Archive for December, 2017
Top 10 English Blogs of 2017 Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 28, 2017
2017 was a busy year for us at the English Language Blog. We covered a wide range of topics from studies of literary figures like Agatha Christie and Henry David Thoreau to the vocabulary of spies and how to properly write about time. Still, what we always like to know is what you wanted…
48 Hours in Singapore (Part One) Posted by sasha on Dec 27, 2017
Did you know that one of the official languages in Singapore is actually English? This small city-state in Southeast Asia is a fascinating place to visit, and you don’t even need to worry about language barriers if you speak English! We’re going to show you what to do with 48 hours in Singapore. In Part…
Songs of the Season – The Christmas Song Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 21, 2017
Of all the songs of the holiday season which belong in The Great American Songbook, one is unique for not being known by its actual title. When jazz singer/songwriter Mel Tormé composed The Christmas Song, he could not have imagined that its opening line would be mistaken for the song title. And yet, far more…
Christmas Karaoke Posted by sasha on Dec 18, 2017
Listening to music is a great way to learn a language. It also teaches us about the culture of a country or region. With Christmas fast approaching, there are Christmas carols playing all around the world. If you’re an ESL learner, these traditional songs can provide a fun and entertaining way for you to practice…
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 14, 2017
I have a very personal connection to one particular song of the holiday season. 25 years ago, I directed a stage production of Meet Me in St. Louis, a classic film about a family in Missouri at the turn of the 20th century. It was a huge undertaking, spanning several months of planning…
Songs of the Season: White Christmas Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 8, 2017
I don’t know about you, but for me, the best thing about the holiday season is probably the music. There’s something for everybody, from choral to jazz to carols from all around the world. You might hear Kwanzaa chants or Chanukah songs for all ages. But, of course, in English-speaking countries, the most common songs…
English Phrases and Idioms With “Catch” Posted by sasha on Dec 6, 2017
English can be a confusing language. There are so many words in English that can have different meanings depending on the context. Add in slang and idioms, and ESL learners can often find themselves quite confused even though they know the meaning of a word on its own. In this post, we’ll look at some…