Sharing Wisdom

“You can never be overdressed or overeducated”, once said Oscar Wilde. These few but significant words make us believe that a proper education is the answer to everything. Personally I fully agree with this quotation because by receiving an education, people obtain the knowledge, skills and training that are necessary to succeed in life. The author also thinks highly of being well dressed. The way we present ourselves to the public is obviously essential in producing a respectful impression.

          But knowing Oscar Wilde as an infamously fabulous satirist, we should take a closer look at the quotation to understand its sarcasm. The writer seems to look down on those who would overdress so as to appear to be better than others, and purposefully loops overdressing in with those who overeducate themselves and think, therefore, that they are better than those who have low literacy skills.

          It’s undeniable that with an advanced education you have more choices in your life in comparison with illiterate people. But similarly, you have more chances for self-improvement. Why not use them to make a difference for your community and help the society develop into a better place? Only in this way, education gives significance to life and real satisfaction.

Vocabulary Sci-Fi

Dear Alex,

            Thanks a lot for your letter. It was really amazing to hear from you and learn about your school life. To tell you the truth, it’s but a miracle that we’ve come into contact with each other! Perhaps only in the wildest dream could I face the prospect of communicating with a person from the past. It came as quite a surprise for me that our lives are so different because 30 years that divide us is rather a short period, isn’t it? How difficult it must be for you to master a foreign language using only textbooks, printed dictionaries, tape recorders and records! I’m afraid to sound impolite but, in contrast with you, we are at an advantage in this respond. Judge for yourself – having the access to the Internet (a virtual network connecting computers worldwide) we are able to get hold of people whose mother tongue is English or who just excel at it. You can opt for whatever you need – writing email letters, talking business or having a small talk, even talking non-stop and communicating face to face via a special Skype program.

            What is more, there is a wide range of sites (so to say, “pages” in the Internet) conductive to learning a language. For instance, if you have difficulties in learning different collocations, you can easily visualize your vocabulary by creating word clouds on the site “wordle” and benefit from absorbing new information. Have a look, this is my word cloud with the word “speak”:

            For using synonyms correctly, you can create a word map on the site "graphwords" with different meaning fields. Here’s the one for the word “access”:

            If you are in the nick of time but have to memorise new words, then the site “Quizlet” is the best choice. It will enable you to create a flashcard set of words which you can learn either by playing games or taking tests. This is the one I’ve just made: http://quizlet.com/49789783/theatre-for-the-deaf-flash-cards/

            When I feel unsure about using a particular word in the sentence or doubt about its appropriate context, I turn to the “fraze-it” site. Here you can easily choose any collocation and find various topics related to it. As an example let us take the phrase “tell the difference” and limit its context to the topic “education”:

They're attracted to the fruity flavors such as grape, green apple and strawberry, she said. Meanwhile, the colorful packages resemble popular candy containers and wrappers, such as the green Mike and Ike box and the shiny Fruit Roll-ups pouch, she added. It can be difficult for parents and school officials to tell the difference. A statewide effort is under way to limit the sale of these products.

            If only you had the opportunity to use all these methods! You would easily advance too far. Nevertheless, even using traditional books containing texts and grammar modules is good enough to practice reading and writing skills, and to get a base in essential grammar and vocabulary. But you’ll definitely need extra listening and speaking practice. Then try to watch more films and videos or listen to radio programs with native speakers. This will also help you not to be out of touch with current affairs in English-speaking countries and be aware of their culture. Why not start writing letters to a peer whose first language is English? By the way, I can find some addresses for you via the Internet. My last advice: whatever ways of learning English you choose, try to fit them into your daily routine.

            Please, speak your mind and don’t lose touch with me. I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours,

Yulia. 

A HEART-TO-HEART CONVERSATION

(a fairytale)

            Once upon a time, in a large empty classroom there met two Dictionaries, Longman and Oxford, and started a conversation. “Nice to see a familiar face! How are you getting on, Oxey? It is great honour for me to see you after such a long time,” Longman said.

            A year ago they used to be neighbours on a bookstore shelf, both so noticeable and reputable that the rest of the books envied them, awaiting for their future owners to share their proficient knowledge with. They counted days then to the beginning of a new academic year at the university when dozens of freshers were supposed to buy them. As soon as this happened in early September they lost touch with each other facing no prospect of meeting again.

            But small is the world! Left by their owners, now sophomores, on the desk in one of the classrooms during the long break, the Dictionaries got a nice chance of talking heart-to-heart. “There is nothing to boast about,” replied Oxford, ready to make a confession. “My main concern is unforgivable pointlessness in studies of my owner and his heartless attitude to me. He makes no real efforts in learning the word treasures and uses me mostly as a place mat to put hot cups on. Several times I was split coffee, tea and juice on, which caused extensive damage to my pages. Look, how stained my cover is! I am even afraid to go up in flames one day after using me as an ashtray for putting cigarettes out. In a word, I live in utter chaos, feeling completely useless and defenseless.”

            Longman’s reaction was quite emotive, ”How severe your owner is! I propose that such students should be expelled from the university; they are nothing but a real eyesore for the Academy community, aren’t they? And I assure you that sooner or later he will.”

            “Well, that’s enough about him. Do me a favour, Longey, and tell a few words about yourself.”

 “Oh, my life is entirely different,” started Oxford, his voice sounding apologetic. “My owner does no such thing as yours. I’m used and kept in a proper way. No wonder, I’ve helped him to excel in mastering English. As a result, he is second to none at the Vocabulary Expanding classes now.”

            “Great! Your relations are sure to be a classic example of true friendship,” summed up Oxford and started to recite Barbara Walker’s “Book Look” poem. At that very moment the bell rang and a group of students rushed into the classroom listening with astonishment to the speaking Dictionary,

“Since books are friends,
They need much care.
When you’re reading them,
Be good to them and fair!
Use book-marks, students,
To hold your place,
And don’t turn a book
Upon its clear face.

Remember, students, then:
Books are meant to read,
Not cut or colour them -
No, really, never indeed!”

            One can only hope that the Oxford’s careless owner also heard these useful lines and soon will change for the better.

Hi everyone:) This is my first blogposting)In this blog I'm going to post my stories and texts improving my English, learning new words and expressions)You are welcome!:)