How do you explain the comma? What is it for and how is it used?
One of the easiest ways, is to say that is used in writing to reflect the pause you would use when speaking. Although that is simplistic, it does deal with the matter quite effectively.
Please click on the image below to read a very well-written article outlining 10 main uses of this punctuation mark.
I am on holiday now until 03 June, so see you soon.
What do you do? Do you think of things, do you innovate? Or do you make things perhaps? The chances are your work means you are not just one type, but have a mixture of skill sets, characteristics, strengths (and weaknesses).
Click on the image below to read an interesting article by Lou Adler. He says there are only four different types of job. Read the article and then consider yourself and your colleagues – what type or types are you?
As regular readers will know I am a big fan of Sir Ken Robinson and his views on education. I share his opinion that much of what happens harks back the Victorian era, the need to produce a large-scale workforce with skills specific to those times and in keeping with the resources available in that period of history.
When I found out he had spoken again recently at TED, I was keen to hear what he had to say. I was not disappointed…
Please click on the image below to listen to his presentation. There are no comprehension questions – just listen and think about what he has to say.
What’s the future? The future of business more precisely. A topic discussed in the new book from Brian Solis of Altimeter.
Personally I have been giving a great deal of thought to this in terms of the language school industry. So much of what happens tends to be rooted in traditional models, most probably created by Generation X thinking, but meant to appeal to Generation Y tastes.
By clicking on the image below you can read a little more about Brian’s views and I was particularly interested by the notion of Generation C – digitally engaged people not grouped so much by age, but instead more by attitude and lifestyle.
The whole idea of a user experience, the power of connectivity and the strength of social media all rang bells. What about you – what generation are you and what do you think the future holds?
Following on from the musical theme of yesterday’s post, we have the Eurovision song contest tomorrow. This will be broadcast live from Malmo and in many ways is no longer a song contest (Ding-a-dong won in 1975), but more a chance for subtle and not so subtle political statements to be made.
Do you watch this competition? Will Cyprus and Greece give each other the maximum 12 points? Does it matter?
Does singing your song in English improve the chances of winning as a larger audience will understand the words, or is it better to use your own language to gain the votes?
Click on the image below to read about and listen to songs from the Eurovision for endangered languages and perhaps hear a song in Breton or even Sami.
I often see lists with titles like ’50 places to visit before you die’ and ’20 pasta dishes to try before you’re 50′.
Then I saw ’1000 songs everyone must hear’ in the Guardian and I was surprised by some of the choices.
I asked some of the people I work with for their Top 10 lists for songs they think everyone should hear at least once in their lives. It might be because it has personal significance, it might have been groundbreaking or it might simply have been a great piece of music.
There is no right or wrong, these are personal opinions, but it creates some interesting lists and some fantastic listening as well.
Click on the picture below to see this list and copy and paste the links to listen to the songs. Do any of the choices surprise you? Now we have shared with you, what about your favourites – can you create a top 10 as well?
You can also click here to download our list - Top 10 songs
Do you care if people like you? Does it matter or is getting the job done more important?
In business is being liked a sign of weakness and people will take advantage of you?
Or do people enjoy working with/for someone they like (and of course respect professionally)? Don’t people who enjoy their work tend to be more productive?
Click on the image (kittens are always likeable) below to read an article on this topic and to try a likeability quiz. Was your score as you expected?
We all have decisions to make and problems to solve. There are times when it isn’t easy for a number of different factors including lack of data, lack of time and sometimes lack of incentive.
However, by applying critical thinking skills to the process, you can become far more effective at dealing with these situations.
Click on the slinkachu image below (I think the Little People Project is brilliant) to read a short article with some great tips.
15,000 years ago there were worms. Not only were there worms, but we were calling them worms.
Researchers at Reading University have uncovered 23 such words. These words are ‘ultraconserved’ meaning that have remained the same for a very, very long time.
A cognate is a word that sounds and means the same in different languages. Please click on the image below to see these ancient words and hear them spoken.
Would you say that the Kartvelian pronunciation of the verb ‘to spit’ is onomatopoeic?
I have already done posts for the other days of the week over the last year or so with just the weekend remaining. For those who might doubt me you can see them here -
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (which was a bit depressing), Thursday (which was tricky) and then, as you might have guessed by now, Friday.
Now it is the turn of Saturday and I will start off with a poem that reminds me of my son when they are doing ‘exciting writing’ at school.
However, let’s not dwell on the chores of the week- click on the image below of someone who has just realised there is no ‘exciting writing’ on Saturdays and listen to the song…
