beers so now he's hammered.”
a jerk --a stupid or annoying person: “I refuse to talk to Tom now. He has been acting like such a jerk lately.”
lift -to steal: “While Bob was on the train, someone lifted his wallet.” **Also, someone who steals from a store would be called a “shoplifter.”
loaded -rich: “Most people who live in Beverly Hills are loaded.”
munchies -snacks or junk food: “Let's get some munchies at the baseball game”
nuts (or nutty) -crazy: “That lady keeps talking to herself. Do you think she's nuts?”
(be) on cloud nine -very very happy: “Chris just won a million dollars so he's on cloud nine!”
penny pincher -cheap, stingy person who rarely spend money: “Megan never goes to restaurants because she's such a penny pincher.”
screw up (verb) --to make a mistake: “What happened? Don't tell me you screwed up that delivery again!”
sketchy --something that cannot be trusted; to be suspicious of something: “That man over there looks really sketchy. I wonder what he is up to.”
snooze -to sleep, often unexpectedly: “I snoozed on the bus for a few minutes this morning!”
super -great: “Tom is a super singer.”
ticked -angry: “He's really ticked because his friend had a party but didn't invite him.”
upbeat -positive, optimistic: “Theresa is very upbeat. I have never ever heard her complain.”
Wendy Ward
The poor abused apostrophe
Wednesday,21 March, 2012
With the news last week that British company Waterstone’s is to drop the punctuation in its brand name to become Waterstones, there’s never been a better time to celebrate the humble apostrophe. The bookseller joins a long list of British retailers and businesses such as Boots (the pharmacy), Clarks (the shoe store) and Selfridges (the department store) which have removed the apostrophe from their official brand names. And it’s not just a problem on this side of the Atlantic – American coffee company Starbucks lost its apostrophe long ago.
So why did any of them use an apostrophe in the first place? Well, very simply, one of the primary functions of the apostrophe is to denote possession. So when we see the name Waterstone’s we can recognise that a person called Waterstone owns the company. In this case, Mr. Waterstone started his company with one shop in London in 1982.
Similarly, there would have originally been a Mr (or Mrs!) Boot and Selfridge. This is why we can say we are going to Boots but we don’t say we are going to Spar’s or Centra’s or Tesco’s, since there was never a Mr Spar or Mr Centra or Mr Tesco to begin with. So why did Waterstones get rid of their apostrophe, if it’s such an important piece of punctuation? Well, their Managing Director described the new name as "a more versatile and practical spelling" in a "digital world of URLs and email addresses" – in other words, they think that the apostrophe is old-fashioned and no longer necessary.
However, while Waterstones has spent a lot of time and money on this important decision, for many other companies, the omission of an apostrophe may well be due to laziness or simple ignorance of the grammatical rules behind it. Many English speakers have absolutely no idea how to correctly use this innocent little piece of punctuation. There’s even an Apostrophe Society – founded to protect the apostrophe from abuse since, not only do people omit them when they shouldn’t, they also use them in the wrong place and sometimes even when they aren’t needed at all! Check out http://www.apostrophe.org.uk/ for examples of real-life apostrophe abuse.
So what are the rules of using this little guy?
1. To denote possession If there is only one owner, the apostrophe goes before the ‘s’ The boy’s ball – the ball that the boy owns The teacher’s book – the book that the teacher owns The company’s policy – the policy of the company If there is more than one owner, the word should be in plural and the apostrophe goes after the ‘s’ The boys’ ball – that ball that the boys own together The teachers’ book – the book that the teachers own together The companies’ policies – the policies of the companies If the word has an irregular plural, the apostrophe usually goes before the ‘s’ The man’s hat – one man The men’s room – more than one man The woman’s bag – one woman The women’s group – more than one woman The child’s homework – one child The children’s homework – more than one child The person’s phone – one person The people’s protest – more than one person
For most people’s names, the apostrophe goes before the ‘s’ John’s house – the house that John owns Mulligan’s pub – the pub that (Mr/Mrs) Mulligan owns If the person’s name already ends in ‘s’, you can say James’ house or James’s house 2. To denote missing words or letters in contractions I don’t – I do not I can’t – I cannot Rock ‘n’ Roll – Rock and Roll It’s – it is O’Neill – of the family Neill
3. Confusions about the apostrophe We NEVER use the apostrophe to denote a plural. (This mistake is known as the greengrocer’s apostrophe.) So we can say – The shop sold apples, oranges and bananas. We NEVER use the apostrophe for present simple verbs. So we can say – The boy likes ice-cream. It’s – this is always a contraction of ‘it is’. If you want to use the possessive pronoun for ‘it’, there is no apostrophe – The cat was licking its paws. You’re – this is always a contraction of ‘you are’. If you want to use the possessive pronoun for ‘you’, there is no apostrophe – I hope you like your birthday present.
So next time you’re walking around Dublin, take some time to look up at the names of the shops and pubs you pass – O’Neill’s, Fitzsimons, Sinnotts, Clerys, Dunnes, McDonald’s – The poor little apostrophe is under threat but you can save it if you learn how to use it correctly!
Niamh
Pronunciation of new words using a phonemic chart
Tuesday,13 March, 2012
In every English class here at Delfin English School the teachers will spend a little time on pronunciation of new words. That’s great in the lesson but what happens when you want to study English at home or you’re reading a really interesting Graded Reader and you see a new word?
The first thing you’ll do is look it up in a dictionary and hopefully you’ll understand the meaning of the word pretty quickly, great! But what happens when you want to use it in spoken English? How do you pronounce it? How do you find out if you don’t have anyone to ask? Well, the easy way is to use the IPA pronunciation guide in your dictionary. Have you seen it before? Do you know how to use it? Well, if you don’t, let me show you!
Let’s take a few examples and look at them:
• Fire brigade
Brigade, mmmmmm, it looks a little like the word bridge (over a river) but it’s not.
If we look it up in the dictionary we get this definition: a group of individuals organized for a particular purpose: e.g. a fire brigade; a rescue brigade.
Ok, so they’re the group of men and women who come to put out the fire when you dial 999.
We also get this: /brɪˈgeɪd/ - but how does that help?
If we look at an interactive phonemic chart like this one we can see the symbols and listen to the sounds and some examples. (You can also download the chart to keep on your computer if you want.)
So if we look at /brɪˈgeɪd/ again we can see that there are 6 sound symbols (eɪ is one phoneme, called a diphthong, which sounds like the –ey in they). By listening to each phoneme in the chart you can begin to recognize the various symbols you’ll see in your dictionary.
And what about the /…/ and the ‘ ?
The slashes (//) indicate the beginning and end of the word and the apostrophe (‘) points to the beginning of the primary stressed syllable.
There is also one last stress mark - a (,) to indicate the secondary stressed syllable.
So now let’s look at another, longer, word:
• Onomatopoeia (on-o-mat-o-poe-ia)
When we look this up we find out that the meaning is: the formation of a word by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent. E.g. - cuckoo, meow, honk or boom. We also know it has six syllables.
When we look at the pronunciation we see /ˌɒnəˌmæt əˈpiə/
This tells us that three of the syllables in the word are stressed– the fifth syllable is the primary stressed while the first and third are secondary stressed syllables. By listening to the phonemic chart or sounding out the example words we can figure out the sounds of each phoneme and put them together to work out the pronunciation of the word.
It’s not too hard when you know the basics and if you have any more questions you can always ask your own class teacher or me! Éadaoin
The Role that YOU play in your English language learning
Wednesday,07 March, 2012
So… You’ve made the decision. You’re moving to Dublin / London to learn English as a foreign language. Good for you! Or ‘Fair play to ya!’ as we say here in Dublin.
Here at Delfin English School, we want your English Learning Experience to be one that you’ll never forget. Our English courses are waiting for your motivation and drive to conquer English as your second language, or maybe it’s your third or however many languages you now speak!
While we at Delfin English School will do everything to make your stay comfortable, enjoyable and memorable, there are a few things that you too can do, to make your experience a worthwhile one.
If you are keen to make the most of your time in Dublin / London and get the best value for your learning experience, I recommend the following for your attitude towards learning English:
1) All day, every day! Total immersion. Okay, so this is a little bit intense but, if you want to improve your English more quickly, then obviously, the more time you spend with the language, the faster your will learn. By far the most important factor is how much time you are immersed in the language. What does this mean? Listening, reading, writing, speaking, and studying words and phrases. Spending time enjoyably connected to the language you are learning.
What does this not mean? -Sitting in class looking out the window -Not listening to other students who do not speak well -Getting explanations in your own language about how the language works.
2) Read Read Read and Listen Listen Listen Listen to English music that you like on your iPod. Go online and read the lyrics of what you are listening to. Buy newspapers or magazines or rent a book from our library in Delfin. Listen to and read things that you like, things that you can mostly understand, or even partly understand. If you keep listening and reading you will get used to the language. In the past my students have told me that one hour of listening or reading can sometimes be more effective than many hours of class time!
3) Words and Phrases! Start building up your vocabulary, you’ll need lots. Try not to always learn words in isolation (=by themselves). Start to notice words and how they come together as phrases. Learn these words and phrases through your listening and reading. Have a little notebook with you in your pocket at all times and make your own vocabulary lists for review.
4) The responsibility of learning belongs to one person. You! If you do not want to learn the language, you won’t. A teacher cannot teach you to become fluent, but you can learn to become fluent if you want to. Do not wait for someone else to show you the language, or to tell you what to do. Discover the language by yourself, like a child growing up. Choose content of interest, that you want to listen to and read. Make friends outside of your English class. Meet up for coffee and talk English whenever you feel like it.
5) Finally…. Relax and enjoy yourself! Do not worry about what you can’t remember, or cannot yet understand, or cannot yet say. It DOES NOT matter. You are learning and improving. The language will gradually become clearer in your brain, but this will happen on a schedule that you cannot control. So sit back and enjoy.
Pamela Bourke
Top Ten Common Mistakes in Writing – PART I
Tuesday,21 February, 2012
When you are learning English, it is some times easier to spot mistakes in spoken English than in your own writing. Moreover, some English language courses do not give as much time to writing practice and advice as necessary, and writing can be a very important skill if you are interested in getting a job, learning Business English, taking an English language exam, or planning to continue studies in a English-speaking university. For this Delfin English School blog, we have included a top ten checklist for correcting the most common writing errors or problem areas so you can start writing better in the new year!
1. Bad Paragraphs When asked to write a short essay in English, some students write one long paragraph that fills an entire page. Other students write one sentence and say that is a paragraph. Both ideas are wrong. But what is a paragraph? It is generally about five sentences (sometimes more) that tell the reader one idea. It develops that one idea before moving on to another one. Good paragraphs have a pattern, often called the 1-2-3 Pattern. The first sentence is the Topic Sentence. This sentence introduces or tells the reader the main idea. The next few sentences provide reasons, examples or details. These sentences usually show the reader why the main idea is correct or true. The last sentence is a conclusion that tries to summarise that paragraph before going to the next one. For practice, try reading your own paragraphs again and look for the main idea. If you can’t find the main idea, you need to re-write the first sentence of the paragraph. Also, try reading more English books or magazine articles for examples of how good paragraphs look and operate.
2. Prepositions Prepositions are words or short phrases that generally identify spaces, directions, or time, as well as relationships of one or more people or things to other people or things. Prepositions communicate abstract relationships as well as concrete ones. While nearly all languages have prepositions, English has a particularly large number of them, with important differences of meaning between similar prepositions. This, of course, makes learning prepositions very difficult for English learners There are no 100% easy rules for learning prepositions in English, so the best way is to keep practising and remember patterns.
For example, there are some essential patterns you can study in English: verb + preposition (afford to, concentrate on, stare at); adjective + preposition (afraid of, famous for, worried about); and noun + preposition (cause of, reason for, decrease in). Keep lists of these (in addition, to your phrasal verbs!) in your notebook and you will definitely see an improvement sooner rather than later.
3. Parallel Structure If you are want to talk about more than a few things in one sentence, then it is important to organise and list these items correctly. Basically, the key is to use the same pattern for each item. For example, if you are including three activities (verb + noun phrases), then be certain that they are all in the same tense or form (e.g., infinitive, gerund, past simple). Rule of thumb: keep all items the same to avoid confusion. See the example below.
Incorrect Sentence: We are looking at several options from reducing hours, get a contract seasonal worker, offer voluntary resignation packages, and the removal of some benefits.
Correct Sentence: We are looking at several options from reducing hours, getting a contract seasonal worker, offering voluntary resignation packages, and removing some benefits.
4. Gerund OR Infinitive? Before turning in your English essay, it is always a good idea to review which verbs are followed by the infinitive form or the gerund form. These are very common mistakes, but also, quite difficult to catch unless you know which verb follows which pattern. Also, you should be aware that there are a handful of verbs that can take either form, but the meaning is different (e.g., stop/stopping – I stopped to take a break VS I stopped working there last year).
Incorrect Sentence: Please remind me of adding the meeting to my calendar;I anticipate to seemany of the new hires there.
Correct Sentence: Please remind meto add the meeting to my calendar; I anticipate seeing many of the new hires there. 5. Articles Every English learner from beginner to advanced level has difficulties with using articles correctly. Keep patient and always remember to check your sentences to look for missing or incorrect articles. Remember that indefinite articles (“a” or “an”) are used to refer to a noun, the specific identity of which is unknown or which introduces new information to the context. There is only one definite article in the English language (“the”). “The” is used in front of singular or plural nouns and adjectives to refer to something with which both the writer and reader should already be familiar. For example, “a duck” refers to a single unspecified duck whereas “the duck” refers to a specific duck.
Incorrect Sentence: The patients receiving new UI drug experienced side effects of nausea, dizziness, and insomnia versus other group of patients who took competitor drug and experienced only mild side effect of taste loss.
Correct Sentence: Patients receiving the new UI drug experienced the side effects of nausea, dizziness, and insomnia versus the other group of patients who took the competitor drug and experienced only the mild side effect of taste loss.
**While these errors may seem very minor or unimportant to many English learners, incorrect articles are very obvious mistakes to native speakers. They sound a bit funny or awkward, and while it often doesn't interrupt the meaning of what you want to say, it does affect the reader's impression, especially if it is a job application letter or business document.
- Wendy Ward -
Top Ten Common Mistakes in Writing - PART II
Wednesday,15 February, 2012
8. Transitional phrases Another one of the most common ESL mistakes we see in writing is either a lack of transitional phrases or an overreliance on them. Often, two logically-related sentences do not need a transitional word to link them. For example, “The lumberjacks chopped the tree. Consequently, it fell down.” In this instance, “consequently” is not needed because readers can figure out for themselves that the tree fell as a consequence of the lumberjacks’ chopping. On the other hand, some students fail to use conjunctions or other transitional phrases so their sentences are joined repeatedly by “and.” For example, “Margaret didn't want to go to school today, and she knew that she needed to go.” Here, the conjunction of “and” is not logical because you are trying to show a difference or conflict between these two ideas. In this example, something like “but” or “even though” would give a better expression of the writer's true meaning. So, when you are putting together your sentences or revising them, it is really useful to have a handful of linking words as possible remedies (maybe 8 or 10) instead of “and.”
7. Punctuation Another problem when English students are piecing together sentences is punctuation. By punctuation errors, I am primarily talking about the different functions for periods (.), commas (,), colons (:) and semicolons (;). Similar to my advice above on bad paragraphs, try to keep your sentences in order. If it is a complete sentence, use a period to separate it from the next one. If it is a more complex sentence joining two complete ideas, then you can use a conjunction (and, but, or) and a comma placed before it. But, AVOID several lines of one sentence after the next in this same pattern. This is called a run-on sentence and it annoys the reader who is trying to follow your complete thoughts. The best way to fix run-ons is to separate them into logical sentences. See the difference in the example below, which is too long as a sentence. Incorrect: On Sunday, Jane decided she was going to join the gym, and she got up early and went searching for a good gym, and it took her most of the morning to find the right place, where she felt comfortable and this one was also the most affordable. Suggested Correction: On Sunday, Jane decided she was going to the gym, so she got up early and went searching for a good gym. It took her most of the morning to find the right place, but she eventually found one that was comfortable and affordable. **FYI: Fixing run-ons is also a great way of utilising your transition words too!!
8. Which/that Misusing the terms “which” and “that” in descriptive clauses is a common ESL mistake. The basic difference is this one: “That” is used when the information being added is essential to the understanding of the sentence. “Which” is used when the information being added is not essential to the understanding of the sentence. That is why, if you use a “which” statement, be sure to offset it with commas. This tells the reader that the information contained within the commas is additional or supplementary. The easiest way to check if a clause requires “which” or “that” is to try reading the sentence without that information. If it is sounds complete or logical without that clause, then use “which” and commas because it is additional information. On the other hand, if the sentence doesn't make sense, then that information is probably necessary and you should use “that” and no commas. So lookout for those commas! 9. When to use Active or Passive Voice? Many sentences in English use the following structure: subject + verb + object/complement. This is the active voice, and the subject performs the action. In other words, the sentence tells what people and things do. The passive voice changes the focus of the sentence. In the passive voice, the subject receives the action and tells what happens to people and things. For example, compare:
Active voice: A famous French chef opened two new restaurants in Chicago. Passive voice: Two new restaurants were opened by a famous French chef in Chicago.
But, how or when should passive voice be used? In the active voice, the do-ers (people/things) are important. But in the passive voice, more attention is on the people/things who receive the action, so these appear at the start of the sentence. We most often use the passive voice for one of three reasons:
1. When the agent isn't known. For example: My wallet was stolen (by someone). 2. When the agent is unimportant. For example: The restaurant was closed (by the health inspector). 3. When the agent is obvious. For example: Frank will be upset (by the news of his father's death).
Passive voice is used much more in written English than spoken English. Scientific or technical reports often use the passive voice, as well as news articles and broadcasts. A lot of business writing which stresses a new product or achievement instead of the people uses the passive voice, too. For example: “A new advertising campaign was begun.” The new advertising campaign is more important than the people of the department who put it together. But remember not to overuse the passive voice in your writing because it can make your sentences sound boring or too formulaic. If possible, try for a good balance of both when you are writing a news article, report, business letter or any other formal letter.
10. Wordiness vs. Power Words Many English language learners get comfortable at a certain level and do not experiment enough with different words and structures because they are afraid of making mistakes. They stick with what they know and what has worked previously. But this often leads to wordiness so that students use two or three words when one would do. But the good news is that the more vocabulary and writing practice you do, the easier this process becomes. Let's look at this example to demonstrate. Compare - “Suzie believed, but could not confirm, that Bill had feelings of affection for her,” to this sentence, “Suzie assumed Bill liked her,” we notice that they communicate the same meaning, except one uses five words and one uses 14. When writing an essay or letter, it is important to cut down on wordiness and be precise when constructing sentences. And last by not least, look for “power verbs” -- that is, one verb that can say exactly what you mean without needing extra phrases or verbs to finish the meaning. Not only does it make your writing more clear and concise, but it also allows you to show off new vocabulary.
Best of luck with your letters and more!
Wendy
Tongue Twister
Thursday,09 February, 2012
A tongue twister is a sentence or phrase which is difficult to say quickly because of the sounds in the words. One of the most well known ones in English is:
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
Every language has tongue twisters and they differ depending on the sounds which are difficult to say together quickly in each language. Can you think of any in your language?
English tongue twisters are a great way to practice your pronunciation when you are learning English because they make you really concentrate on the sounds of the letters. Depending on your native language you will find some tongue twisters easy or difficult.
So, if you are Spanish, maybe you have trouble with the sounds /s/ (in sue) and /ʃ/ (in shoe). Then you can try:
She sells sea shells by the sea shore. The shells she sells are surely seashells.
Or maybe you are Italian or Brazilian (or quite a few other nationalities) and you have trouble with the sounds /ɪ/ (in sit) and / iː/ (in seat). In that case, you can try:
I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit. And on the slit sheet I now sit.
If you’re an Arabic speaker and have problems with the /b/ sound then give this one a go:
A bloke's back bike brake block broke.
Or if you speak Korean or Japanese, and mix up /r/ and /l/, why not try to say:
Red lorry, yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry.
There are thousands of them in English (just do a Google search and you’ll find lots more). Try to repeat the phrase several times and say it as quickly as you can, concentrating on the problem sound. Don’t worry if you find them difficult, native speakers do too. That’s why they are called tongue twisters!
Good luck!
Conor
Delfin… in London!!
Tuesday,31 January, 2012
I am delighted to announce our new location of Delfin English School based in London.
We are very excited by the opening of Delfin London and we endeavour to offer you the same great service as we currently offer in Dublin.
The school is located in central London on Mortimer Street, conveniently 3 minutes walk from Oxford Circus Tube Station. The school includes fully-equipped classrooms, computer room to keep in touch with home, a reception area, and student coffee room. The coffee room is where students will gather to discuss what they have learnt that day and the plans they are making for the busy social night ahead.
We will be offering many special offers, please email us for further information!
Michelle Heming
The Irish Language – Gaeilge
Tuesday,31 January, 2012
Ireland has two official languages, English and Irish (or “Gaeilge” as it is commonly known). Road signs, street names, public bathroom facilities etc may show names in both languages. Gaeilge is the first language of areas of the Gaeltacht in western Ireland, however, its day to day use in the rest of the country is limited, although you will come across it. Some key words / phrases are:
• Dia Duit! (JEE-a Gwitch) = Hello! • Conas atá tú? (CUNN-us a TAW too) = How are you? • Go raibh maith agat. (GURRA mah agg-utt) = Thank you. • Tá me go maith. (TAH may guh MAH) = I’m good. • Ar mhaith leat pinta? (air WAH lat pyun-TUH) = Would you like a pint? • Ba mhaith liom pinta . . . (buh WAH luhm pyun-TUH) . . . = I would like a pint of . . . • Go n’éirí an bóthar leat. = Good Luck. • Slán! (Slawn) = Goodbye! • Sláinte! (Slawn-cha) = Cheers! • Amadán (Ama-dawn) = Idiot. • Fir (feer) = Men. In the country, this word may be the only clue as to which door to use when you need to relieve yourself at the pub. • Mná “mih-NAH” – Ladies. God help your drunken self if you mistake “mná” for the English word “man” and walk into the ladies room by mistake.
• Place Names o Éire = Irish name for Ireland o Baile Átha Cliath = Dublin o Corcaigh = Cork o Gaillimh = Galway o Luimneach = Limerick o Port Láirge = Waterford o Cill Áirne = Killarney
Hiberno-English is the dialect of English written and spoken in Ireland and it is heavily influenced by the Irish language.
English was first brought to Ireland during the Norman invasion of the late 12th century. Initially it was mainly spoken in an area known as the Pale around Dublin, with Irish spoken throughout the rest of the country. By the mid-19th century, English was the main language spoken in the country. Modern English as spoken in Ireland today has some features showing the influence of the Irish language, such as vocabulary, grammatical structure and pronunciation. Here are a few of the words and phrases you might hear!
• Craic (or crack) = Fun/good time • Garsún / gasúr = Boy • Gob = Mouth • Gansey = Jumper • Guards = Police • Give out = Tell off • Soft day = Overcast day (light drizzle/mist) • Whisht = Be quiet • Banjaxed = Broken • Bold = Naughty/ Badly behaved • Codding = Joking • Culchie = A person from the country, this word usually has a negative meaning • Jackeen = A person from Dublin also usually having a negative meaning • Minerals = soft drinks • Press = cupboard • Runners = trainers/ sneakers
Sure why not try out some of these new phrases during your stay in Dublin – you’ll sound like a local!
Deirdre
Dun Laoghaire
Tuesday,06 December, 2011
Dun Laoghaire is a small seaside town located roughly 12km south of Dublin city centre. The town gets its name from the Irish translation Fort (Dún) of Laoghaire. It was once the seat of King Laoghaire, the ancient High King of Ireland before the Vikings sailed from Scandinavia and established themselves in Dublin.
In 1821 it was renamed Kingstown by King George IV of England to honour his visit to the town that year. It remained Kingstown until in 1921, one year before the Irish won their independence from Britain, when the town council voted to change the name back to the ancient Irish name Dún Laoghaire. The harbour is one of the largest in the country and is the base for high speed ferries crossing the Irish Sea to Holyhead in Wales.
Getting to Dun Laoghaire is easy, you can take the DART along the coast or the 46A or 7 buses from the city centre, it takes roughly 30 minutes by DART or 45 minutes by bus.
Sightseeing
East Pier When you get to the town you can take a walk along the East Pier, a very popular place for walkers, joggers, dog-walkers and roller bladers. Although the east coast of Ireland is calmer than the Atlantic west coast, it can still be very windy along the pier – be sure to take a jacket! If the weather is nice (it can be sometimes!) you can go to Teddy’s ice cream shop – you’ll find it by looking for the long queue on the footpath along Queens Road!
James Joyce Martello Tower Martello Towers were built along the Irish and British coastlines during the time of the Napoleonic War to provide small defensive forts along the coastlines. There were approximately 50 built along the Irish coast, most along the east coast. The most famous of all the towers is the The James Joyce Tower in Sandycove, near Dun Laoghaire. It now holds a museum devoted to the life and works of James Joyce, who made the tower the setting for the first chapter of his masterpiece, Ulysses.
People’s Park Every Sunday Dun Laoghaire County Council hosts a market in the People’s Park. You can buy fresh fruit and vegetables directly from the farmers. Stalls sell delicious, hot food from all over the world – Irish, Italian, Eastern, Thai and more. You will also find stalls selling clothes and jewellery, bread and sweets. The market is always very busy and you will see lots of people strolling or having picnics on the grass.
Fishing and Sailing Fishing is a very popular past time all year round in Dun Laoghaire, you will see people fishing from the piers and from boats. Fishing on the pier is free but you can also hire a chartered boat for €150-200. As a harbour town, sailing will always be a popular sport in the area. You will see people sailing in the harbour at the weekends and summer evenings. If you would like to go sailing yourself, you can take a guest sail with many of the local clubs for approximately €40.
Festivals The town hosts many festivals throughout the year.
Eating and Drinking There are many quality restaurants and pubs in Dun Laoghaire. The Forty Foot bar is located opposite the DART station and provides beautiful views of the harbour. Below the Pavillion there is a variety of coffee shops and restaurants, perfect for a lunch outdoors in the fine weather. Other good pubs in the town are Weirs for a relaxed weekend afternoon and Dunphy’s for a quiet pint of good Guinness.
Dun Laoghaire is the perfect place to spend a sunny day in Ireland; you can get fresh air, tasty food and see lots of interesting people and places.
Enjoy! Eadaion
IRISH COLLOQIUAL EXPRESSIONS
Thursday,24 November, 2011
Foreign students of English are often left scratching their heads in confusion when it comes to colloquial expressions used by Irish people. Many of these phrases are idiomatic and can’t be found in general English textbooks… so I have assembled a list of ten common ones to help you during your stay in Dublin.
1. How’s the form?/ What’s the story?/ What’s the craic? These are informal ways of saying ‘Hello, how are you?’. Probably the most frequent response to these greetings is…
2. Grand. When Irish people say ‘I’m grand’ they mean that they are fine.
3. Fair play to you! This expression means ‘Well done, congratulations’. For example: Person A: “I passed my driving test this morning.” Person B: “Fair play to you! That’s great news.”
4. deadly. This is particularly common in Dublin – it means ‘excellent’. For example: “The film was deadly”.
5. locked. This word is often used by Irish people to mean ‘drunk’. For example: “Don’t let him drive home. He’s locked.”
6. a bad pint. This means a pint of beer that is of bad quality. When Irish people drink too much and are sick, they often blame it on a bad pint. For example: Person A: “How much did you drink last night?” Person B: “I had eight and I was grand… it was the bad pint I had at the end of the night that made me sick.”
7. I’m knackered. This means ‘very tired’. For example: “Sorry but I’m not going to the party tonight. I had a football match this afternoon and I’m absolutely knackered.”
8. an awful eejit. This means a ‘complete idiot’ or a ‘complete fool’. For example: “Paul dyed his hair blonde to try to impress the girls at school. It looks terrible. He’s an awful eejit.”
9. throwing shapes. This means ‘bad dancing’. For example: “It was embarrassing to watch. He was out on the dance-floor, on his own, throwing shapes.”
10. Go away out of that! This means ‘I don’t believe you at all’. For example: Student: “Sorry teacher, I didn’t do my homework because I had to visit my grandmother in hospital.” Teacher: “Go away out of that! Your grandmother isn’t sick – I saw her coming out of the pub last night.”
John Clinch
The Cinema in Dublin
Thursday,03 November, 2011
Going to the cinema is a great way to improve your English – it’s good fun, it’s not too expensive and you can listen to lots of different types of English. Obviously, depending on your level of English, you won’t be able to understand every word that is said in the film. But, who cares? You don’t have to understand everything. If you go to an action film without too much dialogue, you’ll know what’s going on. If you go to a film and you already know the story, like the latest Harry Potter film, then you’ll be fine.
However, if you want to see a film which you think will be difficult to follow there is always the option of going to a subtitled show. Most cinemas have at least one subtitled film each week for deaf people, so why not take advantage of it? An English film with English subtitles is a great way to improve your English. Cineworld, the nearest cinema to Delfin, usually has a subtitled show every Monday. Also, on Tuesdays in Cineworld every film is only €6.70 – the same price as a pint and a packet of peanuts in a pub! Alternatively, you can pay €20 every month for their “unlimited card” and see as many films as you like.
Also near Delfin is the Savoy, on O’Connell St, which is the “national” cinema and hosts all of the film premieres. So, if you go there and see a famous Hollywood actor, that’s why! The Screen, near Trinity College, has a famous little statue outside of a cinema usher (the man who shows you to your seat). It shows a good mixture of Hollywood and less mainstream films. They also show classic films from previous decades.
Another option is the IFI (Irish Film Institute). This cinema is in Temple Bar and has a good cafe, pub, and film bookshop too. It doesn’t show Hollywood films, only independent or low budget films. You can become a member for €15 a year and get lots of discounts on ticket prices and food and drink. This is a great place to see a local Irish film or, if you are missing home, to see a Spanish, Korean, Italian, Brazilian or any other international film (with English subtitles). Just have a look at their website to see what’s on.
So, next time you are going to watch another dubbed film on your laptop, why not go to the cinema instead and improve your English at the same time?
Conor
Some websites: www.entertainment.ie/cinema – for all the cinema times in Ireland www.irishtimes.com/culture/film – for all the latest cinema reviews www.cineworld.ie www.savoy.ie www.screencinema.ie www.irishfilm.ie
Choose Ireland to study English
Thursday,06 October, 2011
Common mistakes for English learners
Wednesday,05 October, 2011
“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honourable, but also more useful than a life spent doing nothing” – George Bernard Shaw
Everybody makes mistakes all the time, and most people learn from their mistakes. When someone tries to learn how to speak a new language making mistakes is a very important step in improving. If a student never makes mistakes they will never improve, so remember that it isn’t bad to make a mistake – it is important to try, and then to learn from your mistakes.
This blog entry will look at some of the common mistakes for students studying English and try to explain them in a simple way. Good vs Well
These two words are often confused by students, but it is actually quite a simple grammar point.
Good is an adjective and it is used to modify a noun. I saw a good film last night. I have a good idea. Dublin usually has very good weather…. Well is an adverb and it is normally used to modify a verb. You speak English well. My grandfather is old and can’t hear well. I don’t feel well.
Finally……..
When someone says “how are you?” try to answer with “I’m good”, or “I’m fine”. NOT “very well” Work vs Job
These two words are often used in the incorrect way – many students say “I want to find a work”, or “last year I had two works.” Both of these sentences are wrong and there is an easy rule students should try to remember.
Job is a countable noun, and work is an uncountable noun.
This is why we can say “a job”, “two jobs”, “there are no jobs” etc……. but we can never say “a work”, “two works.”
Another easy way to tell the difference between job and work is to remember the following:
Job = a specific job Work= the general concept of idea of work
So we can say “I have two jobs” (two specific jobs) and “in general, teenagers don’t like work” (the concept or idea of work)
Simon Wallace
Delfin English School
10 Irish films you must see before you die (or go home)
Tuesday,20 September, 2011
The Quiet Man (1952) Drinking. Fighting. Red-Headed fiery women. This film displays many of the stereotypes we associate with Ireland but is still an entertaining, nostalgic look an Ireland of the past. It was made by two of Hollywood’s greats, John Wayne and John Ford. John Wayne is the typical American tough guy who comes back to the ‘old country’ and falls in love (and rivers). The General (1998) This is based on the true story of a Dublin gangster. Brendan Gleeson, in one of his first major roles, plays Martin Cahill who is charismatic yet dangerous. Keep an eye out for Angelina Jolie’s father, Jon Voight, whose character must bring Martin Cahill to justice. Bloody Sunday (2002) A well crafted film depicting the events of Bloody Sunday 1972 when thirteen innocent people were killed by British soldiers in one of the worst atrocities of Northern Ireland’s recent past. James Nesbitt (who is to appear in the upcoming Hobbit films) is outstanding as the Civil Rights campaigner who experiences this sad tale firsthand. The Commitments (1991) Soul music in North Inner City Dublin might not be the most obvious subject for a film but don’t let that put you off! This is one of the funniest Irish films ever made and is based on the book of one of our best modern writers, Roddy Doyle. Apparantly, one of our teachers appeared in this film as a singer in their younger days…. In the Name of the Father (1993) Another film dealing with “The Troubles” of Northern Ireland’s recent past, this film is set in England as a group of people are accused of being terrorists. Daniel Day Lewis is incredible as a man who fights for justice. I Went Down(1997) This ‘buddy movie’ follows two Irish criminals on the road around Ireland. Unfortunately, it only takes a few hours to travel across Ireland so they end up fighting and drinking a lot. A very funny film starring Brendan Gleeson. The Field (1990) A film set in the beautiful landscape of the West of Ireland. It tells the story of a farmer (the late Richard Harris) who will do anything for his piece of land. Great acting by one of Ireland’s greatest actors. My Left Foot (1989) Based on a true story, this film tells the story of Christy Brown who grows up with cerebral palsy and is surrounded by poverty in Dublin. This is another film that stars Daniel Day Lewis and he, and his co-star Brenda Fricker, went on to win Oscars for their superb acting. The Snapper (1993) This is a good film to improve your listening skills! This is another Roddy Doyle story set in inner city Dublin and depicts the very funny lives of a working class family who discover that their teenage daughter and sister has fallen pregnant. But who’s the Daddy? A1 Sharon! Michael Collins (1996) A must for anyone who wants to learn about how Ireland became independent. While not completely historically accurate (which film ever is?), it manages to tell the complicated story of Ireland from 1916 – 1922 in an exciting and enjoyable way. Keep an eye out for all those famous Dublin landmarks!
Seán Ryan
My lesser known Dublin
Thursday,18 August, 2011
Seeing as most of you who are reading this blog are transient travellers, studying English language in Delfin English School, here for only a matter of weeks or months I decided to give you my tips on where to go in Dublin that doesn’t include Temple Bar or Dicey Reilly’s! Well seeing as I have mentioned Temple Bar, let me contradict what I have just said and start there. On the periphery of Temple Bar – as it opens onto Westland Row – is a fine pub by the name of The Palace. An authentic, old-time bar with the clientele to match, it is a far cry from the rest of Temple Bar. It has trad sessions (Irish music nights) on most evenings upstairs. If you then cross the road and head towards D’Olier Street, you will come across another pub much in the same vein named Bowe’s. If you then turn the corner you will stumble upon a vast boozer by the name of Doyle’s. Always busy and always serving late, it is a good bet most nights but especially Tuesday nights, when they have a very high quality singer-songwriter night upstairs, the Ruby Sessions. It only costs five euros to enter and that money goes to charity. If it is the more authentic trad music (see above) you seek then I recommend The Cobblestones in Smithfield any night from Thursday-Sunday, or The Duke on Duke Street, off Grafton Street, every Sunday night. An area of the city that many foreigners visiting these shores seem to ignore is the Camden Street/ Wexford Street area of Dublin. It lies on the opposite side of Stephen’s Green and is actually parallel to Harcourt Street where you’ll find – yes you guessed it – Dicey Reilly’s! My favourite bars here are Solas and Anseo, which both play funkier music than mentioned above. If you are starting to think when is it time to eat, what with all this talk of drinking emporiums, then there is a few cheap eateries in this vicinity, my favourite being Green 19, where most of the delicious main courses are ten euros are less. If you are lazy like me and live near The Delfin School and think you’ll never make it over to Wexford Street just to have a drink, you actually have plenty of normally overlooked options in our area. Ruta Bar on King Street (at the bottom of Capel Street) is a very popular bar at the moment and has a great collection of beers on tap. On the opposite end of Capel Street, near the river Liffey, there is a little known Italian restaurant, Romano’s, that serves only homemade pasta and is the best I have tasted in Dublin. I am sure any Italians reading this now would say that that is hardly saying something! Even closer to Delfin is the Welcome Inn on Parnell Street. A strange bar with odd opening times (basically the owner opens only when he feels like it!) it looks like the setting of some 1970s bad Irish crime series but is entertaining for that very same novelty effect. Again just across the road, a wonderful new Japanese restaurant has just opened, Mitsuba’s, which, in my humble opinion, serves the best sushi in Dublin; and the cheapest too! If all this drinking and eating is making you dizzy and you need to walk off your dinner or your hangover, then I find the best places for a stroll are either the Grand Canal or the less populated Royal Canal, Phoenix Park, Dollymount Strand, or if you are in a slightly morbid mood, then go check out Glasnevin Cemetery, which has plenty of history and is beautiful in its own funereal sense. And once you have left the Cemetery, you will probably deserve a pint so luckily the aptly named Gravediggers is only a stone’s throw away……… Finally if it is something more cultural that you are after, then I suggest either the New Theatre or the Project Theatre, which are situated next door to each other and mainly stage contemporary, experimental Theatre. They are situated on Essex Street which is in Temple Bar. Damn! Obviously all roads DO lead to Temple Bar………
Eoin Sheridan
Walking in Dublin…
Thursday,12 May, 2011
One of the best things about learning English in Dublin is that it is beside the sea and close to the mountains. How many capital cities in the world have that?!
There are great walks around Dublin that are easy to get to and great for clearing hangovers. This is a little guide to tell you where to find them.
Beaches and Cliff walks
There are loads of beaches all along the coast in Dublin from Malahide in the North to Greystones in the South and most are accessible by DART.
Malahide
You can take the DART- (the green electric train) from Tara Street station or Connolly station northbound to Malahide (the journey takes about 30 minutes). This is a really nice village and there are plenty of beaches. There’s also a castle and concerts are held there during the summer.
Howth
Howth is also about 20 minutes northbound on the Dart. There’s a great harbour full of fishing boats are there are also the most enormous seals that live there. If you follow the coast around past the harbour towards the town there’s a great walk along the cliffs. Keep on the small road beside the sea and at the end of the road the coastal path starts. You need good walking shoes- it can be quite muddy. You can walk by the cliffs all around the headland and past a lighthouse but if you want a shorter walk you can turn off half way and go to the top of the hill. There are super views of Dublin Bay form this part of the walk. There’s a car park at the top of the hill and if you go down the other side there’s a pub!! Back in the village you can reward yourself with fish and chips – Beshoff Bros. are best.
Dollymount Strand
This is a famous Dublin beach on Bull Island. This is close to Howth. Take the 130 bus from Abbey Street for about 15-20 minutes and get off at the wooden bridge. If you cross the bridge you’re on Bull Island which has a long sandy beach- good for beach soccer. It’s also well known for bird watching. Don’t try to swim here!! Some people do kite surfing there at the weekends.
South Dublin
If you take the DART southbound there are some good places along the coast. Sandymount is a great village with a nice promenade by the sea.
If you take the DART further south you can get great sea views between Dalkey and Killiney stations. You can walk to the top of Killiney Hill form Dalkey and there are great views from there. Dalkey’s also a really nice village. Killiney has a nice beach and if you’re lucky you might meet Bono! His house is up the hill overlooking the beach. You might even meet Enya or Pierce Brosnan (wow!).
Bray to Greystones
This is my favourite. Take the DART southbound (35 minutes). Get out at Bray station and follow the sea south towards the headland. The path runs along the top of the cliffs all the way to the next town Greystones. It takes about 1 hour. Greystones is a great place for lunch or a coffee (I recommend the Happy Pear). You can take the DART from there back into Dublin In Bray you can also climb to the cross at the top of the hill and the views from there are gorgeous- the Wicklow mountains and Killiney Bay. On a clear day people say they can see Wales (?).
Hill Walks
These are not as accessible as the sea walks. The Wicklow Way is a path through the Wicklow Mountain’s which starts in Marley Park. It’s our equivalent of the Camino (!) and it takes more than a week to walk the whole thing.
You can also do walks from Enniskerry village or visit Powerscourt House and Gardens or Powerscourt waterfall. Take the 44 bus form Townsend Street. The journey takes about 1 hour.
So fill up any free afternoons by WALKING!! Be careful though, there are regular checkpoints on every walk with a teacher from Delfin English School to give out red stickers
There’s much more to Dublin than just the bars ………..
Enjoy!
Alison McNamara
Irish Football by Simon Wallace
Friday,08 April, 2011
Most students coming to Dublin to study English have heard of Irish football players such as Roy Keane, Robbie Keane, Shay Given and Damien Duff, mainly because of watching the English Premier League. Many students also think that rugby and the two Irish sports, gaelic football and hurling, are the most popular sports here, but football is the most played sport in the country. While the majority of people support English teams such as Manchester United and Liverpool, the Irish football league, called the Airtricity League, has many good clubs that play excellent football each weekend. Some of the best teams in the league are from Dublin and most of the games are on Friday nights so it is very easy for students to support their local team and see good quality football for only a few euros. Much better than another night in Temple Bar!! Also, we encourage language students to supplement learning English in classes with social activities where they can interact with native English speakers.
The current Champions are Shamrock Rovers and are the most popular team in the country. They play their games in Tallaght, Dublin 24, in a new state-of-the-art stadium which has a capacity of 6,500 people. The stadium is in the centre of Tallaght and can be easily reached via the Luas red line, or by the number 49, 65, 65B or 54A bus which all leave from Eden quay in Dublin city centre. The majority of games are played on Friday nights at 7.30 or 8.00, with tickets costing €15 for adults but only €10 for students. More information and news for Shamrock Rovers can be found at www.shamrockrovers.ie
For most students however, their local team will be last year’s runners-up, Bohemians, who are from Phibsborough in Dublin 7 which is just a few minutes walk from Delfin. Located on Phibsorough Road and the North Circular Road, the Stadium, known as Dalymount Park, is only a 15 minute walk from the top of O’ Connell Street. Most games are played on Friday nights at 7.30 with tickets costing €15 for adults, but again just €10 for students. Bohemians website is www.bohemians.ie
Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians are currently the best two football teams in Ireland. They might not play as well as Barcelona or Madrid, but they play good football and there is always a great atmosphere in the stadiums. So instead of going to Temple Bar for another night in a “typical Irish pub”, why not support your local football team and go for a few pints in the local pub with the fans after the game!
If you are studying in another Language School in Ireland you can find more information on the Airtricity League at www.airtricityleague.ie or if you are a student in Delfin English School and you want some more information just find Simon in Delfin and he’ll help you.
Simon
Galway
Thursday,24 March, 2011
If you’re visiting Ireland, there are many beautiful and breathtaking sights to see, many interesting and hilarious people to meet, and many unforgettable memories to be made. One of the places in Ireland where you can find all of these things and more is Galway.
Galway is a small medieval town in the West of Ireland, looking out into the Atlantic Ocean. It is home to Ireland’s biggest Art’s Festival, and the legendary week-long party that is the Galway Races. It is the only officially bilingual city in Ireland, and in many parts of the countryside Gaelic (the native language of Ireland) is spoken fluently by entire communities.
Visitors almost always visit the Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare, just south of Galway. The Cliffs of Moher are a magnificent natural wonder, and a visit to them will leave you breathless. Huge, rolling waves crash into the towering cliffs that stand against the power of the Atlantic Ocean. The Cliffs are found near a unique natural landscape called the Burren, which is rich in archaeological and historical sites.
Galway city, meanwhile, is a place where tradition and modernity sit next to each other comfortably. Galway people, who are called Galwegians, are well-known for their bohemian lifestyle, laid-back sense of humour, and mischievous sense of fun. There is also a large international community living in Galway, mostly artists who visited Galway, fell in love with the place, and never left. Neachtains, which is found on Quay Street, is a traditional old pub full of great characters and good atmosphere. The Crane is a small, cosy pub where traditional music is played by local musicians and is a great place to have good conversation. The Blue Note, Massimos, and the Bierhaus are lovely, relaxed places where cool music is played by djs all night and you’ll definitely meet some interesting local people. The Roisin Dubh is one of the best music venues in the West of Ireland, and is an intimate, energetic place full of the best new music and funky classics.
If you like the Ocean, the promenade that looks out into Galway Bay is a place where you can walk in the fresh sea air on sandy beaches, and watch the beautiful sunsets that frequently fill the Galway skies. Galway’s cathedral is a huge structure, and is profoundly atmospheric. Galway also has a strong tradition of theatre and literature, so you should definitely visit the Town Hall Theatre for some high quality drama!
Galway is known as Ireland’s Cultural Heart (Croí Cultúrtha na hÉireann), and in 2007 it was voted by MSN Travel as one of the eight sexiest cities in the world (!), so for culture, music, nature, laughter, memories and craic(an Irish form of fun), no Irish experience is complete without a visit to Galway!
Colin Walsh
New Seas
Monday,21 March, 2011
An essay by Rodrigo Strassburger, Advanced Class
When she clumsily and ungracefully entered late in to the classroom, Adam immediately felt something magically different in the air. Her name was Julia and she had a conspicuously strong Canadian accent, although his amusing way of speaking didn’t let him lie he wasn’t from Australia. Both were in Ireland, putting up with the absolutely unpredictable Irish weather, in order to get a diploma in Arts.
Of course they had crossed the world for other reasons. They intuitively knew it’s easier to forget and start anew when you feel the wind being blown smoothly by a different sea. And so they courageously took the risk of revivifying their painfully broken hearts. Weeks of complete fulfilment came. It was just totally pure love and nothing else to care about.
However, June came and in June things tend to change creepily. Adam had to move to Greece. Julia surprisingly had to return to Canada. But they deeply loved each other, so promises were made. He would go to Vancouver incredibly soon. He took forever. She would be passionately waiting for him. Unhopefully, she just waited.
It was a new season. New seasons require fresh air. New seasons require new seas.
Quick Tips for Better Pronunciation in English!
Thursday,10 February, 2011
Silent Letters
Remember – when you are speaking all of these words are pronounced without the red letters but when you are writing you must include the red letters :
As always – Keep Your Ears Open to native pronunciation
Vivienne
Tips for English Pronunciation
Friday,03 September, 2010
For me, pronunciation is the 5th skill when learning a language. One of the problems learners have is that they don’t realise that you have to practise pronunciation with just as much importance as you practise grammar points. This means opening your mouth and speaking because pronunciation can’t be practised in your head.
Try these helpful tips and see if you notice a difference:
Do not pronounce everything you read. English pronunciation needs to be learned and remembered. This is the same for both native and non-native speakers.
Listen carefully to the way native speakers pronounce words and copy them!
Watch TV, listen to the radio, listen to other people’s conversation on the bus, train, luas etc and pay particular attention to the way they pronounce certain words. You’re not listening to them for their conversation and for their ‘expert’ pronunciation. Basically….keep your ears open
A lot of people think that they can speak English with the same mouth they speak Spanish, Italian, Portuguese etc with and this is not true. You need to use your mouth, tongue and lips in a different way when you’re speaking a different language. Go into your bathroom, look in the mirror and practise the new pronunciation of words you have just learnt by opening your mouth and forming the different sounds. Your eyes will see your mouth forming this new shape, your ears will hear the new pronunciation and your brain will (hopefully ) put all this new information together and remember the correct pronunciation for the next time.
Good luck with your ears
Vivienne Director of Studies
Read an essay about Delfin and his experience in Dublin by one of our Italian students….
Monday,30 August, 2010
One month ago Francesco was in Italy. While he was sleeping, he heard a melody, opened his eyes and on the window there was a nice little man with a red beard and green clothes.
Francesco asked him: Who are you?
He replied: My name’s Shamrock, I’m a leprechaun from Dublin!
Francesco: Nice to meet you!
Shamrock: I have just come here to invite you to my city in the summer. But there is one condition….you must speak only English all the time. It will be better for you!!
Francesco: That’s a good idea!
Shamrock: with my magic flute, arriving in Ireland will be a piece of cake!
Francesco: Okay, come on, come on!
…After ten minutes
Francesco: oooh, where are we?
Shamrock: In Phoenix Park, I live here. We can go to find the end of the rainbow and you’ll find a pot of gold at the end, so you’ll return to Italy richer. It’s a promise! But before that, you are welcome in my tree house. I’ll prepare a typical Irish breakfast for you.
…After
Francesco: fantastic breakfast, I’m full of beans!
Francesco and Shamrock went on to discover Dublin.
…One month later
Francesco: Oh, my leprechaun friend, I have spent a good time in Dublin but it is always sunny, how can I find the rainbow without the rain?!
The day after Shamrock accompanied Francesco to Howth, while they were walking along the cliff it started to rain. When they arrived to the edge of the cliffs they could see a fantastic rainbow. Many leprechauns arrived and all together they played typical Irish music on their harps, violins and flutes.
The seals from Howth showed them the way and Francesco started to run over the rainbow. He arrived to the end and fell into a deep sleep.
When he got up he could see a pot in his room. He opened it and inside there was every experience, every good friend and teacher that he had known in Dublin.
They are his pot of gold!
FRANCESCO COSENTINI
A Delfin Au Pair in Dublin
Thursday,24 June, 2010
Her name is Cristina Arbeo, a young girl who is working as Au Pair and studying in our school during the afternoon time. We have had a quick chat with her to get more details about the Au Pair Programme in our school.
•How did you find Delfin? At first I dind’t know where I wanted to go but they told me that dublin was a nice place so I looked for schools and different programs in the Internet and I found in Delfin School a good Au Pair Programme for me. •Why did you choose our Au Pair Programme? I choose this au pair programme because it has the posibility to go to class in the morning and work in the afternoon. •How do you feel with your new family? They are very nice to me,so I feel comfortable at home and the kids accepted me from the first moment •Can you tell us a little bit about your daily routine as an Au Pair? I arrive home between 2-3 so I spend all the afternoon with the kids…the important things are to feed them,wash them…but it depends on the age maybe change the nappys if they need it…usually we go to the playground and sometimes we watch a dvd. •Would you recommend the Au pair programme? I think that is a good method to learn english in a different country in a cheap way and even better if you want to stay for a long time •Do you like the city? Yes it is not too big not too small and you have different thing to do. The worst thing in Dublin is the weather,due to the wind it changes very quickly so you never know what clothes you should wear. •How long would you like to study here? I will be here for 4 months…..I think that is enough
Thank you very much Cristina
A Quick Chat with Anne Marie..
Wednesday,24 March, 2010
In Black and White:
Age: 25 From: Tipperary Living in: Dublin Profession: Teacher Time teaching in Delfin: 1 ½ years
In Colour:
Do you speak any other languages? French and Irish
If yes, How long have you been studying this language(s)?What is your level? Irish – since I was 4 years old. French – since I was 12.
Did you find it difficult to learn another language? Why? Yes, I found it difficult to learn French because the accent and grammar are completely different from English, and it is often difficult to understand when it is spoken quickly.
In your opinion, what is the best way to learn phrasal verbs? I think it is best to learn them in categories, for example: phrasal verbs associated with relationships – ask out, go out with, grow apart, break up, get over… It is also important to note an example sentence for every phrasal verb; this will help you to remember both the phrasal verb and how to use it correctly in a sentence.
What is your favourite word in English? ‘Butterflies’ – meaning a feeling that you get in your stomach when you are excited.
Why is Delfin different? Delfin is different because of the vibe that is around the school along with the wonderful teaching. The students and staff are all very friendly people who enjoy each other’s company both in and outside of school. This relaxed and welcoming atmosphere helps to calm new student’s nerves and allows everybody to learn in a supportive and fun environment.
What is your favourite topic to teach in class? Conditionals. I always have fun, especially with the second conditional as it allows us to really use our imaginations and explore how we would react in unusual and bizarre situations.
What is the most helpful tip you can give to students who are learning English? Don’t translate directly from your own language, try to think in English. Speak English as often as possible – even when you’re alone try speaking out loud to yourself! This might seem crazy but it will help your brain to think in English. Watch DVDs in English with the subtitles also in English. Go to the pub and drink lots of beer and speak in English- you will definitely feel more confident about your fluency and you won’t worry so much about your mistakes.
What is the secret to improving English quickly? Like all things that are worth doing in life learning English takes time and effort if you want to do it properly. Believe in yourself, and keep trying and you will succeed!
What is your favourite past time? Swimming.
This is Ireland…
Friday,12 February, 2010
Hi Students,
I found this amazing video about Ireland. Enjoy it and don’t forget your camera!!!
A Brasilian in Dublin!!!
Thursday,28 January, 2010
In Black and White
Gustavo Barros, 26 years old from São Paulo, a wonderful city in Brazil. He is an Economist and is one of the funniest students in our School. He has been studying in Delfin for 3 months in our General English 30 hours course.
In Colour
Why is Delfin Different to other schools? Easy going and friendly people, nice and helpful reception, qualified teachers.
Why did you choose Delfin? Good location, good price, classes timetable.
What is your opinion about life in Dublin? Dublin is a small city, despite it being the capital yet, people are always helpful. The city has many attractions (socially and culturally). It is a city that deserves to be visited more often.
How did you hear about Delfin English School? Through researchs on the internet, and the Advisory Council for English Language Schools Homepage.
What is your favourite Word in English? Peace
Are you improving your English with us? What is the main reason? Yes, there are several reasons, but the most important is the teaching method applied in the classes using continuous themes to support this method.
Define your experience in three words: Unforgettable, Different, Delfin.
A quick chat with a former student in Delfin School
Monday,18 January, 2010
In Black and White
Beñat González, 26 years old from Bilbao, a great city in the north of Spain. He is an IT engineer and was an amazing student in our School for a long time. At the end he reached the Advanced Level! Congratulations and all the best for you!!!
In Colour
What is your favourite place in Dublin? Grafton St.
Which is the best place you have ever visited? Tokyo!
Your favourite song is I don’t have any yet…I’ll think about it for the next survey
Your favourite movie is The Matrix
Three things that you need everyday Internet, food and herbal tea
Your favourite drink Pineapple juice
How did you hear about Delfin English School? My girlfriend took a course before me
What is your favourite Word in English? Marshmallow
In my country I didn’t have …and now I have… A delfin diploma!
I recommend Butlers Chocolates, in massive doses!
Haiti Fundraiser in Delfin
Monday,18 January, 2010
Where were you on January 12th, 2010? On this day in Haiti a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean island and devastated many people’s lives and livelihood.
We have all seen the TV news reports, read the newspapers and have seen the pictures and video’s presented to us but not even we can imagine the devastation brought upon the people of Haiti. How could we?!
One thing we can do however is to come together and give what we can to help these people rebuild their lives. That’s what we at Delfin School decided to do. On Friday 6th February in the basement of the school we held an International Food Reception. Food was lovingly prepared from Korea, Spain, France, Poland, Mexico, Italy, Brazil and even Ireland. A lot of fun was had by all that attended and it was a huge success raising €1025.00 for the Haiti Appeal. People gave generously to this cause and some even managed to win free English Classes. Others just came away with full bellies.
We decided to donate this money to Oxfam. Oxfam has long experience in Haiti, and are rushing in teams from around the region to respond where their assistance is most needed. ” The earthquake in Haiti is a major catastrophe for a country where up to 85% of people already live in poverty. We are launching an immediate appeal to respond to this emergency. Oxfam has a 100 strong-team working across Haiti – including 15 emergency specialists – and we’re rushing in teams from around the region to provide emergency supplies, clean water, shelter and sanitation. Jim Clarken, Oxfam Ireland Chief Executive. The cheque was presented in our school on Wednesday 17th February to an Oxfam representative Deirdre who gave a very compelling speech on the work Oxfam are doing in Haiti.
Thanks to all involved – the office staff, the teachers (for not only helping with the organisation but also for donating their time) and of course the students. Everyone came together as a team to raise this money for an excellent cause. A special thanks to Pilar, our very own events organizer who as always did an amazing job of coordinating everyone and making this event happen!
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success” Henry Ford.
Many Thanks! Michelle
Merry Christmas from Delfin English School
Wednesday,16 December, 2009
We had another big party in our School, Santa Claus was here giving gifts for the best costumes and we were dancing to the best Christmas Carols. I know that everybody has very good pictures with our own Santa (thank you Paul), so please remember to upload your pictures on Facebook.
After this magical moment we would like to say everybody: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. Don’t forget that Delfin hopes to see you in January 2010 studying with us!! We have lots of social activities organised for the New Year!
We hope that you have enjoyed your experience in Dublin with us, it has been a pleasure having you in the school!
FELIZ NAVIDAD, BOM NATAL, SUNG TAN CHUK HA, JOYEUX NOËL, NOLLAIG SHONA DHUIT, BUON NATALE, FROEHLICHE WEIHNACHTEN…
Limericks from my Intermediate Class
Wednesday,21 October, 2009
The following are a some limericks (a type of poem) written by the Intermediate class. Enjoy!
There is a young man named Bill, He always climbs a hill, And he always whines, If the sun shines, So he is considered a person who is ill. – Min hee
She was dancing in the sunshine, Drinking a bad bottle of wine, She woke up in a field with a cow, She touched her head, ow! She really needs an aspirin to be fine – Pascale
There was a beautiful cow, Which I had never seen until now, I wore a new jumper, blue, And she thought: “It’s not true!” In the end I said “bye bye” with a bow. – Agnese
At midnight I heard the bell, And I didn’t feel realy well, I saw standing beside the gate, My well-known class mate, Then I told him to go to hell. – Adam and Sunny
Mary said: “My dress is blue” Her sister answered: “It isn’t true!” Mary’s dress was cool But her sister said “You’re a fool!” Mary thought: “Your brain too!” – Adriana
Last Saturday I lost a shoe It’s very beautiful and blue I don’t know how But I can’t find it now And I’m very sad because it was new – Nerea & Mari Carmen
Jon showed Peter the snow He said “I can ski, do you want to know?” The sun did shine The time passed fine In the evening they had to go – Raffaele
(Chris abandoned the Limerick and wrote some “blank verse”!)
There are two girls in school They are too ugly So I don’t want to see them
One day, I saw a saw in a sow cage Because I saw “Kill Bill” I wanted to kill them But they are still alive – Chris
Feel free to add your own limericks (or other poems) in the comment box!
Coffee in Dublin
Sunday,18 October, 2009
I have lost count of the number of times that students have told me that they can’t get nice coffee in Dublin. Good coffee, they claim, can only be found in their own country. This complaint comes from students of all countries, but mostly from Italians!
Of course, Dublin (like Rome and Madrid and Paris and everywhere else) has places where you can get terrible coffee, and I have had bad coffee in lots of these cities. But I have good news! There are lots of places to get really good coffee in Dublin too. You just have to know where to look. So, here are a few suggestions:
Try ‘Lemon’ on Dawson Street (just beside the side entrance to Trinity College). It mainly sells crepes but it has very good coffee too. Also, they will give you an extra ‘shot’ of espresso for free if you like your coffee strong
Go to ‘Bewley’s’ on Grafton street. This is a very old Irish cafe which has been a meeting place for Dublin people for years and years. They also serve very good coffee.
‘The Bald Barista’ or ‘Milk and Honey’ have won awards for their coffee. The second one has just opened, so go and tell me if it’s nice, I haven’t been there yet. They are both on Aungier Street (this is the street that continues on from George’s St if you keep walking away from Temple Bar).
Finally, did you know that there is a World Barista Competition! Baristas (people who make coffee in cafes) come from all over the world and compete to be the best Barista in the world. An Irish guy won it in 2008. And this year, an Irish guy came 4th. Check out the video:
We love Halloween here in Ireland! Ghosts and skulls and spiders and all sorts of creepy crawly things slithering along the ground, things that go bump in the night. But guess what? Here in Delfin, it’s party time! So go on! Take out your blue and yellow make-up, dust off your feather boa, put on those crazy shoes, get all dressed up and boogie on down to THE DELFIN HALLOWEEN PARTY! It was fantastic last year and this year, it’s going to be EVEN BIGGER! There will be plenty of music, fancy dress, games, prizes and beer flowing till the late dark spooky hours.
Details to follow…watch this space!!!
Learning English: For and since
Tuesday,06 October, 2009
We use ‘for’ to measure the amount of time something lasts.
This film will last for two hours.
Come to Ireland for a month!
You can study in Delfin Engluish School for any length of time you wish.
To measure a past time until the present, we use the present perfect, I have + participle.
I have been here for an hour.
I have been speaking for ten seconds
I have lived in Dublin for ten years.
We do not use for with all.
I have been here for ten years
I have been here all my life.
We do not say, I have been here for all my life.
So, when you say for, the next words will be a period of time
For two days
For five minutes
For a while
For three seconds
For one million years
When you say since, the next words will be a point of time
Since three o’clock.
Three o’clock is not a period. It is a moment in time. It is the name of a time
Since Tuesday
Since 1995
Since last Christmas
Since Mary’s birthday
I have been living in Dublin since 1996
I have been living in Dublin for eleven years.
I’ve been learning English since I was 12 years old
I’ve been learning English for six years.
Why not visit us here in Delfin English School…
For as long as you like!
Learning English: Make and do
Friday,02 October, 2009
Make and do often present problems for learners of English as the twoverbs often translate to one verb in other languages. So what exactly is the difference?
The first thing to say is that rather than learning a single rule the learner probably has to consider each example individually. That is to say, learn the fixed expression. However, having said that, there is a basic concept which can separate the two verbs.
Dois all about actions. It’s about performing activities. Here are some common examples:
He’s not doing anything
She should do something
They did the washing (up).
I’ll do the shopping later
It’ll do no good at all
What are you doing?
Could you do me a favour?
Makeis about creating something. Bringing something into existence:
I finally made a decision
Make me a sandwich will you?
The company made a profit last year
He makes a good living as a plumber
I’m making a new table for the kitchen
I make my bed every morning
It just doesn’t make sense
There are also idioms with makeand do. What do you think the following means?
He made such a scene. We were all so embarrassed!
Try to make sense of this expression. That’s your homework, so go anddo it!
Learning English: Will and would
Wednesday,30 September, 2009
We use will (present and would (past) to talk about repeated or characteristic behaviour:
He will often just walk right in without knocking
She will spend €200 on clothes on a Saturday
My father would take us out fro a drive every Sunday
In summer we would go to a caravan park in the south
As well as repeated event, we use will and would for events which are always true:
Dogs will bark if they are nervous
Ice will melt in high temperatures
In the middle ages people would eat wood
Before mobile phones, people would call into each other’s houses
However DO NOT use them for specific occasions, only general times:
Last night he would talk for hours
Last night he talked for hours
When I was a boy he would talk for hours
We use would and used to talk about the repeated past:
He would go to the cinema every Friday
He used to see a film every week
However, we ONLY use would if the time reference is clear:
He used to eat burgers
He would eat a burger on his birthday
We can also use would and will to criticise people:
She’ll never do the washing up, even when you ask her.
He’d always complain when you asked him to do something
We use will to state a probability, an assumption for the present:
It’s nine o’clock. It’ll be still dark in New York
He will be arriving around now
Learning English: Why ‘will’ is not the future!
Tuesday,29 September, 2009
Sometimes learners of English do not understand the difference betweenI will do something tomorrow and I’m doing something tomorrow. Both are the future. When we think of the future in English, we usually think of ‘will’, but this is not the future normally. Normally we use the present continuous.
I’m meetingmy friends tonight
I’m doing my homework later
I’m going to Paris next week.
The difference is whether the action is planned or unplanned.
This means whether or not you decided to do the future action BEFORE you say it. If it is planned (you decided before) we use I’m going, if we are deciding now we use I’ll go.
Here’s an example:
Imagine yesterday I was invited to a party next Saturday, and yesterday I decided to go. Now I say:
I’m going to the party on Saturday. I’m going.
But if someone asks me now if I’ll go to the party, and NOW I decide, I say:
Yes, I’ll go. I will go. The decision is now.
So we use ‘will’ for when we decide NOW, and we use ‘am doing’ for when we decided already.
Now think about your future. Think about next week. What are you doing? What are your plans?
On Monday I’m meeting Peter
On Tuesday I’m working
On Wednesday I’m going to the restaurant
On Thursday I’m staying at home
On Friday I’m writing my report
Usually we do know our future! We make plans!
That is why ‘will’ is only sometimes used, and usually it’s the present continuous.
So what are you doing tomorrow?
I’m reading the blog on Delfin.ie
Really? Me too!
Learning English: Saying numbers…
Monday,28 September, 2009
Numbers
In English, large numbers are easy. The secret is when you say the wordhundred, you follow with the word and. For example the number 546 is five hundred and forty six. The number 1,234 is one thousand, two hundredand thirty four. Even very large numbers are easy. The number 12,345,657 is read as twelve million, three hundred and forty five thousand, six hundred and fifty seven. Remember, hundred and.
Also, note that in English we put a comma(,) after the hundered, not a full stop (.).
Nought or zero is said as OH in a telephone number.
The temperature in Ireland in winter is sometimes zero degrees. But in sport, we say nil. So if the score in the football match was one : zero we say one : nil. If the score was 2 : 2 we say two all. So what would you say if the score was zero : zero? That’s right. Nil all.
For money, one thousand dollars or euro is a grand. So eight thousand euro is, yes, eight grand. Grand is always a thousand. How much is a Ferrari? 100 grand? (This is informal English)
Telephone numbers are usually said in groups of three, then two then two. For example the telephone number 1234567 would be read as 123 45 67. Zero in telephone numbers is said as zero or ‘oh’.
So Delfin’s telephone number ((01) 8722037 would be said as ‘oh one, eight seven two, two oh, three seven.
Numbers. They’re easy!.
Learning English: Must I, shoud I or do I have to?
Friday,25 September, 2009
Must, should and Have to
When we talk about obligation we use must, should and have to. But the meaning of these words is not the same.
Should is used when ‘it is better if’. It is not necessary, the obligation is not 100%, but it is better if:
I should clean my house. Nobody is forcing me to clean my house, but it is better if I clean it.
I should phone Peter
I should take more exercise
I should study harder.
None of the above things are necessary but it is better if they were done.
When we say ‘should’ there is a 50:50 obligation. It is not necessary, it is better.
The next form of obligation is when I tell myself to do something. I tellmyself. Other people don’t tell me, I tell myself. Here, we use ‘must’.
I must tidy my bedroom. This is me telling myself to clean the room, not my mother.
I must go. My decision.
I must be a better person. I have decided that it is necessary.
But sometimes, other people oblige me to do something. Maybe my parents, or my school or the government. In this case we use ‘have to’.
I have to pay tax. The government says so.
I have to be in school at nine. The principle says so.
I have to tidy my bedroom. My mother says so.
So which do you think is the strongest? It’s debatable, but probably have to. It’s stronger because the obligation comes from others, not ourselves.
Be careful with the negatives though. They are NOT the opposite!
I don’t have to, means it is not necessary, but I can if I want.
I don’t have to go to school on Saturday. (But I can if I want!)
I don’t have to go to school on Saturdays.
He doesn’t have to work because he is rich.
I mustn’t is very strong. I means it is necessary that I don’t.
You mustn’t smoke in school. It is prohibited!
Children mustn’t play with matches. It’s dangerous!
And now, unfortunately, I have to go! Bye bye.
Learning English: One is not two!
Thursday,24 September, 2009
Sometimes when I am standing in a queue in a cafe or a bar, and there is a non-native English speaker ordering in front of me, I often hear things like:
‘One coffee please’ or ‘One pint of beer and one packet of crisps please’.
This is not correct! It should of course be:
‘A coffee please’ or ‘a pint of beer and a packet of crisps please’.
The problem (I think) comes from the fact that in many languages the word for ‘one’ and the word for ‘a’ are very similar and hence the confusion. It is an understandable mistake.
So when do we say ‘one’ in English in this context?
Quite simply, one is not two! I will explain:
Imagine I am standing at the bar with my friend and I order a drink for the two of us. I would say:
‘Two pints of beer please’.
The barman pours us the drinks and half an hour later my friend would order:
‘Two pints of beer please’.
And again we drink the drinks. We order another:
‘Two pints of beer please’.
The barman serves the beers and after them my friend suggests another.
‘I can’t', I say to my friend, ‘but let me buy you one’. I then catch the barman’s eye.
‘Excuse me… Hello. Can I have….’
Now what do you think I will say at this moment? What is the barman expecting me to say? He is expecting me to say ‘two beers please’ because that is what I have been ordering all night. But I want to make it clear it is NOT two so I say:
‘One beer please’.
And that is the only context where we use one in this way. Remember, ONE is NOT TWO!
Learning English: Say ,tell ,talk and speak
Wednesday,23 September, 2009
One of the most common errors that students make is with say, tell, talkand speak.
Talk and speak
The difference is small, and gramatically there is NO difference. That effectively means you cannot make a mistake (except with ‘languages’). Talking is usually informal. Speaking is more formal.
The president spoke to the people.
Talking is a two-way conversation whereas speaking is often one-way. This means that one person is speaking and one or more people are listening. For example:
The employees were all talking before the boss began to speak.(Employees – two-way, boss – one-way)
When we speak to people we expect them to listen. He wants to speak to me. Is he angry? Does he want to give me information? He’ll speak and I’ll listen.
Can I talk to you? This is probably an informal situation. We are friends.
Can I speak to you? It is likely that this is formal, or perhaps I am angry!
We talk in the coffee shop. We speak on the telephone. We speak languages. We talk to our friends. What languages do you speak? Are you alright? Do you need to talk? But as I have said, the difference is small. The only time the difference is grammatically important is:
He speaks two languages NOT He talks two languages.
Say and tell
Basically, we tell people and say things.
I said that I was hungry
I told him that I was hungry
He said that he didn’t like the exercise
He told me that he didn’t like the exercise
In this blog, I’m saying various things about these two verbs
I’m telling you about these two verbs
But apart from people, there are other things you can tell. You can tell the truth. You can tell a story. You can tell lies. You can tell the time. And, sometimes, when things are very similar, you can’t tell the difference. Can you tell the difference between say and tell?
Think about it!
Learning English: Phrasal verbs are easy!
Tuesday,22 September, 2009
Help!
A lot of students roll their eyes up to heaven and start shaking when teachers mention the word ‘phrasal verb’! There seems to be a fear amongst learners of English that phrasal verbs are simply impossible to understand. Students believe that you can study them for years and years and they will still make no sense!
Well, the good news is that this is not true. Phrasal verbs are easy! I promise!
The problem.
The problem for students is that phrasal verbs all look so similar. To bring in , to bring out, to bring up , to bring down etc. And in this form, it is true. But what if the common thread were the preposition, and not the verb? To get on, to drag on, to go on etc. Now it is easier because if we now introduce a keyword, a word which will explain the real meaning of the preposition then the meaning of the verb will (hopefully!) become obvious. In the above case, the keyword is CONTACT. That means that with all phrasal verbs with on, the meaning is contact. Look at the following sentences:
The bottle is on the table
Peter and Tom get on
The film went on and on
Look at the first sentence. Here, the contact is simply physical: between the bottle and the table. In the second sentence, the contact is between Peter and Tom; it is social contact. If you don’t get on with someone, do you have contact with them? No. In the third example, there is too much contact: the film is too long. Let’s go back and start again from the begining.
Are you on for it?
Before we look at any phrasal verb group, we should look at what the preposition means when it is used with the verb to be.
The bottle is on the table
As I have already said, here the contact is simply physical contact between the bottle and the table. But what if I were offering you a coffee? Offering you a coffee is like saying
You-coffee-contact?, or in idiomatic English, ‘Are you on for a coffee?’
Similarly, I might ask, ‘What are you on for doing this weekend?’ (ie with what would you like contact?). So, I’m on for means ‘I would like’ or ‘I want’.
We can use the same ‘contact’ idea for other idiomatic expressions. If you are intending to treat someone in a restaurant, when the bill arrives, it’s ‘me-bill-contact’, so you can say, ‘it’s on me!’
So on means contact, whatever the structure and whatever the context. It doesn’t have to be a phrasal verb.
Do you get on?
I get on with Tom. There is (good) contact between us. If we don’t get on, there is no contact.
Does it go on and on?
Look at these sentences.
The film went on a long time.
The meeting went on and on
Here, there is too much contact. The film and the meeting were both too long. If we want to make the idea even stronger, we could say:
The meeting dragged on and on.
Likewise, if someone talks too much about his car, it is boring; we have too much contact and we can say:
He went on and on about his car.
Am I going on too much?
So now are you beginning to see ‘on’ in English? It is not just about something lying ON the surface of something else. It is also metaphorical. It is about the contact between people or objects or even concepts.
I’ve decided to take on the new job.
Here, the contact is between me and RESPONSIBILITY. If I take it on, I accept it. But with take on, it’s about responsibility.
Go out and look at the world of ON. When you see a word with ON ask yourself where is the contact? Between what and what? Good luck and if we meet in a pub…it’s on you!
Postcard from Dublin
Friday,04 September, 2009
Nadia Colombo reminisces about Dublin…
After two months spent in Dublin and one month left before my departure, I think that the best subject I could choose for my essay is the city of Dublin.
Dublin is not the city of my dreams. It’s cultural life cannot be compared to the majority of the other European capitals, and the weather is not good enough.
Despite that, I’m going to remember this city for a long time.
Dublin has grown on me slowly, step by step. I have known it inside out, wandering around the city centre every day since I arrived and now that I know it, I can say that I really like it.
I love the refined Georgian houses and their coloured doors, as well as the ruined colourful houses of Camden street. I like walking along the canal and sitting on a bench reading a book on a sunny day. I enjoy the strong flavour of malt you can feel in the air on a windy day. And above all I love the changeable Irish sky which strongly affects the perception of the city.
It’s all going swimmingly
Wednesday,02 September, 2009
It’s been a great social summer here in Delfin and the fat lady still hasn’t sung!
The summer began on June 19 with a great night in the Hop House. There was free beer all around and songs were sung and friendships were made. Other nights we had during the summer included the literary pub crawl where we heard great stories about James Joyce and Samuel Beckett reminescent of times past in Dublin.
The dogs was another great night. Here we went to the greyhound track and bet on the dogs to win races. Bets were small so nobody lost their shirt but everyone had a great time.
Testing trivia was the table quiz night here in the school. There were prizes to be won and almost everyone walked away with something. My favourite prize was an electric tennis racket you use to kill flies!
And then there was the fourth anniversary party. Woo hoo! There was a HUGE party here in the school with loads of beers and everybody dancing and laughing and singing. Needless to say it went on until the wee hours of the morning but everyone left with a smile on their face.
Kilmainham Goal, Riverdance in the Gaiety Theatre, a fantastic tour of Glendalough, Glasnevin cemetary, an introduction to Gaelic games, a Ceili with live Irish music in the school and a great day out at the Summersound festival were some of the other highlighs of the summer programme ’09.
But it’s not over yet! This week we are going to see the famous preserved bodies in St Michan’s church and on Saturday 5 we are going on a picnic and hike in beautiful Wicklow. So much to see…so much to do! JR
Party-time!
Monday,24 August, 2009
The whole school went to the Hop House on Parnell street on Friday night. We all met at six o’clock and as everybody arrived they all got free beer. The Hop House supplied cold and frothy free beer to two hundred students and then, as if that were enough, the students were able to buy beer for only Euro1 with the vouchers they had earned in class during the academic week.
It was great craic. There was drinking and stories and jokes all night being passed around the bar. It was a memorable night for all!
And more great news! We are going to do it again on Friday June 19. Watch this space for more details…
Life in Dublin
Saturday,15 August, 2009
The elementary class have written:
After many years without studying English, people from a lot of countries get together to try to learn English one more time, it’s really funny. Friendships are made, experiences are changed and the mix of cultures are very interesting.
The first weeks of class are an opportunity to get excited, in the beginning it can be a little negative, because we have the fear of the unknown and miss our family.
One of the best things that Dublin has is it’s nightlife, the pubs always encouraged to drink a Guinness, seven days a week. The experience of being in an authentic Irish pub is always curious, in the end, everyone sing and dance together, nobody is seated, until the people who don’t like beer finally draw. But the funny is, in difference from other countries, here the shops close early and have dinner after nine is almost impossible. But it’s easy.
Some of you very kindly participated in research examining the impact that LEARNING ENGLISH as a foreign language is having on your BRAIN. Firstly, let me say a big THANK YOU to all of you again for sharing your time and your stories about your language learning experience.
If you think about it, your brain has a lot of decisions to make before it allows you to speak your thoughts. You need to consider whether you want to be formal or informal, if you want to use polite or colloquial language, you need to find collocations that make sense and you need to structure each word in the correct order so that you will be understood. Now imagine that when your brain has TWO languages active at the same time, the amount of decisions your brain has to make before you speak DOUBLES! .....So, how does your brain do it? Remember the EXECUTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM? Well, the language system employs the executive control system to help it to attend to the desired language, and inhibit the undesired language. This makes the executive control system STRONGER.
) put all this new information together and remember the correct pronunciation for the next time.
et…I’ll think about it for the next survey
One thing we can do however is to come together and give what we can to help these people rebuild their lives. That’s what we at Delfin School decided to do. On Friday 6th February in the basement of the school we held an International Food Reception. Food was lovingly prepared from Korea, Spain, France, Poland, Mexico, Italy, Brazil and even Ireland. A lot of fun was had by all that attended and it was a huge success raising €1025.00 for the Haiti Appeal. People gave generously to this cause and some even managed to win free English Classes. Others just came away with full bellies.
The cheque was presented in our school on Wednesday 17th February to an Oxfam representative Deirdre who gave a very compelling speech on the work Oxfam are doing in Haiti.
