[Kerin]

Couldn’t agree more @chiaramig . In fact, when I was little, if I used slang in the house my mum would tell me off and say that I sounded common! I agree, there is a time and place for it.

You also make a good point regarding the insensitivity of native speakers towards non-native speakers – I hadn’t really considered that.

I also agree with you about language acquisition – since I learned Italian in Italy, I picked up colloquial expressions fairly quickly, whereas I struggle with speaking the language correctly (because I didn’t study the foundations). For the majority of my students, as you point out, the reality is the opposite: first the learning takes place and second the acquisition of the informal register. Interesting stuff!

[Kerin]

Thank you @chiaramig – this is excellent. (I personally love what you say about English being a means of communication…)

The writing is super – we just need to tidy up a few things:

➡️ an excellent knowledge of English is something that makes your c.v. standing out “to make something stand out” > an excellent knowledge of English is something that makes your c.v. STAND out

to access something (no preposition) whereas, you need a preposition if you use ‘give’: to GIVE access To

> … not only is it an opportunity to access a more successful career

to get in contact to > to get in contact WITH

this phrase needs a bit of change to the word order: My opinion is, that what is bad it’s the attitude to make feeling left out those who are not good at English or are not keen on study it.

> My opinion is, that what is bad IS the attitude THAT makeS THOSE who are not good at English or are not keen on studING it FEEL LEFT OUT.

(⚠️ keen on +ING)

Well done Chiara 🌸

[Kerin]

Hi @Mao , thanks for sending me by email. I’m not sure why you weren’t able to post, but never mind!

Very good work and good vocabulary use. You are improving.

I had the same impression as I hadn’t realised this trend either. Although, many of my colleagues have started teaching Chinese kids. With the Covid situation, many teachers have lost their job, but Chinese online schools are hiring.

Anyway! Let’s get down to business!

1. Nationality: ‘Chinese’ is an adjective.

Whereas ‘the Chinese’ is a noun to mean the Chinese population (we can say: the Chinese OR Chinese people)

‘Chinese’ (without ‘the’) is a noun to man the language. Therefore:

Before arguing the following points, the scene of THE Chinese shouting out loud was terrifying me. I even didn’t know how enthusiastic Chinese youthS are ABOUT learning English.

Try and read through the text again and make the corrections where necessary.

2. Missing article and suggested changes>

I find THE WORD mania HAS A more positive connotation to me in the way that people ….

3. It is more like forced brainwashING which restricts students mindS from interest-driven learning, but pushES them TO LEARN English as an obligation by using propaganda.

4. Because it is spoken by a largest number of races…> largest is a superlative. Can you fix the article?

5. Japan, for example, use to place English ... > can you correct the grammar (use)?

6. Year by year, the starting period of learning English IS BECOMING earlier. (You need to use the present continuous to describe current trends)

[Kerin]

Absolutely brilliant @MariLu – I enjoyed that!

> Be careful with spelling: A fiver \ a tenner \ jammy

> Adjectives like knackered and gutted are what we call ‘Absolute Adjectives’. This means that is generally not capable of being intensified or compared. Therefore we don’t use ‘very’ with these kinds of adjective.

You might find this interesting: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/course/eiam/unit-1/session-47

[Kerin]

😂 … I too remember my primary one teacher. She wore tweed clothes and had a big hairy wart on her chin … like a character from Harry Potter!

Notes:

> The word teaching remember me = The word teaching ‘reminds me of’ ….

See this for the explanation: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/remember-or-remind

> carism = charsima

> clear exposition = articulate? clearly spoken?

[Kerin]

That is so interesting @Gabriela and actually I realise my ignorance because I thought there were only three languages in Switzerland 😳 . It’s also interesting what you say about a sort of rivalry between people with varying accents and dialects (this is true in Scotland!) I sincerely hope the gentleman from the electoral committee was saying that with a ‘pinch of salt’! How dreadful if it was meant nastily!

[Kerin]

Adjectives: Same as before; don’t need AND.

Also, it is more natural to say garnish green …. This will help you with adjective order: https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/adjectives/order-of-adjectives/

*Grammatically this isn’t a question: either add the word ‘perhaps’ or add the aux to make it a question

[Kerin]

@Mao well done for handing your your assignment 👏

This is a well written essay – I’m impressed. (You can see the ticks in blue parts I really like) The red are corrections. Mostly regarding the use of the article

(You might find this useful: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/articles/)

Vocabulary, structure and fluidity is marvellous 🌸👍

[Kerin]

[Kerin]

Excellent work @Gabriela – really well done.

[Kerin]

That’s good if it came out quickly. It sounds very natural.

Okay, I’m not sure if I totally understand what you are getting at, but I think it’s this. Let’s try:

I’m feeling like I’m getting sucked into weird videos because I’m in over my head in this ….

Is that it?

(In my correction, the meaning is that the video content is what is ‘in over your head’, not the organisation.)

[Kerin]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts @Gabriela

I totally agree with you that Covid has accelerated the digital age (especially in work habits and distance learning) and I think a lot of teachers were (rightly so) unprepared for this.

By the way – this site has some good resources and ideas for teaching online that you might find useful: https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/resources-for-online-teaching-during-coronavirus

I am extremely cautious regarding Cripto Currency and in fact don’t think I even really understand it! I agree 100% with what you say about robots regrading farmers and developing countries.

The technology (and the speed at which things change)it both fascinates and scares me to death!

Some notes:

To make this more natural sounding: We therefore know on what he was quite right and in what respect he was a bit too optimistic > We therefore know what he got more or less right and in what respect he was a bit too optimistic.

Word order: Clearly was the the digital camera a revolution > Clearly the digital camera was a revolution.

Change: The industry of autonomous cars is not there now where he thought it would be in 2020. >The industry of autonomous cars is not exactly where he thought it would be in 2020.

👍🌸

[Kerin]

Morning @chiaramig Wow! This is fabulous! …..and also rather amusing 😂

Excellent work, I’m wondering if that took quite a lot of time?!

Just a few things to iron out, but I’m very impressed 😍

[Kerin]

To help you: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/remember-or-remind

[Kerin]

Sounds amazing! You reminded me of a course I did at University about women writers in the Victorian period. Our teacher always made English tea and scones as we discussed the books. He managed to create such a comfortable atmosphere out of the classroom that we were able to really explore themes without any limits. It was amazing.

Note: This phrase would sound better if you change the word order slightly: In my opinion to be a good teacher is necessary creativity and a lot of imagination

In my opinion creativity and a lot of imagination is necessary to be a good teacher

OR add:

In my opinion in order to be a good teacher, IT is necessary TO HAVE creativity and a lot of imagination

👍