Spicusians's Blog

Spicusians Is Under Construction

2009-11-11T22:13:00.000+08:00

Hello,

First of all I would like to thank you for visiting Spicusians and I hope my blog is helping you.
Unfortunately Spicusians is under construction to help you better and to make it look better than before.
But you can still read some of my postings but I have remove the widget features,
in order for Spicusians to upload this new dress, as you see now. I will install all the widget features and add more stuff.

Thank you for understanding and if you have any suggestions please write your comments below, and I will entertain your suggestions.

Good day
Simon aka Ayuri

What's Happening

2009-10-11T23:38:00.000+08:00

It's been almost 3 weeks now since I left Online English Tutor world. Now I'm faciga new world which is the BPO (Business Processing Outsourcing) or Call Center Industry. I barely passed the foundation training and moving to product training. I heard it is bloody than the foundation training that I had and it's like a reality show that someone will get eliminated after a week of pressure pack training and phone simulations.

I feel hanging, because you don't know what will happen becuase it's a new field and there are lot of things to learn specially in Customer Service and on how to deal Americans. As of now I'm still catching and adapting to this world. Experience is a best teacher.

Aside from call center trainings, I also into voice acting training. I finally grasp the stepping stone of my dream job. I'll do my very best to excel on it and grab any opportunity to make a name or to stablish myself in this industry. Soon I will be a full pledge professional voice actor, voice over. I'm excited on what's happening and hoping to hang on..

Funny Filipinoism or Filipino English

2009-10-06T20:11:00.000+08:00

Even in the Philippines, speaking the English language is very important too. Like in South Korea, it make an applicant (who's looking for a job) more competitive, and to get hired in a good position and company. Also to earn more money you need English language like in call center industries. I would like to share this funny fiction letter. Please bare and try to catch what it says.

The Real Me and My Wife

2009-09-28T22:59:00.000+08:00

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

Sandara Park

2009-09-22T19:43:00.000+08:00

Honestly I'm not into local celebrities like local idols. But recently one of the idol star, flawn back to her home country and started a huge stardom.

Resources came from wikipilinas:

Sandara Park/Kim Yushin born November 12, 1984 in Busan, South Korea. Was a Korean actress who stars in movies and television shows in the Philippines.

Early life:
Sandara was born to affluent Korean parents. However, by the time Sandara was 8-years-old, her father's relatives placed him in a financially tight spot which then crippled his business. In hopes of recovering from this business strain, Sandara's father tried his luck in the Philippines, settling in a small apartment in Pasay City and started a business. Sandara and her family remained in her grandmother's house in South Korea for some time until her father finally had enough money to relocate his family to the Philippines.

Initially, no one in their family were fluent in English or Tagalog. Sandara eventually enrolled in voice lessons at the Center for Pop Music in the early 2000s.

Philippine showbiz:
During one of her school functions, Sandara met Pauleen Luna who was then a talent of ABS-CBN Channel 2. Luna encouraged the shy Sandara to audition for Star Circle Quest, a then-upcoming talent search for ABS-CBN. Park tried her luck and was in the same batch with fellow questors, Hero Angeles and Joseph Bitangcol.

The show's judges called her in and was able to elude elimination several times, paving way for inclusion into the contestant pool's top ten. Being a native Korean, she displayed some trouble with the daily exercises set by the panel of Filipino judges. Though she had some comedic ability, she remained monotonous, dull or lacking in timing. But what she lacked in talent, she made up in charisma. A proof of this was that during the whole run of the show she consistently garnered the Texter's Choice Award, an award given weekly for the contestant who got the most text votes from the viewers. During the last elimination round where the final five contestants were chosen, Sandara made Philippine history by garnering approximately 500,000 text votes, making her the first female to garner that much SMS support. And so she was in until the final night where she was announced runner-up to Hero Angeles. It is estimated that she got at least 2,000,000 accumulated SMS votes from supporters during the entire run of the contest.

Also during the run of the contest she was paired with Hero Angeles but their relationship became increasingly estranged. This later ended up in a real fight that broke up their partnership.

Post SCQ Events: Star Status Established:
ABS-CBN showered Park with projects after her Star Circle Quest days. She had six local commercial endorsements for personal care and stationary products. She also received several television show offers. She starred as Sandara Soh in a Star Circle Quest spin-off SCQ Reload, OK Ako (SCQ Reload, I'm OK), and hosted Sandara's Romance, a show featuring Korean dramas and commentary, and had a hosting stint on ASAP Fanatic, a Sunday noontime teen variety show. She also appeared in a local daily primetime superhero soap opera, Krystala, as Kim, who shares similar personalities with her real-life self, but her tight schedule limited her appearances.

In addition, Sandara also embarked on a musical career that eventually led to the release of her self-titled 6-track album which spawned the novelty dance hits "In Or Out", a song that parodied her experiences on Star Circle Quest, and "Walang Sabit", the jingle for Rejoice Shampoo. In proof of Sandara's rapidly rising star status, the album was certified double platinum after 6 months, selling 60,000 copies.

Sandara also appeared in two movies within separate years. First was a storyline in the three-storied movie Bcuz of U where she co-starred with other prominent young local actors. Second was her own movie with her loveteam partner, Hero Angeles, Can This Be Love, which flopped in the local box-office, grossing only P9,310,291.

I didn't include some of the negative issues happened to her before going to Korea to start her career. But one thing I feel was we are proud to meet Sandara Park.

Goodbyes

2009-09-16T19:06:00.000+08:00

There was a saying; "People come and go." and also this one; "Old things passed and new things come."
We used to say goodbye to the things that we will left behind, we feel sad and broken hearted. Sometimes we cry, sometimes we need to pretend as cold hearted as you can be but it suddenly melted because of the twist of change heat your heart, that make you weep.

When I was 8 years old, I couldn't accept that my pet cat left me. It was my first pet and a best friend even though its odor and fur would trigger my asthma. I was crying that time, it was a sad dawn.

My next experiences was when I served my full time church mission at Bicol region last 1999 until 2001. Everytime I will transfer to a new area on the next day, it's was hard to say goodbye to our church investigators, newly baptized members, and friendly church members. I sometimes I never said a word that I am leaving. I made me cry for so many days and i wanted to go back to that area once more but were not allowed to do so.

Then the next one was when I help my wife to go to the airport, everytime she going back to Hongkong to work. After the last hug, she went inside then I wait until she enters the departure room. When she waved her hands and turned my back, tears fell down my cheek and started to cry secretly. That always happens everytime I assist her to the airport.

Lastly, everytime I say goodbyes to my student who will not renew their contract because they were leaving abroad or finish their program. And this week, I am leaving Online English Teaching Industry, I'm pursuing another field. It's hard, I wish to come back but I don't know when.

Goodbye Spicus, thank you.

Thank you for giving me a chance to teach you

2009-09-14T14:49:00.000+08:00

During my days in Spicus, I handled more than 30 (the highest) students a day, 14 was the least. I encountered students who are loyal and understanding, they stayed with me until they've finish their program.

I want to express my gratitude to them. I'd like to share this video.

Name
Seung Pyo Lee/Jason -> I feel he is one of my best friend on the phone
Shin Su Mi /Mary -> Even though she sow but I'm very proud for her progress.
Cherish -> She's one my best friend.
an ji young/Ashley -> She's like my younger sister who flown to Japan.
Ally -> She's one of my best friend, she's full of energy when we talk on the phone.
Stephanie Jung -> One of my kids in Spicus, She was a genius.
Bryan -> He's also like a brother to me.
Hwang su nam/Sue -> One of my good student.
kim se hwan -> One of my most diligent student.
Kim Young Min/Sean -> One of my loyal students, he was my bestfriend on the phone.
Si Kim/Bruce -> One of my good students
Bruce ->Very humble student and will do everything to achieve his goal.
Alicia -> One of my big sisters, very humble and understanding.
Melissa Khan -> One of my big sisters, very humble and understanding.
Joo Bora -> The Gayageum player
Veronica -> The actress
kyoungchoul /kool -> One of my young brother on the phone, very intelligent guy.
KimYeong-yung/Cecilla/Celly -> One of my big sisters, very humble and understanding.
Daesoon Jang/BEER -> Very humble student and will do everything to achieve his goal.
Seung Choel Baik / Eric -> The CEO Accountant
Tommy -> From Volvo Korea
Kenneth -> SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE
JR Cho - IBM Korean, very intelligent and formal man.
Lee Seong/sean -> Samsung SDI Engineer, One of my most loyal student, a best friend and very humble guy.
Hyun Wu/Brian -> He's also like a brother to me.
An Min Hee / MARIAN -> One of my good student.
Moon kyung soon/suny -> One of my good student.
Choi ju-hyun / Choi -> Humble, very intelligent and formal man.
kim min jung/Nicole -> One of my best friend, very humble and understanding.
Aiden - From Yahoo Korea, One of my good student.
Henry -> Computer Engineer, One of my good student.
Sally -> Psychology tutor, One of my big sisters, very humble and understanding.
Mira -> Culinary student, One of my good student.
Kim Ju Mi/ Ju Mi - Merchant, One of my good student.
EUN/seo/Stella -> Tommy Hilfigger, very conversative and not afraid to express her thoughts.
Micaal -> Movie producer, One of my good student.
Shinmiran -> HRM student, One of my good student.
Emily -> One of my good student.
Kim Chang Un/Elizabeth -> She's like my younger sister
shining/shine -> boracay honeymoon -> She's like my younger sister
kim seong jin ~Ray~ -> One of my big brother, I like his personality.
Benjamin, 13yrs Male. Virginia, USA. -> One of my genius kids, very intelligent.
Ban Kyu Hyeon -> One of my best friend, persevere, he never give up and he alway do his best to achieve his goal.
Koo -> He was one of my best friends on the phone.
Jun of Pusan -> One of my good students.
Nicole of Seoul -> One of my good student's too, I like her enthusiasm in learning English.
Onion of Seoul -> One of my good young students, she's full of energy.
May/Mizy -> One of my good students, she's full of energy and enthusiasm.
Clara of SM management -> One of my good students who stayed will me until the end.

And to all my students in SPICUS, from the the I started until my last day I'm greatful to have you as my students even though I didn't mention your name, I loved you all. I feel sorry and sad every time I recieved a complain despite of our good raport, I still care because you became my student and I'll never forget our good classes together.

Please use all the things that you've learned from me. Take care and more best of in life to you.

Thank you, Saranghamnida.

My Life

2009-09-02T16:00:00.001+08:00

If given me a change to modify my life, I would like to have a life with a golden spoon. I imagine myself living in a mansion with my wife and some helpers. Then I'm a decent voice actor and animation film maker. I also have business franchises like Mc Donalds and other restaurants. Why? Because I would get the material things that I want and need without thinking the price. Addition to that I can help people in need like what other famous philantropist do. I know, I'm not a worthy person to be blessed such precious things. I need to work hard to feed myself and my family. My life is really tough that made me do nothing but wonder.

I was born to a not well organized family with financially un-stanble.My father was an un-educated, un-employed man, while my mother was a factory worker that time. They're not supposed to be together but because my mother was so adventurous and my father was an opportunity grabber, they became un-expected couple. My father is an irresponsible, selfish, self-cemtered husband.Who seeked to be understand and love by spoon feeding. He manage to gain good reputation from his family and other people when he learned to fix cars. But actually thanks to my mother who encourage her to study, now he is a master auto mechanic and driver of any vehicle levels. My mother was an outcast survivor in her family, a self-motivated person who educate herself by her own means. Her parent don't want her to go to school and wanted her to be a maid servant to her eldest sister. Because she was so stubborn she stowaway and work as a house maid while going to school. But wasn't able to finish her college because no one in her family will support her but instead she's the one who help her younger siblings to finish college. She was un-appreciated by her mother and elder sisters. She want to have a good life but I don't know why god made her life miserable and living in rags.

When I came to this world I already felt the discrimination and mistreatment by my own family that's why not very close to them now. Even to my own father, because I fail to meet his expectations and he denied me once. So I grow with my mother but there was a bad blood in me that I can't absorb her idiology and some prinsiples. That's why at the age of 13 I wanted to live my own but I didn't because I was so immatured and unbrilled. I became self-centered and negative, lack of confidence and guts to live my best. There was a time that I wanted to quit my life but I'm afraid to die. I became an introvert and made an imaginary world to escape my reality. I lost my will to live during my teen years but it returned when I got married. But life was really bias its tough and I have no change to move up unless I turn myself into a bad guy.

Ambition

2009-08-31T15:58:00.000+08:00

Every child has its own ambition when its grown up, commonly they would prefer to be a doctor or a scientist. Two highest profession that only the gifted and the chosen ones can attain. Why? because in order to become any of this one you need 250 plus IQ, you should be a genius in mathematics and knowledgable to other subjects in science and technology. Lastly, money to finance the education and needs because these two are the most expensive courses in universities. When I was young I dreamed to be a scientist but later my mom told me that mt ambition was so high that they couldn't afford to support me and my intelligence was not enough to reach that ambition. So I changed it, I dreamed to be a police investigator to bust crimes like in Jackie Chan and Fernando Poe Jr's Police movies. I feel like I'm the next national hero of this country, but to my dismay I found out that policemen in reality are not heroes but monsters that uses their authority to take advange to others in order to achieve their personal gains.

When I reached my adolescense, I was introduce to entertainment arts such as music, television and movies. I learned to appreciate music and I was able to discovered my talents in lyrics writing, then I dreamed to be an entertainer. This ambition took over my fantasy world and begun to daydream that I'm the future famous entertainer. Since then I wrote a lot of lyrics in Tagalog and English from Ballad to Rock and rap, but I didn't realize that I should start performing so I did but later I realize that in order to materialize this dream I need to do it in bigger market like joining TV contest. I didn't, fate didn't gave me opportunity to pursue it. I continue writing lyrics until college and became interested to become disc jockey or radio DJ. I wanted to take mass communication but my mother violently opposed my desire because she told me that there's no money in mass communication. I had no choice but to obey, so took computer engineering in AMA computer college but I lasted for 1 trimester because the tuition fee was very expensive and I failed all my math subjects. After a year I went studying but idifferent course because one of our neighbors introduce conservatory of music in Centro Escolar University. I like the course but because I live in a poor family and things are not doing well again. I stopped and took a vocational that I don't like. I didn't finish it eventually, I went to TV stations and radio stations to apply fo voice talent but failed then I started to find a job to sustain myself. I worked as a sales agent for encyclopedia, then a factory worker in a coffee plant and powdered juice plant, lay-out artist in an advertising company . I felt I'm far to reach my ambition.

Many years had passed , I haven't achieved my ambition yet. But the good thing here is, i was able to identfy what I want to be. And that is to be a voice actor in japanese animation and in media. I'm a big fan of Anime and I dreamed to be part of it. I had a talent to change my voice, I became more interested in voice acting when I participated in an anime exbihit long time ago. Addition to my voice changing talent, I can also draw and create new characters for my fiction stories. I want to create an anime in anyway. I would be a dream come true. I'm an online English tutor now for Koreans, I'm thankful to have this job because I learned a lot and it improved my communication skills, but I will not stick to this job forever, I will still pursue my dream job even I'm in my 30''s. Because the job the I dreamed of, was the job that makes me happy doing it, and enhance my skills. It doesn't matter where it will take me either on abroad or locally as long as I'm happy doing it. I wish time will give me a chance to have it and excel on it. This is my ambition and I will do anything to have it because I know I will be successful in voice acting career.

Online English Tutor

2009-08-30T15:59:00.000+08:00

WARNING!

The following entry will reveal many confidential information about the author, parental guidance is advice.

The truth behind Teacher Simon's voice will be reveal to all as a part of total make over of this blog.

Name: Simon Redbear
Location: Utah
Nationality: Half American, Half Filipino. (Lucky I'm not a half German Shepherd)
School: BYU Provo
Major: BS Visual Arts
Note:

My parents where seperated my mother lives now in Australia then my father in Utah.
I am married with no children because my wife was working in Hongkong as a personal secretary to a diplomat and we only see each other once or twice a year.

Most online ESL students think that their online English tutor has a lot of money because they pay big money to learn to speak English. But the truth is not, base on my experience and to the companies that I had served for almost 3 yrs, its really low. (But they are the pioneers of online English here in the Philippines the are thrift.) I know there are new online ESL companies that gives highier pay but you cannot trust the company stability.

Now here is the true information about me, don't be shock but you can still call me Simon because it became special name for me.

Name: Ariel Salazar Barredo
Location: Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
Birth Place: Pasig City, Manila, Philippines
Nationality: Filipino (Not pure)
School: Gateways Institute of Science and Technology
Major: BS Commercial Graphic Arts
Note:
My first job after college was in an Advertisement Publishing Company. I thought my job was only designing lay-out advertisements but it include sales and keeping advertisers. Because in sales there is quotas to achieve your bosses pressured me every week. Because of immaturity and young I quit.

After that I became unemployed and did some part time jobs in factories. ThenI decided to be a volunteer in an employment center in Makati City. In there I was introduce to online English teaching by one of my new friend who was been to call centers. Honestly it was Ivoline company but I failed their one week training, the I apply to diffrent company with my new friend, it was Ildaeil and my guts earned me this job in spite that I failed the exam and interviews, I manage to passed the training. I worked there almost 1 yr pretending to be an American for a year in some accounts, I find te job very easy and fun but I became compleasant I didn't realize that I need to fix my English. Then I didn't passed their regularization requirements.

Similar to some call center companies in the Philippines who trained their applicants in English proficiency and American Culture. They said, Koreans want to learn English from native speakers but they don't like to be taught by non-native speakers who are good English speakers like Filipinos. In short they want Filipino online English tutors to pretend like an Americans. And it's still happening now, but because Filipino have different accent in English we cannot help to pronounce words in Filipino tone that student wonders; "Is teacher really an American?"

The truth is "NO" everything is a LIE and its not our will to do it, we just followed what our bosses instructed us to do. I feel so guilty that I'm lying to my student but I have to comply because it is part of my job and they pay me for that. It's what they called "Business".

Then after a week I apply again this time I went back to Ivoline, They give much lower salary than my previous company but because they are the pioneer in onin English teaching I settled there for more than 2 years. I was assigned in SPICUS account where in I taught adult students from 21 to 55 yrs old in Korean age. But I encounter teenagers there the youngest was 10 yrs old. in my previous company I taught children to adults. the youngest was 3 and the oldest were 60 something. With Spicus I had great experiences their (Not the money) one of the good things about this account was the managers are warm and supportive to us, they even defend us from big bosses when we had big complains.

Now I decided to resign because I want to earn more because my salary was not enough to sustain my family needs, I want to move on and the job that right for me. So I might grab a chance to work in a call center as a stepping stone. And another deep reason why I have to leave is because I feel I'm not a good teacher dispite of how much hard work I do and teach my student the best that I could (Teaching English was not my forte) I still recieve complains, my effort was not enough to make them complain. I can't control them to do so. I can't do anything if the student don't like me or I didn't meet their expectation. Grammar is one of my greatest weakness, I hate English for that because I don't have the feel of absorbing it. I'm kindda slow in learning it. I only know is survival English. It is a tough decision because I love my students and I consider the as my dear friends. But life is unfair so you have to everything for you advantage in the right way.

Thank you for the teaching experience, and South Koreans are close to my heart. Saranghamnida.

Ambition

2009-08-19T22:29:00.000+08:00

When I reached my adolescense, I was introduce to entertainment arts such as music, television and movies. I learned to appreciate music and I was able to discovered my talents in lyrics writing, then I dreamed to be an entertainer. This ambition took over my fantasy world and begun to daydream that I'm the future famous entertainer. Since then I wrote a lot of lyrics in Tagalog and English from Ballad to Rock and rap, but I didn't realize that I should start performing so I did but later I realize that in order to materialize this dream I need to do it in bigger market like joining TV contest. I didn't, fate didn't gave me opportunity to pursue it. I continue writing lyrics until college and became interested to become disc jockey or radio DJ. I wanted to take mass communication but my mother violently opposed my desire because she told me that there's no money in mass communication. I had no choice but to obey, so took computer engineering in AMA computer college but I lasted for 1 trimester because the tuition fee was very expensive and I failed all my math subjects. After a year I went studying but idifferent course because one of our neighbors introduce conservatory of music in Centro Escolar University. I like the course but because I live in a poor family and things are not doing well again. I stopped and took a vocational that I don't like. I didn't finish it eventually, I went to TV stations and radio stations to apply fo voice talent but failed then I started to find a job to sustain myself. I worked as a sales agent for encyclopedia, then a factory worker in a coffee plant and powdered juice plant, lay-out artist in an advertising company . I felt I'm far to reach my ambition.

Many years had passed , I haven't achieved my ambition yet. But the good thing here is, i was able to identfy what I want to be. And that is to be a voice actor in japanese animation and in media. I'm a big fan of Anime and I dreamed to be part of it. I had a talent to change my voice, I became more interested in voice acting when I participated in an anime exbihit long time ago. Addition to my voice changing talent, I can also draw and create new characters for my fiction stories. I want to create an anime in anyway. I would be a dream come true. I'm an online English tutor now for Koreans, I'm thankful to have this job because I learned a lot and it improved my communication skills, but I will not stick to this job forever, I will still pursue my dream job even I'm in my 30''s. Because the job the I dreamed of, was the job that makes me happy doing it, and enhance my skills. It doesn't matter where it will take me either on abroad or locally as long as I'm happy doing it. I wish time will give me a chance to have it and excel on it. This is my ambition and I will do anything to have it because I know I will be successful in voice acting career.

Philippine Independence Day.... Not Worth of Remembering

2009-07-04T21:16:00.000+08:00

Long time ago, Philippines was colonize by the Spaniards. But before that Datu Lapu-lapu from Mindanao prevent the first invasion and able to kill Ferdinand Magallanes in the battle of Mactan. After that Filipinos tried to escape from the cruel hands of the Spaniards for 300 years, many Filipinos used their skills and wits to claim independence but failed then revolution aroused after the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal in 1896 at Bagumbayan. And in 1898 Katipunero's fearlessly to claim independence who's lead by Andres Bonifacio but to their dismay when they learned that Philippines was sold to America during the Treaty of Paris. General Emilio Aguinaldo declared the first Philippine Independence day. But some Katipunero's are not convinced and fought Americans whom they thought as another conqueror. But they treated much better than Spaniards. Issues arouse, a lot of controversy happened when President Emilio Aguinaldo ordered to kill Andres Bonifacio and other fugitives who's against American. The real intention of Americans to the Philippines was uncertain thats why guerrillas keep on fighting. Now ordinary Filipino asked, are we truly independent? If Americans are conquerors, why they educate us and we learned how to govern? Their intentions are really suspicious, most of them are racist and arrogant. Philippines seemed already taste freedom but ordinary people didn't feel it, because no one taught them how to appreciate the country. In World War II Japanese Empire conquered us, they devastate our nation, killing many innocent infants, raping our women and made them sex slaves, and hunt every people to become slaves and shooting pawns. But where's the Philippine President? Oh! They manage to escape and flown to America to hid themselves, saving their lives for future interest. How did they do that? Answer: How did they do that? They're rich ofcourse and aside from that they have houses in America. US government support their shelter, wow I envy them politicians are really bigtime. They didn't do anything during the occupation of the Japanese Empire maniacs, It took 3 years to rescue Philippines through the help of the stubborn General Douglas Mac Arthur. Look 3 years of suffering and politicians are out there doin' nothing. Then Japanese lost the war, they punished General Yamashita who hid all Philippine golden treasures under the ground and other Japanese Emperial officers, but they never give justice to those people who were killed, those new born baby boys that killed with they knives, those comfort women whom they took pleasure. Where's our dignity now? Aftermath does ordinary Filipinos appreciate Independence day? Answer: No! Why? Because we lost our dignity, our pride to become one good person. Go to countries where Filipina are working, what foreigner think of Filipina woman? They are whores, gold diggers and opportunist. It worst than to be called indio by Spaniards. How's the comfort women? Answer: Oh, some of them are already dead, despised by their own family and still seeking justice. And the sad thing is the lazy Philippine government didn't do anything to help these people or to represent them to voice out their concern to Japan or UN. In my opinion it will not ruin the relationship of these 2 countries. But GIVE THEM JUSTICE!!

Now the Philippine politicians know how to govern but there is political system that control the country, in which all class A society get richer, Politicians maintain their office and earn money. Either administration or opposition politicians are members. America is also has a mouth in this system, if they don't like the politician or a treat to their agenda they can easily eliminate and destroy that politician. This political system doesn't care about its people but only Class A society and politicians are qualified to improve their lives. That's why majority of Filipinos are slum in our own land and most of our land are owned by class A people, Foreign Businessmen mostly Chinese and Politicians. Philippines rich people and politicians are the people who can appreciate and celebrate Independence Day. While ordinary people are don't. They are greed to share it specially those Filipinos who lives in provinces.

Under President Ferdinand Marcos, Philippines was in pedestal. He put Philippines on the map of the world. He was able to satisfy many ordinary Filipinos especially those who lives in the provinces. But some of his officers, class A people and his enemies planned to put him down and made him a dictator. 1972 Marcos put Philippines into Martial Law to seek peace and stabilize his position. But his officers backfight him and sacrifice his number one critic Benigno Aquino Sr. in a tragic ambush event were he was killed by his escort who's a hitman. That incident trigger the1984 EDZA peoples power revolution, Class A Society and Influential people convince people in Manila to participate and enthroned Marcos. Marcos exiled and died. Then Cory Aquino became the first Lady President, because she have no background to politics. Influential people, and politician grab this opportunity tho gain power. Philippines was under the loose government, where corruption went high, the value of Philippine peso went high. Rich people became more richer and poor people became poorer. And they said it was freedom. But does all Filipinos feel this freedom? My answer is No! People in the government became corrupt when Fidel Ramos took seat, from the national level to community level and that's not all, even in our judiciary level. You need to have a lot of money to win your case or else they will put you into jail. Even lawyer whom you think can defend you is a money leecher. Philippines is not a safe place for foreigners, rich people and those people who knows the trash of the government. Policemen, in the Philippines are not the knight and shining armor that they supposed to be. They became human crocodiles who are greed for power and money. They even involved in underground job and activities such as drugs, prostitution's, gambling, smuggling, pirating, and the most worst of all most of them are professional squatter operators. Philippine Soldiers are womanizers, robbers and professional gangsters. Class A society became devil advocates, who seemed to protect their interest. They can throw away politicians that they think are not qualified for their taste, like what happen to Erap Estrada. Philippine Politics became a telenovela were in no heroes just villains and victims. It's like a theater play,

So why we value and appreciate our own independence day? Students now a days already make fun of the national anthem. And majority of our people want to go abroad and never go back because Filipinos is a shameful race. Nationalism? They will call you communist, Majority of the Filipinos lost their sense of pride, and honor to this country. Who do you want to blame? Politicians? Answer: Yes, and those who manipulate and influencing the fate of these people. They are leaders who lead us to misery and destruction. And because of what happen it became a culture, Filipinos now are corrupt, opportunist and tyrants including myself Personally I pitty being a Filipino, but I still wish for changes that make ever Filipino proud of their nationality.

Abortion

2009-07-04T21:14:00.001+08:00

Abortion is one of the most controversial issues in our time, It's been one of the debatable topics that couldn't meet to solve the problem. Even notable social groups are yapping on the street to shout their logical points and both parties still don't understand both logical points. As a result discreet women are doing it. Because they are shy or embarrassed to share their unwanted pregnancy. Actually, majority of this abortion cases are the product of wrong choices. These women are afraid to face the bad consequences of their impulse horniness and curiosity. So no matter what sermon we throw at them, they will still do it because its their choice and don't have a right to overwrite it. Law makers should put a claw in every abortion policy and it should be strictly observed. Focus on the welfare of the unwanted mother and the unborn baby, not collecting professional fees. One reason why these women don't prefer to consult welfare officers and NGO's is because of the money from these institutions.

In my opinion, abortion should be induced. Because it is the most safe and morally acceptable. Other reason should not put into consideration. I know that we have the right to choice but did we know that we are accountable in our choices? If you don't want to get pregnant, why do the things that can make you pregnant? I never heard that killing the unborn baby because the mother or the partner don't like to have a baby, is a freedom of choice. Unborn children need justice here, because it is unfair for the unborn by taking its innocent life can give comfort to its mother. Let me clarify this straight, to whom I'm talking to. I'm talking to those mothers who want to escape their responsibilities to those young women who are coward to face the consequence of their aggression.
Because you deprive the unborn baby's right to live, it's not it fault to be inside your womb. You're the one made IT inside you. Then you will say this child will be a burden. Here are some of there reason why they want to abort their unborn child.

“I don't want this child, I'm ready for it.”
“This child will be a hindrance to my future opportunities.”
“My parent will hate me, I'm not yet ready for responsibilities.”
“My partner will leave me if I have this child, I should keep my body.”
“I still want to enjoy my single life, I have a career to work on too.”
”My husband had no job, we cannot afford to feed my baby.”
“I don't have a job, I'm still a student. I don't know how to raise this child.”
“My boyfriend deny me and dump me, now why should I continue this pregnancy?”
“It's not our priority.”
“I don't want it!, We don't want it.”

These women are murderers along with their partners. I believe in Karma and the golden rule, everything that you do to others will turn back on you. You may not realize it today but you will regret it at the end. If we only control our emotion and wise in our actions, this not gonna happen. It's your choice but we have to be brave in facing our consequences and don't run from it. It's hard, painful, and troublesome, but at the end you will realize that that child will brought you great blessings and opportunities that you could never imagine.

Battle of the Genders

2009-07-04T21:10:00.000+08:00

By Simon

Long time ago when God created the earth, he made Adam. God saw that man should not be alone. He told Adam to fall asleep and to his side, God created Eve as a “Help Mate” (Helpmate means companion) for him. Then Adam and Eve became the parents of all living. Therefore, God created only two genders Man and Woman. Woman was created as a “Help Mate” not a “Help Maid”. Each have their own purposes, and they are equal in the sight of God. Adam's own sweat shall eat all the days in their lives. While Eve will carry and nourish their children. God didn't told Eve to do all the house chores while Adam only do his job on the field and relax at home feel like a king. (Which all men does and believe in.) It became a world tradition, were men are greater than woman because they are weak, only deserve to stay at home, and submitt their lives to their husband.

Because of these tradition, culture and belief about the level of treatment for both men and women. Many domestic violence accurs because of this views, it passes through generations to generations. Is this a punishment given to Eve when she ate the forbidden fruit? It seems that this punishment became abusive, it would be unfair to the daugther of Eve. Because of this manner, it creates series of chain of situations that made this issue very complex and sensitive.

For me, man and woman are equal. God created us in his own image with distinctive purposes. He gave us strengths and weaknesses that made us unique to other people. I don't agree in man's culture, tradition and belief that women are only for bed, slave and possession. Women are also like men with own dignity and soul, without these women who will bare your children? Who will carry your son? Yes they are not physically strong but they are mentally mature and wiser than man, they are more humane than man. If man can kill, woman can produce a new life. They are the light of this world, the one who can help us in our success. I believe in the saying. “In every man's success, there's a woman.” They are long suffering, meek and gentle, but they have a very cunning intelligence that no man can surpass except God. Man's duty is to provide nesseccities for his family, a foundation of security and peace. That's why men are physically stronger than woman. Men can't endure mental and emotional challenges than woman, in a little difficulty men give up and pass it to woman. Lastly I believe that one purpose why we are here in this world, is to experience how to build and nourish a family like what gods do. Why we born with a mother? Why it need a man for a woman to get pregnant? Is there any sense with that? We are more advance than any other animals in this world. But look at these animals, they never descriminate their woman but they give respect and never abuse them. They are equal, each creatures know their own purposes.

Michael Jackson.... Who?

2009-06-27T22:23:00.000+08:00

Does Filipino know Michael Jackson? Answer: Who? Michael Jackson? The King of Pop? The singer of Billy Jeans, I'm Bad, Thriller, She's out of my life at the one who danced moonwalk. Most Filipinoes knows him, since Jackson 5 like their song "I'll be their" and Christmas song "Give love on Christmas day" which became an iconic Chrismas carol that played every Chrstmas season in the Philippines. So we are up to date to his music tracks. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Local radio station playing all music genres, and if you are lucky they might play one of Michael Jackson songs.

But now his one radio station keep on playing his hit songs. To pay tribute to the King of pop which had an opportunity to held a concert here and most of his loyal
Filipino fans watched and enjoyed his concert. Unlike in other countries, Filipinoes are very particular when it comes to foreign songs and artist. Such as Elvis Prestley, The Beatles, Bob Marley, Abba, Journey, Madonna and Michael Jackson. Most Filipinoes love his music and dance moves. When I was young I used to do his dance moves and sang some of his songs when it plays on the radio. He became a sensational idol to millions of Filipinoes.

So who's Michel Jackson now? The King of Pop! Jacko. We also now the things that he went through, but not all details because media exaggerate it badly. Like the time he underwent series of plastic surgeries, the illness that he had, he married Elvis Prestley's daughter, He is the older brother of Janet Jackson. He also had conflicts with his Filipino helpers before and other news that media and influential people exaggerate. But ordinary Filipinoes don't mind about controvercial issues about him and other bad stuff. For us he is still Michael Jackson the King of Pop, a great singer, dancer, celebrity one of the most influential personality of all time. We lose a great music icon, no one can replace him even impersonators can't. There is only one Michael Jackson in our life. Other people think his bad or smooth criminal but for us his is our idol.

May his soul rest in Peace, finally he can rest in heaven. In there everyone understand him and make him happy. We're gonna missed for sure, but in our hearts we will keep him as our inspiration, treasure and idol.

Teacher English Proficiency Tips

2009-06-13T19:57:00.000+08:00

Try practicing the sounds of letters in order to pronunce the words properly.

There are 15 vowel sounds and over 25 consonant sounds.
Pronounce words properly and efficiently.

- It will help you in avoiding confusion between you and your student.
Practicing the right way to pronounce words like dipthongs, consonant and vowel sounds.

Try listening to English songs and watch American movies.

Aside from being entertained by listening to American music and watching movies. It is also a useful way to improve our accent and pronunciation.

Make sure you are using the right vocabularies and expressions.

Be more conscious about the class. Make sure that you are using the right expressions and vocabularies helpful and suitable for the level of the student.

It is also better if you are going to be able to teach your students new words ponder.

Make sure you are using correct sentences when expressing an idea or discussing something.

The sampler your sentences are, the easier for the students to understand.
If your sentences are clear, it will be easier for your students to follow your lead.

People's Politician

2009-05-29T22:08:00.000+08:00

Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. A politician is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of politics or a person who influences the way a society is governed. Politics is a very complicated issue and politians are very complicated people. Why? Because they accounted to every decision and act that already they made, making and will make in the future. They all have different ideology to govern that lead to prosperity of their nation or to the destruction of their nation. Commonly politians think how to maintain their power? They develop selfishness and greed. They said they represent the people but it's only a front because majority of them are liars. But on the other hand there are some politicians who think to serve the people first than maintaining their power. No matter what political (corrupt) culture may break, they still stand on their principles and make the best decisions in every possible situations. With or without support of his/her colleagues he still do it for the benefit of his/her people. Unfortunately some of them live short, thats why our world is in jeopardy.

One good example is the former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, before he enter politics he already serve people by defending their human rights. Most of his ideology are for ordinary South Koreans who cannot afford the high cost of living, attain proper high education and defend their vulnerability. He shown his honesty in his seat that leads to his opposition to withdrawn their support because they want to protect their hidden agenda and interest. He became controversial because he's doing his job. But his enemies cursed him and seeked revenge. After his term hewent to his home town and miggle to his townsfolk. He still serve them with all his means. Then a bribery scandal came, accused him for corruption. He knows it is not an ordinary scandal but its a revenge by his former oppositions and enemies to put him down and his family. Still he humble himself to the public and made a public apology. He didn't think of what his persecutors may think but he's concern on what his people will think of him after knowing the scandal. Then again, he made a controversial decision to end his life by committing suicide. He knows, his life is the cost of this trouble. It's really shocking and dissapointing, but Ordinary South Korean people still believes in him. I not a Korean but I know because I have a lot of Korean students who share their feeling about former president Roh Moo-hyun. He is the people's president, father of Korea and a true politician. This is not a bluff its true. almost 4 or 5 million South Koreans who gather in his funeral service, they mourn because they lose a great leader. May his soul rest in peace and for the people of South Korea, heal and move on.

I'm a voter too even though I don't respect politicians, because it's my right to vote. Therefore I have a right to criticize and disrespect them because they are all corrupt and liars. I feel stupid every time I vote because there are no good politians it leaves me to vote corrupt politicians. I hope that someday Philippine will have a People's politician who think people first not the position and power.

List of Tongue Twisters

2009-05-19T16:35:00.000+08:00

1 Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

2 I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop.Where she sits she shines, and where she shines she sits.

3 Send toast to ten tense stout saints' ten tall tents.

4 Denise sees the fleece,Denise sees the fleas.At least Denise could sneezeand feed and freeze the fleas.

5 The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.

6 Something in a thirty-acre thermal thicket of thorns and thistles thumped and thundered threatening the three-D thoughts of Matthew the thug - although, theatrically, it was only the thirteen-thousand thistles and thorns through the underneath of his thigh that the thirty year old thug thought of that morning.

7 You cuss, I cuss, we all cuss, for asparagus!

8 Six sick hicks nick six slick bricks with picks and sticks.

9 There was a fisherman named Fisherwho fished for some fish in a fissure.Till a fish with a grin,pulled the fisherman in.Now they're fishing the fissure for Fisher.

10 To sit in solemn silence in a dull dark dockIn a pestilential prison with a life long lockAwaiting
the sensation of a short sharp shockFrom a cheap and chippy chopper on a big black block.

11 Picky people pick Peter Pan Peanut-Butter, 'tis the peanut-butter picky people pick.

12 If Stu chews shoes, should Stu choose the shoes he chews?

13 Luke's duck likes lakes. Luke Luck licks lakes. Luke's duck licks lakes. Duck takes licks in lakes Luke Luck likes. Luke Luck takes licks in lakes duck likes.

14 I scream, you scream, we all scream for icecream!

15 One-one was a race horse.Two-two was one too.One-one won one race.Two-two won one too.

16 If Pickford's packers packed a packet of crisps would the packet of crisps that Pickford's packers packed survive for two and a half years?

17 Did Dick Pickens prick his pinkie pickling cheap cling peaches in an inch of Pinch or framing his famed French finch photos?

18 What a terrible tongue twister,what a terrible tongue twister,what a terrible tongue twister...

19 How many cookies could a good cook cook If a good cook could cook cookies? A good cook could cook as much cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies.

20 How much pot, could a pot roast roast, if a pot roast could roast pot.

21 How much wood could Chuck Woods' woodchuck chuck, if Chuck Woods' woodchuck could and would chuck wood? If Chuck Woods' woodchuck could and would chuck wood, how much wood could and would Chuck Woods' woodchuck chuck? Chuck Woods' woodchuck would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and chuck as much wood as any woodchuck would, if a woodchuck could and would chuck wood.

22 Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew.While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew.Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze.Freezy trees made these trees' cheese freeze.That's what made these three free fleas sneeze.

23 Bobby Bippy bought a bat.Bobby Bippy bought a ball.With his bat Bob banged the ballBanged it bump against the wallBut so boldly Bobby banged itThat he burst his rubber ball""Boo!"" cried BobbyBad luck ballBad luck Bobby, bad luck ballNow to drown his many troublesBobby Bippy's blowing bubbles.

24 Yally Bally had a jolly golliwog. Feeling folly, Yally Bally Bought his jolly golli' a dollie made of holly! The golli', feeling jolly, named the holly dollie, Polly. So Yally Bally's jolly golli's holly dollie Polly's also jolly!

25 Out in the pasture the nature watcher watches the catcher. While the catcher watches the pitcher who pitches the balls. Whether the temperature's up or whether the temperature's down, the nature watcher, the catcher and the pitcher are always around. The pitcher pitches, the catcher catches and the watcher watches. So whether the temperature's rises or whether the temperature falls the nature watcher just watches the catcher who's watching the pitcher who's watching the balls.

26 I'm not the fig plucker,Nor the fig plucker's son,but I'll pluck your figstill the fig plucker comes.

27 Betty Botter bought some butter, but the butter Betty Botter bought was bitter. So Betty Botter bought some better butter to make the bitter butter Betty Botter bought better. But instead of the better butter Betty Botter bought making the bitter butter Betty Botter bought better, the bitter butter Betty Botter bought made the better butter Betty Botter bought bitter!

28 I'm a mother pheasant plucker.I pluck mother pheasants.I'm the pleasantest mother pheasant plucker,That ever plucked a mother pheasant.Actually, ...I'm Not the pheasant plucker,I'm the pheasant plucker's son.But I'll stay and pluck the pheasantsTill the pheasant plucking 's done!

29 I bought a bit of baking powder and baked a batch of biscuits. I brought a big basket of biscuits back to the bakery and baked a basket of big biscuits. Then I took the big basket of biscuits and the basket of big biscuits and mixed the big biscuits with the basket of biscuits that was next to the big basket and put a bunch of biscuits from the basket into a biscuit mixer and brought the basket of biscuits and the box of mixed biscuits and the biscuit mixer to the bakery and opened a tin of sardines.

30 Federal Express is now called FedEx.When I retire I'll be a FedEx ex.But if I'm an officer when I retire, I'll be an ex Fedex Exec.Then after a divorce, my ex-wife will be an ex FedEx exec's ex.If I rejoin FedEx in time, I'd be an ex ex FedEx exec.When we remarry, my wife will be an ex ex FedEx exec's ex.

31 Esau Wood sawed wood. All the wood Esau Wood saw, Esau Wood would saw. All the wood Wood saw, Esau sought to saw. One day Esau Wood's wood-saw would saw no wood. So Esau Wood sought a new wood-saw. The new wood-saw would saw wood. Oh, the wood Esau Wood would saw. Esau sought a saw that would saw wood as no other wood-saw would saw. And Esau found a saw that would saw as no other wood-saw would saw. And Esau Wood sawed wood.

Two Temples

2009-05-10T22:50:00.000+08:00

By: R. S. Presidency

A builder built a temple,

He wrought it with grace and skill,

Pillars and groins and arches

All fashioned to work his will,

And men said as they saw its beauty,

"It never shall know decay,

Great is thy skill,

O builder!Thy fame shall endure for age."

A mother built a temple

With infinite loving care,

Planning each arch with patience,

Laying each stone with prayer.

None praised her unceasing efforts,

None knew of her wondrous plan

For the temple the mother built

Was unseen by the eye of man.

Gone is the builder's temple

Crumbled into the dust,

Low lies each stately pillar

Food for the consuming rust.

But the temple the mother built

Will last while the ages roll,

For that beautiful unseen temple

Was a child's immortal soul.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!!

THANK YOU

2009-05-02T22:50:00.000+08:00

By: anonymous
Improved by: Dj A.

We hardly shared a glance, to greet, and know each other.
But now our time is up, our time is not enough.

We find another chance, to meet again together
And fill each other's cup, we feel like breaking up

It is this time that almost, makes me cry.
Before I say goodbye, I wanna let you know I love you.

Thank you for playing my music.
Thank you for singing my song. (our song)
Thank you for sparing a moment.
Because with you I feel where I really belong.
Thank you for keeping me company. (company)
Thank you for being my friend.
If our path should cross somewhere, some when.
I'd like to sing our song again.

May our Lord, our God, richly bless and keep you.
Together we will call, and thank Him most of all.

Somehow I'm feeling sad, I know I gonna miss you.
I'm sure I will recall, this warm and cozy hall.

But there's one more thing, before the day will pass.
Before the lights are gone, before the curtain closes

I will....

Thank you for playing my music.
Thank you for singing my song. (our song)
Thank you for sparing a moment.
Because with you I feel where I really belong.
Thank you for keeping me company. (company)
Thank you for being my friend.
If our path should cross somewhere, some when.

And if our path should cross one day....

Then I'd really be glad. (Yes, I'd really glad...)

So I can thank you once again.

PRONUNCIATION TIPS

2009-04-30T17:14:00.000+08:00

From: cross culture com

OUT OF HUNDREDS OF ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION 'MISTAKES,' EACH INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER IS MAKING ONLY FIVE OR SIX-THE SOUNDS NOT COMMON TO HIS OR HER NATIVE LANGUAGE-HUNDREDS OF TIMES.
Chances are your English is much better than it may sound. Foreign speakers are pronouncing the new sounds as correctly as you hear them and as correctly as the habits of your native language allow. The problem is that your native accent is filtering and distorting the sounds of English in accordance with its own patterns.
Learning English takes years of study. However, correcting pronunciation takes only a few months. Neglecting pronunciation is like going to a lot of trouble to dress appropriately, but walking out the door in your slippers. Correcting pronunciation is a one-time-only task. Soon the new habits become the new you-and it may be a very interesting experience to hear yourself sounding like a native speaker.
The process begins with identifying your particular deviations from standard English. First you need to be able to hear the correct sounds. Then you need to use the muscles of the mouth, tongue and jaw to physically produce the sounds. Since these muscles have not been used in precisely these combinations before, it's very much like doing physical exercise-building strength and developing coordination and rhythm. As with exercise, repetition then helps establish the improvements and integrate them into your natural speech.
ESL schools generally don't include pronunciation training-an odd oversight. Audio-tapes can be helpful in pronunciation correction, but it's more effective to arrange assistance with a native speaker who can provide feedback. Of course, the most efficient method is to work with a trained professional. Improving pronunciation makes communication more successful (especially on the telephone), allows people to get a more accurate impression of your intelligence, abilities and character, and builds self-esteem and confidence.
WHATEVER WAY YOU DO IT, INVESTING TIME AND EFFORT IN CORRECTING PRONUNCIATION WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE YOUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE USING THE ENGLISH YOU ALREADY KNOW.

CHARACTERISTIC SOUNDS OF ENGLISH
There are some sounds that are virtually unique to English, with which speakers from other language groups have varying degrees of difficulty. Unlike grammar and vocabulary-building, pronunciation is not something that can be practiced without assistance. Arrange to work with a native speaker. Audio tapes can also be very useful.
TH (both ‘soft’ and ‘hard’), as in: thank / distinct from tank tank / distinct from sank than / distinct from Dan then / distinct from ZenUH, as in mother, money, lunch, underAHH, as in pack distinct from peckV, as in victory (not ‘W’ as in wick or ‘B’ as in bicker)long ‘E’ distinct from short ‘I’ (the difference between beat and bit)long ‘O’, as in own, component, San FranciscoReminder: ‘long’ vowels are pronounced exactly the same the letter itself: A = as in able E = as in equal I = as in ice O = as in open U = as in university(All other pronunciations of these letters are ‘short.’)
THESE ARE THE TOP MOST TYPICAL SOUNDS OF ENGLISH. IF ANY OF THESE SOUNDS IS INCORRECT, IT IS IMMEDIATELY NOTICED. BECAUSE THEY ARE CHARACTERISTIC AND OCCUR SO FREQUENTLY IN ENGLISH, TIME SPENT MASTERING THESE SOUNDS WILL RESULT IN EXPONENTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN YOUR PRONUNCIATION OF ENGLISH.

ENGLISH SPELLING, CHALLENGED BY ITS ORIGINS IN BOTH GERMAN AND FRENCH AND BY DIALECTICAL VARIATIONS THROUGH REGIONS AND CENTURIES, IS PRESENTLY, IN THE WORDS OF ONE SCHOLAR: "QUITE SERIOUSLY UNRELATED TO PRONUNCIATION."
William Caxton introduced the printing press into England around 1476. Now that spoken English would be rendered in mass-produced 'hard copy,' it was necessary to choose from the several rival dialects of the time. The decision to reproduce the sound of London English was a major contribution to establishing a universal standard for the spelling of the written language. Pronunciation would subsequently change, especially in regard to vowel sounds, but spelling was now (more or less) fixed.
Small dictionaries were produced in the following years, and recommendations concerning spelling continued to be disputed. Then, in 1755, after laboring for nine years, Samuel Johnson finally published a definitive dictionary of the English language containing 40,000 words. However, Johnson himself stated in the preface that attempting to fix language to an unchanging standard was a hopeless task. Subsequently, James Murray was to produce the Oxford English Dictionary (of approximately 500,000 words) and, in the United States, Noah Webster would produce, in 1828, An American Dictionary of the English Language. Webster's dictionary confirmed certain changes in the American spelling of English-our changing to or (as in color), re changing to er (as in theater), ogue changing to og (as in catalog), etc. A steady stream of words introduced from other languages with different spelling conventions has also contributed to variations in English spelling.
Reformulating the spelling of English to conform with local pronunciation may be temporary but nevertheless desirable for cultural reasons. For instance, English in the Caribbean has been impacted by the vicissitudes of African slavery and European colonization, effecting both word order and spelling. For example, with such adjustment, NO RIGHT TURN would be rendered in Jamaican Creole as NO TON RAIT. This may be convenient for present inhabitants, but not for visitors (or future inhabitants)-suggesting that such innovation may be better for poetry than road signs.
THUS IT IS THAT FOREIGN SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH FACE THE DAUNTING TASK OF MASTERING ENGLISH SPELLING. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF WORDS FOLLOW STANDARD CONVENTIONS. AS FOR THE REMAINING ANOMALIES (LIKE GH IN 'RIGHT'), IN TIME, MOST OF THEM WILL ALSO BECOME CLEAR.
WHILE YOU STRUGGLE WITH UNFAMILIAR SPELLINGS THAT CROP UP FROM TIME TO TIME, IT MAY AMUSE YOU TO KEEP IN MIND THAT, THOUGH THE WRITTEN LANGUAGE MAY BE FIXED, SPOKEN ENGLISH WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE-EVEN SPELLINGS WHICH ACCURATELY REFLECT PRONUNCIATION TODAY MAY NOT IN YEARS TO COME.

SPELLING AS A GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION
With so many inconsistencies and exceptions to the rules, it may seem almost a joke to suggest that spelling can function as a guide to English pronunciation. However, the spelling of English words can sometimes provide helpful clues in regard to how they sound.Here are a few such hints.
The function of a final ‘e’ in changing the preceding vowel from short to long—For example:mop (to wash a floor/a tool for washing floors) is pronounced with a short vowel ‘o’, as in ‘top’) becomes mope (to be unhappy or someone who is unhappy) is pronounced with a long vowel ‘o’—like the letter ‘O’ itself, as in ‘hope’)Similarly:kit (a set of parts or tools) is pronounced with a short vowel ‘i’, as in ‘sit’) becomes kite (a flying sail) is pronounced with a long vowel ‘i’—like the letter ‘I’ itself, as in ‘bite’)andfat (a component of animal or vegetable tissue, overweight) is pronounced with a short vowel ‘a’) becomes fate (a force believed to determine events) is pronounced with a long vowel ‘a’—like the letter ‘A’ itself, as in ‘date’)
Another hint:Doubling the final consonant, when adding a suffix, preservesthe preceding short vowel—For instance:mop becomes mopping to preserve the short vowel ‘o’; otherwise, the word would be moping (long ‘o’), meaning to be sad.tap becomes tapping to preserve the short vowel ‘a’; otherwise, the word would be taping (long ‘a’), meaning to tape.rid (to remove) becomes ridding to preserve the short vowel ‘i’; otherwise, the word would be riding (long ‘i’), meaning to ride.
One more:The letter ‘y’ at the end of a word typically changes to ‘i’ when a suffix (or final ‘es’) is added—in other words, a final ‘y’ and a medial (middle) ‘i’ are virtually the same letter and are pronounced the same.For example:‘portray’ becomes ‘portrait’‘happy’ becomes ‘happiness’‘try’ becomes tries

THOUGH THE SCHOLAR WAS RIGHT ABOUT ENGLISH SPELLING BEING “QUITE SERIOUSLY UNRELATED TO PRONUNCIATION,” THESE HINTS CAN NEVERTHELESS BE USEFUL TO INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE HOW TO PRONOUNCE ENGLISH WORDS.

DUAL PRONUNCIATION
Due to the complex history of English, and the diversity of regional dialects in the U.S., many words have come to have two ways of being pronounced, both of which are correct. The following are some of them:
either / neither (long ‘E’ as in ‘feet’)either / neither (long ‘I’ as in ‘tie’)often (sounds like ‘off-en’)often (sounds like ‘off-ten’)roof (rhymes with ‘spoof’)roof (rhymes with ‘buff’)route (rhymes with ‘boot’)route (rhymes with ‘out’)gala (short ‘a’ as in ‘cat’)gala (long ‘A’ as in ‘late’)apricot (short ‘a’ as in ‘at’)apricot (long ‘A’ as in ‘ate’)scenario (short ‘a’ as in ‘cat’)scenario (short ‘a’ as in ‘father’)data / datum (short ‘a’ as in ‘cat’)data / datum (long ‘A’ as in ‘late’)consortium (sounds like ‘consor-shee-um’) consortium (sounds like ‘consor-tee-um’)associate (sounds like ‘asso-shee-ate’)associate (sounds like ‘asso-see-ate’)toward / towards (both acceptable)afterward / afterwards (both acceptable) backward / backwards (both acceptable)upward / upwards (both acceptable)downward / downwards (both acceptable)You’ll find that with many words with dual pronunciation, one of them is French. For example:envelope (sounds like ‘N-velope’)envelope (sounds like ‘AHN-velope’)en route (sounds like ‘N-route’)en route (sounds like ‘AHN-route’)
Determining which of the dual pronunciations is the one to use depends on several factors. In conversation, it simplifies things, and is most courteous, to pronounce the word the same way as the person with whom you are speaking—if he or she says ‘apricot’ with a short ‘a’, just do the same. If you say ‘either’ with a long ‘E’, pronounce ‘neither’ with a long ‘E’ also; likewise if using a long ‘I’ for one, use a long ‘I’ for the other. In general, choose the pronunciation that is most comfortable for you, or which sounds best in the sentence. Pronounce the same word the same way throughout the same conversation, presentation or speech.

AS YOUR HEARING OF ENGLISH CONTINUES TO IMPROVE, YOU’LL CATCH THESE PRONUNCIATION CHOICES AND BE ABLE TO USE THEM AS FLEXIBLY AS NATIVE SPEAKERS.

IT MAY SEEM RUDIMENTARY TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VOWELS AND CONSONANTS. YET, SURPRISING AS IT IS, INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS OFTEN LEARN ENGLISH WITHOUT BEING CLEAR ABOUT WHAT VOWELS ARE, OR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LONG AND SHORT VOWEL SOUNDS.
The standard vowels of English are A E I O and U. Simply put, the definition of a vowel, and what these five letters have in common, is that in pronouncing them no friction is produced. In other words, in making these sounds nothing touches-neither lips, tongue nor teeth. Pronouncing the remaining 21 consonants involves some kind of contact.
Vowels are extremely important because they give English words their most prominent characteristic sound.
There are two basic categories of vowel sounds-long and short. 'Long vowels' are pronounced exactly the same as the name of the letter itself: A E I O U. Therefore, there is only one 'long' sound per vowel. Other vowel pronunciations are considered 'short.' Hence, there may be various short sounds per vowel. The correct pronunciation of long and short vowels is crucial to the clarity of spoken English.
For example, the long vowels sounds are:
A = as in able E = as in equal I = as in ice O = as in open U = as in university
However, there may be more than one short sound per vowel:
A = as in apple, father, care, about E = as in educate, item, butter I = as in ill O = as in opportunity, horse, gallop U = as in umbrella, urge, circus
Note: in the examples above-about, item, gallop and circus-the a e o and u are all pronounced relatively the same (a weakly stressed vowel sound called a schwa).
There are also vowel combinations (called diphthongs) that have their own distinctive pronunciations, such as:
ai (long 'a' as in rain) ee (long 'e' as in feet) ei (long 'a' as in neighbor) ie (long 'e' as in pier or short 'e' as in friend) oi (as in noise) oo ('long' as in moon or 'short' as in took) ou (as in out)
Keep in mind that regional variations in the pronunciation of English vowels are very common.Also note that, in order to facilitate clear pronunciation, the articles ‘a’ and ‘the’ (short ‘e’) change to ‘an’ and ‘the’ (long ‘e’), respectively, when the following word begins with a vowel. This being English, however, there are exceptions to this rule (e.g., a university, a euro, an honor). Sharpen your hearing skills to catch the customary patterns.
IT'S OFTEN THE CASE THAT MISTAKES IN PRONUNCIATION INVOLVE THE INCORRECT USE OF SHORT AND LONG VOWELS. DICTIONARIES (ESPECIALLY AUDIO 'SPEAKING' DICTIONARIES) CAN BE HELPFUL IN DETERMINING THE CORRECT SOUND OF VOWELS IN PARTICULAR WORDS. PAYING ATTENTION WHEN LISTENING TO NATIVE SPEAKERS, OR TO THE RADIO, TV OR MOVIES WILL ALSO HELP TRAIN YOUR HEARING TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE VARIOUS SOUNDS OF VOWELS IN ENGLISH.

THE "TH" SOUND IS CHARACTERISTIC OF ENGLISH AND IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SOUNDS TO PRONOUNCE CORRECTLY.
Among the world's major languages, the "TH" sound is virtually unique to English. This makes it something of a problem for international speakers of English, no matter what their native language may be. The "TH" sound occurs very frequently in English in two variations: 'soft' and 'hard'. The 'soft' TH is characterized by a flow of air through the teeth, as in THINK. The 'hard' TH is characterized by a vibration of the tongue against the teeth, as in THAT.
The sound of both the 'soft' and 'hard' TH is structurally made the same way: by placing the tip of the tongue between the teeth. The "TH" sound can be accomplished only in this way. A good method for practicing the "TH" sound is to repeat "I think that . . ." in front of a mirror. You must be able to see the tip of your tongue slightly protruding between the teeth.
THE "TH" SOUND IS CHARACTERISTIC OF ENGLISH. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK STANDARD ENGLISH, "TH" IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SOUNDS TO PRONOUNCE CORRECTLY.

UNLIKE LANGUAGES SUCH AS ITALIAN OR MANDARIN, THE WORDS OF WHICH TYPICALLY END WITH A VOWEL (A-E-I-O-U), ENGLISH WORDS OVERWHELMINGLY END WITH A CONSONANT (ONE OF THE OTHER 21 LETTERS).
Speakers of English whose first language is one in which words typically end in vowels, are used to ending words with an open mouth. Thus, they have a difficult time properly ending their English words. Since it's only natural to carry over the pronunciation habits of one's native language, they usually employ one of two means that result in accented English:
1) beginning the next word without ending the first
2) inserting a vowel (usually 'a') between the final consonant of one word and the beginning consonant of the next

For example, the sentence:
I'll take the next bus.
Chinese speakers with heavy accents, neglecting to articulate the word endings (and omitting the contraction and the article), will typically clip their words, saying something like,
I tay neh bah.
They have no problem beginning the words, but do not end them.
Or, inserting a vowel, saying something like,
"I taka nekesta basa."

Or, for instance, the sentence:
This is Mister Jones.
English speakers with Italian or Chinese backgrounds will typically say:
"This-a is-a Mista Jones-a."

CHECK ANY RANDOM PARAGRAPH OF WRITTEN ENGLISH AND YOU'LL SEE THAT MOST OF THE WORDS END WITH CONSONANTS (EXCEPT FOR SILENT 'E', AS IN 'TAKE'). TO SPEAK ENGLISH WITHOUT AN ACCENT, PRACTICE ARTICULATING THE FINAL SOUNDS OF EVERY WORD—WITHOUT ADDING AN EXTRA VOWEL! A GOOD WAY TO TRAIN IS TO UNDERLINE THE LAST LETTER OF EACH WORD IN YOUR PRACTICE PARAGRAPH. THIS WILL BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO IT AND REMIND YOU TO CAREFULLY PRONOUNCE IT. AS WITH PRONUNCIATION TRAINING IN GENERAL, WITH REPETITION YOU'LL SOON DEVELOP THE CORRECT HABIT.

WORD ENDINGS—PART ONE
International speakers often have a tendency not to articulate the endings of English words, either because words in their native language tend not to end on consonant sounds, and/or because they’ve never heard the final sounds clearly in the first place. However, as previously stated, English tends to pronounce all syllables and most letter sounds, including word endings.Speakers of Mandarin or Italian, for instance, are used to words ending in open-mouth vowel sounds; speakers of French are used to words ending in silent letters; Russians are used to smooth, slurring connections between the ending of a word and the beginning of the following one. Asian speakers are additionally used to fixed words, and must make special effort to master the changeable word endings of English.
For example, word endings change when: plural ‘s’ is added to nounone book—two books; one eye—two eyesthird-person singular ‘s’ is added to verbYou and I dance poorly, but he dances well.part of speech changesnation [noun]—national [adjective]tense changesI won’t dance tomorrow because I danced yesterday.
These are general patterns and, if you start to pay attention, you’ll see them repeating themselves throughout English usage. Failure to pronounce word endings in English, a language in which the large majority of words have consonantal endings, makes speech sloppy sounding and communication uncertain. Not exaggerating, but nevertheless ‘landing’ on each final consonant will make your English sound much more distinct and cultured.
THE FIRST STEP TO CLEAR PRONUNCIATION OF WORD ENDINGS IS TO BEGIN HEARING THEM.

WORD ENDINGS—PART TWO
Speech is a naturally moving thing, and some people naturally speak faster than others. However, since international speakers of English often have difficulty articulating word endings, it is recommended that you make a special effort to clarify this aspect of your speech, no matter what your pace.In fact, at least when practicing, you may want to slow down—give yourself time to pay attention, and time to do something you’ve been previously omitting.Rarely does anyone ever have trouble with consonant sounds at the beginning of a word. This is because beginning sounds require enough force to push the whole word out. By the end of the word, though, speakers are getting ready to ‘push out’ the next word, and final sounds are naturally less forcefully articulated. However, the physics of producing any given letter-sound is exactly the same regardless of whether the letter is at the beginning, middle or end of the word.Here’s a trick for training yourself to articulate word endings. Take the word whose ending you want to better pronounce and link it to any word beginning with the targeted sound. Pronounce the combination three times; then, at the fourth time, simply stop when you reach the beginning of the second word. For example, many international speakers of English have trouble with final ‘L’:WELL-LOOKWELL-LOOKWELL-LOOKWELL-L

YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO DISCOVER HOW IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE THIS TRAINING EXERCISE CAN BE.

MORE ABOUT WORD ENDINGS
International speakers often have a tendency not to articulate the endings of English words, either because words in their native language tend not to end on consonant sounds, and/or because they’ve never heard the final sounds clearly in the first place. However, though ending sounds in English may be light and quick, native speakers pronounce them.
Here are some final sounds that call for particular attention:M / N For native speakers of English, there is no confusion between final ‘M’ and final ‘N’—for example in the words ‘sum’ and ‘sun.’ The thing to remember in this case is that the sound of ‘M’ (at the end, just as at the beginning or middle of a word) is produced by the upper and lower lips touching—if they don’t touch, there can be no ‘M’ sound. Conversely, the sound of ‘N’ (at the end, middle or beginning of a word) is produced by the tongue touching the gums where they meet the upper teeth—in the case of ‘N,’ the lips don’t touch at all (if they do, you’ll get an ‘M’).S—‘soft’ and ‘hard’Another fine difference in word-ending sounds in English is that between the ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ ‘S.’ For instance, the ‘S’ in ‘tacks’ is ‘soft’ like an ordinary ‘S;’ however, the ‘S’ in ‘tags’ is ‘hard’ like a ‘Z.’ Though subtle, this distinction is nevertheless a decisive factor between standard and accented pronunciation. ed—regular past tense suffixWhen ‘ed’ is added to a verb to render it past tense, pronunciation is affected in one of three possible ways. Most commonly, you simply add a ‘D’ (as in ‘joined’). However (and in a way similar to final ‘S’), the sound added is often a ‘T’ (as in ‘talked’ [talkt]). At other times, the suffix ‘ed’ adds a full syllable (as in ‘depended’).

THE FIRST STEP TO CLEAR PRONUNCIATION OF WORD ENDINGS IS TO BEGIN HEARING THEM.

THE PRONUNCIATION OF FINAL ‘S’
Final ‘S’ is especially frequent in English. Many words simply end in ‘S’ and many others add ‘S’ in the plural; also, a final ‘S’ attaches to third-person singular verbs (‘he dances’). However, international speakers often neglect to add these necessary word-endings—partly a grammar problem and partly a pronunciation problem. Furthermore, they are typically unaware that there are two different pronunciations of final ‘S’ in English—‘soft’ and ‘hard’—and that there is a ‘rule’ governing their use.Native speakers themselves usually don’t even realize they are making this distinction because it’s just come naturally to do so. The rule may be more difficult to remember than simply copying the pronunciation of final ‘S’ sounds as your hearing of English continues to improve. However, the rule demonstrates the logic behind why some final ‘S’ sounds are ‘soft’ (like the ‘S’ in ‘soft’) and some are ‘hard’ (like the ‘Z’ in ‘zoo’).
Although there are the usual exceptions, final ‘S’ is generally ‘hard,’ that is to say it’s pronounced like a ‘Z’ [and represented by ‘z’ below]; and is always pronounced ‘hard’ with words ending in a ‘hard’ (called ‘voiced’) consonant—for example: cabz bedz tagz glovez lathez (‘th’ is ‘hard’)However, with words ending in a ‘soft’ (called ‘voiceless’) consonant, the final ‘S’ is ‘soft’ —for example: caps bets tacks puffs fifths (‘th’ is ‘soft’)Words ending in vowel sounds typically take a ‘hard S’—for instance: eyez dayzLastly, the pronunciation of some words results in the addition of a final ‘S’ creating an extra syllable; in these cases the final ‘S’ is always ‘hard’—for instance: dishez ditchezIn summary, international speakers of English tend to either omit the final ‘S’ or to always pronounce it ‘soft.’ So keep two things in mind: 1) Remember the ‘S’! 2) In general, pronounce final ‘S’ ‘hard,’ like a ‘Z’

THIS SUBTLE DISTINCTION IS NOT JUST A TROUBLESOME IDIOSYNCRASY OF THE LANGUAGE, BUT HAS COME ABOUT NATURALLY AS NATIVE SPEAKERS ALWAYS TEND TO SMOOTH OUT COMMON SOUNDS. ONCE YOU BEGIN APPLYING THE RULE GOVERNING FINAL ‘S,’ YOU’LL DISCOVER THAT IT ACTUALLY MAKES THE SOUND EASIER TO PRONOUNCE!

THE PRONUNCIATION OF FINAL ‘ED’
International speakers of English know that the regular method of making verbs past tense is to add ‘ed,’ but they are often not aware that, in a way similar to final ‘S,’ the ‘ed’ suffix is pronounced in different ways: ‘hard’ (like ‘D’) and ‘soft’ (like ‘T’), and also as a full syllable (like the name ‘Ed’).As with final ‘S,’ native speakers customarily don’t realize they are making these distinctions because it’s just natural to do so. And, similarly, it may be easier to get the correct sounds of ‘ed’ by improving your hearing of them than by trying to remember pronunciation rules.
In regard to language, there are always exceptions to the rules. However, as a general guideline, you can expect words ending in ‘hard’ (‘voiced’) consonants to take a ‘hard’ ‘ed’ suffix (like ‘D’)—for example: robbed = robd pegged = pegd arrived = arrivd bathed (‘th’ is ‘hard’) = bathdHowever, with words ending in a ‘soft’ (‘voiceless’) consonant, the final ‘ed’ is ‘soft’ like ‘T’ [and represented by ‘t’ below]—for example: tipped = tipt poked = pokt puffed = puft danced = dançt
Words ending in vowel sounds typically take a ‘hard’ ‘ed’—for instance: tied played
Lastly, the pronunciation of some words results in the addition of final ‘ed’ creating an extra syllable; in these cases the final sound is always ‘hard’—like ‘Ed’—for instance: wanted dreaded
In a few cases, past tense verbs are actually spelled with a (somewhat poetic) ‘t’—for example: slept (past tense of sleep) wept (past tense of weep) dreamt (alternate past tense of dream)

ONCE AGAIN, THESE SUBTLE DISTINCTIONS HAVE COME ABOUT NATURALLY, AS NATIVE SPEAKERS ALWAYS TAKE THE EASY WAY.

PRONOUNCING FINAL ‘G’ IN ENGLISH
International speakers of English often have trouble with the pronunciation of final ‘G,’ usually either ‘sharpening’ it into a ‘K’ or simply omitting it. The difficulty is compounded when the ‘G’ is preceded by ‘N.’ A great many English words end in ‘G’ and ‘NG’—especially with the frequency of ‘ING’ endings: present continuous verb (‘He is reading.’) adjective suffix (‘This is an interesting book.’) gerund suffix (‘Shopping is fun.’)The problem is made more difficult if, as often happens, there is also an additional ‘S.’ This can seriously interfere with the clarity and even the understandability of what you are saying.The sound of ‘G’ has two different pronunciations: a ‘hard G’ as in ‘girl’ and a ‘soft G’ (like a ‘J’) as in ‘gentle’ or ‘strange.’ However, in the final position (not followed by an ‘e’), ‘G’ is always ‘hard.’The sound of ‘hard G’ and ‘K’ both originate high in the palate. However, with ‘K,’ a puff of air is produced; whereas the nasal passage is relatively closed for the ‘hard G,’ resulting in a ‘thicker’ sound: as in ‘kill’ and ‘gill’ respectively.
Here’s a good exercise for practicing final ‘G.’ Everyone can pronounce ‘G’ at the beginning of the word (as in ‘girl’). By combining a word ending in ‘G’ with a word beginning with ‘G,’ you can ‘trick’ yourself into the correct pronunciation until practice makes perfect. Repeat the combination three times—then leave off the second word.

For example:LONG-GIRLLONG-GIRLLONG-GIRLLONG-G

Some additional practice words for pronouncing final ‘G’ in English:ran / rank / ranks / rangtan / tank / tanks / tangkin / kink / kinks / king / kingssin / sink / sinks / sing / singsban / bank / banks / bang / bangsfan / fang / fangs thin / think / thinks / thing / thingswin / wink / winks / wing / wingslawn / longpink / pingRon / wrong / Ron’s / wrongstons / tonguesrun / rung / rungsdone / dunk / dunks / dungstun / stunk / stung
YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO DISCOVER HOW IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE THESE TRAINING EXERCISES CAN BE.

ANOTHER TRICKY ENDING-SOUND DISTINCTION: FINAL ‘NT’ / ‘NCE’
As with final ‘S,’ the distinction between ‘NT’ and ‘NCE’ word-ending sounds is partly a grammar issue and partly a pronunciation issue, and can be difficult for international speakers of English to hear and articulate.
The grammar issue, typically, is that between an adjective and a noun. For example:different is an adjective The twins have completely different personalities.difference is a noun The difference between them is remarkable.
Here are a few more examples of similarly close pairs:confident / confidenceradiant / radianceluxuriant / luxuriancediligent / diligencecoincident / coincidencefragrant / fragranceprevalent / prevalencemalevolent / malevolencebeneficent / beneficence
IF YOU START LISTENING FOR THESE DISTINCTIONS IN THE SOUND OF ENGLISH WORD-ENDINGS, YOU’LL BE SURPRISED HOW QUICKLY YOU BEGIN HEARING THEM, AND THEN DUPLICATING THEM IN YOUR OWN SPEECH.

DIPHTHONGIZATION ( . . . WHAT?)
Diphthongs—something few native speakers of English have ever even heard of, but pronounce correctly without being conscious of it.Basically, a diphthong [pronounced ‘DIF-THONG’ or ‘DIP-THONG’] is a complex vowel sound formed when a vowel is immediately followed by another vowel (e.g., rain, diet, duet). The pronunciation of two vowels in a row, depending on the degree of distinction between them, influences the sound of the apparent number of syllables. The degree of distinction is called diphthongization, a modulation in sound that can be difficult for international speakers of English to make out and reproduce.For example:moon (not diphthongized: virtually one syllable)pool (slightly diphthongized: second part of word ‘dips down,’ creating something like a half syllable)boil(greatly diphthongized: second part of word is so distinct as to sound almost like a second syllable)
As with most other pronunciation issues, mastery of diphthongs begins with hearing them more clearly. When you can clearly tell them apart, you will automatically pronounce them more accurately. Here’s a good test: duel (as in ‘fight;’ slightly diphthongized)dual (as in ‘two;’ greatly diphthongized)
WHEN YOUR HEARING GETS GOOD ENOUGH TO DISTINGUISH SUBTLE DIFFERENCES LIKE THIS, YOU’LL NO LONGER NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT DIPHTHONGS!

PRONOUNCING 'OUGH' IN ENGLISH
In English, the sound represented by 'ough' can be pronounced in nine different ways.
The following sentence contains them all:
"A rough-coated, dough-faced, thoughtful ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough; after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed."
The nine different pronunciations are:
rough: RUF (as in puff)dough: DOH (as in 'O')thoughtful: THAWT (as in caught)ploughman: PLOW (as in cow)through: THREW (as in few)Scarborough: UH (as in a [book])slough: SLEW (as in you)coughed: KAWF (as in saw[f])hiccoughed: KUP (as in cup)

REMEMBER WHAT THE SCHOLAR SAID ABOUT ENGLISH SPELLING:
"QUITE SERIOUSLY UNRELATED TO PRONUNCIATION."

NASALITY IS A QUALITY OF SPEAKING IN WHICH THE BREATH ESCAPES THROUGH THE NOSE RATHER THAN THE MOUTH. THIS QUALITY IS NATURAL TO SOME LANGUAGES, BUT CAN SOUND UNNATURAL OR EVEN OBJECTIONABLE IN OTHERS.
A nasal quality is natural to some languages such as French and, to some extent, Cantonese—without it, they would sound flat and clumsy. In English, though, nasality is not desirable.
For example, the ending of the word difference is short in English, sounding virtually like ‘ince.’ But in French, the ending is a long ‘ahnce.’ What is even more distinctive than the pronunciation of the ending, though, is the characteristically nasal sound of French, produced by constricting the passage between the upper throat and the nose.However, the articulation of English favors an unconstricted open passage between the upper throat and nose. A nasal quality can sound similar to duck-like honking, not considered a very pleasant sound in English. So, just as a native English speaker must learn to close the passage when speaking French, a French (or Cantonese) speaker must learn to open it when speaking English.

IN ADDITION TO CORRECT PRONUNCIATION OF CONSONANT AND VOWEL SOUNDS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS ALSO TO HAVE THE TONE AND STYLE NATURALLY ASSOCIATED WITH ENGLISH.

VARIETIES OF ENGLISH: AMERICAN, BRITISH, AUSTRALIAN
Disseminated throughout the world by the British empire, English became the native (or second) language of several countries, the most significant of which are the United States, Canada and Australia.
International speakers of English often ask which of the different English accents is the best. Although this is primarily a personal choice, you may want to consider the following:
Due to historical circumstances, British English continues to sound upper-class, but old-fashioned and formal to American ears, while American English sounds popular, modern and casual to British ears.
Australian English is the furthest from orthodox pronunciation of all the major varieties of English. It is often difficult even for Americans and Canadians to understand, and is therefore not recommended, except for those living in Australia (or New Zealand).
Due to proximity and the influence of mass media, such as TV, radio and movies, Canadian English is almost identical to American, with only minor differences in some vowels.
The global distribution of American films and the ubiquity of Americans teaching English as a Second Language around the world has promoted American pronunciation as the current standard for the pronunciation of English worldwide.
If you have already learned English with a particular accent and you feel it suits you, there may be no need to change. However, for professional purposes, many international speakers feel American English pronunciation is the most universal and up to date.

WHEN INTRODUCING YOURSELF, PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME AS CLEARLY AND SLOWLY, YET NATURALLY, AS YOU CAN.
The most important information you communicate to others about yourself is your name.
International speakers of English tend to pronounce their own name in its original sound, and also tend to say it quickly. Especially when introducing yourself, speaking on the telephone or leaving a phone message:

PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME AS CLEARLY AND SLOWLY, YET NATURALLY, AS YOU CAN.
Generally, whether on the phone or in person, you inform others of your name only once. If it is unclear, or if the one to whom you are speaking has to exert himself to make it out, you could have trouble. You may assume you have communicated something when, in fact, you have not. Especially if your name is an unusual one to English-speaking ears, pronounce it clearly so it will be accurately heard-make it easy for others to hear your name and remember it.

Link to this site: http://www.crossculturecom.com/Pronunciation_Tips.htm

Making Subjects and Verbs Agree

2009-04-29T20:44:00.000+08:00

From Owl

This handout gives you several guidelines to help your subjects and verbs agree.

1. When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.

Ex: She and her friends are at the fair.

2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb.

Ex: The book or the pen is in the drawer.

3. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.

Ex: The boy or his friends run every day.
His friends or the boy runs every day.

4. Doesn't is a contraction of does not and should be used only with a singular subject. Don't is a contraction of do not and should be used only with a plural subject. The exception to this rule appears in the case of the first person and second person pronouns I and you. With these pronouns, the contraction don't should be used.

Ex: He doesn't like it.They don't like it.

5. Do not be misled by a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb. The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase.

Ex: One of the boxes is open
The people who listen to that music are few.
The team captain, as well as his players, is anxious.
The book, including all the chapters in the first section, is boring.
The woman with all the dogs walks down my street.

6. The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.

Ex: Each of these hot dogs is juicy.
Everybody knows Mr. Jones.
Either is correct.

7. Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news require singular verbs.
The news is on at six.

Note: the word dollars is a special case.

When talking about an amount of money, it requires a singular verb, but when referring to the dollars themselves, a plural verb is required.

Ex: Five dollars is a lot of money.
Dollars are often used instead of rubles in Russia.

8. Nouns such as scissors, tweezers, trousers, and shears require plural verbs.
(There are two parts to these things.)
Ex: These scissors are dull.Those trousers are made of wool.

9. In sentences beginning with there is or there are, the subject follows the verb.
Since there is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows.

Ex: There are many questions.
There is a question.

10. Collective nouns are words that imply more than one person but that are considered singular and take a singular verb, such as: group, team, committee, class, and family.

Ex: The team runs during practice.
The committee decides how to proceed.
The family has a long history.
My family has never been able to agree.

In some cases, a sentence may call for the use of a plural verb when using a collective noun.

Ex: The crew are preparing to dock the ship.

This sentence is referring to the individual efforts of each crew member.

The Gregg Reference Manual provides excellent explanations of subject-verb agreement (section 10: 1001).

11. Expressions such as with, together with, including, accompanied by, in addition to, or as well do not change the number of the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb is too.

Ex: The President, accompanied by his wife, is traveling to India.
All of the books, including yours, are in that box.

March

2009-03-07T22:28:00.000+08:00

It's already March and I haven't done anything yet because my mind is so occupied. I also have to do my real life responsabilities.

Mental Blank

2009-01-06T20:41:00.000+08:00

There is a period in our lives that we want to do this and that. And there is also a period where-in we don't know how to start it until our mind become blank. When we feel this we become lazy and then we forgot the things that we need to do. That's why New Year Resolutions are pretty hard to fulfill because we forget to do it, then by the end of the year we regret why we didn't do this or do that.

And the bad thing is we do the things that are not helpful to achieve our goals. That's why our life become stagnant. I don't know the remedy for this, or where can I find the inspiration to motivate myself to start my plans. My mind is in the state of blankness and can't decide what should I do first.

Luckily, I able to write something here and it was an accomplishment, which actually not my first thing to do. Anyways I like to put lots of English learning features here and I hope I cold find what I'm looking for. I hope tomorrow my mind will able to escape this blankness state.

2009, Changes and Updates.

2009-01-03T22:58:00.000+08:00

After months hiatus, finally I was able to update this blog. I know you waited for a long time to read my new post and features. Honestly, I really want to make this blog updated but because of real life dealings, unexpected situations or events, and also to laziness. I'm sorry about that.

This new year 2009, one of my resolution is to make a lot changes and make this blog updated as possible. I will find ways to provide helpful information, tips, features and good stuffs to share. Please bare with me, I already made some changes.