Is Spelling Important?

 I'll  never forget the night my son's seventh grade teacher told  30 parents sitting in her classroom that she did not consider spelling to be important. She had already proved that by misspelling three out of the five words she had written on the blackboard.  

As soon as s soon as she uttered those words, all 30  of us drew in a collective breath of shock. Surely we had not heard this woman say that it did not matter whether or not our children spelled words correctly.  Was she crazy? . How could this woman be a certified teacher . No teacher was going to actively allow our children to b reak rules.  Meeting over, off we marched to the Principal's  office filled with outrage. Luckily, the principal was an expert at dealing with irate parents who cared about their children's education. "Don't worry. I'll have a talk with the teacher," she soothed us. " She's new here. She doesn't quite understand how much we value every aspect of a good education here." 

Needless to say, for the rest of the year our sons and daughters turned in correctly spelled assignments. Today, the majority of them are out there in the world knowing how to communicate exceptionally well, with nary a spelling error.

Spelling in the ESL World 

Here Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey and other cities in the Lower Mainland where thousands of immigrants re learning English as a Second Language, things are a little different. Many students from dozens of countries have major problems with spelling English words, even some of the most basic. A large part of their spelling problems are due to lack of phonics, inability to distinguish between English vowel sounds and syllables in longer words. 

Listening Pronunciation Problem

For many students poor spelling is actually a listening and pronunciation problem. If your language only has five vowel sounds, and English has more than 20, it is quite easy to have problems distinguishing between than  and then.  If you come from the Middle East, where not only do you not have an English alphabet, but you barely have any vowel sounds at all. How then, are you going to spell words that require at least some understanding of phonics.

Spelling Affects Your Reputation

Unfortunately, correct spelling is important for everyone: native speakers, and second language speakers.  Spelling affects your reputation. People judge you by your spelling; your misspelled words will give others reason to doubt that you know what you’re talking about.  No matter what you say, if the spelling is poor, the reader will notice this before anything else. Punctuation errors often go unnoticed, but everyone notices spelling errors. 

Spelling affects your communication – misspelling a word may change the meaning of the entire sentence, depending on which word you’ve misspelled.The importance you put on your spelling depends on how seriously you want to be taken.  

Bad Spelling Can Affect Your Future  

Spell-check doesn’t work all the time, because some misspellings are words themselves, but your readers will notice. If you’re in school, spelling mistakes will lower your grade. Being unable to spell properly can prevent you from getting an important job. If you’re in a business, spelling mistakes may lower your revenue. In either case, spelling mistakes will lower other people’s opinions of your intelligence and abilities.

You cannot place your entire future on the line by not being able to spell. Not only is the ability to spell necessary in most occupations, but a person also needs to be able to spell well in order to be able to communicate and take notes and directions. You could be trying to write someone a note that could possibly save his life, but if the person only sees a note filled with misspelled words, then that person may not be able to comprehend what you’re saying. It’s a stretch, but the message is clear. Spelling is so very important.

 So....what should you do if you are an ESL student with spelling problems?

• Decide that you are going to do something about it rather than complain about it.
• Develop a spelling plan. You can do this on your own, or with your teacher. 
• If you are in an English class, go over everything paragraph or essay you have written  
• Make a list of every single word you have spelled wrong. If you have misspelled it often, add it to your list each time.  
• Check to see if there is a pattern. 
• Do many of your mistakes involve reversing letters? 
• Do other errors involve final endings?
• Do you have a problem with double consonants? 
• Are you skipping a syllable, or a letter in the middle of words? 
• Are you getting the vowels wrong, even in short words? 

Only You Can Do Something About it.

Knowledge is power.Once you and your instructor know what kind of spelling errors you make, you can actively begin to work on them. Learn the basic rules for some of your problems. Learn phonics for others.  Actively memorize entire lists of words every week and have your teacher give you regular spelling tests.

There is no magic. The only way you can improve your spelling, and even become a good speller, or at least a careful one is by  working at it, developing a plan and sticking to it. 
It's up to you.

Let me know what you think.  I appreciate all comments!

Your Assignment: Writing a Comment

Dear students, 

Please read one of the posts and respond with a comment. Your comment should be an opinion abourt the contents of that particular posting. Your comment should be at least five sentences long and should include reasons for your opinion. 

• This is a real assignment designed to see if you can respond to writing in the real world. It will count for marks on  your report card.

• If you do not do it, I will give you an automatic zero. You have been warned. 

• Make sure you spellcheck your comments.  To do this go to the ABC icon at the top of the page and click on it. It will highlight all your spelling mistakes in yellow. If you right click, you will get suggestions about how to spell the word properly. 

• To write your comment, click on the word comment below. A box will open. You can write your comment there. At the bottom where is says Comment as, go the icon where it says NAME/URL. Click on that. You do not need a URL, Just type in your name.

Is the Occupy Wall Street Message Relevant in Canada?

Later today, Saturday October 15th, protesters plan to take to the streets in Vancouver near the courthouse and Art Gallery. At last count, angry citizens in another 14 Canadian cities were planning to do the same thing. Around the world, 1,500 cities are expected to stage protests to show “solidarity” with the American Wall Street protestors, but also to show their own dissatisfaction at how the world economic crisis is being dealt with.

Read the CBC posting and give your own opinion to the question. If you need more background on the Wall Street occupations, simply google Occupy Wall street and you will find hundreds of stories on the situation - both TV stories, and newspaper stories. Stick to Canadian media. The American media plays sides and it will be very difficult to get an "objective" point of view. 

 

 CBC:October 14, 2011 10:21 AM | By Community Team

The Occupy Wall Street protests currently engulfing much of Lower Manhattan will spread to Canada Saturday, with protests planned in cities across the country.

Occupy Wall Street protesters march after learning that they would not be evicted from New York City's Zuccotti Park on Oct. 14. (Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

In the U.S., protesters blame their financial institutions and their corporate policies for the ever-widening gap between rich and poor. They say all but the wealthiest Americans - one per cent of the population - have endured since the 2008 financial meltdown.

The financial situation is different in Canada, however, where banks are regulated by the federal government.

"In Canada, you do not have a banking crisis because you did not tear down the walls between commercial and investment banks and turn all of your banks into hedge funds," U.S. author and journalist Chris Hedges said on the Lang and O'Leary Exchange .

But Occupy Canada protesters present themselves as being "in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street."

"This isn't your movement or my movement, this is OUR movement. This is 'We the People,'" the group's Facebook page says, referring to the first three words of the U.S. Constitution.

Is the Occupy Wall Street message relevant in Canada, do you think? Why or why not? What issues should Canadian protesters focus on that might be unique to this country? 

So, students of mine in particular, but anyone else who is interested ....What is YOUR opinion. What is your response to the question above. Let me know by commenting below.

Click on the comment box. Write your opinion. Go down to the bottom where it says NAME/URL . Leave your name. You do not have to have a URL. You can however, leave your email address if you wish.

How to Improve Your Listening: Listen to Podcasts

Last week several of my students told me they really wanted to improve their listening, but  didn't have many opportunities to listen to English outside of class. They said they worked in a non-English environment, or worked completely alone. 

Listen to English Podcasts 

I told them  listening to English podcasts on an iPod, or mp3 player was probably the best way I knew they could improve their English listening skills very quickly.

What is a podcast?
A podcast is an audio file that you download from the Internet. After you download it, you can listen to it on your computer or on an MP3/portable music player (for example, an iPod or iRiver). You can subscribe to a podcast so that it is delivered to you automatically each day, just like a newspaper.

Create your own Playlists 

The wonderful thing about iPods is that you can create your own playlists. This means that you are not stuck listening to one specific program all day long. Depending on your mood, you can listen to a specific ESL podcast on how to list your abilities in a job interview, a 20 minute news show, 20 minutes of English songs, and finally a half hour radio show that you enjoy. Finally, you can even listen to a very funny show in which two guys talk about cars.  

Thousands of  choices

There are thousands of podcasts on the Internet, just waiting for you to listen to. Many of these include ESL podcasts designed and prepared by English teachers. Many others include normal programs that advanced students can probably enjoy. I have included some links to podcasts on the right hand side. Look for Podcasts. You can listen to an  endless variety of topics: sports, arts and crafts, business, finance, education, family, children politics, economics, books, just to name a few. All you have to do is become familiar with what is out there, download what you like and create your own playlist for your iPod.  You can play your podcasts when you are going for a walk, riding the bus, working in the backroom at work,cutting the grass, or simply sitting on a park bench.  

Instant Replay: You're In Control 

Unlike the old days when you had no control over what you were listening to, you are now in the driver's seat. If you don't completely understand something, you can play it again. If you only understand 35 per cent the first time, listen again and boost your comprehension to 50%, or 70%  The more you play, the more you will understand. You will gradually begin to understand that you do not need to know every word in order to get the point.

Improve your Vocabulary 

Of course, the more you listen to specific topics, particularly the news, the more your vocabulary will improve.  News vocabulary tends to fall into categories: environment, politics, crime, weather, disasters, the economy.  Reporters usually use the same words in  these stories. When you build news listening into your iPod listening playlist, you will hear the same vocabulary frequently repeated. You can't help but start to remember them. 

Get Comfortable with the Rythem and Sound of English 

Another wonderful benefit of listening to different podcasts, news and music on your iPod 

is that you will start feeling much more at ease with the sound and rhythm of English.  Some of the fast English you previously found difficult will seem clearer and easier to understand. If you are really motivated, singing along with the music will help both your vocabulary and your pronunciation. 

I hope I've sold you on the benefits of creating your own English podcast playlists. They definitely can help you.  

Here are a few podcast lists to get you started. Don't forget. There are many more.  

Canada Podcasts-

CBC :Podcasting
Large List of ESL Podcasts

Rong Chang's Podcast List
VOA Special English :Podcasts



Please let me know if this is helpful. Your feedback is important to me.

Time for a Laugh

Hi there. I hope some of you tried to have a Canadian Thanksgiving.I know some of my students were planning to try cooking turkey for the first time. I'm looking forward to hearing all about it. Our turkey was so good it practically melted in our mouth.  We all ate too much, drank too much, told too many jokes. I laughed more than I have in a long time and realized how much I enjoyed laughing. Research keeps telling us how good laughter is for us, and yet none of us laugh much. Even when we do, it is never long, deep or hard enough.

Laugh of the Day: 

Here is a two minute podcast that will hopefully make you laugh. I just came across it, listened, laughed and thought it was too good not to share. CBC Radio features a lot of great shows, many of which become podcasts. Laugh of the Day features a two minute segment from a a comedian' performing  for a live audience. Listen to Jim McNally talk about Thanksgiving if you want a taste of real Canadian humour. Try playing it a few times. I hope you enjoy it. There are many more two minutes laugh of the day segments. Try them out to see if you "get" any of the humour. 

CBC Laugh Of the Day Thanksgiving 

Baby Ha Ha Ha  

While  I'm on the subject, try watching this short video of a baby laughing. Let me know if you think laughter isn't contagious. That means you can catch it from others - like a cold.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! Anyone living in Canada knows that Thanksgiving here in Canada is on the second Monday of October. That is tomorrow although many Canadians, including my own family, celebrate on Sunday. This year my son and daughter are coming over for dinner for a very traditional feast of turkey, stuffing, cranberries, mashed potatoes, yams and other vegetables. It is a very heavy meal that makes everyone feel sleepy, so I'm glad we only eat it twice a year, on Thanksgiving an d Christmas Day. I have suggested abandoning the big turkey dinner, but my children, who are now working adults, insist on the tradition of the turkey dinner with all the "trimmings," so I told them next year, it's their turn to invite my husband and I over for Thanksgiving at their house. 

If you want to know more about the story of Canadian Thanksgiving go to the Reading Pages and click on Thanksgiving.

 

Did you know that many countries have Thanksgiving? Those countries are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, Liberia, Switzerland, India  and the United States.
The tradition of declaring a special day or period for giving thanks is an ancient one. It dates far back to the time when our ancestors hoped that an showy display of gratitude would  help calm down their often irritable gods. This great feast of thanks would ensure continued prosperity and good crops in the future. However, these days of thanksgiving were also occasions for celebrating the year's plenty with feasts and joyful gatherings. The thanksgiving celebrations of the ancient Greeks took the form of an annual fall festival, during which offerings were made to Demeter, the goddess of corn. Every October the Romans held a harvest festival called Cerelia, in praise of Ceres (Demeter's Roman counterpart) which included games, parades and a feast. The Jewish harvest festival, Sukkoth, is still celebrated every autumn as it has been for 3000 years.

Proclaiming days of Thanksgiving for various reasons - success in war, a bounteous harvest, the recovery of a king from illness - was part of European tradition for centuries, but it has also been celebrated in the east, and in Africa for much the same reason. Of course, the day itself may not be called Thanksgiving, but the purpose is very similar to thank the gods for a good year and a good harvest. If you want to know more about Thanksgiving around the world, go to the Reading page and click on the link. 

 If you want to learn more about how to cook a perfect turkey watch the following video. It even has comprehension questions.

How to cook a Thanksgiving Turkey

Goodbye to Steve Jobs

One of my heroes died yesterday. Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple and a man who enriched the lives of billions of people around the world, died at 56. 

Now, people like me rarely choose heads of multi-million dollar corporations as heroes. But Steve Jobs was so much more than that. Jobs was a man of extraordinary vision, drive and success. He was a man who  revolutionized technology through his design, marketing and creation of personal computers and mobile devices introducing us to laptops, iPods and i Phones and iPads. He was also the man who focused on creating things that were so user friendly and simple that even a 65 year could learn how to use them quickly.  My own mother is a case in point. She first learned how to type at the age of 65 on an Apple computer. She then moved on to laptops. As soon as she hear about the iPod, she became an instant fan. I will never forget the day when at  the age of 78,  she lined up at 6:00 in the morning just to make sure she got one of the first IPods on the market.  Mr Jobs certainly touched her life. 

Steve Jobs had a fascinating life, and millions have already signed up to buy his biography, which has not even been written yet, But suffice to say He was a man of passion who did what  he loved, what he believed in, and who stood by his own belief in that work.

One of his most memorable speeches, given to graduating students at Stanford, forever changed how I felt about my own work and life. I am intense person, passionate about what I do, but other have often criticized me for being too intense, and too passionate about it. I love my job, and will always believe that it is great work that requires great commitment. After watching Steve Job's commencement speech on You Tube some time ago, I no longer feel that I have to apologize for being such a passionate teacher.  

Here are a few quotes from that famous speech.

On life:

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." (Steve Jobs, 2005)

On work:

"I didn't see it then, but getting fired from Apple was one of the best things that ever happened to me." (Steve Jobs, 2005)
"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle." (Steve Jobs, 2005)

On "Death"

 Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new." (Steve Jobs, 2005)

"When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: ‘If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.' It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure -- these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." (Steve Jobs, 2005) 

Here is the entire speech: