A Look At What Is The Difference Between Business English And Literary English
April 12, 2010 by Adriana Noton
Filed under Online Colleges
Language is used differently depending on what it is being used for, and at which audience it is aimed. Normal, everyday language between small sets of people is fundamentally different from sophisticated language that is reaching a larger group of people. Even within formal language, there are many different groupings depending on what is being discussed. This is true in all languages, so in English, we need to ask what is the difference between business English and literary English.
The two forms of English can be defined as follows. In English used for business, the English language is being used for a very practical purpose; that is, making money. This form is concerned with commercial affairs. English that is literary in nature can be regarded almost as the opposite of this. It focuses on artistic or idealistic matters, and is not interested in money matters.
Since the people who use business English are talking about money, the vocabulary they use will mostly consist of words describing financial affairs. They might use many technical terms from accounting and economics that the average person would not understand. On the other hand, literary English will not have most of these words, but it will use a larger diction since its sphere of influence is wider, and therefore needs more words to describe more things.
The styles will also be different. Literary forms of English are more flowery and ornate, and the sentences are often longer. Not only is what it says important, but how it is said is also worthy of attention.
In contrast, students educated by a business English course will use sentences that are short and to the point. Literary English users will mainly be native speakers of English, or if English is not their mother tongue, they will have spent many years studying it in order to acquire an advanced facility in it. On the other hand, because these days business is more global than in the past, many users of business English lessons will only have a basic familiarity with it and might only be able to understand it and carry on a rudimentary conversation. It will be easier to use, since many of its users are not well-experienced in the English language.
English used to describe financial affairs will use more statistics and figures, and is more analytical in nature. It seeks to describe something, or if it is argumentative it will build its case using hard data. Expect to see a lot of numbers in it. In literary English, numbers rarely appear. It is more subjective, and works more on an emotional level.
There has been an increase in the use of both kinds of English over the past century, and this increase will likely increase. The global nature of the world economy means that people from all corners of the globe must be able to communicate to do business with each other, and because English is so widespread, English for business purposes will be widely used. As well, worldwide interest in the English arts and in the popular arts — especially mass media such as movies and television — will promote the dissemination of literary versions of English.
English is the world’s leading popular language. People will continue to be interested in it for business purposes as well as for expressing non-practical matters.
This reputable educational institution offers English classes for students of all levels. Our staff team is dedicated to helping you build vocabulary, understand grammar, and learn communication skills through lesson English.
Biggest Obstacles When Learning English
May 10, 2009 by A Nutt
Filed under Online Colleges
There are an estimated 6, 000 languages spoken throughout the world. With so many languages, it may surprise many to learn that learning the English language can be one of the more difficult tasks. There are a number of reasons why students encounter obstacles when they are learning English.
Pronunciation: The English language has no exact pronunciation. Some words contain ‘silent’ letters which means they are not spoken. Some letters may be pronounced differently such as ‘ah’ for ‘A’. Other languages such as the German language vocalize every letter and have only one pronunciation. How the stress is placed on certain German consonants or vowels can make English such a difficult language to learn. There are hard and soft consonants like ‘c’ taking on a ‘k’ sound which depends on the context of which they are spoken. There are silent letters in some words and there are some consonants that when put together will project an entirely different sound. (i.e.th) The odd combinations and changing rules in the pronunciation of words makes English much more difficult to learn.
Grammar: The succession of nouns, adjectives, and adverbs has their own particular order for the many different languages in the world. With the English language, the order can vary. For instance, Chinese learners tend to write indirect sentences. For example: “The boy was bitten by the neighbour’s dog.” instead of “The neighbour’s dog bit the boy.” To write proper sentences and passages, English learners have to learn a new and different way of using grammar. Assimilating English into a conversation can be difficult because learners have to use different sentence structures than their native language.
Verb Tense: Some languages have very narrow connotations of verb tense. Often the use of present and past verb tense can make learning English quite complicated. For instance, in certain situations, it may be appropriate to use any of the following tenses: present; past; and future. The verb ‘sing’ can be used in the following forms depending on tense: sing, sang, or sung.
Learning Tools: Many students are only taught to learn from books so they do not have the chance to practice the speaking language. They tend to lack the confidence when they try to speak the English language in public. Reading aloud can help them improve their English speaking abilities
Slang: The use of slang is common in the English language. Words, terms, and phrases do not have the same meaning that they would normally have in a dictionary definition. Learning the language requires learning the use of slang which means understanding that different slang terms make English an almost entirely different language that has to be learned. Sometimes terms that are used are not even found in the English dictionary. This can make difficult for someone not familiar with the language. This is where television, movies, magazines, and the radio become helpful tools when learning the language.
Gender and Culture: A persons cultural practices can affect their ability to learn English. For instance, in some cultures a woman tends to be the one to stay home and raise the children. They are less likely to be interacting with English speakers unlike a man who would be out in the workforce interacting with English speakers.
The English language is one of the most widely spoken languages. The inability to speak or understand the native English language can seem frustrating. Although the complexities of learning the language may seem overwhelming, the benefits are well worth the effort. Reading, speaking, and listening to others speak English are an important part of learning the language.
Advantages of Teaching English in another Country
May 3, 2009 by A Nutt
Filed under Online Colleges
Teaching English in a foreign country can be both a challenge and rewarding experience. There are a number of benefits to sharing ones knowledge of the English language in another country. The following is a list of the many advantages of teaching English abroad:
Living and teaching in a foreign country allows you lo learn and absorb another culture. It is a rewarding way of learning about the language, customs, and history of another country. You will gain valuable insight into the lives of regular citizens and experience their various holidays, festivals, cultural events, and food. You will most likely be living in an apartment or renting home so you will be immersed in the culture performing such tasks grocery shopping, taking public transit, eating in various dining establishments, and engaging in various local activities.
It is a rewarding experience to help others learn English. Students will also gain a better understanding of your own culture. They will learn about your customs and practices as well as other activities they would not learn from a textbook.
It looks great on resume format. It helps improve organization skills, interpersonal skills, and management skills. It also shows prospective employers that you are flexible, willing to try new things, accepting of other cultures, and you have the ability to adapt to a new environment. .Knowledge of another language is a definite asset in the workplace.
You will likely bond with your students and make long lasting friendships. You will witness a positive difference that you make in the lives of your students.
Training to be a foreign English teacher is not a difficult process. A Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate (TESL) usually takes about 100 hours to complete. The certificate program is relatively inexpensive and after completion, most schools will help you locate the appropriate teaching position.
If you want to see the world, teaching English abroad is a great career choice. You will be able to travel throughout the country and visit various cultural and historical places. It is a fun way to learn. Paid teaching positions also provide an inexpensive way to travel to a different country.
Wherever you teach, you will meet other teachers that will help you overcome any culture shock issues. Your coworkers will speak English so you will not have to worry about having problems communicating.
English teachers are in great demand in many countries around the world. To be a successful foreign English teacher, you must be independent and self-sufficient. You must also have great interpersonal skills that will help you adapt to a new environment. Teaching the English language to students in another country can be rewarding and a fun way to earn a living. You will be representing your country and culture so students will be eager to learn from you. Having an open mind will allow you to experience life in your new country personally and the chances are great that you will feel right at home.
Teaching English in a foreign country has become a popular choice for both young people and older adults. For many people, teaching English in another country is a job that they do for only a year or two. However, there are other teachers who make it a life long career traveling to a variety of countries for a specified period of time. These teachers make a good living and provide for their families. Those who have experienced life as an ESL teacher come away with experiences that last a lifetime.
English: Should You Lose the Accent?
April 16, 2009 by A Nutt
Filed under Online Colleges
When learning English as a second language, many students feel that they have failed if they dont speak it flawlessly and without an accent. The simple truth is, however, that the majority of ESL students will not be able to completely get rid of their accent in English without many years of hard work. If you are able to speak clearly and have others understand you, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with having an accent.
What IS Important
Being able to speak like a native doesnt necessarily mean that youll be accent free. In fact, your accent could be just what you need to set your voice apart from millions of others. But there are a few things that you do need to know if you are serious about speaking the language well.
Avoid common mispronunciations. This varies depending on your mother tongue, but most people have some set pronunciations that can cause problems in English. For example, most adult Asians pronounce the letter “r” as “l”. Spanish speakers will usually say “b” for the letter “v”. If you know what your particular mispronunciations are, you can be conscious of them and make a real effort not to say these sounds wrong. This will make your English far more understandable. Children will have less of a problem with this than adults.
Enunciate. In your rush to speak English like a native, you may try to speed up, but this can make it hard for people to understand you. Slow down a little and make sure you say each word clearly and there will be far less chance of misunderstanding. You can practice your enunciation, as well. This doesnt mean that you need to get rid of your accent, only that you need to speak clearly so everyone will understand what you have said . . . this is something that many native English speakers also have problems with. Increase your vocabulary. Its far easier to express yourself if you know what words to use. This basically means you need to do a lot of studying and reading. Watching movies and television shows in
English can also help with building vocabulary, as well as improving your accent. Speaking with others is another method of learning new words, as long as you are with someone you feel comfortable asking the definition from. Otherwise, get in the practice of carrying a small pocket English dictionary with you that you can use in your daily practice.
Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the better youll get at speaking English. That means striking up conversations with strangers, calling up friends on the phone to speak English (phones can be difficult, but are excellent practice for speaking clearly), and getting in as much conversation time as possible. Many English students even hire someone to converse with them, but you should be able to find plenty of people who are happy to just have a conversation.
If you really do wish to reduce your accent, then there are specialists who help people with this. A speech therapist will be able to help you move your mouth differently than you are accustomed to and help you correct the more common pronunciation problems so that you will be able to speak more like a native speaker.
Speaking English well takes time and practice. Theres no instant method for picking up a new language perfectly and while you may want to work on speaking more like a native, it isnt necessary. In fact, you may find that many people enjoy listening to an accent, as long as you are able to speak clearly and be understood.
Learning English with Native Speaker Teachers
April 2, 2009 by Amy Nutt
Filed under Online Colleges
Learning English can seem like a complicated and time consuming task. Understanding English slang, and how native English speakers engage in conversation, is something that cannot be learned in a text book. Learning English from a native speaker teacher has a number of advantages. Although there can be miscommunication regarding culture and customs, native speaker teachers can make it easier to learn and understand the English language.
The advantages of learning English with nat”ve speaker teachers include:
1. Authentic Learning: A student will be exposed to the authentic English language. Through learning activities such as games, students will learn about the culture and how to speak like a native speaker. This includes the use of slang and accents. Students will be able to engage in real and regular conversations that English speakers use every day.
2. Pronunciation and Language Use: Native speaker teachers provide a natural way of learning English words and grammar. Students will learn how to properly pronounce words and phrases. They will also learn how to speak and write using proper grammar and vocabulary. They can provide instant and accurate feedback to help students overcome bad speech patterns. . For instance, if a student pronounces a word ate but means to say hate, a teacher will provide proper enunciation of the letter h. Many words look the same but are pronounced differently. Phrases such as “I have read that magazine,” and “I like to read are good examples. These types of words can be confusing for a student learning English. A native speaker teacher will understand the background and meaning of the words.
3. Cultural Questions: Because the English language is often integrated within a culture, native speaker teachers are able to provide answers to questions about customs or cultural practices that may come up during class.
4. Grammar: People whose native tongue is English are quick to catch grammar errors. For instance, a phrase such as will not to tell is a grammar mistake a teacher will pick up on every time. They will provide positive feedback to help a student learn to say will not tell. After a series of positive feedback sessions, students will begin to monitor themselves and catch their own mistakes and correct them.
5. English Conversations: By conversing with native speakers, a student of English will be able to pick up on the meaning of phrases and the teacher will be able to make sure the student is applying the proper meaning of the words and phrases they use. The English teacher can explain why a phrase is spoken in a certain way.
6. Verbs: Some English verb phrases can be very confusing. A teacher can explain phrases like come up with or checking in on much more easily. There are also many irregular verbs used in the English language. Rules for such verbs as sing, sang, and sung can be difficult to comprehend. A teacher who is fluent in English can make these rules regarding irregular verbs easier to understand.
7. Strange Vocabulary: Explaining the difference between such phrases and words as wise man and wise guy can be difficult. The teacher will have an easier time explaining types of words that seem illogical to a student.
English is not the most complex language in the world, but it can be one of the most difficult to learn. Native speaker teachers will have the experience of speaking the language and have a better and less complicated way of providing explanations. When implemented correctly, teaching English to foreign students can be rewarding and enjoyable for both the teacher and the students.
Common Mistakes When Writing a Resume
March 10, 2009 by A Nutt
Filed under Online Colleges
With so many people competing for jobs, employers are finding themselves swamped with stacks of resumes. Employers are now looking for resumes that standout from the pile. The key to landing a job interview is to present a strong and effective resume. A resume that is filled with errors will only end up in the waste basket. The following is a list of common mistakes people make when writing a resume:
1) No Cover Letter: Employers want to see a cover letter with a resume. A cover letter is your introduction and summarizes your job intentions.
2) Typing Errors: A resume with typos and grammatical errors will make an employer think that you do not pay attention to details. A computer spell check does not always pick up every mistake. Proofread your resume and then have a friend read it.
3) Disorganized Content: It is important to list the most important information at the top of the resume. Experience and employment history are the most important parts of the resume. Your hobbies should be placed near the end of the resume. Make sure your information is easy to read. Filter out information that is not relevant to the job.
4) Unprofessional email address: Email addresses should not be amateurish. For instance, happyguy104@hotmail.com is not appropriate. A better email would be JohnDoe@hotmail.com.
5) Layout Lacking Consistency: You should have equal spacing between headings. Your margins should be equal. Include dates on your resume. A recommended font size is 11 or 12. When using verbs, make sure you are using the correct verb tense. Use different action verbs when highlighting your skills. Do not use abbreviations or contractions.
6) Unclear Focus: Your resume should be written to match your experience and education with the job you are seeking. You want the employer to think that you are the best person for the job.
7) Boring Content: Your resume should tell a mini story about your experience and education. Dont just list your duties. Highlight valuable experience to show why you should be chosen for the job. Do not use phrases such as responsibilities included or duties included.
Lacking Extracurricular Activities: Employers want to read about additional activities such as certificates of achievement, training, volunteer experience, and awards. This will show employers that you are out going and well-rounded. When listing your achievements, make sure you emphasize the results of your work.
9) Key skills Do Not Stand Out: Use a format such as bullets to highlight skills the employer will like. You want to show the employer that you will be an asset to the business.
10) Inappropriate Personal Information: Dont put in personal information such as gender and age. Do not include a picture of yourself. . Keep your personal and professional life separate in order to be taken seriously.
11) Inaccurate Information: It is important that you do not lie or embellish. It would be embarrassing if you were caught lying. Your resume should be truthful.
12) Job Experience Too Old: It is important not to go back too far when listing your employment experience. If you are older, employers will not want to see what summer job you had in high school.
A resume is the entryway to a job interview. It is important to understand that your resume is a marketing tool, not an autobiography. Make your resume an interesting read. A resume should be written so that it is focused on the job position. When you write a professional resume that stands out from the others in the pile, you will have a better chance of getting your dream job.
Foreign Accent: Is It Part of Your Identity?
February 21, 2009 by Amy Nutt
Filed under Online Colleges
If you have a foreign accent, you probably have a love/hate relationship with it. On one hand, you know that your accent is a part of who you are and points back to your country of origin, a place you likely have fond memories of. On the other hand, your accent can cause you to stand out, and some people have a difficult time understanding you when you speak if your accent is quite heavy. Before you work too hard to remove your accent, consider the fact that it could become a positive part of your identity with a little work.
What Causes Your Accent
As you learn English, you are learning not only vocabulary and grammar, but also the sounds of the language. This is why you spend so much time imitating sounds and speaking the language out loud. A lot of practice makes your pronunciation much more clear, but you can struggle with some sounds. This is because your native tongue does not have some of the sounds the English language has. This is no different than the struggles a native English speaker would have when trying to learn your language. As an adult, your mouth has been trained to form certain sounds and not others, and the sounds of your native tongue carry over into your English speech. This is why it is so difficult to completely remove an accent, because it is literally a part of the person that you are.
Benefits of Having an Accent
Your accent is part of who you are. Many people across the world find foreign accents quite beautiful. Some actors and actresses are chosen for major film roles just for their accent or ability to portray an accent. Accents sound romantic and exotic to the listener in many situations.
In some ways, having an accent can make you stand out in a beneficial way. People notice you when you speak because of the beautiful way your accent sounds. This can sometimes cause you to get noticed.
Downsides to Having an Accent
Having a foreign accent is something that is a part of who you are, but there are potential downsides to it as well. If your accent is thick, it may be difficult for other people to understand you when you speak English. This can lead to other problems.
For example, if you are being considered for a job where your verbal communication skills will come into play, you may be overlooked in favor of someone who can speak clearer English. You may be overlooked simply because the potential employer has difficulty understanding you, even if your English-speaking ability will not come into play in the job. While this is discrimination in a way, there is little you can do about it, because it is difficult to prove.
How to Approach an Accent
Your accent makes you unique, but if it is causing trouble for you, you may want to do something about it. The good news is that you do not have to get rid of your accent altogether if you wish to improve your speaking ability. Remember, your accent is not a bad thing. It is a part of your identity.
What you can do to improve your ability to communicate is work on the strength of your accent. You can actually enroll in courses that will help you form the sounds that you are struggling with when speaking English. This will help you keep your accent while making your English a bit easier for others to understand. In this way, you can avoid any of the negatives that come with having a foreign accent, while using the accent to create your own unique identity.






