No jobs for Anglophones (English-speakers)

The French are known for being protective of their language and a bit "anti-American", but is this going too far? Kim Willsher writes an article for The Guardian about how a number of Anglophones in France feel that they are being discriminated against and not allowed to teach English in select universities because of elitism. Some Americans are crying foul at the French system, claiming that they need to have perfect French in order to pass the exams that allow them to teach English (which, in their opinion, doesn't make sense). While it may not be the exact situation here in Ecuador, it raises some important questions:

• Should any English-speaker be allowed to teach English, or should they go through rigorous training such as that in France?
• Is it necessary for English teachers to know the language of the country they teach in?
• Should public universities and schools restrict the number of native English-speakers that can teach in their institutions, in order to give more opportunities to the non-native teachers?
• If the number of Anglophones working in a public institution is restricted, is this fair to the students? Will this affect their learning English?

I think we need to hear from the students themselves. Post a comment below if you have an opinion!

"I don't see why you have to have such a crazy language, anyway!"

Frustrated by English? You're not the only one! Have a look at this I Love Lucy short and have a good laugh at some of the inconsistencies of the English language.


Did you catch the quote by Ricky in the title above? Listen again and see if you can hear it.

Facts and Figures about English

• There are 300 million people who use English as a second language.
• A further 100 million people speak it fluently as a foreign language.
• English is used as an official or semi-official language in over 60 countries.
• English is used in 85% of the world's organizations.
• While English is the dominant language on the Web (40%), the presence of other languages is growing.
  
• Over two-thirds of the world's scientists write in English.
• Over 80% of all the information stored electronically around the world is in English.
• English radio programmes are received by over 150 million people in 120 countries.
• 50 million children study English as a foreign language at primary schools around the world.
• At secondary level they are joined by another 80 million children.
• Around the globe English is the main language of books, newspapers, airports and air-traffic control, advertising, business, medicine, technology, diplomacy, sports, pop music, and academic conferences.
• More than two-thirds of the world's mail is written in English.
• Many English words have totally changed meaning over the centuries- here are a few examples with their earlier meaning:

treacle- wild animal
villain- farm labourer
cheater- rent collector
sly -wise
taxation -fault finding
naughty - worth nothing

• Many English words have been taken from other languages. Here are a few examples:
  

ballot-Italian
garage-French
kiosk-Turkish
tycoon -Japanese
slim -Dutch
veranda -Hindi
sofa -Arabic
marmalade –Portuguese
window-Icelandic

100 New English Words

Just when you thought English couldn't get any harder - now Merriam Webster has announced that they will be adding close to 100 new words to the English language by the end of this year. So what are some of these words: Bollywood (the film industry in India), sudoku (popular number puzzles, similar to a crossword), and ginormous (a cross between gigantic and enormous).
You can read the short article, as well as hear someone read it aloud, here, at Simple English News.

Take a Virtual Vacation

Summer is upon us and with this season, the prospect of travel! This holiday, think of going someplace truly unique: Eritrea - one of the world's hidden gems. This video shows a place that some may never even have heard of! While your pocketbook or work schedule may not allow you to go somewhere this year, why not take a virtual trip? And while you're at it, practice your English! How many different types of English and accents can you find in this video?

Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language

Why are you studying English?

It's a question that often comes up in English class, placement exams, and even daily conversation. For those of us studying English, it is something we have probably already asked ourselves.
Common reasons for studying English are to get a promotion at work or to have better job opportunities, to fulfill university requirements, and to enhance one's personal and cultural experiences. But did you also know that people who speak a foreign language have better overall communicative skills, even in their mother tongue? It not only improves your communication skills, but also has an effect on intellectual growth in general. It makes people better listeners. It opens doors to other cultures and gives you the opportunity to meet people you otherwise would not know. It fosters flexibility in thinking and sensitivity and tolerance to other people and situations. And if that's not enough, it's just plain fun!

Click here to see more about the benefits of language learning.

Estamos Unidos Radio Show

Estamos Unidos is a new radio show being put together as a joint effort by the U.S. Embassy and the IMAGCOM Group. The one-hour show will showcase the stories of Ecuadorians who have lived in the United States and U.S. citizens who live in Ecuador. The purpose behind the show - appropriately called "Two Nations - One Friendship" - is to create a space where people from the two cultures can share anecdotes and experiences. It will be in Spanish, so you won't be able to practice your English by listening, but there is sure to be something interesting for English language learners, too! If you like English music, tune in, as there will also be music from each country.

The show is broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays. For list of stations and times, click here.

More Videos for English Students

ESLVideo.com - This is a great web site for English students! Watch short videos, according to your level. Beginners included! The Smallest Restaurant in the World, Are You Married?, Ray's Indoor Bike Park - these are just some of the titles of the videos available. A great resource for teachers, also.

Misunderstandings...

The war in Iraq is objectionable, but no matter what your opinion is about it, you can't help but feel for what this guy is going through! Have you ever been misunderstood because of your "accent"? This is a funny video that any English speaker can relate to.

Do You Speak English?

Quite a funny little video! Shows how ridiculous the question "Do you speak English?" is.

Focus on English Listening Web Site

Here is another link to a web site where you can practice your listening skills. Focus on English is a web site where you can hear native speakers and develop your conversational English skills.

• Learn useful idioms.
• Learn common words and phrases.
• Test your vocabulary skills.
• Practice responding to real-life English conversations.

Fun Fact of the Day

What is the country with the largest number of English speakers?

Did you guess the United States? About ten years ago, you would have been correct. But recently the country with the most English speakers is... India!

It is believed that about one-third of the population of India can speak English, which gives us about 350 million people using English as their first or second language in that country. That's more than the populations of the U.S. and Britain combined.

Not everyone agrees with this ranking. Some cite India as being the second- or third-largest English-speaking country. Regardless of where it stands exactly, India is full of people who use English on a daily basis - in school, at work, and at home.