The English Trainer

Recipes are a good way to learn the imperative- orders -in English. The imperative is most often used speaking to children "Go to bed now!" or in military situations with a command structure, "Stand up!". Usually we don't use the imperative in general conversations as it's seen to be rude. It can be used in arguments "Get out!" Back to recipes. "Add the milk to the bowl", "Mix in the sugar" are examples of the imperative used to make something. Scones are a typical British food that originates in the south west of England. They are traditionally served with jam and cream. A special type of cream which comes from Cornwall is known as 'clotted', it's more like the consistency of butter, with a high fat content. This is particularly good in a 'cream tea'- scones, cream and jam, served with a classic pot of tea.  I use a scones recipe to illustrate the imperative to my students. As an added treat I make sco...

I tell my students that there is one person, two people in most contexts. 'Persons' comes into play in legal contexts 'murdered by a person or persons unknown' as crime show fans will know. 'Peoples' is concerned with tribes of people, 'the peoples of the Amazon rainforest'. I saw this sign and thought it was a good example of 'persons' in use. This is persons as it is referring to any one person. If the sign said, 'no unauthorised people' then perhaps a single unauthorised person would be allowed?

As I taught English for many years in Germany, a student recently asked me to compile a list of mistakes that native German speakers often make in English. Here it is. 1)       Using make all the time instead of do . This is because their equivalents (machen/tun) are not equivalent at all. A common mistake being ‘make a party’. There are rules, but it's a hard habit to get out of. 2)       Using drive in situations where it is inappropriate – such as drive a bike, drive a train, drive on a scooter. Due to the fact that fahren seems to be ubiquitous in German. Remember, the only person who drives a train, is the train driver, the rest of you are travelling on a train. It is appropriate in situations about cars such as "I drive to work" meaning I drive to work in my car. 3)       Using until instead of by. ‘ I will give you the report until Friday’. Which is probably because dict.leo.org gives ‘til’...

I teach at a local centre and last week it was graduation. It was so great to see so many students who have worked solidly all year, be rewarded for their hard work. A lot of them received certificates for learning English as a second language. They have shown a great amount of dedication and inspiration which will hold them in good stead for their next steps in learning English. I have been doing a course at the centre myself, on volunteering and the impact on the community, and I also got a certificate. The teacher must also be a learner. The head of the centre had the best advice. "Be greedy with education, when you have had some, have a bit more. When you think that you have had enough, have a bit more". Advice I think we all can take.